Author's Note: This set of drabbles is based off of the 100-prompt table from the Livejournal community "FanFic100". I am going to try to do as many as I can, all based around Iroh of the Fire Nation, but I in no way claim that I will do all 100. This is just something for fun, and I may update sporadically. Thank you for your patience, and I hope you enjoy.
It had all been true; the songs, the poems, the stories, all of it. Ba Sing Se was indeed beautiful. When the ships got close enough to see the city, General Iroh stood at the bow and looked out across the remaining water to that astounding wall that cut through the horizon like a sash, holding earth and sky in their proper place, separate from both.
"General, you sent for me?"
He turned to look at the lieutenant. The young man stood at attention and tried to look dignified, but his eyes slipped past the general to gaze out at the wall. Iroh laughed at the small breach of decorum.
"It is magnificent, isn't it? I almost hate to think what it will look like broken."
"You could keep a piece, take it with you when we leave. Then you'd always have a bit of Ba Sing Se."
"Yes, but now isn't the time to be thinking about leaving; we just arrived. And we are going to be here for quite some time."
"Yes, General Iroh."
"Tell the officers we should reach the opposite shore by sundown. And prepare your men. The main resistance shouldn't hit until we get closer, but there's very little chance we haven't been spotted yet. We will try to dock and make camp, but we must be ready for whatever is waiting."
"Yes, General Iroh."
The young lieutenant bowed, and was almost knocked over when the general threw an arm around his shoulders and pulled him to his side. He used his other arm to point across the horizon to the wall that shimmered in the afternoon sun, looking like it was made of gold.
"Look at it, Lu Ten. That is going to be ours. And this is just the beginning."