Chapter 31

Sokka, Toph and Suki raced to where the fields began just outside the village. Looking to their right they could see the distant figures of Iroh, Lao and the children just boarding the Kyoshi Island balloon, both airship's engines already powering up. Looking over to the west they saw the more distant figure of Reena, standing on a low rise and ranged about before her were masses of large, bipedal shapes. Even as they watched, there came a bright flash of purple light from Reena and a dozen more shapes appeared around her, quickly moving down to join the others.

"What are those things?" Suki asked with a light tremor in her voice.

"They ain't human, Fangirl. I can tell that much from here." Toph said, her own voice quiet and awed.

"Definitely not. Gretches, or whatever that is." Sokka said, his the only voice between them sounding clear and strong, he was looking through his small spyglass across the fields at the creatures, "They look seven, eight feet tall. Short legs but real long arms with big claws. They've got big mouths full of teeth in those heads too. This is going to be rough."

"How…how many?" Suki asked her husband, drawing up against his side.

"You don't want to know." Sokka breathed as he lowered the spyglass.

"Close to three thousand and she's still going." Toph said with a frown on her face, "Listen guys, we've always fought well together and you know I'm the big hitter out of us three. Now Suki, if I may borrow that old Kyoshi Warrior proverb, in a few minutes the shit is about to hit the fans in a big way. While their coming, I'm your biggest weapon but once they're on us, I have some ideas but you two are going to have to look out for me. The usual game plan, got it?"

"There's no Kyoshi proverb like that." Suki said but was unable to keep the grin off her face, "But I think it will be one now. Don't worry, Toph. They'll have to come through us to get to you."

"And nothing's going to get through us." Sokka said with determination. He paused and looked back to the village with a thoughtful look in his eyes, "This town is just too wide open on these plains. Toph, do you think you could,"

"Don't worry, General Snoozles. I already have something in mind." Toph said, turning back to the village and lacing her fingers together to crack her knuckles loudly, "Just in these last few weeks I've learned to see the earth like never before. Lets see if Chuckles thinks I'm still the second best after this."

Toph dropped into her low stance, her hands held before her with the palms down and for a few heartbeats nothing happened. Then flipping her hands about, clenching them into tight fists, Toph's delicate looking frame was suddenly bulging with tightly corded muscles, her arms straining to rise as though lifting a heavy burden. The ground began to shake and from the village itself loud shouts of alarm could be heard, tiles could be seen sliding from rooftops and from all about, dust sprang into the air. With sweat beginning to bead on her brow, Toph's fists punched into the air and a thick, circular wall of stone, a quarter of a mile wide and thirty feet high shot up from the ground surrounding the village. Toph dropped her arms, panting hard from the exertion but grinning with pride.

"Alright, Toph." Suki said with admiration, looking at the high wall that hid the village completely from sight, "You rock, girl."

"Yep, I'm great." Toph said with a satisfied nod at her handiwork before she turned to face their gathering enemies.

Sokka and Suki shared a chuckle at this, their fears dissipating a little. They heard a rumble in the air and turned to see the balloons quickly rising, black smoke pumping from their exhaust stacks as they powered toward the village. Sokka looked thoughtful as he and Suki joined Toph in looking back at the forces gathering in the distance.

"You know, Toph. I never liked most of your nicknames for me but I think I do like this new one." Sokka said, grinning as he looked at the gathered Gretches, "If we survive today, I'm going to get a standard made up that I can carry into battle so everyone will know it's me and quake in fear. General Snoozles."

"Yeah, that'd scare the pants off of me, General." Toph said with another grin of her own but suddenly frowned, flinging out an arm to point at Sokka, "Not literally, Meathead. Don't think I didn't feel your heart rate jump just then and don't think Suki here hasn't told us girls, your sister included, about all the times you hit her up for a three way with some girl or other in your village."

"I, I didn't…I mean," Sokka spluttered his face going a deep red, "I never said that."

"Ha. Liar. Look Mr. Thinks With His little Head. You either swing that way or you don't and don't you dare think for one minute that's all me, Mai an Zuko got going for us either. We're in love. Period. " Toph said with a grin as Sokka continued spluttering, "If you want it so bad, how about you do something for Suki and bring another guy into the mix. Then maybe she can sit back after SHE'S satisfied and enjoy watching you bend over and take one up the,"

"Uh, guys." Suki interrupted, pointing out over the fields, "Maybe we better concentrate on them now."

More grateful that he could imagine to be facing a deadly enemy, Sokka turned back to the west and the forces gathered there. They could see Reena moving about atop her small rise, the creatures before her forming into long, rough lines, bursts of lightning shooting out from the woman and striking those who apparently didn't obey or move fast enough. Already the huge creatures, the Grutches were ten deep and their lines stretched out close to a quarter mile, almost as wide as the village they faced. The three who faced these thousands just outside the high wall surrounding Podeck were grim faced but their determination seemed to radiate out from them.

"Actually, Toph. There was only that one time I made that suggestion to Suki." Sokka said quietly without turning to look at the other woman beside his wife, "I realized straight away it was the dumbest thing I'd ever said and believe me, I know I've said some dumb things."

"He spent weeks making it up to me." Suki said, leaning in to her husband's side with a sigh and a warm smile, "Flowers and sweets and taking me to dinner at exotic places almost every other day. I like it when my Sokka does something dumb. He tries so much harder afterward to make me happy."

"Just like you make me happy every day just being you." Sokka said, turning to embrace his wife and kissing her deeply, "Nothing satisfies like Suki."

"Ergh. Save it for after the battle will you." Toph griped, making a face, then cupping her hands around her mouth she yelled out, "Hey, Loopy Bitch. Get this frickin fight started before these two make me throw up! Oops."

This last thing Toph said as Reena released a huge bolt of crackling lightning into the blue sky and the hoards of Gretches before her began running forward, the ground beneath the three standing before Podeck already trembling from the monster's pounding feet.

"Alright, lets get this show on the road. Ready Toph? Suki?" both women nodded to Sokka and he reached up to touch the small blue crystal chip under his ear, "Listen up, everyone. Here they come. We'll hold them off as best we can but their going to reach you in the village eventually. Be ready and good luck to you all."

A babble of replies and good wishes came back through the crystals they wore and though fear still coursed through them, Sokka and Suki drew their swords, dropping into ready stances as Toph took a few steps ahead of them, dropping into her own low stance, her blind eyes glaring at the oncoming army of beasts.

"Come get some." Toph growled.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Do you see her, Zuko? Aang said, Can you see her spirit fully now?

I see, my friend. I can see that stuff too. came Zuko's reply, Are you sure you know what to do?

I think so, Aang replied in return, We can't remove it so we have to make it a part of her. We have to be fast now but careful.

The two men were barely aware of each other's physical forms now and between them, Katara was a living network of glowing, pulsing lines of vibrant, bright blue energy. Seen as a whole, the glowing lines of energy made up the woman but by focusing their senses tightly, Zuko and Aang could see that beneath the surface lines, the energy that was Katara split and branched into thousands of smaller lines, each branch splitting again, the lines of flowing energy growing smaller and smaller as far as they could see. And beginning at Katara's hands, purple energy, flowing like oily, stained water followed the lines of energy up her arms to her centre, reaching up into the woman's head and down to surround another ball of brightly glowing white lines in Katara's abdomen.

It's trying to get into her womb. Our baby. I can stop the spread, Zuko but you will need to start the process. Aang said hurriedly, Start where it began, in her hands. Take some of her energy and the poison into yourself, then you have to force the poison to become the same as her energy. It will become easier as you go but please Zuko, hurry.

Without replying, Zuko bent to the task. He could see Aang's light, blue white energy flowing into Katara and the creeping purple halted it's advance over her glowing blue. Reaching out himself, Zuko took up some of the blue energy and again to take some stained by the purple threads. Katara's blue was warm, soft and pulsing gently while the Purple stained lines were ice cold and yet burned in his mind's grip. Focusing with all his being, Zuko channeled his own energy into the purple glows, trying to change it to be more like Katara's gentle warmth. He was afraid for the woman before him but his determination drove him on, for Zuko loved Katara almost as much as his own wife and fiancée and he intended to make sure she survived that he just might tell her that.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Azula was getting impatient with waiting, standing around in the forest. Idly kicking at the leaf mulch under her feet she turned and scowled at the silent shirshu standing nearby.

"I know he told you to keep me here but I need to know what's going on." Azula said testily with her hands on her hips. Then raising one hand she ignited a jet of blue fire above her palm and grinned at Nyla, "What's to stop me from setting fire to your tail and running off while you dance about? Hmm?"

Nyla turned her eyeless face toward Azula and her jaws parted slightly, the shirshu's long, thin tongue shooting out and snapping in the air next to the woman's ear. Azula blinked in surprise and rubbed at a few spots on the side of her head that were rapidly numbing from drops of Nyla's specialized saliva.

"Oh. Fine then." Azula griped, drawing her sai from her belt to twirl them about her fingers idly, "It's not like I'm some precious porcelain doll he needs to hide away. I can fight and damn well too, so why,"

Azula paused in surprise as a little girl suddenly appeared standing before her, wearing a plain light green dress and her brown hair held up by a band she recognized as belonging to June.

"You're that little tree spirit Mai told me about." Azula said quietly as she took in the obviously terrified features of the girl, "What's wrong?"

Hu dashed forward, grabbing Azula by her shirt and staring up at the woman with her wide, dark green eyes.

"Mai trouble. Danny, pretty Tara hurt, dying. All in danger. Demons coming, lots of demons." Hu babbled quickly and Azula's golden eyes went wide as she listened, "Hu bring army. Avatar must lead army."

"Mai? Katara's dying?" Azula asked the little girl incredulously, "But, Avatar Aang's there with them isn't he?"

"Not Aang. He an Ooko try an save Tara. But Danny die, everyone die if pretty Avatar don't come." Hu insisted. Taking a step back, Hu flung out a hand to point deeper into the forest and Azula turned to stare wide eyed as the little girl continued, "New, pretty Avatar must lead our army. We go, now."

As Azula stared in amazement, hoards of creatures made their way through the trees toward them, Nyla turning to sniff at the air as they came. She recognized saber toothed Moose-lions, Boar-q-pines, Platypus-bears, Wolf-bats and a whole host of other creatures and striding along before them all was the huge black and white spirit animal that had saved Azula from falling the night before but even more strangely, beside Hei Bai came the black furred beast Daniel had fought and apparently killed. Both Hei Bai and the black creature nodded their heads to Azula as the forest behind them quickly filled with other animals and obvious spirit's the same in appearance as the animals but with brightly glowing eyes.

"We go, pretty Avatar. We go now or all die." Hu said insistently, tugging again at Azula's belt.

Looking down at the little girl then back up at the massed animals, Azula swallowed hard and then leaning down, she quickly scooped Hu into her arms and then stepped over to Nyla, leaping up into the shirshu's saddle. Settling Hu before herself, Azula paused for a moment, unsure of what to do.

"Ah, ok, how the hell does he talk to you guys?" Azula asked the world in general, as she looked over her shoulder at the creatures looking expectantly back at her. As an idea occurred to her, Azula bent down and addressed Nyla, "Listen shirshu, uh, Nyla. If everyone's in danger then that means June is in trouble too. If you understand me then tell these other guys to fall into line and lets move."

Nyla understood perfectly. The shirshu turned her head about toward the other creatures and her jaws opened wide, releasing a roar that would have made Appa proud, the other animals quickly giving their own roars in reply. Then spinning back, Nyla took off, the army of animals and spirits in close pursuit as the trees of the forest shuddered from their charge. Azula hugged Hu to herself protectively as she felt a shiver of fear pass through the little girl, the trees whipped by them as they raced to battle and the young woman couldn't help feeling a touch of fear herself.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Come get some." Toph growled at the advancing army of Gretches.

They were taking their time from a mile away, though they charged at a run toward the village, the creatures short legs made them slow although a large cloud of dust was already being raised from their passage. When they were still half a mile distant, Toph began to move.

With long, upward sweeping swings of her arms, Toph began Bending dust into the air between her and the oncoming Gretches, more and more until a huge, undulating brown cloud obscured the army completely from view.

"Uh, Toph?" Sokka began behind her, staring incredulously at the slowly drifting dust clouds.

"It's all in the vibrations, General Snoozles." Toph said quietly, her eyes closed tightly in concentration, "It's all about vibration."

As the front ranks of the Gretches charged into the hanging dust, Toph thrust out her hands. Focusing as hard as she could, Toph set every single particle of dust to dancing, vibrating them with her Bending as fast as she could make them go and then making them go faster. Shadowy shaped were just nearing the outer edge of the clouds when the dust and the very air around it, burst into flame. Hundreds of the creatures were consumed by a wall of red and yellow fire that stretched out to nearly half a mile wide and roared a full mile up into the sky before slowly dissipating. Sokka, Suki and Toph shielded their faces from the intense heat and then dropped their hands to see the army of Gretches in disarray. The charge was halted though only briefly, as the last of the flames faded again came a bolt of white lightning whipping out from Reena into the Gretches rear ranks and driving them on.

"Never let me doubt you again, O mighty Toph." Sokka said laughing, Suki grinning widely beside him, "Whatcha got planned next?"

"Oh, just you watch, mere mortal." Toph answered with a grin of her own.

Again, Toph was in motion. Still in her low stance, Toph's arms were in constant motion with an odd combination of swings and shortened punches, her feet sliding over the earth beneath her. Nothing noticeable happened at first yet Toph was Bending the earth out in the fields before them furiously but holding the energy back, letting the pressure build beneath the ground. Then when the oncoming Gretches were only a few hundred yards away, Toph bent at the waist and slammed her fists into the ground. Beneath the feet of the monstrous army, along their entire front ranks, the earth suddenly erupted. Long, sharp spikes of stone erupted from the ground, shooting up ten feet in the air and again, hundreds of the creatures were destroyed, their impaled bodies crumbling quickly into dark mist that dissipated in the air. But still, with Reena whipping the creatures on, over two thousand of the Gretches remained and they quickly pushed through the spikes and shattered earth, continuing their charge.

"Alright, I got one trick left guys." Toph panted, sweat running down her face and stinging her pale eyes, "I think I can keep the worst of them off us but the rest is up to you."

"Go for it, Toph." Suki said, a wicked grin on her face as she eyed the Gretches pounding toward them.

"We got your back. Do whatever you can." Sokka added, his face set the same as his wife's.

Moving quickly, Toph began Bending again, her face once more set in deep concentration. From around the trio, the earth churned and large flat slabs flew up into the air, first dozens and then hundreds of sharp edged flat stones that began whipping around the them until they were surrounded by a dome of spinning earth extending out a dozen yards in every direction. As the Gretches closed in, their ranks drawing together as they arrowed straight for the spinning stones surrounding the trio, Sokka and Suki moved up to Toph's sides and slightly ahead of the woman as she concentrated on her Bending. With a roar of fury, the Gretches were upon them, fifty of the inhuman creatures sliced or simply smashed to pieces by the sharp stones flying around but a dozen managed to push through the deadly dome in that first surge. Sokka and Suki leapt into action, becoming blurring streaks that darted about within the dome of spinning stones, their swords in constant motion and the first few Gretches they met died before they could even raise their clawed arms to strike. More and more of the Gretche army threw themselves at Toph's lethal shield, scores of them being smashed to dust but still more came through. Sokka barely avoided one swipe of a clawed hand that was as big as his own head, it's long black claws a half dozen inches long. Bending over backwards so that he was almost running with his shoulders dragging on the ground, Sokka avoided the swipe then thrust his black sword into the creature's belly, as he came back upright he spun, adding power to a fresh swing of his sword to take the head from the next creature he saw. On the other side of Toph, Suki worked just as hard with her bronze sword in one hand and a golden fan in her other. She thrust with her blade, burying it between the eyes of one creature as her fan swung across, cutting through the throat of another, immediately moving on to continue her deadly dance as more creatures pushed their way into the dome. Toph was breathing hard, concentrating intently on maintaining the deadly shield of flying stones around them but a tiny part of her awareness could not help but watch with admiration as her friends kept those creatures that came through from getting close to her. As the Gretches fully surrounded Toph's spinning shield, many more began to break away from the fight, running eagerly toward the wall surrounding the village.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You're doing great, Zuko. came Aang's thoughts, although he sounded exhausted, Keep it up.

Zuko felt exhaustion himself as he continued drawing Katara's energy to himself and changing the biting, purple stain, making it the same as her own warm, radiant blue before he released Katara's energy back into her. Each change seemed to cost him a small amount of his own energy and substance but Zuko had no intention of stopping.

You sound like I feel, Aang. But yes, I'm doing ok. Zuko said as he continued with his task, Her arms are clear of the poison and I'm getting through her centre. Should I move up to her head next or clear it away from around the baby first?

The poison was eating it's way through her womb's natural defenses but I'm holding it at bay. It's not easy but our little girl's fine for now. Clear it from her mind first and then work your way down. Aang replied, his next thoughts carried a wealth of feeling, And, Zuko? She loves you too, man. She admitted to me a long time ago just how much you mean to her. Well, to both of us really. We love you as strongly as we do each other.

Thanks, Aang. Zuko replied warmly as he felt fresh vitality and purpose course through him, I know I can speak for both my lovely ladies when I say we love you guys the same. We're all family, you know?

The two men lapsed into silence as they continued their work with fresh vigor, hope burgeoning in their hearts.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"They're climbing over the wall. Shit! That one scratched me. " came Sokka's voice through the little blue crystals worn by those in the village, "Here, see how you like it when I cut the shark's teeth out of your head ya hairy bastard. Ahem, anyway I hope you guys are ready in there. Warriors, urban tactics will work best for you. These things have no strategy, no finesse they just attack wildly so use your cover and cut em down when they're not looking."

Sanna listened intently to what she heard and then turned to her Warriors. Above them, the last of the townspeople had been loaded into the airships and with their engines working hard to keep them airborne from the weight, the balloons were powering away to the east.

"Alright, ladies. Oh and Master Piandao." Sanna added with a nod to the man who stood beside her. Gar, the only male Kyoshi Warrior, stood beside Ty Lee wearing the armor and face paint but wisely keeping silent as Sanna continued, "You heard what the man said and we've all heard the descriptions of what we're facing. Big, ugly and with as much self control as us after a night out on the drink." there were knowing smiles from the Warriors at this, "Everyone pair up. Remember your urban combat training like my brother-in-law said. Stay out of sight then strike fast and get back to cover. I want everyone to maintain contact with their crystals and I want all of us celebrating our victory at the tavern tonight. Understood?"

"Yes Captain." the Warriors cried, saluting the captain with the swords.

"We think you and Manny should pair up for this mission, Captain." Ty Lee said in a loud whisper, Sanna raising a questioning eyebrow as Ty Lee gave her an exaggerated wink before turning to run off with the other Warriors.

Ty Lee and Gar disappeared together amongst the buildings lining the main road leading through the village, Koko and Tiki going the opposite way together. Linka paired up with a quiet, unassuming young Kyoshi woman named Lisomi, the pair obviously related with similar features and the same color, light brown hair cut in the same styles. That only left Piandao standing next to Sanna and Manny, the Kyoshi Captain turning to give the other woman a dry look.

"Of course they left you and me together, bunch of conniving little witches." Sanna said loudly, then reached up with one hand and covered the little crystal under her ear, he other hand reaching over to do the same with Manny's, "Is it true, Manny? What that, that woman said. If it is, how come you never said anything?"

Manny blushed deeply but she stood straight before Sanna, standing to attention before her Captain.

"It's not a warrior's place to make such suggestions to her Captain." Manny said in clipped, military tones but she dropped her eyes as she finished softly, "Anyway, I, I always thought you liked Ty Lee. You two have been pretty much inseparable the last ten years."

"Manny. Ty Lee is my friend and it should be pretty obvious by now that she prefers guys. Besides, I'm not just your Captain." Sanna gave Manny a soft smile as she slipped her hand into the other warrior's, "I'm a woman too, Manny. I wish you'd said something sooner."

Manny blinked in surprise but returned Sanna's smile a moment later, both women moving closer until a voice piped up over the crystals.

"That is so sweet." came Ty Lee's voice, "Did you hear that girls? Sanna and Manny finally got together."

As teasing congratulations poured from their crystals, Sanna blushed deeply under her face paint as Manny grinned ruefully. She realized that by taking Manny's hand, Sanna had uncovered the blue stone on her neck, allowing the others to hear.

"Just be thankful my Lao's not here. He gets all mushy at emotional displays." Piandao said with a small smile, "You should see him at weddings."

Sanna and Manny both grinned in return and then jumped as they realized they saw a huge white shape dropping quickly from the sky, two men jumping down as the bison came close then waving Appa away.

"We, ah, sent the balloons on and came to help." Bumi announced, standing before Piandao in nothing but a pair of small shorts, his heavily muscled frame trembling with excitement.

"Or, I'm thinking, you jumped ship when no one was looking, hmmm?" Piandao asked raising an eyebrow at Bumi and then looking to Jee, "I'm surprised Iroh didn't come though. What did you do to him, Captain Jee?"

Jee passed a guilty look from Piandao to the two Kyoshi warriors and then dropped his gaze to the ground.

"He wanted to come but I thought he should stay with the kids so when he insisted I kind of used a paralyzing move I learned from watching the Warriors. Lao's watching Iroh and the kids safely in my stateroom." Jee mumbled quickly and then turned an embarrassed grin to Sanna, "It was only the half jab. He'll be up an about in a few minutes and by then the airship will be beyond the village. If the balloon, or more especially the kids are threatened, Iroh's their best defense."

"Well, the more experienced fighters we have so much the better." Sanna said with a nod to both new arrivals, she turned to look back down the street just in time to see large figures clawing their way onto the wall from the other side, "And just in time, it seems. If I might ask you three gentlemen to remain here and draw the enemy to you, us Warriors will take them as they approach. Ready Manny? Girls?"

As a chorus of acknowledgments came back, Sanna and Manny slipped a little way down the street and between two of the houses there, leaving Bumi, Jee and Piandao standing together in the street. As they watched, the first few long armed, bulbous headed Gretches leapt down to the ground and rushed toward the men, roaring as they came. Bumi brought his hands together with a slap and rubbed them together eagerly as he grinned at the oncoming monsters.

"Bait. I love being the bait, that's how I got my fourth wife you know." Bumi cackled madly and dropped into a low stance, Jee joining him at his side and Piandao drawing his silver sword at the old king's other side, "Of course, in this kind of trap, the bait bites back."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mai had been staring almost mesmerized at her husband and Aang working motionless over Katara, only by sheer effort of will she had prevented herself from nudging Zuko to ask how it was going. For the longest time Daniel had lain motionless as well, only the occasional groans and the frequent bursts of heat and cold indicating that the man was still alive. The last time Mai had checked on him several minutes ago, the purple discoloration had spread now down his arms and legs, even extending up onto his blindfolded face.

The young Firelady had jumped when she'd heard the massive retorts from outside the village, trembling herself when she'd felt the tremors in the earth under her feet that showed Toph was employing some powerful Bending. She listened intently to the crystal she wore at first but for a while now all she could hear were the tired grunts of the Warriors swinging their weapons and the occasional gasp of pain. Now from within the village itself came the sounds of fighting, roars and shouts mingling with the rings of weapons, occasional bursts of Firebending and the rumble of Earthbending mixed in with it all. Mai sat in readiness, her senses keenly attuned and her hands already loaded with shiruken.

This was why, when four of the ugly, brutish Gretche filled the hole smashed in the rear wall of the guesthouse, they paused at the sight of a regal looking woman standing atop a long stone table and glaring back at them coldly.

"I promise, if you take one more step, you die." Mai said coolly, raising her hands with her wrists crossed over her heart, shiruken jutting out from her tightly clenched fists.

Two of the beasts turned to each other with wide, serrated toothed grins and turning back to Mai they stepped forward, immediately dropping to the ground with a long shiruken jutting from each one's forehead. As the bodies of the first two creatures dissolved into brown mist, the remaining two looked down to their vanished comrades then back up to Mai with wide eyes. They hadn't even seen the woman move and they took a step back with their long arms upraised a moment before the tips of bronze swords burst out of the Gretche's chests. They dropped their faces to stare with confusion at the sword points before their bodies collapsed into dark dust and two green clad figures stepped through the dissipating substance, waving their hands before their faces.

"Are you ok, Mai?" Ty Lee asked and Mai sagged with relief even as she nodded to her friend, "We saw them coming but things are a bit rough out there. I think we're holding our own though."

"T. Ty, we g. gotta go." Gar standing beside Ty Lee insisted, grabbing the woman's hand and tugging her back into the guesthouse.

"Just call us if you need us, Mai. We won't be far." Ty Lee called out as she allowed herself to be dragged away backward but frowned suddenly as she and Gar vanished into the broken house, "Hey, what happened to the scary guy?"

Mai spun about at Ty Lee's final words but sighed in relief when she saw Aang and Zuko still kneeling beside Katara. Suddenly realizing just who Ty Lee meant as 'the scary guy', Mai spun next to the side, frowning at the sight of a neat, round hole where Daniel had been laying moments before, the hole an obvious product of Earthbending.

"Oh, no. Daniel, what are you doing?" Mai breathed, lines of worry and concern appearing on the woman's usually placid face.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Toph was panting hard, her sweat streaked face red from the exertion of Earthbending the whirling dome of broken, sharp stones around them. Sokka and Suki were just as tired, their weapons weighing down their leaden arms and still the creatures came on, battering themselves to dust against Toph's shield while those few who got through were proving harder and harder to bring down as exhaustion set in.

"I don't know…how much more…of this I got." Toph got out between panting breaths, "I just wanna say…I love you guys."

"Same here, Toph." Sokka panted himself as he drove his sword through the head of a lunging Gretche then spun away to meet the next, "Always have loved you girl."

"Me too, Toph. I've always looked up to you." Suki said, her fan slicing a Gretche's jaw clean off it's face before she drove her copper colored sword through it's chest, "I'm glad it's you…we get to die with today."

Suddenly, something moved at the edge of Toph's awareness and she felt a surge of hope, the spinning stones around them picking up speed as excitement surged through the woman.

"Actually, dying might not be an option today, Fanbabe." Toph said brightly, "Check it guys, to the south about two miles and closing fast."

Sokka gave an extra hard swipe of his black sword, slicing cleanly through the chests of two Gretche and he turned to look briefly the way Toph had indicated. A long line of dust was rising into the air from the direction of the distant forest, large shadowy shapes surging ahead of the dust with something bright and shining blue racing out in front.

"What is that?" Suki asked after her brief glance then dropped down into a full split, her golden fan opening a roaring Gretche from chin to groin as she dropped to avoid it's swiping claws.

"That, my friends, is the cavalry." Toph said and laughed loudly, the numbers of incoming Gretche dropping dramatically as her stone shield picked up speed again, "And out in front is my big, hairy sister, come to save the day."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nyla was barely breathing hard even as she flew across the landscape, little Hu gripping the saddle's front tightly as Azula stared wide eyed over the fields. She's been astounded to see the huge wall around the village from several miles away when they'd first burst from the forest, but even from that distance she could see dark shapes climbing over that wall. And most telling of all were the dark shapes crowded thickly around a diffuse dome of spinning stones just beyond that wall. Azula knew instantly that Toph was the creator of that dome and wherever the little Earthbender may be, the rest of her family wouldn't be far away. Fear and anger made the woman's heart hammer inside her chest and instincts that she did not know she had were screaming at her. Azula knew what to do. Slipping her belt with her sai from her waist, Azula draped it over Hu's shoulders.

"Look after these, little girl." Azula said in a growling tone that surprised even her, "I may need them later."

Listening to these strange new instincts, Azula pushed herself up to stand on the back of the saddle briefly, before leaping out and ahead. Her form flowed and changed as she flew, her plain brown, cotton clothes bursting from about the tigress's body before she hit the ground on all four paws, quickly accelerating ahead of the hoards of animals thundering in her wake. A mile out from the village, Azula opened her fanged jaws and roared, blue fire igniting all over her orange furred body as a multitude of throats answered her roar from behind.

The Gretche assaulting the dome Toph was Earthbending stopped to stare for a moment, giving the ones inside a chance to see for themselves.

"Animals? Hundreds of animals. Azula brought us a freaking army of hulking great predators. I knew Sparky was right about her." Toph kept up her Earthbending, maintaining their shield but grinned hugely as her senses drank in the sight, "Hey, I think there's spirits there too. They got that same heavy but not heavy feel to em."

"I see Hei Bai. And that monkey man Daniel fought last night. I thought he killed it?" Sokka said, his panting breaths gradually slowing as he stared, "It's a spirit too so I guess it's already dead. Kind of."

"Get ready guys. They're coming straight into the thick of it. Straight to us." Toph said, fresh determination on her face, "I'll have to drop this shield when they get close so you guys stay close too."

"Don't worry, Toph. We've kept them off you this far." Suki said softly, unable to pull her eyes from the oncoming army of animals, she estimated close to three hundred assorted animals and spirits were about to join the fray, "Nothing's going to change that now we've got allies."

But the Gretches suddenly about faced and ran, not away from the animals coming in from the south but running flat out toward Reena where she still stood on her rise to the west. Even those scaling the wall around the village leapt down and tore off after their comrades as fast as their stumpy legs could carry them.

"What the hell are they up to?" Sokka asked, staring after the retreating Gretche.

"I don't know but I say let Azula and her friends finish them off." Suki said and dropped to her knees with a groan, her sword and fan dropping from numb, exhausted hands.

Indeed, already the bright, blazing tigress and the hoards of animals were already upon the rear ranks of the retreating Gretche. Azula leapt into the creatures, the tigress's claws digging in deep into a Gretche's back as her jaws opened wide and latched onto the flailing creature's neck. With a flex of neck muscles as wide as Azula's human waist, she tore the Gretche's head from it shoulders then leapt away, latching onto another before the body of the first had even collapsed into dust. Hundreds of the Gretche fell to the animals and spirits in the first few seconds, being literally torn apart as their comrades continued their headlong flight back toward Reena. Of the watching trio who had been battling for their lives moments before, only Sokka remained on his feet, Toph having dropped the dome surrounding them and then dropping to her hands and knees, breathing hard but with a confused expression on her face.

"Something isn't right. I wasn't paying attention but I think I saw them pick something up before they took off." Toph said between gasping breaths, she dug her fingers into the soil beneath her and concentrated, "I can't see properly, there's too much movement, interference. The one's in the front are definitely carrying something and there's something else over," Toph suddenly shot upright on her knees, her pale eyes wide with shock, "They've got Daniel. I can see a tunnel coming out of the village. He must have come out to fight and they've captured him."

Suki was staring at Toph, her face as pale as the young Earthbender's but Sokka looked thoughtful for a moment and then gave a sad shake of his head.

"No. Not captured. He's giving himself up to try and save us. But this is wrong. We have to pull them back." Sokka turned back to the onesided battle raging out on the fields and cupped his hands around his mouth, shouting as loudly as he could, "AZULA! PULL YOUR FORCES BACK TO US NOW! AZULA!"

"Wait, Sokka. Are you nuts?" Toph said in disbelief, "She's tearing them apart out there. Let her finish the job and get Daniel back."

"No, Toph. That…thing inside June that looks like my daughter won't let that happen." Suki said softly, realizing what Sokka had instantly understood, "You saw before. She fights just like Daniel and she'll tear Azula and those animals apart to get him. And no offence against him but if Daniel does loose control because of that poison in him, we could be facing two insanely powerful and powerfully insane beings in a moment. We need to pull back our forces and figure out a new plan of attack."

Sokka kept up his shouting as Toph nodded slowly in understanding even thought the guilt ate her up inside at the thought of abandoning Daniel to Reena's mercy.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The human mind within the tigress had lost count already of the number of Gretches she'd torn apart, but if the foul taste in her mouth was anything to go by she figured she must of accounted for many scores of the things by now. Although her nose and her mouth were suffused with the stench and taste of the creatures, the tigress's ears perked up and twisted back at the sound of Sokka's shouting behind her, Azula's animal form hearing the man clearly over the snarles and roars of the other animals and spirits cutting down Gretches all around her. Seeing Sokka waving madly in the distance, Azula understood, the Tigress throwing back her head and letting loose an explosive roar that brought the other animals around her to an immediate halt. Through growls and body movement, she instructed the others to follow and the two armies separated, the Gretches running the half mile back to Reena while the animals followed Azula back to the village at a run. The blue fire surround her fading, the Tigress skidded to a halt before Toph, Sokka and Suki, her golden eyes giving them a questioning stare.

"Hey future big sis." Toph said cheerfully to the tigress, "We need to talk but your going to need some threads. Sok, err, no. Suki, oh, damn it."

Sokka and Suki looked down at themselves, their clothing and armor shredded with many long tears, many of those stained with blood. The heat and adrenaline of battle still coursing through them, the husband and wife were barely aware of the damage that had been inflicted on them, Sokka and Suki quickly turned to each other and inspected the wounds but both sighed with relief to find only minor scratches and bruising.

"Damn, that one's going to leave a mark." Suki griped, pulling apart her torn armor and shirt on the side of her chest to reveal the rounded curve of one breast with a long gash across it. Then looking up, Suki's eyes went wide, "Uh, Toph? What are you doing?"

Toph had slipped her shirt over her head and was just pulling down her trousers, standing before the husband and wife proudly in only her wrappings.

"Since you and Snoozles have got barely a thread left between you, I guess it's up to me. Luckily me an Furball here aren't too far off being the same size and it's twice as lucky that I'm completely shameless." Toph said brightly but she frowned suddenly as she noticed Sokka staring with his mouth hanging open, "Well, not that shameless. First off, you can give me what's left of your shirt, Snoozles. Then you can close your eyes. You got one free look at me in my underwear and that's fine but if you peek at my new sister and believe me, I'll know if your eyelids so much as twitch, then once Suki's finished kicking the crap out of you, it's my turn. Then Zula get's to roast you privates over a nice hot flame. You got that, General?"

"Yes Ma'am." Sokka said, his eyes slamming shut and he spun about to face the other way for good measure as he started stripping away his torn armor to remove his shirt.

The bloodlust was slowly cooling in the Tigress, the amusing display before her calming her further and in moments Azula rose to her feet, covering herself with her hands but accepting Toph's clothes with a tight smile of gratitude. The two women quickly dressed, Suki unable to help grinning at the sight of Azula, Toph's clothing almost skin tight and very revealing on her while Toph herself draped Sokka's blue shirt over herself, the garment hanging off her like a loose, billowing dress that hung down almost to the short Earthbender's knees.

"Maybe we should have gone the other way." Azula said, her face almost glowing red with embarrassment as she tried to adjust the tight clothing.

"Nah. Least I still got my knickers on under this thing." Toph said, putting her fingers though a few of the long tears in Sokka's shirt, "All your bits would be sticking out if you had it on, big sis."

"Big sis? Furball?" Azula asked dryly, raising an eyebrow at Toph.

"Eh, I haven't come up with your nickname yet. Don't worry, I'll think up something embarrassing soon. I would have used Fluffy but that's my name for," Toph paused as she jerked a thumb out over the fields toward the Gretche army, the amusement and cheerfulness draining from her, "my name for Wolf."

Azula looked askance toward Toph, looking out also at the army of inhuman beasts in the distance before turning back to the young Earthbender but it was Sokka who stepped forward to answer.

"Daniel's in trouble. Someone from his own world came and attacked us. She's the one who summoned that army of demons out there. She looks like a girl we saw in the vision Daniel showed us, like my daughter, Reena. But, I saw in her eyes before, she's completely out of her mind, totally insane. Somehow she's done something to the poison he's been carrying around inside him, both of them said it was doing something to his control but it hurt…Katara too. And that's still not the worst of it." Sokka swallowed, looking out at the distant figure of Reena atop her rise before he finished quietly, "It's not just the girl Daniel once loved out there. It's June as well. We don't know how but Reena's possessing her and she's using June to get her revenge on Daniel. That's why the demons stopped attacking, he gave himself up to try and protect us."

"It won't work." Azula said, her features hard and unreadable as she too joined the others in staring out over the fields, "I understand those kinds of tactics. When she's finished with him, she'll come for us next."

Behind them, the hundreds of animals and animal shaped spirits watched too, making soft growls and lowing sounds but one louder voice rose above that of the other animals. A soft howl that rose and fell, somehow conveying the depths of grief and misery the creature making the noises felt. Sitting in her saddle, Hu reached down to pat Nyla gently, the little girl crying quietly along with the shirshu.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There were barely a thousand of the huge Gretches left now, milling about before the small rise before Reena, the creatures jostled and chattered at each other, seeming jubilant rather than distraught at their losses. The reason why became obvious when one of the beasts pushed it's way through it's fellows to the edge of the small rise, dumping the burden it carried to the ground there. It looked up at Reena with a wide, toothy grin and bowed low to her as Daniel groaned and stirred weakly on the ground.

The dark purple, bruising stain covered the man almost completely now, only as he struggled to rise to his knees and turned his face toward Reena was it evident that only parts of his face remained free of the poison. Reena glared down at Daniel on his knees but her lips were curved up in a cold smile.

"Reena…please…June." Daniel pleaded in barely a whisper.

Reena's face clouded with anger, the woman suddenly flashing down the small rise and driving her fist into Daniel's face and launching the man back into the crowded Grutches behind him. The creatures chattered loudly with barking laughter as two of them lifted the man and hurled him away, sending him flying over Reena's head and up the small hill.

"DON'T YOU TOUCH HIM!" Reena screamed angrily, she swung her arms forward and launched a wide, spreading fan of lightning bolts that crackled over the front ranks of the Gretches, blasting a score of the creatures to dust. The creatures backed away in wide eyed fear as Reena calmly dusted her hands and then smiled sweetly at them, "You've served your purpose very well so far, my ugly brutes. Now I just want you to make sure I'm not disturbed as I finish this with my sweet Danny Boy. Understand?"

Even the barely sentient, violent Gretches exchanged sideways glances with one another as Reena turned without waiting for a response and walked up the small rise toward the man near it's top. Daniel had once again struggled to his knees, his head lolling weakly as her raised his hands pleadingly.

"Just end it…Reena. Kill me…if that's what…you want…but spare them." Daniel said, breathing in shallow gasps as he spoke, "They were our…family once. They are my…friends now. Please…just don't hurt…June anymore."

"Oh, Danny. Look at you, so eager to just give yourself up for them and letting Fate's poison chew you up inside." Reena spoke sweetly, dropping to her own knees before Daniel and cupping his face in her hands, "But you know you can beat this, Danny. You don't need to surrender to me. Surrender to yourself. Let it out, Danny. Let it all out. All that energy, all those souls you sucked up in the sprit realms, all that raw power. Surrender to that beast inside you and let it out."

Daniel didn't seem to react to her words at first, his face tight and pained around his blindfold but his mouth hung slack as he panted and now Reena pressed her lips against his again, her tongue slipping into his mouth as she pressed herself urgently against him. Then, pulling her mouth from his, Reena pulled the man into a tight embrace, writhing against him and moaning loudly.

"I've missed you so much, Danny." Reena moaned, she took his ear between her teeth, biting down hard, "Come on, let's do it here and now, just like I know you always wanted me. Let the beast into me, Danny. I want it, I want you."

"No. I can't…control." Daniel said quietly, his chin resting on Reena's shoulder, he turned slightly and inhaled the scent of the woman, "You can kill me…if you must but…I won't hurt June."

"June. June. June. Always with your little slut." Reena snapped angrily, jerking away from Daniel and slapping him hard across the face, "I can see her simpering feelings for you inside her and it makes me sick. You never loved me, Daniel. You didn't care about me and Kuzon at all."

Reena rose to her feet, taking a step back from Daniel and glaring down at the man but he only raised his hands pleadingly again, obvious pain etched onto his blindfolded features.

"No, Reena. I always loved you…I still do." Daniel said softly, swaying slightly as he raised himself up on his knees, "But I love June now too. Please, Reena, don't hurt."

"NO!" the woman's face collapsed into abject fury and she flew at Daniel, the fingers of one hand sinking into the flesh of his shoulder as she drove her other fist into his face, "YOU LOVE ME! ONLY ME!" Deep blue, crackling fire ignited about Reena's hands and she drove her blazing fist into Daniel's face again, his head snapping back from the blow, "I WON'T LET YOU HAVE HER!" again and again his head rocked from repeated blows, blood pouring freely from his mouth and nose, "YOU'RE MINE! NO ONE ELSE'S! MINE!"

Stepping back again, Reena spun on one foot, delivering a roundhouse kick to the side of Daniel's head, lifting the man from the ground and sending him tumbling to crash back down onto his front a half dozen yards away. Still lost in her rage, her lips pulled back in a snarl and her glaring, hate filled eyes locked onto the man, Reena was atop Daniel's back instantly. She grabbed two fistfuls of the hair on the back of his head, lifting it and then slammed his face down onto the hard packed earth, once, twice and again. Then flipping the man over, Reena sat on his chest and again began pummeling his face with blazing fists, screaming almost incomprehensibly the entire time.

"YOU'RE MINE, DANNY. AND IF YOU WON'T GIVE YOURSELF TO ME. NO ONE WILL HAVE YOU! EVER! AGAIN!"

Daniel lay, unmoving and unresisting as his head snapped from side to side from blow after blow, the blood now pouring down the sides of his face and spreading in a wide pool over the ground beneath his head.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"She…she's beating him to death." Sokka breathed, watching through his small spyglass from almost a mile away with the others before the village, "He's just laying there. Why? Why isn't he fighting back? Get up and fight, Daniel."

Suki stood at her husband's side, her face turned away from the sight and tears running freely from her tightly closed eyes. Azula and Toph stood facing the distant army of Gretches and Reena's raging assault on Daniel, both women standing with their arms crossed over their chests and their faces hard, their emotions closed away.

"How can he, Sokka? He loved her once." Toph said quietly, the slight tremor in her voice conveying the storm of emotions boiling within her, "And that's June in there too. I don't know what any of us could do in his place. I don't know what,"

The horror of what she could sense happening over on that distant rise grew too much and Toph dropped her face, trembling all over as tears fell from her tightly clenched eyes. Beside her, Azula's face softened at the sight and she reached out hesitantly to rest her hand on the young Earthbender's shoulder. Instantly, Toph spun and wrapped her arms about Azula, burying her face in the woman's chest and sobbing loudly. Azula blushed deeply but slowly, only feeling a little self-conscious, drew her arms about Toph as well, rubbing the slightly shorter woman's back.

"I don't know what to do, Sis. I like Daniel. He's a grumpy pain in the ass but I still love him." Toph muffled voice rose from between them, "But I don't know what to do and she's killing him out there."

"I, I don't know either, Toph." Azula said softly.

She and the others looked around as a section of the wall surrounding the village a hundred yards away from them slid down, Bumi, Piandao and six green clad Kyoshi Warriors rushing forth. All of them showed signs of injuries, mostly deep scratches and blood stained tears in their clothing but young Linka carried one arm strapped to her chest in a sling and Bumi's neck and chest were heavily wrapped in blood stained bandages. Suki surveyed the Warriors with worried eyes and quickly approached her sister.

"Sanna, are you alright?" Suki asked with concern, her eyes flicking to Linka who sobbed quietly as the other women tried to comfort the young woman, "How bad was it?"

"Bad. Over a hundred of those things got into the village and they were faster than we thought and bloody strong too." Sanna said quietly, beside her Manny slipped her hand into her Captain's, "Lisomi and Linka were set upon by a dozen of the things. Lisomi's pretty badly hurt. Koko's our field medic and Mai's with her, helping her with Lisomi but," Sanna paused, sighing heavily as Linka's sobbing grew louder, "We lost Captain Jee too."

"He saved my life, that boy did." Bumi said quietly, his voice for once somber and without his usual, joyful cackle. The old man reached up to finger the bloody bandages around his chest and neck, "One of those bastards got the drop on me as I came up out of the ground. Damn thing nearly took my fool head off but Jee broke cover to roast the damn thing and get it off me but then…ten of them came at him, he roasted half of them before they got to him. I tried but by the time I could get to Jee, he was…was gone."

"So Mai, my sister, the other guys, they're ok?" Sokka asked, unsure if he wanted to hear the answer.

"They are fine, Sokka." Piandao said in his deep, cultured voice although it was obvious the man was on the edge of exhaustion, "When things were at their worst we made our stand around the guesthouse. Only four of the demons slipped past but they did not survive to step foot in the courtyard."

"And Katara? Have they, I mean, is she…ok?" Sokka asked with some trepidation.

"Aang and Zuko haven't moved from next to her and Katara hasn't woken up yet but she looks better." Ty Lee said from next to the still quietly crying Linka, "Those marks she had on her are gone and she looks like she's not hurting anymore."

Sokka nodded gratefully but still had to fight the urge to run into the village to see for himself.

"Sokka? Something's different out there." Toph said, stepping back from Azula and turning to Sokka, "She's doing something else to Daniel. What can you see?"

Sokka quickly stepped back up to Toph's side, raising his spyglass to his eye and squinting at the image that jittered about from the tremble in his hands. He could see Reena, still crouched over Daniel on the ground but instead of hitting him now, she was running blue glowing hands over his face and chest.

"She's healing him. Probably for round two." Sokka said grimly. He dropped the spyglass from his face but continued to glare angrily out over the fields, "Screw this. I don't care how fast or strong that bitch is. If she's supposed to be some warped version of my Reena then it's time Daddy put the flat of his sword to her rear end. I'm going out there."

"We're going out there." Suki said firmly and Sokka turned to share a grateful but determined nod with his wife.

"And us." Sanna said, stepping up beside her sister, "The Kyoshi Warriors have a bone to pick with this bitch and her little friends."

The Kyoshi Warriors moved up behind their Captain, even Linka's tear streaked face showing the same determination as the other Warriors. Bumi came too, standing beside Azula and gazing out at the distant Gretches and Reena.

"Wait." came Piandao's soft voice and the others spun to face him, "I taught you better than that, Sokka. A warrior does not rush headlong into battle." ignoring the questioning stares, Piando moved up to stand between Toph and Sokka, looking himself out at Reena, "This woman has great power and intends to use that to destroy the Nomad. To utilize such powers takes a great deal of concentration. That will be our time to attack and I do not believe we will have long to wait."

"Alright, yes, alright." Sokka said, nodding slowly. He and the others gathered around turned to stare out over the plains again, the hoards of animals moving up to stand in loose ranks behind the humans, "We'll wait for now but very soon, that bitch is going to pay."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"There now. All better." Reena said in a soft, sweet tone as she shook water from her hands. Beneath her, Daniel's face still bore many cuts and scratches but most signs of the beating she had just administered had been erased, "You made me loose my own control, Danny. I don't know what you're so afraid of. That was fun. I liked it, I liked it a lot."

Daniel groaned as he turned his head to face Reena atop him, his leather blindfold torn in places but still covering his empty sockets. Reena sighed and lowered herself down to lay flat atop Daniel, dropping her face to his again, seeking his lips with her own but he jerked his head aside, frowning hard.

"Oh, don't be like that, Danny. It's your own fault for making me so angry. But that's alright, I really did enjoy that but I want something more." Reena purred softly, nipping at the man's ear and moaning as she writhed slowly atop him, "You know what I want. Give it to me, now. I need it so much. Just let go, Danny. Let go of your control and let it all out. Show me you love me and only me. Let it out, Danny, unleash that beast within. For me."

Daniel turned his face back to hers as Reena lovingly brushed his untidy, blood streaked hair away from his forehead. Raising his head slightly from the ground, Daniel snarled into Reena's face.

"Never." he growled, his head dropping back to the ground as he panted from the effort of lifting it, "Just kill me, Reena…be done with it."

Anger clouded Reena's face again and she jerked away from Daniel, rising to her feet and pulling him up with her. Holding the man up off the ground with one hand tight about his throat, Reena drew back her other fist, the hand trembling as deep, blue flames enveloped it again. But the woman paused a moment later, closing her eyes and taking a deep calming breath as she lowered her fist. Opening her eyes again, Reena smiled coldly at Daniel.

"Oh, I want to kill you, Danny but Fate gave me more than just power." Reena let go of Daniel's neck and he dropped heavily to his knees before her. He hung his head but Reena grabbed a fistful of his hair and bent his head back to glare into his face, "She showed me an easy way to rob you of your control. It means I die with the rest of these fools but to be honest, so long as it kills this bitch you claim to love instead of me, I just don't care anymore."

Reena suddenly leant down, her arms flashing out repeatedly and her fingers striking points up and down Daniel's torso. The man's arms snapped to his sides, his body stiffening in an upright position on his knees, his steady panting breaths freezing instantly.

"There now. That will help you to sit still while I work." Reena said, plastering a twisted, sweet smile on her lips as she lowered her face to glare into Daniel's immobile face, "You think that poison eating you from within hurts? That was just to soften you up, Danny. I'm going to rip you and that dirty animal spirit inside you apart and as your minds dissolve into screaming slush, all that energy, all that power your holding onto will come loose all in one go. I didn't want it to be this way, as much as I hate you for what you did to me, I still love you, Danny but I have to admit, I'm going to enjoy this."

Reena stood straight before Daniel, placing one hand gently to his forehead, her thumb resting between his eyes. Her other hand went to his chest, resting that thumb over his heart and Reena tipped her head back, taking a slow, deep breath and as she opened her eyes to the sky, they blazed with blue light. The light spread quickly, moving down the woman's body until she became a beacon of deep blue and mingling with the blue was a lighter, whitish grey. An answering glow came from Daniel a heartbeat later, one side of the man blazing with bright green, his other a deep, cherry red but mingled with his, almost overwhelming his normal colors was a diseased, bruised purple, the poison in his body reflected in his energy.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"There. That's our signal." Sokka cried out, pointing to the bright colors that blazed up into the sky, outshining the sun itself, "Everyone, let's end this quick. Azula. Are your animal forces ready?"

"Uh, they're not really mine," Azula started, looking over her shoulder at the massed creatures, unsure of what to do with them, although her eyes locked onto Hu still sitting atop Nyla.

"They are or they're not. Either way they better keep up." Toph growled in a low tone.

The young Earthbender took one step ahead of the others, raising one leg high and then slamming her foot down on the ground. A wide, long semicircular section of earth cracked loudly all around her and the other Warriors, Bumi's loud, cackling laugh rising into the air at the same time as everyone was lifted several feet off the ground by the huge slab of hard packed stone.

"Good idea, LITTLE sis." Azula said with a small smirk, Toph turned to her with a raised eyebrow but Azula had already turned away to look behind them, "Nyla, give the call. We're going to war."

Everyone braced themselves as Toph, grinning wildly, raised her foot again and slammed it down, the huge slab with it's passengers shooting away to the west and the waiting army of Gretches. Nyla leapt into an instant sprint, roaring as she gave chase to the slab and close behind the shirshu, hundreds of furred, feathered and scaly predators and their guardian spirits answered her call as they came.

The Gretches themselves, though they still numbered close to a thousand, milled about uncertainly before the short hill. Those closest to the small rise shied away from the blazing figures of Reena and Daniel atop it while those furthest pressed back away from the oncoming, roaring force of humans and animals. In only a matter of heartbeats it seemed, the flying slab of stone slammed into the outer edge of the tightly packed Gretche army, a hundred of the demons crushed to dust in that first strike. Those behind those first ranks barely had time to register their comrade's sudden demise before the warriors leapt from the slab, cutting down several gretche each before the beasts could even raise a hand in defense. Then leaping over the heads of the human's, Nyla leading the charge, hundreds of enraged animals dropped into the gretche's midst and began tearing the suddenly panicking demons apart. The ground trembled, rising dust stinging the eyes of the combatants, and the constant shouts and roars of human and animal alike drowned out all other sounds. As the Gretche's panic turned into a desperate fight for their very existence, the demon's sudden willingness to fight their enemies only incensed the warriors and animals and for a time, one the once peaceful fields outside the sleepy village of Podeck, pure chaos reined.

While the pitched battle raged, the two figures on the small hill grew brighter and brighter, for a time their separate colors blazing strongly around each. A deep knot of concentration creased Reena's brow, while Daniel's face remained set in an immobile grimace. Between the two, the colored energys touched and if anyone had been paying attention, they might have seen a thread of the whitish, grey light that mingled with Reena's deep blue extending out toward Daniel and from him a thread of green stretched out, the green and grey coiling about one another as thought embracing.

Daniel? Danny? I know it's you. I can feel you.

June. I don't know what to do, June. Daniel's answering thoughts were desperate, panicked almost, I can't fight her without hurting you but if I do nothing, everybody dies.

They will if you don't fight, Danny. She was in my mind but I could see hers. It's twisted and warped by the pain she brought on herself. She has no intention of stopping with you. June's thoughts were soft and full of concern for the man she loved, Listen to me now, Daniel. You have to fight. Do as she wants and let it all out, everything. Open your heart and give free rein to the beast. It's the only way.

Daniel's thoughts lapsed into shocked, miserable silence. Outside of him, Reena's deep, blue energy was slowly creeping across at the point where her hands contacted his body, her energy slowly supplanting and replacing the reds and greens blazing from the man. At the lower point of contact, June heard a pained cry from Daniel's thoughts.

I can't, June. The beast will kill her, kill you. Daniel was almost pleading, In that state I could kill everyone.

No, Daniel. You've been so afraid of that side of yourself for so long that I think you've forgotten that it IS you. You let your lust carry you away with me this morning, I did too but when I called out, those glowing eyes looked back at me with the same concern and love that I've always seen when you look at me. As they spoke directly with their thoughts in this fashion, June's conviction and the depth of her love for Daniel was carried across to him with every word, Can you feel them out there, Danny? Toph, Sokka, Suki and the Warriors, even Azula and the others. All those animals and sprits too. They're fighting for you, Danny. To save you. But if you don't fight for them now, they're all going to die. You must. You've always told me, Daniel, sometimes we have to put aside what we want to do what must be done.

I, June, I can't loose you. You made me feel again, you made me want to feel. I love you so much.

I know, my love, you've shown me everyday and everyday my love for you has grown because of it. June's thoughts carried a touch of sadness but her determination grew stronger, You will always be my one and only true love, Daniel. From the first moment I laid eyes on you only weeks ago. I saw a great and powerful man but I also saw caring and compassion and limitless, beautiful love. Daniel knew she spoke the truth, her words carrying the wealth of her emotions with them, And I know, Danny, if you hold onto that image of me you carry in your heart, hold tight to all our new family, then you will still be you even when you unleash everything. No matter what happens to me, I will never stop loving you, Danny. Do it now, before it's too late. Open your heart, your soul and let it come, Daniel. Let it ALL out. Do what must be done.

A low groan, continuing into a deep growl escaped from Daniel's lips even as Reena's blue energies swallowed more of his own. Those battling before the hill could not help seeing the intense light blazing into the sky from the two bright figures on the hill and Sokka felt a touch of despair as he looked that way now. Between Warrior husband and wife, Toph battled just as hard. While Sokka and Suki's arms worked in manic blurs, their blades cutting away at the clawed hands and snapping serrated teeth of those Gretche that lunged at them, Toph kept pace between them, her fists repeatedly punching into the air, the earth around the trio answering with long, thin spikes of stone that shot up faster than the eye could see to impale those demons that came too close. Sweat drench all three as they fought furiously but a tiny part of Toph's awareness could see Bumi a short distance away mirroring her moves, Sanna and Manny battling side by side just before the old man. Piandao was a veritable whirlwind of flashing blades, Linka and Tiki fighting savagely to cover the man's back. Bursts of blue fire marked Azula's position somewhere in the thick of the fighting with Ty Lee and Gar at her side, the acrobatic Warrior occasionally leaping high to hop and jump about on the Gretche's very heads as her bronze blade hacked at them before she dropped back down to Azula's side. All of the Warriors mouths were in constant motion as they hurled abuse or insults at the creatures they were cutting down yet nothing could be heard over the constant roar of their animal allies. The animals and those spirits who wore the same shapes fought with an unmatched fury where the Gretche were thickest. Beasts of plains and forests ran to and fro, some with Gretche hanging from their hides by tooth or claw but the animals raced on uncaring, trampling the demons under them or where those Gretche were foolish enough to face the animals head on, they were torn limb from limb.

Sokka glance up at the blazing figures on the rise now thirty yards away from them and groaned, though the other Warriors and animals fought hard, the sheer number of Gretches between them and the rise meant the distance may as well have been miles. Daniel was blazing almost entirely blue, Reena's energies slowly working it's way up to his face where the last of the red and green was gradually fading.

You must do this, Danny, please. June's words carried a touch of desperation as she felt the man's thoughts fading from hers, Don't let them die, Daniel. Just remember that I love you. I will always love you. Do what must be done, Danny. DO IT NOW!

Up on the rise, as the last of the red and green energies guttered, completely surrounded by blue, Daniel's head tilted further back, tipping his face up to the sky. He opened his mouth and screamed.

Reena herself screamed as a blast of pure force, a ring of pure white energy spread out from Daniel, lifting the woman before him and flinging her away. The pulse of energy continued, blasting into the combatants and human, animal and Gretche alike were knocked back off their feet. Daniel still knelt on top of the rise, red and green blazing from him like a thousand suns and as the Warriors scrabbled back to their feet they turned away, the brightness of the man burning into their eyes. Still, beneath the intensity of the red and green, dark shadows roiled but Daniel dropped forward to his hands and knees, his body convulsing as he retched, thick purple bile spilling from between his lips. It continued for several heartbeats, the vicious purple substance bubbling and hissing where it struck the ground but as Daniel rose back to a kneeling position, the colors of the man blazed pure and even brighter than before. Toph, the only one on the field of battle still facing the man, felt the huge forces surging within him.

"RETREAT." Toph yelled at the top of her lungs, "EVERYONE GET BACK NOW. RETREAT NOW!"

The Warriors moved without hesitation, already as they fled they felt intense heat radiating from Daniel against their backs as though the sun fallen to the earth, only slowing to slip a weapon into the occasional cowering Gretche. The animals were close on their heels but there came a sudden continuing roar from behind and the earth for miles around jumped and shook, again knocking them from their feet or to their knees.

Close to fifty feet from the rise, Reena lay on her back, grinning widely as she shielded her eyes from the conflagration atop the hill.

"That's it, Danny. Let it all out." Reena crowed, seeing her impending victory as the volume of energy pouring from Daniel grew, "Let the power consume them all. Burn it, smash it, wipe everything, everyone away."

Daniel had his hands clutched to the sides of his head with his mouth opened wide to the sky above, the roar continuing to pour from him far longer than human lungs should allow. His body, still blazing brighter than the sun began to lift from the ground, drifting a score of feet into the air as the light shinning from him continued to intensify. The red and green shinning from him merged into white, Daniel vanishing into a ball of pure energy that slowly grew, extending out around him. Heat washed over the fields as the hill beneath the man slumped in upon itself, melted earth and stone running down it's sides as it settled further. Toph wanted to use her Earthbending to find a way to shield herself and the others and yet could only moan in pain and fear as she pulled herself into a tight ball with her face pressed into the ground. A moment later though she felt a large, hairy body covering hers, all of the Warriors finding themselves shielded from the intense heat by the animals that had fought with them.

June's plain brown clothing was starting to blacken and smoke on Reena yet the woman only laughed insanely, cackling with joy at her moment of triumph but an instant later the light, the intense heat and the constant roar began to fade. Dropping the hand that shielded her eyes, Reena stared incredulously as the white ball of energy surrounding Daniel shrank down, retreating back until the man himself was revealed, hanging naked in the sky. The red and green glow blazing from him vanished and Daniel dropped to the soft, half melted stone beneath him in a crouch with his head bowed, his chest rising and falling slowly. But the glow was not entirely gone. Outlined in red and shining green within, Daniel's arrow tattoos still blazed with light, even down his arms and legs where Katara had healed his horrific injuries a week before, replacing old, scarred and tattooed skin with new, his green arrow tattoos had reformed. Daniel rose slowly to his feet, raising his head to look directly at Reena where she lay and though his physical eyes were gone, new eyes formed of red and green fire glared balefully down at Reena from their sockets.

Toph, Sokka, Suki and the other Warriors struggled to their feet as the animals above them shifted, many of the beasts displaying terrible burns with wide patches of crisped fur across their backs but humans, animals and spirits alike could only stare at Daniel in open mouthed wonder.

"How? How can you be in control like this?" Reena asked, fear and awe in her voice.

Toph knew, for she could 'see' into the man, Daniel's turbulent and often violent emotions still there but focused, channeled tightly through the man's center where Toph could plainly see an image of herself alongside her friends and family, June's face the most prominent amongst all of the others.

To answer Reena, Daniel dropped into a low stance, his hands held out to his sides and roared a challenge to the woman. Reena's fears were pushed away though as she glared hatefully at Daniel.

"Fine then. If this is the way it has to be. Don't think I'm without power of my own, Danny Boy." Reena shot to her feet. Clenching her fists over her heart for a moment before she snapped quickly into a loose fighting stance, blue, crackling energy igniting over her body and her eyes blazed almost as brightly as Daniel's, "Come do your worst, Danny, because you know that's what it will take. Kill me and your precious June if you dare."

A low, inhuman growl rose loudly from him as Daniel bared his teeth at Reena in a feral snarl, roaring at her once more and both suddenly flew together like bolts of lightning. Those Gretche that still cowered on the ground between them were simply blasted to ash from the energies that radiated from both Daniel and Reena and when they met, they did so with a concussion that shook both earth and sky again. Sokka and Suki both slipped into the moment to witness the battle but even they could see nothing more then a pair of blazing, whirling blurs that tumbled and spun around one another, flashes of light and fresh concussions ringing out almost constantly before they separated, the watching husband and wife catching a brief glimpse of Daniel and Reena circling each other for a fraction of a heartbeat before they rushed together again. For the others watching, it seemed like two pillars of blazing energy whirled about one another, battling together on the field nearby and even the Gretches stood and stared opened mouthed. Azula watched in awe as everyone else was but when, from the corner of her eye, she saw a nearby Gretche turn and bare it's serrated teeth in the Warriors direction, she reacted without thought, thrusting out her hands and bathing the creature in a jet of blue fire. This seemed to be a signal to all, the hundreds of remaining Gretches turned snarling as one, the animals and spirits roaring their challenge in return. Warrior, animal, spirit and demon rushed together once more.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mai sat on the edge of the broken table in the courtyard with young Koko at her side, both women tightly gripping the hand of the one beside them. Laid out on the table behind them were two figures covered with bloodstained blankets taken from the guesthouse, Jee and the young Kyoshi Warrior Lisomi. Both the Firelady and the Kyoshi Warrior at her side had blood thickly spread up their forearms and their chests from their earlier attempts to save the young girl behind them but now they sat with blank faces, tears running silently down their cheeks as they watched the glows in the sky to the west and listened to the sounds of pitched battle. They had remained like this since their attempts to save Lisomi had failed, the young girl's horrific injuries making failure a known certainty yet they had tried until the end. They had seen the intense glows rising to the sky in the west, neither saying a word as they listened to the sounds of battle resume after.

A soft sound came from the ground near the table, Mai and Koko so intent on the battle far away that at first it did not register with them. Both Zuko and Aang drew their hands back from Katara, each sitting back on their heels with a slow breath that they released as a satisfied sigh.

"It's done. She's clear of it now." Zuko's voice was a whispering croak, exhaustion plain on the man's face and in the way his shoulder slumped, "She's resting now but Katara's going to be fine."

Aang looked just as tired but he suddenly lunged over Katara and wrapped his arms about Zuko's shoulders, gripping the man tightly as tears slipped from his eyes.

"Thank you, Zuko, my friend, my brother." Aang breathed softly, his hands gripping the back of Zuko's shirt as he hugged him, "I couldn't have done that on my own. I would have lost her if it wasn't for you."

"ZUKO!" Mai cried as she jumped down from the table and quickly knelt beside her husband. She slipped her own arm about his shoulders as Aang released him and sat back with a huge smile on his face, "Aang, is she,"

Mai looked down into Katara's peacefully resting features, reaching out with her other hand to gently stroke her palm over the other woman's cheek. Katara answered Mai's question as she smiled softly, moaning in her sleep and turning her face, pressing her cheek into Mai's hand.

"She's going to be fine. Her and the baby. Thanks to Zuko." Aang said, his smile growing even wider.

"You were doing your bit too, Aang. But thanks." Zuko said quietly, his head drooping as he leaned into Mai, "I'll always be there for you, brother."

Zuko's eyes slipped shut and he slumped against Mai. She quickly laid him gently down beside Katara with a look of concern.

"He'll be ok, Mai. I only held the poison at bay, Zuko healed her. Completely. Maybe he could do the same now for," Aang paused as the distant sounds of raging battle came to his ears and he turned to stare over the wall of the courtyard to the west, his eyes going wide at the sight of bright flashes coming from there, "What?"

"Demons, Aang. Thousands of them. We…We've had to fight." Mai turned to look at the table where Koko still sat forlornly, looking to the two shrouded bodies behind the young woman. Pain flashed across Aang's face at the sight and he looked questioningly to Mai, "That Reena sent them. We lost Jee and one of the warriors, Lisomi. Daniel surrendered himself I think and the others went out to fight for him but we haven't heard anything else since. Just the sounds of fighting and before there was a light brighter than the sun. I don't know what's going on but…I'm scared for Toph and the others."

Aang sat back on his heels as Mai spoke, turning to look down at Katara and Zuko a moment before he looked back up at Mai with anger in his eyes.

"Don't worry. You two stay here and look after them." Aang said to Mai and Koko with a quick nod to the two sleeping before him. Aang's eyes slipped closed and he drew a slow breath and as he opened his eyes again they flashed, glowing brightly, an instant later his tattoos following suit. When he opened his mouth he spoke to them in a multitude of voices, "THIS ENDS NOW!"

From where he knelt beside Katara, Aang leapt straight upward, reaching twenty feet in the air before he kicked out with an Airbending boost that sent him shooting another fifty feet up before he enclosed himself in a spinning ball of tightly compressed air. With and angry glare at the pitched battle he could now see raging a mile away, Aang shoot away toward it, Mai and Koko feeling their first touch of hope since Reena had first appeared that morning.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Gretches were dropping fast but this only seemed to spur the demons on to greater efforts, the battlefield now dotted here and there with the corpses of the huge animals that had come to fight them. So far the human Warriors had managed to avoid the same fate but all of them were sporting fresh injuries. Toph, Sokka and Suki had remained together all three bearing deep scratches and Sokka fighting with one arm tucked into his side, blood seeping from a tear that extended from his shoulder to his wrist. Azula too had taken several close hits, the green outfit Toph had loaned her torn to pieces and stained with wet blood from a deep cut on her hip and at the woman's sides, beside her Ty Lee and Gar still fought savagely, their own bloodstained armor and kimonos hanging about them in shreds. All of the warriors carried terrible wounds but there was no thoughts amongst them of stopping or retreating.

Nyla fought as a creature possessed herself, the great shirshu was almost unrecognizable under the blood soaking into her coat and the long tears and many open bite wounds on her sides while on her back, Hu sat high in the saddle, a long green vine extending from her small hands that she whipped out at any and all demons within her reach. The shirshu's constant roar and stamina driving the other animals and spirits fighting nearby to greater efforts, even the Warriors, when they saw Nyla go tearing by slaughtering demons left, right and centre, were spurred on with fresh enthusiasm.

Around the slowly shrinking battlefield, the two pillars of blazing energy still raged against one another, the brightly glowing figures there moving too fast for anyone to see. For Daniel and Reena it was almost as thought the combatants on the battlefield nearby moved with glacial slowness, the woman blazing with blue energy constantly seeking a way into the thick of the fight but always blocked by the man with bright tattoos outlined in red and shining bright green within, his determined, glaring eyes matching his tattoos in color and brightness. Reena knew he was faster, stronger and yet this only filed her with a spiteful, hate filled glee that she happily shared with the one she possessed. But June too was aware of what was happening outside of herself, knew that Daniel could have cut Reena down from the start. Still his love for both of the women in June's body compelled him to hold back his fury.

Again Reena tried to angle toward the battle raging nearby, spying Piandoa emerging from the edge of the battle, Linka and Tiki close on the man's heels but as Reena tried to slip about Daniel toward them his hand flashed out, slipping around Reena's wrist and gently twisting it so that the woman was forced to turn with the pressure. Daniel then pulling himself toward her, slipping around himself to stand between her and the battle before his other hand lashed out, his palm catching Reena between her breasts and propelling her away. Only incensed by him blocking her yet again, Reena flew at Daniel, the blue energy crackling about her fists blazing brighter as she threw one fist at his face but Daniel only stepped slightly to the side, his own hand coming up to push her wrist away, causing her to turn as she ran. He turned as well and for a moment their backs rubbed together as they spun in opposite directions, Daniel's arms reaching up over his shoulders to grasp Reena's and suddenly lifting her from the ground to fling her over and away. She tumbled over the ground with a cry and when she rolled to a stop she raised her head to snarl at Daniel even as tears fell from her desperate eyes.

"How?" Reena demanded almost hysterically, "How are you in control?"

"I am not the boy I once was and because of my love for her, I will not harm June." Daniel's voice came deep and clear as he walked calmly toward Reena, the glare softening on his face so that his blazing eyes seemed to gaze at her sadly, "And because I still care for you, Reena, nor will I hurt you."

He held out his hand as though to help her rise and Reena screamed at him, leaping to her feet and striking out with furious yet wild swings of her blazing fists. Again and again, Daniel only turned the blows aside, his face calm and relaxed as he gazed into Reena's twisted features. Again her eyes flicked to the battle raging behind the man, again seeking to slip around him but Daniel was faster, blurring over to place himself before Reena his hands flashed out and with his open palms he pushed her back, her feet leaving long skids in the earth as she flew away. She screamed at him again but held her position for a moment, her eyes darting about as she sought a way around him. Again, Daniel held out a hand imploringly.

"You say you still have some care for me, Reena. Then help me, help me make right the mistakes of my past. The terrible things I did as the Nomad. What I did to you." Daniel said and Reena began shaking her head furiously as she glared at him, "Please, Reena. Join with me. Let us seek redemption together."

"Shut up. Shut up." Reena cried out, she bared her teeth as she glared, "My only redemption is your death."

The blue fire surrounding Reena's body flowed down her arms, collecting around her hands again but this time it continued extending out beyond her fists, leaving the woman looking as though she grasped the ends of two long water whips in her fists. Water whips that crackled and blazed with energy, small white bolts of lightning spitting from their lengths to the ground as Reena flicked them out toward Daniel. Daniel moved fast but with almost careless grace as he raised his hands again and again, the tips of the blue whips cracking against his open palms in a shower of sparks each time. Reena's attacks became more frenzied, the whips lashing out with wild abandon yet as Daniel harmlessly blocked her strikes time after time she slowly circled around him. As both stood side on to the raging battle between mortals and demons, Reena grinned triumphantly. Bringing her hands together, her energy whips combined into one thick length and she swung her arms to the side, the energy lashing out toward one of the Kyoshi Warrior's backs, Linka unaware of the threat to her life. But although the whip uncoiled with the speed of a bolt of lightning, again Daniel proved faster, his own hand coming up and the twisting, uncoiling energy curved in the air, swinging around as it was drawn to his outstretched hand, his fingers closing about it's tip. The blue energy flashed to green in an instant and Reena cried out, jerking her hands away from the now green whip, clutching her burned hands to her chest and dropping to her knees as the energy was drawn back into Daniel's hand.

"I am sorry, Reena but I cannot allow you to harm anyone else today." Daniel said calmly, a momentary look of regret on his face before his eyes set into a glare once more, "Now, I will only ask this only once more, get out of June."

Reena was trembling hard, smoke rising from her burned hands as she glared hatefully at Daniel from her knees.

"Make me."

Daniel walked over to kneel himself before Reena, his hands coming up to cup her face gently as his fiery orbs for eyes gazed softly at her.

"I cannot force you but I will ask you what you once asked me. Cannot three souls combine their love to become far greater than only two?" Daniel said softly, Reena's glare fading as she gazed back at him, "Look into the heart of the one you have possessed, her soul is every bit as bright and loving as your's once was. I am begging you, Reena, just as you once begged me. Come back to me."

Reena's eyes squeezed tightly shut as tears slipped from them, her face dissolving into abject misery as a quiet sob escaped from between her lips. Closing the lids over his own glowing orbs, Daniel leaned forward to rest his forehead against Reena's with a sigh. But the deep blue flames suddenly ignited around Reena again as her eyes flashed open set in a hateful glare. Her hands flashed up, one tight about Daniel's throat and Daniel made a surprised grunt as her other slammed into his chest, the tips her fingers buried to the first knuckle in his flesh, blood flowing as Reena struggled to push them deeper. Daniel's hands were instantly wrapped about her wrists and for a time they struggled, neither able to advance or push the other away.

"No. I won't share you again, Danny." Reena growled through gritted teeth, the blue energy about her brightening as she pushed harder, "If you won't give your heart to me, I will take it from you."

Energy again blazed about the pair kneeling on the ground, Reena's nailed fingered clawing open the skin of Daniels chest as she sought to break his grip and dig them in deeper and while the man held her wrists tightly, the pain evident on his face had nothing to do with the damage she was doing.

"I, Reena…June, forgive me." Daniel turned his face toward the slowing battle beside them, seeing something Reena did not and then turned his face the other way, "I love you."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Aang appeared high above the battle, soaring quickly over from the village still encased and held aloft by a shell of compressed winds. All the Avatars as one gazed down onto the battlefield through Aang's glowing eyes, not seeing the physical forms of the combatants but the tightly enmeshed energies that made up their spirits and minds. Already he could see that victory was close at hand, the Gretche army reduced to a fraction of their former numbers yet the demons stood out in the Avatar's vision like stains upon the world. The Warriors, the animals and the spirits were bright multicolored knots of energy as they fought with conviction and honor while the savage Gretche's minds were like their spirits, dull points of diseased light. The Avatar's reached out with Aang's hand, stretching out as well with their combined energies and touching each and every dull point of light below them.

"YOU DO NOT BELONG IN THIS WORLD FOUL GRETCHE, YOUR PRESENCE HERE IS AN ABOMINATION." The multitudes of voices declared softly. Aang's outstretched hand closed into a tight fist and the dully glowing minds below the Avatars were snuffed out, "BEGONE."

Those fighting on the fields below paused, warrior and animal alike staring in wonder as each and every remaining gretche suddenly clutched at their bulbous heads in agony before their bodies simply collapsed into dark dust. When they looked up to see Aang high above they stared incredulously for a heartbeat before a shout of victory rang out from each and every throat but one. As the others, human and animal cheered up at Aang in the sky, Suki gazed about the battlefield, taking in the sight of her friends, family and their allies, all of them wounded and battered but alive before her eyes fell onto a pair of blazing figures fifty yards away, kneeling on the ground before each other and still locked in battle. She took in the sight of Reena trying to claw her way into Daniel's chest and reacting on pure instinct, Suki took off.

Suki dropped deeper into the moment than she had ever been before, even during the height of the fighting she had experienced nothing like this. The light immediately faded and she felt as though the air she ran through was more like thick, freezing mud as she struggled to push herself faster. As she did pick up speed, ghostly, unearthly light returned, emanating not from the sun in the sky but from the ground and the beings around her. A small part of Suki understood she was seeing what the Benders could, this deep into the moment she could see the other's living spirits but her focus was on the two brightest figures ahead of her. The others around her stood as motionless as statues as Suki flashed amongst them and as she stepped around Piandao at the edge of those gathered on the battlefield she dipped slightly, pulling a long dagger from the man's high boot while her eyes remained locked onto the pair now only a short distance away. As she closed on them, Suki saw Daniel's head turn to her, giving her an almost imperceptible nod before his glowing eyes and his face screwed up tightly, turning away again. As Reena snarled, struggling to claw her fingers into Daniel's chest as he pushed back, Suki flashed up behind the woman and plunged the dagger to it's hilt, deep into Reena's spine between her shoulder blades. Reena threw back her head and screamed, a blast of blue energy racing away from her and knocking Suki back off her feet.

"Forgive me, June." Suki said miserably from where she lay, curling up quickly into a tight ball.

With that final scream and the pulse of energy, the illusion of Reena's appearance faded to reveal June's face tipped back to the sky, her long black hair spilling to the ground behind her. Daniel lunged forward, wrapping an arm about June's shoulders as his other he pressed onto to her chest, white light shining from beneath his palm.

"June." Daniel cried out, his voice strained and hoarse as he called her name again, "JUNE!"

"I, it's ok, Danny, it's alright." June breathed quietly, her body limp in Daniel's arms, "Thank you…Suki. She's gone…Reena's gone."

The others quickly moved closer, Toph standing with the warriors as Sokka rushed to his wife's side where she lay sobbing on the ground. Aang dropped down from the sky, the horror he felt at what he saw evident on his face as he kneel beside Daniel. The glow from beneath Daniel's hand on June's chest brightened but the man's face fell as a soft sob escaped him.

"I can't heal this, June." Daniel sobbed, the glows of his eyes and tattoos rising and falling as he struggled to contain his emotions, "The blade…it, it's in your heart, your spine."

June's head lolled back onto Daniel's forearm where he held her up and now she rolled it to the side, gazing at him with tear filled, soft grey eyes and smiled softly.

"I know, Danny. She…Reena wouldn't have left any other way. I can feel you sharing your lifeforce with me, keeping me alive but it hurts, Danny. It hurts so much." June smiled wider at Daniel but her eyes pleaded with him, "Let me go, Danny. You have to let me go."

"NO!" Daniel cried out in desperation, the ground beneath him cracking and the glows from his eyes flashing brighter before he reined it in, "I, I can't loose you."

"Hush, my love. Remember, if you hold me in your heart, we will never truly be apart. An remember too, I will never stop loving you." June's smile never changed though her eyes carried a deep sadness, "I, I only wish we'd had more time. Time to see the world, together."

"We will, June." Daniel sobbed quietly, "While there is life in me, there is time and I will show you the world."

Daniel rose to his feet, holding June's limp form against himself with one hand and his other still sharing his life with her on her chest. The pair suddenly shot into the sky, rising faster and faster, a series of rapidly fading concussive booms rolling back down from the sky as they disappeared. Those standing on the ground with their heads tipped to the sky felt the joy of their victory muted by the scene they had witnessed.

Sokka sat on the ground, cradling his sobbing wife in his arms as Toph stepped over to join him and a moment later Aang was there as well, the four close friends holding each other tightly. First one, then two and then all together, Ty Lee dragging a weakly protesting Azula with her, The Kyoshi Warriors joined the group hug. Piandoa stood with a small smirk on his face but he gave a shout of surprise a moment later as Bumi lifted the man bodily off the ground, carried him over and pushed him into the group hug before joining it himself. The mood lifting as Nyla moved up beside them and Hu leapt down atop the packed people, Bumi's cackling, joyful laughter rising into the air.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Even through the mixture of pain and numbness suffusing her body, June's grey eyes were wide with wonder at the huge green and blue ball hanging next to them. Still letting his own life energies flow into her, Daniel had used even more power to bring them high above the world, so far beyond the world in fact that he had brought a shell of air around them to breath. June marveled not just at the world but also at the sky around them, it was black, peppered with uncountable numbers of stars, great rivers of them and streamers of light in more colors than June had ever dreamed possible.

"It's so beautiful, just like you. I like your eyes, Danny, they're like stars." June said softly as she turned away from the bright world below them to look into his miserable face, "I felt you holding back…in that fight but look at you…all of you, unleashed but in control. I love you so much, Danny and I'm so proud of you."

"I can control it while I have you." Daniel said softly, his fiery eyes full of sadness as he gazed into her grey orbs, "I, how can I let go, June? You…You're everything to me. You made me want to live as a man again, to love again. I can't loose you now."

"You will never loose…my love. Only hold me in your heart…never let go of your love and I will be a…part of you, forever." June smiled softly at Daniel, small puffs of steam rising from his eyes as his tears boiled in his fiery orbs, "I have a new quest now…I'm going to find Reena…and give her the help she needs. She still loves you, Danny…She's hurting, her mind is warped and twisted…by her pain but she loves you still."

Daniel bowed his head, steam almost constantly rising from his eyes now but he nodded slowly.

"Look for my armies in the spirit realms. I will try to let them know to seek you out. Jax will help you in any way you need." Daniel said quietly, "Thank you, June. For believing in me, for being my friend, for loving me, for everything. For being my one, true love."

"Hey, I was going to say that." June said in a light, mocking whisper but her small grin twisted into a grimace and she gasped, "It hurts so bad, Danny. Please, let me go now. Just remember to keep your heart open to our family, love them as you do me and you will find the redemption you seek. Goodbye my beautiful man. Just…kiss me one last time and remember, you are a good man…with a good heart and that is why I love you so."

Slowly, Daniel lowered his face to June's, his blazing eyes dimming as he slipped them closed, his lips touching hers in a gentle caress. Between them, where Daniel's hand rested over June's heart, the white glow beneath his palm faded and he slipped his hand around her as he raised his head. June lay in Daniel's arms, her eyes closed and with a small smile on her lips. Daniel trembled, his face screwing up in pain as a small moan escaped his lips and his eyes and tattoos flared for a moment.

"Goodbye…June." Daniel said in a strained grown and again he flared with light.

Curling slightly around June's body, Daniel moaned loudly and his tattoos brightened, dimmed then flared even brighter again. When he raised his head he looked down to the world below, then back to the stars then up to the huge bright sun dominating the sky above him as though seeking a way to escape what he felt. As the pain and misery within him reached a crescendo, Daniel clutched June tightly to his chest, opening his mouth in a roar that only he could hear. For a time, as he surrendered himself to his grief, Daniel outshone the sun, casting long shadows across the earth.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Far below, the Warriors looked up from their huddle as all the animals around them began to call, roar or shriek up to the sky, and the people raising their faces too, shielding their eyes as directly above them a star bloomed into life in the blue sky. As bright as the sun hanging a few hands breadths away it blazed whitely for many minutes.

"Daniel?" Suki asked softly from the centre of the tightly grouped fighters.

"June. She's gone." Aang confirmed, knowing only that would cause Daniel to release his power in such an uncontrolled fashion.

As Suki dissolved into fresh tears, Sokka, Aang and Toph remained by her side as the other warriors stood up to look about the field of battle. The once lush cabbage fields were torn up with large patches burned, spikes of stone still jutting out here and there and dozens of large animal carcasses laying about. Of the Gretche demons there was now no sign, even the dark mist their bodies had become had dissipated.

"Look." Ty Lee said, pointing to the sky.

Everyone turned their faces up again seeing the star had faded but now something else glowed in the sky. A red and yellow fireball that crackled and roared as it came straight down until a few hundred feet up the flames fell away and a dark figure slammed into the ground a dozen yards from the others, raising a huge cloud of dust. As the dust settled they saw Daniel standing in a small crater with his back to them, tying a fresh strip of leather about his head, a loincloth already about his waist. He turned to them with a dark scowl on his face and marched over toward Suki, Sokka, Aang and Toph. They watched him with some trepidation as he kneeled before them, Suki unable to look into his tight and unreadable features. But he only reached out, gently cupping Suki's chin and turning her to him. She blinked in surprise when she saw the silver hair band he'd given June stretched tight about his wrist.

"Understand this, Reena had no intention of giving up June. If I had tried to force her out she would likely have fled back to Fate and dragged June's soul along with her. June understood this and thanks you. As do I, for doing what I could not. You freed her." Daniel's face remained hard as he spoke but now he slid his hand around to Suki's cheek and wiped away the tears there, "It's ok to cry for her. I know I will again. But do not blame yourself. Reena is what she is because of me. All that happened this day is just something else for me to add to the list of things I'll never be forgiven for."

Suki frowned at this but Daniel simply stood up and walked a few yards away to where Nyla lay on the ground, the shirshu raising her head to sniff at him and making a mournful groan.

"You did well today, all of you." Daniel said loudly without turning from Nyla, resting his hand on the shirshu's snout, "But understand also, a Gretche is a pathetic and powerless demon. Nothing but brute strength, teeth and claws. They are used for fodder in battle by greater demons, their sheer numbers expected to overwhelm their enemies. I tell you this not to detract from your victory today but to warn you. In the months to come and at the final battle for this world you will be facing them by the millions. Gretche and much greater demons besides. Rest now, heal and mourn our losses. When I return we shall continue your training."

Making soft encouraging sounds to the shirshu, Nyla struggled painfully to her feet and Daniel turned to lead the animal away to the south. The other animals and spirits scattered about rising and moving around the Warriors to follow.

"Daniel, wait." Aang called out and Daniel did stop though he did not turn, "Um, are you alright? Where are you going."

"No, Aang. I'm not alright." Daniel said quietly, reaching out to rest his hand on the shirshu beside him with a sigh, "I dont know how I'll ever be again but Nyla needs me now, to clean and dress her wounds and heal what I may. Our family need you with them right now but I will return soon." Daniel resumed walking slowly as Nyla moved painfully beside him, the hundreds of other animals following again and Daniel called back in a louder voice, "Any of you are welcome to join me if you wish. When Nyla is up to it, we shall hunt, we shall kill and then we shall feast."

No one moved to join him, only watching in silence as Daniel and the hoards of animals walked slowly away to the south.

"Hmm, did you notice, Twinkletoes?" Toph said quietly, turning to face Aang and wincing as tired and bruised muscles complained, "He said, our family. I think Chuckles will be ok."

"I hope so, Toph. I really do. He was in control before but I still feel the turmoil inside him. He told me once, if he ever does truly loose control, I would have to kill him before he kills me." everyone turned shocked faces to Aang, he had told no one except Katara about that night but he ignored the other's stares, gazing out a Daniel, Nyla and the other animals disappearing into the haze in the distance, "But I don't know, Toph. After what we've seen before and saw him do today, if he ever does loose control like he fears, I don't think there's a soul on earth who could stop him."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Inside a gigantic burnt and blasted tree, deep in the realm between the mortal and spirit realms, Fate sat upon her throne with her fingers laced together, tapping them pensively against her delicate looking chin as she glared at a naked, auburn haired figure laying on the floor before her.

"I gave you fodder, I gave you power and I gave you knowledge. And yet, what do I see when I look into your pathetic excuse for a mind?" Fate sat forward on her throne, her face calm and serine and her voice only rose slightly, "You lost. You let your simpering emotions for the Nomad get in the way when you should have been killing him and his allies."

"They're my family. I didn't think it would matter but they are." Reena said in a hallow voice, curling up into a tight ball on her side and hugging her knees to her chest, "I did what you said. I did everything you said. But he controlled it. I don't know how but he did. And then he, he forgave me. He said he still loves me."

"Oh, how very sweet." Fate said in a bored tone, raising a hand to inspect her nails. When she looked back down at Reena, Fate smiled coldly, "And yet, the fact remains that you failed me."

"Just do what you're going to do, Fate. I don't care anymore." Reena's face was blank as she spoke to the most dangerous being in the universe, her eyes staring ahead at nothing, "I hated him for so long but now he's taken even that from me. I have nothing left. I am nothing."

"Such misery. Such despair and on today of all days too. Normally I would be happy to see a failure like you suffering this way before we move on with your punishment but today is a day of celebration. A day to rejoice. Can't you see it, dear girl? Don't I look positively radiant?" Fate spoke excitedly, brushing at her black on black hair and smoothing out her dress as she smiled sweetly at the woman before her. Reena's eyes turned slowly to look at the woman on the throne and frowned, "Can't you tell at all? I'm a mother, dear girl. I have produced an offspring. Of course, technically he is the product of my darling Koh and another but still, I am very proud of what I have created with them." Fate's cold eyes remained on Reena as she turned her head slightly and called over her shoulder, "Come on out, my sweet child. Don't be shy. Come out and meet your new plaything."

Reena's eyes went wide, the young woman sitting up hurriedly and scuttling backwards over the floor as something huge and black rose from behind Fate's throne. It stood over ten feet tall and had the shape of a heavily muscled man yet every inch of it was covered in black, form fitting plates like chitinious armor. Only it's head was uncovered, a man's head with wild, long black hair and as he leered toward Reena, over his shoulder rose a long, thick tail covered in the same black armor as the rest of him with a wickedly curved spike on it's end. The floor vibrated from the creature's heavy tread as it walked a little unsteadily toward Reena, extending thickly muscled arms with long fingered hands at their ends, fingers ending in sharp, curved claws. Reena scuttled back on her hands and the balls of her feet until she fetched up against the wall behind her, her terrified eyes never leaving the monstrous thing that continued to stare lustily at her.

"Stop." Fate said in a loud, commanding tone and the thing did, turning to give her a petulant stare, "Isn't he just beautiful? All of Koh's power and strength joined to a mortal living spirit. A great spirit bonded to a mortal man. Just like me, like the Nomad he has boundless, limitless strength. My child will crush anything in his path and he is loyal only to me, his very existence dependent on me. I'm just like a real Mommy aren't I my little snooky wookums?" Fate spoke in nonsense baby talk and the huge creature chuckled, a deep sound that conveyed pure malice. Fate smiled sweetly to her creation and pointed at Reena, "Go and play with your new toy now, my darling. You will need to learn to master and control your power before I unleash you upon the mortal word. She should last long enough to help you do that."

The hulking creature turned back to Reena, and she whimpered as he approached with the same twisted leer as before. Suddenly Reena grunted, pain exploding in her abdomen and she looked down with wide eyes at the creature's long tail coming from around the side of the huge thing's waist a half dozen yards away and reaching over to her, it's long curved spike imbedded in her stomach. Reena looked back up at the man's leering face on the creature in astonishment and pain, she hadn't even seen the thing move. With a strangled, half scream, Reena was lifted from the floor by the spike inside her, the tail retracting and carrying her over to the creature. It reached out with one black hand large enough to grip her about her entire chest and she screamed again as the tail disappeared back behind him, tearing the spike from her stomach.

"Just be careful not to break your new toy, my darling. Mommy's not happy with her so take your time." Fate said, smiling at the huge, black armored man, "You know, I'm really going to have to think of a name for you. I can't keep calling you baby, now can I?"

The creature pulled the woman in his grip closer, Reena pulling her head away as a long, forked tongue extended out from the man's mouth, the slimy appendage sliding up the side of her face and leaving a trail of green behind.

"Phoenix." The man opened his mouth to speak in an inhumanly deep and gravelly voice, "I Phoenix."

"Perfect, just perfect. Only a few hours old and talking already." Fate said happily, reached up to wipe at an imaginary tear with a finger, "Ah, they grow up so fast. Very well then, my beautiful Phoenix. Play with your new toy while Momma watches."

As Fate's cold, menacing laughter rang out, Reena's hands struggled to pry away the fingers wrapped around her chest but the black, armor coated digits were as hard as steel and the hand holding her squeezed tighter, making her gasp in pain. Suddenly the creatures thick tail reappeared, whipping up between his legs, the long curved spike at it's tip scratching at her thighs. Again the creature pulled her close, the man's leering eyes boring lustily into Reena's terrified face.

"Play." The man grated as his long forked tongue slipped between cruely grinning lips, flicking again at Reena's face.

Outside the great, dead tree demons of all shapes and sizes ranged out thickly, crowded closely together all the way to the impossibly distant horizon. The worst and cruelest creatures in all of existence had gathered here to serve Fate and yet as the pain filled, hysterical screams rose from within the tree, even these creatures pressed back in sudden fear. A wide clear space soon formed about the tree but Reena's piercing screams went on and on.

And so concludes Avatar: Book 5 Chaos

Stay tuned for the next exciting chapters in Avatar: Book 6 (well, I haven't thought up the title yet but it'll still be good)

I do hope everyone has enjoyed book 5. I would like to give a special thank you here to AhumbleHalofan for his help and collaberation on this story, he gave me the idea to bring Reena into it, amongst other things and I feel it made a vast improvement over my original ideas for these final chapters. Thankyou also to those who have given me such supportive reviews, I never would have got this far without your encouragement so again, thankyou.

I'm already working on the new book but I am going to take a break for awhile before I post anything new. Call me selfish but I'd like to wait for a bit and see how many reviews I get for this book first and also to see what people thought of it. So please add your reviews, let me know whether you enjoyed it or not or just anything you feel needs improvement. Bye for now.