Chapter 25.4- And So the Dragons Danced

“We don’t have the fighting men to oppose you. We have seen what remains of the Foggy Swamp and shudder at the thought of a similar fate befalling our homes and our peoples. So we have decided to submit ourselves to your mercy with a quick surrender and hope that you will leave us in peace,” he said and I nodded at his words, feeling the honesty within them.

“Well if that is so, then kneel.” I commanded, noting with pleasure that it only took the Mayor and those with him a few seconds to accede to my command.

“I, Major General Natsu of the First Battalion of the Fire Nation Army, do hereby accept your surrender and pledge to protect your peoples and properties as if they were my own, as you yourselves now are. Welcome to the Fire Nation, Kinvara” I said with a serious tone that bellied the smile on my face. The reminder of the Foggy Swamp was not the best of things, but taking city this big without any men lost would be one hell of a coupe. The kind of coupe that got promotions.

I’d never forgotten my basic goal of becoming a general in time to prevent the Fire Nation from losing the 100 years war. And now the only thing standing in the way of that was the grandest jewel of the Earth Kingdom, Ba Sing Se herself. I’d take her. I knew I would. Now I just had to write Command of this victory and request further reinforcements if I were to be marching on the Three walled city. Sure, there were a few settlements between me and her, but

“I will be taking over your administrative quarters” I told the mayor. “Ready the city for my entrance,” I said, feeling a million thoughts run through my head at the same time.

The camp took the news that we would not have to assault the city very well. Almost too well, in fact. I stared at all of them in suspicion for a while wondering if I’d been given an army of cowards without ever noticing. Of course, my thoughts were turned to more useful endeavours in no time. The gates of the city would be opened for us by noon and we were to ride into the city. It was an opportunity for a trap to her pulled, Toji had pointed out and I agreed. It would give them a chance to betray us, but I judged the risk to be worth it. It was worth it because even if we were betrayed then it just meant we’d have to do what we came here to do and even then with the advantages of already being within their walls and not having to worry about taking said walls. If the fools were daft enough to invite firebenders into their home with intention to betray, then we’d show them why the Fire Nation Army was the greatest singular military force on the planet.

I made sure my soldiers were ready in case it did happen, and I myself rode at the tip of the spear, ready to cut down any earth bender who tried to betray my trust in this moment. Toji and Maki rode side by side behind me. And behind them were Shin, Amara, and Tal. We rode into the city like that, and noted the way the civilians all got on to their knees as we passed. Good. A truly subjugated force.

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“You could be out there with them, you know? No one would begrudge you a night of pleasure” Amara was the one who said this as she strolled into my office. Even though she said the words with a casual tone, there was recrimination in her voice. I sat in the central office of the Mayor’s building, writing letter after letter, requesting this or that from the High Command while updating the other battalions of my progress and movements. The Hawks would fly in the cover of the dark so I had to be sure to complete the letters before I went to bed. Outside, there raged a party. Someone had started a bonfire. There was wine aplenty as I forbade drinking during the march, and they’d somehow convinced the locals to join in on the partying.

“My duties do not permit me such opportunities. And my personal moralities mean I abstain from such pleasures” I said in reply to her testing words.

“Personal morality? I never knew you had such.”

“What do you want, Amara?”

“So you know what they’re doing is wrong?” She asked, voice beginning to rise.

“No one is being raped” I pointed out tersely, feeling my irritation rise to match her own.

“But your mind wasted no time in going there, did it? It might not be rape, but it sure does smell like it” She replied.

“And what do you expect me to do about it? I made my rules. None of them are being broken. The women there, they’re not being forced to stay. If any man raises a hand at any of them, I’d be the first to cut that hand, but that isn’t what’s happening”

“No, instead the women are being asked out of their homes by armed soldiers who make no threats beyond the threat that is unspoken in their very presence”

“That is enough, Amara. I have greater problems to deal with.”

“But-“

“Get out” I said finally, and she hmphed before twirling around and slamming the door behind her. I sighed, feeling as much disappointment in myself as I did anger in her. I was finally a popular leader with the troops. I could not risk it by outlawing something that most in my position would have never even had a problem with. It was the curse of leadership. There was a time to take a stand, and a time to stand aside. This was the latter.

I sighed and signed off the last letter before placing it on the out tray for the orderlies to deal with while I retreated to the bedroom I had set aside for my own use.

A/N; Breathe.