"So, how can you airbend?" Aang asked as he and Toji stood in front of the Earth King's Palace, the mercenary raising an eyebrow at the question.
"Like I said, the staff."
"Yeah, but how does it work?"
"I have no clue. I've been trying to figure out just how the hell to use this thing, but honestly, I just learned what I can and used what I got at hand."
"Okay, then. So, you didn't get anything from Roku?" Aang asked and Toji scoffed before shaking his head.
"Nope, his entire island is buried under volcanic rock so unless I want to dig for the next couple of years, I just decided to leave it where it is."
"That's...good. At least, I can feel somewhat good that you didn't take everything," Aang spoke with a sigh, Toji rolling his eyes before he noticed the teen's wary gaze that he gave Kuruk's spear.
"You wanna hold it?"
"Nope, I can feel the bad spiritual energy inside of it."
"Yangchen said that it was bad, but it's not that bad."
"That's because both your soul and the curse spirit's soul is far more vile than that of the spear," Aang spoke with a shake of his head, to which Toji and Wormy looked at each other before they nodded.
"Yeah, you're probably right on that part."
"What are you two talking about?" Toji turned as he heard Toph's voice, watching as she descended the steps with an eyebrow raised.
"Just talking about stuff."
"Uh-huh, and what exactly is stuff?"
"Guy stuff. Where's everyone else?"
"Sokka is still talking to the Earth King and his generals about the Fire Nation invasion, Katara is busy preparing for the next flight and Suki is busy bonding with Zhen Yi."
"About the ways to try and kill me to take Kyoshi's fans back?"
"What else?" She spoke with a smirk, making Toji chuckle as Aang shook his head.
"You two are way too brutish for me to understand."
"That's because you're a wimp that likes to dodge instead of taking it like a man, twinkle toes."
"That could be taken in another way, Toph," Toji spoke with a snicker, confusing Aang as Toph's smirk widened.
"Good, I meant it in that way."
"I'm confused. What way are we talking about here?"
"How old is he?"
"He didn't get the talk about the air bison kmama and papa," Toph said with a shrug and Toji's smirk grew as Aang turned a bright red before marching away.
"Looks like he just didn't know the more modern slang terms for it. Anyway, what are they saying?"
"That the attack was just the first wave since the soldiers that attacked were just a mere fragment of Ba Sing Se's forces."
"Well, given that Ba Sing Se is on the outskirts of a desert in the middle segment of the Earth Kingdom, it would make sense that the attack was just the first one.
What I'm more worried about is when they attack again while knowing where we are and how to counter us."
"They've been trying to do that for you for as long as I've known you and you've done great so far," Toph spoke with a shrug, to which Toji just shook his head as he crossed his arms.
"It helps that I don't underestimate them like you do."
"What makes you think I underestimate them?" Toph asked, rolling her eyes as Toji just turned to her with an eyebrow raised.
"Thinking that we can win with ease is not me underestimating them. That is simply me stating the obvious," She murmured and Toji smirked, turning his gaze to the large smoke plumes in the distance.
He had taken a look earlier at the Agrarian Zone to see the damages, but was met with almost nothing but scorched earth and ashes.
Crops were burned down, animals were slaughtered in droves and some sort of black chemical had been thrown into Lake Laogai, poisoning the source of water.
'Looks like they're going with starving us out,' Toji thought, his jaw tightening slightly as he observed the smoke.
It was a classic and simple war strategy of cutting off supply lines, poisoning the water and letting the city eat itself.
"Did they burn everything down?" Toph asked and she grimaced as Toji nodded.
"Nothing but ashes out there. It's an efficient strategy, I'll give them that."
"Do not admire our enemies," Toji just rolled his eyes before he looked over at Aang to see the teen standing with a frown.
"This is not the world the Air Nomads had envisioned. This is not how we saw things."
"Welcome to the world a hundred years later, kid. Don't expect mercy from people who would burn down an entire village to keep the others in line," Aang's frown deepened at Toji's words, who looked out at the smoke before turning as he heard Wormy's garbling.
"She done leaving you alone?" He asked as the spirit shrunk down, crawling under his master's cloak while Suki jogged closer with a frown.
"Where is the spirit?"
"Why would I tell you?"
"He's under his cloak," Aang responded and the teen snickered as Toji turned a flat stare to him.
"Really?"
"Payback for all the bad stuff you do."
"You, go jump off of a roof. As for you, leave my spirit alone," Toji spoke, not surprised as Suki scoffed and crossed her arms.
"If the spirit wishes to be with me, it is his choice."
"He doesn't want to. You're the one who's like an annoying ex-girlfriend. Also, Wormy was the one who stole the fans for me."
"On your orders. I'm sure the spirit can be redeemed."
"And me?"
"No, you're a lost cause," Everyone spoke in unison, making Toji grumble as he turned his gaze back to the smoke.
"Fine, but you're still not getting those weapons back so I suggest you go find something more productive to do with your time," Toji spoke with a dismissive wave, Suki narrowing her eyes at him before she huffed.
"I'll do as I please."
"Sure thing. Anyway, the Fire Nation loves testing defences when your guard is down so I'll be going out later tonight."
"Want company?" Toph asked and he gave a small smirk as she cracked her knuckles."
"You volunteering to get dragged into another fight?"
"Always."
"Good, meet me by the south point of the Inner Wall. You two want to come?"
"I wouldn't mind going," Aang said with a shrug and Toji nodded, turning to Suki only to see the woman already walking away.
"You just love pushing her buttons, don't you?"
"It's fun to do. Anyway, while we're waiting, want to go eat something?"
"Are you, Toji Fushiguro, asking me out on a date?" Toph asked with a teasing smile, giggling as the man just rolled his eyes before walking away.
"Forget it, I'll go eat alone."
"Come on~I'm joking," Aang watched as the couple left before watching in surprise as Toji turned to Toph with a soft smile.
'I guess there is a small bit of good in him after all.'
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"The only part of the Outer Walls that are still in tact is the Northern segment," One of the generals spoke with a frown, the others looking just as concerned as Sokka sat beside the Earth King.
"Along with that, we only have enough provisions for a year, but if the coming seasons are harsher, then we can expect that time period to be cut down to six to nine months at the most."
"What if we rationed the food the nobles get as well?" Sokka asked, the generals turning to him as Kuei raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?"
"I've been looking at the eating times of the average noble while in the castle and couldn't help but notice that you guys eat five to almost seven times a day. Why?"
"Because we can," One of the generals spoke with a shrug, Zhen Yi hiding her disappointment with a subtle sigh as Sokka shook his head.
"No, you could. Now, we're stuck in a war and if you continue this habit, the food won't last. If you cut down eating periods from five to seven times a day to say...two to three, you would be able to double the time that the provisions can last."
"Impossible! Why must we lower ourselves to the same level as those of the Middle and Lower Rings?"
"You wanna die of starvation, then?" Sokka asked with an eyebrow raised and a stoic stare, looking at the general that had just shouted.
The man wanted to continue, but there was a look in the young man's eyes that made him pause, deciding to simply sit back down as Sokka sighed.
"I get it. You guys like to eat a lot and that's good, but right now, we don't know how many soldiers there are or how many are still coming.
We can expect at least an army twice the size of one that already attacked and I can tell you that they will be a lot more ruthless now."
"What is your plan of action, Sokka?" Kuei asked, Sokka raising an eyebrow at the Earth King and the man smiled.
"All of my best strategists didn't even consider to cut down eating times, but you didn't hesitate once to do so. That is an outlook that is sorely needed right now so whatever plans you have, I will support."
"You sure?" Sokka asked and Kuei nodded, but he felt a bit of dread as Sokka grew a feral grin.
"Okay~Now, do you guys have pipes that can redirect the sewage filth underneath the city? Oh, and any spoiled and rotten food will help too."
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Katara narrowed her eyes and bit her lip as she analysed the map in front of her, trying to figure out what their plans could be from now on.
Usually, she would just leave this to Sokka, but given how busy he already was with planning the battle against the Fire Nation army outside, she had decided to take it upon herself to help him out.
Unfortunately, while she was a master at waterbending, she was not as strategically-inclined as her brother.
'Okay, let's take this from the top. We started from the Southern Water Tribe and followed our own path straight to the Northern Water Tribe.
Then, we followed that path back to the Earth Kingdom, went south to Gaoling and then got lost in the Si Wong Desert until we found Wan Shi Tong's forest.
We then came to Ba Sing Se and have been here since our arrival. Now, the question is...'
"Do we stay here and help them fight this siege or do we leave for the Western Air Temple?" She murmured, scanning the map as she looked to where it was on the map.
The good news was that it was on the outskirts of the Fire Nation. The bad news was that if they left now, Ba Sing Se was almost certainly falling to the Fire Nation.
'I mean, I'm not one to talk bad about people, but their fighting skills are atrocious. Along with that, they are horribly unqualified to face an actual army of that size. Hell, the Northern Water Tribe couldn't even take them on.'
"Are you still busy?" Katara turned as she heard Suki's voice, smiling as the older woman stopped beside her with a frown while looking at the map.
"Yeah, I think I've figured out somewhat of a path to get to the Fire Nation. The only issue is that even if we make it there, we won't be able to get Aang a firebending teacher."
"Wait, didn't we pass that one rogue firebender?" She asked and Katara's eyes widened as she remembered the Fire Nation colonial village in the northwestern sector of the Earth Kingdom.
"That's right. He said that Aang had to first master the other elements and he did. So, if we just go look for him, we might be able to find him."
"That is a big 'might'. He's a wanted fugitive so it would take us a while to find him."
"Not if we use the hunter close to us," Katara spoke with a nervous look and Suki blinked before she frowned.
"No."
"That June chick was able to track us down with ease and he knows her. Hell, he probably knows exactly where she's hiding."
"And what makes you think he's going to help us?" Suki asked before palming her face as Katara took out a bag of coins.
"Simple, we pay him."
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"I wanted to try and attack, but are we sure this is going to work?" Toji asked, looking at Sooka who nodded with an excited grin.
"I have done the calculations and have figured out the combination of materials needed."
"I wouldn't exactly call these 'materials', Sokka," Aang spoke with a disgusted look, Toji unable to stop himself from agreeing as he stared at the so-called 'Fecal Destroyers'.
A name their creator had given them.
"Hey, they're the ones that burned the fields down so this is payback. Now, Aang, you know what to do. Toji, stand ready."
"For?" The mercenary asked before grinning as he got a heft bag of coins thrown at him.
"Five hundred gold from the Earth King. All you need to do is throw that spear of yours at the angle I need you to."
"Sure," Toji spoke with a shrug as he counted the coins, placing it in his pocket before holding Kuruk's spear in one hand.
"Nah, this isn't going to work unless you got another ranged weapon in that?" Sokka asked and Toji just held up a hand, Wormy gagging out his crossbow as well as a few bolts.
'Man, how long has it been since I used you?' Toji thought as he locked in the first bolt, holding the other three in the same hand while aiming his spear.
"Do I have to do this?"
"You're the flyer of the group and neither Appa nor Momo wants to," Sokka spoke with a shrug, Aang groaning as he gingerly took the rope handed to him by Sokka.
Toji could have volunteered since he had his self-made Moon Step, but he did not want to get stuck with carrying out barrels full of feces through the air.
With a swing of his staff, he shot into the air, flipping open his glider while carrying the two dozen Fecal Destroyers in hand.
"Now, Toji, when you throw your spear, throw it in such a way that it curves when you recall it and cuts them all open in one fell swoop."
"Make it rain instead of letting it fall in one spot? Not bad, but just one problem. Who's going to clean the spear?"
"Boil it in water or something," Sokka spoke with a shrug and Toji rolled his eyes, taking a deep breath as he thought about Sokka's words.
'Throw it in such a way that it curves as it comes back. That's not possible given that the spear looks for the quickest way back to my hand. Unless...'
"Wormy, chain," Toji murmured, the spirit spitting out the chain before Toji tied it around the spirit's neck. Then, Wormy gave a confused gargle as Toji laid out all the crossbow bolts in front of it.
"You get these shots and you get to eat all the evil souls you want," Wormy let out an excited gargle as he nodded and ate all of the bolts, Sokka just confused at their interaction before his eyes widened as Toji held the worm up like a spear.
"Uh, what are you doing?"
"What you asked me to. Now, give me the signal," Sokka stared at the man before shaking his head, turning back to where Aang was finally in position.
"Now!" With a grunt, Toji heaved and launched Wormy through the air, gripping tightly on the other end of the chain. The spirit itself stayed focused as it flew through the air, taking a deep breath right as Toji stomped on the wall.
In rapid successions, two dozen crossbow bolts were spat out as Aang released the fecal destroyers, Toji spinning with his tug and pulling Wormy back.
Kicking up Kuruk's spear, he heaved as he threw it at full strength and they watched as it sliced through the air.
Sokka grimaced as the bolts got stuck in the lids of the barrels before his eyes widened as Kuruk's spear cut into the first one. The force of it sent the bolt in it flying to the side, watching as it ricochet and knocked the second one's lid open.
'How in the fuck...?' The man thought to himself as the bolts ricochet from one to the other, knocking open the lid of each barrel and unleashing a wave of fecal matter into the sky.
Calling Kuruk's spear back, Toji caught both it and Wormy as Aang landed, the three men watching as chaos ensued in the Fire Nation encampment below.
"Sokka?"
"What?" Sokka asked, looking at Toji to see the excited grin on his face.
"What say we put that mind of yours to more destructive uses at where Toph is waiting?" He asked and Aang felt nervous as Sokka had just an excited yet dangerous smile on his face.
"What did you have in mind?"
'Well, this is about to be chaotic.'
A/N: And we end it off here~! A bit of slice of life and some boy bonding while also planning for the next arc.
Next chapter: Split Up.
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Ba-Bye~!