Hiko Rakka's Story

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In the city of Ba Sing Se, a mandatory gathering for the city has been called. An execution of several benders shall be conducted at midday. All citizens of every rank are to attend. The Supreme Faceless One will grace the city with his presence as he conducts the execution of the criminal benders.

The grand general Tobimasu Rakka shall be in attendance as well. Any uprisings will be put down and all individuals involved will be taken into custody while leaders themselves shall be executed. Any citizens not found in attendance will be arrested. The execution platform is not to be mounted by any citizen.

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As written by Toshio Tasuki, Leader of the Resistance

hesfweglloThe resistance will be in attendance of the execution as required by the Supreme One, however, we shall not be there for the same reasons. Five of our own benders shall be in attendance. Each bender knows their mission already. All non benders who are members of the resistance must be prepared and ready to act upon the signal from the fire bender.

hesfweglloThe two earth benders we have are tasked with subduing the general who is to be present. The fire bender is tasked with protecting those who were to be executed after the water bender frees them. The water bender is to then help as she sees fit. The air bender is tasked with protecting the crowd from the Faceless Ones' soldiers.

hesfweglloThe goal is to free those who are to be executed, then vanish before the Supreme Faceless One and or the general cause major damage to our group of rebels. Any individual who is injured must immediately be evacuated. Any individual in the crowd who is arrested must immediately be freed before they are taken to the jail or the palace. Any individuals who go beyond walls are beyond our ability to rescue as of right now.

hesfweglloThere is to be no encountering of the Supreme Faceless One. We have been given word that the Supreme Faceless One has decided not to attend from a reliable source. Should he make an appearance, the mission is to be aborted and we shall count our losses and savor our lives.

hesfweglloTo every individual who has lost their sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, siblings to the Faceless Ones, we hope to keep these seven benders from loosing their lives like your loved ones lost theirs. May the spirits have mercy on us all.

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Fire lord Dekan is welcoming Faceless generals Eris and Secca into his palace. All individuals in the palace are to be in attendance. The fire lord shall retain his seat on his throne. Son, Prince Aonani shall retain his seat to the immediate right of his father on the upper dais.

All servants and slaves are to be in attendance. Servants are to bow on their knees on either side of the walkway in rows with as many servants in each as needed. Slaves are to stand by the outer walls and keep their eyes down the entire procession and are not to stand on any raised platform. Servants and slaves are to wear their ceremonial attire.

Before servants take their places, the windows are to be opened up. Any servant or slave not in the proper attire or position are to be arrested. Servants nor slaves are to move during the ceremony whatsoever, neither are they to speak unless spoken to. Should a servant or slave draw the attention of either general for any reason, they are to be punished as the general sees fit.

Should any slave or servant see Prince Aonani on his way to the ceremony, be sure to encourage him towards the ceremony should he stop for any reason.

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The avatar and her friend Seok, the blessed earth bender, have made it to the city of Ba Sing Se. The two continue to search for the blessed bender that the avatar is drawn to because of their destinies. They unknowingly are staying a street away from the rebellion's headquarters and are very close. Nor does Seok or Hyo know of the execution or the rescue mission.

"Today is going to be quite the hectic one... Be sure to take care of yourself."

Hiko was leaning into the doorway, his arms folded over his chest as he waited patiently. Naomi gave him a smile as she tied her skirt around her waist. It was going to come off as soon as the fighting was about to begin, but it would keep Naomi from drawing too much attention to herself in the meantime. Naomi had already done her hair as well. It was the typical style women wore around the area. The knot at the crown of her head had hair that fell along her back while a small, floral decoration was pinned into place. It was the way the courtiers of the earth nation used to wear it.

"Hiko, I have to go, I have to make sure Tama gets into position," Naomi stated apologetically as she grabbed her water skin and slung it around her hips. The water skin would hide easily underneath the tunic she then pulled over it. Unlike Hiko, Naomi was required to wear her source of bending around as water cannot simply be found everywhere like air could. Naomi tossed a smile at Hiko before she left the room they shared being such close friends. Hiko gave her a polite wave as he was not to leave until some time after. If seen together too much or a group being compiled on this day would draw unwanted attention. Hiko plopped down on his bed, letting out a soft sigh.

"That girl, honestly. There's no end of worry she causes me!"

He was more so playfully pouting, knowing that the woman could handle herself. Unlike the girl, his clothes were a bit different but wore the same green hue of traditional earth kingdom attire. He didn't much care for constricting clothing, so he wore his in a more loose manner.

Crystal blue hued irises stared blankly at the wall before him, his legs swaying off the edge of his bed as he waited for what seemed like an eternity. He had begun to daze off when an odd sensation hit him. It felt as if he was being pulled, drawn into something. He snapped out of his daze and the feeling disappeared, causing him to glance around himself. Perhaps he had been dozing off, though that was unlike him.

Feeling as though as he had waited long enough, he hopped off his bed in one graceful motion and headed out.
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"Hn... So hungry...."

The raven haired young man let out a dark sigh, hands on his hips as he shook his head. His glare was leveled to a rather skittish servant, in fact all the servants were skittish but this one was more so since the air around them was heavy. Tobi's irritation drew out the heavy air, it being the gravitational pull strengthening in the area. Tobi was used to it, his toned bod able to handle the stress. The poor servant on the other hand was struggling to stay on his feet. Today the gravity bender wore something simplistic and easy to move in, a simpler form of his usual uniform as he was going to be standing around in the sun all day. Not one to like moving about in sweaty clothes, he did the smart thing and dressed lightly.

"And pray tell what do you mean it's a good idea to starve me? Do you want your general to die of starvation?! Should I kill you for your insubordination? I don't care if it was an order not to, get me some-"

Speaking of skittish servants, one of the other servants had approached the pair, distracting Tobi from his vicious ranting. This dissipated the preaching grin that had formed on his face, his features returning to a more neutral appearance as the servant addressed him.

"General Rakka, sir...! The great Faceless One wished to know if you're ready for the... 'grand' execution today. I-it is your duty to execute the prisoners on thi-"

Much like how Tobi was interrupted, he interrupted the puppet by chopping down on his shoulder with the side of his hand. This made the servant crumple on the ground while the other servant cowered in fear.

"I get it, you can shut up now. Honestly, sending such annoying messengers..."

He didn't spare the servants a second glance as he walked away, making his way to the throne area where he was sure to find Tonrar, or rather the great Faceless One. He didn't actually know the guy's name, but he didn't care in the end.

He entered the throne room, bowing at the door as he stepped inside.

"Humble General Rakka at your service. I have made all preparations and am currently ready to undergo the mission to capture the Blessed and your daughter at your command along side with the front of the execution of the benders and their allies."

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Naomi smiled at Hiko as she tied the skirt around her waste. It was going to come off as soon as the fighting was about to begin, but it would keep Naomi from drawing too much attention to herself in the meantime. Naomi had already done her hair as well. It was the typical style women wore around the area. The knot at the crown of her head had hair that fell along her back while a small, floral decoration was pinned into place. It was the way the courtiers of the earth nation used to wear it.

"I always do Hiko, you take care of yourself too buddy. I have to go, I have to make sure Tama gets into position," Naomi stated apologetically as she grabbed her water skin and slung it around her hips. The water skin would hide easily underneath the tunic she then pulled over it. Naomi tossed a smile at Hiko before she left the room they shared being such close friends.

Naomi walked through the halls of the resistance before she finally emerged into a house in the slums which she then exited, making sure the door was closed as she did so. Naomi moved to follow the crowd. She caught sight of Tama walking ahead of her though he had emerged from a different slum house from a different tunnel.

As Naomi and Tama walked, the eerie silence of the street sent chills down Naomi's spine. She caught sight of a girl with black hair and a boy with fair hair. The girl seemed awed at the scene while the boy looked familiar to Naomi. She scrunched her face, trying to place where she had seen him when she accidentally bumped into a Faceless soldier.

The man looked at her with a sneer. Naomi recognized right away that he was knew since he didn't use any bending on her. "My apologies sir," Naomi began though the man made a face as if he didn't believe her. That was when Naomi felt a hand on the small of her back and a voice she recognized very well. "I am so sorry sir, my dear sister here has poor eye sight and lost her way from me. It shall never happen again," Tama stated in his soothing tone though he seemed to be scolding Naomi. Naomi nodded, ducking her head in mock shame. The soldier frowned though nodded and pointed in the direction of the execution. "Fine. Get moving to the execution or I'll arrest both of you," He stated before moving on.

Tama gave Naomi a quizzicle look before she just shook her head at him. They both moved on, catching sight of the crowd and splitting up. Tama was to go down an alley and scale the wall where he could rest and wait behind the curved roof of a nearby building close to the earthen dias. Naomi waded through the crowd though it was not too difficult since nobody wanted to see it and everyone was hoping for others who would be closer than they would so they wouldn't hear all the executions or see the visciousness.

Naomi stepped into position. She wore an old skirt around her waste to hide the pants she wore beneath in preparation for whatever the Faceless Ones would throw at them when they fought back. She prayed she wouldn't see her father. He wasn't supposed to appear, but he never did do the expected.

Naomi adjusted her tunic which then placed over her skirt only slightly to allow her better access to the water skin when the events began. The fellow beside her, an old man in rags, gave her a sympathetic look that Naomi didn't understand until he looked up to the dais and Naomi realized he wasn't sympathetic to her, but to those who were about to be killed. Naomi nodded sympathetically.

Naomi was front row, the only way she could be closer would be fore her to press herself against the dais. The dais, a platform created by an earthbender before his execution once, was made of earth and had a set of stairs in the front and back. There was sometimes a seat that was brought out to allow Naomi's father a seat though that was only if he was to attend.

The form of executions nowadays was by using the dark elements against the benders. Though it could only be done five or six people at a time. The Faceless dark bender would choke them with ash, break their will or make them stop breathing, expand their blood in their veins, or crush them with gravity. All gruesome and painful deaths. The Faceless ones didn't care though. It was how they were.

Naomi took in a breath as a drum began beating before she caught sight of the benders to be rescued. Their cue was for the fire bender in the distance to fire bend a confirmation that no general was attending. It could be some time since the executions were often lengthy as to draw out the horror and pain for both the audience and those to be executed.

Naomi felt her breath break from it's steady pace as she found her nerves catching up to her. It was nerve wracking. Should they not be careful, they could lose much today. Naomi looked down the line of onlookers and nodded at the earthbender on her right, then to the one on her left before resuming her gaze on the platform that slowly began to fill with the prisoners.

Each was made to kneel while their offenses were read aloud. Most often was the offense of treason which was punishable by death in every nation now, except perhaps the air nation which Naomi wasn't entirely sure about anymore. Ever since they began to grow again thanks to Avatar Aang and his wife or whatever happened in the air nation. They then had to have the prisoners admit they did the offenses, state the names of the family (so the family would be "embarrassed" though more often than not it allowed neighbors to help the family as they knew how hard it was), and then they did the executions which were each five or ten minutes long per one. With all seven, normally, the entire event wold take two hours or so.

Naomi reached behind her as the captain who was to carry out the executions took his place to begin the final say so's of the executions before the executions themselves. Naomi began untying the skirt's laces before she felt a hand gently pull at them so that the skirt was held in place in the front, but ready to come of at the slight pull of Naomi moving. Naomi glanced back to see a woman who was silently sobbing next to a young man who was the one holding the skirt. It was a fellow Naomi knew from when she had met him years ago. Another resistance member who was not a bender though his brother was on the stage.

Naomi gave him a slight smile as she waited for the signal, her smile dropping as she turned her gaze forward again. It was nerve wracking. He was going to risk his safety helping Naomi, but if she got caught up in the skirt or if someone in the audience got caught up in the skirt, it would mean that someone could be killed in the potential stampede that might be coming soon in the ensuing chaos.

Seok grinned ever so slightly at Hyo's determination. "I'd be disappointed if we did anything else." He smirked at her stating that they were going to this gathering. Though he didn't really want to go to this gathering, he knew they unfortunately had too. He didn't like it one bit. He knew that on their journey they'll have to witness awful things, but still he didn't want his friend to see such horrors. He knew how much such things can change a person, and he didn't want that to happen to her. All he really wants is to protect her after all.

"Ok, if you're sure then let's go before I change my mind, and just cause a rockslide. Which I can totally do. Yeah, don't question it." He stated with a slight smirk. He then followed closely behind her as they entered the gathering. His eyes darted around the area as his shoulders tensed up uncomfortably. He took note of everything in sight, keeping in mind how many of the Faceless Ones he could see. He was mentally preparing for anything. He glanced over at Hyo, worrying about how she was handling it. She seemed to be handling the best she could, but he could tell she was tense.

Seok groaned at Hyo as she made them move closer to the front. "Alright if we must." He sighed as he begrudgingly followed behind her. "Hey...." He said as he placed his hand comfortingly on her shoulder. "It's going to be ok." He stated with a light smile, hoping that'd ease whatever tension she felt. He watched as the prisoners filled the stage one by one. He studied their faces, and listened as their crimes were read off one by one. He looked upon them with saddened eyes. He was disgusted by this.

His focus was drawn to a woman on the stage. She was middle aged, most likely in her forties. Her hair was long, and golden. She reminded him a lot of his mother. She was desperate looking, with tears being forced back. He took his hand off of Hyo's shoulder, and stared at the woman. He held his hands to his side, and clenched them tightly into a fist. He could see his mother up there instead of the woman. He looked down to the ground as anger swelled up inside him. The ground beneath his feet began to slightly crack at his anger.






Tonrar's attention was brought to his general when he entered the throne room. Tonrar planted the heels of his feet firmly on the ground, and popped up from his throne in one swift motion. "Ah Tobi! There's my favorite general within eyesight!" He greeted followed by a pinch to his general's cheeks, as if he was a mere child. "Delightful! We'll just hide out, and await for the rebels to make their move. And then we'll have them all! Oh imagine the look on their faces! It'll be delicious!" He exclaimed followed by his ever present laughter.

"Remember, my daughter is not to be killed under any circumstances. The blessed bender, let's try not to kill him either. That might just make another one pop up we'd have to hunt down." He stated. He figured if that these blessed benders might work similar to the Avatar, in that another one would be chosen incase one dies. It'd be rather inconvient to be forced to hunt a different one down. He moved past his general, and towards the exit of the throne room. "Let's get this show on the road. No more waiting boy. I can feel it's going to be something to remember."

Tonrar led the way out of the throne room. "Alright, you get your men in position outside the execution area. I'll be nearby. You know how much I like to make an entrance." He ordered before he went on his way alone. It didn't take him long to be in a position he liked. He was on one of the rooftops overlooking the execution area. He surveyed the crowd, looking for his daughter. And then he found her in the front of the crowd. He eyed her carefully. "There you are my darling." He muttered to himself in glee.

He continued to eye the crowd, making note of those there. Then a young girl caught his along with her golden hair companion. He couldn't put his finger on it, but the girl looked different. And yet strangely familiar. He just couldn't place it. He shook his head, and focused on the matter at hand. He continued his survey of the crowd, seeing if he could find the blessed bender, and perhaps the other rebels as well.

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Naomi looked down the row of people to see not only Hiko, but Haruto as well. She gave him a small smile and a nod before resuming her gaze to the dias. At that exact time, all hell broke loose. The column of fire shot up from behind one of the nearby houses thanks to Tama.

Naomi felt the skirt around her waste leave and jumped up on the stage as soon as she was free which wasn't very long at all. Naomi watched as the earth benders moved to subdue Tobimasu, the gravity bending general. Tama slid down the roof of a nearby house to meet with Hiko to protect the crowd and get those to be executioned out.

Naomi ripped off the waterskin's top and bended the water to freeze the chains on the first bender's hands. It was a young girl, a year or so younger than Naomi probably. Naomi called for Tama who joined her on the stage. He carefully grabbed either side of the chains where it wasn't frozen, and pushed down on it with his foot while pulling up on the ends with his hands to keep the girl from getting hurt.

In the meantime, Naomi moved to the next fellow. This one was a man in his early twenties who waved Tama on as Naomi was already four people down. Tama began urging them towards Hiko when they saw the soldiers coming in. Naomi's shout didn't leave her lips in time to warn Hiko as an ash bending sergeant hit the boy.

Tama, seeing the rest of the prisoners were going to have to run with chains, began trying to help them before the young bender they had already freed waved Tama on to help Hiko who was being held up by two members of the crowd. Tama took Hiko as well as the already freed members run towards one of the entrances to the underground while Naomi moved to try and free the last bender at this point.

A young boy who was no more than six or seven looked up at her with tears streaming down his face in his fear. Naomi held him as she froze his chains and managed to shatter them herself since they were so big on the young child. She looked about to see that the earth benders were gone and the crowd was now being herded into the middle. Haruto was trying to hold them off as best he could but it wouldn't be long before he too was taken unless he ran.

The child clutched at Naomi's tunic as she shouted for Haruto from the dias. Naomi looked to see that Tobimasu was now being dragged away from the fighting back to the palace. Naomi was glad yet worried as her earth bending friends were not in sight.

Naomi heard the child in her arms cry out louder and turned to see the sergeant who was to do the execution now standing on the dias with her. She switched the child to be in one arm, wondering where the earth bending twins were when one finally appeared in the crowd behind Naomi. Naomi passed the child down just as the sergeant moved forward though a moment later, he was propelled from the dias by an unseen earth bender.

Naomi looked around to see what needed to be done and saw in the distance more soldiers running towards the crowd as if to trap them. Naomi saw more Faceless soldiers than ever before and felt her breathing become more and more labored as she realized what was happening.