Author Note
I know you have been waiting for a long time for this. For the record, I'm not a tactician and I have skills to properly describe battle
My beautiful readers, I give you Chapter 10. Enjoy!
The Southern Water Tribe
The Southern Water Tribe settlement was visible from Zuko's place on the bow of ship that was at the forefront of two other battle ships. Taking out a spy-glass, he scanned the entire settlement. He could see the stretch of an ice wall, brown tents and igloos scattered around. Most importantly, he saw the people, going about their daily lives with no care about what was yet to happen.
Guilt weighed heavily on Zuko's shoulders for what he was about to take part in, but he had resigned himself to hoping that the measures he put in place would take effect. As he continued scanning the settlement, he spotted two children playing cheerfully in the snow and recognition hit Zuko full force. The armour Zuko had on felt heavier as the guilt doubled. He put down the spy-glass and sighed. Katara...Sokka...please forgive me.
Zuko looked at Commander Yon Rha and stated, "You know what to do, Commander"
Commander Yon Rha, nodded and shouted, "Bang the drums and release the ash! Ready for battle!"
The soldiers responded with affirmative shouts, following orders in anticipation for the raid as Zuko went up to the bridge of the ship where he would observe the raid.
Zuko watched as the ships anchored on the shores and the soldiers disembarked with battle cries. He watched the battle below as the soldiers engaged the men of the watertribe. Some with fists and some with fire-bending. The firebenders mostly dealing with the tribesman that had weapons. He looked through the spy-glass and observed the fights below. Surprisingly enough, he was able to recognise Hakoda fighting diligently and shouting orders to the tribesman.
"Are the scribes and soldiers we have on deck taking note of the raid?" Zuko asked the soldier that was beside him.
"Yes, your highness," the soldier answered. Zuko nodded and continued observing the battles on the shores. Despite the fact that the raid had been a surprise to them, the warriors of the water-tribe were doing well against his soldiers. It showed that they lacked battle experience, but the tribesmen were efficient with their bone swords but seemed to be more comfortable with their fists.
Time passed, and the soldiers were being pushed back by the tribesmen.
"Your highness, our foot soldiers are being overwhelmed by the savages. We should use more force," stated the soldier that stood beside Zuko. He was 2nd after Yon-rha, Lieutenant Baek-Ho.
"What were your orders, Lieutenant Baek-Ho?"
"Fight to subdue, not to kill," the Lieutenant answered.
"And why was that order given?"
"To capture the last water-bender," Lieutenant replied, "But if we use more force then the water-bender will surely reveal themselves to save their fellow savages"
"Lieutenant, you have your orders from your superior. We fight this way provoke the people of the Southern Water Tribe to exposing if they have trained benders. It has been years since the last raid secured the last water-bender and there is no way for a water-bender born in the Southern Water Tribe to be taught how to fight with his bending. Don't bother bringing up the fact that they could have travelled into the Northern Water Tribe because someone would have to answer to the Fire Lord why the Southern Raiders are slacking in their patrols to allow ships to pass and journey all the way to the Northern Water Tribe.
"I believe Commander Yon Rha has everything under control. Unless you want to defy the orders of your superiors and face the military tribunal, Lieutenant?"
"No, your highness," Lieutenant Baek-Ho answered bowing before Zuko. Nodding, Zuko continued observing the battle as the bridge fell into silence.
It was hard to believe that the prince was only eleven years old and yet held an authoritative aurora around. It was easy for older people to dismiss the young or control them, but it would seem none of the people on the bridge would be brave enough to take on that role. After all, though the young person was in his pre-teens, it was definitely obvious that before them stood a crown prince.
As for Zuko, he wished he could sigh and relax but this was not the time to. The one thing he could be thankful for was that part of the measures he put in place was somewhat working, especially that he was the one that told Yon Rha to order the soldiers to fight but not to kill. He could remember how sceptical Yon-Rha was about the plan, but Zuko reasoned that the primary objective was to capture the water-bender and it would give the soldiers a learning experience on fighting water-tribe warriors in the event they would have to fight the northern water tribe.
Not long after, a soldier came rushing in with a report.
"Your Highness," the soldier begins, giving a short bow, "The Commander has returned with a 'water-bender'. He said to inform you that the prisoner will be in the cells below"
"Withdraw the troops," Zuko stated in acknowledgement, "The raid is over. I will head to the cells and investigate the prisoner. Have all the wounded soldiers treated and rest for tonight. Give my order: Every and all soldiers that fought are to submit a written report of their battle to their superiors who will then submit them to me. Understood?"
"Yes, your highness!"
It didn't take long for Zuko to reach the cells, although he had to make a quick stop in one of the rooms to collect an item. He found Yon-Rha talking to two guard soldiers, both who were standing in front of a closed cell.
"Commander," Zuko greeted. The men bowed before Zuko.
"Is the waterbender in this cell?" Zuko asked.
"Yes, your Highness," Yon Rha answered.
"I will question the prisoner," Zuko stated. He faced the door and waited. The guards took the hint and prepared to open the cell when Yon-Rha stated,
"I must advise that you take precaution when questioning the prisoner," Yon Rha warned, "May I suggest that you delay your questioning for the investigation room?"
Zuko thought for a moment and replied, "You have so far conducted a successful raid, Commander; but I'm sure your soldiers will need your attention. Its a simple questioning of the prisoner and may I remind you that it serves importance for my findings of this raid?"
"Forgive me your highness, please proceed," Yon Rha grunted.
The guards took the cue to open the cell and Zuko entered. The cell was a standard cell for a bender, a small cot with chains from the wall meant for a prisoner, or in this case the woman dressed in full blue water-tribe clothing. She looked tired, with her shoulders hunched as she curled in the corner of the cold cell.
The door slammed shut behind Zuko, making the woman jump and focus her attention on the person before her. Zuko's breath caught in his throat as the woman's face came into the dim light. This woman looked like an older, more tired version of Katara, with piercing deep blue eyes that carried a lot of worry. He watched as she tensed up, her hands shackled to the wall. Her shoulders relaxed a bit as she said, "You...you are just a child"
"That is Prince Zuko to you, wench!" one of the guards yelled. He advanced in a threatening manner, he paused in his steps, seeing that Zuko raised his hand for him to stop.
"So you're the last waterbender of the Southern Water Tribe?" Zuko asked.
"Y-yes," the woman answered nervously, sending side glances to the guards behind Zuko.
"Bring me water," Zuko ordered. Zuko heard feet shuffling behind him as one of the guards said,
"But your highness, if we give water the prisoner might attack! Its dangerous"
"I want to confirm for myself that this prisoner is really a waterbender," Zuko stated, turning around to face the guards, "Bring me water. Or should I take your refusal as disobedience of an order from royalty"
It didn't take long for a guard to return with a bucket half-full of water and place it in front of the terrified water-tribe woman.
"From what I read, the last water-bender put up quite a fight before capture," Zuko began, "Imagine my surprise when Commander Yon-Rha said you willingly handed yourself over. I suppose even savages are somewhat capable of honour. What do they call you?"
The woman was hesitant to answer, but seeing the menacing guard behind Zuko move forward, she quickly put on a brave face and answered, "Kya. I am Kya of teh Southern Water Tribe"
"Well then, Kya of the Southern Water Tribe bend the water in the bucket" Zuko ordered.
Kya froze, dread creeping up on her face as she shifted backwards nervously.
"What are you waiting for ? Move the water, water bender. It shouldn't be that hard even for a child," Zuko pressed. He watched as Kya looked at the water nervously and shook her head.
"My patience is running thin, Kya of the Southern Water Tribe. BEND THE WATER"
Kya nervously lifted her hands and waved them around the bucket. The water swayed, but that was just with the subtle movement of the ship across the waves. After a few minutes Zuko said in a dead voice, "You're not even a bender are you"
The guards behind him gasped as tears swelled in Kya's eyes. Before anyone could say or make a move, Zuko added,
"There aren't even any waterbenders are there," Zuko hissed. Not bothering to wait for a response, he turned his back on Kya and walked towards the entrance and paused,
"I am grateful to you to know that at the very least, our previous campaigns were successful to the point that no waterbenders have been born to your savage tribe," Zuko stated, "But for your deception of the Fire Nation, you have lost whatever what little respect I had"
Zuko stomped back towards Kya and held her parka in his left hand while his right hand had a refined blade of fire. He couldn't see it, but the guards were terrified of the prince that was before them, all having seemingly forgotten that this was a child.
As for Kya, she was terrified. How evil could the Fire Nation be, to have even children carry out acts of war. It scared her more that this could have been her son, her Sokka. She shut her eyes, doing her best to move away from the fire that the prince had firmly in his grasp. There was a sudden whoosh and Kya's parka was let go, leaving her neck feeling bare. She opened her eyes to see Prince Zuko with her betrothal necklace in his hand, eyeing it rather critically.
"I am going to enjoy breaking you," Zuko smirked as he walked away from Kya.
"This is my order," Zuko declared, "No one shall touch this prisoner except on my order. Have a envoy ready to depart within the hour to the Southern Water-Tribe with my message"
Zuko paused and side-eyed Kaya, grinning maliciously.
"Have them know that Kya of the Southern Water Tribe was executed. We'll leave them this as a parting gift. You will live while they think you're dead. So don't bother hoping that someone will come and save you"
Zuko walked away without looking back, leaving a despaired Kya crying our for mercy. He would go to his chambers and in his solitude, display all the feelings welling from deep within his soul. But Zuko would steel himself and remember that his actions were for the good of a better world as he penned down a decree that would once again tarnish the name of the Fire Nation.
Commander Yon Rha
Commander Yon Rha lived for the glory of the Fire Nation. The Fire Nation was a superior in many ways and were a people truly blessed by Agni himself. The glory of the Fire Nation was something the royal family preached and was something every soldier stood behind, including Yon Rha himself. Yon Rha greatly admired Fire Lord Sozin, and Azulon for their tenacity and efficiency in executing the war. General Iroh, the Dragon of the West, had his good points but there was no denying that his failure at Ba Sing Se disappointed a majority of the Fire Nation soldiers.
Prince, ah, Fire Lord Ozai was showing promise as a ruthless Fire Lord determined to finish what his predecessors could not finish. He was probably more common to the nobility of the Fire Nation but his skill for military strategy was not one to be easily dismissed.
Prince Zuko however, was the one person that Commander Yon Rha felt he should be most afraid of. It was not secret that children of the Fire Nation were taught young about the glory of the Fire Nation and of the war campaign. It wouldn't be difficult to believe that the children of royalty were taught these lessons at a young age but with more responsibility and expectations than the average child; more so to contribute greatly to the nation.
But Prince Zuko didn't act like a child or like an average prince in training. He didn't over-step his authority like the snotty children of nobility, but was observant and made his thoughts known where he felt necessary. He acted like a person of authority but with a lot of subtlety. The conversations he had with the prince over the past few days proved that there was more to Prince Zuko than he let on and if the Commander was being honest with himself, he felt that he was being swayed by the young prince.
Even as the Commander was to present the decree to the water savages, he already concluded that the prince was someone not to take too lightly. Prince Zuko was not an ordinary naive young boy.
Commander Yon Rha read the decree to the savages that was written by the prince himself, "By order of His Highness, for the crime of deceiving the the Fire Nation and posing as a waterbender, the tribeswoman Kya of the Southern Water Tribe has been executed and burned. The Fire Nation will not tolerate deception of any nation"
Having read the decree, Yon Rha tossed the parchment on the snow together with a wrapped package. He watched as one man ram forward with the others holding him back desperately. Another picked up the package and opened it with shaky hands and presented it to the man that was held back. On seeing the stone with the ribbon, the man collapsed on his knees and gave out beastly yell.
Commander Yon Rha felt like he had seen enough and boarded the smaller scale steam boat and headed back for the main ship. He didn't care for the miserable lives of the savages . He did his job and would go back to his nation proud. However, what he would not forget was the success of the raid owed to a young boy who displayed more cunning and cruelty than he ever thought existed.
So this is me.How is this chapter?please review. I also enjoy constructive criticism.it's like 3 am now so I'm just going to upload and sign off.I may have to to come back and edit this again I think. Depends really.Later.Jiang-sama