Chapter 26

The Gyriong Mines were set halfway up the sides of the mountains that formed the Gyirong Valley. A long, winding, path led up from the valley floor that climbed the mountainside between the Valley Floor and the Mines. It was, on reflection, almost a perfect path for an ambush to take place. That was likely why Bikki was so unsurprised when, as they climbed the path for the mines, the cries of more bullroarers split the night air and their party suddenly found themselves being showered by rocks from further up the mountainside as the Rebels tried to simulate an avalanche.

Large boulders tumbled down the side of the mountain, dislodged by force by the Rebels further up. They careened down the slopes in a man-made landslide, aiming to sweep Bikki and Company off their mounts and off the very path to tumble down to the valley floor below and be crushed.

"Fei-Yan!" Called out Bikki.

"On it!" Responded Fei-Yan, leaping off his mount.

Fei-Yan stomped the ground and made an upward, swinging, motion with his arms. As he did so, a large, slanted, wall rose out of the mountainside, catching the tumbling boulders and channeling them away from the party to tumbled down into the forested floor of the valley below harmlessly. Fei-Yan got back on his mount and nodded to Bikki.

"That should hold." He insisted.

"Bullroarers and blasting jelly, if my nose does not deceive me. I believe the Rebels are doing an excellent impersonation of a Snow Lion so far." Remarked General Iroh, sniffing the air.

"They're creative, I'll give them that. It won't save them." Huffed Prince Zuko.

"We should press on while they're still up there." Mused Bikki.

"Yeah, we know where they are now, and we know some of their tricks. It should be easy to clobber them now." Grinned Deniigi.

And with that, the group rode on, mounts climbing the path once more. As they rounded a bend in the path that led into a small forested gully, however, the Rebels tried something else. More noise from bullroarers rang out, and a flaming tree trunk tumbled down from the mountainside to block the path up. Almost immediately as soon as the path was blocked, a number of leather-armored, armed, Rebels sprang forward from the rocky ground to either side of the path. One of them made the mistake of getting too close to Bikki only for Ayai to smash him with her front hooves. He went flying back into the flaming tree trunk with a scream, immolating.

Bikki wasn't idle either, nocking a pair of arrows and firing them at two of the Rebels as they charged out of the forested sides of the gully side-by-side. One of the arrows caught a Rebel in the throat, while the other caught the other Rebel in the shoulder, spinning him around into a jagged stone that Fei-Yan whipped his way with a punching motion. The stone cracked the Rebel's skull and he fell to the ground. Meanwhile, Deniigi summoned water from the moisture in the air and sent it crashing down in a wave against the flaming tree trunk, dousing the obstacle, even as General Iroh and Prince Zuko punched fireballs into a trio of Rebels.

Almost as fast as it came, the ambush ended. Bikki dismounted Ayai to try and remove the tree trunk from across the road. He wasn't strong enough to do it on his own, even when enhancing his body with Chi, but Fei-Yan got off his own mount to help and soon the obstacle was cleared and they could proceed. Bikki and Fei-Yan remounted as General Iroh frowned.

"These Rebels are organized. Ruses with spirits and advanced parties for an ambush. I fear a greater hand is at work here than just Dhundup Dorje." Frowned General Iroh.

"Uncle?" Questioned Prince Zuko.

"Have you ever heard of Gui Wushi, Nephew?" Queried General Iroh.

"No, should I have?" Asked Prince Zuko.

"I have." Offered Fei-Yan.

"As have I, but I thought they'd been disbanded more than a decade ago." Added Bikki.

"Great, can somebody fill those of us who've got no clue what you're talking about in?" Demanded Deniigi.

"The Gui Wushi were an elite unit in the Earth Kingdom's Army. They were something the Earth Kingdom tried during the middle phase of the war, meant to foment rebellions behind enemy lines. They would infiltrate an area posing as peasants and begin contacting any rebel groups that our forces had yet to stamp out, offering them funding, equipment, and training. They were instrumental in several defeats in the sixtieth and seventieth years of the War, tying down forces that would have been better used to support offensives toward Omashu and Gaoling. Supposedly, they were defeated in the Xiyan River Campaign by the Dragon of the West on his way to besiege Ba Sing Se and the survivors folded into other groups." Explained Bikki.

"Indeed. I did defeat them during the Xiyan River Campaign, so I would know their handiwork when I see it. I am telling you that I do see it here." Informed General Iroh.

"That means that Dhundup Dorje is working with the Earth Kingdom for his rebellion. Somehow, I doubt that his plans include simply replacing Namri Tsenpo if that's the case." Frowned Fei-Yan.

"Either way it's treason." Spat Prince Zuko.

"Well, then I guess we'd better head on up and punish them, huh?" Remarked Deniigi.

"Come on. The sooner we get up there, the sooner we can end this." Scowled Prince Zuko.

Once more the group set off, and once more they waited for another ambush. This time, however, it didn't come. Instead, the group managed to make it to the highland plateau in the mountains that held the Gyirong Mines and their buildings. The place was largely deserted, save for a few people. Presumably, these were the nominal leaders of this Rebel Band.

One was the Girl that Bikki had seen watching them as they entered Nyeri Village. Another was a pair of late-teens to early-twenties Twins who looked to be a pair of Martial Artists. The other two were more interesting. Both were bearded, though one had his hair pulled into a topknot and wore Lamellar Armor lacquered red like a Fire Nation Soldier. The Other was clearly Earth Kingdom, having his long hair loose and wearing yellow armor over green robes like an Earth Kingdom Soldier. Both had weapons, in the Fire Nation Soldier's case, a Yari Spear, while the Earth Kingdom Soldier had a chain tipped in a stone weight.

"I know you. Major Hanzo, yes? You were the Fire Nation Advisor to Namri Tsenpo's Guards, were you not? I had heard you died of some illness?" Questioned General Iroh.

"A ruse, General. I faked my own death in order to join the rebels." Intoned the Fire Nation Soldier, Major Hanzo.

"Might I inquire as to why?" Queried General Iroh.

"With respect, General, you have been retired for some time. You haven't seen the way the High Command has been throwing the lives of good men away on completely pointless frontal assaults against fortified positions. The Army is not what it once was." Intoned Major Hanzo.

"That doesn't give you the right to commit treason!" Snapped Prince Zuko.

"I've seen you before. You were watching us." Nodded Bikki toward the Girl, largely to avoid getting caught up in Prince Zuko and General Iroh's conversation.

"I was. I am known as Dichen." Informed the Girl, Dichen.

"You know this is pointless, yes? Even should this rebellion succeed, you'll only wind up with a massive counterattack by the Fire Nation that will kill everyone. The Fire Lord won't work with the locals in the aftermath. Khamdo will wind up just like any other Fire Nation Colony. It may even wind up a Military Occupation Zone, which would be even worse." Insisted Bikki.

"That may be so, but this is the only way to earn the legitimacy I've always wanted. No matter what happens, to be acknowledged as my father's daughter? It would be the greatest moment of my life." Responded Dichen.

"I see. Is there nothing I can do to get you to surrender?" Asked Bikki.

"Sorry, but no. This fight has to happen for me to finally be publically recognized by my father. I would give anything to make that a reality." Refused Dichen.

"Including your life?" Questioned Bikki.

"Even that. I doubt it will come to that, though. Even should you kill us all, events are already in motion." Answered Dichen.

"What? What does that mean?" Queried Bikki.

Before he could get an answer, however, the Earth Kingdom Soldier shouted out, "Enough! This bickering is pointless. We will not be budged and neither will you. There is only one course of action remaining!"

That cut through the conversation and General Iroh nodded at that, dismounting his Komodo Rhino. Bikki did likewise, dismounting Ayai, even as the other got off their own mounts.

"I suppose you are correct. It is a shame that it had to come to this." Intoned General Iroh.

"Hanzo, take the Prince. Dakpa, Topden, handle the Waterbender and Earthbender. Dichen can have the Yonbanjin she seems to fancy so much. I will take the Dragon of the West." Intoned the Earth Kingdom Soldier.

As Dichen moved to square off against Bikki, Hanzo and Prince Zuko did the same, and the twins moved to do likewise with Deniigi and Fei-Yan Respectively, General Iroh nodded at his designated opponent. They moved off to their own little section of the miniature village that formed the outbuildings area of the Mines, nearby, but not right next to, Dichen and Bikki.

"Might I inquire as to my opponent's name?" Asked General Iroh.

"I am Long Chang, formerly of the Gui Wushi." Offered the Earth Kingdom Soldier.

For his part, Bikki tuned out the rest of the fights and conversations, focusing on Dichen. Dichen's sword was straight like a Jian, with no curve, but only bore a single edge. It was almost cleaver-like in a way, and knowing the history of the Non-bending population of Khamdo, probably began its evolution as a method of clearing foliage from the slopes of mountains. After all, everyone knew the Air Nomads were pacifists and thus the non-bending population that fed and clothed them would have had to adapt farming tools to defend themselves since weaponry was frowned upon by the nomads in their monasteries. That didn't account for the odd stance though.

No, that was something else, keeping one hand free, not to check blows from him, as the extended fingers of her off-hand wouldn't be capable of that, but likely to strike vital points. Bikki had heard of the Dim Mak before, as someone who kept up-to-date on Martial Arts by necessity. He knew of it as an Assassin's Art, that could strike at Chi points to disrupt the natural flow of Chi in the body, paralyzing an opponent or even killing them if done in a certain way. He would have to be very careful.

He drew his own blade and took up a guard position as he and Dichen circled each other. Her stance, though unorthodox, was technically perfect. Bikki found no holes in it save the ones that were traps and wound open him up for a two-fingered Dim Mak strike. It really was a shame that Dichen was an enemy because Bikki would love to have someone like her to fight alongside. She clearly knew what she was doing. Of course, at this point, so did Bikki.

"Not going to attack? I thought you Yonbanjin were all about aggression on the Battlefield?" Questioned Dichen.

"Aggression without direction is just wasted effort. I do not fancy trying your guard just yet, not if I don't want to suddenly find myself assailed by Dim mak strikes." Answered Bikki.

"So you know of the Dim Mak?" Queried Dichen.

"I do. An Assassin's Art that can disrupt the flow of Chi with precise strikes. I will not be so hasty as to rush in and attack with that in play." Huffed Bikki.

"Why am I not surprised? Nothing can ever be easy can it?" Asked Dichen to herself.

"You could always surrender." Pointed out Bikki.

"No. That isn't happening. However, if you will not come to me, then I will simply have to come to you. Prepare yourself!" Called Out Dichen.

Then she rushed forward, and Bikki's fight began in earnest. . .

XXXX

AN: All right, so here we have the next chapter. It turns out that yes, there was at least one more twist in the story. There is some level of unofficial aid from the Earth Kingdom happening with this rebellion. Take note of the name of the Earth Kingdom Soldier here, Long Chang. Long being the Surname, since they're Earth Kingdom and thus based on Chinese Culture. What other major character in the Avatar World has that Surname, I wonder? Just something to think about.

At any rate, the next chapter will involve the actual fights, though it won't be the end of the Arc exactly. After all, Dichen did say that things were already in motion, and you have to wonder just where all the other rebels went.

Stay tuned. . .