The Horror

When Fire Lord Zuko began prosecuting war criminals from the Hundred Year War, reactions were mixed, not the least among the illegal fugitives-at-large in the Earth Kingdom. Some of them committed suicide, many changed their names to 'Lee' and moved to a low-traffic neighborhood, and most of the rest didn t do anything at all differently until it came time to put up a fight and be taken in the hard way.

Vachir, former member of both the Yu Yan Archers and the Rough Rhinos special operatives, snuck into Ba Sing Se and personally surrendered to Retired-General Iroh at his cafe in the Upper Ring. They had tea in the back room while they waited for someone qualified to arrest the archer.

"What I never got," Vachir said at one point, "is why you came to like this dump of a country."

Iroh simply smiled. "Well, you know the old Sun Warrior legends about cannibalism?"

Vachir shook his head.

"They claim that if you eat a part of your defeated opponent, you absorb their power. Eat the eyes, and get better vision. Eat the heart, and inherit your enemy's bravery. In their ancient, darker days, they let their warriors indulge in this practice. That was before they gave up on the human sacrifice, naturally."

Vachir frowned, but nodded for his host to continue.

"I heard this legend," Iroh went on, "and wondered about it as I swept through the Earth Kingdom, conquering and killing. I was learning a certain admiration for the best of the enemies I faced, and eventually came to wonder how I might best learn from their strengths. Of course, you can see where I m going with this. It was a horrible thing to do, but I was impressed by a nation that wouldn't back down, and- I will admit this now- I lusted for that power. So I cannibalized the land I was trying to conquer."

Vachir squinted at the fat old man who sat across from him, usually so jovial and relaxed. Was he implying-

Iroh turned a haunted look on his guest. "I procured samples of their teas, and drank it all," he whispered. "Now look at me. I may as well have been born Earth Kingdom."

They were still arguing about two hours later, when Vachir was formally arrested by an Avatar who had been flown in special for the occasion.

END


Author's Note: I love the smell of ginseng in the morning. Smells like victory.