The enormous is imposing; it's a simple truth that every human being can feel, even if they don't realize it. Seeing a huge creature evokes feelings of amazement and terror.
Tall buildings inspire reverence and awe. Looking down from a great height makes us aware of the danger. Even something simpler: When you see a tall person, you instinctively know not to mess with them.
So, how would a person feel if they saw two giant creatures walking toward them? The answer is simple: fear. If you don't know what the creatures are or what their motives are, this emotion turns into dread.
That's how the crew members of the fleet that attempted to reach the North Pole felt. Throughout their journey, they were bombarded with speeches about the great feats they would accomplish once they disembarked.
They were going to teach those ice-eaters of the north a lesson! They were going to prove that the Earth Kingdom could be just as powerful and skilled as the Fire Nation.
War? Many feared its return, but very few dared complain while in the military. Those who did were hanged from every visible part of their ship to send a clear message.
They only needed to think about victory! Not about the pain they would inflict on people who had previously been their most important allies. They could not dwell on the open wounds from the previous war. They could not think; they could only obey the King's orders.
They were prepared to fight Waterbenders with bone spears and ice picks in cold weather and strong winds. They were ready to fight humans and animals, but they were not ready to fight titans.
A terrifying roar spread for miles from the energy construct holding a spear. It was so intense that even the sea trembled and the ice cracked, unable to withstand such a declaration that needed no words to convey its meaning.
DIE!
Unlike Aang, Shisui was not a pacifist. He knew what he had to do. Although he did not like to kill, he did not shy away from it. Why was he trying so hard when it wasn't necessary? Why was he doing this avatarization, even though he had barely rested?
Because during his time at the North Pole with his grandparents and aunt, he had grown fond of the place. The flowers he had grown were something he wanted to protect. Above all, his fiancée was pregnant.
He could let Azula fight, but he would never let her start a large-scale conflict where anything could happen. He would never let that happen! He wasn't underestimating Azula, but when his future daughter was at stake, Shisui realized he would be an overprotective father.
'To think these cowards from Ba Sing Se would try something like this. It looks like I'll have to take a trip to the heart of the Earth Kingdom. I'm fed up with all this. It's time to make a clean break,' Shisui reflected, standing at the helm of his ship and watching the other ships and their crews, which looked like ants from his vantage point.
His eyes turned cold. He had activated his gift. Although he had been tired recently, he decided to do something foolish yet effective: drink the water from the Spirit Pond to help him recover his energy.
Shisui looked to one side, where Yue was flying. She had unleashed all her spiritual power and joined in this feat as well. Of course, with everyone's attention drawn to the two titans, no one had noticed her.
She noticed her nephew's gaze, so she smiled at him. Then, she turned her attention to the enemy fleet with an expressionless face. Yue also wanted to demonstrate her power because, as the ruler of one of the world's most important factions, she needed to establish her presence.
The woman was the first to take action, creating a gigantic wave of water with which she drove all the ships away because she did not want them near her territory. Her actions marked the beginning of the conflict.
The gigantic body of energy that Shisui had created took a step forward. The water was not deep enough to cover more than his knees, but he was a Waterbender, so he could move freely.
Aang also moved forward. The water monster he had created with Tui and La was agile despite its size. Then, the two colossi moved at an impossible speed, casting large shadows over the ships.
Could this thing be hurt? No matter what was used, it would be useless. Despite some high-ranking officers shouting for everyone to attack in unison, fear had taken a deep hold on the men and women present.
Even those operating the cannons felt that attacking was useless. When the colossus's energy spear, manipulated by Shisui, easily pierced one of the ships, causing the first casualties, panic caused the others to act irrationally.
Some attacked, some jumped into the sea, and some knelt and prayed for mercy. Although Aang hesitated, overturning the boats without destroying them completely, Shisui crushed everything in his path.
He also used waterbending to attack the people in the sea because, to him, their presence there meant they were ready to die.
However, the Sage was not a ruthless monster, despite how his actions might have seemed. Depending on what he could perceive with his gift, he left several soldiers alone. Nor did he attack people whose clothing identified them as non-combatants, such as cooks.
Combatants had a different aura than normal people, and Shisui knew that because he had been in the army and fought in battles. Thus, he respected the Earthbender's wish to convey information to him through Musu.
Yue went straight to the main ship and captured General Ming. She needed him alive for what she was about to do next. She didn't bother attacking ordinary people. However, she waved her hand and shattered every sinking ship.
She didn't want to litter the seabed. However, her actions took away the meager sustenance some had, forcing them to float in the cold water and making their ordeal even worse.
As a result, many soldiers died of hypothermia. After all, the sea near the North Pole is quite cold. Additionally, many people, overcome with panic, attacked others, pushing them underwater in an attempt to stay afloat, which only worsened the casualties.
Ultimately, many survivors were quickly captured by Agna Qel'a's soldiers. However, the number of people who came confidently was enormous compared to the number who remained at the end.
...
"Shisui, was it necessary to drown those guys who weren't resisting anymore?" Aang asked Shisui after the event. Shisui was lying on his back on the grass near the Spirit Pond. His head rested on Azula's lap. He stared at the night sky.
"I did it to send a message, Aang. I know you're a pacifist who doesn't kill your enemies. But, as I said, some people just won't understand, no matter how kind you are.
I become a monster in the eyes of my enemies because I don't want them to think they can constantly harass me. A year ago, they tried to kidnap and assassinate me because no one knew what I was really capable of.
That's when I demonstrated my power against Ba Sing Se. When I unleashed a tsunami, shaking the walls of their city, they understood. The night after that, they sent me a letter saying the Dai Li would no longer try to kill me, but they wanted me to stop causing that kind of trouble.
Now, the Red Lotus seems to have provided the Earth Kingdom with some security. I even found some Dai Li spies. It looks like I'll have to do something else, Aang.
I'll have to tear down the walls of Ba Sing Se, go straight to the king, and kill him," said Shisui. He paid no attention to Aang but continued to watch the sky, which was now filled with vivid colors.
An aurora borealis. As Azula played with her fiancé's long hair, she looked at Aang, who had a strange expression on his face. She expected the Avatar to respond, to say something to Shisui, or to try to talk to him. However, he remained silent.
"Will that help bring peace?" asked Aang, bringing a smile to the Sage's face.
"I don't know, my friend. But we can try when the plagues stop bothering us. You are the Avatar, Aang. I'm not going to ask you to act with me this time, but they will attack you; they are your enemies, too.
The Earth King? I don't know who he is. He doesn't show up or act; the Dai Li do everything. But something gives me a bad feeling. I trust my instincts, so I have to see if he's a puppet or a cunning mastermind.
"Perhaps someone capable should ascend to the throne, a descendant of the King of Omashu, perhaps?" Shisui murmured, thinking of King Bumi's grandson, whom he had once met because of the Fire Nation's trade dealings with the city-state of Omashu.
The man seemed to have inherited much from his grandfather: he was a comical figure but also a prodigy in earthbending. In some strange way, Shisui connected with this guy, and they started a joke war that continues to this day.
"Bumi... I should visit him, right?" Aang sat cross-legged on the grass, then looked up, enjoying the natural spectacle of the northern lights.
"Yeah, hey, stop staring into the distance. Come closer. This place is really comfortable," Shisui said loudly. In no time, his friends and family gathered around.
"We didn't want to interrupt your death speech or anything," Ty Lee said with a big smile as she sat down next to Shisui.
"Arnook! Look at the words our grandson spoke; they're so fierce. You remind me of your grandfather," said Taqqiq, a middle-aged woman who bore a striking resemblance to Chang'e and Yue. She was their grandmother.
She dragged her husband by the arm toward Shisui, then crouched down next to him and Azula. She looked at her grandson's fiancée and smiled at her before placing her hands on the Sage's cheeks and squeezing them tightly.
"Restless child! Can't you rest for a while? You're already causing trouble, and you're targeting a king, no less! Can't you just enjoy yourself while you're here? Go swim with the koala otters, and then get on with your macabre plans," Taqqiq complained to her grandson. She hadn't been able to spend much time with him due to everything that had happened.
"Hehe, seeing Shisui being treated like that by his grandmother gives me joy. Gran-Gran is the same," Sokka whispered to Katara. She nodded because seeing such a prominent figure treated like a child brought her happiness.
"It reminds me of Lady Ursa," Mai said to Zuko. He smiled because, in a sense, his mother had raised Shisui. She also treated the Sage like a child, no matter how powerful or prominent he was.
"Since we're here, can't we have a barbecue?" Sokka suggested, touching his abdomen. Suddenly, a jet of water shot out from the Spirit Pond and fell on him.
"Well, the Water Spirits didn't like the idea of starting a fire in this place," Suki said with a laugh as she took out a handkerchief and began drying her boyfriend off.
Shisui, surrounded by people close to him, did not resist Taqqiq's treatment, but narrowed his eyes and enjoyed the moment. Maybe he should relax and swim with the koala-otters for a moment?
The next day, many people reported seeing the wise Shisui playing with the koala-otters like a little boy. He even had a competition with them to see who could break the most oyster shells and emerged victorious.
This helped clear Shisui's mind of complicated things, and he had a good time with his friends.