"Ikari! Wake up, quick!"
Hana's frantic voice yanked Ikari out of his dream. He opened his eyes, heart racing, and saw his mother's pale face inches from his. "M-Mom? What—"
"No questions." Hana grabbed his arm, dragging him to the corner of the room. She lifted a wooden hatch in the floor, revealing a small trapdoor. "Get in and stay quiet. Don't come out, no matter what you hear. Promise me!"
"But, Mom—"
"Now, Ikari!" She pushed him into the dark hole and shut the lid, leaving him in darkness.
He curled up inside, knees against his chest. 'What's going on? First that dream, and now this—'
BAM!
The sound of the door being kicked in came with Hana's scream. Ikari froze, fear locking his breath. 'W-what's happening?' He peeked through a crack in the trapdoor.
The front door lay shattered on the floor. His mother was on the ground too, crawling away from the man who had entered.
He was a soldier, wearing red and black armor.
'A Fire Nation soldier? Here?' Ikari thought, his stomach twisting.
"Where are the others?" asked the soldier, his voice muffled by the helmet as he scanned the house.
'W-Why are they here? T-this can't be real, I'm still dreaming, I'm still dreaming...' Ikari repeated over and over, refusing to believe it was actually happening.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Hana said, dragging herself away from the trapdoor.
The soldier stepped forward. "Don't play smart, woman. You villagers like to hide rebels. Speak now."
"There's no one else here," Hana said, her back pressed against the wall.
"Is that so?" The man stepped closer. "Maybe I need to persuade you to talk—"
"Sergeant," another soldier entered the house. "The captain ordered everyone to gather in the village center."
"...Understood." The first one grabbed Hana by the arm. "I'm taking this one. Tear the place apart and make sure no one else is hiding," he ordered, dragging the woman outside.
"Yes, sir," the second soldier replied. He began ransacking the house—kicking over chairs, flipping the table and bed, opening the closet. His eyes scanned every corner, searching for any sign of movement or possible hiding spots.
'They took Mom, they took Mom, they took Mom,' Ikari repeated in his mind, heart pounding in his chest.
The soldier stopped near a pile of blankets in the corner, kicking them aside. Then his eyes locked on a part of the floor that looked slightly different. He tilted his head, studying it until he realized it was a trapdoor.
"Whoever's in there, come out now!" the soldier shouted, stepping back. "By order of the Fire Nation, show yourself immediately!"
Silence.
Not a sound escaped from the trapdoor.
"Last chance!" the soldier shouted again, stomping his foot hard on the floor right next to the wooden hatch. Nothing. No noise, no movement. He huffed, impatient, and crouched down, his gloved fingers feeling along the edge of the wooden lid. With a grunt, he lifted it, the creak of the hinges echoing in the silence of the house.
Then, before he could make sense of anything, Ikari launched upward with the wind, landing a powerful punch to the soldier's face, followed by a spinning kick propelled by airbending that knocked the soldier out cold.
"Ungh!" The boy landed silently on the ground, clutching his throbbing hand. 'Damn, punching that helmet with full force was a bad idea.' He shut his eyes, swallowing back tears. 'D-don't think about it, Ikari. I need to find Mom and Grandpa.'
Ikari pushed through the pain and, with difficulty, dragged the man back into the trapdoor. Then he slipped out through the back of the house 'I need to stay hidden…'
***
In the center of the square, women, children, the elderly, and men unfit for combat knelt in rows under the watchful eyes of the Fire Nation soldiers. The air was heavy, the silence broken only by the creaking of armor and the muffled sobbing of a child.
Hana bit her lip until she tasted blood, exchanging glances with Taro across the square. But she didn't fear for herself—her fear was for her son. 'Did that soldier find the trapdoor? No, if he did, Ikari would already be here. Spirits, let him be safe.'
"Did we gather everyone?" asked the man at the center, his hands clasped behind his back, his deep voice reverberating through the square. The soldiers nodded in confirmation. "Good. Pay attention, peasants."
He began to walk slowly, heavy boots striking the dirt-packed ground. "The Fire Nation, in its infinite generosity, has chosen to take you in. You who live like rats, clinging to backward traditions, now have the chance to rise. To become part of an empire that spans the four corners of the world. You will work for us, build for us, live for us. And in return, you will receive the glory of belonging to something greater."
He stopped, pivoting on his heels, his eyes sweeping the crowd from beneath the rim of his helmet. "But let it be clear: our generosity has limits. Resistance will be crushed. Rebels will be hunted and burned. Do not test our goodwill. Understood?"
A low murmur rippled through the kneeling villagers, but no one dared to speak. The man smiled, one corner of his mouth lifting with disdain. "Silence? Good. Let's make sure you understand your new place." He raised his voice, his tone thick with false benevolence. "As a token of gratitude for our magnanimity, tonight you will serve us. The women of this village will attend to my men — with food, drink, and anything else we demand. Consider it a privilege, the first step in your new lives."
Hana felt an icy shiver crawl down her spine. Her fists clenched against the dirt, and she lowered her face, hiding the fury burning in her eyes. 'If this is the price to stay alive…'
Thunk!
A stone struck the man's helmet.
"No one is going to hurt my mom!"
All eyes turned to Kento, who had risen to his feet. His mother yanked him down in desperation, whispering something frantic, but the boy struggled, trying to break free from her arms.
A soldier stepped forward, hand on his sword hilt, but the commander raised his hand to stop him. He tilted his head, examining Kento like a predator sizing up prey. "Well, well. Looks like we have a brave one among us."
***
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, images or songs featured in this fic. Additionally, I do not claim ownership of any products or properties mentioned in this novel. This work is entirely fanfic.