Eclipse Editorial
We all know the deal with the solar eclipse: Firebenders supposedly lose their bending during the solar eclipse. I don’t think we can just take that for granted, for a couple reasons. First, the only reason the gang assumed that the solar eclipse would take away the firebender’s power was because they followed the line of thought “Look what happened during the lunar eclipse at the north pole! Waterbenders couldn’t bend!”. This isn’t true, what happened to the moon was not an eclipse, but the spirit of the moon was captured and tied in a bag. Not what I’d call your average eclipse. The equivelant of that would be taking the spirit of the sun (assuming there is one) and sticking him/it in a bag. However, this is impossible, because the only way that Zhao was able to do that to the moon spirit was because Twi and La crossed over into the physical world. The spirit of the sun probably didn’t, so bagging it would be impossible. And even if it was possibile, Aang definitely wouldn’t trifle with the spirits, we saw how he reacted to what was about to happen to the moon spirit in Seige of the North. Although there are probably a few people who’d be willing to do something like that in order to try and win the war (people like General Fong, from Book 2 Chapter 1), you don’t just walk through a door and find yourself in the spirit world. The only human other than the Avatar that has been in the Spirit World, as far as we know, is Iroh. And he wouldn’t mess with the spirits either.Now, given that the Fire Nations knows that everyone is aware of this apparent temporary weakness, its effects may be limited if any. Certainly, on the day of this eclipse, they’ll be on extra guard, just in case, so it would be pretty hard to accomplish much of anything given that. And it would probably be impossible to defeat the Fire Nation in a single day, and that’s all they would have. You’d have to kill Ozai, kill Zuko and Azula (because they’d just step in for Ozai, and Ozai’s death wouldn’t have any affect on the war), defeat most of the incredibly large Fire Nation army of benders and soldiers (who’s ability to fight won’t be affected by an eclipse), and do it all in one single day. That’s as impossible as it gets, even if you had about a dozen avatars who’ve all mastered all the elements. Strong as he is, Aang can’t defeat the entire Fire Nation by himself. And without the help of any earthbenders, the battle would seem to be the Fire Nation vs. Aang and possibly the water tribe. And all the Fire Nation would have to do is hold them off for a single day, then its game over.
I think I’ve pretty much proven that the solar eclipse will not completely take away the firebender’s power, and at this point, might barely even affect the war at all. However, that’s not to say that the firebenders won’t become weaker. We know the waterbenders are more powerful at night, when the moon is out, so it would make sense (and would go with Zuko’s “I rise with the sun” line) that firebenders are more powerful during the day, and weaker at night. I expect that a solar eclipse would cause the firebenders to be greatly weakend, but I really don’t think that they’ll lose all their power, whether or not it would have major reprecussions on the war.
Now, given that the good guys don’t know that the Fire Nation won’t lose all of its power on the day of the eclipse, they might still try something (they being the BoomerAANG Squad). Whether or not it’s logical, has any chance of working, or makes any sense at all, they probably will try to do something on the day of the eclipse. Whether this will be a mini invasion of a sort, an attempt to confront Ozai, or something else, I don’t know, but it’s talked about more thoroughly here.
Moving on to a slightly different subject, Sokka found a scroll in Wan Shi Tong’s library that talked about “the darkest day in Fire Nation history.” Although this could possibly be meant literally, I think something specific happened the last time there was a solar eclipse. Perhaps it could be something so bad, something that exposes such a vulnerability in the Fire Nation, that even in the current state of affairs, with Ba Sing Se in Fire Nation control, along with the Da Li, the good guys might still have a chance. What this could be? I have absolutely no idea. Leave suggestions in the comments please, I really enjoy reading all the feedback. 
Thanks!
18 Comments »
It is easier and quicker to post comments if you are logged in. Also, none of your comments will be automatically held for moderation if you register, which means they show up immediately and save me the trouble of manually approving them. Join today!
The Solar Eclipse: Remember Yue, from the north pole. well I think since the sun will be blocked out by the moon. On the other hand Yue gave the moon back. And on the Solar Eclipe the Moon is the only thing in the sky. So something mysterious could happen. thanks for reading.
Comment made by julian on December 4, 2006 at 7:01 pm
I wonder if Yue, being the moon, could somehow help the BoomerAANG Squad out. No idea how. Ideas, people?
Comment made by James on December 11, 2006 at 1:45 pm
I have to agree with you. How can yue help. Well I think that Yue could be a distraction so the kids could have an easier way to get into the Fire Lord’s palace. Maybe Someone can stay and protect her while the kids go in because I’m pretty sure she’s not a bender. Anyway I’m the Julian from above. I have two email adresses so don’t think I made up another adress. Thanks!
Comment made by Julian on December 12, 2006 at 4:02 pm
No, I mean, is something unusual going to happen with the moon, since, for all intensive purposes, she’s dead?
Comment made by James on December 13, 2006 at 2:35 pm
OH you mean that! Well, I’m not sure. I’ll have to think a little bit more.
Well I’m not sure,but this may happen. Somehow her body will return from the moon form and she’ll be alive untill the eclipse is over. if thats not helping then tell me. is it?
Comment made by Julian on December 17, 2006 at 9:01 am
Perhaps regularly, a solar eclipse wouldn’t take away the power of firebenders, only weaken them. But since Yue is the moon now, maybe she’ll be able to do something that completely takes away the power of the firebenders. Just a thought.
Comment made by James on January 1, 2007 at 1:15 pm
Could happen, never know. I just want the creators to at least show yue again. If I could ask the creators ONE thing it would be to put yue in the season finale of book three. And Well I personally think that the season finale will be called ” The solar eclipse pt 1 and pt 2. tell what you think.
Comment made by julian on January 1, 2007 at 2:52 pm
I agree with you, thats a theory I (and a few others I know) have harbored for some time. Though what exactly the effect of the Solar Eclipse on the Firebenders’ power will be remains in question.
Comment made by James on January 1, 2007 at 3:42 pm
well, i think that if the Sun powered firebending, since its a ball of fire itself, then lightning could become an exception.
if Ozai could, he’d lightning bend insted of firebend during that day and that Aang has to think of a way to fight lightning. Then he finds himself somewhere in the palace with Iroh. He teaches Aang how to redirect lightning. Then Aang gets the edge against Ozai.
Comment made by cordail on January 2, 2007 at 6:33 pm
I think Iroh will be dead long before Aang will be able to reach him. However, Zuko knows the technique, maybe he could teach Aang, and that would be his redemption?
Comment made by James on January 4, 2007 at 7:16 pm
This is not true. If i could talk to the dragon of the west [iroh] and find out ow much meditating it would cost, then i would enter it and find the spirit. When I found it, I would take Aang with me to help kill it [of course after he learns all the elements and is in the avatar state] and destroy the sun spirit. I mean, water puts out fire, right?
Comment made by best waterbandor on January 5, 2007 at 6:05 pm
Would you really? Think about it. What would happen if the sun was gone? Everything and everyone would die. As Iroh said “Do not trifle with the spirits!”
Comment made by James on January 5, 2007 at 10:02 pm
this is crazy but aang might learn how to summon up previous avatars like with kyoshi
Comment made by Yasiru on January 10, 2007 at 7:45 pm
You could win the war in one day, espically with the avatar on your side. Keep in mind what Admiral Zhou did to the north pole in 10 minuets when he killed the moon spirit
Comment made by Ryan on January 26, 2007 at 3:56 am
Yue is the moon, but does she have that much control over it? I think even if the moon had conciousness, it’s still moved by the earth’s gravity. I don’t think Yue could pull free. Yue, I think, will have to remain passive, as she’s trapped by her own orbit.
Comment made by Marjie on February 21, 2007 at 4:20 am
I think that Yue could call upon the ocean spirit to unleash an insane waterbending attack upon the fire nation.
Comment made by Bob on May 19, 2007 at 5:54 pm
“…defeat most of the incredibly large Fire Nation army of benders and soldiers (who’s ability to fight won’t be affected by an eclipse), and do it all in one single day.”
Actually, no, you wouldn’t. See, most of the Fire Nation Army is currently in Ba Sing Se - at least, the whole Western Fleet is (as we see in “The Awakening”). The Eastern Fleet would be mostly in the east, logically, and remember that the Fire Nation is in the west. So actually, only the usual percentage of the military will be there, If you think about it.
Comment made by Magmabender on November 25, 2007 at 10:26 pm
I really want to see Yue again. She was like my favorite charector.
Comment made by bob on September 15, 2008 at 7:31 pm