ones life

"tell me of the water tribe, that are near the edges of our encampment?"

their goal was no something simple, if they can cut us off from one of our supply lines the sea, the fire nation, and control the waters, they would gain a huge advantage, also, most of the time, supplies were stored on the ships, instead of lugged around protected by a metal curtein....

as such the safest place was to have our ships manned, and protected by the ship itself. as no one could metal bend yet, the first being toph...

i smiled, and than began to think of the funny adventures Aang and his gang have together... and to be honest, i was a little jealous, to be so free of responsibiility to like that....

but that was not for me, i had like i said... responsibility to family, zuko, and azula.. who were currently being held captive in the royal palace.

as i looked upon, the water tribe members from above, atop a hill... they were landing upon the beach with their sailing ships... and were quickly getting out, while the benders, were preparing themselves....

i had long prepared for this....

i left an exposed flank on my ships on purpose... coldly, i looked down towards the water benders

these people had children, lovers, spouses... and what i was about to do, was order an attack on such people....

"Do it."

zhou chen who was standing at my side, immeadiatly, did the signal, firing off a large fireball into the sky... and the ships opened like mouths and my soldiers began to storm out....

i took in a deep breath, bringing my arms up, pointing out two fingers, i brought it up across my body, and down through my towards my stomoch and out, creating lightning with my chi, crimson lightinng sparked... and than i, pointed outwards towards the boats.... releasing a large concurrent stream of lightning....

all across the ships and the people on them were blasted away.... and than lit themselves aflame...

Zhou Chen had a look of pride on his face, but also one of remorse, as he looked upon my back...

"a child has to bear such a burden?" he resolved himself.... that he would follow this kid, no matter what... council, him and if need be, be a shoulder to lean on during this war.

as he felt deep remorse, he made such a decision...

"My Prince, please look away."

they watched as the water benders were being put down like dogs, overwhelmed by their superior numbers... the fire benders lined up, and began to shoot off together, large fire balls and streams, along with large waves were being thrown aganst one another.... in hopes to end or incapacitate each other...

"RETREAT!"

i looked at the man, that screamed retreat, it was a tall burly man.... and he looked to be from the sister tribe, or the southern water tribe! (may have mixed this up think of it as kataras tribe)

my eye brows scruched up together...

"Zhou chen, go, i want them all alive."

while this may have seemed like a long time, it was only but a few moments of time, since the battle began....

"of course, my prince."

he sighed, but after resolving himself, he too, didnt want to see such life be ended before a childs eyes....

but he had noticed it, some life had been taken on the ships he destroyed....

did he want it all to stop?

Karna, looked upon the man, that called retreat, he recognized him, it was bato.... a close friend of kataras old man.... if i could join forces with such a man, and become friends, it would be a good deal... he was a skilled tactician, and would be intrumental, in leading a raiding party, aganst the fire nation when we arrive...

it would do me well, to create such connections....

but they would need to know their place first...

i began to walk down slowly from the hill, as zhou chen shouted out the orders....

"take them alive! let none escape!"

our army rallied at zhou chens pressence, showing a already overwhelming display of vigor....

they began to encircle the water tribe... and shouted as one...

"surrender!"

seeing such odds... they gave up their weapons, while some that were resisting, began to fight even harder... but was an effort all for naught....

they were knocked unconcious, or were incapacitated by flames... creating injury but not death...

Bato shouted to his kin "lay down your arms and surrender!"

they did so at his command...

the few dead, that were struck by the lightning i shot off at their canoes..

i walked past the group, who made way for me.... and than i pointed at a water bender...

"exstingush the flames, you will have the time to give your rights to the fallen..."

they all wondered what a child was doing on the battle field, but than one of them shouted....

"i saw him! hes the one that shot off the crimson lightning!"

suddenly they all became perplexed, and full of guilt, but also hatred for the fire nation... and above all me...

one such individal acted on his hate... grabbing onto the weapon at his feet he rushed towards me...

"my wife was!"

however i didnt care, as someone else stopped him.... it was zhou chen who was now following me everywhere, using his hammers, he threw it at the back of his head, splitting his skull....

"another dead, to mourn.... a pity."

they knew that their lives was in their hands, they all looked towards Zhou Chen... believing he was the one in command here...

"i am karna the crown prince of the fire nation... and rightful heir to the throne. i am in command of this legion of fine men and women."

batos eyes became remourseful....

'the fire nation has resorted to this?!'

his fists clenched as he felt a twinge of guilt...

than after he was left to his thoughts, his gaze turned soft as he looked upon me...

even if i did take the lives of his men and women, i was but a child after all...

but when he looked up, i had already walked off... standning next to Zhou Chen....

"i trust you to help them with their rights...."

you are too soft he thought... this was war!

but if this was how he planned ot fight this war, so be it...

he ordered a group of fire benders, to help with the gathering of wood and rocks to place their dead upon, and what was salvaged from the canoes were skins, pelts, and oranmental items so pass them on to the dead....

returning to my test.... the night past... and cries of the tribesmen were heard...