Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: the Last Airbender. But maybe, since time is an illusion...so is ownership...
A/N: This is the story of the 41st division that Zuko was banished for protecting- it takes its main twist from the Japanese tale of the 47 Ronin, which you should check out the summary of first, for extra enjoyment! Please read and review! Will be multi-chapter.
"Those soldiers love and protect our nation. How can you betray them?"
Commander Takahiro Shaikh surveyed the men before him with a quiet, unspoken desperation. They were fresh to the army. Fresh meat, Shaikh thought darkly. They were unskilled- untried...and so very young. Too young for what was about to happen.
Orders had come in from the capital that morning. At first, Shaikh hadn't wanted to believe it. But he had dealt with the ruthlessness of the higher officers before, and he knew it had to be true: he and his men had been sent into the jaws of the enemy. Sent to die as part of some trap to annihilate the Earth Kingdom. The Commander had cursed when he had first read the letter, and had spoken not a word for the rest of the morning. He knew they were as good as dead. But he hadn't told the young soldiers yet. Now it was time to.
"Men, stand forward." They straightened in line. Shaikh took a moment to collect himself before speaking. "Orders have arrived. We are to be dispatched to Gongzu first thing in the morning."
Murmurs broke out amongst the soldiers, and their leader continued more strongly,
"We all realize what this means. And we all must be prepared to pay any price for the protection of our great nation." As he said the words, they turned to lead in his mouth.
He strode down the line of men, speaking to each of them in turn. "The Gongzu Battalion of Earth benders is an elite force. They are powerful, and will not give way to us easily. I ask you to prepare yourselves. Rest well tonight. Tomorrow we march."
He dismissed the troops with a wave of his hand. He looked on in silence as they returned to their tents, or gathered back around the cooking fires... Shaikh had to turn away. Don't think of it, he told himself. Let them have their last night. Agni, let them...