This next piece has no Mai in it! It's another one of my Avatar Spirit Drabble Contest entries, once again coming in a generic second-place shared by all non-winners. I admit, I really pushed the rules here, but the fic took over from my original plan.
THEME: Little White Lies
CRITERIA
Timeline. Your story must take place sometime during the series. No AUs or before/afters allowed.
Reasoning. What is the motive behind this little white lie? Did you break the window? Telling her that her butt doesn't look big in that dress? Or is there no reason behind it at all?
Creativity. Yes, this is the given. But I just wanted to state what we all know: Azula always lies. So dig a little deeper than that.
Soft Whispers and Little White Lies
The Fire Sages didn't give advice to just anyone. Most of the Fire Nation's peasantry had never seen a Fire Sage in anything but illustration; those in the more rural areas would have never even encountered that much. The nobles in the capitol city, however, were quite used to consulting with the Learned Men of the Great Element, if just for political purposes.
Commander Shuang was not one to worry about such petty pursuits.
Yet, here he sat, in one of the Capitol Temple's ornate reflection rooms. Much like the decor in the royal palace itself, the temple was built from dark woods and kept in shadows. The walls were covered in deep red fabrics, while the floors took on a glossy appearance from the fire-resistant coating used to seal them. The room was lit only by open flames, the burning bowls scattered throughout the over-sized chamber in a pattern of some spiritual significance.
Shuang did not know what the pattern was supposed to achieve. He only knew that there was barely enough ambient light to see by.
Normally, the reflection room would be occupied by a single person, who would use the solitude and the presence of the holy flames to meditate and achieve oneness with the Great Element. Shuang, however, had requested a consultation with one of the Fire Sages. He had questions that could not be answered by any amount of quiet contemplation.
The Sage had not given a name. Perhaps he expected Shuang to know it. The commander, however, would be the first to admit that he could have spent more time with his religious studies as a youth. He had entered the military young, in order to bring new honor and glory to the family after Father's indiscretions, and had been forced to work hard to keep up with the other nobles in officer training. Shuang had never been particularly bright, but he was honest and hardworking, and had eventually shown a good degree of competence on the battlefield. He would never be the greatest of the Fire Nation's tacticians, but Shuang had proven to be cool-headed and adaptable, and more than willing to listen to the right kind of advisors. He had risen to the rank of Commander in the Southern Fleet, and had always been quite forthcoming about the men under him who had helped him along the path.
That's not to say that Shuang didn't care for religion. He truly revered the Great Element, and all his actions- honoring his family, serving his nation, respecting his men- were expressions of his love for the Fire. Fire was the foundation of all civilization, and the only way to pay proper thanks for such a gift was to share it with the whole world, and love its works with all his heart.
The implementation of that idea, however, was the origin of Shuang's crisis of faith.
"I am but a simple military mind," he explained to the sage, "and unworthy to ponder such mysteries, but doubts have been introduced that continue to unsettle me."
"It is dangerous for those at the forefront of the Great March of Civilization to be... unsettled," the Sage stated without tone.
"Thank you for understanding, Wise One." Shuang gave a respectful half-bow from his sitting position. "It is my hope that I leave this temple with new resolve."
"Speak your troubles."
"I serve in the Southern Fleet, and amongst my duties is the raiding of the Southern Water Tribe and the capture of its Waterbenders. We have had great success with hit and run tactics, staying only long enough to seize a handful of the Benders, and fleeing before they can gather and coordinate a counter-attack. Slowly but surely, we are depleting them of their Bending population. Intelligence reports confirm our success, and even the appearance of their settlements reflect our victories, as they no longer have the capacity to maintain their larger ice-based structures."
"You honor the Great Element with your success."
"The honor is mine, Wise One, but you cut straight to the burning heart of my difficulties."
"Elaborate."
"As part of our intelligence-gathering, I have observed the Tribal barbarians in their settlements. The loss of their Benders is hurting them socially and personally. Life becomes more difficult for them, as it would if the Fire Nation lost our own Benders, with nothing to separate the suffering of the warriors from the civilian population. I feel a certain... sympathy for them."
The Sage's face hardened. "Do you not believe in the superiority of the Great Element? That they are beneath us for their lack?"
"I do!" Shuang assured. "Yet, I have trouble reconciling why they need suffer for their lack. Truly, the Fire would be a great gift to them, and the spreading of the Fire is our highest calling. But... they seemed content enough without it. If they are not wise enough to appreciate the gift, why do we war with them? Would it not be better to wait for them to advance enough to be worthy? If they suffer for the Fire before learning of its holiness, could they not be poisoned against it?" He closed his eyes and lowered his head. "No doubt the Fire Sages and our Lord have considered such things, but I am merely a soldier, and the question haunts me."
The Sage nodded. "Be assured, and be at peace, Commander. The barbarians, because of their alignment with the lesser elements, are not capable of finding appreciation for the Fire on their own. The longer they live away from it, the harder it is for them to discover the true path. It is a painful necessity that they must suffer, and it is our burden to inflict that suffering for their own good. Know, Commander, that their descendants will be grateful to us for this war, and that it is in our own suffering, yours pangs of conscience, that you show a true devotion to the Great Element. Those who serve for their own gain are less holy than those who pain alongside the barbarians for the sake of the Fire."
Shuang bowed, this time all the way to the floor. "Thank you for your teachings, wise one."
It was with a slightly lighter heart that Shuang arrived at his family's mansion later that day. He was looking forward to returning to the Southern Seas, to see if the Sage's revelations would fortify him against the wailings of the decimated Water Tribes.
He found a squad of the crimson-armored Royal Firebenders waiting for him. They were the last to see him alive.
Commander Shuang's replacement would be a less religious man.
END
