ATLA: Azlua

Rebellion Part Four

But as quickly as the smile came, it faded. Mai could feel the weight of her role returning. The mask of indifference slid back into place, and her emotions once again sank beneath the surface.

It was time to get to business.

-----

The moment Mai stepped into the tent, it felt as if time froze. Every gaze turned toward her—the errand boys delivering messages, the strategists discussing logistics, and at the center, Hong Li and Rangi, standing over a battle map of the coast. Their hands hovered above the pieces, the tension in the room thick with anticipation.

Being friends with Azula had made her no stranger to attention like this. She had felt this kind of scrutiny a hundred times before, and like every time before, she stepped forward confidently.

"I've caught up," she said, her voice cutting through the silence. "What's your first move? I'll adjust my plans to coincide with yours."

With that, it was as if time resumed. The errand boys moved with renewed purpose, and Hong Li and Rangi exchanged quick glances. Rangi gave a nod of approval to Asha, who had eagerly followed Mai into the room.

"Good job," he said, ruffling Asha's hair. She melted under his praise, her bright smile growing even wider.

Hong Li nodded toward Mai, his expression more serious. "Good, but we have a problem."

Mai raised an eyebrow, a silent invitation for him to continue.

"The medicine and food the Fire Nation has supplied us has been a saving grace. But with the capital preventing us from trading with each other, it's been rough. Other cities haven't been as lucky. All our coastal cities have bundles of supplies, but with Earth Kingdom shock troops blocking trade, our supply routes have come to a halt. The inner villages and cities are starving."

He moved an earth-shaped piece emblazoned with the Earth Kingdom emblem onto the map, marking the blockade.

"So, break through?" Mai asked.

"We've tried," Rangi interjected, stepping forward. His sneer was evident. "But by the time we respond, the supplies have already been destroyed, and the Earth Kingdom troops disappear without a trace."

Mai nodded slowly, thinking. "Guerilla warfare," she murmured.

"We've tried using bait supplies to lure them out," Hong Li added, "but for every force we subdue, they send two more. It's endless."

Mai took a moment to collect her thoughts, her eyes scanning the map. Then, with a deliberate motion, she grabbed an earth piece shaped like a bow and placed it near the coast.

"We send out cargo, bait as before," she said, "but this time, when they attack, Rangi, you beat them down to the point of defeat and then retreat."

Rangi grinned, already liking where this was going. "I'm liking this plan already."

Hong Li, however, remained skeptical. "What difference will that make? They'll just replace the squad with another."

Mai smirked. "They're not immortal. They need rest, food, and medicine just like everyone else. Me and my Yuyan will follow them secretly. We'll find their forward base and destroy it."

"And me?" Rangi asked, his grin widening.

"You'll follow from a distance," Mai said. "The Yuyan will leave a trail for you. Once we've made contact, you'll reinforce us."

Hong Li stared at the map, eyes wide with amazement. "We can make them tell us where the rest of their forward camps are. Resecure the villages and cities we've lost."

Mai gave a curt nod. "Exactly. We'll get ready. Let's hope this works."

---

The trade route Mai had selected stretched across a flat expanse of land, with thick forests flanking either side. It wasn't her ideal location—too exposed for her liking—but now that she had access to earthbenders, the landscape could be altered at will. If necessary, they could create cover or launch surprise attacks from the earth itself. Still, the tension sat in the back of her mind.

She and the Yuyan Archers had arrived early, taking positions high in the trees that lined the route. Their movements were silent, each archer blending seamlessly into the branches, bows at the ready. They were invisible—exactly how Mai liked it. She crouched on a sturdy branch, surveying the area below.

The plan is simple, she thought, as long as nothing goes wrong.

Her eyes scanned the horizon, watching the forest edge. The bait convoy would be along soon, and they had to remain patient. Her fingers idly tapped the hilt of one of her concealed knives. Even with all the pieces in place, she couldn't shake the sense that something was going to slip.

It was then that Mai noticed a bright flash in the distance—the signal. The rebels were using mirrors to reflect the sunlight, a clever way of warning one another without drawing too much attention. She shifted her gaze down and spotted Asha leading a group of rebels, escorting the bait cargo along the route.

Suddenly, from the ground beneath them, Earth Kingdom shock troops sprang forth, their ambush swift and coordinated. Asha didn’t hesitate. She rallied her rebels, stomping onto the earth and raising them all onto an elevated platform. The Earth Kingdom soldiers looked momentarily surprised by the maneuver, but they quickly recovered, bombarding the rebels with a volley of rocks.

The rebels responded by summoning slabs of earth from the ground, using them to block the incoming attacks. When the soldiers tried to close the distance, the rebels sent the entire slab sliding toward them, forcing them back.

Mai groaned and face-palmed. Those idiots! They’re winning!

Without hesitation, she dropped down to a lower branch and unsheathed one of her blades, using the reflection to signal Asha. Asha flinched at first but then recognized Mai’s signal. She fought the urge to wave cheerfully, but when she saw Mai frantically gesturing for them to lose, she suddenly remembered the plan.

Asha mouthed an exaggerated apology, sticking her tongue out playfully before turning back to her group. She signaled to the other rebels, and almost immediately, they started making mistakes—slowing down, letting their defenses slip, and allowing the Earth Kingdom soldiers to push them back. The tide of the battle shifted, just as it was supposed to.

But as Mai watched, a thought struck her.

Why were the rebels winning so easily? Something didn’t add up. These were Earth Kingdom shock troops—trained soldiers. So how were the rebels, relatively inexperienced, holding their own?

She narrowed her eyes, focusing more intently on the Earth Kingdom forces. That’s when it hit her.

They’re conscripts.

Of the twelve soldiers attacking the convoy, only three wore proper uniforms. Only three moved with the fluidity and precision of actual training. The others—disheveled, clumsy, and mismatched in appearance—looked like they’d been forced into service.

Mai’s lips curled into a smile, wider than it had been in days. Even if I’m not as strategic as Azula… She couldn’t help but feel a wave of satisfaction. This changes everything.

This wasn’t just a skirmish. The Earth Kingdom was scraping the bottom of the barrel, rallying civilians to fill their ranks. That was an opportunity she could exploit.