Chapter 24.3- And so the Dragons Danced

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I found Toji slashing and stabbing at vines as they tried to reach out for him. Maki was already nearly fully covered, and several of my troops were in even worse positions. I announced my presence with a sweeping arc of fire that cut through several of the vines reaching for Toji even as it cut half of those holding Maki in her position.

“Burn it all. Burn the whole fucking swamp” I shouted at no one in particular as I landed and began to do just that. Wide, sweeping arcs and fire blasts left my arms and legs as I danced around whatever vines managed to reach out for me. This spirit was powerful, but something told me that it drew its power from the swamp itself, and that was what I attacked. Those around me followed my lead without question. Even though I’d essentially abandoned them, they were still willing to follow my command. I silently promised myself that this would be the last time I would prove myself unworthy of their loyalty.

The Foggy Swamps were a staple of the earth kindgom’s geography, standing as long as the famous Si Wong desert and being just as relevant, but even as great as it was, there was little it could do in face of over a thousand firebenders unleashing their wrath at the same time. This was unlike any of the previous burnings I’d witnessed when we had to clear out forests or sections of forests for logistical advantages. Those had been organised affairs which were strictly monitored to prevent uncontrolled forest fires. This was the exact opposite of that. We burned, and we did it indisciminately, and fire did what it did best, it spread.

We moved through the entire thing, setting every single bit of greenery on fire as we walked through. If we were anything less than a Fire Nation Army battalion, we might have found ourselves in some serious trouble with all the burning we were doing, but we were well-placed, and even better equipped to deal with the effects of our own fires.

It took what felt like hours to run through half of the entire swamp and raze it down to the ground. In the time since my first anger-driven command, we had settled into some sort of organised system. The army moved in a several rotating circles with a shuffled series of firebenders at the circumference of each circle to do the burning. The non-benders, few as they were in my division, stood at the centre of the circle, and helped to direct the firebenders and keep them on task. The healers managed the rotation, keeping a careful gaze on each bender and swapping those who were tired out before they flagged and fell to exhaustion.

“Maki out. Natsu in” Amara commanded with a noticeable edge in her voice. She was not a fan of this. This indiscriminate destruction. But just as I knew the sun would rise in the East tomorrow, I knew she would do as she was told. Her loyalty was beyond reproach. I took Maki’s place and began sending the sweeping arcs of fire forwards as we came towards the massive tree at the centre of the swamp. This was the centre of the swamp, I knew. And burning the tree was sure to destroy whatever the fuck that spirit had been. That spirit that had been bold enough to use my mother’s face in its sick game.

“Aim at the tree” I commanded, forcing my voice louder than ever so I could be heard above the roar of the flames. I took a stance and sent my most powerful stream of flames at the tree.

And then suddenly, there was wall of water covering the tree from all sides. Our flames washed against the water, quickly beginning to boil some of it.

“Hold” I commanded, but it seemed those towards the East had either failed to hear me or hadn’t the endurance to keep their streams going on for long. Once the fire to the east shut off, the entire arc of boiling water was sent streaming right at me and my position. I felt my life flash before my eyes before the water suddenly parted before me like a scene out of the fucking bible and crashed down around me. I looked at Amara, and found that she’d lifted both hands with a look of concentration around her face.

I couldn’t keep much of my attention on her, and it was snatched by the screaming from all around me as the men without a water bending healer in their midst were forced to take the full brunt of the boiling water attack.

“Leave this hallowed grounds, and never return, fire benders” The tree’s massive vines parted to reveal an eclectic group of humans. Waterbenders, I deduced. The Foggy Swamp Tribe, to be precise. There was about two score of them, I estimated as my mind began to form plans.

“And why the hell would we do that? We outnumber you, quite overwhelmingly in fact” Shin began. I allowed the arsehole hold their attention by being himself as I began to think of a way to deal with his without losing a good portion of my men. We weren’t in the best of conditions for facing down skilled water benders, knee deep in the substance as we were. We also weren’t rested, or even mentally prepared for this kind of resistance.

“Your numbers mean little. We are the Foggy Swamp Tribe. The Great Swamp Spirit herself is on our side, and she has commanded you to return from whence you came or find your lives turned to nutrients for the swamp.”

“The Great Swamp Spirit? You are clearly insane and I demand to speak to someone with some control over their faculties.” Oh bless your heart, Shin.

I subtly adjusted, moving away from the water to stand on one of the upraised roots along the ground. I watched Toji as he did the same.

“Your arrogance will be your downfall, fire bender” The Chief, or at least the one I suspected to be the chief spoke with a sense of finality.

“Before we begin, I have a quick question. This Great Swamp Spirit of yours. What is it?”

“A good question. I will enlighten you so you understand what you face. The Great Swamp Spirit is the spirit of this very swamp. She is the one who gives us our power to bend water within the swamp here and has guided our people for millennia”

“Perfect. Now, do all of you talk to her”

“As the Chieftain, I am the Great Swamp Spirit’s envoy. Her voice on this plane. What is the purpose of these questions?”

“Nothing much. Just wanted to know which one of you would be the first to die”

“What?”

The confused expression would be destined to be frozen on his face for eternity as I sent him flying to the ether with a single bolt of lightning. I reached down to blow at my smoking fingers as I relaxed the stance I’d assumed in a second.

“Anyone else?” I asked with a smirk that I really wasn’t feeling.

A/N; Here ya go