The Hardest Choice (malereader x avatar)

Chapter 12: The Siege of the North; Part 2

-Rewritten April 21, 2024-

Y/N sat cross-legged on the floor of his quarters. He had drawn a blind over the window, so the room was entirely dark with the exception of a single lit candle. Y/N took a deep breath, holding it for a moment before slowly exhaling and repeating the process. He was taking his time to meditate, clearing his mind of distractions. It was necessary to ensure that he was in the correct state of mind. He did his best to cleanse the adrenaline from his system. For the common soldier, adrenaline was beneficial, perhaps even necessary, for battle; but Y/N was no common soldier. As someone who had been ordered to lead men into battle, Y/N knew that any rash or foolish decisions he made could lead to dozens of deaths, dozens of widows, dozens of children without fathers.

Y/N was thrilled for the prospect of battle, there really was nothing quite like it. However, he still recognized the brutal, awful nature of warfare. Men had to die, all battles ended in that, but Y/N would do what he could to prevent it from being his men.

Breathing out once more, Y/N stood up and blew out his candle, reaching for the door. He found the handle and opened it, stepping once more onto the metal deck of the ship. He could hear the sound of impacts in the distance and turned to see that they were continuing the barrage of the city. Though he could not see it, due to the large wall, Y/N assumed that a good portion of the city lay in rubble.

Y/N walked toward the stern of the ship, where a good deal of men were gathered. He furrowed his brow as he made his way to the front of the crowd. It seemed as though the entirety of the ship's crew was gathered around. Once Y/N reached the front of the crowd, he understood why. Ahead of him, raised on a small pedestal, stood Admiral Zhao, his uniform swaying in the wind. Zhao was not facing towards his men, but away, which is when Y/N noticed that the crews of the other ships were all gathered in front of him at the bows of their ships.

There was a loud chatter from the various crews, the hum of conversations coming in from all directions, but it was quickly silenced as Admiral Zhao raised a hand, commanding the men's attention. As silence fell over the assembled soldiers, Zhao began his speech, speaking in a booming voice that resonated over the waters.

Zhao: Soldiers of the Fire Nation, today we stand on the precipice of history, poised to etch our names into the annals of greatness. For too long, the Northern Water Tribe has defied our might, clinging to their icy fortress as if it were an impenetrable shield. But today, we shall shatter that illusion of invincibility and lay waste to their defenses with the unstoppable force of our fury!

Cheers rang out from the men, excited smiles on their faces. Zhao paused, allowing the cheers to die down before continuing.

Zhao: We are the inheritors of a legacy forged through generations of conquerors, the torchbearers of a destiny written in flames. We are the bringers of progress, the harbingers of a new era of dominance for the Fire Nation. With every step we take, we shall strike fear into the hearts of our enemies, until they cower before us like trembling children! So let us march forth with unwavering resolve. Let us show the world the might of the Fire Nation, as we unleash the full force of our fury upon their pathetic ice "city". Victory is within our grasp, men, and history shall remember this day as the dawn of our world domination! For victory, for Fire Lord Ozai, for the Fire Nation!

The cheers were absolutely deafening, and Y/N was glad to take part in them. He'd be lying if he said that Zhao's speech didn't inspire him. He felt eager to attack, like a dog chomping at the bit. A smile grew on Y/N's face, excited to take part in something so monumental.

The soldiers cheered a final time before the Fire Nation armada made contact with the shore, platforms lowering from each ship so that they could disembark. No one said a word as they listened to the rhythmic beats of war drums and the shrill shriek of the war horns. Y/N could feel his heart beating, his stomach filled with butterflies. The leader of the Northern Water Tribe did not even parlay with Admiral Zhao, as he knew there would be no convincing the Fire Nation to call off the attack. Instead, a barrage of ice spikes flew down from the tall walls of the city, many of which hit their mark. A man next to Y/N was hit in the shoulder, letting out a cry of pain as he writhed in pain. Another man, to the right of Y/N, was hit in the throat, dying immediately. Blood crept along the ground, pooling by Y/N's foot. He looked away.