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Post by longxing on Mar 10, 2007 14:55:16 GMT -5
[BGM: Barbossa is Hungry - Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black pearl] It had been a few days since they had left Hokage. A course east then south out of Fire nation waters only took about four days, with today being the fifth. the course was plotted on a map nearby as Long strode onto the command bridge, the navigator pouring over it, looming over the map like a God would do to check their work after they created the world. The helmsman steered the ship, turning the wheel every so often to counter the throw of the water, the other two ships flanking the lead ship. In the short distance, at the most a dozen miles from them, stands the outline of the Southern Air Temple. Outside the command bridge, a low rank officer loos towards the temple and the horizon. "Admiral! Earth Kingdom ship at 11 o' clock!" The officer shouted, this instantly caught Long's attention as he quickly walks over to the officer, being handed the spyglass he was using and looks into it as the officer points to the shore of the land ahead of them. Sure enough, the outline of an Earth Kingdom ship lay there, docked near the shore. Still looking through the spyglass, Long shouts out, "All hands: Battlestations, increase speed to full to close the distance troops stand by. Signal the other ships to do the same." Lowering the spyglass, Long walks back into the bridge itself. "If we can see them they can undoutbedly see us 'cause of our smoke. We must catch them quickly. Prepare the catapults!" |
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Post by alasse on Mar 10, 2007 15:20:35 GMT -5
It had been a couple of days since they had left their home in Ba Sing Se to set out for the Southern Air Temple. The first thing Fuu had done was memorize every bit of the ship they were on, from the cabins to the bow. She'd even found her favorite place at the front of the ship, staring out at the ocean in front of her. Occasionally she'd even attempt to climb up the rail, letting the ocean breeze rush through her hair as she got strong whiffs of the sea. It was almost as peaceful as the garden at home. Everything seemed so different and yet...
Yet completely the same.
"Dad-dy, I told you I have no such interest in him!" Fuu proclaimed, storming rather angrily away from the cabins towards her place at the front of the ship. Her delicate hand clenched the thin parasol in her hand, that seemingly normal accessory hiding the two feet dagger in the 'stem'. Today's assomble was like every other: uncomfortably heavy, intricately designed, expensive, and complete with the platform sandals that made her bound feet even harder to walk.
"But as the daughter of a nobleman, you have the duty to marry someone of the same class," her father persisted, chasing after her. "You shall have no choice!"
"I want to marry whom I choose!"
"Young lady, I will not take this insolence, you shall-"
Silence overwhelmed the two as the sight of thick smoke pouring from what looked like a war ship came into view. Oh no, it couldn't be.. A fire nation ship?
"Men.. Prepare yourselves!" her father began exclaiming, running down into the cabins to alert the others.
"Fire... nation..?" Fuu mumbled, staring in awe as the ship drew nearer.
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Post by longxing on Mar 10, 2007 15:37:45 GMT -5
Themechanical cranks and turns as the catapults were readied, pulled all the way down and aimed for maximum distance. Even more smoke poured out from the exhaust stacks and the ship lurched abruptly as more speed was applied. Long once again gazed a look through the spyglass, the commotion around him as various crewmates readied themselves was almost defening.
"Someone get me my helmet!" Long shouted.
The next couple of minutes went by, the catapults stood ready, their loaders andsoldiers manning the catapults stood, watching, waiting. Now in his full battle attire, Long went over the distance in his head, looked to his navigator who quickly nodded to him.
"Fire a volley!" Then came Long's voice, which was followed by three other firing orders and the three leading catapults discharged their loads, the burning ball of fire flung into the air and soared at the earth Kingdom ship. Long watched in anticipation was the balls of fire fell short, several hundred meters...or thereabouts.
"Load another round, wait for my order." And with this, a soldier, using the fire on his hands, signaled to the other two ships to hold fire until Long gave the order to fire.
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Post by alasse on Mar 10, 2007 15:50:21 GMT -5
Fuu watched in horror as a big blast of fire undoubtedly from their catapults flung towards them. Thankfully, they came up short. Even so, the waves caused by such rocked the ship slightly. Uneasy in her footing, Fuu slipped slightly, landing ahrd against the ship. Laying there for a moment, she listened as hordes of paniced people filled out of the cabin. All around her the rushed, watching with the same horror she had as the fire nation ship drew closer. Slowly Fuu sat up, not getting a look of much else besides shoving people.
All around her those men who could earth bend prepared themselves, trying to calm down those who were more frightened than others.
"What.. What do they want with us..?"
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Post by longxing on Mar 10, 2007 16:00:32 GMT -5
"Have the men adjust aim. Signal the other ships to spread out, cut off any escape routes." Long spoke the he soldier signaling the other two ships, who quickly nodded and did what he was told.
A few moments passed then Long let out another 'Fire' order. The first three catapults fired again. The balls of fire rocketed up and over to the Earth Kingdom ship. Two of them hit, around the midsection of the ship, the third went wide, barely missing the far side. "each catapult is to launch another volley, then we'll close in." Long lowered the spyglass, "Who knows, maybe we can go home with more workers for the shipyards," Long smiled to himself as he nodded to the helmsman.
Another round flew from the catapults on the deck. Then stopped as Long walke ddown to the main deck shouting, "All hands, prepare to board, we're going hunting!" This was met with a resounding cheer. There were close enough that Long could make out barely the figures on the ship. People scrambling, the previous volley had both missed and hit the ship, ensuing panic, the groundwork for the eventual bording.
Long smiled to himself. This never gets old.
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Post by alasse on Mar 10, 2007 16:12:05 GMT -5
Now they were getting serious. The first two balls of fire landed right in the middle of the ship. It hit a few people by the sounds of the screams of pain, though Fuu herself did not hear it. More hit by the feel of the rocking of the ship. Struggling to stand up, Fuu was quickly pushed out of the way by the panicing, wealthy Earth Kingdom members. Not many on the ship were actual earth benders, but even if there were more, it wasn't like there was any earth to bend.
Finally getting up, Fuu pushed herself to the rail of the ship. A few people had, unfortunately, fallen in the water. It made her cringe, fearing for her own safety, and that of her father. Come to think of it, she hadn't seen him in awhile.
Now the two ships were close enough together that Fuu could make out forms on the ship. Her hazel eyes locked intently on who appeared to be the captain.
What was going to happen to her?
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Post by longxing on Mar 10, 2007 16:21:10 GMT -5
Is that a woman on the bow of the ship? Haha...sorry little earth Kingdom princess, but your world ends today. Long thought as he turned around and uncurled his whip. "All hands, prepare to board, adjust speed to bring us alongside them, archers, do what you do best." And a crack of his whip, a line of archers went to the bow of the ship, loaded and held up their crossbows and took a lazy aim at the deck.
The other ships were holding their fire. One was on the right from the lead ship, cutting off any hope the ship had left of esaping to open sea, while the other was moving to cutoff any last hope of weaving between the islands to escape.
The archers let loose a volley, firing at concentrations of men on the ship.
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Post by alasse on Mar 10, 2007 21:21:20 GMT -5
That man.. he held a whip. Weren't whips normally used on animals? Why would he need one? Fuu shivered slightly, a wave of nasuea coming over her. What.. What was going on? Why would anyone want to attack their peaceful ship?
Then it came, screams of terror as one by one the men on the outer railing fell to the arrows the archers were dishing out. Quickly she ducked down to advoid the same fate, curling up into a ball as everyone else on board only paniced more.
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Post by longxing on Mar 10, 2007 21:46:11 GMT -5
The lead ship came alongside the Earth Kingdom ship, the archers lining the bow of the ship keeping their weapons barried on the people,not firing another volley. The 2nd in command of the lead ship stepped up to the bow behind the archers, "We will now be taking prisoners. Make things easier on yourselves and come peacefully. Resistence is futile."
Planks were lowered onto the Earth Kingdom ship and Fire Nation soldiers began to cross, many bearing weapons, some bearing chains. Long approached the bow of the ship, looking over the faces of the frightened people. Their weakness showing in their faces.
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Post by alasse on Mar 10, 2007 21:58:44 GMT -5
Fuu's Father had taken command of the little group of earth benders they had on board, as well as the willing men. Together they had tried their best to get rid of as many fire soldiers as possible, unfortunately to no avail. The Fire Nation had their archers as well as an element they could bend from anywhere. They had no earth at their command to strike back with. One by one they fell, making the screams of the few women and men left increase as well as their panic. It was useless, however, as soon enough the man felt two piercing arrows dig into his flesh. Even then, he thought of only one thing, of only one person.
"Fuu.."
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The panic had settled down, or at least down enough that when the commanders had boarded the ship, the people were silent in watching and waiting. Fuu rested against the bow of the ship, still craddled in a tight ball out of nothing less then to advoid the reality that was slowly sinking in. When it grew quiet, she looked up, only to see Long hovering over her.
She yelped slightly, attempting to crawl away but quickly falling. The sight of the man.. clothed in his entire uniform, especially the mask.. it frightened her. And even more so, the thought of what had happened to her father..
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Post by longxing on Mar 10, 2007 22:11:39 GMT -5
Long grinned to himelf as he looked down upon the frightened woman.
Elswhere on the ship, Fire Nation soldiers gathered up the survivors, slapping those in irons. A hand set, leg chains and a shoulder set around the chest area.
"You afriad, little girl?" Long asked at the woman curled up into a fetal position. Long purpesly made a brief showing of both his whip and the Jia on his hip still, in it's holder. "Is this new to you? Oh...I know who you are. You're one of these nobles who is kept sheltered from the war. I've taken nobles like you before."
LOng used a hand to cup the girls chin in his hand, tilting her face to look at him eye to eye. Taking in how she looks. I think I pity this one, not such a bad face.
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Post by alasse on Mar 10, 2007 22:29:35 GMT -5
Little girl?
Her body was shaking, now. She found it very difficult to move. Every part of her had frozen, and though she would have liked to scream, she was too fearful of this man's punishment to. Pushing that growing anger inside of her away, she continued to tremble.
Her, a noble? No, she'd never been a noble. She was just a love child whose mother had died and, as such, was sent to live with her father. Because of such he imprisoned her in his high society. Now, she was nothing more than a doll. But did she really mind? Not really.. not until this man had begun speaking.
Slowly Fuu stared up at him, as shefelt her face lifted up to stare into his eyes. In her hazel eyes were a mixture of emotions, so easily portrayed through those irises. She was, above all else, fearful of this entire situation. She was fearful of this undoubtedly powerful man that hovered above her. She was fearful of the outcome of her father. She was devastated byt he happenings. But, deep down inside her, she was furious at this man and his crew for starting all this.
"You.. You would never understand what it's like.." Fuu began, jerking her head out of the man's hand and shooting him a nasty stare. "What it's like.. to be treated as nothing more than a trophey.. To be admired only for your looks.. To have no freedom.."
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Post by longxing on Mar 10, 2007 22:42:45 GMT -5
Long withdrew his hand from her and slowly, a deep laugh emitted from Long. "Well then your fate now shall be no different then when we return to the Fire Nation." He slowly placed a hand on the hilt of his sword, then quickly, he unsheathed his sword and brang it down to bear at the girls neck.
"So, here is your choice and a shot at freedom. Right now, this is your own choice and yours alone. How does that sound?"
Long let a pregnant pause settle in before continueing. Asoldier or two gathered up behind him to watch the show. "You can come with us...or you can stay here. Now I must inform you, staying here, things could get a little...warm." Long let out a small burst of flame emit from his hand, this summoned soft laughter from Long and the soldiers behind him.
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Post by alasse on Mar 10, 2007 22:58:14 GMT -5
No different? Was she to be a slave to these Fire Nation soldiers. Still, she was slightly suprised that he laughed and did not go to strike her. Even her father would punish her if she had acted in such a manner towards him. So when the cold metal of the sword touched against her, she expected it. She didn't flinch, but kept her slight shaking.
"I-I.." Fuu mumbled, looking down slightly at her feet. She couldn't exactly escape from these people, and the weapons she had in the form of her fan and her parisol would be useless against the fire of the fire benders. Not to mention she couldn't earth bend, because this ship was made of metal..
"Wh-What do you want me to do?" she unwillingly admitted, standing up weakly. Her body still felt numb. After being used to living so easily compared to the life of a slave.. what would happen? "I'm not.. so good at physical labor.. my feet.. are bound.. I can't really move fast.. But I'm good.. indoors.. cooking.. and such.."
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Post by longxing on Mar 10, 2007 23:14:33 GMT -5
"I'm sure we can find something for you to do. You don't earth bend do you?" Long sheathed his sword and motioned with his hand a soldier brushed past him brandishing irons and quickly clamped the girls hands and feet together, then clasping her arms close to her body with a chest iron.
"Do not resist and things will not get ugly. You'll be put into a holding cell with a few other women form this ship. In a week or so we'll go to your new home. Take her away." Long waved his hand again
The rest of the ship was searched thuroughly. Women, men, children were taken. Those fit to leave were taken, those dead or dying, or not worth the energy to move were left behind. Then, specialy armored soldiers came across the planks, carrying big barrels and being very careful.
The young girl was taken downship into a holding area, her braces removed as she was put into a cell with several other women and children. The door closed and was locked tight.
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