A.N.: Well, my first story! I've thought a lot about this and though it's not exactly complete in my mind yet, I think I shall begin it. There are ways I'm hoping it to turn out but I'm still uncertain at this point of exactly how to go about it. There's also always the chance that I may get considerable negative feedback and this one goes over like the proverbial lead balloon. I'm hopeful though. So… without further jabbering here it goes!
Disclaminator: Of course, I don't own Avatar: TLA or any of the characters in the show. However I do own Zhi and my other OC secondary characters.
The Fan and the Crescent Blade
Chapter One: Illusions of Victory
The great wall of Ba Sing Se had been breached from the inside! Even before the dust had settled the "parade" of Fire Nation might had marched forward; spearheading the long line of troops, tanks and mounted cavalrymen walked the nation's elite Firebending soldiers, clad in their red armor, faces covered by the skull masks of their helmets.
The impenetrable city had fallen, not to the sheer ferocity of the Nation's troops, not by superior numbers and not even by technological might, but by the cunning, treacherous and manipulative tactics of one Princess Azula.
At the center of the "parade", a pair of large, enclosed carriages pulled along by Komodo Rhinos moved toward the breach. The first carriage was considerably smaller, and though it displayed a pair of Fire Nation flags that flapped in the breeze and plaques on each side denoting it as an Official's personal transport, it was no comparison to the carriage that followed it.
Massive, crimson, ornate and covered in golden trim work; the second carriage was undoubtedly one meant only for use by Royalty.
Walking proudly beside the first carriage strode a young man clad in the standard armor of a Fire Nation Polearmsman. Clasped in his hands he held a shortened Guan Dao style pole weapon which matched his shorter stature. Dangling from the spike at the back of the weapon's blade hung a small red tassel, a personalized touch. Attached by a strap to his belt there hung a standard short sword for closer range combat.
If not for his armor the teen could hardly be considered imposing, he was short and thin with quite pale skin; even for a Fire Nation citizen. His grinning face was slim and rather plain, a faint attempt at growing a mustache just visible. The young man's eyes were rather large and light gray in color, instantly denoting him as one who lacked the ability to Firebend.
Hidden completely beneath his cone shaped helmet he possessed a considerable amount of black hair, most of which was pulled back and bound into a classic top-knot by a red band. Around his neck he wore, upon a thin gold chain, an odd trinket; a delicate looking golden flame pendant. A necklace often worn by fashionable and powerful women of the Fire Nation.
The first carriage had just reached the wall and within one last turn of its wheels would officially enter the city. Just before the last turn of the wheels, and before stepping foot across the invisible boundary, the young Fire Nation soldier paused and peered up at the ends of the broken walls to his sides, considering the significance of the moment.
Coming up behind him, and moving along at the same pace as the rest of the "parade" came a rather unkempt looking Sergeant with a thick black beard. He hadn't noticed that the fellow in front of him had stopped and nearly ran right into him. "Zhi! What're you doing? Get moving," Sergeant Zhuk barked.
The young man snapped back to reality and looked over his shoulder at his commanding officer. "I'm… just taking in the moment! This is a big day! A defining moment in my life, even," he replied, quickly.
"Well, Pe-Em Zhi," replied Zhuk, gruffly, using the shortened title of a Polearmsman. "you can define the moments of your life once we've finished escorting Governor Yung to the Royal Palace, now move."
Zhi nodded and turned back to the path ahead, the carriage was already a ways ahead by now and other soldiers in the young man's unit were beginning to bunch up behind him and Zhuk, all wondering what the hold up was.
Pm. Zhi took a deep breath and let it out quickly then took his first step into Ba Sing Se. After this first step he took off at a jog and caught back up with the carriage. Fortunately no hard-line officers had noticed the pause, and Zhi knew that his Sergeant wouldn't reprimand him any further.
With a jubilant stride Zhi marched on; he'd never felt so proud in his life and figured that he must have worn the biggest, stupidest grin upon his face. He thought of how proud his mother, father and sister would be when they heard he'd been among the first troops into Ba Sing Se.
He scanned the great city with wide eyes, taking in all of the sights as the procession made its way to the Royal Palace. He barely noticed the crowds of Earth Nation citizens watching from the sides of the road and from their homes with frightened and somber looks.
He also failed to notice, as the majority of the Fire Nation soldiers had, that, upon the roofs of homes and businesses, there were Dai Li Agents crouched, all watching the "parade" move by.
The "parade" eventually reached the Royal Palace, by now; the great lumbering tanks had taken the lead and approached the Palace grounds before parting off and making way for the two carriages that came up from the center of the line.
Zhi, Zhuk and the rest of their unit lined up at attention beside the first carriage as it came to a stop before the entrance to the Earth Kingdom's Palace grounds.
Zhi watched carefully out of the corner of his eye as Governor Yung; the man Firelord Ozai had chosen to rule the newly conquered city, stepped from his carriage and, flanked on either side by elite firebenders, approached the arched entrance way.
Yung has probably never been farther from home. Zhi thought, observing the Governor in his overly ornate robes trot haughtily forward.
A figure… no... two, no, three… four figures appeared from the arch way and met Yung halfway from the entrance. Yung immediately bowed deeply and turned his head toward the assembled soldiers. "Kneel before Your Princess, Azula and Prince Zuko the Redeemed!" shouted the Governor.
Like a wave rolling forward the soldiers standing at attention kneeled and bowed their heads. Zhi instantly followed as those around him showed their respect.
If he tilted his head up slightly, he could clearly see the group standing before Yung and he watched carefully, certain he was one of hundreds peering from under the brims of their helmets. Zhi recognized the Princess, despite her dark green Earth Nation outfit, as well as two other girls; he'd never seen them before but assumed they were friends of the Princess.
Yung and the Princess spoke and exchanged a number of scrolls; Zhi was too far away to make out what they were saying and continued to survey the group. Standing quietly at the rear was Prince Zuko; Zhi had heard of the Prince but had never actually seen him before.
Zhi knew that the Prince was only a few months older then he was and had been told the story of Zuko's banishment and the quest set upon his shoulders to find the Avatar many times. Seeing him standing beside his sister was a pleasant sight to the young soldier.
Yung seemed to be finishing up and bowed graciously before the Princess before stepping from her path. Azula had turned back toward the archway and snapped her fingers; instantly a pair of Dai Li agents appeared and between the walked what appeared to be an old man.
Zhi watched the man as he was lead forward by the Agents upon a chain leash; his hands tied behind his back, a black bag covering his head and a metal collar around his neck. Before he could get a better look at the old man Azula had turned and with her friends, brother, agents and the captive close behind, and proceeded toward the second carriage.
Unbeknownst to Zhi or any of the other Fire Nation citizens, there stood, in the shadows, atop the Palace grounds entrance wall; Long Feng. The Grand Secretariat looked down upon the Royals, officials and assembled soldiers in the court yard and smirked to himself as Azula and her group prepared to leave the city.
Yung looked back toward the assembled soldiers and nodded, "Rise!" he called and the wave of red and gold rose rippling backwards down the line. The Governor and his elite firebenders proceeded into the entrance of the Palace grounds.
Sergeant Zhuk and the officer of the group on the other side of the carriage walked forward and called to their men to follow. Zhi trotted forward after his Sergeant followed by the other soldiers in his unit, they had received the honor of acting as a part of Governor Yung's personal guard in the Palace.
What a glorious day! Victory! And I'm part of it, not a thing can stop us, not a thing can spoil this! Thought Zhi, as he stepped onto the grounds of the Royal Palace, once home to the fifty-second Earth King. The young polearmsman hadn't any idea of how wrong he was, in the coming week, things would change. Swiftly.
A/N: Thanks for taking the time to read the first chapter of my first story! I hope you enjoyed it, tell me what you think!
I hope to get the second chapter up in the next three or four days.
Edits: Thanks to PetertheChameleon, I've made alterations to the two points he brought to my attention, I think they've both been adequately corrected.
Preview: Perhaps get to know Zhi a bit better and maaaaybe the second main character in this little story will be revealed!
