Unbending 6 - or 'I shall not be King, but Emperor of the Earth' (Pre-ATLA, SI)

Warning: This chapter was commissioned


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Chuanfang had been a Earth Kingdom Soldier for a few years now, yet the current situation was new to him: they were about to go in a new offensive wave, and they had the advantage.

Yes, surprisingly enough the river between them and their foes was not a worrisome trouble due to the recent vehicle that had been equipped to their squads. Similar to the Main Tank, the Amphibious Transport was similarly shaped as an armored vehicle, but instead of having a cannon turret, it was created with the main goal of traversing water bodies and float akin like a boat- but sturdier and capable of carrying a full squad of eight people across.

It took them months to get these spread out through the entire army and be tested, but the end result was promising. Chuanfang still hated them despite the 98% success rate in handling the crossing. It wasn't much the odds of messing up, but the possibility of actually having to face the forts on the other side of the river.

The vehicles would just transport them and protect them from any attacks during the crossing, but they hadn't been told what the officers were up to when it comes to handling the forts. The troops were told that the king had sent them some powerful tools akin to the tank that still required time and precision to be used. The loud booming noises at night, which came from this sort of training with the engineers, tended to leave him awake through the late hours.

He would find mercy quite late into the darkness, but the soldier couldn't tell for sure what his commanders were up to. Bets were made, and none suggested any of the 'past' idiocies that the Earth Kingdom Army was known to have committed. In a sense, Chuanfang agreed with the King: the war had been conducted poorly, and the old leadership had to either accept it or be removed.

Some did accept it, others were unredeemable.

To the common soldier, the new leadership leading them to victory and the recapture of a large territory the kingdom claimed was enough of a good sign that things were changing for the best. That the war was not lost as Chuanfang had been started to think.

No, the war was not over yet.

Their capital stood, the pulsating heart of their vast kingdom pumping more blood into its body- the rot was gone, only the fury remained as the campaign had been most victorious for them all. Yet, when they reached the river and set their bases, they were unsure on how to cross. The king had promised them the means to assure a safe crossing. And he did that.

The new armor also felt lighter, but it was able to withstand just the same amount of punishment as the old one. It felt also less difficult to move with as it felt fitting with the frames of each soldier. It felt more pleasant and it made it easier to take cover when needed.

The forts were still a problem, and Chuanfang was nervous as the date of the attack was given. All troops were still on high alert and showing fierceness as they boarded the vehicles. They were told to wait for the end of the 'loud signal', and Chuanfang had a good sight over what the 'siege artillery' was. Cannons, but longer and bigger. They were set down with sturdy-looking pillar of metal, and the barrel looked far bigger than the one used by the Armored Tanks.

As soon as the engineers were done 'setting them down', the cannons were loaded and the fury of noises came through. It was muted, which was odd for the soldiers, but as those seeing the projectiles eyed them rushing to their targets, they half-jumped in seeing the large explosions those generated upon first impact.

Towers and small defensive constructs were erased in the bombing as the Fire Nation Soldiers scrambled to return the attack, but they were far from range for any retaliation. The five cannons shot ten times each, the result was a devastated line of defense for the main crossing path.

The Amphibious Vehicles soon were making their moves. The rumbling engines shaking the water, with Benders given a proper sight forward to handle any surprise. None came as the survivors were on the run as they thought they had actually triggered a God or a Spirit. The barrage had effectively torn apart the defensive area around the main path to Taku.

Celebratory yells were launched loudly, but they were brought to a quick end as the main goal of this assault was revealed- they were to reach Taku and... verify why they couldn't get any info about it in regard to some rumors raised from the prisoners they caught.

One thing Chuanfang had heard, same as any other trooper in his division, was that the prisoners loved to 'sing' about what their leading officers were up to nowadays, but they refused to even contemplate talking about Taku.

For months, this was indeed a dilemma, but it was clear the high officers suspected something and it wasn't anything good. Thus, Chuanfang was expecting an unpleasant occupation like it happened in previous settlements. Taku was, after all, the biggest trade hub for the kingdom beyond the capital. It made sense the Fire Nation would keep it running smoothly under their control to guarantee a major supply depot.

So...

...

Where's Taku?

The sign they encountered a hour earlier before stepping inside this small desolate village said it should have been there. But they were just finding a village with people living in rags and thanking them for saving them at last. And while Chuanfang couldn't tell what was going on at first glance, he noticed some of his squadmates, those born in the city, looking visibly shaken by the sight of these desolate places.

As the troops were fully able to secure the few loose settlements in the area, the truth was soon spread around as a proclamation was issued over the ground stained by ashes and dust. It occurred only now to the soldiers that the promised grassy land of this region was now stained gray due to the destruction of what once was one of the best known cities in the Earth Kingdom.

It happened years ago, and yet the news had been kept a secret. Why? Well, Chaunfang wasn't sure what truly led . He only knew that the Fire Nation had engaged in such a heinous action to try and destroy a pillar of prosperity in the region. It was definitely meant to be a slight against them, a way for the Fire Lord to gloat over his nation superiority over theirs if they were to go by the meaning of similar acts ordained by the Fire Nation.

Mourning was expected, even Chuanfang felt distraught for his own companions. To imagine his lowly village to be destroyed was... horrible. To see the sheer amount of destruction, the losses of innocent lives... The Fire Nation would have to pay.

There was no way that they were going to let them get away with it.

But as emotions were running high, the commanders gave order to set a defensive perimeter. Albeit old Taku no longer existed, the area was favorable to cover the other crossings and secure a solid breach into the last slice of land owned by the Fire Nation. A counterattack was expected in the next weeks and an important officer was going to be there, but to Chaunfang this was just a blessing as he checked his Bending skills just for preparation's sake.

Everyone ached to punish the Fire Nation with the next battles to come after all, and he planned to get his name set down in History as the one that would decapitate a Fire Nation's Army.

-d-d-d-d-

"How come they chose to destroy such an important city and not control it?"

Yunlong wasn't upset for such an event, but it would be a lie to say she wasn't curious. After all, what chances were there for humans to commit such a stupid move? The war was meaningless to her, and she just interpreted the situation within the lens of an individual event rather than a piece of a bigger frame.

Then again, trying to see it on a more logical sense felt silly too. It was just senseless how war happened, but this was the sort of actions that truly baffled a spirit just like her, free and unable to understand a need to exert violence like this.

"Pride, ego. They felt emboldened by the need to prove their superiority," King Dafeng answered quietly, looking at the map and ignoring the uneasy looks his guards were aiming at the spirit as she circled over his head as she stared down at the paper too. "There's so many reasons and we know so little right now. What we know is that they committed what I would define a war crime."

"Hm? A crime about war? Isn't war itself a crime?"

"To some wise sages, for sure. But I think some of those fail to accept that war is not a tool that can be accepted or declined without some ramifications. After all, we didn't start the fire. Our foes did," The ruler argued, soon stepping away from the room as Yunlong followed closely, intrigued by what answer he had in mind to give her. "Is it wrong to use violence? Sure, but is it fair to have a right to defend yourself from aggressors? War is just like violence, except it's spread to numerous sides."

"And so, you are in the right because you are just pushing back."

"That's correct. Yet, this action will see repercussions- changes to the current status quo," Dafeng added, then turned to the spirit with a curious look. "Tell me, do you spirits hold competitions of strength?"

"Some do," Yunlong replied calmly, thinking of the few hotheaded fools back in her land that would argue over silly things and resort to challenges. "Why?"

"Do they have rules?"

"I think so."

"Nothing written, I suppose," Dafeng pushed forward despite her uncertainty. "Yet they respect themselves to the point of holding back at times."

"Yeah," Yunlong confirmed. "They would hardly wound each other. It's frowned upon to draw blood between spirits unless necessary."

"Then War is just like that. It's a large competition to determine whose determination is the winning one. Who is following truths and who is following lies," The young man further elaborated. "When you break a rule, you could at least argue that there is a reason. You commit a horrid act when you are on the brink of losing, or maybe in need to get an advantage."

"...But the case fits in neither of those matters."

"Which is why it is impossible to justify as an action. It may bring some boon to the morale- they would think they have destroyed something akin to the capital in their eyes and made their people think they were close," Dafent agreed. "In truth, this is far from reality. And now, the 'Massacre of Taku' will become a reason for many to push for retaliation."

"Will you allow it?" Yunlong inquired. "An eye for an eye."

"Not truly. What they did is the equivalent of what a wild animal would do for the sake of proving a point. We are not like that, but we are not going to turn the other cheek. In fact, we will make them pay accordingly."

Yunlong studied the jade-colored walls of the office room, the young king sitting down by his desk and checking the new map with resolute care. Such was the matter of a ruler dealing with war. To understand the borders and know what his generals were talking about.

From her understanding, such a notion was not followed by the leading officers ordained by the previous king, which then led to some unsavory developments for this land and its people.

"When?"

After all, if it had to happen, surely the King knew when that would be best to act. And as Dafeng thought about it, he provided her with a rather peculiar answer.

"Eventually. Time is on our side, and becoming a barbarian like those morons will only play negatively to the country," Dafeng answered softly and the spirit just settled on the desk. "A good revenge is one handled coolly. To be claimed by rage would only turn a wise man into a wild beast. We should be wary of our own impulses. Tame as minds can be, there are buttons to press which turns us into the worst versions of ourselves. The key is to know when to be... on top, and aware of what is truly needed to be done."

There was a lengthy silence between the two, and, after a few minutes of relative peace, Dafeng raised his gaze from the papers he was signing.

"Are you bored?" He asked, and Yunlong blinked.

"To some extent, yes. I would rather just nap if you have nothing to offer me for a conversation."

"What if I give you a game for a refined mind such as yours?"

The compliment was weak, but the temptation was strong as she was given a piece of paper with a few boxes with numbers there. Perplexity generated a question she swiftly voiced.

"What is it?"

"Sudoku. It's a game I thought of introducing from my world." Dafeng was soon explaining her the rules. She nodded, curiosity perked at this novel mind game she could entertain and, as she picked a pencil, she started to slowly test out this peculiar exercise.

She had to ask to advice a few times, nothing noteworthy, but Yunlong realized how peculiar and entertaining the game was. The silence was more bearable and, while she wasn't slumbering, the mere act of being coiled by the desk and scribble on the paper eased her and allowed her to rest while awake.

She finished the first paper in fifteen minute, but soon she was given a small stack of those similar-created papers with different patterns. The difficulty varied, but Yunlong welcomed the challenge as she steadily solved each puzzle with care and dedication.

By the time she was through those, she realized how stiff and tired she was and that Dafeng had finished his paperwork. The sun was setting, time has passed and her belly yearned for dinner but... how did she fail to notice that time has passed so fast?

"You had fun," Dafeng answered calmly. "You seem like the kind of loner that avoid games because you are accustomed to simple physical ones. Not personally, but through second-hand experience."

"So? What's different with this?"

"You like to think, Yunlong. So, I gave you a game that rewards you for such a simple and yet complex act," Defang fully elaborated. "So, you enjoyed the bliss of a solitary game you could enjoy without being bothered by others."

A simple gesture, really. Yet Yunlong felt quite grateful as she was given a bigger stack of Sudoku papers for her to use whenever she felt bored. She even got the pencil to keep around.

Just for that, she supposed, she could accept the silly nickname issue the king had a thing to push on her.


AN

Commissions are open once more and someone commissioned two chapters. The ball is rolling again, and next time Ozai gets to eat dirt, I suppose.