Inside a reinforced room, Zuko and the last General clasped hands, shaking for a few seconds before letting go of each other's hands, and Zuko turned to walk out.
A week had passed since Zuko and June had rescued Chiyo from the corrupt General. And many things happened during the week to the three of them.
First off, Zuko had managed to talk to every General that Zadan told him about. There were some complications along the way. Zuko needed to knock some soldiers out to sneak into their base, but nothing else.
Unlike General Narlon, the other five Generals were still not corrupt. Their wills were being tested, and if he did not come now, no doubt some of them would have turned corrupt, as they did not see hope of getting out of their situations.
Until Zuko came and showed them his power, giving them a new hope and a new objective and order to fight for. This allowed Zuko to easily gather their loyalty, especially when he told them about the other Generals' plan to join them.
Of course, June was there with him while he was talking with the Generals, and due to her skill and experience, she knew that no one was lying about wanting to join forces with Zuko.
The army under the name of the Rebellion forces also grew rapidly; each General, except for Zadan, had 1,500 to 2,000 Soldiers under their command, since Ozai still had some trust in them.
With all the soldiers and Generals joining the cause that Zuko was fighting for. The total number of forces had grown from only him to a total of 9,900 soldiers. Still four thousand short of the 13,000 Zuko needed to start his march.
But there was no choice, especially since Zuko knew that there were no other Generals who would join his ranks. He also knew that if he tried to convince them, the instant he left, the Fire Lord would know everything.
"Did he agree to join us? We really need his forces, or we will not be able to do anything in two weeks," June asked Zuko with concern, while Chiyo stood beside her listening like a good little girl, quiet and standing there tucked.
"Yes, he agreed to join. But I need to remake the plan since the number of soldiers under me did not meet the number I imagined," Zuko sighed as he said. The three entered an alley before vanishing, with Chiyo lagging behind a bit.
[At the Cave...]
"So what I am thinking is that I will send a General to each base under the Fire Lord with a thousand and five hundred soldiers each. They will attack the base and take down the General. I bring the rest of the soldiers to attack the Fire Lord," Zuko said while pointing towards a map of the Fire Nation, pinned to a table.
"Good, but we need to be fast and precise. Since if anybody notices such a big mobilisation of soldiers and Generals, the Fire Lord will immediately notice our plan," June said, circling some routes and ways the Generals could lead such an army without instantly being noticed.
"Then it's settled, this will be our plan for the time being. I will try to come up with a better one... In the meantime, Chiyo. How is the plan of having the brothel under your control?" Zuko turned to Chiyo and asked, and Chiyo blushed before straightening.
"Yes! Everyone in the brothel now works for me. The original owner of the brothel was forced to transfer the ownership of everything over to my name!" Chiyo said with a loud voice, and June chuckled at her behaviour, while Zuko nodded with approval.
"Good job, have you gathered some intel on thigns we should know?" Zuko asked again, this time his tone serious. He needed everything he could use to complete his plan.
"Yes! I managed to gather some intel from the drunk soldiers about Princess Azula," Chiyo said with a grin, waiting for approval and a compliment from Zuko, who nodded as he rested his palm on her head.
"Good... Azula, huh... What did they say?" Zuko's tone turned a little bit sombre as Azula flashed into his mind. If she suddenly joins the frey, then his plan is as good as gone, especially since she sides with their father.
"The soldiers from her side have been sent back to the Fire Nation without a reason, and the Fire Lord was enraged as he was said to have burnt those soldiers to charred corpses," Chiyo said, and Zuko clenched his fist with anger.
"That bastard... Tch! Azula, on the other hand... The only reason she would do something like this... Involves 'Him'..." Zuko could not help but raise an eyebrow as he thought back to Norrak.
'No way... Does she like him or something? Otherwise, I don't know why she would be so adamant about going after him and capturing him... Or was it marrying him? I don't recall...' Zuko thought in his mind with amazement in his eyes.
"Well, since we discussed everything. It's time for training, Chiyo. Get ready and do as I taught you," Zuko moved towards the outside of the cave and onto the free lands, with Chiyo excitedly following him.
"I should make food so it would be ready for when they finish training," June turned around and walked towards Nyla, sleeping beside a fire camp.
The flames were Eternal Flames. Since they never go out, it allows June to cook food without having to make a fire. On the outside, Chiyo and Zuko got into their firebdnign stance.
Chiyo's stance was sturdy, but unstable. She was already able to combo and think or perceive the movement of her opponents. Zuko breathed and then jumped forward with a front kick.
Swoosh!
A blazing beam of fire shot towards Chiyo, who merely jumped to the side while setting herself on fire. Chiyo's hair burned, violet flames dancing on her hair strands and limbs.
Swoosh!
Chiyo's body was enchaced with Chi and her fire, and she turned it into a purple bolt as she rushed Zuko, who calmly pushed a palm forward, meeting Chiyo's own palm attack.
A shockwave was generated, and Chiyo groaned from the pressure as she was pushed back by Zuko, who was only taking the fight a bit seriously. Chiyo jumped forward again, her fist lit up with flames.
"Take this!" Chiyo shouted with a grin as the flame on her arms suddenly turned orange and purple. It shot out in a spiral, heating the air to a dangerous degree.
Zuko narrowed his eyes, standing still with a palm facing the blast of fire. Chiyo watched with a shocked expression as the fire met his palm, only to disperse as a bolt of lightning shot through the beam of flames.
BBZZZTTT!
"ARGHHH!!!" Chiyo screamed as the lightning hit her, only to zap her for a few seconds; her hair started smoking as her fire vanished. Zuko smirked at the funny sight, walking forward as Chiyo fell onto her knees.
"Your actions are too predictable; you need to incorporate feints, or you need to be constantly moving, not allowing your opponent to think," Zuko instructed as he pulled Chiyo up, who nodded with a hint of annoyance.
"My hair needs to be combed again..." Chiyo muttered with a huff.
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Chiyo's flame contains healing properties. She can use it alongside her normal flames. This caused her normal flames to get excited, heating it up a bit. Not as hot as Azula's, but it is still hotter than normal flames.
Leave a power stone!