Fanon:Chapter 9: Prisoner of War Part 1: Crowned Prince

By King Bumis Heir	Genre	Rating	Reviews	Updates
More from King Bumis Heir	Action/Adventure/Drama/Comedy/Romance	PG-13	None	No update page

Overview[]

Team Avatar finally arrive in the Tribesmen-controlled city of Bei Fu, where Unaraq reunites with father once. Upon arrival they are greeted by his father who tasks Unaraq on to scout the outskirts of Bei Fu, rumors of Kingsmen stragglers in the area from merchants after the war are reported.

The survivors return to Fort Shengqi a shock to General Tsuyo-sa who returns to Yumen and seeks deployment of more soldiers to take back Yumen. In the midst of the plot Unaraq is captured and transported to Yumen along with four others. Tortured and imprisoned while he awaits his unfair trial to be put to death.

The Qiangdians plant fake evidence so he won't be searched for across the province, the Tribesmen mourn the death of Unaraq after they are convinced from the proof of his death. Yet Rong Yan receives visions from beyond the grave from his friend Unaraq.

Chapter 9: Prisoner of War Part 1: Crowned Prince[]

Book 3: Earth

Chapter 9: Prisoner of War Part 1: Crowned Prince

Fort Shengqi, Yu province, Qiangda Kingdom

The hot sun beamed down the earth below about five hundred men marched back home, there had been about maybe one-hundred and eighty of those men being transported on cots. Most of them were exhausted from their long-mile march back to Fort Shengqi, a devastated loss of men to a battle cut short by Tribesmen.

The Kingsmen of the Yu province once again underestimated the sheer number of Tribesmen that occupy the city of Bei Fu. While the population is drastically smaller than the city of Yumen, Bei Fu can hold about twenty thousand civilians. The legion held fifty-five hundred men, they returned with only nine percent of the number of men.

They've climbed the small mountain that led toward the western spine of the famous fort, these soldiers were not only physically exhausted plenty were mentally and emotionally weary. It could be seen on them as if they were a mindless horde of critters that skittered toward a meal. At the same time, General Tsuyo-sa sipped from a cup of steaming coffee in a porcelain cup. He spat out his coffee when he saw the minuscule-sized group that has arrived back to the fort.

"Open the gates!!" he yelled at the watchtowers as he faced to his left.

The quinquagenarian scuttled down the steps from the top of the wall to meet the survivors. Several of the survivors' armor was damaged, cracked with a few torn capes. The great earth gates opened with earthbending instead of a line of troops a blob formed as a ton of men entered at the same time. The man in the front of the battalion of survivors was Lieutenant-Colonel Yusheng, Tsuyo-sa's jaw dropped when he saw how bad the physical condition of all the survivors was.

"Lieutenant-Colonel Yusheng, where is Major Zihao and Colonel Yansu?" inquired General Tsuyo-sa. Yusheng uttered without facing the middle-aged general, "...they're dead..."

General Tsuyo-sa felt the vibe in the room that he remained in shock before he said, "Please..we must speak of this further in Yansu's former office."

Tsuyo-sa pivoted his entire body in a half-circle before he marched alongside the Lieutenant-Colonel toward the office of former Colonel Yansu. The entire trip toward their destination was silent all the others returned to their beds without communication amongst each other. Tsuyo-sa opened the doors to the empty office. Yusheng remained cold and expressionless while he hid his true emotions although a rush of memories flooded his head before he snapped back into reality.

Tsuyo-sa nipped over toward the counter where tea was heated and he boiled some water for himself and Yusheng. It was extremely unlike Tsuyo-sa to act in the manner he currently acted like, normally he'd scream in the men's faces to bury the fallen troops but for some reason, he's had a soft spot for all the soldiers. Maybe Mother Yun has gotten to him, led Yusheng toward Yansu's desk, "Sit," he said. He ran over to a cabinet to gather the teabags, saucers, and teacups and placed them on the table whilst he waited for the kettle to boil. He sat down across from Yusheng who remained stoic and stared at his fingers while he twiddled them. Tsuyo-sa himself felt uneasy as well as he witnessed the officer suffer, Yusheng's mind continued to have a horrible recollection of the battle but he wasn't the only one. Normally, he'd be used to it and he'd have the ability of flushing these remembrances but not this time the recruits Tsuyo-sa forced into battle were also greatly affected by everything that transpired in Bei Fu.

"What happened?" Tsuyo-sa questioned the Lieutenant-Colonel, a surge of thoughts that flooded his mind once again he remembered people burned in fires, flying beasts above his head.

"Th-the Tr-tribesmen happened...like nothing we've ever seen...th-they used tactics similar to the Air Nomads," mumbled Yusheng.

"What do you mean tactics? The Air Nomads evade and dodge everything," commented Tsuyo-sa.

"They used massive flying beasts, they dropped oil on the men and bombs rained from the skies, cannons flashed from the walls, volleys of unending arrows and icicles flew from the city. Our siege weapons were no match," described Yusheng.

"Unnatural fog surrounded the city, men were picked off one by one by those who lived in the fog. Traps were activated many fell into pits with spikes, shrapnel tore apart our men, others were blown to bits. Young men dying, older men never to see their families again, then the waters rose into the air as more of them rode the waves and drowned our brothers, a sea of Tribesmen exited the gates of the city and overwhelmed our soldiers like a large wave engulfs a small boat during a storm," explained Yusheng.

"Why didn't the men rush the walls as I told them to?" asked Tsuyo-sa, he gestured for Yusheng to pause a whistle echoed around the office the water was ready. Tsuyo-sa walked over his hand barely tapped the handle when he then quickly removed it and shook his head.

The general burned himself and scanned the counter for a rag so he could safely grab the hot kettle. He grabbed it again with a rag and went toward the desk where he gently placed the kettle down before he brought out two small containers that contained several tea bags of only two flavors. He questioned the Lieutenant-Colonel, "Chamomile or Lavender?"

"Lavender p-please," replied the man, Tsuyo-sa prepared the tea while the man continued to recall the battle, "We-we did rush the walls I remember a squad of earthbenders de-destroyed a watchtower but then someone came down from the walls and then a border of flames protected the city's walls. The b-birds continued with their terror from the skies. Our legion was torn apart."

Tsuyo-sa stared at his teabag the water-soaked it and the water changed to a dark yellow color he thought of what to do next and what to ask. He popped into his head, "I need you to work closely with Colonel Qian and brief him of what transpired during the battle so he can amass his men along with the survivors."

"General, I don't think these recruits were ready for battle," said Yusheng.

"They should be happy to be alive, Lieutenant-Colonel, war doesn't care that they're not ready. You know this," commented Tsuyo-sa. Yusheng exhaled some air in disapproval and then gave the general a simple nod he knew Tsuyo-sa was right.

"When should I leave?" inquired Yusheng as he took a sip of his tea.

"Now would be a great idea, I'm going to round up the men for a moment of silence. I'll make sure they get much-needed rest. While the most injured will be transported to Yumen for better healing," mentioned Tsuyo-sa.

Yusheng chugged his hot tea down his throat as he made visible signs of discomfort and instead headed down the steps and toward the ostrich horse pens. Tsuyo-sa sipped his tea some more and stepped near the window where he could see below. He rang the bell near him the men in the watchtowers heard the bell and banged on drums.

This alerted the men in barracks Tsuyo-sa exited Yansu's former office and went out onto the courtyard of the fort. Where he saw several men tired or even minorly injured leave their housing units to stand in line. Yusheng pulled himself onto the saddle of an ostrich horse and ran off toward the gates which opened as he rode close by.

The doors closed behind him as Tsuyo-sa saw the gate guards have returned to lean on the railings of the watchtowers. Everyone that could walk out on their own stood while others required assistance to stand the only absentees were the ones who arrived in cots. Tsuyo-sa stood tall despite being a short man, his hands behind his back, and his chip raised he stood there in silence before he announced, "I was briefed by Lieutenant-Colonel Yusheng about the results of the battle. I know many of you are glad you made it out alive, while also sad of those that we've lost in the battle itself. Just know they are no longer suffering and have died for their kingdom. Tiandi smiles upon them and has granted them paradise in the skies above us."

"While we remain in this together we may have lost but we will not falter. Bei Fu hasn't been lost yet, I want to take a moment of silence for the majority of men we lost a yesterday," said Tsuyo-sa, he held his hands in front of him then he lowered his head and stood in silence. Everyone else followed as he did and stayed silent.

A minute later, he lifted his head and announced, "The moment of silence is over, today you can return to resting. I'll be calling upon you all in a week or two, tonight I leave toward Yumen and will bring back riders to fly the seriously injured out of Fort Shengqi to Fort Ziyou."

Fort Ziyou was northeast of Yumen the same amount of men were stationed here similar to Fort Shengqi, fifty-five hundred men. He returned to Yansu's office and began to make reports and other orders he needed to send out soon. Governor Shangye needed to know what happened in Bei Fu, and she's going to be in anguish about it.

One Day Later

Yusheng awoke on the ostrich horse that continued on its path toward Fort Zhezhong, he noticed he was practically in front of the fort itself. This fort sat in the middle of grassy fields like the city of Bei Fu, near Fort Zhezhong was a pond that linked to a natural stream that flowed toward the ocean near Bei Fu.

Fort Zhezhong was built back in the 1200s during the Qian Kingdom, constructed similarly as Fort Shengqi. The fort was named after the father of King Zhuanxu, a general who married Queen Meng of the Qian Dynasty. He's won many battles and taken many names in his life, a man that was worthy to be immortalized. The earth walls separated from one another Yusheng noticed the thickness of the gates, the gates made a loud sound as they slowly closed behind him.

A tall, bulky man stood there as he waited for him this must've been Colonel Qian, a stablehand neared the ostrich horse as Yusheng hopped off the creature. He saluted his superior, "You must be Yusheng, the surviving officer that General Tsuyo-sa mentioned. Welcome to Fort Zhezhong, Lieutenant-Colonel," welcomed Qian.

Both men walked beside each other as while Yusheng briefed him on the situation once they entered the colonel's office. The middle-aged man claimed, "I assure you the Tribesmen will not fare well against my legion and the remaining battalion of Shengqi."

"With all due respect, Colonel Qian...Yansu and Zihao said the same thing and we underestimated them. What makes yours any different?" Yusheng questioned Qian he doubted the colonel after their loss against the Tribesmen.

"General Tsuyo-sa mentioned most of the men stationed there were recruits, everyone here is a highly trained individual. Individuals that have experience against the Tribesmen" responded Colonel Qian.

"How big were their numbers?" wondered Qian.

"There were many men I can't give an exact but I can say it was larger than fifty-five hundred men," guessed Yusheng. He continued with a suggestion, "The armies in that city are massive, we're going to need more than just six thousand men."

"I'll deploy a scouting party who will observe the city from a safe distance, they'll be out in the field for an entire week. They should be able to tell us more about the number troops in Bei Fu, if the number is more than ten thousand I'll send word to Shangye herself for the provincial guard's assistance," hinted Colonel Qian.

"You know the way to Bei Fu, don't you?" wondered Colonel Qian, Yusheng nodded. Qian's grew a large smile and added, "Great you'll be leading the scouting party to Bei Fu. These gentlemen are great scouts but they've never been to Bei Fu."

"But I-" he uttered before he was cut off, "But nothing that's an order," interrupted Qian.

Qian turned his back on the man before he commanded a soldier that guard the office, "Private Shang can you escort Lieutenant-Colonel Yusheng to the barracks and also pass along the message to Ren and his scouting party that they're going to scout Bei Fu for the next month...er-week with Yusheng over here."

The private saluted his colonel and led Lieutenant-Colonel Yusheng toward the exit. Yusheng treaded behind the heels of the private as he was escorted out.

A Few Days Later

Rong Yan steered Shen from his neck as he held tightly onto the reins of his dragon, Unaraq was asleep with his spare change of clothing underneath his head as a headrest. While Aloi and Jushi chatted about random things it has been about a week and a half since she gave the silent treatment to Unaraq. They haven't spoken for a while but she laughed when she had a conversation with Jushi.

Rong Yan piped, "There it is!"

Aloi and Jushi crawled to the edges of the saddle and peered down below, Jushi wriggled over to Unaraq to shake him awake. Unaraq groaned before he yawned Jushi yanked him by his collar toward the edge of Shen's saddle and pointed below, "Is that the city your dad captured?" he questioned the prince.

Unaraq unfolded the map slowly but then Shen's altitude dropped when Rong Yan spotted the Tribesmen flags. Unaraq screamed "Ahh!" the map escaped his hands and flew off, "That was our last map!" he exclaimed.

As they got closer Jushi and Unaraq noticed the bodies of Kingsmen soldiers they both dropped their jaws in shock. As far as they could see were piles of bodies, carrion birds had an entire buffet of flesh to feed off of. Aloi frowned and then sighed, "So many lives lost when will this war end?"

"My guess is with my father and Tulok's father renaming Ba Sing Se in the name of our ancestors," giggled Unaraq.

Aloi said nothing Jushi elbowed him in the ribs, "Ow!"

Shen flew over the walls of the city and touched down in the city square which was empty save for a few soldiers that gave signals for the Avatar to safely land in the spot. Shen lowered his head and allowed Rong Yan to slide off his neck, Jushi hopped off Shen's saddle and helped Aloi off. The soldiers held their spears at Jushi as they identify a Kingsmen simply as a Qiangdian Kingsmen.

Unaraq bolted over and ordered the men, "Whoa hey! Easy there! He's our friend, and he's an Oma."

The soldiers lowered their spears and knelt before the group, "We apologize and we are grateful you've finally come to Bei Fu, Prince Unaraq."

"Thank you, I'm glad to be here with my allies as well, this is of course Jushi, a descendant of Avatar Bhudev, you already know of Avatar Rong Yan. And this little lady," Unaraq introduced everyone but as he got to Aloi she walked away which interrupted his introduction.

"...is Aloi..." he finished he frowned in disapproval of his girlfriend who disrespected him in front of his soldiers.

One of the men noticed this and mentioned, "Your Highness the Air Nomad has shown great disrespect toward you if you want us to throw her out we will."

"No, that's fine she's just angry at me is all," Unaraq shook his head and sighed, "We'd like to be escorted to my father."

"Yes, your Highness," nodded the leader of the small group of soldiers.

While Aloi wandered off elsewhere Unaraq whispered to one of the guards, "Make sure she's restrained and taken toward where we are going. She must be there."

The soldier nodded, walked off Rong Yan asked, "Where is he going?"

"Eh, I don't know," shrugged Unaraq.

Rong Yan, Unaraq, and Jushi were escorted to a huge mansion in the northeastern portion of the city, the home had its private dock. Probably owned by the previous magistrate before he was either killed in combat or fled to Yumen. Rong Yan and Jushi gasped while Unaraq brushed it off and commented, "Eh my palace is bigger."

Unirak exited the estate both men exchanged looks at each other Unaraq called out to his father, "Dad!"

He ran toward his father while the chief opened his arms wide open for his son, Unirak embraced his son. The chief smiled, "It's good to see you, my son."

"Where's your girlfriend?" he asked the prince.

"Eh..she's on her way," tittered Unaraq, he let go of Unaraq and bowed before Rong Yan, "Avatar Rong Yan, what a pleasure it is to see you again. I hope Unaraq is being a good mentor and ally to you."

Chief Unirak then shifted his attention to a stranger he's never seen before he extended out his hand to shake the young man's, "You must be Jushi from Han Tui correct?"

Jushi nodded and then shook the chieftain's hand, "That I am."

"Follow me, gentlemen," Unirak said as he led them toward the room inside of the estate. Once they reached the war room it was a large room with an expensive wooden table used as the spot where the big animal skin with the map drawn on it laid. Rong Yan, Unaraq, Jushi, and Unirak surrounded the table.

Anuun and Atattuk entered the war room Unaraq peeped up from the map and saw the familiar men who arrived, "Anuun! Atattuk!" he called out to them.

"Prince Unaraq?" they wondered as they tried to remember the voice. When they saw him they knelt before the prince of the South, he smiled at the men.

"It's so good to see you both," smiled Unaraq. Aloi was shoved in by the soldiers who turned their backs on her to guard the doorway into the war room.

She rubbed her left arm and shouted at one of them, "That's not how you treat a lady!"

She turned to face the men in the room and quickly got embarrassed when she met eyes with the chieftain of the South. She tittered nervously in embarrassment and apologized, "Chieftain Unirak! I-I'm so sorry I-"

Unirak raised his hand and gestured the girl to keep silent, "Please join us."

She quickly gave a courtesy bow to the chieftain before she scuttled over and lodged herself in between Rong Yan and Jushi. Unirak waited until she was comfortable and settled then he began, "I'm sure you've noticed the bodies out in the open fields?"

All four of them nodded, "What happened here, dad?" wondered Unaraq.

"The Qiangdian Kingsmen returned to take control of their city once again but failed, Anuun and Atattuk gave us brilliant ideas to stop the invasion. Without them we would not be having this conversation," answered Unirak.

"We've only lost about three thousand men while the Kingsmen lost the majority of their army, I know this won't be the last we see of them. They'll come back with more but that will take them weeks or even months," Unirak continued.

"According to some of the caravans that have brought us supplies from other forts we've captured have claimed they've seen small encampments of about five to eight men within the five-mile radius of the city. We believe these are scouting parties or maybe they're here for other reasons, like infiltration of the city to assassinate us," Unirak finished.

"Do the Kingsmen know you're here, milor..er chieftain?" inquired Jushi.

"As far as I or Cupun knows, no. We believe if they had that information they would have sent more than just five thousand men. The provincial guard would've been at this last battle if that was common knowledge to the enemy," responded Unirak.

"How many men do you have here?" Rong Yan wondered.

"We're crammed in here honestly, we have about twenty-three thousand men in the city, maybe larger than the army Yumen can muster. It all depends," replied Unirak.

"You mentioned stragglers," recalled Jushi.

"Yes, which leads me to...," paused Unirak he faced Unaraq, "I know you just got here but how would you like to boost the morale of the men by joining one of the scouting parties? You'll be guarded by elite assassins," Unirak offered his son.

"It's been quite some time I did something for the tribe, I'll take the offer. When do I leave?" chuckled Unaraq then he asked his dad as he looked him in the eyes.

"You have an hour to prepare, the men have been waiting all day I'll have the guards escort Aloi to your chambers. I'll have Anuun escort you to the barracks where you'll be fitted for the armor and you can select from the variety of weapons available," explained Unirak.

Unaraq turned around to head out with the soldiers before his father called out to him, "Unaraq." He looked back, "Yeah?"

"You're going to be an uncle, your sister's been pregnant for four months now," smiled Unirak as he announced it. Unaraq pointed at himself in shock and then celebrated. He lifted Jushi off his feet in sheer joy.

"ME?! YES!!" Unaraq shouted excitedly, Aloi gave a slight smile her relationship with Tanaraq has grown from the last time they've seen each other she was happy. She stepped toward Unirak, "Congratulations you're going to be grandfather," she smiled.

"Thank you, my dear," he thanked her as he gently held one of her hands in between both of his.

"I'll brief you later on our findings, Dad," said Unaraq before he walked out. Two soldiers bowed to Aloi and offered, "If you'd like to be escorted to the prince's chambers right now, we can do so. Unless you'd like to explore the city on your own."

"I'd like the escort please," answered Aloi. The men led her out of the war room only Jushi, Rong Yan, Unirak and his high-ranking military officials remained. Rong Yan cleared his throat he wanted to know more about the ongoing political and more information about the war.

"You mentioned you've won the battle, are you the only ones here in the Qiangda Kingdom?" inquired Rong Yan.

"Certainly not, we have other forts and cities captured in several states, we've captured cities in Yizu, Duru, West Hu Xin, and Wulong. The only one we've lost was a city named Yingying in Giralal close to the border with southern Chongqing province," responded Unirak.

"Do you think you'll win the war against Duryaja's Kingdom?" Rong Yan wondered.

"Duryaja's Kingdom?" Unirak was visibly confused at what Rong Yan asked. The Avatar corrected himself, "Sorry...I thought that was common knowledge, with the Qiangda Kingdom."

"I cannot say, young Avatar. It is a mystery and it is better left off for Tiandi to decide," replied the chieftain.

Unirak added, "I'm going be busy today, Avatar Rong Yan, I don't mean to be rude but if you'd like to brush up your skills in waterbending we've got plenty of capable masters here to train with. Unless you'd like you to continue your earthbending training with Jushi here we've got training grounds you can train south of here."

"We'd very much like that," Jushi commented, Unirak eyed a guard and nodded, the soldier walked forward and placed his hand on Jushi's shoulder and gestured he and Rong Yan to follow him. At the same time, Unaraq was being measured by a quartermaster by the length of his shoulders, his height, his waist, and so on. The quartermaster's assistant held a piece of parchment and a brush and wrote the measurements down.

"Waist thirty-six inches," said the quartermaster as he removed the measurement band from the prince's waist. The assistant drew the measurements for Unaraq's waist and ran off to find the armor that could fit the exact measurements of the prince.

"My assistant will return with a fitted armor set equal to your range," mentioned the quartermaster.

"For now, you may choose a weapon from the selection provided here," offered the quartermaster he gestured as he pointed to the racks that displayed various weapons from spears to clubs. Unaraq in his loincloth walked over to the racks and examined the different kinds of weapons available.

He saw a white club with nice wave carvings into the bone that was painted a light blue. The top of the club held a diagonal blade that could be used to chop the meat as the blade's design gave away the intention of it.

"Ahh yes, that club also has a butcher's blade attached to the head for when you've hunted a meal and would like to portion it. Great for breaking Kingsmen bones too," joked the quartermaster.

Unaraq felt placing his fingers around the leathered hilt that carried padding for a more comfortable hold. The leather straps that hung from it carried tiny wood carvings of a child's head which indicated the wielder was protected by Anguta and another of a painted black fish which indicated the strength of Tui washed over the wielder of this war club.

The assistant returned with a full armor set, the assistance placed the chest armor over the prince and began to secure the armor around his torso. The quartermaster commented, "Nothing's thicker than walrus bear leather in the poles, it might be hot in this thing but it will keep alive during the scouting mission. The pants themselves are also walrus bear leather and the shin and thigh guards are made of the wood from a giant red tree. I don't know the name of it but the gatherers have called it 'redwood'."

"We've tested it, it's very durable, we've removed the cork from the wood itself so it's smooth, even the neck plate on the armor is made of redwood bark. You should be protected, for your helmet I've crafted this piece. Your father requested this and I am honored to present you the helm," said the quartermaster.

The man removed a helmet from a crate it was carved from the skull of a walrus bear as well and painted blue with thick wooden plates around the jawline and near the temples of the head. The helmet had short knife-pointed ears, a sharp nose, the eye holes on the helmet made it look sinister and there was even detail of small sharp teeth. On the crown of the helmet was a tuft of black ostrich horse hairs the helmet looked terrifying and would most likely intimidate the enemy or anyone who laid eyes on such a thing.

The quartermaster placed the helmet on Unaraq's head he now carried an aura of intimidation around him and both men felt it. The quartermaster exchanged excited looks with his assistant, "He's ready, sir!"

"Splendid!" clapped the quartermaster, one of the scouts arrived in black leather armor and a wolf's helmet when he took a step back and gasped at the prince's armor.

The assistant and the smith laughed at the assassin, "See he looks intimidating!"

The scout-assassin bowed to Unaraq, "Your Highness we're ready for the mission."

Unaraq removed the helmet and nodded, "Let's head out then."

Meanwhile, in Omashu, Senlin prepared himself as he walked out of the villa he was given and protected by royal guards loyal to the Oma King. General Ming waited outside for the Commander as he was now called, Ming wasn't too satisfied over the results of the Gen Da that he believed the King shouldn't even have made because of his old age.

A more formidable bender such as himself would've fought in place of the Earth King against the commander. They walked alongside each other as they headed down the lengthy and large stairs that led from the Upper District in the middle mountain to the War district where all the war-like and military operations were held. Senlin wore new armor, a pin and patch haven't been manufactured yet but they were being made as of today.

He was clad in dark green lamellar armor from the neck down at least, the helm was to be gifted to him today before they left. He questioned Ming, "How does the old king fare?"

General Ming wanted to leave the question unanswered but he licked his lips and then replied, "The king is still bedridden if that's what you're asking. His body will take a while to heal." They arrived on the military district General Ming presented the district and it's buildings to Senlin, he led Senlin to the war room. Where two other men were present as they waited for his appearance, one of the men was General Fu who was often stationed in Dahongpao. But he was called back home for the past few months now, his officers ran the war effort in the contested province of Chaopin.

The other was a much older man possibly in sixties Senlin thought, he was wrinkled and scarred each described a different story in his life whether good or bad, happy or sad. He was bald from the crown and only grew white hair from the sides of his head, his eyes were of a jade color. His lips were thin and dried, his chiseled nose a large feature on his face.

He introduced Senlin to the other two men, "Commander this is General Fu and General Shou."

"This is the commander Gao anointed?" Shou questioned Ming, Ming nodded, "His word is the law."

"It's been over a thousand years since the Triumvirate has ever had a commander. What's the occasion, Ming?" blurted out General Shou. He held disapproval for the new commander.

"The Earth King has lost in a Gen Da to our new commander, you were summoned here by Hui to meet the new commander," responded General Ming.

"What do you mean Earth King participated in a Gen Da, Ming you know the king is over a hundred-years-old!" commented General Shou.

"Commander Senlin here believes he can help breach the walls of Ba Sing Se, the heart of the Qiangda Kingdom," General Ming mentioned.

"Truly? The last time an Oma soldier set foot inside the gargantuan capital was about twelve-hundred-years-ago," recalled General Fu.

"I've heard it all before then they get struck with an arrow in the chest and drown in a pool of their blood. What makes him any different?" bugged Shou.

"General Shou have you heard of the Great Betrayer?" Senlin wondered he had hoped everyone in the Oma Kingdom who was old enough would know of him.

"Yes, the traitor from the Qiangda Kingdom, although he's probably dead by now. He lived during the era of Ku Tei, it's been over seventy years by now!" answered Shou.

"He's not, you're looking right at him," Senlin grinned wickedly as he gave a slight cackle.

"No...how could you be alive?" he shook his head then inquired, "By slowing down my aging, few know this technique like the ancient Tieguai the Immortal."

"Tieguai is just a folk tale," commented Shou.

"Who assassinated the fifty-third Earth King of the Oma Kingdom, Daowu?" asked Senlin.

"It was never explained because there was no evidence," remembered Shou.

"There was evidence and it was Tieguai himself, he was responsible for four Oma monarchs being killed in their palace. The palace was heavily guarded and fortified and he still got it, an entire Dynasty wiped from the face of the earth," divulged Senlin.

"What does this have to do with you?" Shou inquired, "Nothing," said Senlin.

"Whether you disagree or agree, I'm the commander and you will show me the new siege weapon the engineers have been working on," finished Senlin. Shou nodded, the four men left the war room and headed toward the engineering factory where several war engineers worked on the latest prototype. When they arrived the leader of the engineers an eccentric man named, Shi.

Shi was the lead engineer on this new project they had finished about five of the damn siege weapons which took up a lot of work and time. The design came from a child intellectual from a left mountain academy in the middle quarter. It was an assignment where they requested the children to draw a siege weapon for war.

When Shi pulled the drape down to reveal the weapon of destruction all four men looked upward. The new weapon was gigantic in height. It was like a moving watchtower, four apertures surrounded the tower. He revealed to them, "I give you the siege tower, the body is made of brick and wood, there are four apertures each with a cannon inside, five engineers are operating it. At the top of the siege tower is a trebuchet."

"My...word..," whispered General Shou surprised at the height of the war machine. He pointed up at the creation and turned his attention to Shi, "You said a child designed that?"

Shi nodded and held his hands behind his back, "Yes we caught wind of it when one of the teachers married one of our engineers. She brought it to his attention."

"I smell a potential general in our future, it seems our kingdom is in good hands," commented General Fu.

"Indeed," agreed General Ming.

"Are the prototypes ready?" Senlin asked Shi.

"Well we're working on a few kinks but we're producing another ten at the moment," answered the engineer.

"I planned on leaving right away but I think I'm going to wait until those ten are complete, fifteen siege towers should be deployed. Which now this gives us time to muster a massive army of about two hundred thousand men," planned Senlin.

"The province's army and the provincial guard doesn't even equate to that number, Commander," said General Fu.

"Send orders to Xu, Shiwei, and East Jurong I only acquire a third of their men. That should be enough especially since East Jurong likely has more troops if we're talking about population size," ordered Senlin.

"Yes, Commander right away," Fu saluted Senlin and walked off.

"Inland provinces giving up a third of their military? I'm surprised you didn't make a stupid move and order coastal provinces to hand over soldiers. I had my doubts so far but you've proven me wrong as of now, commander," commented General Shou.

Meanwhile, Unaraq and the scouting party traveled just about five miles from the city on top of snow leopard caribou. There were five men which included Unaraq, the quartermaster was right he was going to be hot and uncomfortable in the armor. He tugged at the thick leather armor to allow some air to cool down his chest. They found themselves at the bottom of a hill they halted their mounts and allowed the beasts to rest. One of the men an archer crawled up the hill and remained in a crouched position while Unaraq clenched the handle of his club.

The archer rose all five fingers that indicated that he found five individuals in the area, he gestured the group to come to him. Everyone quietly moved toward the archer once they reached near him he signaled them to halt. The scouts observed as a camp of men went on with their lives a group of five Kingsmen sat around a campfire and enjoyed their meals it was midday. The men laughed as they held a conversation about life.

"Should we conjure a fog and take them out one by one?" wondered one of the waterbender assassins as he faced the archer. The archer pointed behind and whispered, "Ask him."

Now it was up to Unaraq to make all the decisions because he was the prince of the South, he felt nervous because now he was responsible for all the lives of these men. Unaraq questioned one of them, "How much moisture is in the air?"

"Not enough for a fog honestly," the other waterbender said.

The archer kept his eyes on the camp, "There five of us and five of them, they're the only camp we've seen within the past hour. Should we keep moving?" he inquired.

"I'm surprised they haven't heard our mounts, you could have one of the mounts attack the camp and while they try to kill it we jump in," pondered Unaraq.

All of a sudden, Unaraq and the other four scouts were trapped in cones of earth unable to break free from the trap. Four others sprang out of the ground, Kingsmen scouts that burrowed under the ground themselves had been watching the Tribesmen-controlled city for the past few days now. One of the men yelled back at the camp, "Thanks for being the bait, guys!"

One of the scouts at the camp shouted something obscure in return that couldn't be heard. The newest scout held out his blade ready to behead all the Tribesmen soldiers but one of the more experienced men clenched to his sword arm and halted him.

"No, General Tsuyo-sa wants the prisoners of war shipped off to the capital," declined the sergeant.

The private sighed and then slouched he wanted fresh Tribesmen blood to spill. He clopped away Unaraq's helmet still in place. The sergeant noticed the enemy scout with the horrifying helmet once he removed the helmet it revealed the unprotected head of the scout.

The sweaty hair of the scout stuck to his forehead and his some of his face, he lowered his head in defeat a surge of thoughts drowned in his head. His bloodline was doomed for sure if he wasn't going to be killed in action. They were going to imprison a royal in a Kingsmen capital, torture him and then mostly like execute him for the actions of the Tribesmen. The sergeant's smile grew into a grin when he wiped the hair from the scout's face. He recognized the man from paintings he's seen in villages as he marched toward Bei Fu. He squeezed the young man's lower face with his plated gauntlet he then remembered, "Wait a minute you look familiar."

"I can't put my finger on it..." he paused.

"...y-you're the son of the Southern Water Tribe chief, the crowned prince..." he gasped.

"Yao! Send a direct message to General Tsuyo-sa in Yumen! Tell him we've captured the crowned prince of the Southern Water Tribe, and we're bringing him and his scouting party to Yumen!" shouted the sergeant.

The men over the hill cheered, the one known as Yao ran toward his backpack to gather the supplies necessary to send the letter. The others broke camp immediately now that they've captured Unaraq and the scouts it was enough for them to no longer investigate and instead blackmail the Tribesmen about Unaraq. Unaraq felt as if Anguta and Akna were angry at him that this was his punishment for being a horrible boyfriend to Aloi. But was his thinking, his fault? He did nothing wrong, he shed a tear.

The enemy soldiers noticed this one of them piped, "The prince he's weak! He shed a tear, he knows this is the end!" the men cackled. The sergeant joked, "Aww Daddy can't come to save you!"

Unaraq spat in the sergeant's face while he pranced around like the buffoon he was, this angered the man which resulted in Unaraq getting punched in the face so hard that he knocked out unconscious. The others attempted to break free to kill the soldiers and couldn't, "Make sure the earth from the cone is wrapped around their wrists and ankles. They're waterbenders they need their arms and legs," advised the sergeant.

Several hours later, Unirak looked to the skies and saw that the sun had begun to set it had been almost seven hours since Unaraq and the scouting party have left the city. Rong Yan and Jushi nipped up the steps of the mansion when they ran into the chieftain.

"Have you boys seen Unaraq?" he questioned them with a worried tone in his voice. Both men shook their heads, "Didn't he go out with a scouting party?" remembered Jushi.

"Yes, but he and the party should've returned," Unirak responded, Unirak returned inside the mansion with Rong Yan and Jushi concerned they followed right behind the chieftain. Cupun was about to exit when he noticed a slight frown on Unirak's face.

"What's wrong?" asked the former chieftain of the North.

"My son hasn't returned from his scouting mission," replied Unirak, Cupun sighed, "I'm sorry I'll mobilize three platoons of men, one of the search parties will find him."

"Thank you, old friend," Unirak thanked Cupun he wanted to leave the city with the scouting parties to find his son but he knew that wasn't the best option at the moment. If there are others around they'd be willing to catch him as well. Rong Yan and Jushi returned to their quarters as they talked about the training session and Unaraq's disappearance. They were exhausted but they wanted to stop by to see Aloi and share the bad news. She sat down in nomad position while she meditated a soft knock had been heard on the door. She slightly frowned in disapproval and opened an eye, "I'm meditating!" "Aloi it's Rong Yan and me," announced Jushi from behind the door, she sighed and lowered her head, "Come on."

The door opened wide both young men stood in the doorway, she noticed that something was off about them but she wasn't sure what. She felt as if the mood was off she felt worried, "What's wrong? I feel like a bad mood."

"Uhh.." Jushi placed his hand on his chin as he thought about a good way to put that Unaraq is missing. Rong Yan knew that time is of the essence that Jushi shouldn't fool around during a time such as this. He blurted out, "Unaraq is missing, he hasn't returned from the scouting mission. There are search parties out of the city as we speak looking for him."

Rong Yan's words traveled from one ear and exited out the other as she processed the entire news she has been given. Once it settled in her head that Unaraq was missing she felt as if her spirit left her body because she collapsed off to the side. Jushi ran over to sit her back up, "She fainted."

He lifted her unconscious body and gently dropped her on her bed, "Damn we need konsui root!" Rong Yan whispered.

"What? No! Grab water out of the air and drop it on her!" suggested Jushi, Rong Yan tittered nervously and then moved his fingers in a rotation motion and pulled enough water out of the moisture in the air and dropped it on Aloi's face.

She instantly woke up and began to cough, "Hey are you okay?" Jushi called out to her.

"Y-you said Unaraq is missing?!" she repeated the question, both of them nodded. Aloi began to panic her breathing rapidly changed she gave quick short breaths. She felt her chest constrict, Jushi could see the panic in her eyes, Aloi felt helpless, she dug her nails into Jushi's arm.

"Ow! Hey, are you alright?" Jushi questioned her, he too was now worried for her. Aloi didn't respond she was silent Jushi turned to face Rong Yan, "What's wrong with her?"

Rong Yan shrugged, "I don't know, let me get some help," Rong Yan exited the chambers and looked for help. She began to tremble and Jushi didn't know what to do all he did was sit there as he witnessed this terrible event. Rong Yan ran in with a random soldier. He knelt near her and held both of her hands. The soldier helped her slow her breathing down and even helped her count to ten, "It's okay, it's okay, concentrate on your breathing, focus on the present. You're doing a good job," said the soldier.

She started to slow her breathing down, she no longer shook in place. The situation she was in has almost returned to normal, he continued, "Accept it but remember it's not going to last forever, he's going to be found safe and sound."

Jushi was surprised how well the soldier got Aloi to calm down, "That's amazing how did you do that?" he requested an answer from the gentleman.

"She had a panic attack back home my little sister suffers from it now and then. I'm used to this situation and I'm glad I was able to help the prince's girlfriend out," answered the private.

Aloi composed herself she scanned the room desperately for her staff once she swiped at it to grab it she ran out the door. When Rong Yan and Jushi ran after her, she had already exited the mansion and flew off into the air.

Rong Yan whispered into his hands and amplified his voice, "Where are you going?" he asked but she ignored him.

She glided off into the orange and pink skies she wanted to find her boyfriend she felt guilty and regretted how she treated him within the past few weeks. She felt as if her gods Rati and Nam punished her for the mistreatment of her better half.

She flew against the wind that picked up as she left she felt terrible inside, a sense of dread filled her. Aloi was extremely worried while she didn't fear a wild animal could've slain all five scouts, she feared the Kingsmen could've captured Unaraq. She flew in a southern direction as she believed this one of the directions he could've been taken through.

The sun fully set the night now dominated the skies, the orange, pink and purple hues transitioned to indigo and dark blue colors. The ground below was grassy with trees sporadically placed around, hills that overlapped and small rocky mounds here and there. A few animals were asleep while those who prowled in the darkness hunted for their food.

What frustrated Aloi is that she couldn't see well in the dark she shed a few tears as she searched for Unaraq. She performed an aerial flip and went into the eastern direction where she wasted another half hour unable to find her boyfriend. She found herself near Bei Fu and then headed northwest a bit but saw nothing.

Aloi air bombed to the ground, a force of wind surrounded her and blew into the area. She started to cry now she fell on her knees full of emotion. While she didn't immediately go back into another panic attack she continuously sobbed. Aloi let out a thunderous shriek that caused damage nearby and echoed through a portion of the province. Birds fluttered away in fear, animals escaped the near vicinity of the wail.

At the same time, Jushi and Rong Yan could hear the echoed shriek as did all the guards, soldiers, and civilians. Everyone looked to the skies above as if La herself screamed in agony the people were frightened about the scream that thundered from the skies.

"Aloi!" they both shouted as they rushed to the mansion's stables where Shen peacefully rested.

Unaraq's hands were tied together with rope as were the others the ostrich horses of the Kingsmen soldiers had the rope tied around their bodies. Instead of quick transport, they walked toward the city of Yumen. Unaraq darted his head to the skies when he heard the ear-splitting scream across the treetops of the forest.

He screamed, "Aloi! Aloi!" the normal human volume could only be so loud his calls for rescue were left unanswered. The soldiers mimicked him and shared a laugh they thought the prince was insane, although the shriek startled the men. Rong Yan steered Shen while Jushi peeked from the edge of the saddle to find Aloi wherever she may be.

Shen let out a roar, "Shen found her!" shouted Rong Yan, the dragon circled in the air as it descended from the altitude it was in. Aloi's vision was blurred from all the tears in her eyes she could barely make out a crimson blob she wiped her tears and realized its Rong Yan and Jushi on Shen.

Jushi slid off Shen and padded over to Aloi as he knelt by her he extended out his hand which she slowly took. She threw herself into his arms as she continued to sob over her failure to find her boyfriend.

"Jushi, he's gone! He's gone!" she sobbed, he felt bad for her.

"We'll find him I promise, I know he's alright wherever he is," Jushi whispered in her ear he held her tight as she cried and cried with no end.

Jushi sighed, "Come on let's go back to Bei Fu, the search parties returned empty-handed. But Cupun and Unirak are now planning on what happens next."

Yumen, Yu province

General Tsuyo-sa sipped on his tea as he enjoyed some relaxation he wore a simple outfit, a light forest green tunic, and sand-colored trousers, black slippers covered his feet, his hair was still held in the sangtuwan that he wore while he worked. He stared at the bright stars that were in the night sky, he lived in an estate assigned to him by the governor while he stayed in the capital of the Yu province.

A feathered messenger arrived and landed on the table where he rested his feet on top of, the medium-sized bird with white feathers and green plumes on its wings lowered its head to allow the general access to the pack on it's back. He removed the message from it's back and opened it, while he carefully read through it and sipped his tea. He found himself shocked as he spat out his tea he grabbed his things as he tried to contain himself.

What was found in the letter that made him spit his tea out is that the scouting parties that stayed behind after the battle for Bei Fu captured the crowned prince of the Southern Water Tribe and he was on his way to Yumen. Tsuyo-sa darted for the door of his estate with the letter clenched tight in his hand he bolted toward the estate of the governor.

He stopped in front of the gates of the estate of the governor the guards were concerned because he looked as if he was in a hurry. Both of the estate guards saluted him and opened the gates of the estate Tsuyo-sa rushed toward the door of the home. The estate guards opened the door when they saw him hurry toward it.

Tsuyo-sa powerwalked down the halls to find Governor Shangye in her living room but she was absent. He questioned one of the guards there who kept watch, "Where is Governor Wenhua?" the tone in his voice sounded urgent.

"She headed for bed, General Tsuyo-sa," answered the guard.

"I'll call her if you'd like," offered the guard, Tsuyo-sa nodded while he held the wrinkled letter in his hand. The patrol headed toward the western wing of the estate near the living room where Governor Shangye spent her morning time on her ta. General Tsuyo-sa sat down while he waited, when the guard arrived at her sliding door he lightly knocked on it.

The woman behind the door sighed, "Yes?"

"I apologize for the minor inconvenience Governor Shangye but General Tsuyo-sa is here and he says it's urgent," reported the guard.

He could see the shadow get out of bed and get dressed from behind the door. After several minutes, a sexagenarian opened the sliding door before she closed it shut behind her. The woman wore a light blue nightgown with lilies embroidered in a darker hue of the same shade of blue. She was short and chubby, her eyes were light brown, and her hair was fluffy and short, dark brown with streaks of white around the entirety of her head.

She minced over to the living room where she found Tsuyo-sa asleep, she heard his snores from the hallway. She smacked him with her hand he was confused before he met eye level with the old woman, her hands were on her hips and she frowned slightly she was not happy about being called out of bed right when she was about to sleep.

"What's so important? You know not to bother me when I'm in bed," she inquired, the governor reminded Tsuyo-sa that she needed not to be disturbed at night when he knew she'd be asleep.

"I just received a letter from one of the scouting parties and you need to read this. You must forward this to the Earth King," briefed Tsuyo-sa.

He handed the woman the letter she opened it and begun to read:

"General Tsuyo-sa,

This is a report written by Corporal Yao, as we committed to our orders from both you and Governor Shangye. I am here to report that we ambushed a Tribesmen scouting party, we've captured them with no confrontation. Not any normal scouting party, however, one of the members of the party is none other than the crowned prince of the Southern Water Tribe.

The prisoners of war are being transported to Yumen city effective immediately, as soon as we break camp. We hope that you and the governor interrogate these men and their actions and hold them responsible for the deaths of over eight thousand men.

We will arrive in the capital within the next three days, for honor and glory, Lord Qin will make them pay. Long live the Kingdom, long live the Earth King, long may he reign."

Governor Wenhua gasped she knew that the crowned prince of the Southern Tribe was a high-value prisoner. She knew now she couldn't get any rest she covered her mouth with her hand still in shock, "General Tsuyo-sa have the warden of the prison prepare the cells for the prisoners of war. The crowned prince must be locked in solitary confinement until interrogation. Also, send platoon soldiers with caged transport to meet with the captors. We must bring them here safely and swiftly," ordered Governor Shangye.

"These orders will be done by tonight, and hopefully our prisoners of war will appear by tomorrow afternoon. I assure you everything will go smoothly," he assured the old woman. She nodded and before she left, "We must act accordingly and orchestrate everything while we hold this young man captive for the crimes of his nation. We must not be vulnerable right now."

She padded away before she took a glimpse back at the general, "Good night, general."

Somewhere within the Yu province, Unaraq's eyes were heavy with slumber he felt as he couldn't continue to walk and he would've just collapsed on the spot. His legs were sore, his feet were tired and he felt as if he had boils on them. The evening was cool he was still in his armor, his helmet was being worn by one of the Kingsmen on their ostrich horse who took a liking to the prince's helmet.

The other two were barked at by one of the soldiers who traveled alongside them, they already had bruises on their face and body. The men were being abused by their captors, they've walked for about seven hours straight. Unaraq wasn't sure he could continue he let out a yelp when the soldier noticed he slowed down a bit. He tightened the rope around Unaraq's wrists which soon would leave a nasty rope mark.

"You might've gotten rest all you wanted back home, but here you're our prisoner so you walk I don't care of the ostrich horse has to drag you," hissed the soldier. Unaraq said nothing and kept the pace going at a much faster rate. He ignored the pain as he gritted his teeth with each step he took.

At the same time, Rong Yan, Aloi, and Jushi have returned to Bei Fu near the mansion grounds is where they landed. Unirak stood outside worried when a group of soldiers carried something wrapped in clothing Aloi thought the worse, she thought it was Unaraq's head. She cried out one of the men looked back as did the chieftain.

The warrior removed the covering and returned the club that the quartermaster allowed Unaraq to choose. The club was stained with blood they believed the weapon was used to murder the prince, but in reality, the Kingsmen used misdirection and slew a critter from the plains and covered the prince's weapon with the blood.

His hands trembled as he was handed the bloodied club his eyes began to water, his mouth quivered with emotion. His firstborn was now gone, while he fought with the honor he was slain in action, cost of war now he knew how families felt when he had his men notify them of their fallen kin. Unirak fell to his knees Aloi dashed over to the chief and cried beside him. Jushi and Rong Yan were now saddened, shed a tear from his eye.

The winds around them began to drastically pick up Jushi wondered why the sudden amount of wind forced its way around them. Some of the guards startled ran for cover when he turned Rong Yan was in an aggravated state of the Avatar State. Jushi held onto him the storm clouds began to gather and it began to sprinkle rain, while Jushi knew that Rong Yan wasn't in control of this mechanism he knew that his life could be endangered. He held tight to the Avatar without letting him go soon he hoped it subside.

The winds slowly reduced to their former state while the storm clouds remained above the city the rain stopped. The Avatar State deactivated Rong Yan fell to his knees and began to sob alongside Jushi who felt the same emotions even though he only knows Unaraq for about two or three months. Cupun rushed into the war room along with his generals and Unirak's generals, the current chieftain of the Southern Water Tribe, was too emotional at the moment he just lost his son.

"Lord Cupun I've noticed the southern chief outside crying with the airbender girl, what's going on?" wondered Oomailiq.

"The chieftain's son went missing when the search parties returned they brought him his club covered in blood. Chief Unirak just lost his son to the Qiangda Kingdom," responded Cupun.

"Ohh...I-I-I'll make sure to pay my respects later," frowned Oomailiq, "What do you mean he was slain?" asked Issumatar.

"I know what you mean but it's just so shocking that such a thing would happen, a high-value target such as the crowned prince. Strangely, a group of soldiers would slay them," commented Issumatar.

"It could be quite possible they didn't know who he was, I don't expect a regular soldier with limited education to know who Prince Unaraq is," disagreed Anuun.

"We should mount an all-out assault of Fort Zhezhong and take it for ourselves if we send a call-to-arms to the men stationed in Duru province we might have enough to even assault the capital of Yu," suggested Issumatar.

"I can amass a fleet from our coastal guard as well," Oomailiq mentioned.

"First let us focus on capturing Fort Zhezhong, once it's taken we can focus on the other forts which cut off supplies and manpower to the city of Yumen. For now, we should fabricate a strategy and take the fort," Cupun said.

"We can call upon another deployment of five thousand soldiers from Iqaluit," added Atattuk, Cupun agreed, "That will be advisable we must show the Kingsmen that one life of ours that is taken, we take another thousand of their men."

The royal guards assisted Unirak, Aloi, Rong Yan, and Jushi back to their quarters all four of them grieved for the death of their companion. While worst of all Unirak faced the death of his only son, his heir.

The next morning arose, Rong Yan awoke from slumber his eyes hurt, and the tears dried up around his eyelids. He sat upon his bed and sighed, he stared at the wall nearby he felt it was necessary to notify Tanaraq and Tulok of the news. Although he'd bring them great hardship he knew it had to be done. He slid down the bed and onto the rug and positioned himself properly into nomad position.

He closed his eyes and got himself ready to astral project, soon he found himself inside the icy palace of the North. As he popped himself into existence, it was twilight in the North Pole he went phased through walls until he felt Tanaraq's spiritual energies were much stronger he knew he was close.

He walked through the walls unseen by the guards he floated there as he saw his friends sleep, Tanaraq felt coldness fill the air and a chill. Slightly bothered she opened her eyes and then turned to face the wall while she only caught a glimpse of something from the corner of her eye. After she scared herself she faced the blue-colored blob.

She rubbed her eyes and gasped this awoke Tulok as well, "What's wrong my love?" he questioned her as he gently grabbed her hand and lightly kissed it.

Tulok startled he jumped out of bed, Tanaraq held herself together she spoke, "Rong Yan what are you doing here it's twilight? We're trying to sleep!"

"Tanaraq...Tulok this is urgent I..have terrible news to share," said Rong Yan. Tulok grabbed his dagger and pussyfooted toward the apparition he thought it was an evil spirit. When he swung the dagger into the spirit the blade went through and his hand felt a strong chill.

"Stop! He's there!" she told her husband, he took a gander at her and looked at her as if she was crazy.

"Y-you can see him too? How is this possible?" insisted on the chieftain as he demanded an answer to the unknown.

"It's called astral projection, he can link to anyone he's close to spiritually, as a friend of his you are one of the few who can see him," explained Tanaraq.

"Fascinating...yet startling," whispered Tulok as he gained composure after he realized the 'evil' spirit was just a projection of Rong Yan's spirit.

"You mentioned urgent bad news, what is it?" inquired Tanaraq she was concerned.

"I don't know how to put this but...your father had your brother go out on a scouting mission and he never returned. The search parties however only brought your dad a bloodied club, while we found nobody. The men think he was possibly eaten by wild animals, your brother was slain in action," responded Rong Yan.

Tanaraq froze after she heard the news Tulok turned his attention away from Rong Yan's projection to face his wife, "Tanaraq, my love, are you okay?" he worried for her because she did not react other than being frozen in place.

Tanaraq's world shattered first the death of her mother, now the death of her old brother, her lips quavered with emotion as her eyes watered she let out a scream so loud that the royal guards freaked out. Her only sibling taken by Anguta, she was now forever an only child. The stress she received and is going to receive from this isn't good for her pregnancy.

Tulok held his wife tightly he hoped that he could do his best to calm her down when the guards rushed in as so Rong Yan's projection disappeared. One of the guards' sword in hand examined the room while the other, "Chieftain what happened in here?" he questioned his leader worried. He knew he'd sound crazy so instead, he found a way to explain the situation, "My wife had a dream where her brother told her that Anguta came to deliver him to the realm of the dead."

"Thank you, please leave. I-I'd like to be with my wife now while she mourns the death of her brother," finished Tulok.

The men slightly nodded as a form of bow and exited the room quietly. She continued to cry meanwhile, Unaraq still asleep was slapped in the face the pain from the hit woke the prince up the others were woken up similarly. The other soldiers had broken camp now and were ready to resume transport to Yumen.

One of the soldiers uncorked his water gourd to hand Unaraq some water but hovered a bit off from the prince's tongue. The amount of water that he could've some word drank went straight for the ground these soldiers were brutal but they did what they needed to do to break their spirits so that they'd be willing to do as they are told by the jailors. He cackled at Unaraq and then took big gulps of water it was a hot day, one of the men noticed this and shoved the other soldier.

"Buu give the prisoner some water, it's going to be hot and you'll be to blame if the prisoner shows up dead to Yumen," argued the soldier.

"Why do you care if Tribesmen trash lives or dies?" chuckled Buu.

"We have orders to return ALL prisoners of war alive!" maintained the soldier, "Give him water, that's an order," commanded the higher-ranked officer. With a smug look on his face and some distaste, he uncorked the waterskin and allowed Unaraq to drink from it.

Unaraq drank from it as more water ran down his throat he felt relieved he felt hungry as his stomach grumbled. Although he felt as if them giving him food was too much to ask for some of the others were beaten as well but they were given water to drink from. Their hands tied which prevented them from bending. Buu the soldier lifted Unaraq to his feet and pushed him this was an aggressive gesture that it was time to get moving.

Several hours of travel pass, another fort they passed through this one was in the mountains. The men called it Fort Shengqi, Unaraq guessed this was the fort that lost most of its men. When the transport went over a smaller mountain at the bottom was a heavily guarded metal cage that could fit all five prisoners of war.

Kingsmen soldiers waited for the others as Unaraq's captors caught the eye of the others, the leader Yao waved his arms at the ones below, "Hey! We're up here with the prisoners!"

One of the soldiers raised his chin to meet the sound he heard he pointed and shouted, "There they are!"

A few earthbenders skated up the mountain to meet the captors, they threw earth cuffs at everyone's wrists and ankles. Two men used their bending to lift the prisoners into the air, they carried them toward the cage for a means of much safer transport. Finally, Unaraq could get some rest while he waited to be transported to Yumen. He attempted to get comfortable while in cuffs that he rested his head against the back wall of the cage and took a nap.

The table for meals was silent while everyone sat to eat the only ones who didn't show up were Unirak and Aloi. Both still in their rooms as they grieved for the loss of Unaraq, Rong Yan also thought about Tanaraq he most likely never slept after he told her the news. Jushi played with his food after every bite he knew the severity of the situation but wanted to make sure Rong Yan wasn't distracted as his earthbending training was important.

"We should train to get his death off our minds, I heard one of the chief's high-ranked officials mention they were going to do make a memorial for him tonight. Something that we can all do to pay respects," Jushi said.

Rong Yan chewed on the same piece of a leaf from the salad he ate his bean curd left untouched by an uninterested Avatar. He agreed with Jushi, "You're right it'll help us get our minds off his death," he rose from his seat and didn't finish his meal he padded away from the table and headed out toward the back of the mansion where the private training grounds they used was situated at.

Jushi followed soon after both in their casual clothing they were ready to train, Rong Yan's training has gotten a lot better than now they practiced higher-skilled moves. Jushi began the instruction, "Skilled earthbenders such as ourselves are capable of magnetizing their limbs to any type of stone, making wall-scaling simpler in the appropriate circumstances."

Jushi demonstrated as he extended out his left arm the nearby rocks shook as they magnetized toward him and latched onto his hand like an earth gauntlet. Rong Yan was shocked he placed his hands near his face and his jaw dropped he had never seen such a thing done. Then Jushi removed the earth from around his hand and extended his left hand out in front of him again.

"If an earthbender is suspended from the ground but they are aware that there is earth somewhere near, the earthbender can focus their energies and bend that earth out of their physical reach our of sheer concentration," continued Jushi he headed over to a metal platform near the training grounds where he stood and repeated the same stance with his arm out. He concentrated another rock nearby magnetized toward his left hand and covered it in rock.

"It's not hard if you can encase your body or hands in ice or water you can easily do this one too," commented Jushi.

"Earth and water are very different, ice is thin and weightless. Earth is thick and heavy," said Rong Yan.

"I didn't ask for your opinion, do the damn thing!" barked Jushi, Rong Yan padded up and climbed up onto the metal platform because he felt this was an easier thing to do repeated everything his master did during the demonstration.

He focused on the earth in the distance he closed his as he did it because he thought if he messed up the earth would hit him in the face. He felt the earth hit his hand and while he shook his hand because of a dull pain he peeped down to see that his right hand was enveloped in earth.

"I did it!" he exclaimed excitedly with his gauntleted hand in the air.

Yumen, Yu, Qiangda Kingdom

The platoon of soldiers finally found themselves directly beyond the city's farms that lined up near the first few shacks and shanty homes. There were a total of twenty farms that grew food and kept the city in its vastness fed.

The leader of one of the scouting parties inhaled the fresh air if he enjoyed the good smell of fresh bread and sea aroma that flowed through the air. He'd be happy to see his family he thought, his young daughter's face a stamp in his mind he smiled.

"Ahhh that fresh Yumen air," he mentioned before he resumed, "Do you boys smell that fresh bread, the water, crops, all the beer in the city and the women?"

A hearty laugh was shared by all the soldiers in a nearly-sized troop of soldiers that escorted the carriage cage with only a few of the prisoners of war. The sun beamed in Unaraq's eyes the rays of the massive light in the sky bothered him that he finally awoke. He heard the laughter of children and whispers of over a dozen voices. Several passersby huddled close to each other chattered about who the strange men were.

Unaraq felt like an animal trapped in a cage he sat up and a few gasped as if a caged animal lunged at them. Some of the others suffered in their pain as the men were transported through the ocean of citizens of the city. It was sort of designed like Ba Sing Se, the ring system at least. The city also like Kunlun City was surrounded by farms and remained without walls.

The only difference unlike Ba Sing Se and Kunlun, Yumen had the poor in the southern portion, the middle-class had their ring in the center, the upper-class was portioned to the north and walled off with gates which indicated that the government of the city didn't care for the lives of the poor or middle-class civilians.

The upper-class quarter was built onto the large hills behind the city, to the eastern portion of the city was a small valley below that had a bridge constructed over it. On the other side of the bridge was the harbor quarter which was also quite massive possibly the size of the slums on the southern portion of the capital. In the dead center of the city was the market quarter which was surrounded by the Middle-Class quarter. The center of commerce for the capital of the Yu province.

Merchants far and wide from across the Qiangda Kingdom and even the world traveled to Yumen for a chance to sell, buy, or trade goods. One of the few trading capitals of the world, trading deals between states or even other towns were done here. The bazaar didn't just bring the good folk who searched for honest work for honest pay. There was a lengthy alley where the guards preferred not to visit, festered, and oozed of daofei. Minor triads with about fifty to a hundred members to say the least filled this place, never have they gained more power than they normally have. Since they usually wipe themselves out.

The prison was not far from the main entrance of the city it was normally near the outskirts of the middle-class quarter. Still within the Low Quarter where a third of the population of the city lived, but they weren't headed for the prison just yet they were being taken directly to the War Quarter where most of the military besides the navy of the city resided.

Another two hours passed before they reached the area the prisoner carriage came to a full halt in the War Quarter grounds where a group of twenty Kingsmen soldiers stood valiant and idle in line formation. In between all those men, Unaraq saw a short slouched middle-aged man around the age of his dad. His uniform was vastly different and far more expensive than the uniforms of the others, he guessed this to be the leading officer. Unlike the four who were somewhat fluent in Kingsmen, Unaraq being of royal blood was fluent in all four languages of the world which made it easier to identify his surroundings.

The cage door slid open each captive's legs were freed from the shackles that held their feet together. They were ordered to rise soon in a few minutes they'd meet General Tsuyo-sa the man behind this entire operation. All five men were removed from the carriage, the third scout ran from his captors, one of the soldiers whistled which gave a signal. Unaraq witnessed as four arrows plunged into the man's body and he fell over dead. Blood flowed from his body like water, he turned away and closed his eyes in sadness and with a wonder as to why he ran.

Four of them remained alive while the fifth was killed in front of their very eyes, the other three made no emotion as they felt it'd anger their captors. All four were led toward the slouched individual, the older general stepped forward and stared each man in the eyes all four of them carried stoic expressions on their faces. A sign that even in the face of danger and an endangerment to their lives they showed no fear.

Tsuyo-sa padded to the left and right in front of the four prisoners of war never did he take his eyes off of them. He began, "Gentlemen welcome to Yumen city, capital of the great Yu province, were heroes such General Zhezhong and Airen Shengqi came from."

"I am your jailor here and if you have any questions you can speak to whatever officer is available if they so choose to answer your questions. You will be escorted to the interrogation rooms if you answer truthfully, you will be put back into your cell. If you lie and we'll know when you're lying...you'll be tortured. Your spirits will be broken here, and likely this will be your final resting place," said Tsuyo-sa, all four of them continued with an expressionless face.

"Escort the prisoners to the interrogations rooms," commanded Tsuyo-sa, all four were manhandled by the soldiers and were led toward a big building nearby which house several rooms which Unaraq believed is where the interrogations rooms were held. He let out a long sigh as they were led in, every individual was placed inside a six-walled cell this included the ceiling and floor. In the middle was a slab of flat earth each was laid on it, and the cuffs split and sank into the edges of the slab.

An interrogator entered each room after two soldiers walked out, soon Tsuyo-sa would learn the information needed to gain the upper-hand against the Tribesmen in Bei Fu. The others weren't given the same treatment as Unaraq however. General Tsuyo-sa was notified of Unaraq's arrival soon, in each room the interrogators only patiently sat in the room with the men which should've filled them with enough fear to want their miserable lives to end.

The interrogation officer circled the slab while she lightly caressed her fingers on Unaraq's silky smooth skin. She was amazed that a man's body was so soft and radiant, she was jealous but it was expected from a prince. She pulled out a dagger and grabbed Unaraq's right hand and swiftly sliced it, blood began to pour from the freshly opened wound. He gritted his teeth as he winced in pain the interrogator didn't even ask a question she grabbed a vial of some unknown clear liquid and drowned his hand in it which caused a surge of pain as his hand throbbed from it. The wound bubbled from the alcohol used.

She used her earthbending to lift the slab of earth in a vertical position so that he faced the door and his aggressor. The female interviewer stared him in the eyes, she rested her soft hand on his face as she rubbed her nose onto his. He felt as if she was about to do more than just what she was assigned to do her facial expression changed to an enraged one and she punched hard in the gut. Unaraq let out a nasty few coughs as he wheezed she came for a second strike and hit him in the gut again.

In one of the other rooms, one of the scouts were told about what occurred in the prince's room while they were being watched by the interrogators. The man spoke up and explained, "You're probably wondering why ten minutes have gone by and I haven't asked you a single question."

"Your beloved prince right now is being tortured with no questions asked, if you truly feel he needs to live unharmed you'll reply to every question truthfully. If you lie I will hit this small gong, which will lead to my co-worker in his room to injure him in a more intense degree," revealed the interrogator.

"You're bluffing," chuckled the scout, the interrogator shrugged and then banged the gong. Screams from the room to his left can be heard. He knew they were real because he recognized the voice to be Unaraq's.

"I want the same story that the others are telling my co-workers, no more lies. Truth or he dies" promised the interrogator.

"What city do your people control?" he questioned the scout.

"Bei Fu, near the eastern tip of the province," answered the scout.

"What tribe controls the city?" the interrogation officer inquired.

"Both smaller units of the Southern and Northern Water Tribe," replied the scout.

"Both? How big are their numbers?" he wondered.

"I..I don't know for certain but I do know more and more arrive on the docks, and when I mean...they're mostly civilians," said the captive.

"You're lying," guessed the interrogator he reached for the gong, "No! Please! I'm being truthful, the chieftain he established colonies. Mostly civilians have been arriving because the soldiers are already here. Only just barely are fresh troop being deployed," explained the prisoner.

A gong echoed from one of the rooms on the far right at the same time, within the room Unaraq was in, the female torturer grabbed small tongs from her wrap full with tools for torture. She pricked underneath his nail bed and clamped the tongs on the nail of his right index finger. Yells from the other room could be heard the men couldn't do anything to save the prince from his torture. He too believed they were being tortured, the torture rested her hand on his cheek and gazed upon his face like she wanted something more but she was just a tease. She tugged hard and pulled Unaraq's nail off the nail bed, he let out a shriek of pain his hand quaved the tremor traveled through his body.

In the last room, the female interrogator smacked the scout in the face, "TELL ME THE TRUTH!" she yelled saliva flung from her mouth and sprayed onto his face. He wondered why some people would even choose this job. He couldn't wipe his face either which disgusted him but there were far worse things that happened at the moment.

"How many are in the city?" she repeated.

"..ahhh!..." he screamed then he paused before he gave an estimated number, "We're crammed in there but there are at least twenty thousand soldiers in there. About five to eight thousand civilians but more of them come every day. The chieftain assigns the colonials their roles as soon as they come to the city."

"Did you mention the chieftain, you said he assigns them their roles when they come to the city. Are you insinuating the chieftain is in the city of Bei Fu?" the interrogator repeated his words then turned to him for a more specific answer.

The captive nodded his head rapidly he was the first of the four to break, "What other important figures are currently in the city?" she demanded an answer from his her hands tugged at his collar.

"It's not just Chieftain Unirak, also the former chieftain of the Northern Tribe, Chieftain Cupun," revealed the scout.

The binds that held the man on the table lifted off the slab of earth they clasped in front of him and stuck together like glue. She opened the door and shoved him out he collided into the wall as he hit his head on the wall. It caused some pain but nothing major the others weren't even out yet but it didn't matter she took out the best information from the scout she probed.

She signaled for one of the soldiers to fetch her the general of the council, one of them ran off while she waited for the others to be taken out of their questioning rooms. The second door opened the second scout exited with his questioner as the man held him by the collar. The third soon exited while a scream of searing pain echoed from the first room which was occupied by Unaraq.

They waited with agony for the prince to be released they knew if they stepped out of line and said a word he'd be tortured further which they were afraid of. They were willing to risk their lives if it meant that the crowned prince was allowed to go free. A few minutes later, another scream was heard it sounded unwanted but of ravishment and peak. The door slightly opened Unaraq was pushed out of the door he careened from one side to the other before he fell. The laughter that came from the inside of the room was playful as if she tossed out a plaything, the woman gave a sense of trepidation.

His finger wasn't bandaged yet as it continued to bleed his eyes seemed unfocused the men stared at him before they turned away. They suffered if they looked at him, General Tsuyo-sa opened the door a bit but Unaraq was in the way he pushed it open the horrible mistreatment of a human being happened all in the capital of Yumen. These prisoners were nothing but animals, something that the Air Nomads who snooped about was kept from seeing.

"Lian what is the meaning of this?! Keep the prisoner on his feet, not on the ground," shouted Tsuyo-sa even he felt disgusted.

The interrogator frightened of the general cowered as she hid her face with extended her arm out toward him, "I-I'm sorry, general. It will never happen again."

The reaction of pure fear from the woman showed as if he has abused her before one of the scouts eyed the Kingsmen official. He remembered when his abusive father would beat his mother perhaps they were related or he just enjoyed the activity of punishing female soldiers. The women never saw battle however they were still useful in other areas.

Often while they're allowed to enlist they're more than likely to face harassment, sexual assault, or abuse from their brothers-in-arms even sometimes their superiors. The military has dwindled since the Haijun Dynasty, as other dynasties changed the rules over history. The Tong Dynasty didn't allow women to enlist a sexist policy created by King Zhuanxu.

The other woman a middle-aged one said nothing and looked down at her feet the men also ignored the way the inquisitor was treated. General Tsuyo-sa scanned the room and then questioned all the soldiers, "What did you learn?"

"Both tribes have many people in the city," answered one of the men.

"They're establishing a colony much like Chief Akitla did in Bai Da, an estimated amount of thirty-one thousand people. Civilians and military included," reported the other male interviewer.

"The chieftain of the South and the former chieftain of the North currently reside in the city," mentioned the older woman.

Tsuyo-sa turned a full circle around and headed out, "Sir, the prisoners!" one of the men shouted.

He turned back to face them while under the door frame, "Hand them over to Warden Huiqing, he'll know where to put them best."

Warden Huiqing was the warden that ran the prison in the run-down living quarter of the city where most of the poor lived. Except the prison was near the outskirts of the middle quarter, and it was far from the slums. The most prized prisoners were kept underground while the normal ones were placed above ground or in one of the four floors above the ground floor.

The men were escorted out of the building and placed on the carriage again and transported to the prison. The prison was surrounded by two different walls each made of iron, the building itself had two small wings on each side, and a tall tower in the middle. The tower was five stories high. The first walls that surrounded the prison contained the prison yard and the building itself. The second was lined with watchtowers which watched all the prisoners like lion vultures. Here is where the prisoners of war would be locked underground, the gates were opened by several guards, the gates themselves were huge. The carriage rolled in several of the prisoners who enjoyed outside activities now leaned on the near crevices where they could peep now and then as they carriage carried foreign prisoners.

Former triad members that were arrested were found here where they established prison triads, only three controlled the prison. Although where Unaraq and the other three were headed there wasn't much for communication. A short Kingsmen possibly in his sixties stood tall and proud, his uniform was light green with dark green accents around the uniform. The belt that was fastened around his waist adorned the head of an ostrich horse buckle, a unique design. He was chubby as well which was often accompanied by age in men.

His gray hair was held by a sangtuwan although his crown thinned with only a few strands that remained. His eyes were dark brown, and he wore a thin strip of a goatee, he padded forward as the men were removed from the carriage. He examined all of them and noticed one of them was in a much worse state than the others. He held a devilish smile the battered and bruised individual wasn't able to stand on his own. Two soldiers helped him to his feet as they stood alongside the young man, the warden pointed at the injured man, "I take this is he?" he guessed.

The inquisitors nodded one of them spoke up, "Yes that's the prince."

"Gentlemen you will staying here rent-free for the next week until your trial date comes up until then you'll be treated like royal..." he laughed as he jested about the last part. Prison guards exited the prison tower and neared the new prisoners, "Take these three and process them into one of the top two floors, this one will be personally escorted underground by me," commanded Warden Huiqing.

"Hand him over to the prison guards," said the warden, the interviewers handed Unaraq to the prison guards put his arms over their shoulders as they carried him down toward the bottom of the prison. It was dark but it was dimly lit by jennamite crystals, each prisoner received a darkened cell with little light that came in. A cot, a bucket that was cleaned once a week unlike the prisoners on the above floors who had the buckets cleaned once a day. The cells were made of iron, the doors were of iron as well and the lock bars were outside of the cell, the cell had an aperture and a slot on the bottom where the slop server handed over the tray of food.

Unaraq's head was held down by one of the two prison guards so that he could only see down. The prince however was unconscious but the men didn't care they didn't want any of the prisoners to memorize the layout of the underground floors of the prison. Down here the prisoners were even allowed to end their own lives, just last week somebody tried to starve themselves when the guards caught on. They force food down his throat to keep him alive, here in the Yumen prison you must live every day of your sentence unless you're put to death.

One of the men slid the bar to the left and opened the hatch, they tossed the unconscious and injured Unaraq to the cold iron floor. Where he stayed on for the remainder of that day maybe even longer. Once they shut the door it was dark in the prison cell, the prince was comatose on the floor and unresponsive.

Meanwhile back in Bei Fu, a crowd had gathered around a vigil near the harbor of the city, a canoe was docked on one of the docks. Similar to funerals done by the Tribesmen sailors after a sailor or marine was killed in action. The club of the prince and a copy of the painting was placed on the canoe except for the vigil. The copy of the painting wasn't accurate however as the painting of Unaraq was made ten years ago when he was sixteen-winters-old.

The vigil was a small set of pillars raised from the ground by Jushi with wax candles and lanterns that burned brightly. Sashes, badges, daggers, and other things decorated the shrine, coin, fruits, another spoiling food wrapped in cloth, and even the wooden carving of a whale shark which was rumored to be the former crowned prince's favorite animal.

Everyone but the soldiers that patrolled the walls attended the vigil of the fallen prince. Aloi on her knees as she wept over the death of Unaraq. An old woman near Chieftain Unirak as she did her best to make sure he was in a healthy state of mind. She was one of Tanaraq's caretakers that journeyed to Bei Fu as part of Unirak's staff. She cried alongside the chief but made sure he was fine. Rong Yan stood as he attempted to contain himself while Jushi remained strong and comforted Aloi.

Atattuk, Annun, Issumatar and Oomailiq, and even Chief Cupun were the few in attendance they stood there as they supported the chieftain of the Southern Water Tribe. After an hour of the gathering a waterbender used a wave to shove the canoe in the water, an archer aimed his bow at an angle. The arrow on the bow was tipped with oil, and small torch hovered over the arrow which lit the head of it.

The arrow was released as it propelled through the air in an arched and struck the canoe. The canoe itself set ablaze from the fire. Everyone stood in tears as they watch the canoe as it sunk and burned. Unaraq was not sure the amount of time that passed by he woke up with a nasty headache, he examined his finger to find a bandage was wrapped his index finger. It had red stains on it but he was relieved when they had someone bandage him up. It still throbbed he wasn't sure where he was now, he peeped outside of the aperture he was sure he was now in prison because he could see another cell door across the hallway.

He sat in a corner and cried for some time he realized that no one would save him, as the general said this was his final resting place. He was going to die here in a foreign capital city killed for the crimes of his nation. He roared with rage so loud he was trapped he slammed his fists on the walls then he yelled at the ceiling. He had hoped the gods of his people would listen he wasn't a worshipper himself they already cursed him with the inability to bend water.

"You put me here, Tiandi! This is all your fault!" he screamed, Unaraq felt helpless he screamed the deity worshipped by his forefathers. All he did was speak the heavenly father's name in vain, which is a punishment dealt with a form of disease or curse that could affect his entire bloodline. He cried himself to sleep and he found himself awake again.

He sat in the corner of the cell where he decided to do something he would've been caught dead doing. It came to his mind that he had a link to the Avatar which far more powerful in a sense than with his girlfriend as he often ignored her when she always made an effort to get Unaraq to join her for prayer.

He cleared his mind of all thoughts like he remembered his girlfriend led him through. He took a deep inhale at first nothing happened, but then focused on it further. At the same time, Rong Yan slept soundly he heard whispers for help but he thought nothing of it.

They repeatedly bothered Rong Yan, he twisted and turned and finally awoke in a cold sweat he noticed some in the corner of his eye near the far wall. A blurred flash of light he rubbed his eyes he saw an apparition, a reflection of his friend Unaraq. Unaraq might have wanted to say farewell before he went into the light he thought.

"Unaraq," he called out softly, the spirit seemed to fade in and out, flicker like the flame on a candle, Rong Yan couldn't hear him.

"Unaraq!" he called out.

The Avatar's friend disappeared into the darkness, Rong Yan lowered his head and sighed. Unaraq on the other hand still saw nothing he thought that whatever his friends did was a load of boar ox excrement. He needed to humble himself because his time was short.

See more

For the collective works of the author, go here.