Hello everyone! I am currently on break and feeling insanely productive, so here's another story! I hope you enjoy!
The day before Lu Ten's death, they set fire to Ba Sing Se's Outer Wall. The ensuing smoke blocked out the sun, shutting out Agni's once powerful rays. Like an ember in the sky, it glowed dimly through the haze, reduced to a muted red. It should have been a warning, but Iroh had refused to take it as such. Not when they were so close to winning the siege, so close to victory.
That night, across the river from Ba Sing Se, father and son watched as the Outer Wall burned.
"What a shame," Lu Ten had said. "This land looked so beautiful two years ago. If they would just surrender, we wouldn't have to destroy so much."
"Ah, but look at the beauty in this," Iroh had responded, surveying the smoke billowing across the landscape. "It is evident that fire is the most superior element. Once we take Ba Sing Se, that fact will finally be known to the world."
Lu Ten had nodded. "I understand what you mean, Father. I wasn't denying the benefits, but sometimes I wonder if it's all worth it. We started this war to bring prosperity to the world. We're winning it, but all it seems to create is destruction. The rest of the world benefits, but the Fire Nation? We spend our troops and our money, but what do we get? We're going to have to rebuild half the Earth Kingdom once the war is over."
"Don't be disheartened, my son," Iroh had replied. "We are on a noble quest, an undertaking for Agni. We are spreading his light. I never said it would be easy. Besides, look on the bright side! Once we conquer Ba Sing Se, the hundreds of acres of tea fields within the city will also be under our control. We will be having jasmine every day for decades! The finest tea in the Earth Kingdom, they say!" And Iroh had laughed heartily into the night, and Lu Ten had joined him, both knowing nothing of what was to come.
Despite the warning, he had not seen what was in front of him. He had been blind to the darkness, even as the light of the sun faded before his very eyes. Replaced by a shroud of fire and smoke.
The next day brought a fall of rocks, an avalanche of earth. An entire cliffside reduced to rubble. Iroh never had the chance to bury his son.
The sky was dyed black with smoke, and finally he recognized it for what it was. As Iroh stood by the rockside, tears searing down his face, fires blazed on the other side of the river.
They burned as bright as ever, but Iroh found none of it beautiful.
Thank you so much for reading! Faves/follows/reviews are always welcome!