On the day of the Black Sun, while Tai Lung and his crew remained distant, a storm gathered elsewhere. Across the seas, dozens of ships belonging to the Earth Kingdom and the Northern Water Tribe had gathered at a small island close to the Fire Nation.
The decks were crowded with warriors, near two thousands of the finest earthbenders and waterbenders, elites from both nations standing ready for the greatest gamble of the war. Mist rose across the waters, a thick fog conjured by the waterbenders to shield the fleet from prying eyes. Not a soul of the Fire Nation would see them coming.
On the shore, the army had gathered in ranks. At the front stood General How, the leader of the Earth Kingdom's Council of Five. Behind him, a massive map of the Fire Nation islands had been pinned to a wooden board. His voice carried over the soldiers as he gestured toward the map.
"Our first obstacle," General How declared, his hand tracing the sea path, "is the Gate of Azulon. Once we pass it, we will enter the heart of Fire Nation defenses. Dozens of towers and posts line the cliffs. Their navy will meet us with ships of their own."
He turned to the rows of soldiers, his gaze sharp. "The earthbenders will be responsible for protecting our fleet. The waterbenders will lead the attack against their ships. Meanwhile, the Avatar and his companions will scale the cliffs and eliminate the defenses above."
A murmur spread through the ranks as he pointed to the capital. "Once we reach the docks, the real battle begins. We must charge through the city streets straight to the Royal Palace. By the time the eclipse starts, we must already be at the palace gates. That will be the moment to strike, the moment to end this war."
From among the crowd, a waterbender raised his hand. "Why not wait for the eclipse before launching the attack?"
General How's voice hardened. "The eclipse will last only eight minutes. In those eight minutes, firebending will be powerless. We cannot waste time breaching the capital then. We must already be at the palace doors. Only there we can make full use of the eclipse, we will seize the palace while the Avatar ends the Fire Lord and bring this war to its close."
The explanation quieted most, but another voice rose from the earthbender ranks. "What about the Fire Avatar? What if we encounter him before the eclipse or worse, after?"
A grim look shadowed the general's face. His answer came heavy. "The Avatar will aid us against him. And we must aid the Avatar, if possible. If the eclipse begins and that monster is still standing, then all of you, all of us, must strike him together with everything we have. He cannot be allowed to retreat. The success of this invasion may rest on his defeat. Ending him is more important than the Fire Lord himself."
The soldiers exchanged uneasy looks, their faces pale and grim. General How looked over them all, his voice rising with conviction. "Those who stand here today are the bravest, the strongest of our two nations. With the Avatar by our side, today is our chance, the greatest chance we will ever have to bring this war to an end. Know this: I am proud to stand and fight beside you. Prepare yourselves. We set sail in thirty minutes."
With that, he dismissed the soldiers and turned his steps toward a small group standing apart. The Avatar and his companions waited quietly, eyes fixed on him as he approached.
"Avatar Aang," General How said, his voice softening but no less firm. "The world depends on you to end both the Fire Lord and Tai Lung. You are our greatest force."
Aang nodded solemnly, his heart heavy.
The general gave a brief nod before turning away to see to the final preparations. Aang watched him go, his fingers curling into fists. "I just hope nothing goes wrong," he murmured. "It'll be a disaster if I can't stop Tai Lung."
Sokka clapped him on the shoulder. "Calm down, Aang. You're way stronger than before. You've fully mastered earthbending, unlocked the Avatar State, and even opened your chakras. You'll be fine."
But Aang's expression didn't ease. His voice was low, troubled. "Guru Pathik warned me… warned me not to face him before I mastered all four elements. That worries me. Someone who is supposed to be able to communicate with the universe, warned me of facing Tai Lung, then that's concerning. And what if Tai Lung waits until after the eclipse to strike? What if I can't stop him before he kills everyone?"
Toph punched his shoulder lightly. "Man up, Twinkletoes. You're the Avatar. Quit whining and start acting like it. You are stronger than you think."
Katara stepped closer, her voice gentle but steady. Her eyes softened as she looked at him. "I believe in you, Aang. I know you can defeat Tai Lung. Just believe in yourself, and everything will be okay."
Aang's chest rose and fell as he drew in a deep breath. Her words wrapped around him like sunlight on frozen skin, melting the fear that weighed him down. Slowly, his posture straightened, and determination began to fill his gray eyes.
"I'll stop him, no matter the cost" he whispered.
——————
Two hours later the joint fleet of the two nations crept forward beneath the thick fog the waterbenders had created. They reached the Gate of Azulon, a strait dominated by a giant statue of Azulon rising from the sea at the center of it. On the far edges of the cliffs, two great golden eastern dragon statues, majestic and watchful.
General How stood at the bow of the lead ship and announced, "We have reached the Gate of Azulon. All ships, full readiness for battle." On Aang's ship, Sokka peered through the mist and scoffed, "Why do they call it a gate? It's just a strait with a statue. Azulon had too much ego." The others smiled at his jab until their faces went still as Katara said, "No."
Alarm bills rang and then the dragon statues' mouths, which had massive chains attached, began to be hauled back slowly. With the chains came a great metal net rising from the sea on both sides of Azulon's statue. For a heartbeat there was only the hiss of the surf, then the chains ignited. Fire ran along iron links, and an enormous wall of metal and flame rose where the fleet had expected open water.
General How shouted for the fleet to halt. "Quickly! I want two teams of earth and waterbenders to go and destroy the chains holding those nets!" Before the teams could be sent, Aang stepped forward. "General, order the ships to keep moving," he said. "I will destroy the chains." General How looked at the Avatar, then nodded.
Aang drew a long breath, closed his eyes, and opened them with both eyes and tattoos glowing. He tore into the sky in a whirling tornado of air and water, racing ahead of the ships. When he reached the statue he moved with decisive, blade-like motions, a vertical slash with his right hand, then his left. The points where the chains attached to the statue snapped and tore away; the great statue itself began to crumble, and the metal net sank to the sea floor.
Aang returned to the lead ship as General How offered a curt nod of approval. "Great job, Avatar." Sokka craned his neck toward the horizon. "Fire Nation ships are coming!" he shouted. Aang prepared to leap into the fray, but the general held up a hand. "Wait, Avatar. We need you to destroy the towers and posts along the cliffs." Aang nodded, gathered Appa and his team, and surged off to strike the cliff defenses.
From every ship, waterbenders launched into the sea and surged toward the Fire Nation vessels. Earthbenders used the rocks they had brought to build floating earth walls before the ships, shields against incoming fire and ballista.
——————
Deep in the Fire Nation capital, the Royal Palace buzzed with the day's business. Fire Lord Ozai sat behind the flame curtain with his council when a soldier burst into the chamber, panic stamped on his face, no etiquette, no formal approach, only breathless urgency as he ran straight to the throne.
Ozai, the ministers, and the high officers stared in surprise. The soldier blurted, "Fire Lord! A joint army of Earth and Water benders, led by the Avatar, is attacking us. We didn't notice them until they reached the Gate of Azulon. They're about to reach the docks."
Anger flared across Ozai's face. "How had an enemy force come so close without the Navy's scouts spotting them?"
The soldier answered, voice trembling, "They used fog to hide their approach."
Ozai's shout split the chamber: "FOOLS!"
He turned on his council and barked orders. "Admirals and generals, lead your soldiers and stop the invasion. Protect our nation." The admirals and generals rose as one, faces set, and left the chamber at a run.
Ozai inhaled slowly to temper himself, then looked to the minister of war. "Are the new ships ready?" he demanded. The minister gave a stiff nod. A cruel smile creased the Fire Lord's face. "Then order them to take flight. Since they saved us the trouble of hunting them down and came all the way here, let us give them a welcoming gift and keep them here forever."