Fire Lord Ozai was rather unsurprised when the latest intelligence report regarding the Northern Assault was delivered by his daughter. All of Zhao's reports had been delivered from Azula lately. It was part of the reason Ozai looked on Zhao with such favor. The pair of them seemed to have a genuine attachment to each other, and Ozai privately hoped that this might have a humanizing effect on his cold daughter. While he greatly respected her talent, determination, and guile, a leader needed more than that. A leader needed to care. If Zhao was able to teach Azula to care, that alone was worth the promotion to Admiral.
What Ozai was surprised to see was how...downtrodden Azula seemed. He knew she never showed emotion without reason. Her control of her emotions was near absolute. If she was allowing herself to show sorrow, then she had sorrowful news indeed. "What news do you bring from the North?" he asked calmly.
"I bring disheartening news, Father," Azula responded from her place kneeling before the dais. "The entirety of the assault fleet is no more."
"What?" Ozai demanded angrily. "How can this be?"
"Before a single shot was fired...a Deep One rose from the depths of the northern ocean to devour the fleet. Admiral Zhao...and all under his command...are no more."
Had Ozai been less distracted by the news itself, he might have caught how artful the pause was after she spoke the Admiral's name. Just long enough to indicate pain struggling to be controlled. Were he in a more suspicious mindset, he would have questioned that. "Then...there are no survivors?" he asked sorrowfully. To lose such a good commander and so many troops was one thing, but his son and brother were in that fleet. Had not Cadence's protection been on them?
"My brother's ship was unharmed," Azula continued, a hint of steel in her voice. "According to the reports...it turned and fled south without explanation before any sign of the Deep One could be seen. It sounds as though he - or someone aboard the ship - somehow knew it was going to attack...and chose not to warn anyone."
Ozai kept his relief from becoming visible, maintaining his stoic facade. "There is certain to be a reasonable explanation for such actions," he stated firmly.
"His course does not appear to take him anywhere near any of our outposts," Azula replied. "He doesn't seem interested in giving such an explanation."
"Then an opportunity should be given," Ozai replied. "Take a ship and bring them home, Azula. I must debrief them personally."
Azula bowed. "Understood."
Ozai nodded dismissal, and Azula turned and left. He could see how eager she was to pin the blame for this event on Zuko, whether over grief for Zhao or her own ambition was uncertain. Either way, if he gave her too much freedom in this mission, she was likely to take precipitous action of her own. Perhaps it would be best to send a reliable commander along with...to keep her in check.
Zuko groaned as he sat up on the rocky shore. The trip from the North had been...unpleasant, to say the least. So great was the terror the Kraken had inspired in the career seafarers that they had powered the ship as fast as it could go day and night. Some of those not on engine crew had even strapped themselves to the back of the ship and used Firebending to try and speed the ship along even faster. The journey had come to an uncomfortable end when the ship had driven itself full length onto the shore, so great was its speed. It had held there for a few seconds before tilting over and falling to its side, sending everyone tumbling.
"Is everyone alright?" he called out, getting to his feet. A chorus of groans mixed with positive responses greeted him, and he sighed in relief. From the number of voices, he knew no one was dead or in agonized pain. No one had been crushed. Pushing himself to his feet, he glanced around. "Lieutenants!" he called out. "What's the status on our supplies?"
Lieutenants Jong and Zhin reported to his side quickly. "A good portion of our equipment is badly damaged," Jong replied. "We've lost a good amount of our weapons as well. Our food supplies are alright, though."
"The crew's not doing as well," Zhin added. "A lot of them are convinced we aren't far enough south to escape the Kraken. Some are saying we should keep running, now that we can't sail." He paused, a nervous look on his face.
"And you aren't certain they're wrong?" Zuko inferred. At the nod, he turned to Jong. "How steep is the beach?"
"Not very," Jong admitted. "It's a very gentle incline for at least 100 yards out."
"Then we're far enough from the depths to be out of the Kraken's reach," Zuko replied firmly. "Even if it did want to come this far after one little ship, there isn't enough ocean to support his mass if he did come. Cadence did tell us that the Kraken is cruelly wise, so it won't be stupid. Besides..." He turned his face away. "I'm pretty sure it's already eaten its fill..."
Silence reigned over the beach. Up until that point, everyone had either been riding the terror of escaping the Kraken, or the hysterical relief of successful escape. Now, however, everyone was left thinking about how many had died. It was one thing to be glad about the fall of Zhao, with all the bad feeling there had been between him and the Prince. But each ship had a talented commander and a loyal crew...and an entire armada was gone now, drowned or digested. A massive blow to the Fire Nation...in a single night.
Leaving the crew to assemble whatever could be scavenged, Zuko sought out Iroh and Cadence. He found his Uncle comforting the young filly, who was in tears. "Cadence?" Zuko asked in concern.
"It's...it's my fault," she whimpered. "If...If I hadn't contacted La and Tui, the Kraken wouldn't have come. The Avatar was there, he would have done something to protect Tui, that's his job! But I had to stick my hoof in...and now they're all dead..." She buried her face in Iroh's chest.
"Cadence..." Zuko began, but stopped. Any words at this point would be hollow. He couldn't shift the blame for her. He looked to Iroh for help.
"Cadence, every living being can do no more or less than what they think is right," Iroh said calmly. "Whatever we decide to do...the consequences will always come home to roost, and we have to face them. You did what you thought was right, and bad things happened as a result. We cannot turn back time and try again. All you can do in the future is try harder, and consider all possibilities." He shrugged. "I admit, there was no way to foresee La calling on a Kraken to protect Tui. Sometimes, there is no way to tell what outcome our actions will have. We just have to keep moving. It is all we can do."
Cadence continued to cry, but her sobs were less hysterical, more simple grief. "Uncle," Zuko asked, "is there somewhere around here we can all relax? The troops need it...and so do we."
Iroh carefully unrolled the map. "Let me see..."
Yeah, great, excellent plan, Ozai. Sending your very ambitious and decidedly sociopath of a daughter to bring back your son. I can't see that failing in any possible way! </Groan> Well, at least Zuko, Iroh, and Cadence are safe. I wonder what this means for a certain Northern Water Tribe Princess and her Southern Water Tribe beau?
6640113 That is a very good point about Sokka and Yue, but she was still engaged to that one jackass unless he died aboard Zhaos ship when the kraken attacked
Poor Cadence, she needs a pick me up. Let's see.
pre01.deviantart.net/e646/th/pre/i/2013/277/2/b/fallout_equestria_2___winterpip_by_jetwave-d60oiik.png
nope
pre03.deviantart.net/35fa/th/pre/f/2011/246/9/9/not_a_bad_pony__by_sierraex-d48phw8.png
Yeah no
img07.deviantart.net/1548/i/2012/238/1/3/wedding_armor_by_fireflytwinkletoes-d5ckfai.png
Bingo, Shining Armor plushie.
You know what made this perfect? You know right after that last line there, where there's always an ad? For me it's an ad for "Anguilla: The Crown Jewel of the Caribbean". It just fit so well, accident or no.
Well, I don't blame them in the least for doing that and thinking they aren't south enough. Because that happened.
The motto of those out for their own ambitions: 'Let no crisis go unexploited.' Let's see if Azula fallows through, or comes out better than before. Looking forward to more.
Keep up the good work. Deus tecum.
Well, at this point we both know my views in regards to short chapters, so I won't drudge that up. Instead, I'll focus on something else.
Short though it was, a few plot points got introduced in this chapter. Azula has begun to make her move against the throne of the Fire Nation, Zuko's crew and family are grieving over the massacre of an entire armada of countrymen, Cadence is struggling to come to terms with her part in said massacre, and I think... I think I spotted an ember of resentment for Aang spark in Cadence. I don't know, I might be looking too deeply into this, so don't hold me to that.
All in all, this story is beginning to widen the gap between itself and the canon story of The Last Airbender. I'm eager for more!
6640113 Yeah... I'd have to say that's about on the same level as Celestia sending Discord alone after Tirek.
HOT SPRINGS WITH ZUKO AND AANG! YEAH!
Yeesh. That was pretty nasty. I hope things get better.
6640209
Really? All I got was an ad for snow boots.
6640113
Death by Snu-Snu?
6640138 I don't think he'd have even been out on the water yet. I don't remember that team leaving until the battle was already well underway.
So Azula's still sent out again, but she's getting sent out with some other commander for temperance....I wonder if that means she's not going to be the absolute authority for the mission. If she's not, though, I don't expect the poor guy to survive to make landfall after they head out to sea.
6640113 With Zhao dead on the first hour, the idiot wouldn't get the chance to infiltrate then fail, Sokka wouldn't get any opportunity to show his worth, Yue still lives and the betrothal still stands.
Lost canon opportunities for our characters to develop and a whole armada slaughtered
Sad Pandas for all
Canon was derailed, and now devoured by Kraken.
It is all on Tatsurou now.
Well, things have taken quite the unexpected but darkening turn.
If this Ozai isn't as needlessly cruel and petulant as the original, where is Jong-jong? and how is Aang going to even begin to learn firebending?
6640527
That already happened.
Remember Zuko's comment about how Zhao's last confrontation with the Avatar resulted in him destroying three of his own river boats? That was how the Jong-Jong episode ended.
And Jong-Jong's still a deserter.
6640113 She tripped down some stairs and died.
May have become the moon or something?
Tats, I know you're trying to keep this as firmly in the perspective of Cadence as possible, but I really want a look at the Gaang's reaction to seeing the invading fleet utterly demolished. Think you can work that in?
6640652
Hmm...
Momo: *hiding in Appa's mouth*
Aang: ...that...that was...
Katara: ...holy...
Sokka: *huddled in the corner* Can't sleep, the Deep Ones will eat me. Can't sleep, the Deep Ones will eat me. Can't sleep, the Deep Ones will eat me...
Appa: *slept through it, wakes up with a bad taste on his tongue*
...something like that. Not sure where I'd include it in the story.
6640113 Yue joins Team Avatar? On the one hand, she still believes she has a duty to her people and might insist on marrying Hahn because of that. On the other hand, Arnook did order Sokka to be her bodyguard during the siege (originally), so it's possible that he saw something in him that Hahn lacked, and called of the wedding. I'm just trying to justify her purpose in the team. The wiki doesn't say if she was a waterbender or not. I imagine she could act as a secondary teacher to Aang, focusing on the healing or spiritual side of bending. Maybe Sokka refused to leave and she opted to join them instead?
6640683
Actually, the spirit wiki states that, when she became the Moon Spirit, she demonstrated water bending ability which she lacked in life.
We didn't really see if Cadance's warning had any effect- it sounds like what happened was the same as canon. So were Yue & the Moon even saved, or not?
Poor kid.
6640407 actually it happened fairly early in the assault which made his assassination attempt failing so funny and in the previous chapter it said they were in attack range so it may have still happened we will have to see
Another enjoyable chapter. Good work.
6640407
6640734
6640738
The Kraken showed up before Zhao's armada had fired a single shot.
The special mission to assassinate Zhao wasn't sent out in canon until during the night after the initial assault.
6640734 not really, when aang went water monster, he crushed the fleet, destroying nearly everyship, but some did survive. This time, none except zuko's ship survives.
6640801 okay your right it's been a while since I watch thru the first season so my times aren't syncing up right
Okay I can't help but wonder one thing. How the hell did Azula get this information when the only survivors are Zuko and his crew? Obviously they had neither the time or desire to send a message. And I love how things are steadily shifting more and more away from canon.
I like this fic, but I have to admit Ozai and possibly Azula being less "evil" puts me off. I really enjoy them as sociopaths, especially Azula, that only care for themselves and meet their doom as a result. Still, I suppose the fic might not be too different from the series then? Idk, good fic though.
6640916
While I will say Ozai in this isn't a sociopath...
You're assuming a bit if you think Azula isn't. I made a few points in that direction in the chapter.
6640935 I admit I am, but it was because of Ozai's thoughts of Azula's grief towards Zhao. I'm not 100% sure that his thoughts don't reflect the truth, but I suppose they don't if you say I'm assuming XD
6640801
Well, this could just be peculiar phrasing, and that's how I'm going to interpret it until I'm given greater reason to do otherwise, but that is an awfully suspicious way to make that statement.
6640861
Zhao communicates back to Ozai (or Azula, I guess) via messenger birds, according to Zuko in a previous chapter. He could have sent one off before losing his ship to the Kraken, and been able to include info on Zuko's retreat.
That doesn't really explain Azula getting the information so quickly, but it does explain the existence of the information at all.
6641481
Because, unlike in canon, the mission never got sent in this timeline.
6641561
Well now I feel silly.
Ooooooo, this won't end horribly at all~
8D
Nice chapter~
He's got a good point. However, if he just makes things worse...
Wow, he DID get her to care, at least to some degree.
Yes, send the sociopath who hates her brother after him, genius Ozai, pure genius.
Good idea.
That sounds somewhat amusing.
Good. Hurt, possibly, but nobody's been hurt too badly.
Well, better than nothing. I'm curious, do these two count as Those Two Bad Guys? Except more competant?
Damn, thing must have been terrifying.
More than enough to be safe from the Kraken I'd say.
Agreed.
Aye, Zhao may not have been nice, but he was talented.
They'd probably have died either way...
He has a point...
Definitly.
So soka keep his princess girlfriend?
Puns would normally be for this comment but for this kind of heavier chapter, probably not. Still hard to believe that Azula got any tip at all concerning about Zuko and his crew. Must've been a big tip off for her to find out so soon though. Zhao really was a bad guy and his fate was the same in the end but to have it end this way though... One could argue if there was a much better way to have this solved, but we may never know.
Pros and cons:
Pros: -Yue lives.
Cons: -Yue marries a dick and Sokka doesn't go through important character development.
-Aang doesn't go through his first intentional entering of the spirit world.
-The Ember Island Players have something different to ruin
-Zhao's moment of madness is prevented, thus preventing Iroh's 'betrayal' which in turn keeps it off-track.
-Cadance could pass off the early retreat as having been warned by the spirits, further keeping it off-track.
So Yue doesn't die, she marries that jerk and Sokka doesn't go through character development? DAMMIT, KRAKEN!
Azula apparently forgot that Cadance was on Zuko's ship. If memory serves right, then Zuko and Iroh are the only ones who know she isn't of the Spirit World, and thusly, Azula forgets that a Spirit Creature could have sensed the growing presence of the Kraken, warned her family and crew to vacate, and due to the haste in which escape was taken, was unable to warn any other ships.
Tha' bein' said, Lad, there were many lives lost tha' Cad'nce feels she be respons'ble for. A vacation sounds 'bout th' right thing fer 'er t' recov'r.
Poor Cadence. I hope Zuko and her father can find a way to cheer her up. I suggest finding the best stable nearby and letting the grooms pretty her up to make sure she's in top shape then go to a human spa.
6640407 Yeah, telling the psycho she isn't in charge means she'll off the guy and take over.
6640861 he could very well have managed to avoid being crushed and survived by floating on a plank and gotten to a messenger bird that Tats mentioned he was using to send back reports. I wouldn't be surprised if he survived and will come back later to face Zuko again. Of course, everyone says he's dead but we never see a corpse combined with the fact Azula seems to be hiding something....
You know... I'm not sure how to feel, really. What can be compared, from what happened in the canon to what transpired here? Is everyone dead, or are they all trapped in the Spirit World? Is there a lesson to learn, or is this simply The Art of War? Did Azula actually care for Zhao, or am I the real sociopath?
I mean, there wasn't really a conflict, just a bloodbath. Yue's OK, so that would mean the Suki/Sokka ship's been sunk. We didn't really get any insight into Zuko's tragic past, because he doesn't really have one. Aang, Katara, and Sokka got everything they wanted to do without consequence...
I'm still not seeing the why, here-...
Oh, yeah, I forgot. It doesn't matter what other people think, mostly just the main focus and various others. So by diverging from the canon (Heh, Korra was many things, but at least it didn't actually have an entire army wiped out... well, besides the flashback with Wan, but that was, like, 60 spirits/people at once), Cadence has to deal with the consequences of her actions and strive to make better choices... but does that make this better, or worse than the show? Well, regardless of its worth, it's certainly very anti-climactic.
Well, now comes the exile.
7390538
Aftermath