Avatar: Ming's story.

What reason could a prison guard have for helping a disgraced general?

This is the story of Ming, who does just that.

But this story does not start with Ming, But with Ming's father, Shin. Like many young Fire Nation men, Shin chose to serve in the Fire Nation Army, indeed, he was skilled enough to rise through the ranks of the common soldiers and be promoted to Lance-Corporal.
It was on his fifth Tour of Duty that Shin first met the Great General Iroh, The Dragon of The West. Assigned to the relatively simply duty of escorting a train of supply wagons with his unit, Shin distinguished himself during an ambush by Earth Kingdom troops, Thanks to his quick reactions and commands 2 runners made it away to call for the reinforcements that arrived in time to save the larger part of the supplies.
He was eventually found by the reinforcements, trapped, unconscious under 3 Earth Kingdom bodies with another 4 at his feet, the first 4 killed by his sword until it had become wedged in the 4th enemy, the next 2 killed with his belt knife and the last 1 killed with his bare hands. He was covered in numerous injuries and was in the Army Infirmary tent when Iroh, returning from an inspection heard of the ambush. When Shin rose from his coma Iroh himself came to visit the wounded man.

"So you are the fierce warrior who defeated so many enemies but escaped with only a few cuts and a concussion?"
"Yes, my Lord General"
"Well I must say I am impressed, your quick reactions saved some valuable armour replacements that were greatly need by men at the front."
"All in service of you and your great father, My Lord General."
"Tell me about yourself, I would greatly like to know more of so clever and skilled a warrior."
Shin flushed with embarrassment at so high a compliment "There really isn't much to tell My Lord General, I'm from the capital, I joined the Army some years ago now."
"Tell me of your wife and family then."
"I'm unmarried My Lord General."
"What? At your age? A fine young man like you should have a wife, or at least be courting one"
"There is a girl back home, Hua Mei. But her father insists that I can only marry her after I have completed 3 tours of duty and when I have been promoted to Sergeant, the highest non-commissioned rank that I can reach."
"Well then, how many tours of duty have you completed?"
"5 my Lord General, 3 under General Gan fighting near the Si Wong Desert and 2 under your Command here in the south."
"This a shame" Iroh commented with a grave expression, but with a mischievous glint to his eyes.
"Why? My Lord General" Asked Shin, suddenly uncertain.
"Your wounds are most serious, Sergeant Shin. You had best be heading home. We cannot have you serving here in the Southern Earth Kingdom, go back to the capital until you are healed. Before you leave you must speak to my Aide, he will see that you are rewarded for your services."
Shin was stunned "My Lord General! Are you being serious! Thank you! Thank you! Agni's blessings upon you, your wife and your son when he is born!"
"Do not thank me yet, Sergeant. I expect you back here when the next campaign season starts" But even with Iroh's grave words there was a smile upon his face.

It was some years later when Shin and Iroh next crossed paths. Shin was debriefing his men after a battle when Iroh and his retinue approached. Returning Shin's salute Iroh signalled for him to continue. After he had finished the debriefing and dismissed his men Iroh approached Shin and asked "Well Sergeant, how is your command?"
'He's forgotten me completely' thought Shin. 'Still, it's to be expected. He must meet hundreds of men and Sergeants.'
"Very well, My Lord General, the town is poorly fortified and you plan is working perfectly. My men performed their task as per your commands and the town will fall on the next assault, the men's morale has never been higher."
"And did Hua Mei's Father let you marry her when you returned?"
Shin stared in stunned silence at Iroh.
Iroh laughed heartily at the look on Shin's face and said "Did you think I had forgotten about the Hero, Sergeant Shin? Come, tell me if you got the girl."
"Yes, her father relented after he learned that my promotion came from your hand itself, My Lord General."
"And are you a father yet?"
"We have a young girl now called Ming, and if a son arrives he will be named for you, My Lord General"
"Delightful! Tell me, are young girls as much trouble as young boys?"
Shin smiled at that, "Pardon me if I say I think you got off easy My Lord General. Ming has a heart of gold now and shows a little too much of her father for Hua Mei to like, she says she wants to be a warrior like her daddy. But she was an absolute terror and a nightmare when she was still very young"
Iroh gave one of his recognisable and infectious laughs "I think it must be a stage with all children, Lu Ten has become a very spirited child now, but I remember him screaming down the palace walls"
Their conversation ended quickly when Iroh noticed a messenger entering the camp.
"Duty calls me Sergeant Shin, but my best wishes for you. I hope everything continues to improve for you and you family"

The next time Iroh met Shin was a few years after that. On his back in the infirmary tent again, Shin saw Iroh enter and begin to walk round giving kind words to the wounded. When he reached Shin, Iroh stopped and looked sadly at him
"We cannot always be the hero, can we Sergeant?"
"They would have died if I did not act, My Lord General."
"And now you have…"
"All in service of you and your great father, My Lord General." Shin coughed fiercely, it would not be long now, the shard of rock had pierced his stomach, they had given him all kinds of medicines for the pains, but they could do nothing to save him.
"You will be recognised in my next set of dispatches and your family will receive the reward you would if you do not pull through."
"Why have you done so much for me? Do you pity the common people so much?" the usual honourific distinctly absent from Shin's angered reply
"As much as my people will one day serve me, so must I serve my people. This great nation will fail without its people. So I serve them as best I can, so that their loyalty and dedication is repaid."
Shin stared at this response. "My Lord General will be a very great Fire Lord one day… Thank you for everything, I'm sorry that I could not help further with the siege" he said "Please send a message to my family, it is written out and kept in my pack."
"I will see it done Shin."

"Thank you."

----------

Authors Note: Right all, this is my first piece of creative writing in about 6 or 7 years. I've tried as hard as I can on keeping the characters reasonably plausible and also keeping the quality of spelling and grammar decent. So, if you have comments or constructive criticism. I'd love to hear it.

This idea came to me from no where after I watched DOBS. The character of Ming the friendly prison guard interested me (she was voiced by Serena Williams, did you know?) and so I decided to dust off my extremely rusty creative writing skills and make up a back story for her. it's not quite finished yet, but I plan on getting it done sharpish.