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Chapter 2: The Prison Camp
To the Earth Kingdom guard, the day started out like any other day. He would stand at his post by the main gates for a few hours, then he'd take lunch, and then maybe, kick the crap out of a few Fire Nation slaves, I mean prisoners. Unfortunately his day was about to suck. The day started normal. The guard showed up at the main gate to perform the most tedious of the day's labors, standing guard. His job seemed mediocre. The prison complex was located in the middle of a dense forest; the only thing denser was the Earth King's thick head. It was easy work, just boring. Every now and then, he'd toss his spear at a rabbit to pass the time. There was nothing to do except wait until lunch. That's how it usually was, but not today. When the guard arrived at the front gate this morning, he didn't know that by the end of the day, the prison would be in ruins and he would be in a prison in Ba Sing Se for treason. Yes, the prison camp that he guarded was run by a group of former Earth Kingdom soldiers turned rouges that captured and enslaved the Fire Nation colonists that lived in the Earth Kingdom during the Fire Nation's control.
Shiro knew as soon as he saw the smoke rising from the middle of the woods that there would be trouble. He, like a lot of others, had heard of Earth Kingdom soldiers rebelling against the Earth King and setting up "revenge camps". Essentially, they enslaved them and forced them to work until their expiration. It disgusted him. The last "revenge camp" that he liberated was full of full families, including women and children. The men, age 13 and up, were worked to the bone, the women were made into common prostitutes from age 14 and up, and the children were forced to do random chores. This time though, his reason for liberating the camp was personal.
Shiro watched the guards from behind a tree, trying to formulate a plan of attack. "I'll try the direct approach," he said. He walked out and up to the guards. "Hi there," he said. The guards raised their spears, and one said, "Freeze." They took him into the prison and led him to the warden.
"Who are you," said the warden, Long Feng. "Shiro," he answered with a smile, "and you're Long Feng, former Earth Kingdom Secretariat, head of the Dai Li, and traitor to the Earth King. What's more, you were defeated by mere children." The guard behind him pushed Shiro out of the chair and kicked him across the stomach. "There are a few rules here at my prison," Feng said, "Rule one: I am the law. Rule two: If you don't follow my law, you will be punished. Rule three: If you incite a riot, you will be killed immediately. Do you have any questions?" "Nope," said Shiro, "A prediction though. By the end of the day, you and all of your soldiers will be either dead or on their way to Ba Sing Se." "And here's my prediction," said Feng, "If you keep on going with those snide remarks, you'll be lying in a ditch without a head, hands, or feet." He turned to the guard, "Take this piece of crap from my sight." The guard grabbed Shiro and led him to the work camp.
Three hours had passed since Shiro had his pleasant conversation with Long Feng. Right now, he was in the middle of digging the aforementioned ditch, with a guard behind him whipping him at steady interval. Around eight o'clock, Shiro was led in chains to the bunk house. As soon as the guard left, a voice called out from the back corner of the room, "What the hell took you so long?" He walked back and saw a woman sitting on the ground covered in whiplashes. "I'm guessing by the lash marks that you're the one that started the signal fire," he said, "Bethany." "Yeah," she said, "So what took you so damn long?" "I met the warden," he responded, "Nice guy. He makes Komodo Rhinos look tame." "So, how we doing this," Bethany asked. "Tonight," he said, "The warden is going to meet his match." He flicked his fingertips and a white flame appeared.
Long Feng and a platoon of guards were doing the last patrol of the night before the night watch took over. They just finished patrolling the outside fence and were making their way back to the center of the complex when a flash of white appeared. "What," said Feng. "Told you," said Shiro as he stepped out from behind the white blaze, "Today will end with you in chains." "Get them," shouted Feng as some guards pulled their spears, while others launched large rocks. As the rocks flew towards him, he held up his hands and produced the white flames. Upon making contact with the flames, the rocks literally melted. The spear wielders didn't even make it that far. During their charge, Bethany jumped in front of them, and in a fury of martial arts, the spears were broken and the guards were on the ground, rendered immobile by the pressing of their pressure points. The Earth benders were also subdued when Shiro created a wall of white fire around them. Shiro and Bethany turned to Long Feng. "Do you give up now," said Shiro. Feng responded by launching two rocks at them. "Wrong answer," said Bethany as she ducked under the rock and launched herself at him with two kunai drawn. She planted the kunai into his hands, pinning him to a wall. "Give me a reason not to kill you," she said. "Don't kill him," said Shiro, "We're heading to Ba Sing Se. We can collect their bounties." "Fine," she said as she immobilized him by hitting his pressure points. Feng looked up at his captors, "Thought you looked familiar. You were in the Dai Li, but that means that you're an earthbender. Then how are you able to bend fire?" "Damn it," said Shiro, "Unfortunately for you, that's a secret. The unfortunate thing is, now I'm gonna have to kill you. Do it Bethany." "Wait," shouted Feng as Bethany pulled out a knife and slit his throat. "It's a wonder it took him that long to remember me," said Shiro, "Oh well. Let's go." Bethany nodded as they rounded up their prisoners and freed the rest of the slaves. "To Ba Sing Se," said Bethany.
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