Chapter Forty

Tales of General Iroh

Mai, Ty Lee, and Azula were lounging atop one of the tanks requisitioned for the pursuit of Zuko and Iroh. They had been tracking the pair – and their little earthbender – for two days, and were drawing nearer. The tracks left by the ostrich-horse were more recent than they had been. Azula felt confident that she would soon catch up with her brother and treacherous uncle.

She wondered what other tricks the old snake had up his sleeve. She didn't know much about Iroh's past in the army, other than his spectacular failure and the death of her cousin at Ba Sing Se. Azula didn't remember much of Lu Ten. He was more than a decade older than her and had been in the army for years before his death. Her few memories of him were pleasant, as he would take the time to play with her and Zuko, and help practice firebending. His time in the palace had been limited once he was old enough to fight with his father in the war, so it was only natural that she didn't carry many memories of him. She discarded her thoughts. Lu Ten wasn't there anymore, and her prey was Iroh. She needed more information on him to predict his actions.

"Colonel Mongke," Azula said in a clipped tone. "You served under my uncle for many years, correct?"

The colonel glanced at her from his mount that kept pace with the tank. "Yes, Princess. I assure you, I harbor no sentiment towards him. I am loyal to you and the Fire Lord."

"I am confident in your loyalty, Colonel. I do not seek assurances. No, what I require is information."

"Information?"

"Yes. The old snake is cunning and devious. You will provide me with whatever information you have regarding his tactics and deeds while serving in the army."

"Uh, yes. Of course, Princess." Mongke looked ahead for a moment. "General Iroh, the Dragon of the West, was the pride of the Fire Nation. Our top general, and the most ruthless weapon in Fire Lord Azulon's arsenal. In his youth, he was widely regarded as the greatest firebender of his generation, until the death of the late Prince Lu Ten."

Azula waved the man to continue. "After that, he wasn't the same man that I served under for over two decades. Or perhaps he was, and only then showed his true colors." Mongke's eyes grew distant. "It's impossible to say."

"He was a forgiving leader," Mongke continued, "He would approve leave requests more often than not, and was highly invested in the morale of his armies." A sudden light danced in his eyes: "There was one time, in my first years in his service, when he put on a one-man show. A full cast of characters. A comedy. It wasn't very good, but the men needed it. We all did, it made us feel like he was human."

Azula scoffed, "And what else could he be?"

Mongke's eyes grew distant as he looked into the darkest corners of his memory. "A demon. A monster."

That caught Azula's attention fully. Her fuddy-duddy uncle? The tea-loving Pai Sho addict? A demon. A monster. A liar and traitor, yes, but no monster. She would believe that only when she saw it.

"Explain," She commanded.

"I suppose I should start when I first met him, twenty five years ago," Mongke said.


Private Mongke was usually glad of his assignment. He had been stationed in a small, rural town in the eastern colonies, far from the front. He was serving under the command of Lieutenant Peizhi, along with nineteen other soldiers. It was usually a relaxed post, or rather as relaxed as the army could be. Unfortunately, all sense of security and calm had fled, chased away by the Earth Kingdom, only to be drowned by the Southern Water Tribe.

The Earth Kingdom had joined forces with a fleet of Water Tribe ships, helmed by High Chief Vurak. The Earth Kingdom, commanded by an unknown general, had broken through the Fire Nation expeditionary force and was heading west to retake lands long held by the Fire Lord. Unfortunately for Mongke, and everyone in Hemu, that just so happened to include them.

A scout had run for two days and three nights, arriving at dawn on the third day. His unit had been utterly destroyed, and he had been the only one left to bring warning of the devastation. The Water Tribe had seized control of the river and laid it with traps that would sink any ship bringing aid. The Earth Kingdom's archers were intercepting messenger hawks, and the army was only days behind him at best.

"Teng Da," Lieutenant Penzhi ordered, "Send word to the General. The Fire Nation must be warned so that they can prepare for an attack, and send a force to meet the threat."

"Yes, Sir!" Teng Da snapped to attention. He touched a fist to his palm and bowed, before leaving for the rookery.

"Do you think they'll make it in time?" Mongke asked, before realizing he had questioned a superior officer. "Sir!" He added hastily.

Penzhi raised an eyebrow. "The message should make its way to the command center in just a few short hours. The General will be able to mount a defense and call for reinforcements long before the Earth Kingdom reaches them."

"W-what about us, Lieutenant?" Mongke said. Penzhi raised an eyebrow at him.

"How old are you, Private Mongke?"

"Seventeen, Sir," Mongke answered, unsure of what his superior was getting at. To his surprise, Penzhi just looked at him with sorrow on his brow.

"I… We will do our duty, and die with honor if we must. The townspeople need our protection. They're Fire Nation, one and all. The Earth Kingdom and Water Tribe will leave no survivors."

Mongke paled. Just a few men against an entire army? And the Water Tribe? It wasn't possible, they couldn't possibly win. They had to retreat, to join together with a larger force! He wasn't ready, he was too young! He still had so much to-

"You're on midnight watch tonight, Private." Penzhi said, "I order you to get some rest beforehand. Spend the rest of the day in the barracks, or in the mess."

"Y- yes, Sir," Mongke said, turning to follow instructions.

How he would be able to rest was a mystery to him. And why was he being sent to the barracks already? It was dawn. Did the Lieutenant think he was a flight risk? If so, why give him a midnight watch? It was Penzhi's own watch, that he took every night. Why would… unless he wanted Mongke to run. It was possible, Mongke was the youngest soldier by at least five years. He was one of the fastest, beaten by only one other. A nonbender. Mongke would have the greatest chance to escape, but that would mean abandoning his post and deserting. He would have to leave his friends to die.

Mongke rolled his eyes. There was no way that was going to happen. Did the lieutenant think him a coward? No, Mongke would fight and die – probably painfully – with his comrades.

Mongke walked into the barracks, and upon seeing the other soldiers in the room he broke the news. He was met with cries of dismay, disbelief, and even panic. One man sprinted out to ask his girlfriend to marry him and find a sage to perform the ceremony. Another calmly wrote a letter to his father and carried it out to the rookery. Mongke sat on his bunk and took off his shoes. He rested his face in his hands and closed his eyes. He laid down, still in armor save his boots, and spent what was likely one of his last days on earth staring into nothing.

Hours later Mongke marched to the watch post. He had managed to get some rest, though probably less than he wanted. He arrived at the pitiful tower, dilapidated and insufficient now more than ever, and relieved the previous sentry. He stood at attention and gazed out into the night, towards the east, along the river bank. For hours it was silent. Nothing could be heard, and Mongke stood alone beneath a blanket of silver stars.

He heard the sound of scampering footsteps, an animal running in the distance. He heard the clink of metal on metal, the rubbing of leather on steel. He looked around wildly, and thinking that the enemy was upon them already he started to sound the alarm. He realized at the last moment that the noise was coming from the wrong direction. From the west. Mongke whipped around to search for the noise, hoping beyond reason that it would be their salvation. He stared into the shadows, and a lonely cloud blocked the moonlight. Mongke stared, and when the cloud passed a lone man was sitting atop a giant eel-hound, his features concealed by a red hood.

"Halt!" He cried out to the hooded figure, "Who goes there? Identify yourself!"

The man lowered his hood to reveal a strong jaw and raven black hair. He gazed at Mongke, and after a moment he said, "I am Iroh, son of Ilah and Fire Lord Azulon!"


"I thought you said they were too far, and the army wasn't going to make it on time?" Ty Lee interrupted.

"I did," Colonel Mongke said.

"Then how could Iroh show up?"

"General Iroh came alone, as one man can travel faster than an army."

"Oh," Ty Lee said with a blush. Azula rolled her eyes at her friend's pointless interruption. Obviously, Iroh would have shown up, otherwise, he wouldn't have prefaced the story by saying it was when he and the fool had first met.

"You may continue, Colonel."


The next morning, Private Mongke stood at attention with all of the other soldiers in the mess. The mess was really the local tavern, but the army paid for them to be fed there. General Iroh sat at the table before them, eating breakfast and drinking jasmine tea. Lieutenant Penzhi stood beside him, awkwardly holding a teapot. General Iroh noticed this, and said, "Lieutenant, I don't think you need to hold that the entire meal. I am capable of pouring my own tea, thank you."

Penzhi blushed. "Of course, General."

"Do you know when the enemy is expected to arrive?"

"As early as tomorrow, Sir," Penzhi said.

Iroh nodded as if he had expected that. "Not enough time for our reinforcements."

"What?! You mean it's just you?" Mongke said in shock, forgetting himself. Penzhi sent him a look that made his hair curl, but General Iroh just laughed. "Just me, I'm afraid."

Another soldier spoke next, in a calm and sure manner. "General, we are honored by your presence, but should you not return to the command center? It is deeply touching that the son of the Fire Lord would come to aid us in our time of need, but you are far more important than we are. You should not put yourself at risk."

"No, perhaps not," Iroh said, "But I am here all the same. I require no army to win this battle."

"Well, I certainly do," Mongke said. Iroh laughed again. He pointed to Mongke and the other soldier who had spoken out. "You two. I shall require your assistance during this battle. Stay beside me at all times."

"Lieutenant Penzhi," Iroh said in a tone of command, "Send out a scout. He should be no more than a mile to the east from here. Give him a spyglass and a hawk. He shall wait there until the first sign of the enemy, at which point he will send a report by the hawk. After that, he must run as fast as he can to cover, and make his way back without being seen. This is crucial, he must not be seen."

Penzhi nodded and pulled forth a lean soldier with brown hair. "Hirohito, this will be your mission. Go out of uniform, in brown and green. Keep to the trees."

Hirohito bowed low and sprinted from the mess to prepare. Iroh looked on with approval. "The rest of you, carry out your duties as normal. We must make it look as though we are unconcerned."

He was met with confused looks. "Do you question my orders?! Do it now!" He barked, and then men sprang to action, save for the lieutenant.

"Lieutenant," Iroh said, his voice grave. "I require a folding table, a Pai Sho set, and three chairs."


"What?" Ty Lee said, "Why did he want that?"

"Maybe if you could wait ten minutes without interrupting you'd find out," Mai said. She had been trying to act uninterested, but her words gave her away.

"Sorry," Ty Lee said, "I can't help it."

"It is no trouble, Lady Ty Lee," Mongke said before continuing his story.


He could not believe that this was their General's plan. It was crazy, there was no way it could work. It was bound to end in failure, and Mongke would die. He would die horribly, killed by wild beasts. Or worse yet, earthbenders.

"General Iroh," The other soldier asked. He was a nonbender. A swordsman, "Are you certain that this is the best course of action?"

"Even if I were not," Iroh said, "There is no time to change. They're close enough now. Let us begin."

Mongke closed his eyes. He was going to die. This was not how he had expected to go, to be honest. Not many soldiers spent their deaths drinking tea and playing Pai Sho in the sun while a general serenades them with his liuqin.

Mongke placed the first tile, extremely aware of his orders to not look worried. Iroh began to play his instrument and sing as the negotiating procession walked into earshot.

"To the Great Caldera came an earthen man one day!" The general sang. Mongke focused on his breathing. He took a sip of tea. "Where the sun was always shining and the sky was never gray!"

"The people sang of fire, of their nation fair! 'Till Rocky got excited and he shouted to them there!" The General drew out the last word of the verse and sped up his tempo. Mongke looked lazily to his left.

Oh Agni, he could see their faces. It was High Chief Vurak and the First Son, Hakoda. They were doomed. The Orca himself was upon them, and Iroh just kept singing. Why couldn't the man at least carry a tune?

Oh, it's a long way to Ba Sing Se! It's a long way, I know! It's a long way to Ba Sing Se! To the sweetest girl I know" Iroh kept singing, acting as though he was completely unconcerned about the conquering army at his feet. Oddly, Mongke was both shocked and relieved by this. Vurak and Hakoda looked almost worried. The older warrior searched the sky in the west and peered into the treeline. Iroh sang without interruption. The Earth Kingdom general's eyebrows were furrowed in confusion.

"Farewell, land of fire! Goodbye, nation fair! It's a long, long way to Ba Sing Se, but my heart's right there!"

The General stopped singing and plucked his liuqin. Mongke continued his game of Pai Sho, carefully moving a piece, as he had been ordered to play his best. Iroh finally spoke.

"Why, Chief Vurak! General Pao! We meet again," Iroh said. General Pao looked around nervously, as if expecting a full battalion of firebenders to leap from the sky.

"General Iroh," Vurak said. "We've come to discuss your surrender."

Iroh laughed, playing his instrument all the while. "Why would I do that? And would you gentlemen care for some tea? How about you, young man?" Iroh addressed Hakoda personally.

"Another time, perhaps," Hakoda said coolly. He glanced up at his father. Mongke guessed the youth was even younger than him. What was he, sixteen?

"You would surrender," Vurak said evenly, "because you are outnumbered and cannot hope to win."

"Is that so?" Iroh asked, and he let smoke begin to trail from his fingers as he played. "Are you certain?"

As he spoke, Iroh gave a knowing smile. Pao and Vurak looked at each other and walked away, their contingents of warriors and soldiers behind them. A lanky Water Tribe youth sidled up to Hakoda to speak with him, but Hakoda only shrugged.

After a few minutes of speaking, the two processions walked away. The water Tribe boarded their ships and sailed east, and the Earth Kingdom marched back towards Ba Sing Se. Iroh watched them go, and Mongke continued his game. After their enemies had faded into the distance, Iroh let out a great sigh.

"I'm going to be honest with you," He said to the soldiers beside him. "I cannot believe that worked."

"Y-you mean that was the plan all along?! I thought you had a secret army or something!" Mongke said.

Iroh shook his head. "No. I was just bluffing."

Mongke just stared at the General, but the other soldier lost his composure for the first time since Mongke had met him. He laughed, and then Iroh joined him. Mongke couldn't help it, so great was his relief at not being killed, and so he joined in with them.

Iroh wiped a tear from his eyes. "What are your names? In all the trouble, I forgot to ask."

Mongke introduced himself. "I'm Mongke."

The other soldiers stood and bowed to the General, holding his hand above his fist. "I am called Piandao."


"Iroh took a liking to the pair of us after that. Piandao and I were asked to join him, and serve in his guard. I wasn't much of a firebender back then, but Iroh saw to it that I was trained properly."

Ty Lee spoke again. "Colonel Mongke, you don't mean that he scared them off just by playing music and Pai Sho?"

"No. It wasn't the music itself, but what it meant. The dragon would take the field, and death would follow him," Mongke said, and after a pause, he said, "I think the Pai Sho game was just to put them on edge, somehow. I still don't understand it."

"What do you mean, about the dragon taking the field?" Mai asked.

"Have any of you heard the expression ash and shattered bones?"

"Of course, we have," Azula said, "Everyone has."

"Yes, I thought you'd know it," Mognke sighed. "Do any of you know where it came from?"

Mai and Ty Lee denied knowing it, but Azula remained silent. She wasn't sure where the expression had come from, but she didn't really care.

Mongke stared straight ahead. "It was coined to describe the devastation left when General Iroh and his son took the field. Iroh and Lu Ten would play music before each battle they fought in personally, on the no-man's land. Always the same song. Eventually, the enemy learned that when the Dragon played, it brought death. The pair of them were strong enough that any caught by their fury would be reduced to ashes, and their bones would shatter from the heat."

"I've always wondered about the mechanics behind that. Did the marrow boil? Or did they just break? I don't know. It doesn't really matter now."

"Why doesn't it matter?" Mai asked.

Mongke looked at her. "General Iroh isn't the same man he was. The siege broke him, and his bending wasn't the same afterwards. I think the loss of his son weakened it, weakened him. Or perhaps he had always been that man, and wasn't able to hide it anymore."

"What do you mean?" Ty Lee asked.

Mongke stared ahead, before saying: "Fifteen years ago, General Iroh spoke to me. I thought it was nothing, but now I wonder if he was showing his true colors."


The battle had been fierce. Mongke and Piandao had been serving directly under General Iroh for a decade, and even then they were impressed by his ferocity. He had desolated the battlefield, defeating dozens of earthbenders

The Dragon of the West had taken to the battle himself. His son had asked to accompany him, but Lu Ten was not yet old enough in his father's eyes. He had been forced to stay at the command tent and watch from a distance, as his father and his cadre of elite warriors entered the fray. His father had allowed him to play music in the no-man's land, and when the young prince had asked why they would play, Iroh told him it was to calm the heart and soothe the mind over what followed after.

Mongke and Piandao had stayed by the General's side through the battle, along with a few others. The swordsman cut through the enemy like he was death itself, leaving none but the surrendered in his wake. Mongke fared much the same, though his skill with firebending did not match the swordsman's prowess. Both of them were like drops of water beside an ocean, when compared to Iroh's power. The battle had been hard fought, but in the end the Fire Nation was able to take the plateau. After weeks of fighting, Iroh had made the difference. It was finally over.

"See that the prisoners are well treated," General Iroh ordered a staff officer. The man bowed and began to take count of the prisoners, of which there were many. Iroh waved Mongke and Piandao to follow him as he approached his pavilion. The three men entered and began to wash the grime of battle from themselves, scouring clean the stains of ash and blood.

Mongke looked at Iroh and thought the man looked old beyond his years. Though his hair was dark, his face had become lined that day, as if he had aged ten years in the span of hours. He looked at Piandao and thought that his friend looked much the same as the General. They both carried a hollow look in their eyes. Once clean, both of them sagged into ornate velvet cushions trimmed in gold.

"Tea," Iroh said, and Mongke began to brew. He did not bear the weariness that had overcome the others. He often felt frenzied after a battle, as if his spirit thirsted for more. He steeped the leaves in the pot and began to stir as the General had taught him years before. He poured the drink for the General and Piandao. He served the others before placing the pot on the low table between the two.

"Sit, Mongke. Please," Iroh said.

"As you command, General," Mongke said. Iroh glared at him.

"Where is the boy I met all those years ago?" He asked. "I did not take you into my service for your rigid protocol, Lieutenant Mongke. We have been friends for many years, must you call me general even now? We have fought side by side for too long. My name is Iroh.

"I… Of course, Iroh," Mongke said, "As you wish."

"Bah!" Iroh scoffed. "You met my brother for less than an hour, and now you're as stiff as any soldier I have ever met."

"Prince Ozai has that effect on many, Iroh," Piandao said as he lay exhausted on his cushion.

"Too true," Iroh said, and his voice carried the barest hint of worry. "Ozai is a great man," Iroh continued softly, as if thinking only to himself, "But is he a good one?"

Mongke sank into a velvet cushion that was nearly as large as he was. He poured himself some tea after being prompted by Iroh. He had met Ozai for only half an hour when the Prince was visiting the army and his older brother. It had been… memorable.

"Do you ever wonder why we're fighting?" Iroh asked softly. His voice was drained, and his brow was heavy. "I trust the two of you with my life, and I keep no secrets from you. After days like these, I can't help but wonder. Must so many die, just to share the greatness of our nation? Is there not another way?"

Mongke was speechless. The great General Iroh, Crown Prince, and top general was- no, he must have misunderstood. It was a test, surely. To ensure his most trusted companions would not betray him. It had to be, there was no way that-

"I must confess that I too hold doubts," Piandao said. Piandao. Captain of the elite guard of Prince Iroh. Mongke's heart stopped in his chest. How could his friend be so foolish?

"The bloodshed weighs heavily on me after these long years. I fear that no matter how long I scrub, the stains on my heart may never be washed clean," Piandao said, lighting his own pyre.

"Surely you don't mean that," Mongke said, "Our march of civilization must continue! It is the Fire Lord's command."

"Of course, of course," Iroh said, rubbing his tired eyes. "Forgive us our lapses, Mongke. It has been a long battle, and we do not share your youthful vigor."


They continued in silence for a time, until Mongke continued his monologue. "Fifteen years ago, before even Lu Ten was old enough to join his father in battle, Iroh confessed that to me. Perhaps it was just exhaustion, or maybe he'd tried some cactus juice from the Si Wong," Colonel Mongke said, "But looking back, I think that was when he first showed us his true colors."

"And what did Fire Lord Azulon say of it?" Azula inquired. Mongke shifted in his saddle uncomfortably. "Such treasonous rhetoric from his firstborn surely did not sit well."

Azula noticed Ty Lee fidget beside her. Was she merely uncomfortable? Azula would be the first to admit that riding through the rural Earth Kingdom atop a tank was not a luxurious way to travel, but it was better than inside the vehicle. Maybe she was bored by the story, but Azula doubted it. The chi-blocker had been uncomfortable since Mongke had first mentioned Iroh's doubts about the war. Azula's brow furrowed, and she began to wonder.

"I doubt he ever heard of it," Mongke said.

Azula focused her attention on him once more. "You said nothing? You told no one?"

"Who was there to tell?" Mongke asked. "It would have been my word against his. A lowly lieutenant against the Crown Prince. No, I said nothing. I believed that Iroh would one day sit atop the Dragon Throne. I convinced myself that it was merely a lapse in judgment, or a trick to see if we were truly loyal. I assumed that was the case, for Piandao retired soon after."

"I see." Azula said. "Continue, Colonel."

Mongke was silent for a moment before speaking. "There were other battles, but they don't stand out as much as the first one. It's the most similar to our present situation. A larger force pursuing a greatly outnumbered foe. The only problem is that the foe is Iroh. And Prince Zuko, of course, but he's the least of my concerns. If Iroh should forsake his oath.."

"What oath?" Mai asked, curiosity evidently getting the better of her.

"It's the one he took at the end of his siege. I'll get to that, but I should start at the beginning of the six hundred days," Mongke scratched at his jawline. "As you know, a little over seven years ago, General Iroh and his armies set out for the great city of Ba Sing Se."

"The start of the siege was largely without incident. The first months were actually rather boring if I'm being honest with you. The Earth Kingdom had been less capable since King Junjie died and Kuei took power. The rumors said he was just a child, and that explained the faltering communication of the Earth Army. There were some minor skirmishes of course, but there was no answering force like in past attempts to take the city. We marched to the western gate largely unopposed."

"General Iroh was glad. He had hated the deaths, he had always hated them. But if he had to kill to save his soldiers, then he would. His son had joined Iroh's company a few years before, and he once told me that he hated it too. He said his father had never wanted to be a soldier, but he didn't realize Iroh was standing behind him at the time. The poor kid was so red, embarrassed at being caught by his old man. Iroh just laughed, and said, 'It's true. I never wanted to be a soldier. When I was a small boy, I wanted to open a tea shop!'"

A smile crossed Mongke's face. It was quickly chased by sorrow and anger. "Lu Ten was a good man. He deserved better than he got."

Shaking his head as though to clear it, he said, "Eventually, the Earth Kingdom sent out forces to try and dislodge us. It didn't work, but the nearly constant loss of life weighed heavily on the General. He grew fat and stopped training. He planned the attacks and commanded troop movement from his command pavilion with signals, but through the siege, he took to the battle only once. On the six hundredth day, after Prince Lu Ten was…" Mongke trailed off.

"Were you close?" Ty Lee asked. "I met Lu Ten a couple of times when I was very young, but I remember him being nice."

"I…" Mongke said, "Yes. We were friends. We saved each other's lives more than once, dozens of times probably."

"I'm sorry for your loss," Azula said with a roll of her eyes, "But do get on with it."

The Colonel nodded sharply and continued. "It was a dark day for everyone. We had broken through the outer wall only a month before, and then, at the loss of one man, it was over. We had lost thousands, but when Iroh lost his son he finally broke. I don't know if that was the only thing that did it, or if it was the last straw, but that was the end. When he received the news, Crown Prince Iroh, the Dragon of the West, a descendant of Agni himself, wept before the army. In front of the very walls of Ba Sing Se."

"That night he donned his armor, had his liuqin brought to him, and played it for the final time," Mongke spoke, wrapped in a crystal clear memory. "He brought a detachment of elite soldiers with him into the battle. The other Rhinos and I, Yu Yan archers, spearmen, swordsmen, firebenders. We went in and fought our way to find his son and his killer."

"Iroh brought the man before our forces and executed him on the spot. There was nothing left of the man, just ash and shattered bones," Mongke exhaled heavily.

"General Iroh called off the siege and ordered the men to return home. I argued with him, saying it was a dishonor to all who had been killed, that we were so close. It was his destiny to conquer Ba Sing Se!" Mongke's voice grew heated. "Why couldn't he see that?! All of those men died for nothing! Six hundred days of fighting and for what? For us to turn tail and run? Bah!"

"We argued for hours, and Iroh dismissed me from his service. Before I left, he swore an oath that he would never take another life, even to save his own. He said that he was through with his days of war. That after he had lost his son, there was nothing left in this world so precious to him that he would kill to protect."

Mongke's dragged a hand down his face. "We did not meet again for many years. When we did, he asked me to join him for a cup of tea, as if nothing had ever happened. I said I would if he demonstrated to our recruits his skills as a firebender. He agreed. He was still a powerful warrior, that cannot be denied, but he was but a shadow of his former self. He had lost the drive, the will to fight. He had left it with his honor beside the walls of Ba Sing Se."

"A riveting tale," Azula said, "But much too lengthy. I asked for information, not your life's story."

Mongke didn't respond, he just bowed his head. Azula rolled her eyes. "Tell me, Colonel, when my cousin and uncle did their little song and dance routine, would they go into battle alone?"

"No, Princess. They merely joined the front lines and led the troops personally."

"Then why," Azula said lazily, "Would you tell your story as if they had? As if the pair of them were an unstoppable force dealing out death and destruction to hundreds at a time? Surely you cannot contribute to them alone the victories of our army?"

"No, not to them alone. But had they not been there, we would have lost. It is no exaggeration to say they were vital to our success. Iroh and his son could face dozens of Earth Kingdom troops by themselves, allowing for our forces to carry out their mission."

"Mai, Ty Lee, and I can do the same," Azula said in a bored tone.

"Of course, your highness."

"Let me sum up the useful information you've provided us with," Azula said, "Iroh is not as powerful as he once was, which we knew already. He has been opposed to the war for many years, possibly decades. Not surprising. He hated to carry out the commands of his father, and the deaths during the war. He failed and gave up on the siege of Ba Sing Se, which again we knew already."

"The only useful information is that he has in the past relied on trickery to frighten off his enemies. Also that he is unwilling to kill. Even when he betrayed us at the North Pole, he took no lives. He incapacitated soldiers, and used the element of surprise to rescue Zuko."

"Forgive me, Princess," Mongke placated Azula, "I was caught in my own memories. I shall be more concise in the future."

"See that you are, Colonel," Azula waved him away and the firebender sped up his mount to create distance from Azula and her friends.

"You didn't have to be so hard on him," Ty Lee said.

"It is my prerogative to tell long-winded officers to be more concise," Azula said.

"Oh, please," Mai said. "You're just annoyed that he didn't have anything useful for you."

Azula did not dignify her with a response. She briefly considered using her own mongoose-dragon, if only to get a break from the monotony of the tank. She decided against it, leaving the animal to be led by one of Mongke's companions.

"Do you think it's true?" Ty Lee asked.

"You're going to have to be a little more specific," Azula replied.

"Could Iroh really have turned a man into a pile of ash and broken bones?"

Azula pondered the question. Honestly, she did think it was possible. She knew her father was capable of such a feat, and she believed that she could have done the same. She decided that Ty Lee didn't need that information.

"You have nothing to worry about, Ty Lee," Azula said. "Uncle's not strong enough anymore."


Author's Note:

We're coming up on the six-month anniversary for this story! I'm very pleased and I hope you all have had as much fun with this as I have.

2/12/2023