The Coalition Moves Out

Vlace looks around the area after another sleepless night, at the docks were the lone modified transport stood proudly. It could serve as a war vessel and a transport for the entire coalition while staying fast enough to outrun most navy vessels. And with the support of water venders to speed it up, it might be one of the fastest biggest ships in the ocean. It was given the name White Lotus Garden, as that was the banner they would be marching under together.

Vlace let his mind wander to the situation at hand. 'Something wasn't adding up that the Fire Lord was doing. They were all missing the big picture but what was it? There was something going on underneath the surface that was going to take them down, like a rip current. I don't even think that the Fire Lord knows what it is. The avatar thinks she does... But she doesn't. I don't.' Vlace knew that he was on the verge of thinking of what it was or that he was going to connect the dots on the thoughts that he had, but the more he thought about it and the more he put the dots together, the farther away he was to coming to the answer. He knew that he was missing the smallest part of the puzzle, but it was the piece that completed it and made it make sense.

Vlace wrestled some more in his mind but didn't get anywhere else so he focused on the task at hand. Things were tense between the three nations, each one thinking they were better fighters than the other and he didn't want Kaero's group to get involved in the spit spat. He had ordered the four different factions to meet up at the dock, with their leaders and ordered the avatar to be there as well. They needed to trust one another. Or it wouldn't work and they would fall to this unknown threat.

He was waiting for the leaders to show up, and the avatar. It was time to rally. Time for a speech.

Vlace sipped from his cup of tea and went up onto the deck of the ship staring out over the dock. He could see people coming from all factions slowly. Now he waited.

Yen stretched. He had only just woken up. He had grabbed a delicious cup of soup, Ice Eel soup, which was holding onto with his left hand, taking a sip every minute or so. He couldn't get enough of all the soups they had here at the Northern Water Tribe.

Yen walked through the already opened gates of the palace, seeing The General standing outside on a huge ship, overseeing the docks. The sun had only just gotten up, so it was rather chilly outside. Yen slowly walked towards the ship, enjoying his soup... perhaps a little too much. His steps were small.

Yen was now standing in front of the ship, below The General, who was obviously lost deep in thought, looking at his face. "Good morning, General," Yen yelled to him, "have you slept well?" Yen sat down on a nearby rock.

[[Gah, I hate blue. It's unreadable! Changed it to yellow]]

Hoshi met his soldiers at the giant ice gate of the northern water tribe. They were led by none other than his bodyguard General Yu. He explained that the ex-fire nation general was requesting everyones presense at the docks and that meant all of them. They walked in silence. He had taken the liberty of strictly disciplining his own elite squad of soldiers himself alongside his bodyguard Yu. They arrived at the dock as some others allready had. He saw that the avatar and prince were here along with most of there soldiers. He greeted General Yu and Vlace, bowing to Vlace and asking Yu to do the same. He then bowed to Avatar Kiari and Held his hand out for a shake.

Kaero watched the coalition forces move out. A lost cause, held together by a dying general and a naive avatar. A wish and a prayer. It wouldn't hold together, not with the amount of unrest in the world. The Black Dragon is moving up from the south, extending it's tendrils out into the fire nation. There are whispers of a soldier revolt in the fire nation, and now, Kaero and his new ally would form yet another faction in this struggle for power.

He spoke with his lieutenant, telling him to escort Kaero to Omashu and placing a temporary commander in charge of his outlanders, then walked down to the port and hired a crew and a ship to bring the pair to the earth kingdom. His letters would have been delivered by now. And it would be wise for the coalition's flimsly leadership to pay their dues. Kaero leapt up onto the ship and it pushed off, leaving the northern water tribe behind, and Omashu ahead.

This was not happening. This was absolutely one hundred and twenty percent not happening. She was here. She was finally actually totally here. In the North Pole. With water benders. And not just any water benders. The Avatar was here. In the same area as Yukare. This was not happening.

A week ago, this was barely a thought in the back of her mind. Sure, she knew that something was happening up in the North Pole. Something involving the Avatar and a possible conflict with the Fire Nation, but it was nothing that Yukare was going to concern herself with. Well, nothing that she could directly get involved with. That is, until her father dropped the news that he, her mother, and Yukare were going to the North Pole to celebrate the recent events are were going to meet the Avatar.

Life was good.

So, now she was here. Sure, both her parents had gone to the North Pole, it was not unheard of, but Yukare never had. It was supposed to be a special journy to make when she turned eighteen to truly master water bending. She was almost crying of joy. But, deep down inside, she knew that it wasn't a time of pure bliss and celebration. There was something big going on, and Yukare had a bad feeling that she was going to be stuck in the middle of it.

And, as luck would have it, she was. Not two hours after her family arrived did her father pull her aside.

"Yukare, you and I need to go to the docks tomorrow."

"Why?" She was nervous. Something wasn't right. He looked like he was hiding something. Or there was something that he was about to tell her, but didn't want to.

"I'm a warrior of the South Pole. You're a water bender. They need warriors and benders alike to travel with the Avatar. Just...just in case."

"WHAT?! Dad, I'm barely a water bender, I can't do nearly anything! I can't...I just..."

"I know this is a lot for you. It's more than anyone should ask, but it has to be done." Yukare hung her head. She was not going to go against the wishes of The Avatar, or her own dad. She only nodded, then went to her room for the night.

She barely got any sleep. How could anyone?! There was no way she was ready for this. What if something happened to her? Of course she was going to be strong, in the name of her country. But that did not mean that every moment made her more and more scared.

Finally, the morning came. Yukare stood alongside her father among the docks with many other faces. Most water tribe, but plenty of other people from plenty of other lands. Sure, Yukare wanted to learn and see the other nations, but this was not exactly how she planned it. Looking around, she saw The Avatar Kiari. Wow, she was this close to The Avatar. A small smile crossed her face. Honestly, this was kind of cool. IN a it-really-shouldn't-be-but-she-was-seventeen-and-excitable kind of way. That excitement would probably pass soon.

Vlace stood up on a stack of crates over looking the dock and made sure he was able to be seen by everyone in the huge crowd below. But as Vlace looked out into the crowd he saw what he didn't want to see. All the fire nation benders were in a group off to one side and the earth benders were all to another part and the water benders in their own group. The water and earth benders were closer together though, with the fire benders being singled out.

Vlace noticed the disappearance of the outlanders. Their presence would be missed. He knew he had to be strong now or there would be nothing stopping this coalition from falling apart. And they needed to be strong. The Black Dragon was making a move, and the fire nation was going into a civil war. He just hoped that the earth king would stand behind him no matter what. He would be an invaluable ally. He knew the avatar would be right there by his side no matter what happens and he was so grateful for that.

Vlace's head felt like something was pounding in it over and over and over again. A pressure was building at the bridge of his nose again and he ignored it knowing that to give in was also to lose the coalition. He took out a white lotus petal and chewed it waiting for the relieving to happen. His mind wandered to his rise in life and he laughed, "All I want to do is go back to my garden and meditate and travel the world with the Order of the White Lotus, but here I am, the general of the coalition, the only hope for a free world and I am about to march back to the fire nation and be placed on the throne. I don't want this." He looked at the avatar and and then quickly back to the dock, "It is only cause she wants it. Though why she wants me to be on the throne is any ones guess as I am so frustrating to deal with. So particular and cocky. The avatar must feel like she is walking on glass near me."

He waited for silence as it slowly took hold of the dock, and even the city seemed quiet hinging upon Vlace and his goal, and he knew if that this didn't go well the coalition would last no longer than when the world put pressure on them. This pressure would tear them apart. He needed to make sure this was the speech of the ages.

He began quietly, his voice still carrying but people leaned in to hear anyways. Even though his voice was quiet it still carried the power, authority and confidence that had marked him as a great speaker. "Women. Men. Children. Warriors and Benders. Today we stand together water nation, earth nation, fire nation in a moment in history that shall decide the course of this world. We are standing at a moment in history that is going to decide what type of world we live in and what type of world our children live in and our children's children. And it is up to us to decide the fate of the world. It is up to us to decide the course history takes and it is up to us to decide what world our families will have in ten or twenty years and beyond that. Shall it be one of terror or one of peace and safety? Will it be one where you have to fight for freedom? Or one where freedom is considered the right of the people and the right of the nations? It is up to us to decide how the future shall treat us and everything that we hold dear." Vlace's voice had slowly been rising as he spoke and now it was full volume his voice ringing with the very essence of power.

"We stand at a moment in time where people will look back at us and say that we were the hope the entire world put its faith into. We were the army that was going to save everyone from the evil that was brewing through out the land. We stand here today knowing that we have the ability to change the future for the better and that we are the hope that the world is hinging itself upon. It is up to us to decide how we respond to this calling. Do we as a group, accept this calling? Are we going to do whatever it takes- do we take this responsibility? Or do we shy away from it all? Do we pass this moment in time and will we look back at it and say what a moment we missed to save the people we love- To save the nations we love so much? We are here today asking these questions to ourselves and we are here today to answer them. There shall be no tomorrow for this coalition of nations if today we don't answer the call. If today we shy away.

Today we need to take the calling that the world- that destiny- is placing at our feet and unite today not only under one banner, but with mind and spirit. Today we need to look away from the past and move into the future. I am not saying that we need to forget the past, but I am saying that the past speaks for itself, in unity we are strong, in disunity and distrust we are weak. For us to take the fight to the darkness we need to be unified, not as three separate nations coming together and fighting for a common goal. As one nation. As one body. As one army with one goal. We need to not think ourselves as one of the fire nation or one of the water or earth nation, and we need to look past that and say we are one of the White Lotus. When asked what are you fighting for answer with the future. We need to forget the things that have kept us separate for so long and we need to remember that everything is connected no matter how different. We need not fight under three separate banners under one name but under one banner and one name. The banner and name of the world. The name and banner that everyone shall recognize, enemies and friends alike.

Today, warriors of the Lotus, we have the chance to form and change the future unlike any other person has been given before. Let us be remembered, not as the people that couldn't unite, but as the people that saved the world. Let us not be the people that shied away from destiny but the people that ran to meet it head on. Let us be the people that were able to put away their differences for the entire world- for everything we love. Let us be remembered as the people that changed the world and not as the people that let the world be changed. For if we don't unite today the world will change and if we don't unite today we are letting the fear of the past influence and take priority over the fear of what the future might hold.

I ask today as a general. As a warrior and a bender. I ask today as a friend. Let us not be shaken by what the world throws at us and let us not break apart when loyalties are tested like they were recently. Let stand together and behind each other so when one of us falls the rest of us may catch him, and put him back on his feet. We need to stand together through the good and the bad for the rest that we may all have to live. We need to forgive and forget the wrongs that have been delivered to us and stand together all as friends, all as warriors- together. And then and only then shall we be able to overcome the evil that has spread and proliferated through out the land.

Today, let us unite. Today. Let it be today."

Kiari yawned slightly, starring up at the sky continually with increasing boredom, but she knew she had to look like a figure, so she ventured tot he other side of the boat and sent out a few waves to the crowd just to let them know she was there for support, to give them a reminder of what they are fighting for.

Then the yelling started. She tried to tune it out at first, her head was throbbing from lack of sleep since she spent all night int he spirit temple and all the knowledge that the spirits bestowed on her, that last thing she needed was someone yelling right next to her. the crowd could probably see the pains slightly but she shook off and listened.

Kiari listened intently to the general, to his every-word. She felt he had done a good job, that there was a reason she chose him to lead the them. When ti was over she went to the captain of the ship and told him to prepare to shove off. Then she told the guards to start moving people onto the ships and the one they where on. she wanted to avoid a lot of attention so before the people boarded she entered her private cabin, not to exit till later that day. They were all to leave soon, and take their first steps towards their destinies.

Yukare stood every closer to her father, as well as the rest of the water benders. Everyone else seemed to be with their respective nations, as kind of to be expected. Still, the presence of people from the Fire Nation confused her. Maybe she hadn't received the full story, but weren't they fighting against the Fire Nation? Oh well, probably better not to ask questions. Still, she bit her lip in distress. All this not knowing what was going on but being expected to do something was not good for her. She liked either having control or having people not expect much of her. Here, she seemed to lack either.

Finally, some dude whom she'd never seen but was probably important stood up on the crates to overlook everyone. He had this look on his face like he kind of didn't want to be there in a weird way. Probably the same way everyone else didn't really want to be there. People were scared, many had no idea what was about to happen. Maybe no one did. And here this dude was, who actually looked like he was Fire Nation, who Yukare could only assume was going to try and lead them against what she was told would also be the Fire Nation? Maybe he was just as confused as well.

Or maybe he was tired. Maybe he has a long history of war success and now was hoping to just stay home. Maybe he wants to be done with fighting but isn't being given the chance. Maybe, just maybe, he was just like Yukare, in way too over his head.

Well, if he was, he sure didn't show it the second he opened his mouth. He began to talk to the people about what was about to happen. He sounded so confident, even when talking about possible impending doom for everyone. Again, like he'd done this before and would do it again. Yukare was lost for words. It wasn't that his speech inspired her to boldy go where no bender has gone before, but it helped her to understand. Whatever was about to happen was more complicated than she had originally thought. And there was no turning back now.

Especially after some guards started yelling at them to board a ship. Now she was being told by some angry looking spears that turning back might not be the best idea. Her father grabbed her hard firmly and they began to walk. At that point, she wasn't sure if he was leading her, or she was leading him. In truth, they were probably both just being pushed by the crowd. Just as they were about to board, Yukare stopped her father. "My pouch is empty, got to fill up."

"Yukare...you're a water bender...I told you we were going to a battle. It didn't cross your mind earlier to fill your pouch?"

He had a point. "Umm...well...be quiet." Her face turning slightly redder, she turned her back to him and began to manipulate the water. She hated the pullback feeling. Almost as if the water was trying to resist her pull. Even though water was fluid, it probably made sense that it didn't exactly like being told what to do. Being a earthbender must suck if water gave her this much difficulty. But, it eventually complied and she was eventually ready to go. She wasn't sure how much good her water would do anyway. All she really knew how to do was splash and maybe push people away. She could kind of freeze water, but it just made it more of a weird halfway state, not really ice. Well, she supposed she could make snowballs and throw them at people, but she had a feeling that their final destination would probably be boasting warmer climates than she was used to. Nodding at her father, they stepped on board together, her childhood fantasies about the North Pole staying back on the dock.

All the general wanted to do was protect the Earth King it was bad enough he was outside his kingdom and out here, the general had been training many soidlers lately. In his gut he knew that the fire lord wasnt the bigges threat there was something else out here something far worse.

He and his soilders stayed very close to the earth, his eye dared not moved away from the earth king, using a ancient earthbending technique he could feel all happening around him the water shift's what his men were doing, and what the avatar was doing.

He did not care about anything else, he only card about the earth king's safety all the other's things were out of his mind by now.

Taro sat on a short wall inside the city, watching as the coalition formed up for it's negotiations, and possible assault. After observing the crowd for some time, he caught sight of Yukare and her father, the people he had come here with. Taro stood up, he had finally began to get used to the water nation clothes that he was wearing. His old clothes were wrapped up in a bundle on his back, along with his minimal armor. Hogosha and Higosha were still worn in their regular places however. Only a minor adjustment had been needed to fit them to the water nation clothing. He ran along the top of the wall, watching the people below him stare up as he passed. Finally, he reached a section of the wall near Yukare and her father, Taro leapt down into the crowd and followed the flow as it pushed him towards a ship. This was it, if the coalition's negotiations broke down, Taro would be fighting as a soldier.

Not as a lone swordsmen wandering the countryside, but a faceless figure marching into the meat grinder of war. Killing innocent people, people who are just defending their country. He still wasn't sure if he could do it. Would the twins allow him to? What would Miaru think? It was too late to turn back now. Taro shook his head. No, he wasn't straying from his path. He was still defending others, still a protector, a guardian. Or was he? The invasion, it would be against a nation that has laid down it's arms, disbanded it's military and sacrificed it's ability to fight back. It would be a slaughter... Without honor, dignity or purpose. Just blind killing. Taro couldn't do that. He would only fight to protect the innocent, and if that meant fighting the coalition to save an innocent in the fire nation, so be it. Taro would not hurt the innocent, and if the coalition does, then they would be his enemy.

Taro sat on a short wall inside the city, watching as the coalition formed up for it's negotiations, and possible assault. After observing the crowd for some time, he caught sight of Yukare and her father, the people he had come here with. Taro stood up, he had finally began to get used to the water nation clothes that he was wearing. His old clothes were wrapped up in a bundle on his back, along with his minimal armor. Hogosha and Higosha were still worn in their regular places however. Only a minor adjustment had been needed to fit them to the water nation clothing. He ran along the top of the wall, watching the people below him stare up as he passed. Finally, he reached a section of the wall near Yukare and her father, Taro leapt down into the crowd and followed the flow as it pushed him towards a ship. This was it, if the coalition's negotiations broke down, Taro would be fighting as a soldier.

Not as a lone swordsmen wandering the countryside, but a faceless figure marching into the meat grinder of war. Killing innocent people, people who are just defending their country. He still wasn't sure if he could do it. Would the twins allow him to? What would Miaru think? It was too late to turn back now. Taro shook his head. No, he wasn't straying from his path. He was still defending others, still a protector, a guardian. Or was he? The invasion, it would be against a nation that has laid down it's arms, disbanded it's military and sacrificed it's ability to fight back. It would be a slaughter... Without honor, dignity or purpose. Just blind killing. Taro couldn't do that. He would only fight to protect the innocent, and if that meant fighting the coalition to save an innocent in the fire nation, so be it. Taro would not hurt the innocent, and if the coalition does, then they would be his enemy.

Vlace watched the ship boarding process and greeted the troops as they came over to him and he looked into their eyes and made sure they knew they were doing the right thing and that they would come out on top and that there was nothing to fear. Vlace memorized names and faces and made jokes and made sure he was giving the troops the face of success. He talked to every tribe and nation making sure to include everyone. Giving people assurance when they needed it and getting people to warm up to one another. Before long the boat was an uproar, people talking to others from different nations and it was just a sense unity. It felt almost tangible. Vlace was a litle miffed the avatar wasn't here by his side doing the same thing, they could use her now, especielly to spread confidence, but he knew she needed to be alone sometimes. But still... He sorely missed her and her prescense. Something was gnawing in the back of his mind and he wanted to talk to her about it. Before they reached the bay. But he knew there would be some time for that later.

They set off finaly once the last cargo had been loaded and Vlace quickly disappeared from the above deck scene about an hour into the journey. He descended below and debated with himself. But the debate was short lived. He went over to the avatar's door and knocked on it. If she chose not to answer it Vlace would leave and return to the upper deck, but he would stay alone and stare off into the water with a cloak on so no one would recognize him.

Vlace stood outside the avatars door for a moment and he really wanted to talk to her. To see her. To just be near her. She was his closest friend, and ally. He had heard she was going to step off with the earth king at the Bay and he was greatly troubled by this. And he knew that it wasn't just because he really liked her. Though that was some of the reason, he felt better with her near him so he could protect her. Even though that was such a stupid statement considering it was the avatar he just had that feeling he had learned to trust no matter what. But he couldn't tell her that.

And not to mention the fact that the earth nation had the most dangerous enemies at hand within it. The most dangerous to the avatar and they were fully aware of that. They would strike when he was not there when she was out of the protection of the White Lotus Army. As much as he wanted to put faith in the earth army and as much respect as he had for the King and his General, there were just somethings that inexperience was going to let by. And Vlace understood the enemies better than anyone else. Not to mention the affect on the army. They would see her leaving and suddenly be filled with doubts again he had worked so hard to erase.

"Why can't she see this?!?" Vlace thought angrily to himself. "I am the one she trusts the most. I am the one that has led us this far with out messing up. I am the one that considers her my best friend. I am the on that is going to go to the fire nation and take over as Fire Lord. For HER. I don't even want to do it! But I am! She won't even be there for my coronation. I have been the one that stood behind her. I am the one that risked everything for her... I am the one that cares about her more than I care about anything else... I... I..." He couldn't get himself to finish the last sentence, but he was spared because she opened the door.

As soon as she opened the door he knew he had made a mistake and he said with a flat tone that betrayed nothing of the turmoil inside himself and a face that matched, though on the inside his heart thudded hard, "I seem to have come at a bad time. There shall always be tomorrow. I apologize profusely for disturbing you. See you around."

He turned around with a sinking feeling and he pulled up his cloak around his body and pulled the hood over his face. "See you around Avatar." He left for upstairs and walked out onto the deck onto the prow and stared into the waves as the boat cut through them.

Taro was pushed along onto the ship, finding himself in a strange ship, fire nation by the look of it. He wandered about inside for a while before running into a group of people talking about the avatar. They said that she was accepting visitors, one at a time. Apparently he would have a chance to meet the legendary figure. Taro made his way through the ship, and eventually managed to find the Avatar's room. Her guards were surprisingly gracious, and allowed him in. Taro stepped in through the door and found the avatar there. He stepped forward and bowed. "Lady Avatar, I am Taro Kagete. I am here to discuss the buisness of the coalition with you."

The Avatar had been sleeping when he arrived, what an aweful time for him to burst in. Oh well, it was too late now. Taro spoke in a clear voice. Lady Avatar, I have only recently arrived here at the North pole, and have not been told what it is that we're doing. Yes, we are going to war. But why? And who are we fighting?" His opinions on attacking the fire nation remained the same. Invading a nation that had no army could not be considered right. "I have heard too many conflicting stories and opinions among the soldiers. So I came to you to find the truth. What is it that we are mobilizing for?"

The black dragon? As in the pirate from the southern sea? "I mean no disrespect Lady Avatar. But how do you plan to combat them? The Black Dragon does not seem like the kind of general that would fight a force like the coalition in open combat. So what is your strategy to fight an enemy that will not face you?" Taro wondered if The Avatar would have a real answer. Or if she truely handed the entire coalition to the fire nation general.

Taro listened to The Avatar's reaction. So the coalition's military actions were solely in the hands of the fire nation general. He nodded and bowed. Very well Lady Avatar. I will see the general. Now if you don't mind I will take my leave. Goodbye." Taro turned and walked out of the room. Placing command of an army fighting the fire nation in the hands of an ex fire nation general did not seem prudent. Though, Taro had yet to speak to this man, perhaps the conversation would change his mind.

Vlace thought threw the entire night, and he was in such distress he didn't realize how long he had been up until the sun was starting to peek over the horizon. Land was in sight, they would reach in under an hours time, and the sailors were scurrying about making the ship ready. Most people were still in bed, sleeping but as he turned around he saw some non-sailor personel popping their heads around. The wind whipped his cloak around and he was chilled to the bone from all the water splashing about. But he didn't want to fire bend and give himself away. "What is that? Four? Five? Nights in a row without sleeping? This descision is really killing me. And she isn't helping much." He thought to himself.

"It doesn't matter." Vlace looked back out to sea. The thing was was his mind just kept on runnning in circles and no matter what he did he just came down and thought about the same exact thing over and over again. He would try to run a scenario playing the scene out in his head but he never got past a certain part and then he would start over and run it again, stopping at the same spot as before. "I will walk up to the avatar... And tell her the way I feel. And then ask the question... But what happens next?!?" As much as he wished she would say yes, he knew in his heart she wouldn't. "And then what? I have to ask before we land. Before she leaves... I hate love."

His mind was set. He was asking her. When and where were the only two variables in the situation. He already knew the answer and it would be the one that would kill him. He knew from all his travels that there was more than one way to kill someone. Give them a taste of what they want the most in the world, so much so it hurts to think about, and take it away... For good.

Vlace was shocked when a messenger hawk from the fire lord himself flew at him. Vlace didn't know how the hawk knew it was him and then realized that this was the Fire Nations best hawk. This had to be important. Vlace was trying to swallow the fear that was building up in him. 'Not yet friend. You can't do it yet. You can't have lost already.' As Vlace fumbled with trying to get the letter out he called for the captain of the ship. Vlace read the letter and instantly was slightly relieved. But when he read it again the fear gripped his stomach again. 'He hadn't lost yet.'
Vlace ran for the bridge and met the captain half way. "You need to turn the ship for the fire nation capitol NOW!" He screamed. He was pretty sure the entire boat could hear him but he couldn't care less. "They need our help. And we need to answer." The captain nodded and started to walk back at a quick pace. Vlace nearly shoved the captain. "Run!"
The captain started running and shouting orders for the boat to be turned around. And Vlace could feel the engines really start to rumble as more black smoke poured from the towers.

Vlace scribbled a message back and sent off the hawk again.

Vlace went back to the fron of the ship ignoring people's glances and questioning stares or the whispers that were going back and forth. "We are coming, Lei. Hold on."