*。☆。
★。＼｜／。★
˚ ₊ ♡ ❰ MIRACULUM ❱
*✧ ─── ❝ ❪ A CAUSE WORTH DYING FOR ❫ ❞

⋆ 🌪. CHAPTER ELEVEN ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*
˚ ₊ ♡ 112 a.a ─── book two: earth

THE SIGHT OF THE FIRE NATION INSIGNIA FELT LIKE A PUNCH TO THE GUT. THE DARK RED FABRIC standing out ominously against the sunlight, felt as if it was mocking the resilience of Omashu. Steam was wafting from within the city walls—perhaps fire still burning from the destruction...and Uki clenched her fists as she gazed at the mountaintop with dread.

Aang, who stood next to her was slouched. "I can't believe it. I know the war has spread far, but Omashu always seemed..." He turned to look at the Water Tribe Siblings his eyes filled with a sorrow no child should ever possess. "...untouchable."

Sokka nodded, with a frown on his tan face, "Up until now it was. Now Ba Sing Se is the only great Earth Kingdom stronghold left."

The weight of the situation hung heavy in the air, the once mighty city of Omashu reduced to a mere pawn in the Fire Nation's conquest.

Uki, her eyes never leaving the city, moved closer to Aang, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "It will become untouchable again, Aang. Once the war is over." Her voice carried a resolute conviction. They would win, Uki thought surely. They had to.

Aang managed a small, appreciative smile, though it didn't quite reach his eyes.

Katara, who had been quietly observing the scene, spoke up "This is horrible." Katara began softly, approaching the airbender, "But we have to move on."

Uki, although saddened and reluctant nodded.  "We need to go, before someone spots us."

Aang shook his head "No, I'm going in to find Bumi." He stated, walking forward to the edge of the cliff they were standing on.

"Aang, stop." Sokka moved forward, "We don't even know if Bumi's still..." He trailed of unsure, sharing a glance with the older waterbender.

"If he's still what?" Aang looked at Sokka expectantly, grey eyes narrowing.

Seeing the younger boy hesitate, Uki stepped next to Aang, "Aang, he was the king of Omashu... if the Fire Nation took the city, he'll be taken prisoner, maybe even sent to a prison in the Fire Nation. But it might be worse. The Fire Nation is not above killing their enemies."

Aang's eyes welled with tears: "I need to know for sure." He replied, eyes flashing in determination.

Katara gazed at Aang with a mix of concern and understanding, "I know you had your heart set on Bumi, but there are other people who can teach you earthbending." Katara reasoned softly, trying to change his mind.

"This isn't about finding a teacher." Aang denied, "this is about finding a friend."

"Are you sure you want to risk getting captured?" Uki asked the avatar.

"I have to try Uki."

"Alright." She sighed, "Then we're with you..." Her gaze shifted towards the imposing mountain that loomed ahead, contemplating the challenges that awaited them. "But we can't just march in there."

Uki's observant eyes flickered around the surrounding area until her gaze settle on a rush of polluted water cascaded down from the mountain, finding its way through the small gaps of a metal grate.

"We go through there— " She pointed at the sewer entrance with a determined expression.

Sokka's face scrunched up. "I vote for marching inside instead."

Katara jabbed his side, "No."

"Let's go." Aang was already climbing back on Appa.

"Here we go again," Uki muttered, resignation and determination evident in her voice.

She gracefully hauled herself up onto Appa, grabbing Aang's outstretched hand as he assisted her onto the sky bison's saddle.

Once everyone had settled on Appa's sturdy back, the colossal sky bison descended down the cliffside.

Uki couldn't shake the nervous flutter in her stomach as they approached the sewer tunnel she had spotted. Her silent prayers to the spirits intensified, hoping that their clandestine approach would go unnoticed by any prying eyes— she did not fancy getting shot at with fire today.

As Appa approached the tunnel entrance, the skybison couldn't get any closer, prompting the group to disembark one by one. Hovering next to a small ridge, Appa patiently awaited their return.

Uki, with a sense of urgency, distributed the dark black cloaks gifted to them by Pakku for their journey. Each of the Water Tribe siblings received one, and Aang swiftly ascended to the top of the tunnel entrance, initiating the process of prying it open with his staff.

"Ugh!"

A noxious odour emanated from the sewer, assaulting their senses as the entrance creaked open. Uki, struggling to suppress a gag, exchanged a glance with her companions.

Aang wasted no time, leaping into the pipe and using his airbending to ward off the polluted water. Uki followed suit, carefully manoeuvring through the dank passageway.

She winced as the slimy water touched her clothes but quickly raised her arms, skilfully bending the water sideways. Katara mirrored her actions, displaying the practiced fluidity of a skilled waterbender.

Unfortunately, Sokka proved less adept at avoiding the filth, much to his chagrin. Uki, with a stern glare, halted his impending complaints.

The warning gaze forced Sokka into reluctant silence, only for Katara to inadvertently splash water on his face, causing him to splutter and gag behind her.

Uki strained to discern anything in the darkness until Aang finally paused at what seemed to be the end. Uncertainly, he prodded his staff against the metal plate above him. When it refused to yield, he unleashed a powerful burst of air, dislodging the sewer plate.

As Uki emerged from the narrow confines of the sewer, a deep breath of fresh air was a welcome reprieve.

The sun had already started to set, casting the surroundings in a dusky hue.

Emerging from the sewer into the dimly lit surroundings, Katara couldn't help but express her surprise, "That wasn't as bad as I thought," she admitted, prompting Sokka to crawl outside.

However, the sight that greeted them was far less pleasant, as Sokka pulled himself out of the sewer completely coated from head to toe in a grey, tar-like grease.

Noticing a barrel of water nearby, Uki hovered her hand above it before sending a large wave of icy water at Sokka's figure, blasting away all the grime. The boy spluttered, almost falling over from the force, but before he could get his footing, Aang sent a gust of wind his way, sending him back a couple steps.

Uki's ice-coloured eyes widened when she observed two small purple octopus-like creatures affixed to either cheek of Sokka's face. The boy, seemingly oblivious to their presence, let out a loud squeak when one of them twitched.

Startled by his sudden outburst, Uki swiftly dove forward, clamping her hand over his mouth. "Do you want the Fire Nation soldiers to find us?" she hissed.

Muffled sounds escaped Sokka's mouth, and Uki sighed, retracting her hand. The boy continued to whimper in fear as the creatures squirmed on his face.

Aang attempted to soothe him, identifying the creatures as purple pentapuses. With a gentle touch, Aang rubbed the head of one, prompting it to fall off Sokka's face, leaving red marks in its wake.

Sokka, following Aang's lead, dealt with the other pentapus on his cheek.

"Hey!"

Uki gasped, quickly stepping in front of Aang to hide the boy from the sight of the approaching Fire Nation soldier. "What are you kids doing out past curfew?"

"It won't happen again," Katara added sweetly, before they spun around, attempting a hasty escape.

"Wait, what's the matter with him?"

Uki grimaced when she noted one of the soldiers pointed at the red marks on Sokka's face.

"Uh, he has pentapox, sir." Katara informed. And Uki was glad the younger girl had come up with a swift and hopefully believable lie.

The soldier narrowed his eyes, and Uki swallowed nervously, afraid the man would notice Aang's tattoos peeking out from his wool hat—or realise Katara's disease was totally make-belief.

"It's highly contagious," Uki hurriedly added, glad when the soldier took a few steps back sharing a worried look with his partner.

Sokka extended his hands dramatically, moaning, "Oh, it's so awful. I'm dying," with Katara emphasizing, "And deadly."

Wide-eyed, the soldier retreated further as Sokka stumbled toward them.

Another soldier chimed in, "Hey, I think I heard of pentapox! Didn't your cousin Chang die of it?"

Sokka coughed, playing along.

"We'd better go wash our hands and burn our clothes." The three guards quickly agreed, paying the group of four no mind and turned and ran off.

Aang smiled and gently scratched the head of a pentapus in his hand. "Thank you, sewer friend."

Uki clutched her pendant—glad luck was on their side.

As they strolled down the deserted street, bathed in the gentle glow of the moon, Uki couldn't help but feel a sense of calmness, as if Yue herself was watching over her from the above.

She peered up at the sky, at the moon: I miss you.

Taking a deep breath, the seventeen year old focused ahead.

Peering around a corner, Uki meticulously surveyed their surroundings, ensuring there were no Fire Nation soldier patrolling the streets. Satisfied with the coast being clear, she motioned for the younger kids to follow her towards a large wooden makeshift bridge, leading to what appeared to be a construction site.

A flicker of glimmering flames ahead caught Uki's attention, prompting her to pull the others behind a pile of metal bars.

"We should get out of here as quick as we can." Uki whispered worriedly.

Katara nodded, "Let's find Bumi."

"Where would they be keeping him?" Sokka queried.

"Somewhere he can't earthbend." Aang replied, looking around the dark city. "Somewhere made of metal."

"Do you know any place like that?" Uki wondered as she looked over her shoulder at the airbender.

Aang frowned, shaking his head in defeat.

The group continued cautiously, tiptoeing around the construction site, quietening their breath. However, the tranquillity was shattered by a sudden rumbling beneath their feet, the ground quivering as dust cascaded from the upper reaches of the city.

Uki squinted, attempting to discern the source, only to widen her eyes as she spotted a boulder hurtling down the mail system in a rapid tempo.

Aang's gaze however, was focused down the landing below them, where a woman, a girl and what looked like a toddler were being escorted by a group of Fire Nation soldiers.

Unwilling to witness harm befall them—even if they were Fire Nation, Aang swung his staff sideways, unleashing a powerful gust of wind to divert the incoming boulder and inadvertently destroying it in the process.

Uki winced as the rock exploded into fragments, creating a cacophony that echoed around the landing. "Oh no," she groaned, her gaze dropping to the woman below, who, in a panic, pointed at them, exclaiming, "The resistance!"

"We just saved you!" Uki shouted in disbelief, "A thank you would suffice you know!"

The eldest waterbender leaped back in tandem with Aang, erecting a protective wall of ice just in time to intercept the tiny arrows unleashed by the teenage girl below.

The impact cracked the ice, prompting a wince from Uki. Determined not to be cornered, she swiftly kicked the ice wall with her feet, propelling small shards downward toward the pursuing Fire Nation girl.

Without waiting to witness the aftermath, Uki hastened after the other kids as Fire Nation soldiers ascended the landing. "Time to get moving!"

Beside her, Katara deftly manipulated the water from her pouch, unleashing a strong water whip that sent the soldiers sprawling backward.

"She's still following us!" Uki exclaimed in surprise, glancing over her shoulder to find the persistent teenager with the tiny arrows in hot pursuit.

The dark haired girl glared fiercely at her, moving her arms to send another wave of specially crafted arrows their way.

Twisting her arms backward, Uki unleashed two forceful streams of water, aiming for the girl, who deftly ducked just in time.

Uki and Katara managed to catch up to Aang, who allowed the girls to slip past him before unleashing a powerful gust of wind at the scaffolding.

A resounding bang echoed as the structure tumbled down, intercepting most of the arrows aimed at them. However, one arrow managed to slip past, but Aang skilfully blocked it with his staff before it could find its mark.

Uki was still breathing heavily when Aang caught up to them, However, before they could escape or face another volley of arrows, the ground beneath them unexpectedly gave way.

Suppressing a scream, Uki twisted in the air, futilely attempting to slow her descent.

With a thud, the group crashed onto the hard ground, groaning collectively.

As they craned their necks upwards, they found themselves surrounded by a group of Earth Kingdom citizens. "Uh, hello?" Uki greeted cautiously.

*。☆。
★。＼｜／。★
𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝙙𝙤
𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘵 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙨

─ john steakley

DEEP BENEATH THE ROCKY SURFACE OF OMASHU, THE UNDERGROUND HIDEOUT THEY FOUND THEMSELVES IN WAS A SANCTUARY CARVED OUT BY skilled Earthbenders. The air was thick with anticipation as the Earthbenders, accompanied Aang, Uki, Sokka, and Katara through a labyrinth of tunnels adorned with dimly lit lanterns. The glow emanating from the rocky walls cast eerie shadows.

As the group ventured deeper into the underground maze, they passed makeshift living quarters where families huddled together, their eyes reflecting a mixture of fear and their nearly unrivalled Earth Kingdom spirit still brimming with a sense of determination.

Uki turned toward their guide with a solemn expression, "How was the city taken?"

The burly Earthbender who had introduced himself as Haoyu glanced at her. "The invasion was swift and ruthless. Omashu's powerful defences crumbled beneath the overwhelming force of Fire Nation soldiers." His face grew stern, a sharp edge in his eyes before he scoffed. "They christened it New Ozai. The entire underwent massive reconstruction as you might have noticed. They destroyed the palace and replaced it with some sort of metal contraption."

Uki's heart sunk. 

"They even constructed a massive statue of the Fire Lord at the city's peak."

Silence hovered after that and the earthbender led them towards a central chamber, the heart of the resistance hideout. The ceiling soared high above, supported by pillars carved seamlessly into the earth. In the cavernous space, makeshift beds were scattered, and the refugees huddled together.

"Here is where we've been gathering those who seek refuge from the Fire Nation's tyranny," He explained, his voice desolate.

Aang surveyed the room with a mix of empathy and determination and Uki turned toward the Earthbender "You're doing an incredible job helping your people."

He nodded, a glimmer of gratitude in his eyes. "It's our duty. No one should live under the oppression of the Fire Nation."

Murmurings filled the air as the refugees started to take notice of their arrival. The moment the Earth Kingdom citizens laid eyes on Aang's airbending tattoos, whispers began to circulate.

By the time the leader of the resistance welcomed them, a curious crowd had gathered.

Aang, with hope in his eyes, couldn't help but ask the question that had been burning within him. "So, is King Bumi with you guys? Is he leading the resistance?"

"Of course not!" The Earthbender leading the resistance clenched his fist, bitterness tainting his words.

Uki frowned, concerned for what might have befallen the eccentric King Bumi. She had heard tales from Aang about his peculiar yet capable nature on their journey.

"What happened?" she queried, placing a comforting hand on Aang's shoulder.

"On the day that the invasion began, we were ready to defend the city and fight for our freedom and our lives. But before we got the chance, the King...surrendered."

Uki drew in a sharp breath, as the man continued his retelling, "The day of the invasion, I asked King Bumi what he wanted to do." he glanced away as if reliving the memory. "He looked me in the eye and said...that he was going to do nothing."

Uki couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow for the city that had lost its ruler's defiance. "I'm sure there must have been a reason," she interjected, hoping to find some justification for King Bumi's unexpected decision.

He could not have abandoned his people, could he?

"It doesn't matter now. Fighting the Fire Nation is the only path to freedom. And freedom is worth dying for," the earth bender declared resolutely, his words echoing throughout the cavern.

Uki's eyes widened at the statement, but in a way it resounded in her. She knew, despite her grievances with her tribe and their customs, she loved her people, her friends and family.

And she also knew that if the Fire Nation had successfully sieged the North, she'd still be fighting no matter the odds to return her tribe to freedom.

Aang stepped closer to the leader of the resistance. "Actually there's another path to freedom. You could leave Omashu." He stated. "You're directing all your energy to fight the Fire Nation, but you're outnumbered. You can't win. Now's the time to retreat, so you can live to fight another day."

The leader's gaze remained fixed downward, shielded by his green hat. "You don't understand. They've taken our home, and we have to fight them at any cost."

As murmurs and whispers spread among the citizens, another soldier voiced his doubts. "I don't know, Yalo— living to fight another day is starting to sound pretty good to me."

So Yalo was his name, Uki thought.

"Yeah...I'm with the kid." Another soldier echoed.

Uki observed the shifting dynamics within the room. She stepped forward, recounting her own experiences. "Not long ago, my tribe was under siege," she confessed, her voice resonating with empathy. "I know that if we had lost, I'd be where you are, wishing to change it, bring back freedom. But Aang is right; this is a lost battle. Regroup, refocus, return stronger. Omashu will be free again. Just not today."

Yalo turned  sideways and looked at all the citizens in the room as they began muttering and whispering. "Fine. But there's thousands of citizens that need to leave. How're we going to get them all out?"

"Suckers!" Sokka exclaimed.

"What?" Uki frowned concernedly.

"You're all about to come down with a nasty case of pentapox."

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