Azula's Bodyguard

Chapter 3: The Wall Falls

(Shino's pov)

94 AG, Ba Sing Se, day 32 of the siege

It had been over a month since the siege started and we are still waiting outside of the city in our trenches. However today things are about to change. For the last few weeks we have been sitting in our trenches waiting for an opportunity. However things haven't been easy, at night the enemy tried to raid our trenches. Multiple soldiers have been killed during those raids. We managed to fight them of. Now for the first time since the start of the siege we have an opportunity to strike. A few days ago a group of Fire Nation soldiers managed to get inside the city and capture a few earth benders. They used them to weaken a part of the wall. They also planted lots of explosives. Now we are waiting for the explosives to blow up.

A few minutes pass until finally a massive explosion can be heard and a part of the wall blasts to pieces. This is our chance to finally enter the city and take the outer wall.

Hori: "Get inside the city and stay in formation."

We and hundreds of other soldiers quickly run through the hole the explosives made and are met with minimum resistance. The blast scared the enemy and most of them scramble. However many of them aren't planning to flee and fight back. Fortunately we quickly gain the advantage.

Kaoru: "Look at them, running away like cowards!"

"Not so tough anymore are they?"

Kaoru: "Is it just me or is it suspicious that they flee so quickly."

"They probably realised that they would lose anyway so they flee back to the inner wall."

Kaoru: "If we keep up this pace Ba Sing Se will be ours in no time."

???: "I wouldn't get your hopes up too high."

Kaoru and I turn around.

"Look who finally decided to show up."

Kaoru: "Manzo, where have you been these past weeks?"

Manzo: "I was part of a different company remember?, now we are reunited again."

Kaoru: "How glad I am that you are back, finally someone with a sense of reason to lead us."

Our reunion is disturbed by Hori.

Hori: "What are all of you standing around here for?"

Manzo: "My fault sir I was just..."

Hori: "I need you three up the wall, a Earth Kingdom general has locked himself in."

We follow Hori up the ladder and walked over to a closed door. A few soldiers try to break open the door.

Fire Nation Soldier: "Why won't this door open?"

Hori: "How are things going?"

Soldier: "Bad sir, we can't get this lock open."

Manzo: "Let me have a look."

He pushes Hori and the other soldiers aside. Hori looks annoyed that someone else tries to take over. He crouches down and inspects the lock.

Manzo: "I don't know any fire bending technique that could break this lock open. Shino, have you gotten any ideas?"

"There is an old trick my mother taught me that I could try."

Manzo stands up and turns around.

Manzo: "She's all yours."

I walk over to the lock. I put my right index and middle finger against the lock and warm them up. During this I start to control my breathing. The better control of the breath the warmer and stronger your fire can be. Eventually my fingers slowly burn through the lock, I then blast the lock off. I remove my fingers from the lock and kick open the door. I am then met face to face with the general.