章 53: Chapter 53
Tanya wasn't sure if she should feel incredulous, disappointed, or just downright murderously angry at the fact that her entire army hadn't been able to push its way past a single old man! Perhaps all three? Some very intensive training lay in store for her entire fleet in the near future.
Admittedly that old man was perhaps the most powerful waterbender in the world, on the night of a full moon, fighting with the reckless abandon of those fully prepared to sacrifice their life.
And admittedly her forces had been bottlenecked into trying to go directly through him by the buildings, all of which were made of ice that he could twist to his will with a twitch of his finger. But even so one man should not be able to hold back an army by himself.
It was a disappointing performance from an army that she'd been rather pleased with up until now, and a mistake that had allowed the last of the Water Tribe warriors to escape. Now her conquest of Agna Qel'a would forever be marred by guerilla attacks from die-hard rebels. The Firelord would not be happy about that.
It was just as the last of the rebels escaped into the northern wastes that dawn finally broke, and its amber light seemed to steal the strength away from the old man the moment it struck him.
His wall of tendrils collapsed into nothingness, and the elderly sage sank to his knees, gasping for breath at the epicentre of a battlefield strewn with shards of ice and fallen firebenders.
Tanya hovered down to the ground in front of him, her flaming feet hissing against the cold ice for a moment before she cut the jets and stood upon solid ground once more. She took a moment to breathe deeply, reigning in her temper, and smoothed out her tousled hair.
It was shameful to admit that she'd lost herself to wrath for a moment back there, but such was not inexcusable during the crescendo of a pitched battle. Now that it was over, professionalism dictated that she behave with logic and discipline once again.
"That was quite a last stand. I have to admit, your technique was breathtaking to behold." She began slowly, looking down upon the exhausted old man.
"But you do realise that you've signed your death warrant, don't you? You have cost many of my men their lives, and caused me no small number of future headaches by letting your comrades escape. You must die, here and now. I trust you understand that it's nothing personal?"
The old man let out a bitter laugh. "It was personal for me. You killed my friend."
Tanya raised an eyebrow. "I did?"
"Admiral Jeong."
"Ahh, I see." Figures that an old traitor would have befriended the enemy. "Well I hope the knowledge that you both made valiant last stands against the inevitable gives you some level of comfort in the next life."
"The Fire Nation's victory is not inevitable." The old man refuted gently, looking up to stare her directly in the eyes. "As long as there are those in any nation willing to take a stand against tyranny, the Fire Nation will never truly be victorious."
Tanya scoffed. "How poetic." She raised her hand, and a ball of fire sprung to life in her palm. "I hope it was a belief worth dying for."
Her hand came down, the fire flared, and the wise Master Pakku was no more.
Tanya turned her back on the battlefield, looking out across the city she had conquered in the light of the new morning. Her plan had not gone as perfectly as she'd hoped, and The Avatar was still at large, but a wise manager did not dwell only on their mistakes.
She had achieved her primary task of conquering Agna Qel'a, the key to the North Pole, where all before her had failed. Fame had not been her driving motivation, but the thought of having her name immortalised in history for this did bring a small smile to her face.
And although she had failed to secure the ocean and moon spirits as hostages, she had managed to pick up a decent consolation prize in their place.
Her eyes trailed down as a group of four soldiers arrived, frog-marching a young woman with silver hair between them who hobbled with as much dignity as she could. A sly smirk crossed Tanya's face, and she drew herself up to her full height and puffed her chest out, every bit the picture of the victorious commander that she was.
"Princess Yue." She greeted, perhaps just a hint of smugness lacing her tone. "I regret to be the bearer of bad news, but the body of your father has been identified. As his sole heir, it now falls to you to take responsibility for your people during this period of tumultuous change."
Her confirmation of the fathers death had a great impact on her, it was clear to see from the flash of raw pain in her eyes and the way her breath hitched. Yet with impressive mental fortitude, Princess Yue fought to bury her grief deep down, and within a few seconds had repaired a hasty, if somewhat clearly faked, composure.
"What is to become of my people?" She asked quietly.
It was touching that her first thoughts went to her subjects when her own safety was in such a questionable position. "Those who fled will be declared exiles and terrorists, publicly renounced by yourself and all others in positions of authority, and hunted down on sight." Tanya answered bluntly.
"Those who have remained in the city however will be welcomed gratuitously as second-class citizens of the Fire Nation. They will be given meaningful employment, access to our technology, and the protection of the forces that will remain here to keep the peace.
Those who work hard and obey the rules of the new governour will even be allowed to apply for first-class citizenship once everyone has settled into the new social order. As a whole, Ange Qel'a will prosper as a great and respected colony of the Fire Nation."
She began to pace around the captured princess, the guards backing off without a word at her approach. "You however, Princess Yue, will accompany me to the palace of the Fire Lord.
A guest room will be prepared for your extended stay, and you will assist our noble Firelord in establishing the new diplomatic treaties and legal policies necessary to maintain order across the North Pole during its integration into the Fire Nation.
Your services may be called upon to help us deal with any issues caused by the rebels, but otherwise your safety and luxury will be guaranteed."
"I am to be your prisoner then? Your hostage?" Yue replied.
Tanya stopped her pacing and grinned wolfishly. "Indeed. Just think of yourself as a fish in a pond, and try not to bite the hand that feeds you." She turned to the soldiers and nodded. "Take her to the flagship, and make sure she's comfortable in the guest quarters. It's going to be a long journey back to the homeland."
The soldiers snapped a salute and marched away, taking the princess with them. Once she was far enough away, Tanya flew upward in a quick blast of fire to perch atop a nearby building, and looked down upon a sea of faces as her troops stared up at her expectantly.
"Soldiers of The Fire Nation!" She yelled, her voice carrying easily across the city and silencing the final murmurs of conversation. "You should be proud!"
She raised her arms and gestured towards the city around them. "You should be proud, because despite hundreds of years of invasions this city has never been captured. But you have captured it, because you are cunning.
You should be proud, because the rest of the world said that a waterbender army could never be beaten on the night of a full moon. But you have beaten them, because you are strong." He raised her arms, her voice filling with passion.
"You should be proud, because the world has never before been unified beneath the banner of one great nation. But today you have brought us another step closer to that dream, because you are the loyal, the brave, the unstoppable soldiers of The Fire Nation! You should be proud, because YOU HAVE WON!"
A great cheer erupted from the assembled soldiers, echoing throughout the icy streets and filling the hearts of the natives cowering within their houses with dread. Victory was the Fire Nation's on this day, and another corner of the world was dragged kicking and screaming into the enlightened grace of The Firelord's rule.
And before long the rest of the world would follow suit. On that day, when there was nowhere left to hide, Tanya knew that she would meet The Avatar again.
And on that day he would not escape her again.
...
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