Chapter Text
Gaara gathered some of his chakra and moulded it. His third eye crumbled in front of him. The sand fell to the ground. Gaara gritted his teeth. How much it would take to finally use his chakra?
He huffed and wiped the sweat on his forehead. He had only one option to gather informations.
Gaara found a suitable tree and started to climb it. He never had to use his hand to climb a tree, it was humiliating and boring.
He found the ideal spot on a concealed branch to start his reconnaissance.
From his position, he could observe the majority of the Fire Nation's encampment. Five hundred meters on the north-west stood a fortress. It's walls looked perfect even if they had been breached a couple of times. It was incredible how those earth benders managed to repair it without effort.
The scorched banners of the Earth Kingdom were still raised and its defenders were guarding it.
Gaara had to admit that those soldiers had guts, a stark contrast with the Earth Kingdom soldiers he met before.
Gaara knew that the siege was entering in his last stages.
The Fire Nation made arrive a couple of new siege weapons. Gaara was stunned by their power. He never imagined such machines could ever be created.
The Fire Nation was superior.
Its firepower was too much for the Earth Kingdom to counter.
With those weapons and explosives Gaara finally understood how they were so feared and considered unstoppable.
The defenders had no chance. They were destined to lose.
Gaara knew he could not defeat all those soldiers in his condition. He knew he could not win.
Gaara came up with the only possible idea. His plan would only allow the defenders to gain some time. Maybe they would abandon their position and retreat to safety.
However, from what he saw, he really doubted that those soldiers would abandon their fortress.
Gaara sighed, he didn't know if his was the correct choice. Still, doing nothing would be even worse in his opinion.
Gaara jumped down from his branch and retreated into the deeper parts of the woods.
He needed some rest to act that night.
It was a moonless night and lieutenant Shing had trouble to keep his eyes open. The torches in the Fire Nation's camp were the only beacon of light. His soldiers could not light a fire and they had to suffer the cold.
Shing held a sneeze and cursed. He could not sleep nor rest. They were entering the fifth day of battle.
Shing didn't know why the Fire Nation decided to assault his bastion. His fortress held no strategic value for their enemies. It's position was useless and its modest dimension wasn't suitable for great and advanced armies.
The only major city nearby was Omashu.
Shing chuckled, maybe they wanted to use his base to prepare an attack on the city. His laugh died.
It was folly to even think about such a possibility. Omashu was not a city you could easily besiege. In Shing's opinion Omashu was even more secure then the Great Capital.
Ba Sing Se had its walls but Omashu was protected by an enormous moat. Moreover, his King, Bumi, was the greatest earthbender on the planet.
A vertigo assaulted Shing. He rested on the battlements. The cold wall made him feel safe. Those rocks were solid just like the people defending them.
Omashu would never fall in the hands of their enemies.
However, a doubt assaulted him.
Why the Fire Nation was so eager to conquer his fortress?
Maybe it was a part of a bigger plan. A very detailed plan made by their enemies.
Only one person would have the gall to attempt an assault on Omashu.
The Dragon of the West would be the only capable to devise such idea.
However, prince Iroh had been defeated during the six-hundred day siege. The old man retired his troops from the battlefield.
Now, it only made sense. The Dragon of the West wanted to conquer Omashu and then move again against the Great City.
If the Fire Nation managed to defeat Bumi, it would be a catastrophe for the entire Earth Kingdom, not only Omashu.
Shing shivered. If the Dragon of the West was behind it, they had to fight with all their might to repel him.
For five entire days Shing and his soldiers had to defend those walls from various attacks.
The lieutenant decided to act. They would strike the enemy camp that same night. He and his men would dig a tunnel and hit with all their might the enemy.
They would never expect their assault, after all the Fire Nation's soldiers considered them a bunch of weaklings.
Shing's will steeled.
The air roared, Shing shielded his eyes. A column of smoke started to pollute the night sky.
An explosion in the middle of the enemy's camp? Maybe an accident.
Shing smiled, finally a stroke of luck.
Gaara did not expect such a massive explosion. That jelly was almost on par with the explosive tags. Maybe it was even worse. That gelatinous explosive was still burning and the panicked soldiers were not able to dissipate it.
Many men were gesticulating and their gestures were seemingly commanding the flames.
Panic was spreading around the camp. It'd give him the perfect opportunity to leave the base undetected.
Gaara jogged through the tents. None was paying attention to him.
A roar covered the shouts. The blazing shock wave sent some soldiers on the ground. Ashes and some burning rubbish spread around, setting on fire many tents.
Gaara coughed and wiped his forehead. It was an inferno and he had to get out as fast as possible. His concentration was at its limit and his Transformation Jutsu would break off very soon.
The ground shook.
The earth collapsed in front of him.
“For the Earth Kingdom!” a voice cried in the dark, followed by many others.
Gaara couldn't believe it. The Earth Kingdom soldiers were attacking. Around seven or eight men came out from that hole in the ground.
Gaara jumped away. Weapons clashed and a great amount of dirt was being used for the assault.
In a few minutes, the Fire Nation was already retreating.
Gaara breathed and lifted his Jutsu. He had reached his limit.
He left the camp, finding himself in front of three Earth Kingdom soldiers. They took defensive stances.
“Surrender yourself” one ordered.
Gaara checked his surroundings. On the left.
He ran. The soldiers behind him shouted.
His lungs burned. He was tired but he knew he could run faster than most men even in his condition.
“STOP!” a voice cried on his right.
Gaara almost stumbled. One of those Earth Kingdom soldiers was riding a wave of dirt? How was even possible such a thing?
“STOP!”
Gaara gave it all. His muscles cried in agony.
He fell. It was a cold pool of mud, appeared from nowhere.
Gaara stumbled and tried to get out, only to be blocked almost entirely.
With a gesture, the man solidified the ground around him.
To be imprisoned in such a way... it was embarrassing.
Even in his weakened state, he should have paid more attention. He underestimated their arts to dominate the element. Element bending was surely something.
Gaara huffed and tried to catch his breath.
“Who are you?” the man glared him with hatred, “You don't look like a regular Fire Nation soldier”
Gaara cursed. His sand shield had been useless in this occasion. The thought worried him. He needed to rethink everything and he had to recover his energy. Maybe one day would be sufficient.
“You're right,” Gaara admitted, “I'm not”
The soldier eyed him, “You'll tell me everything I want to know,” he said, “Prepare yourself to answer my question.”
The operation had been a complete success. Shing was proud of his men. They managed to repel the enemy without suffering a single casualty. Some had some minor burns but that was all.
The Fire Nation's soldiers run away, leaving behind all of their supplies, their tanks and siege weapons.
Shing ordered those weapons to be destroyed and then released all the prisoners minus the one he had captured.
“Why have you let them go, sir?”
“We had fifteen prisoners, corporal” Shing said, “They'd only waste our time and limited supplies. Moreover they'd slow us down.”
“Slow us, sir?”
“I have my reason, corporal Ling,” he said.
“Of course, sir... and what about him? Do you want me to guard him?” he pointed the prisoner.
Shing smirked, “No. I will guard him personally.”
Corporal Ling appeared perplexed, “As you wish, sir,” he saluted.
Shing approached the prisoner. He bent the earth, removing the rock binds from his ankles.
“Move!”
The prisoner nodded and stood up.
“If you try anything funny...”
“I won't run...” he said, “I'm too tired to try anything.”
Shing wanted to scoff at him. Every words spoken by their enemies was like poison. The Fire Nation's people were nothing more than criminals and liars. Nothing good ever came from those lands.
The prisoner appeared worn out. His breathing was still ragged and he looked alarmingly pale.
Shing needed him in some good health. They had some rough days in front of them. That prisoner was too precious and Shing was sure he held valuable informations.
“Go on” Shing ordered.
The prisoner sighed and started walking. Shing followed.
It took them ten minutes to reach the fortress. Shing ordered his men to pack everything. They were leaving the base to retreat to Omashu.
Many of his soldiers tried to protest. Their victory had ensured them some more time.
“You're right,” Shing nodded, “We have more time but it's not enough” Shing explained.
“The Fire Nation will return in a few days with more forces to besiege us and we will lose. You know it and I know it.”
“We are going to destroy this base with our own hands. The Fire Nation'll be forced to raise a foothold from scratch and they'll waste precious time”
Many soldiers uttered and nodded in agreement.
“We'll force them to stretch their supply line. Make no mistake, they are going to attack us. They are here to take Omashu!”
Many cried, outraged by that thought.
“We are going to be needed in the next battle.” Shing said, “We'll defend our city and with our efforts and the guidance from our King we'll triumph!”
Many clapped and shouted his and Bumi's name. Shing smiled. “For the Earth Kingdom!” he cried, followed by his men.
Shing beamed, pride swelling in his chest.
The ground rumbled. The battlements and towers collapsed by their commands. Gaara was stunned. Element bending appeared to be really flexible.
Those soldiers were moving such an incredible mass of earth, the only capable of such a feat would be the Tsuchikage in Gaara's opinion.
He wondered how much a person could push his ability to bend and dominate the elements.
The boulders crashed on the ground, a massive cloud of dust rose into the air. Not even a scrap of dirt reached the company.
They were really able to manipulate the smallest speck of dirt.
“Move out!” the leader of the company cried.
So his captor was named Shing and he was the commander.
Gaara had to admit his ability. He was a competent leader and his strategies were excellent. His passion and words had been able to raise even more the morale of his soldiers, making them accept his new plan.
“Who are you?” Shing's voice broke his reverie. Gaara stopped and turned.
“Keep walking!” Shing ordered.
Gaara sighed, “My name's Gaara”
“I didn't ask for your name.” Shing complained.
Gaara smiled. “True.”
Gaara hissed. The binds were grinding his wrists, “Who are you?” Shing repeated, the grip worsened, “Are you a spy? A member of some new special force?”
“Neither of them,”
“I don't believe you!”
Gaara shrugged. The binds carved his flesh. Gaara felt blood tricking on his skin.
“I'm telling the truth... I'm not a Fire Nation's soldier”
“Are you from the colonies?” Shing asked, “Your hair and eye colour isn't very typical... Are you from the colonies?”
“No, I'm not”
“What were you doing in their camp?”
Gaara stopped and turned, “I sabotaged them”
Shing halted and glared at him, “You dare to lie to me, you scum!”
“Who caused the explosion then?” Gaara countered.
“An accident... anything could've caused it”
“A very fortunate accident, exactly when you needed it” Gaara rebutted.
Shing hissed, “You don't have proof. I don't believe you caused the explosion!”
“True... but you can't prove your theory either...”
“I don't have to prove my theory!” Shing yelled, pointing his finger at him.
Some soldiers in the column stopped marching.
“You're the prisoner,” Shing said with glee, “You have to answer,”
“I answered” Gaara said.
“Move on, we still have several miles to cover” Shing ordered his men.
Gaara moved, immediately followed by his captor.
“I'm a mercenary” Gaara confessed.
“A mercenary?”
He could hear Shing's scepticism. “I bet you can't reveal the one who paid you for your job” Shing accused.
“More or less,” Gaara shrugged.
Shing huffed, “No matter, you scum... you'll talk when we reach Omashu. You may be able to evade my questions but with King Bumi you'll have to spill the beans. Rest assured.”
“I'll tell him exactly what I just said to you.”
“Quiet now,” Shing sneered, “You're giving me a headache...”
Gaara was satisfied. They were taking him to a big city. He would wait to break free. In that place he could gather many informations and supplies.
Right now, he was tired and in the middle of nothing.
He decided to bide his time.
Gaara could not believe his eyes. The soldiers around him were elated, their spirit was high. They cheered but Gaara's focus was elsewhere.
The city of Omashu was imposing and impressing. It was a mighty fortress surrounded by an incredible chasm.
Shing flanked him, “Impressive, isn't it?”
“Indeed” Gaara nodded, “It reminds me of a village I've seen once, some years ago.”
Shing sneered, “What are you talking about? This is one of the most ancient cities not only in our Kingdom but the entire world.”
Shing crossed his arms, “The creation of Omashu is a tale of legends. It's impossible you saw something similar,”
Gaara did not reply and went on. The city was arousing his curiosity.
He ignored the longing and the nostalgia for his village and his world.
Gaara could not dwell on the past, in that moment he needed to focus to discover as much as possible of that incredible city.
The column approached the gates.