As soon as everyone was aboard the ship, Zuko set sail for Crescent Island, the location of the Fire Sages Temple, where Avatar Roku was enshrined. According to Iroh, if Aang was seeking to commune with Roku, that was the only location with a strong enough spiritual connection to Roku to allow such communication, and only when the jewel embedded in Roku's statue was illuminated by the light of the Winter Solstice sun. Zuko ordered all speed, and with luck he felt they would reach the island either before Aang, or shortly after.
As he caught sight of the sky bison - a good distance away from Fire Nation territorial waters - he swallowed convulsively. He couldn't call on Iroh or Cadence's advice at this point. The former was below, comforting the latter who was still recovering from her hostage experience. He'd have to handle this on his own, and hope he made the right decisions.
"The Avatar is in range!" Lieutenant Jong - the recently promoted troop who'd spotted the wilted vegetation when Cadence had been captured - called out. He was currently manning the telescope as lookout.
Lieutenant Zhin - Jong's recently promoted partner who'd remembered Cadence's effect on plant life - moved to the catapult controls. "Should we open fire, sir?"
Zuko stared up at the speck that the Sky Bison appeared to be to his unaided vision, weighing his options. Finally, he spoke up. "No," he stated finally. "With only the one catapult, there's no way we'll be able to hit him. That Bison moves too fast in the air, and he'll have more than enough time to dodge every shot. Don't waste the ammo."
Feeling a heat from around his neck, he opened the pouch in time for the pink flame to release another scroll. Opening it, he smiled. "Besides, we'll have more than enough ships before too long. My Father's been informed that the Avatar is heading for Crescent Island, and he's put the blockade of our territorial waters under my command."
"I thought Commander Zhao was in charge of the defensive fleet?" another of the troops asked.
Zuko couldn't suppress his smirk. "He is," he replied. "And today, he takes his orders directly from me." He did his best to pretend to ignore his troops' laughter at that.
Seeing the approaching blockade, Zuko went to the catapult. "We're launching a signal flare," he ordered. "Pass the order on to the blockade to use non-explosive ammunition. Since there are ways to learn Airbending without Airbenders, the death of the Avatar will not end his threat. He is to be captured alive, no exceptions."
Lieutenant Zhin nodded as he loaded the appropriate flare signal into the catapult and launched it. Lieutenant Jong was able to confirm that the ships of the blockade - with the exception of Zhao's own ship - were obeying the order and loading nets, grappling hooks, and other such weaponry into their catapults, tied to the ships to draw the captured Avatar back in once the Bison was caught.
Zuko watched as Aang maneuvered his Sky Bison to evade the weapons fire. I was right, he thought to himself. He and his Bison have a very strong bond. In the air, they're all but untouchable. Our best bet to capture him will be on the ground. "Ignore the Avatar," Zuko ordered. "Set course straight for Crescent Island, full speed. Signal five ships to join us as we pass through the blockade. If we manage to get to the island ahead of the Avatar, we can set up an ambush. If not, we'll have enough men to swarm him under if necessary."
As the ship passed through the blockade, Zuko was curious though unsurprised to see that Zhao's ship was one of the ones that turned to join his, even as the Avatar successfully evaded the capture weaponry and make it past the blockade.
While Zuko's plan for capturing the Avatar at Crescent Island was sound, the sheer number of troops he was trying to move through the Temple proved in error. Aang was able to make it into the chamber where Roku's statue was hidden during the confusion, although his two friends, his flying lemur, and his Bison were caught. Since the chamber sealed itself off so it couldn't be opened, Zuko ordered Zhao to arrange the troops around the only entrance, in order to capture Aang when he came out.
Meanwhile, Zuko led his own troops to another part of the temple bordering the chamber, and consulted the Fire Sages who remained loyal to the Fire Lord about the temple's construction, planning a means by which the chamber could be broken open from another wall.
Before he was ready to actually attempt this, however, the doors opened, a blaze of blue light behind them. Zhao gave the order to attack...and Zuko returned with his men just in time to see that Avatar Roku had somehow infused Aang to return to the physical world for a time.
Zuko immediately gave the order to withdraw. He knew they didn't have the manpower to face a fully realized Avatar, and trying to engage now would only waste lives. He had considered using the hostages he'd taken to stop Roku, but his first counterattack freed them. His second unleashed the fury of the volcano the Temple was built on.
As he'd suspected, the manifestation of Roku didn't last long, and the Avatar was exhausted afterwards. Unfortunately, there was no way to take advantage of the situation with how the volcano's eruption was affecting the land and seas, and so he was forced to follow along behind him again.
There was some good news for Zuko, however. Apparently, Avatar Roku had appeared in Iroh's chambers during the sunset specifically to help calm and comfort Cadence. She seemed to be back to her old self now...save for bedding down in the crow's nest.
Nice to see Zhao being put in his place. And maybe you're messing up a bit if the apparition of your own avatar isn't working for you.
I can only call this a 'cute' little chapter.
Roku helped Cadence, now it's my turn, a cookie for Cadance orig01.deviantart.net/9798/f/2012/282/2/3/the_cookie__s_all_mine_____by_oathkeeper21-d5haav4.png
Good to see Zuko thinking rationally in his first large scale command. Looking forward to more.
Keep up the good work. Deus tecum.
Not even Roku can resist the power of cuteness coming from Cadence.
Cuteness all around!
Another enjoyable chapter. Good job.
Starting at this paragraph, it suddenly sounds like you're summarizing something we should already know. I haven't watched the show in a long time, so the sudden tone change is even more jarring. Seriously, that whole ending section could be expanded into a chapter of its own.
Nice to see Zuko getting a leg up on Zhao. Not to mention Roku decidedly approaching Cadence
6581153 I still havn't seen any full episodes of the show myself, just enough bits and pieces to know who all the main characters are.
I seriously have no idea what Aang's goal even is.
6581270
Aang has to stop fire lord Ozai by learning the other 3 elements before Sozin's comet appears and makes every firebender (including Ozai) OP while it passes through the atmosphere. I tried to give as few spoilers as possible.
I guess more ships had a... Net loss.
Good thing Zhao's attack didn't erupt in his face... Oh wait.
Zuko's entrance plan seems to be... Blown out of proportion.
Cadence most likely is going to get bed birds now.
6581270 To master the 4 puns.
6580924 The Avatar is a servant of the world, not of any specific nation. Fire Lord Sozin failed to realize this when confronting Roku.
WARNING!!! This is a negative review. If you do not wish to view something that will likely incite emotions of anger and thoughts of flaming, do not view. You have been warned.
Okay, I think it's obvious to the both of us by now that I am a big fan of nearly all of your works. This story is no exception. I love your characterization, I love your plot twists, and I love how you make both worlds that the stories involve seemingly dance to your tune.
But this chapter, right here, feels like an affront to not only me, but fan fiction writers everywhere. This was not a chapter. This. Was. A. PAGE. I know you use short chapters normally, but still!
Granted, you're working on multiple stories at once. Obviously, updates are going to be slow going. I've accepted that. Quality requires time and patience. Fine. I can wait. This though...
The only... THE ONLY... excuse I can think up for this is that you felt rushed for time. If that's the case, I don't know why. You're not being paid to write these, as far as I know. You haven't told any of us that you've dedicated yourself to a schedule. I think. I don't pay attention to blog posts all that much, so if I got that wrong then this comment is gonna be very embarrassing.
So, yeah, I'm disappointed with this chapter. I don't like giving a critique like this, it tends to have everyone and their mother bomb me relentlessly with hate mail, but I learned that not saying anything is just as bad, if not worse, than giving a bad review. So... please don't sic Ratchet's daughter on me?
6581401
Actually, the reason this chapter was so short was due to a lack of material I could use. I established right from the start that Cadence and Iroh weren't going to be doing anything during the Temple segment. Then, looking at the episode itself, I had little I could work with to build from beyond that, especially with Zuko acting as a Commander rather than how he was in the show.
And the next episode is too disconnected from this one to combine them.
Also, I was a little rushed for time, since I wanted to complete one of today's two chapters before I went out on errands, and still have time for the second when I got back. (In my blogs, I have promised to write two chapters a day, six days a week. Today's updates are this and "Sons of Damas".)
So, if this chapter is subpar as far as length or quality, it's a combination of a lack of usable material and a shortage of time.
6581504 Yeah, not enough materials for puns either so far. I think I might be burning myself out with my pun dedication here
6581401 Honesty is best.
6581401
Negative critique, but without any bashing.That is how it's done.
I'd have to agree with you, at least as far as how short this chapter is. Going by this episode in the series, there really isn't much there though.
6581504 Well, why not just throw a couple of the stories on the back burner? Don't stop them, but free up some time to finish up the others? When I was a writer I usually just let the chapter build itself up before I posted it. Sometimes that would takes weeks, rather than days, because of all the crap that surrounded my life then. Most of my fans didn't care, so long as I wasn't outright quitting.
And thank you for not tearing me apart. I knew logically you wouldn't, you've always been accepting of critiques, but after the first time someone flips their shit on you over a bad comment, you worry regardless.
6581516 You could say it's my virtue...
6581533
I literally have nothing else going on in my life. Writing two chapters a day like this gives me a sense of purpose to my day, and the fact that I've committed to it gives me that extra nudge to say, "Yes, I should get out of bed today."
And trying to let the chapter 'build', as you describe, doesn't really work for me. I have to let it flow instead. I don't think a single chapter in any story I've posted on this site has gone from start to finish in more than a single day.
6581540 To each their own I suppose.
6581401 you got it wrong, Page and a half, also The chapters are summing up the episodes, the main reason this chapter was so short, was mainly because Cadence really didn't have much of an impact on things going on at the moment.
6581689 Yeah... I may have been venting something completely unrelated when I posted the comment, but it's moot now. Tatsurou and I already discussed it.
It is very pleasing to find a fresh take on the Avatar series, and inserting Cadence in here flows very well! Normally I don't find Cadence fics to be all that interesting of a read, and especially reduxed versions of a story such as Avatar TLAB, but this caught my attention. It flows so well and assuming what might happen had Cadence been a part of the war sticks very well. It will be interesting to see what you do moving forward.
Clever.
Relax, you'll be fine.
Jong'S recently promoted partner.
Clever. I love how you have us Rooting for the Empire, so to speak.
Troops'. Also, yeah, he's going to enjoy this.
Interesting...
6580962 I think you might have a tinyshy nest in your house, because one clearly got into your cookies.
This is a nice bite sized chapter that handles the fact that the differing character isn't directly present, but she still affects the plot. Zuko wasn't slowed by Zhao, but the story still continues in a way that makes sense within the original story. Bravo on making the best of a bad episode considering what happened previously.
Yus!
A nice chapte, short and... short, but I liked it, specially that bit at the end.
Nicely done.
6582295 But, they is so cute.
Good to see that Zuko can remain calm and keep a level head. It's just too bad he was once again unable to capture Aang.
Yay, Zhao is not getting his promotion!!! I hope he tries to go after the Moon Spirit... Only to have Cadence and Aang beat the cp out of him.
Also, are we sure Cuteness isn't an element???? Because Cadence seems to be a Master level Cute Bender.
6585372 I agree with you that would be funny to see that happen.
so are you planning on going full term with this set of stories and following the series accurately or will you be changing it up a bit?
But who's ever going to do that? Wan already said that Cadence isn't from here, so any of her offsprings' offspring isn't going to be an Avatar. Besides, the only person who tried to learn airbending only did so because an Avatar restored balance through Harmonic Convergence, so there's no chance of an Avatar being born once the balance is broken.
Other than that, it was cool seeing Zuko being a leader.
everyone bows before the adorableness of cadence
I have no reply to how you changed this story.
As pointed out before, is possible to learn Air Bending From Scrolls.
I am just the smallest bit unsatisfied that you're not changing the story. I mean, I don't exactly expect an Embers from you, but so far you've literally just been changing the reasons that things happen, without at all changing what actually happens. I mean, even if you'd made it so that Zuko got to Kyoshi first, and Aang talked with him due to that, and now Aang was playing an infuriating game of keep-away with Zuko, that would have been an interesting change. Or have Cadence stop the Earth Kingdom soldiers before they carted her and Iroh off.
I can only assume that as the story progresses, these little... tension changes... will end up causing a non-cannon break that goes a different direction in an important part of the story- but I'm anticipating that won't be for either a long time, or not at all. Like, I'm fully expecting that Zuko Alone will be an 'infiltration mission' but otherwise happen exactly as in the show, etc. etc.
It's an interesting story, but so far it's basically just a re-telling of AtLA, and I'm not seeing how the addition of Cadence is going to change things up- unlike in One More Thing! where the CMC are clearly affecting the events of the story, even if they're not changing the timeline too much.
7433900
Apart from the fact that Zuko is more personable, on better terms with his father, AND in better control of his temper?
A lesson I learned from early fan fiction writers, "Sometimes the smallest changes have the largest impact"
Though, with Zhao under Zuko's foot (haha), makes me wonder if you'll cover the episode when Aang gets captured by Zhao, gets locked up, and then is rescued by Zuko under the guise of "The Blue Spirit".
7685433
My favorite version of this was a Evangelion Fanfic where Shinji having Warhammer 40K as a Hobby and his Uncle actually being responsible and trying to act as a responsible father figure helped Shinji to be more mentally stable and competent. And the stack of dominoes that fell as a result.
10210828
Do you remember the name? I'd like to check it out.