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Overview[]
Senlin arrives to Shouchun during the middle of an invasion from the Qiangdians, the Qiangda Kingdom killed almost seventeen thousand men with their eighty thousand army. He brings reinforcements to save the day. Also during this time, the Terra Team has a secret mission to convince Governor Gongyi to secede from the Oma Kingdom or assassinate him.
Team Avatar finally came to Ba Sing Se, the heart of the Qiangda Kingdom, Rong Yan's mission here is to seek audience with the Earth King. An old friend returns the favor and mentions the Avatar's presence in the city. Princess Yua, Aloi's best friend is also here on state affairs, will they finally reunite?
Chapter 14: The Impenetrable City[]
Book 3: Earth
Chapter 14: The Impenetrable City
"What....is that THING?!" another cried as he faced off the tall wooden structure, the complex machination had a trebuchet at the top of it. Halfway in measurements were four doors where cannons were manned by four cannoneers, two earthbenders and an engineer manned the top of the siege weapon, while two men worked in between the cannoneers and the trebuchet engineers. These men moved the artillery piece at the top and then finally the bottom has a driver. Siege towers required ten men to have the machine fully functional.
"Run!" screamed a cowardly soldier as he ran back into the line formation.
One man pointed on the large towers that headed their way, "That's a thing of...NIGHTMARES!" he exclaimed.
The skies above the capital city of Shouchun were filled with vast clouds of smoke, smoke that changed the hues of the sky from light blue to an array of orange, red, and pink colors. The sun's power was hidden behind the smoke clouds that turned its usual color of yellow to a bright red. Flakes of ash fell from the skies above as parts of districts of the city burned bodies dressed in dark greens and light green colors littered the outskirts and the streets.
The southwestern half of the city was under the control of the Oma Kingdom since that is the side they entered from. While the northern portion is held by the invading Qiangda Kingdom. At the moment, there is no sign of the governor as far as the Qiangda Kingdom is concerned he might have even fled to the Oma Kingdom side of the city or even out of the capital.
The uncontested area has seen small skirmishes from both sides as soldiers gather the bodies of their fallen brothers in combat. Scouts ran missions into an enemy-controlled territory for positions that could prove useful in aiding their side. The siege towers advanced into the capital city towering machinations from the clever minds behind the Oma Kingdom war machine. The terror, it brought the invaders of the city, some cowered others thought they'd have the courage to stand up to these colossal wooden structures.
That was hours before they learned how to tear siege towers down they lost over five hundred men before they studied the weaknesses of the siege tower. Their siege weapons worked well against siege towers ballistae and glaive tossers worked wonders. While fire carts worked from time to time, the strengths of it permitted the driver to use their earthbending to rid of obstacles while the tower had it's a smooth operation.
Towers moved slowly through the streets of the city while others were smashed into bits and collapsed onto buildings or homes. Civilians had fled the city while others stayed to fight off the advancing invaders and even died to them something of which Qiang Zhen is not a fan.
The slaying of citizens is not permitted by the modern Qiangdian and Oma Kingdom laws, often reckless soldiers are court-marshaled after investigations. With the unending of the war due to violence and politics, a convention was created between representatives of all four nations.
Originally, it was just between the mid-Haijun Kingdom and the Oma Kingdom but it expanded over the centuries to include the Water Tribes, and even the Fire Nation. The convention is known as, the Wanqu Xigai Convention, with its international war laws that can be considered crimes against humanity and war crimes.
Amongst other things like treatment of prisoners of war which is often ignored by some of the nations throughout history. While no punishments are given usually it leads to international outrage months after it happened or even trade sanctions upon the offending nation. Rarely, does it lead to the assassination of world leaders in the case of Chief Akitla of the Northern Water Tribe who broke several of the rules under the Wanqu Xigai Convention.
Several siege towers pushed forward across the field of strife that initiated a five-hour-long conflict while Senlin wandered off in controlled portions of the city. He needed to find the Major General that operated from inside the city. The middle section of Shouchun had a large canal in the middle where citizens often got their water from because of the moat that was constructed. It was illegal to swim in the canal but citizens often the younger ones broke this law repeatedly that it was no longer enforced.
The Qiangdians broke the bridges that led to the northern half of the capital but this proved to be a stupid idea because they're facing other earthbenders. Ballistae lined the front lines behind them were the soldiers the siege towers had flashes of blasting jelly from the cannon ports. Cannonballs traveled at fast speeds and struck their victims and sometimes homes or other structures. The trebuchet launched another boulder. Several soldiers and their engineers ran in different directions when the boulder crashed into two bastillae and destroyed them. Boulders were flung in the direction of the siege tower which damaged the southern cannon port but didn't kill the cannoneer.
A flaming boulder smashed into several men who failed to stop it with their bending abilities. A group of twenty earthbenders lifted a home off its foundations and tossed it at incoming Oma Kingdom soldiers this attack killed an amount of fifteen to twenty-two men. But it also tired out the earthbenders while it was a good idea it had its consequences and the Qiangdian intruders couldn't afford to tire out their men.
The Qiangdians pushed forward fearless after this group they aimed head-sized boulders at the tower and attacked it. Several missed only a few hit the damned thing holes were created. The machine teetered as it held it's balanced and continued to fling more projectiles at the men below. A glaive tosser rolled in and shot a glaive that cut clean through the tower. The men cheered when they took down the siege tower and realized they aren't that dangerous. The tower collapsed in on itself and killed everyone inside the tower.
The Omas noticed that five of the siege towers were down now they needed to guard the towers as it moved. The men under Senlin ordered the siege towers to be defended by a platoon each this should prevent damage to the towers and have the projectiles redirected back to the enemies. Senlin found himself in the nobility quarters of the capital city. Where a short officer stationed himself with several men, Senlin was immediately let through when they saw the uniform of a Triumvirate general.
A wooden table was set up near the back wall of an estate's outer wall, a short man was surrounded by other soldiers and some guards from the estate that patrolled around with their weapons out. The wall of soldiers separated to let the general of the Triumvirate through. The major general peeped up to see an unrecognizable man before him. He was confused because he never has seen his face but identified the uniform he wore. Another strange thing was the pin on his uniform looked familiar but he couldn't put his finger on it.
"Who are y-you?" he questioned the stranger.
"I'm the commander of the Triumvirate, I answered your call-to-arms that was supposed to be sent to Fort Gohun," answered Senlin.
"The c-commander?" the man was still confused as he drawled out the last word.
"Yes, don't worry it wasn't intercepted the dove continued to Gohun. Soon the soldiers should be here but they're not needed I have a field army here," addressed Senlin.
"There's a commander in the Oma Kingdom military now?" the thick-headed individual was still in disbelief. Senlin facepalmed and lightly shoved the man away, he studied the maps while the man seemed unhappy from being pushed. He grabbed a brush and dipped it into the paint and made changes to the plans.
"How many men do you have?" inquired Senlin.
"Less than three thousand now," mumbled the man.
"Less than three thousand? The battle's only been going on for seven hours how do you lose seventeen thousand soldiers in that amount of time?" shouted Senlin.
"I've brought you two hundred thousand reinforcements, you'd be toast if I didn't intercept that dove," scolded Senlin.
"Bring me a dove I'm going to send one to your major running the squadron on the front lines in the middle of the city," ordered Senlin, the major general squealed as he ran off to find a messenger dove.
He continued to fix the plans before he blew his breath on them to dry it faster, then he rolled up the scroll. When the major general returned with the dove perched on his arm he stuffed the map into the scroll and rose his arm.
"Where's the governor?" requested Senlin.
"I-I-" stammered the man, Senlin had enough with his incompetence that he grabbed the man by the collar as four rockicles pointed at the man's head, "ANSWER ME, TRASH!" The other soldiers were a bit startled because they wouldn't have expected someone of higher-rank to conduct themselves in this manner.
"I don't know!" he screamed with a terrified tone in his voice.
"What do you mean you don't know?! You're the leader of the provincial guard for crying out, remember or I'll end your life!" threatened Senlin.
At the same time, Dimian and the Terra Team skulked around the heavily inhabited Oma territory in the noble district. The map carried by Chongtu located the estate close by just a few blocks more while they rolled, sidestepped, crawled, and sprinted past guards and obstacles. They hurried through the streets until they found themselves in front of a massive estate which they believed to be the governor's property.
"Is this it, Chongtu?" Dimian asked him, the man nodded his head, "Aye."
Dimian stomped the ground with his left foot as he closed his eyes he sensed everything past that wall. Guards could be sensed from behind the front gate but there were none, "What do you see?" inquired Mao curiously.
"Nothing just a garden no movement, we should burrow now," answered Dimian he rotated in place and disappeared into the ground.
The street closed up again without a trace the others followed suit. They emerged on the other side of the garden grounds that surrounded the estate. The nicely maintained garden grounds were tended to by gardeners and other servants who were present at the moment.
Off in the Qin River, the marines looked through spyglasses as they awaited orders by pigeon, or flares to attack the Qiangdians. Nothing occurred the captain noticed a flare from one of the warships off in the distance. The entire force reacted to it as ships begun to move down toward the flare a fleet of Pingyao naval forces set sail. One of the Qiangdian seamen kissed his pendant that kept him safe he said a prayer while he headed into battle.
The cannon ports opened cannoneers manned them as they approached for the battle. The trebuchet operators placed boulders on the pockets of their machines and waited for the signal. The Oma Kingdom navy as well as an earthbender used his bending to bring up a stack of discs out of below deck of the ship. The Oma soldier nodded with his head as he waited for the signal from the artillery coordinator.
There was a mist that covered the river every one was ready, the Oma Kingdom's ships loaded the cannons. The coordinator below deck allowed his men to fire, the first sequence of cannons firing came from the Omas. A flash of explosions glowed through the fog, four missed while the fifth struck the mid hull above the cannon ports, it broke some supports but it was only minor damages. The Qiangdian ship shook from the hit, the coordinator's hand swung down the earthbender while in Lau Kiu stance he jabbed discs out to the other ship.
The opposite soldier crumbled his stack of discs and created a wall that took the hit from Qiangdian ship. He formed his wall back into his stack while he retaliated hits that struck the Qiangdian in the right shoulder. His brother-in-arms jumped in and flung to discs back at the Oma navy ship, the trebuchet had sent another boulder that smashed into the center of the deck of another that ship that caused major damages.
Their trebuchet was destroyed, the Qiangdians, however, were busy too as their friends in the South brought siege towers into the war. They invented another form of projectiles except this was required remote earthbending after he sank a bit into the waters.
The inventor coined the name 'yulei' or 'water missile', one struck the bottom of the ship that initiated the heated exchange. More Pingyaoan warships entered the contested territory some survivors in the skirmish against Han's force. Which they won but the civilian vessels remained anchored in Lu'an for the time being.
Multiple ships positioned themselves side by side of each other and shot each other with cannonballs while the torpedos continued to damage more hulls. Another Oma ship began to sink, the low deck men solidified the hole with earth. The ship stopped sinking only a bit of water got into the ship but not enough to make a difference in the balance of it.
"Something's in the water!" warned one of the soldiers on deck.
"Sea mines?" another returned a yell.
"No, it looks to be some kind of elongated projectile that travels through the water!" he returned, the soldier noticed as the men across the grand river used earthbending to shoot the missile under the water. He pointed it out, "They're shooting tube-shaped rocks in our direction with bending. Be careful and redirect them back!"
The torpedo traveled through the water quickly he extended his arms out and flipped the underwater projectile and shoved it back at the men who threw it. Their ship shook, the Qiangdians looked over the edge, "What was that?"
"I think they found out what we're throwing but it's only that ship! Sink it before they alert the others!" ordered the captain of the warship.
Dimian and the Terra Team burst through the door of the estate, all the men in defensive stances slowly minced through the thought-to-be empty home. Rooms were cleared by each specialist individual in the team. The strangest of them was the recruit from three years ago, Shing, who slept with Governor Cha Lundu back in Dahongpao.
Much to the disapproval of his teammates of course but at the same time, it gave them the information they needed because Cha liked Shing enough to help them.
Shing snuck into another room the bed wasn't made he overly searched the entire room and snooped in places that didn't pertain to the mission. He found a pair of dodou on the floor he picked them up but there was nothing strange about them the only thing strange was his behavior. Mao one of the veterans in the group stood in the doorway as he spied on Shing.
"Shing! Put those down they could belong to a man, you sick deviant!" he scolded the young man.
"I did nothing wrong!" he squealed.
"Focus on the mission, Shing!" he told Shing, Mao walked in and dragged the weirdo out of the room and smacked him in the face. Dimian came out after he announced, "Clear!"
"What's going on?" he questioned the two men while Shing rubbed his cheek.
"I just got this depraved degenerate trying to sniff a stranger's underpants, it's disgusting!" hissed Mao.
"Shing pay attention, you could endanger yourself and we don't need you to openly practice your fetishes," Dimian advised, Mao frowned "Don't let him off the hook!"
"I'm not, my word's final we're on the mission right now after this is over. I'll deal with him, now keep looking," declined Dimian he repeated to the men what needed to be done.
Mao walked off angry as he murmured to himself and searched more rooms. Shing's head peeped about he realized he was alone he headed toward the same room until Qiji came out of the room after he heard the commotion and tugged on Shing's collar.
"Okay, fine! Fine I'm going!" said Shing, he wandered off somewhere, the kitchen was empty he thought. A guard wrapped his arm around Shing's neck but let go as soon as he wrapped his arm around the Terra Team member. When Shing looked back he saw Mao in the archway and the dead guard on the ground as blood poured out of his head.
"You're lucky I was here," Mao commented.
Shing slid his foot on the ground and sensed the vibrations around them. He inhaled some air as he concentrated on what he saw, "What do you see?" Mao inquired.
"There's more behind the estate, but its kind of fuzzy my sense doesn't reach that far," replied Shing.
Dimian, Chongtu, and Qiji arrived in the kitchens, "The home is cleared, what's going on?" said Dimian then asked about what Mao and Shing were doing in the kitchen.
"I killed the guy that had him in a chokehold but he's also saying he can feel something but his sense doesn't reach that far," explained Mao.
"Here let me try," offered Dimian as he jogged up to Shing and slammed his foot down with his eyes closed his feet felt a complex set of tunnels nearby. He smiled, "I found the governor."
"Where is he?" Qiji wondered.
"There's a complex of sewers outside and a sewer hole that leads there," said Dimian.
Dimian signaled the men to join him the other three ran over and they copied their leader's stance, they sunk the wall of the kitchen which revealed a manhole surrounded by three men. The sound startled them, earth transitioned into the sand was flung at Chongtu which blinded him while Mao and Shing rose a wall and Dimian punched forward with both hands and swung upward, a stalactite rose out of the ground and killed one of the soldiers. Qiji crumbled a corner of the wall and shot smaller projectiles of rocks at the other two, one of the rocks was punted back at Qiji which struck him under his eye.
This rocked his head back which gave him whiplash he covered his face, Mao and Shing shoved the wall at one of the two soldiers. While a rockicle struck one of the two near the utility hole and killed him. The last one forced back by the wall he broke into small sections and threw a combination of punches and kicks.
Shing broke a few while Mao headbutted the biggest one Qiji saw blood on his hands he redirected a big boulder back at the soldier who almost caused him to be blind in one eye. The man was out unconscious and injured after the blow from the boulder.
They searched the dead bodies and used the rope one of them carried to tie up the soldier. Shing removed the lid along with Chongtu while Mao tended to Qiji's wound. He examined the wound while Dimian questioned him, "Are you alright? Can you continue?"
"Ack!" winched Qiji he nodded, "Hold still" whispered Mao, he grabbed soil off the ground and gently formed it into the shape of the gash of Qiji. Earthbenders used soil to control the bleeding in a wound this permitted the men to be safely hauled away before they died of blood loss or continue fighting.
Dimian, Chongtu, and Shing started to climb down Mao extended his arm out to Qiji to lift him to his feet. Both of the men were the last ones down the sewer hole the ladder guided them down to the inside where little water ran through. Dimian once again sensed the vibrations inside he felt everything from elephant rats to the breathing patterns of his comrades.
"I sense a cavern below and some giant metal cell within, that has to be the bunker come on," commented Dimian as he led his group in through the darkness.
Meanwhile, the Chu navy already had several warships that were in the middle of sinking, the Qiangdian navy was winning the battle. A flare was set off an hour or two before but nothing came through the mist. Five ships remained the sailors that could swim, swam back to shore, and treated those who dragged the injured or drowned. On the other side of the mist came a force of ships their flags with teal-colored with characters written on the flag that said 'Han Navy'. They positioned themselves the cannoneers below deck and opened the cannon ports.
The coordinator held his arm up as he waited for the fog to allow them to see their enemies again seven ships lined up horizontally across the river. The first coordinator swung his arm down the first set of cannonballs went off. Then in a sequence the second, third, fourth, fifth, then sixth, and then seventh ship's cannons fired.
All the Qiangdian ships that were sprawled about in the giant river except for one were struck in the lower hull with cannonballs. The ballistae on one of the ships had a chain placed on the earth bolt. It was launched and the projectile launched and crashed into a ship. It killed two Qiangdian sailors and caused the ship to split in half.
"We're under attack! Eastward! Reinforcements for the Omas are coming out of the river!" yelled one of the marines from the crow's nest. The Qiangdians held the position at the mouth of the river that fed into Lake Ku.
"Oo yeah! They're sinking, good job, boys!" cheered one of the Han sailors.
"It's pretty early to celebrate Li we should make sure they're underwater," commented one of the men.
An engineer slammed his meteorite hammer on the lever of a trebuchet a boulder was flung across the water and collided with another warship that split in half as well. A big hole was left in the middle, plates of earth blindly flew through the fog from the enemy. The trebuchet operator swung his hammer wildly as he shattered each one then was hit in the stomach.
He wasn't able to hold it in he stooped over the edge of the ship and threw up the pressure from the hit made him expel his breakfast from the morning. Another disc flew and shattered the skull of one of the trebuchet earthbenders, "Tsu!" screamed one of the men.
The other operator pressed two fingers on Tsu's neck and felt his pulse, "He's still alive!" he shouted.
"Take him below deck!" the helmsman suggested.
More discs flew in through the mist blindly another set of cannons went off from that ship. The discs stopped coming in a sigh of relief from the captain, "I think we got them!"
The ships venture forth into the thick fog hoping to be met with Chu's force, the flotilla commander from the bow of his ship he gave signals to the ships to his left and right. These in chain reaction repeated the signals for everyone else behind them through the other sailors on deck. The flotilla commander's ship was the first to appear out of the mist a junkyard of ships in the water. Chu sailor's stuck on the hull of their sunken ship as they waved their arms to be seen for rescue.
The Qiangdian navy was destroyed by the Chu ships that were near Shouhu-gui's Pass, there were some in the lake while the Han navy rolled in. That crew was the only crew stuck on their ship because the others either swam to shore, were eaten by what's rumored to be in the lake, or drowned. The commander's ship anchored near the men.
The flotilla's commander stooped over the rail and shouted, "Hey, boys! Thought you needed some help!"
"Ahh thank the gods you came! I thought we were screwed! The Pingyao men came out of nowhere, the city of Shouchun is still being assaulted by Qiangdians. We should defend the harbor and keep them from destroying any more warships," suggested the helmsman on the ship's hull.
One of the sailors had made his way to the anchor, he climbed up the anchor so he can make it on the ship. He didn't like being in the waters of the lake, the rumors scared him even if they were just a legend told to kids to stay out of the water.
"Ren you're already there?!" another yelled.
"I'd rather live to see another day than become serpent food!" he cried out from the deck of the ship.
The helmsman rolled his eyes, "It's just a story, don't you think the other sailors would've seen something by now?" he questioned him.
Meanwhile, inside the sewers the men crawled through a small tunnel they couldn't walk in while bending down. There was waste, questionable liquids, and other disgusting substances within the crawling tunnel. Mao couldn't hold in his flatulence, he began to sweat because Qiji was behind him then it came out.
"Ahhhhh! It burns!" screamed Qiji, he coughed and gagged while Mao blushed, "Oops sorry I couldn't hold it in!" he squeaked. Laughter roared from Shing who was behind Chongtu, the serious member of the Terra Team lightly kicked back to get Shing to shut it.
"Ow!" Shing cried.
Dimian crawled through it he could see green dim light he knew this to be the natural crystals that formed underground inside caves. He whispered, "We're...almost out.."
He pushed himself up and out of the tunnel and then extended his arm for Chongtu, Shing held onto Chongtu's lower leg. Dimian gripped his toes into the ground and used all his strength to pull both men out. Shing extended both hands for Mao who was much more buff than Dimian and a bit meaty as well, then two arms for Qiji who at first didn't want to get into the tunnel because he feared his wound would be infected until Mao pointed out the soil that was used to clog it.
From where they crouched they scanned the cavern it was huge but there was an iron box near the back wall where a small stream passed to it's left. Twelve men stood to watch outside as they patrolled their surroundings and made sure no assassins had snuck about. They crawled down to the bottom while they remained undetected there were only five of them and twelve of their enemies. The men burrowed into the ground a cloud of dust slowly flowed through the air.
"Captain, there's a cloud of dust over there," pointed one of the men.
"What?" he was confused he jogged over halfway he shouted, "Protect the door!"
The Terra Team sensed everything above ground there were only eleven men at the door, while underground Dimian tapped his fingers in a sequence that signaled the others. When they emerged out of the ground they threw a rockicle from each hand and aimed at their enemies from behind.
Five men fell dead a sixth was injured, the distracted captain heard the fighting ensued, and ran back. He formed a tremor and jumped on it so it'd take him to the iron bunker as it traveled. The captain bounced off spikes emerged and missed Chongtu by an inch, Shing had used his bending to shove Chongtu out of the way.
Chongtu clenched his teeth and darted his head toward Shing's direction they both nodded at each other. Shing formed jagged scale-shaped plates out of the ground this stopped another line of pillars from hitting Dimian. Mao dropped two rockicles into the knees of one of the soldiers, he screamed in pain as he fell to his knees in agonizing ache.
At this point, it was an accident to kill one of the estate guards on the other hand their goal was to incapacitate them instead. Another was coned by Shing at the same time, Senlin crawled through the pipes with a few soldiers that guarded the estate. He slapped the side of the tunnel wall and sensed combat in the direction they headed in.
"Get ready someone is fighting inside the cavern," he warned the ten men that followed behind him.
Dimian flung a boulder from behind him that took another estate guard along for the ride before it crushed him and caused a dent in the bunker's front wall. Inside Governor Gongyi and his family huddled closely together as they screamed from within. The ten guards inside held their stances while they were unable to hear sound from the inside the men assumed someone was trying to get in.
His son, Paoshou, rummaged through some of the crates his father was also startled and he looked over at his son. His daughter had begun to cry because she was scared at her father's sudden reaction to throw crates while he looked for something.
"Paoshou, what are you doing? You're scaring Song," chatted his father.
"I'm looking for-" he paused his eyes lit up as he grabbed the weapon, "...hand cannon," he finished.
"I'm going to protect my family even if costs me my life," added Paoshou. He filled the barrel of the hand cannon with blasting jelly and lead pellets.
"Paoshou, give me the hand cannon. I'll do it," ordered Governor Zhuan.
"No, father you have a province to govern," declined Paoshou.
"My son, you have a life to live. I only have a few more years left. If I'm lucky I'll live another ten years. I'll do it, I'd rather you, your mother, and your family live. If I'm gone you're the governor, the people of Chu need you," he reasoned with his son.
Paoshou lowered his head and sighed he handed his father the gun, Governor Gongyi stood behind his estate guards and waited for the moment when the door is ripped off its hinges from the intruders. One of the men inside reminded him, "We've got this covered, Governor but the help is appreciated."
"If the door is broken down make sure my family makes it out, I couldn't bear losing them," he commented. The estate guard nodded as he understood his mission.
The captain was killed only three of the seven that remained were incapacitated while the others were killed. The Terra Team forced a huge spike of the earth since they might have been the only way to break into the iron bunker. It caused the iron door to form a hole in the door, they resharpened the spike and thrust it forward which tore a hole into the metal door. Governor Gongyi squealed but didn't fire his gun he saw the Qiangdian specialist soldiers as they continued their mission.
From behind he saw men dressed in Oma Kingdom uniforms he beamed in happiness, "We're saved!"
Paoshou nipped briskly over to his father we peeped out of the sizable hole and could see the enemy soldiers turn around and face the Oma soldiers. The air was still and everything went silent, Dimian came face-to-face with The Great Betrayer. Finally, he thought to himself Tiandi gave him his wish to confront General Senlin.
"General Senlin we meet at last, how Yama has brought us to this very moment. The Great Betrayer right before us, boys," announced Dimian.
"Who are you?" Senlin questioned him, "Your worst nightmare, I'm going to deliver your head to Earth King Qiang Zhen," responded Dimian confidently.
Senlin held a wicked grin as he bore his eyes into the leader of the Terra Team, "Well then, boy. I'm going to deliver you to Yama and your ancestors."
His foot and right first quickly made contact with earth that flew at Dimian, he caught the rock the size of his hand and redirected it back at Senlin. Senlin shifted himself to the left and watched the rock passed him. With his left he swung forward sand flew toward Dimian and Mao, now the men behind Senlin took stances and attacked the Terra Team. Shing in the back Dimian took a gander and barked at him, "Shing bust down that door!"
The young earthbender continued as the other elite Terra Team members fought off the men. Chongtu rose a wall and sectioned it into smaller bullets. Balled his fists and bent them toward himself before he swung them back and then bent them forward again and then finally turned his hands away from himself and opened them small projectiles flew as a barrage the Oma soldiers as it struck several. Senlin created a quick body shield that prevented him from getting hit by the bullets.
Shing formed a fist without a boulder and crashed it into the door the dents formed into the door. He continued to bang the door with a gauntlet of earth. Shing wiped the sweat from his forehead. A soldier flanked behind the Terra Team and formed a tremor toward the Terra Team rookie. He felt the vibrations of the tremor and instead controlled the tremor. The unnatural tremor formed a stalactite at the end of its course and impaled the bender who started it.
The door had already been banged up Governor Gongyi and ten estate guards stood behind the metal door as they waited. Qiji magnetized earth unto him like armor and pushed forward as he cracked skulls and smashed in heads with a hammer made of earth. Senlin dodged every hit and formed a fist of earth that uppercut Qiji and lifted him off the ground.
The hit vibrated in his entire body and armor hit landed on his back, however. A rockicle was shot from Mao at Senlin but it paused in front of the master earthbender. His grip on the rockicle far greater than Mao, it fell instead which angered the earthbender.
Shing had busted through the door Senlin saw the iron vault door fall in front of the young man. Governor Gongyi was in front of the men a blast came from the short old man's hands, Mao heard the sound it's as if everything slowed down and time stopped.
Mao screamed, "Nooooo!"
The blast hit Shing and killed him instantly his body flew a few centimeters back. A soldier buried his sword into Mao's back after he reacted to the death of Shing. He too fell on his knees he coughed out blood and peered down and the blade that emerged out of his body he tried to grab it but the warrior pulled it out of Mao's torso. He laid on his side as he continued to gurgle blood, the soldier walked over to finish Mao off.
He put his foot above the earthbender's head Qiji tackled the warrior and punched him repeatedly in the face. He caved in the man's face which now was a splatter of blood around his head, Qiji ran over to Mao to assist his comrade. Dimian and Chongtu were fired up there were only three of them left and eight of the Oma Kingdom soldiers beside Senlin.
But now it had been eighteen because the other guards inside the vault poured out to help out Senlin and his back up. Dimian sighed and saw that they were sadly outnumbered this is how Yama brought him, Chongtu, and Qiji their fate alongside their fallen brothers Mao and Shing. Chongtu and Qiji quickly threw cheap shots at soldiers. Dimian threw sharp disc shapes rocks at Senlin but the Commander used earth bracers to block each one. A surprise struck Senlin's left knee a big cut that caused him to fall to the ground.
Senlin winced in pain a fist flew forward from Dimian that one chance he has of killing Senlin, Governor Gongyi fired another volley of pellets at Qiji who saw the blast. He flinched with his right hand extended he realized he wasn't dead when he halted the pellets in front of him. He spread them out and flung them back at his enemies.
It struck a few guards and even Governor Gongyi in the left shoulder, the old man fell back on his rear. The hit knocked him off balance, "Father!" cried out Paoshou.
Chongtu sent three lines of pillars at the men near the bunker while Paoshou dragged his father's unconscious body into the bunker. He ran over to the crates and looked for first aid supplies to stop the bleeding from the pellet. Senlin sunk himself into the earth deeper than most could, he laid underground as the earth magnetized onto his wound as it crawled and enveloped it to stop the bleeding.
The earth material that latched onto his wound was onyx, Chongtu was the next to fall he was beheaded by another warrior. Dimian cried out for Chongtu as his head rolled over to Qiji's feet its eyes still moved but Chongtu once attached head saw nothing, Dimian and Qiji remained.
Upper Ring, Ba Sing Se, Qiangda Kingdom
Qiang Zhen sipped on some ginger tea as he sat comfortably in his throne still ill but a lot better than the morning before. The old bald veteran entered the throne room through the gigantic doors that led to the Badgermole Throne. He eyes the old veteran and rose from his throne as he steadily stepped down the steps Guwen handed him his scepter.
"For so many years you served in the Thirty Year War with greats like General Xiang, General Xu, Avatar Ku Tei, and General Laojiang. You've fought in the final battle where Ku Tei captured Senlin and years later, hunted him down, and failed. But you failing doesn't matter at this very moment. Our beloved and clever General Tsuyo-sa has fallen in the destruction of Yumen in the Yu province," summarized Qiang Zhen.
"I ask that you kneel so that you may be awarded your much deserved and needed promotion," requested Qiang Zhen. The old veteran gasped and kneeled before his king, Qiang Zhen tapped Laobing's left and right shoulders and then declared, "By order and decree of your Earth King Qiangda Qiang Zhen you are hereby known as General Laobing, member of the Council of Five."
The royal guards, Guwen and Qiang Zhen cheered for the newest member of the Council of Five, Laobing's luck and expertise was needed now more than ever. Guwen walked forward as Qiang Zhen waved his hand for Laobing to rise. On a pillow he carried the Council's pin, Laobing's eyes watered as his tears stained the pillow's fabric. His hands shook with emotion as he put the pin on his uniform he kowtowed before the Earth King.
"I will serve my Earth King until my dying breath, long live Qiangda Qiang Zhen, all hail the true Earth King," exclaimed Laobing as he worshipped the boy king.
Meanwhile, Senlin jumped out of the ground onyx wrapped around his wound but as he emerged out of the dirt. The onyx fell off and revealed that his wound was now gone not even scar tissue remained Senlin tossed a massive boulder forward and Dimian.
Qiji was instantly killed when a shard of earth struck his right eye and exited through the back of his skull. The men surrounded Dimian, the final member of this Terra Team, the men held him down on his knees. Senlin was going to kill him until he shouted, "Governor Zhuan Gongyi!"
The old man hobbled out a bandage wrapped around his left shoulder, a stain of blood on it while they couldn't get the lead out because neither were skillful benders. Senlin and Paoshou aided the injured governor over to Dimian, Paoshou held the hand cannon in his hand.
"I think your father should have the honors, this world needs to forget the wretched horrors the Qiangdian Kingdom has wrought on our country," hinted Senlin.
The injured old man pointed the weapon at the soldier who was held down. Instead, he gave the man mercy and pointed the hand cannon at his chest, "This is for all the civilians you monsters slaughtered on your way in here, all the soldiers and sailors that lost their lives. I will never side with the Qiangda Kingdom."
"NEVER!" he yelled out as Dimian screamed and the blast was heard.
The hand cannon fell from Gongyi's hand. His estate guards buried the bodies of the men before Paoshou's wife and daughter could see them. At the same time, on the top side of the city, the invading army retreated from its positions and surrendered the stragglers ran. The Oma Kingdom was more barbaric than the Qiangda Kingdom when it came to those who surrendered. The Oma soldiers slaughtered the surrendering troops only three hundred men were stuck in the city, another hundred ran across the Shouhu-gui's Pass and collapsed the land bridge.
Team Avatar traveled west from Yunan province in the far distance over the horizon they made out the massive walls of the heart of the Qiangda Kingdom itself. Shen shifted his weight upward and as they flew in a vertical direction everyone clenched on tight to the handles of the saddle as they soared up the godly walls of the city. Shen passed over clouds and they found themselves above the ramparts of the walls. They flew past fields of green that covered every inch between the Outer Wall and the Inner City Wall of the grand city.
All of them gasped as they peered below Jushi pointed below, "I think this is the Agrarian Zone."
They headed northwest not too far from where they were they saw a giant lake with a small island in the middle but no tourists ventured out to the lake. It was abandoned it gave Unaraq chills for some strange reason. Aloi mentioned, "That's Lake Laogai, the citizens are barred from accessing the lake only the Earth King and the royal family can be there. They throw massive parties there, all the nobles are invited once a year."
"How do you know this?" questioned Jushi.
"I've read a book on it while I was in the Jongmu Air Temple with Rong Yan," answered Aloi.
"I never thought I'd see Ba Sing Se in my life, for the longest time living in the Oma Kingdom. I feel like I'm betraying my countrymen for even being here," commented Jushi.
Unaraq pointed down below at the farmland zone, "Look there are even hamlets here in this zone who's to say an entire town can't be found here."
"I thought the people lived inside the Inner Wall this whole time, but I suppose there are people who live in between the Inner City Wall and Outer Wall," observed Aloi, what she read in the book must've been inaccurate because she saw with her eyes that there were indeed people living in towns, villages and hamlets within the Agrarian Zone.
Rong Yan scanned his surroundings he saw a towering bridge on the other side of the farmland zone he pointed at it and said, "Oh look! There were an entrance and a bridge that we ignored."
Aloi shook her head, "No that's the monorail."
"The mono-what?" Rong Yan questioned her as he was visibly confused.
"The monorail is a train-" she had begun to explain until Unaraq blurted out, "What's a train?"
Aloi lowered her head and sighed, "You're telling me the most advanced nation in the world, the Fire Nation doesn't have trains?" she asked the Avatar.
"I er-I don't know...there aren't any trains where I live, and I don't recall Palace City having any trains," Rong Yan thought about it as he scratched his head.
"It's a long car filled with imports and exports and sometimes people and transport them from one place to another," explained Aloi.
"Where do the people go?" Unaraq wondered.
"Wherever they want," Aloi said.
"So I can get a monorail from here to my house?" Rong Yan guessed.
"If they build tracks from here to your village, sure," Aloi chuckled.
"The monorail is pushed by four earthbenders if I remember correctly, there are two on each opposite end," recalled Jushi.
"Interesting..." Rong Yan drawled out as he imagined such a thing in the Fire Nation but he pictured firebenders as they pushed the machination with jet streams of fire.
"Here's the Inner City wall," said Jushi they approached the wall, once they were over the wall all four of them sat at the edge of Shen's saddle gasped. A gargantuan metropolis that spanned to all sides of the Lower Ring, homes, businesses, parks, arena, academies, everything any person could imagine can be found here.
"Even if it's not that aesthetically appealing I should mention it's still rather breathtaking," mentioned Jushi.
"First to guess how many people live here I'll let you live in my mansion when I own one," Jushi said.
"Pfft mansions...I live in a palace," remarked Unaraq, Jushi frowned, "Fine."
"My mansion will have the most beautiful women of the Oma Kingdom," grinned Jushi.
"Mine has the most beautiful wom-" Unaraq coughed and cleared his throat when Aloi gave him a dirty look. "Er...I mean mine will have the most beautiful Air Nomad woman living inside it...with me..," paused Unaraq, "...forever," he finished with a whisper.
"I should mention the Lower Ring is sectioned into a Lower, Center and Upper sections," stated Jushi.
"What's the difference? They're all riddled with crime," Unaraq commented.
"...and the poor!" he added he was then back-handed upside the head by Aloi. Unaraq frowned.
After a few hours as they traveled through the expansive Lower Ring, they found themselves flying overhead the walls of the Middle Ring which was as vast as the Lower Ring.
"I like this neighborhood less...how do I put it...less crime, so it doesn't look like a stain on the city," commented Jushi.
"Are you saying the Lower Ring is a stain on Ba Sing Se?" Aloi insisted.
"No, I'm saying the crime that riddles it stains the ring not the entirety of it," Jushi shook his head.
"There's a stable down there and I'm hungry," Rong Yan pointed out.
"I'm not," Unaraq said.
"No one cares, everyone else is," Jushi laughed, Shen descended below and they landed near a stable close to a restaurant.
The restaurant was pretty large and even had a patio where patrons were able to dine outside as they absorbed the atmosphere of the Middle Ring. The wooden signs near the restaurant read, 'Dufan's Restaurant, Houxian Cuisine'.
"Houxian cuisine, where have I heard that name before?" Jushi questioned himself as he attempted to recall where he heard the name before.
"Houxi province!" remembered Jushi.
"Ooo so they have one of these in Anlu actually, but anyway, some of the famous dishes are like, hand-pulled noodles with beef, Baihe Tao is Air Nomad friendly, Baisui Picken, Houxian Roast Deer Pig, Jinyu Facai isn't salmon but it's just Dwarven Koi grilled," chattered Jushi as he went on about the foods that were from the Houxi province.
"Baihe Tao sounds like a tempting dish what does it have?" inquired Aloi, Rong Yan, and Unaraq disappeared while Aloi and Jushi discussed the dish further.
"It's a lily stuffed with bean paste that looks like a peach, it's steamed and also they pour white sugar sauce on it, completely vegetarian," answered Jushi.
"That sounds delightful, going need you to order for me though," smiled Aloi.
"Sure," Jushi returned the smile, Aloi called out to Unaraq, "Una-" she paused she looked around and he was nowhere to be found until she saw Rong Yan and Unaraq already seated at the restaurant they cackled in the distance as they were over joyous and shared jokes about things she knew she'd probably slap her boyfriend upside the head for.
They met their friends at the restaurant the server sat Aloi and Jushi with Unaraq and Rong Yan after they paid for their entry. They looked through menus while Rong Yan and Unaraq had already ordered their meals. "What kind of drink would you like with the Baihe Tao?" Jushi asked Aloi.
"What would you recommend?" she wondered.
"If you like sweet there's peach flower tea and lavender tea is another favorite, it's all good for relaxation," informed Jushi.
The waiter arrived with Unaraq and Rong Yan's food then he questioned the newcomers, "What can I get you?"
"She'll have Baihe Tao with peach flower tea and I'll take some roasted deer pig and Nationalist rice wine if you have any," Jushi ordered for Aloi and himself.
"How come you never let me order for you?" Unaraq asked his girlfriend, "Because, you're a meat-eater, sweetie," she smiled she fluttered her eyes at him.
"Right, right," he nodded then he dug into his meal as did the Avatar, after their meals came they spent an hour eating the food the Sun close to its path for sunset. The time of day was mid-afternoon soon they'd hope to leave so they can stop by the King's palace.
A couple of tourists sat in the table behind Jushi and Rong Yan they chattered about different things that went on in their lives. While the woman mentioned, "The princess of the Fire Nation, Yua, will be in the Upper Ring visiting. Something about political relations with the Qiangda Kingdom I believe."
Aloi got excited Unaraq confused questioned her, "What's going on?"
"Yua's in town!" she beamed with joy.
"Who's that?" Unaraq wondered with curiosity.
"My best friend Yua is the princess of the Fire Nation," answered Aloi.
"Wait there's a princess in the Fire Nation?" Rong Yan bugged he paused then recalled, "I only remember a prince...Shukun is his name."
"Shukun's sister is Yua, you're from the Fire Nation how do you not know she doesn't exist?" wondered Aloi.
Rong Yan shrugged. "Oh great another royal those people are weird, arrogant, and too priggish for my taste," commented Unaraq.
"You're a royal!" they all told Unaraq, he sunk his face into his collar in embarrassment.
Jushi left a tip on the table and headed back to Shen, the others soon followed and they found themselves in the air again. A couple more hours later, they passed the Middle Ring's wall, now they were in a more lavish environment rich with vegetation, and huge homes fit for kings, there was even a large pond in the Upper Ring.
The guards patrolled the Upper Ring protected both the culture and Earth King. While every noble themselves had money to hire estate guards, each estate was filled with over a ton of guards.
Nobles padded through the streets as they moved about their business another stable was found here tucked in a corner near the border between the Middle and Upper Ring. The noble stables after they landed and paid the expensive rent for Shen they wandered off to the palace which was protected by another set of walls. The outer palace walls the massive flat courtyard that surrounded the palace of the Qiangdian Earth King was oftentimes filled with royal guards and cultural police.
Sometimes the military trained here for exercises a much grander-scale. The sun had set behind the horizon as they headed toward the palace gates where royal guards stood and watched. A familiar middle-aged woman exited through the palace walls, Ambassador Dashi, it had been over three years since they last saw the ambassador. What with the war and the tensions between the Tribesmen and Qiangdians she wasn't working overseas in the North Pole.
She gazed upon the faces of the Avatar and Aloi she tilted her head confused as she attempted to remember them, "I know you two.." she paused.
"You're Avatar Rong Yan and Master Aloi! Wow, I haven't seen you two in three years!" she beamed excitedly.
Rong Yan and Aloi exchanged looks then Aloi spoke up, "We don't...recall I'm sorry."
"Ambassador Dashi," she said her name, Rong Yan's eyes lit up, "By the gods you were the ambassador that was wrongfully imprisoned along with me in the North Pole!"
"Ohhh yeah," drawled out Aloi as she agreed with Rong Yan once she recognized the ambassador. Dashi embraced both Aloi and Rong Yan she recognized them but not Unaraq but he wasn't too concerned about it. Then there was Jushi who she didn't know at all but that's because he was new.
"How have you two been since we last spoke to each other?" she asked them.
"We've been doing well other than dealing with this war, Rong Yan came here to seek an audience with the Earth King on political matters," responded Aloi.
"What occurred after I left Aupaluk?" she questioned Rong Yan.
"Things slowly went back to normal, Noa's family returned to Niptaktuk, they lost their seat in the Council of Elders, Chieftess Tanaraq got pregnant, I mastered waterbending, Lord Cupun left with the col-" Rong Yan replied before he was elbowed by Unaraq and interrupted.
He noticed that he rambled about things he shouldn't have been sharing. Unaraq was right it'd endanger Cupun and his father's lives if they continued to stay in Bei Fu and Rong Yan mentioned it.
"What about you?" Aloi gave Unaraq a look and then tittered nervously.
"I picked up my life here where I left off, politics keep a woman busy. Avatar Rong Yan, you mentioned you seek to speak to King Qiang Zhen?" she answered the question given by Aloi before she repeated what Rong Yan said earlier.
"That's his name?" Rong Yan wondered, she nodded, "Yes."
"I need to speak to him about matters involving this war," stated Rong Yan.
"It's important that I speak to him soon," he added.
"You did me a favor three years ago, now it's time I do you a favor. How's this you four can sleep in my guest home within my estate for the evening. Tomorrow morning, I need to speak with Qiang Zhen I'll convince him to meet you, Rong Yan. Hopefully, in the afternoon he'd be willing to see you," offered Dashi.
"I'd like that, thank you," Rong Yan smiled, they followed her to her home where they spent the evening. They caught up on specifics and details about everything that has occurred but Rong Yan held his tongue when it came to Bei Fu. Unaraq was right, he can't give the Qiangdians the upper-hand on the Tribesmen or vice versa.
The next morning, Dashi entered the vast throne room, Qiang Zhen, better than ever and back to normal health with Guwen right next to him. The old Grand Secretariat caught a cold from His Majesty, the Earth King he felt tired and he seemed a bit sickly pale. Dashi knelt before the Earth King, after the formal greetings he waved his hand at her which permitted her to rise.
"Ambassador Dashi it's good to see you again, I hope you've brought me the reply from Hegumen R'Kang about our infestation," he brought up.
The woman nodded, "Yes, he sent a courier here to relay the information for me. R'Kang stated the Tribesmen are of no threat to the Baiyan Air Temple."
"Did he mention anything about sightings of Tribesmen?" he inquired.
"The Hegumen made no comment but he wishes no part in this war," Dashi answered.
"Fair enough," nodded Qiang Zhen, he waved his hand at her which signaled her to leave but she seemed hesitant because she needed to disclose more information to him. He expected her to leave but he faced her again, "Is there something else?"
"Your Majesty, the Avatar is in Ba Sing Se, he's a friend of mine and he wishes to speak to you," revealed Dashi.
"The Avatar?" gasped Guwen.
"The Avatar is here?!" blurted the Earth King.
"Bring forth the Avatar, ambassador!" beamed Qiang Zhen.
"The Avatar is not alone, Your Majesty," said Dashi.
"The Avatar's companions are welcomed in my city, ambassador. See to it that they arrive here in a carriage," added Qiang Zhen.
"Your Majesty, the Princess of the Fire Nation is in the city as well. Need I to remind you, you have an appointment with her here this afternoon," Guwen reminded Qiang Zhen.
"The princess? What happened to the Fire Lord?" he asked his advisor.
"The Fire Lord cannot make it at the moment he's ill," Guwen responded.
"It seems this bug is making itself known throughout our lands, I wish him good health. Make sure we don't transmit the illness to the princess. I hope she's willing to join us at the festivities on Laogai Island," said Qiang Zhen then he wished that the young woman could be able to enjoy in the festivities of Laogai Island.
An hour later, Dashi knocked on the door of the guest home Jushi answered the door while Rong Yan and Aloi played Pai Sho and Unaraq picked the gunk out of his toes.
Dashi waved hello to the earthbender, "Good afternoon, I just spoke to Earth King Qiang Zhen, he wishes to see Avatar Rong Yan in his palace immediately."
"Did you hear that?" Jushi questioned the Avatar as he took a gander at Rong Yan.
"Yeah I'm coming," Rong Yan shouted from inside.
"Wait can they come too or.." he paused, Dashi replied, "If they'd like to then yes, but I recommend your Oma friend change into Qiangdian attire."
"I may be from the Oma Kingdom but the Si Wong province is neutral in the civil war," stated Jushi.
"Wait I read in a book that the Hami Tribe allied themselves with Gao," remembered Rong Yan.
"You've done you're homework, while Chieftain Daj has aligned himself with Gao, that doesn't mean everyone is," disagreed Jushi.
"I prefer going in my plain clothing if you don't mind," fretted Jushi, "Wait this is the Qiangdian Earth King we should probably dress accordingly to impress him," added Aloi.
"He didn't say you needed to but I do recommend it," Dashi repeated, she then offered, "My dressing attendants are more than welcome to give you outfits from my husband's wardrobe and for Master Aloi, you're more than welcome to choose a tunic, dress or robe from mine. I ask that you leave your weapons here, there are weapons allowed inside the palace."
Unaraq tossed his weapons inside the home and then placed his hands on his hips he gave a slight frown but he knew they have similar rules back home. They followed Ambassador Dashi over to her home where she called out to the dressing attendants. The women lined up as the four young adults entered the dressing room. They held their measurement tapes and were ready to see if the outfits would fit them.
While Dashi's husband's outfits fitted Unaraq and Jushi, Rong Yan was too tall for the outfit given to him. Dashi stroked her chin then Rong Yan said, "It's fine I'll go in my outfit I do believe it's better if he became accustomed to me in my regular get-up."
A carriage came and halted in front of Dashi's estate in the lower section of the Upper Ring, this is where most of the low-ranked government officials along with some business owners resided. Jushi, Unaraq, and Aloi wore expensive clothing styled in the Qiangdian fashion. Unaraq wore lavish light robes with dark blue colors and a golden sash, Jushi wore dark green robes with a brown leather belt with the Qian coin insignia, and Aloi wore an orange dress with a floral design on the breast, left shoulder, and across the waist areas.
While Rong Yan kept his typical Nationalist tunic, zuowei hat, trousers, and red clogs, an estate guard opened the carriage door for Dashi's guests. They each gave a slight head bow as they formally thanked the guard for his duty. They were headed toward the Earth King's palace-like esteemed guests of the king himself. Rong Yan smiled as he stared out the window he never expected that someday he'd meet the grand Earth King of the Qiangda Kingdom. If he wasn't born the Avatar, he'd most likely be working the mines with his father.
An hour during the carriage ride that was halted at the steps of the palace, once they exited they all gasped in awe at the giant staircase that led to the palace doors. The royal guards approached them they were ordered to spread out with their legs wide apart and their arms extended to each side. One of the royal guards searched every one of the men before they entered. He approached Aloi and crouched when he made the gesture that he was going to check her legs she pushed his head away.
The guard rolled his eyes and another royal guard questioned her, "Do you have anything that can harm the Earth King on your person?"
"No, of course not!" declined Aloi she sounded a bit irritated. The royal guard exchanged looks with the other who searched the men.
"She's not lying," he said.
"How do you know she's telling the truth?" Unaraq inquired.
"Because I can feel her heart rate and her breathing," responded the guard.
"You are free to go, I will escort you directly to Qiang Zhen's throne room. I ask that you approach and kowtow before the Earth King. He is god in these lands," said the guard.
They entered the corridor that led to the throne room, the massive doors were opened by several earthbenders who used their bending to open them. They were again in awe as their eyes scanned the entire throne room's vast size in the far back wall was the Badgermole Throne.
This is where the Earth King spent his entire day and next to him was the Grand Secretariat, the entire throne room was lined with several royal guards by the pillars and near the walls lined in formation. There were even guards that they couldn't see but they were there the entire time. The four of them walked forward and kowtowed before the Earth King who's voice echoed as he greeted them, "Avatar Rong Yan and companions it is good to finally meet you all."
He waved his hand at Rong Yan and his friends, Rong Yan and Aloi were confused while Unaraq rose as well as Jushi, "What are you guys doing?" whispered Jushi.
"We're supposed to rise?" Rong Yan guessed.
"Yes!" he replied.
The Air Nomad and the Fire Nationalist rose seconds later and felt embarrassed because they didn't recognize royal etiquette. Qiang Zhen stood on the steps with his hands behind back he asked Rong Yan, "What brings you to my city, Avatar?"
"I came here on political business, Your Majesty," responded Rong Yan.
"Oh? And what politics are involved in this?" Qiang Zhen inquired further he seemed intrigued.
"The Qiangdian-Tribesmen War," he said.
"And I suppose you want me to end this war, yes?" guessed the Earth King.
"Something like that, I have allies within the Tribesmen but I'm not here on their end. I'm here because we have a common enemy, an enemy that has taken much from you," nodded Rong Yan.
"...you're talking about him aren't you?" worried Qiang Zhen.
"Yes, The Great Betrayer-" Rong Yan answered the Earth King spoke over him, "Is he not dead?"
Rong Yan shook his head, "A deserter from his rebellion one of his most powerful allies a former fleet admiral of the Northern Water Tribe, left the rebellion and traveled to the Tribesmen base. He revealed to us in an interrogation-" Rong Yan explained but was cut off again by the king, "Young Avatar I assure you I am already well aware that the Tribesmen hold control over Bei Fu in Yu province."
"Of course, my apologies," he apologized Rong Yan continued, "...he revealed that Senlin had a grand plan and it took all this time for the necessary steps. I don't want to take you back to that horrible memory weeks before your coronation but that has led up to Senlin's plan. He defeated Gao in Gen Da, and now leads a massive army toward Ba Sing Se."
The Earth King was startled and taken back, "Captain Laozhang make sure the scribes send word to Governor Xinan in Ru and Governor Nan Zhou in Pingyao, they must remain on high-alert for an Oma army marching toward Ba Sing Se. I need a resistance that will cut down their numbers," ordered Qiang Zhen.
"That's not all, the Northern Rebellion as they call themselves are aligned with Senlin, and the Fifth Nation is offering them a fleet to invade the capital of your Kingdom," Rong Yan added.
"What?!" Qiang Zhen exclaimed in shock he sighed, "This is more serious than I thought, where does my part come in?" he inquired.
"I ask that you meet with Earth King Gao, Chieftain Unirak, Lord Cupun, and Chieftain Tulok in the Baiyan Air Temple. The Tribesmen leaders have sent a request for the Baiyan Air Temple to lead the negotiations on neutral grounds. We must all agree on a mutual ceasefire from all nations involved, Gao can and will order his men to stand down. While it gives me the concentration of killing General Senlin," requested Rong Yan as he further disclosed the next step to the Earth King.
"I don't know...I don't want to be in the same location as the chieftains of the Tribesmen, they've destroyed the Yu province," Qiang Zhen pondered on the idea of agreeing to the terms.
"You can request reparations from the South and North for the damages, and you can request for them to peacefully leave your land. I will see to it," reasoned Rong Yan then he promised the young Earth King that he'd help in any way he can to get Unirak and Tulok to remove the colonies.
"But this leaves the unanswered question who destroyed Yumen?" Qiang Zhen asked the Avatar, "I cannot agree with men who have committed genocide," he countered.
Rong Yan, Unaraq, Aloi, and Jushi exchanged looks the sickly Guwen noticed they glanced at each other, "The Avatar and his companions know something we don't."
Rong Yan stepped forward and confessed, "I...destroyed Yumen."
"Two million people erased from existence, my member of the Council of Five, the Governor and her family, men, women, and children that didn't need to pass. Why?" blurted the Earth King.
"They kidnapped my friend, they imprisoned him, they tortured him, they were going to kill him. And for what? A war that he didn't start? A war that he's not responsible for? All those people corrupted with hatred. They all wanted a taste of his blood, no. I had my reason, I confess to the crime. Let them go but do what you wish to me," maintained Rong Yan.
He lowered his head and accepted his mistake they were all right but they couldn't understand the reason for what the Avatar does. Qiang Zhen held his anger this was the Avatar the very same being that could snap their fingers and Qiang Zhen would've woken in the Spirit World. He feared the Avatar and respected the Avatar just as his grandfather and great-grandfather.
"Forgive me Avatar, I know not of the final hours of my people in Yumen. I accept the failure of not knowing what my governors are doing. While in the flesh I am angry and sad at the action committed, as my great-grandfather always told my father and he told me...we will never understand the decisions whether benevolent or evil. The Avatar ultimately decides in the end for the balance of the world," Qiang Zhen apologized to Rong Yan, the Avatar wasn't sure why but the Earth King held himself to a higher standard instead of breaking the traditional law and ordered to have Rong Yan and his friends executed.
"I suppose Yumen could've gone neutral at some point in time and betray the Crown, a possibility that was ceased before it could blossom. I will be saddened by the innocent lives that are gone but you needed to do what must be done," Qiang Zhen hypothesized.
"You have my word, I agree to meet the others in the Baiyan Air Temple. My grandfather's favorite was your predecessor, I will forgive you for the destruction of Yumen but I hope you will be involved with its reconstruction. We must do what is necessary to stop Senlin," the Earth King finished.
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