Chapter 4: Chapter 4 - War Meeting
The sun burned bright in the sky, and cool winds blew across the Palace yard. The air thrummed with the crackles of lightning and the bursts of flames.
Tai Lung was sure he would have long since roasted in his gear if not for the wind. He had been out here since dawn, practicing sequences of katas with Jeong Jeong observing him from the opposite end of the solid metal fence that encircled the training yard.
Sweat made his hair stick to his forehead, stung his eyes as it dripped down his face, trickled pleasantly down his back, beneath the silk shirt and metallic pads of the training gear. His arms burned terribly and come morning; he was sure he would be dead.
A bright arc of blue lightning light up the training yard and within a split second, shot a bolt of lightning through the air with a crackle and hit a wooden target, leaving a black scorch-mark on the wooden figure.
"Mmmh... not enough power," Tai Lung determined as he looked over the scorch-mark.
Taking in a deep breath he let out a slow hiss and forced all his emotions from his mind and focused only on his instincts. Dropping into the stance once more, he split the energy residing in his stomach in two, letting it flow in positive and negative halves as he performed the circular motion with his arms. Maintaining focus, He brought both halves colliding back into one as he moved his hands together, forcing the energy out of a single point of focus at the end of his forefingers.
Again, another arc of lightning light up Tai Lung's surroundings as he shot another bolt at the wooden dummy, this time with more power.
The bolt crackled through the air and once hitting the dummy, blew the wooden figure into a grotesque explosion of wooden shrapnel and splinters.
"Impressive," master Jeong Jeong said with his gravelly voice.
"You looked like you were constipated!" A burst of amused laughter broke in.
Tai Lung spun around with a smile, "Well, at least I don't look like you when you sneak glances at the behinds of your maids when they have their backs turned," Tai Lung responded with a coy tone, only now noticing his brother had been watching with Jeong Jeong his first attempt at Lightning bending.
Lu Ten stood at the edge of the training yard, tall and handsome, his silky black hair was tied into the traditional bun with black sideburns on his cheeks.
"Don't mind him, Prince Tai Lung," said Jeong Jeong, he was an old man, yet lean as any young soldier with a greying bread as well as a tuff of messy white hair.
"You're doing well. Prince Lu Ten wasn't even close to you at your age," The old General laughed, he wore a crimson uniform made of the finest silks and materials of the Fire Nation.
"I was close to that, and I do not sneak glances at maids," Lu Ten defended, crossing his arms over his chest and huffing in a very similar way Zuko tended to do when he was pouting.
"Enough with pleasantries, and do not mock your brother Prince Lu Ten, that is unbecoming of you, and to you as well Prince Tai Lung," Jeong Jeong scolded. Lu Ten laughed awkwardly and apologized to his master, performing a small bow with the Fire Nation's sign of respect by having his left hand in a fist, hitting the palm of his right hand.
"I thought you were supposed to accompany father to the war meeting today," Tai Lung asked while panting over the hours of training he endured.
"Yeah, but you have to be there today, remember? These meetings are boring anyway, stuff like that only interest the likes you," Lu Ten teased.
This wasn't the first time Lu Ten had come to watch Tai Lung, but it was the first time Lu Ten openly spoke. Normally, Lu Ten only spoke to him after his training, pointing out his errors and making jokes as well, as if the scolding of master Jeong Jeong wasn't enough.
"Father is waiting for us in the Throne Room," he said, his expression serious.
'Ah, that's why he isn't mute today,' Tai Lung thought, as he nodded.
"Well, get ready, you don't want to be late!" Lu Ten laughed as he ruffled Tai Lung's hair. "Don't you dare do that—" Unfortunately for him, Lu Ten did.
Lu Ten playfully ran away as Tai Lung silently cursed him, "I'll get you for that! I'll tell father next time you stare at the maids like the creep you are!"
"That's not fair! If you do that—I'll say to that Ty lee girl that you like her!" Lu Ten laughed as he ran away, disappearing in the great halls of the Palace.
---
The aged Fire Lord swept his eyes over the table of his top advisers, Generals, Lords and Noblemen of the Fire Nation and family members. He looked at his first son, Iroh on his right while Ozai, his second son was sitting on his left.
"Well, now that we are all here, we can begin. Admiral Jeong Jeong, your report if you please,"
Jeong Jeong rose from his seat at the long table and bowed his head respectfully.
"My lord," he intoned seriously. "The Colonies are in unrest and have already started revolting, rebellions are appearing throughout the South East and West of the Colonies."
The Fire Lord nodded, his first tightened ever so slightly, "We must do something about these rebels, if we withdraw our armies, they will think us as weak and they will rise against us. We cannot allow them to continue, we must annihilate them." He said with a stern and gravelly voice.
Not everyone in the room agreed with the sentiment, Iroh spoke up, "With all due respect, my Lord," he said tonelessly, even his expression led no clue at his emotional state. "I do not believe that this is the best course of action,"
The Fire lord raised an eyebrow as he turned to his eldest son, "Oh? And what might you suggest?" He asked with slight irritation.
Iroh closed his eyes for a few seconds, deep in thought, before he opened them and said, "We will take Ba Sing Se, they only hold hope because of that city, if it falls, their moral will be crushed and we will have brought the Earth Kingdom under our control, if on the other hand we kill every single one of them, they will make us as Tyrants, they will paint us as enemies of the people, and even more rebellions will appear."
A few whispers and murmurs spread through the war room, some of the commanders even had their jaw hanging open, Ba Sing Se was something no one would ever consider taking, it was almost inconceivable.
Jeong Jeong's subordinate, commander Zhao, was quick to spring to his feet, "With all due respect," the soldier said in a tone that conveyed very little of it, "Who exactly would lead the siege, we lack the leadership to control such large operation."
All eyes were on Iroh, he smiled and responded, "My son and I will lead the siege of course,"
"That is madness!" roared one of the advisers.
The assembled Lords and Noblemen grew angry and furious rebuttals were thrown all around, Prince Lu Ten who was seated at the far back had a stunned expression. Tai Lung, who was seated right next to Lu Ten leaned close to him. "Well look at you all grown up, you'll be in charge of a hundred thousand men," Tai Lung teased as he whispered in Lu Ten's ear.
"Are you out of your mind Prince Iroh? To invade Ba Sing Se of all places at such time! Are you even aware of your position? Who will stop the rebellions if you lead the siege!" A minor lord exclaimed.
"Silence!" The amber flames blazed and grew in size, upon the Fire Lord's roar, everyone fell silent.
"I agree with your proposal General Iroh, but who will stop the rebels if not you?" He asked with narrowed eyes, clearly, he wasn't in the mood for any pleasantries.
"Why isn't that obvious? My other son will crush them." Iroh chuckled as he drank his jasmine tea.
"Unbelievable! He is but a boy of fourteen!" one of the noblemen shouted. Again, a cacophony of disagreement spread throughout the war room.
"SILENCE!" The Fire Lord shouted, slamming a fist onto the edge of his seat.
The room fell silent, "Do you really believe that Prince Tai Lung is capable of handling such a task?" He asked with tension in his voice, he was on the edge of his patience.
"Yes," came the short reply of Iroh.
"Then the matter has been decided, General Iroh and Prince Lu Ten will capture the city of Ba Sing Se and its surrounding provinces and Prince Tai Lung will settle the rebellions in the Colonies."
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