Avatar and prize
Summary: Avatar Aang, leader of the Roman armies in the middle east is suddenly branded a traitor after a change in the senate. With nothing left to lose, he fights to take back the republic. (Emperor Aang, slave girl Ty Lee)
Ch 1
38 BC
The heat and winds beat down on the desert, and a horse galloped thru the sands and towards a large camp, with the banners of the Roman republic sticking above the camp. Aang rides inside the camp and waves to the soldiers under his command.
"Avatar. What news did you find?" Sokka asked.
Aang removes his helmet and puts it on a table and opens a piece of parchment. Sokka, his second in command, looks over the parchment with him. The two soldiers look at a good sized settlement.
"A Parthian town. We're to take it tomorrow. I want the troops well fed and rested for combat. Arms and armor are to be fixed before sundown. We are to lay the troops in position before the rise of the sun. We'll storm the town before sunrise. If it all goes according to plan, we'll take the town before noon." Aang said.
"Well Aang, you've carved out one hell of a military career. Once we beat the Parthian's, what comes next?" Sokka asked.
"One problem at a time." Aang said.
Aang put the map away and headed to his tent. Sokka's words ran in his ears. Aang never really considered what to do after the war. Since the start of the Roman-Parthian war, he was on the frontlines, conquering or defending against his enemy. They were tough and disciplined, but they were still an enemy of the empire.
"Hell I could be in the senate, have any woman I want, or I can stay in charge of the eastern armies. Once I take the town, then I'll put more thought into it." Aang said to himself, as he took his armor off and collapsed on the bed, sleeping.
As the Avatar slept, Sokka met with another soldier, Jet.
"Finally, we'll crush the Parthians once and for all." Jet said, taking a swig of his drink.
"Not so sure about that, but once we take this city we'll be heading home." Sokka said.
Hours passed, and Aang was in the front of his army as they quickly and quietly moved closer to the town. Aang motioned for his troops to halt and crouch. The large rectangular shields were moved into a tortoise position, protecting the troops from all sides. Aang grabbed a crossbow and an arrow, for he saw a scout come from the city.
Aiming his arrow, Aang waited for the Parthian scout to come closer, away from the town. Taking three deep breaths, his aim steadied and he released the arrow. The Parthian scout was dead before he hit the ground, not uttering a noise. Giving the crossbow to another soldier, Aang pulled out his sword and counted down from three to one.
Standing up, he motioned for the ballista's to start firing. When the first volley soared overhead, Aang ran towards the town, his army right behind him.
"ROMO VICTORIA!"Aang yelled, as the first volley crashed into the town, spreading flames everywhere.
The Roman legionnaires found themselves in fierce hand to hand combat with the Parthian defenders. Aang made sure to stay next to either a firm structure, or next to a Roman soldier. He parried swords with a well-trained Parthian, and was almost killed when Sokka jumped to his aid.
"Thanks." Aang said.
"Any time." Sokka said.
The Romans slowly and methodically moved into the town, capturing anyone who surrendered, and killed anyone who resisted. The streets were filling with blood and the soldiers started to loot the town.
Aang enters a building and barely registers an attack from his side when someone runs into him and both fighters roll around on the dirt street. The bigger Parthian raises his fist and brings it down to bash Aang's head in, but Aang pulls out his dagger and thrusts upward and cuts into the hand.
With his enemy distracted, Aang pushes his enemy off and grabs the nearest weapon he can find, a Shamshir sword. Without a second thought, Aang plunges the blade into his enemy's chest, killing him.
"Interesting blade." Aang said, as he observes the exotic blade. The curve was highly radical for a sword, yet Aang knew that every sword used by an army has a purpose, known mainly by its creators.
Putting the sword away, Aang finds Sokka drinking some water, thirsty after a quick and brutal fight.
"Gather up anything of value and take it back to the camp." Aang said.
"Yes, sir. What about prisoners?" Sokka asked.
"Take them back to the rear echelon positions for interrogation. Once the troops are gone, we'll destroy the town, and deny the enemy a settlement to use." Aang said.
Rome
Temple of Jupiter Optimus Maximus
Senator Gyatso walked inside the temple and looked at the large map of the Roman Republic and its expanding boarders. His eyes focused on the south-east part of the republic, where his nephew was fighting the Parthians.
"Senator Gyatso. How does life treat you?" Pakku asked, approaching his friend.
"It's been treating me good." Gyatso said.
"Your nephew, the Avatar." Pakku said.
"I know. It's been 4 years since he was granted the rank of Avatar. Now he's busy trying to subdue the Parthians. Jupiter help him." Gyatso said.
"Your nephew will be safe. He didn't earn that rank for no reason." Pakku said.
The senators piled into the meeting room where they usually squabbled and argued. Gyatso remembered when he was once in the Roman army. It was much simpler. Follow your orders, and survive day by day. In the senate, it was much more different. It was a small ongoing war within the republic.
Gyatso wondered, for the umpteenth time, why he decided to join the senate when he could have retired and lived his life in peace.
"The senate will come to order." Sozin said, standing in the heart of the room.
Gyatso almost fell asleep during the debates. He made a note to resign from the senate and live the rest of his life in peace. He was conversing with a fellow senator when Sozin approached him.
"Gyatso, we need to talk." Sozin said.
Gyatso resisted the urge to roll his eyes. Everyone knew that Sozin was ambitious. To what end, no-one knew.
"What do you want?" Gyatso asked, as he walked into another room and Sozin closed the door.
"The republic is facing a threat. Not from the outside, but within." Sozin said.
"What kind of threat?" Gyatso asked.
"Your nephew, the Avatar." Sozin said.
"Aang is no threat. He's a loyal general of the republic. He has no ambition for power." Gyatso said.
"Doesn't he? He commands 1/3 of the armies in the Parthian theater. That's a lot of power and strength. What could stay his hand from taking the army and sacking Rome itself?" Sozin asked.
"My nephew puts his life on the line to protect our freedoms, ensuring our security. Sozin, if the other senators know about this, your punishment will be severe." Gyatso said.
Sozin pulls out a dagger and quickly thrust it inside Gyatso.
"Why?" Gyatso asks, dying.
"For the republic." Sozin said.