❝𝗠𝗨𝗟𝗔𝗡

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*･

(𝘊𝘏𝘈𝘗. 4)

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───

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𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐎𝐎𝐍 𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐃 𝐃𝐎𝐖𝐍 𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐋𝐘 𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐎 𝐀 𝐒𝐌𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐏𝐎𝐍𝐃. 𝐅𝐀𝐍𝐆 𝐏𝐀𝐂𝐄𝐃 𝐅𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐘 𝐖𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐀𝐑𝐌𝐒 𝐀𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃. "Hey, this is not a good idea. What if somebody sees you?"

Untying your hair you let the growing strands rest on your shoulders, clothes hanging on a tree branch. "Just because I look like a man doesn't mean I have to smell like one." You retorted.

Fang leaned against his tail. "So a couple guys don't rinse out their socks. Picky, picky, picky." Covering his eyes with his ears as you came out of the tall brush. "Myself, I kinda like that corn-chip smell."

Jumping into the water, some splashing the dragon. Reemerging you flip your hair with a sigh.

"Okay, all right, alright, that's enough, now c'mon, get out before you

get all pruney and stuff." Walking over and holding a towel.

"Fang, if you're so worried, go stand watch." You suggested, rubbing your arms.

He struts off. "Yeah, yeah. Stand watch, Fang, while I blow our secret with my stupid girly habits. Hygiene."

Leaning against a rock, Momo pulled one of his whiskers. Opening his eyes seeing three tan flashes zip past, laughing clothes being discarded.

"We're doomed! There're a couple of things I KNOW they're bound to

notice!"

Hearing their shouts you duck into the water as Jet, Zuko and Aang jump into the water.

As the water waves and splashes you grab a lilypad and try to hide behind it.

"Hey, Ping!" Zuko shouted, taking notice of your figure as you tried to move behind a rock.

Pulling away the plant you grin sheepishly. "Oh, hi, guys, I didn't know you were HERE. I was just washing so now I'm clean and I'm gonna go. Bye-bye." Ducking behind the rock.

Jet backstroke over. "Come back here! I know we were jerks to you before, so let's start over. Hi, I'm Jet." Taking your hand and shaking it.

Aang showed up behind you, lilypad on his head and your hand hitting his stomach as you pulled away from Jet. "And I'm Aang."

"Hello, Aang." You said awkwardly.

Glancing up, your eyes widened, retreating to the water. "And I am Zuko, King of the Rock! And there's nothing you girls can do about it."

"Oh yeah? Well, I think Ping and I can take you!" Jet claimed, nudging your shoulder. "I really don't want to take him anywhere." You said, averting your eyes.

"But, Ping! We have to fight!" The messy brown haired boy claimed. "No, we don't. We could just close our eyes, and ... swim around!"

Grabbing your bicep he pulls you back. "C'mon! Don't be such a ... OW! Something bit me!" Releasing you and rubbing his butt.

Fang appeared out of the water spitting out water. "What a nasty flavor."

Meeting the dragon's gaze Jet screamed. "SNAKE!!!"

While the three men shriek, you whistle for Bosco and sneak out of the water.

"Some King of the Rock." Jet commented, huddled on the rock with the others only to be pushed off by Zuko.

You sighed in relief. "Boy, that was close." Fang stomped around, brushing his teeth and squeezing toothpaste into his mouth.

"No, that was vile. You owe me big!"

"I never want to see a naked man again." You say, wringing out your hair as Bosco huffs in agreement.

Tossing your hair a herd of naked men flash by making you look down at the guardian.

"Don't look at me, I ain't biting no more butts."

—

Back at the camp you finish dressing, tying your hair back into its bun.

You think your troops are ready to fight? Hah! They wouldn't last a minute against the Huns!" Long Feng's scolding voice came from his tent, his and Sokka figures illuminated by a lantern inside.

"They completed their training." The man stated.

"Those boys are no more fit to be soldiers than you are to be captain. Once the general reads my report, your troops will never see battle." The thin mustached man gritted.

Fang glares, removing his ear from the thin tent. "Oh, no, you don't! I've worked too hard to get [y/n] into this war! This guy's messing with my plans!"

Sokka stood up, pulling his report board down. "We're not finished!"

"Be careful, Captain. The general may be your father, but I am the Emperor's Council. And, oh, by the way, I got that job on my own. You're dismissed." He scoffed holding the curtain open for him to leave.

The tan man came out, anger concealed as he walked past.

"Hey, I'll hold him, and you punch!..." You demonstrated awkwardly with a chuckle but he just walked away. "Or not... For what it's worth, I think you're a great captain."

His pace slows down as he glances at you from over his shoulder continuing his trudge back to his tent.

Fang came up next to you. "I saw that."

"What?"

"You like him, don't you?" A taunting expression on his face. "No! I..." You go to defend.

The dragon shimmies his shoulder. "Yeah, right, sure. GO TO YOUR TENT!"

Taking one last glance is the captains direction a soft smile breaks across your face as you walk away.

Fang turns to Momo. I think it's time we took this war into our own hands."

They rush into the tent as Long Feng strolls out, dressed in a towel, a

hat, and slippers.

Momo jumps around, ink on his feet writing a letter, like a typewriter.

"Okay, lemme see what you've got." Taking the paper he reads. "From General Lee. 'Dear Son, we're waiting for the Huns at the pass. It would mean a lot of you'd come and back us up.' Hmm. That's great, except that you forgot, 'and since we're out of popourri, perhaps you wouldn't mind bringing up some!' HELLO! This is the army! Make it sound a little urgent, please. You know what I'm talking about?"

Placing the paper back down Momo hops around typing out another letter.

Taking it, Fang grins. "That's better, much better! Let's go!"

Climbing onto your horses back. "Boscy, baby. We need a ride." Jolting up from his water Bosco spits him off, and Momo slowly backs off.

At the lake the soldiers all laugh at Long Feng. "Insubordinate ruffians. You men owe me a new pair of slippers! And I do not squeal like a girl."

He turns a panda eating his last slipper. "Eeeeeeek!!!"

"Urgent new from the general!" Fang mimics a soldier, using a straw puppet to thrust out a scroll.

Long Feng stares in confusion, specifically at the panda. "What's the matter, you've never seen a black and white before?"

Standing straight he takes the scroll. "Who are you?"

"Excuse me? I think the question should be, who are you!" Jabbing the council man.

"We're in a war, man! There's no time for stupid questions! I should have your hat for that! Snatch it right off your head! I'm feeling gracious today, so ... carry on before I report you."

Long Feng turns as the panda climbs up a nearby tree. Gasping, he runs to Sokka's tent. "Captain! Urgent news from the general! We're needed at the front!"

Fang sits in a tree watching the scene. "Pack your bags, Momo, we're moving out!"

—

Early the next morning everything was packed up, you and the other troops moving out and to meet with the general.

"For a long time we've been marching off to battle."

Crossing the thin mountain path Zuko slumps his shoulder.

"In our thundering herd, we feel a lot like cattle." Rolling his eyes, the troop wandered into a cattle field.

"Like the pounding beat, our aching feet aren't easy to ignore."

Jet ran up front, wrapping his arms around Zuko and Aang's shoulder.

"Hey! Think of instead, a girl worth fighting for!"

"Huh?" You raised a brow making him come over and repeat.

"That's what I said! A girl worth fighting for!" Glancing around and pulling out a wrinkled scroll.

Unrolling it you pull away.

"I want her paler than the moon, with eyes that shine like stars."

"My girl will marvel at my strength, adore my battle scars!" Zuko interjected.

"I couldn't care less what she'll wear, or what she looks like! It all depends on what she cooks like! Beef, pork, chicken, mmm..."

Swords held over your head as you crossed a river, passing statues.

"Bet the local girls thought you were quite the charmer." Zuko claimed, looking at you before falling into the water.

Jet emerged on the other side of the river, armor buffed from the water. "And I bet the ladies love a man in armor!" Flexing they deflate.

"You can guess what we have missed the most since we went off to war!"

Passing a farm where women were gathering what seemed to be onions.

Meet their gaze you covered your face, making them laugh amongst each other.

"What do we want? A girl worth fighting for!"

"My girl will think I have no flaws."

"That I'm a major find."

They three surround you expectantly.

"How 'bout a girl who's got a brain, who always speaks her mind?" you suggest sheepishly.

"Nah!" They wave off Zuko and Aang walking ahead.

"My manly ways and turn of phrase and sure to thrill her!" Jet said as you shook your head.

"He thinks he's such a lady-killer." Zuko mumbled to you. Slapping Boscos behind he ran forward, making Jet fall to the ground.

"I've a girl back home who's unlike any other." Long Feng joined, putting a hood over his head as you made it into a colder mountain climate.

"Yeah, the only girl who'd love him is his mother." You grinned at Zuko's whisper earning a glare from Long Feng.

"But when we come home, in victory they'll line up at the door!"

Building snow women.

"What do we want?"

"A girl worth fighting for!"

"Wish that I had."

"A girl worth fighting for!"

Whistling the three prepare to pelt you with snowballs but.

"A girl worth fighting–"

You all freeze, staring in horror at the charred and burning remnants of a small village.

The sky was a dark red and orange, hued by the tragedy. Your brows frown at the sight, slowly advancing into the village.

"Search for survivors!" Sokka called out.

Splitting from Aang you look around, ducking under a torn and burnt curtain.

Looking down you pick up a burlap doll and hold it solemnly to your chest as Sokka rides over to you.

"I don't understand. My father should've been here."

"Captain!" Long Feng shouted.

Approaching he looks at the bloody battlefield full of dead Chinese

Soldiers.

Aang comes up from the snow and hands the general's helmet to the captain. "The ... general." She said sympathetically.

He walks off as everyone else approaches to gaze at the scene.

Off on a clearer cliff side Sokka takes his sword and sticks it in the snow, then places the helmet on the hilt, kneeling in prayer.

"I'm sorry." You say coming up behind him, snow beginning to fall.

Silently he gets up and places a hand on your shoulder. Mounting his horse he looks down at his troops.

"The Huns are moving quickly. We'll make better time to the Imperial City through the Tung Show pass. We're the only hope for the Emperor now. Move out!"

The army slowly walks away while you remain at the grave, looking at the doll in your hand.

Falling to your knees you place the doll against the blade of the sword, leaving a prayer of your own before marching back to the others.