Avatar: The Last Airbender: Legend

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***

-Somehow we missed this moment....

Scratching his head absent-mindedly, Sun Ce experienced a drop of embarrassment in front of his comrade. It hadn't even occurred to the Liping heir that Yu might not be able to ride a komodo rhino. Now the Viceroy's son was watching the rather sad picture of the boy trying to stay in the saddle and not become a babbler under the feet of his transport.

-Nothing to worry about, Mr Tse. I'm a quick learner, I think I can easily get the hang of it in a couple of days.

Nodding at the orphan's words, Tse returned to the formation, listening to Yu cursing at the rhinoceros out of the corner of his ear. With a frugal smile, the heir moved to the beginning of the column. As he passed the soldiers, he saw most bowed and saluted him. A few simply nodded and only a few remained motionless.

His small army that his father had prepared for him came from all walks of life. Only his son's personal troop was made up of nobles with one exception.

Smoothly leading the komodo along the formation, Tse scrutinised the column, looking for the smallest problems. A polite cough sounded behind the young man: one of the veterans assigned by his father bowed his head and began his report. Listening to the dry lines of the report, Tse felt calm and tortured sadness. While he was helping Guan Yu and solving issues with the most troublesome classmates, the Fire Giant's subordinates had already solved all the issues.

Exhaling tiredly, the young man caught the attention of his 'babysitter' with this.

-If I may be frank, Mr Tse?

-Yes,' he replied harshly and coldly, not at all like the heir's manners and more like his father's, 'Oh, my rudeness is a result of stress, I'm sorry.

-My lord, from the beginning no one expected you to take the reins and do everything without mistakes. We will assist you and teach you, and Mr Gongsun Zan will be your commanding officer so you can gain experience under his careful guidance.

-I understand, Khao. It's just that your blood is thirsty for action. Besides, I'm the one responsible for the lives of all these people.

With a sweeping gesture toward the column, Tse gripped the reins tighter. With a final nod, the heir rode off, wishing to be left alone. After seeing off his master's son with a glance, the man sniffed his nose glumly.

''It will be hard, but that's okay, we'll manage.''

While Sun Ce was tormented by questions of his skills and authority, Yu manoeuvred the rhino, trying to stay in the saddle. As he rode across Liping's main bridge, he even distracted himself for a couple of seconds as he surveyed the twin towers that had guarded the city for years.

The banner of the Fire Nation fluttered proudly over the gates, and most of the soldiers of the garrison and important bigwigs of the city stood on the walls, seeing off their friends, children, and comrades to war.

-War...

A dreaded word that Yu used in his head every time he tried to get used to it. The fact that he was going to war at the age of fifteen was unthinkable, but fate had decreed it to be so.

Wrapping the reins around his wrists so that he wouldn't fall under the feet of the huge animal, the young man was able to relax and think. This morning, they had all been explained their task and the grandiose plans of the command, which caused shivers and a sticky feeling of fear like oily ink to cover his entire body. It was still lucky that Yu was part of the Viceroy's son's retinue, otherwise he would have been told about the future plans after the fact.

Looking around, Yuu noticed the fake smiles of the soldiers and classmates. Many of them had only recently crossed the threshold of turning sixteen, having reached the minimum conscription age. There were almost a thousand people in the entire squad, and only a couple of dozen of them had been in real combat, while the rest were only dreaming of great feats.

Of course, Iron Fist's army had been fighting for a long time, and when they joined him, their ranks would be filled with hundreds of veterans, but until then....

'Sword grease, Master Gai said it right.'

The farewell to Sun Ren's bodyguard was few words and cold, just like the master himself. Master Cai gave some advice for the future, patting his shoulder. While Sister Ce didn't even come over. It was later learnt that the girl was too much upset and afraid for her relative, so she couldn't come.

The most enjoyable part was saying goodbye to Wenling. The whole of the next day after bathing they spent together. Walking around the city and fighting on rooftops, the two teenagers ran around like stupefied beasts. It had been a long time since Yu had had such a good time, especially with someone his age.

In the evening, they sat in his abandoned house again, which at least no longer smelled musty. Warming cheap tea and talking about nothing, they chatted into the night. The most important event happened when they got out on the rooftops again. Standing under the starry sky, Yu wanted to say something beautiful and important that would leave a beautiful memory of him, but the thoughts never translated into words.

Turning to face his friend, he only had time to open his eyes wide when she kissed him. Wenling's closed eyelids instantly opened, and a surprised cry escaped from her throat. She wanted to give him a chaste kiss on the cheek as a farewell, but turning her head, Yuu got something better.

After standing like that for a few seconds, the two teenagers jumped away from each other. Following their opponent's movement, they slowly cleaned themselves up and with a final nod, they silently parted ways.

Half the night the boy sat on his bed, chattering tea in a cup, and in the morning he had to run to the Viceroy's manor to pack his things.

Touching his fingers to his lips, Yu rode on ahead with a dorky smile on his face. His phlegmatic komodo paced behind his brothers, glad that the silly biped had finally stopped fiddling.

In the spacious office on the very top floor of Xiahou Fortress, Cao Cao listened to Liu Chong's outrages with a luscious smile. The prince had bored him with his complaints a couple of hours ago, and now the whole monologue was beginning to go into a second round, so Cao Cao, coughing softly, interrupted the exhortations.

-My dear friend, perhaps we should take a different path.

Taking a sip of tea, the taste of which Cao had become accustomed to over the years, he rose from his seat, holding the mug in his hands.

-I believe you have heard that new rumours are coming from the north.

Momentarily frowning at the change of topic, Liu Chong leaned back in his chair and clasped his hands together in front of him.

-''Sure enough, one of the Fire Nation's generals is gathering a new army.

-That's right. This is the second army from the northern province. The colonies are supplying huge numbers of men to the Fire Lord's troops.

-I agree, but what can we do? No matter how strong our defences, we can't take the fortifications across the river. We simply don't have the manpower!

-There's always the forest dwellers.

-Ph...,' the prince snorted under his breath and jumped up from his seat, heading for the large map carved on the table, 'barbarians and savages. Trusting them is like turning your back on a brigand and showing him a bag of gold.

-That's true, but we won't call for the storming of fortresses and towns. We didn't want them to loot everything in their path.

Nodding in agreement, Liu Chong leaned on the table. Wooden figures mimicked the troops of enemies and allies, and there was an allied flag above the Baru Forest.

-I think you've made up your mind.

-Not yet,' Cao Cao, sensing his companion's displeasure, decided to butter up his companion, 'without your consent, I would not have dared to do such a thing.

The prince gave the young man a glance and hummed with satisfaction. Stroking his moustache, the man looked at the map for a long time before he finally voiced his decision.

-Well, I think you'll find a way to use them wisely. I can only rely on your superior intellect.

-Thank you, I knew you and I could come to a compromise.

Hiding a smile behind his cup of tea, Cao stared intently at his ally's back. With Liu Chun's support, he had managed to subdue all of his father's disgruntled vassals and discourage the henchmen and counsellors who wanted to take over the fortress. They had achieved much in recent years. The troops have been tripled, the fortress defences rebuilt, and the navy has become even larger and more deadly.

At this rate, in a dozen years, he would be able to single-handedly drive the invaders out of his land.

'Exactly, Pohai and Liping will protect my northern borders, while Gaipan and Xiahou will protect my southern borders. All that remains is to get rid of the abundance of competitors.'

Whispering under his breath so that the prince would not hear anything, Cao Cao returned to the table to refill his cup. His peepers and the free merchants that visit the colonies had brought important news. Prince Airo had almost cleared out all the marauders on the northern shore, he would be back soon, and with him would come a huge army hardened by long battles. A strike force that will easily crush everything in its path. Given the support of the army from Lu Yang and the Iron Fist soldiers.... A simple realisation came to mind.

''Idiot, they will most likely hit Gaipan. While Gongsun Zan is holding back the tribes and Lu-Yang's garrison is holding back me, Airo will hit the city.'

Having voiced his fears to the prince, Cao barely managed to restrain the latter from hasty action. In light of the new revelations about the enemy's plans, Lu Chong would still be able to play his part.

-Are you still in touch with your friend Arnuk? I think I have an idea on how we can emerge victorious from this situation.

Shi Xie strolled measuredly through the magnificent garden of his manor. His long white beard reached his waist and his hair was gathered in a bundle. Dressed in white and blue robes, he looked more like a religious elder than a Gaipan leader. Holding his son's bride under his elbow, he questioned the girl about her hobbies and dreams. The sweet chirping continued for a long time until one of his loyalists entered the room.

Without a word, the elderly ruler apologised to the girl and disappeared after his subordinate.

-It's not often I say thank you, but today you outdid yourself.

-Unfortunately, sir, the news that caused me to interrupt your conversation is not the best.

-Huh.

As the man entered the office, he saw a postal hawk. Red birds were amazing mailmen, the Fire Nation used them everywhere. Opening the special note box, Shi Xie unfolded a message written in stunning handwriting in front of him.

-I admire it every time I see it.

Shrugging his shoulders at his master's comment, the servant stood near the entrance, not even hoping to see the contents and appreciate the calligraphy skills.

As he read, Xie frowned more and more until he clutched the message in one hand.

-Our old friend writes with unpleasant news.

-Pardon my impertinence lord, but all his messages are like this.

-That's right.

Tossing the note, Shi Xie watched with satisfaction as his subordinate burned the paper in one motion, not even leaving ashes.