Team/Position: Airbender

Word Count: 1166

Prompts: (restriction) Include the following sentence three times - "Just because it's in a book, doesn't mean it's right.", The Gray Beach (Title).

Bonus point: Airbending

A/N: This is written by my teammate, DarleneBean. I'm just submitting for her :)

Iroh carefully closed the booked that had consumed his thoughts for the last few weeks. It was a forbidden manuscript, an old Air Nomad philosophy scroll. For years, Iroh had been in search of literature from other nations, particularly that of Air and Water. Written word on everything from bending technique to socioeconomic ledgers was valuable to him, as a future leader he wanted it all. "Just because it's in a book, doesn't mean it's right." His father's words rang in his head, just as if he were a small boy again, carrying a book easily the size of his wiry body. Iroh grinned at the memory. He'd found many enlightening truths in books over the years...

But right now something else was distracting his concentration, consuming his thoughts. He'd had that dream again. The startling image of the unmistakable city of Ba Sing Se burning, conquered, still shook the normally gentle man to his core. In the last few decades, Iroh had learned to trust the spirits and their guidance, but was the destruction of another Earth kingdom city really what they wanted? Maybe if he was the one leading the campaign, Iroh could make it a less brutal affair than most Fire Nation… Of course! Realization struck him with unexpected clarity. For months now, the spirits had been trying to tell him to take on the responsibility of conquering Ba Sing Se, that way the death toll, destruction, desecration, and scattering of knowledge could be eliminated or at least reduced.

Although, he could be misinterpreting the dream's meaning entirely. It was possible the images he saw were a warning of what could occur should he make any move against Ba Sing Se. In addition to that, there was reason to believe that the Northern Water Tribe was growing in population, that proliferation would no doubt need to be stifled very soon. As the leading general of the Fire Nation, Iroh would be required to be a part of that.

With these heavy thoughts swirling around, engaging his active mind, Iroh sat back at his desk, absentmindedly stroking his greying beard.

In the last five years, Iroh had made sixteen trips into the Northern Ocean, all scouting oriented and all inadvertently serving to further his illicit appreciation of the other nation. They were indeed thriving, despite the embargo the Fire Nation had attempted to maintain over the years. Iroh thought it was quite stunning, their fierce determination, pride and skill all contributing to their continued survival. The aging general had no desire to destroy that. And he knew it was only a matter of time before his father asked him to do exactly that.

Iroh recalled a conversation they'd had while walking in the garden a few years ago. Well, he had been walking, his father, at age seventy-three, had to hobble somewhat, hand on his elder sons arm, to reach the turtle-duck pond.

000

"The latest reports are no more than we expected. Those tribal rubes are trading with the Earth kingdom peasants more and more. They're growing stronger." Azulon's eyes narrowed in cold calculation.

"That's true, they are getting stronger. Perhaps that will make them careless?" The two reached the pond and Iroh let a few crumbs of grain fall to the water.

"Yes, yes, they always become careless. The young become bold heedless of the warnings from the their betters." Neatly folding gnarled hands over his walking stick, The Fire Lord peered down at the infant turtle-ducks.

"In a recent reading, I came across a passage that described teams of two, a mentor and a student, old and young working together in a respectful relationship that taught both parties the virtues of the other." Iroh didn't mention that this was from Airbender literature. "It seeams to me, that our culture could take advantage of this idea more in order for our younger generations to better learn from the old."

A sly grin cracked a corner of the Fire Lord's face, "Ah my son, if only it were possible to avoid the folly of youth, but alas just because it's in a book, doesn't mean it's right." He observed Iroh with rare joviality as he repeated the phrase he'd been saying to his eldest since the day Iroh learned to read.

Iroh blinked for a moment before releasing a genuine chuckle. It had been a long time since his father had said that to him.

"It has always been the same with you. Devouring books and treating them like gospel." Azulon scoffed, "Though your military prowess would advance the merit of investing time in literature." He conceded with a nod, eyes distant. "You're still too soft on them. Dozens of successful campaigns in the Earth kingdom and yet they still defy our rule. You must stop letting them live, Iroh, if you want to be an efficacious Fire Lord."

This gave the aging general pause. He wasn't really surprised that the Fire Lord had discovered his habit of releasing prisoners rather than executing them. He just knew that that was one indulgence he couldn't let go of. Saving people, regardless of race, was the only thing that made Iroh feel like more than a simple warmonger.

"I understand, Father." Iroh conceded with a slight bow, having no intention to comply.

The Fire Lord nodded., "Very good, now we can talk about those Northern peasants."

000

Since the time of that conversation, many small raids into Northern outposts had taken place and the Fire Lord had been feeling quite confident with their effect, feeling he'd once again subdued the powerful Northern Water Tribe. But just a few weeks ago, a large coordinated assault on one of the Fire Nation occupied northern outpost had wiped out the force stationed there and rekindled Azulon's thirst for northern blood.

Iroh looked back down at the philosophy scroll. It was open to a beautiful depiction of Airbenders of all ages practicing their trade together by the water. It was a stunning image that evoked a strong sense of community and peace. "Just because it's in a book, doesn't mean it's right." Somehow, Iroh just couldn't believe that what he saw on the paper was false. A small boy teetering on the edge of the group caught his eye, as the artist perfectly captured the young boys struggles, one hand reaching out to steady himself in the grey sand. The image sharply reminded him of Zuko.

It would be a few more weeks of meticulous route finding, strategy research and siege weapon design before Iroh could approach his father with a more moderate and realistic alternative to genocide. If Azulon demanded that he to conquer either the Northern Water Tribe or the Earth Kingdom; he would have to make a choice.

Iroh knew what was expected of him, but there was still a part of him that could not forget the disturbingly vibrant memory of Ba Sing Se in flames. There had to be a reason for that dream…