Chapter 57: The Final Night

Azula was right. We should not have opened the prisoners' cells. The prison warden's subordinates had nearly completed the brainwashing of the forced residents of this place. They had been programmed to kill Fire Nation soldiers. If we had opened the cells, a slaughter would have ensued. Fortunately, the bald lava bender hadn't thought to release them all. He was simply unsure of the power of the hypnosis and only used those whom he had thoroughly tested beforehand.

But this didn't make the prisoners useless for the Princess's plans. On the contrary, compliant puppets, human shells, pleased her far more than fully-formed individuals who valued their own lives. Especially since the documents we found described in detail how to change a zombified person's priorities. We also had the captured scientists, who, under the supervision of the Lieutenant and several of our soldiers, did all the dirty work, getting rid of the old programming on the prisoners and installing new ones.

Of course, it didn't work on everyone. Some could not be reprogrammed. They were simply decided to be killed, as they had permanently turned to the enemy's side. They lunged at us like rabid dogs. Also, the prison warden's suspicions that some prisoners were only successfully faking complete obedience were not unfounded. About fifty people were indeed successfully lying to the scientists and prison guards, simply to avoid torture and, plainly, to receive the meager scraps of food that the captors withheld upon seeing disobedience.

We had a separate conversation with them. No, unlike those Fire Nation citizens who had completely defected to the enemy, these were not killed. At least not all of them… Azula simply gathered the more-or-less sane people who hadn't been affected by the Dai Li’s conditioning and gave a speech, stating that the Fire Nation had not forgotten them, as if the Fire Lord worried about every prisoner and cared about their fate. She told the people that a reward certainly awaited them if they had not broken over all this time and had not gone over to the enemy. She hinted at how this reward could be multiplied several times over if they helped her execute a small task personally given to the Princess by the Fire Lord.

The majority of the sane people were bought by the promised mountains of gold. Some agreed to help Azula out of a desire for revenge for everything they had endured in this place. The money was just a pleasant bonus for them. Only a small percentage of those whose minds hadn't been washed refused to participate in some kind of risky venture that they weren't even willing to disclose details about, clearly implying that they weren't fully trusted.

Now, such people would have to be quietly eliminated so as not to cause panic in the ranks of the Princess's clear-headed group members. Azula did not want the knowledge of hypnosis to become widely known. Brainwashing had the potential to become the Fire Nation's trump card. Of course, they would suspect in Ba Sing Se that we knew about their subjugation methods, but most likely, this information would not spread beyond their own organization. At the same time, the Fire Nation would acquire a powerful tool for conducting behind-the-scenes warfare. I have no doubt that Azula has already compiled a list of which enemy military commanders should be eliminated with the help of brainwashed Earth Kingdom soldiers.

Only a few individuals currently knew about the hypnosis: myself, Azula herself, the Lieutenant with a couple of his trusted men, the scientists, and the former prisoners. The Princess persuasively asked the latter not to reveal what happened in this prison. Even the camps of the former captives and the forces with which we took the "village" were kept separated from each other, just in case, so that the original composition of our group would not accidentally hear anything about hypnosis.

We fully understood that information leakage would happen sooner or later, so it was decided to throw all the prisoners, including the zombified ones, at the spearhead of the attack when the time came. The upcoming battle promised to be extremely bloody. It would definitely reduce the number of people who knew the secret of this prison.

Why was such secrecy even needed? For the element of surprise. When the enemy suspects that there are brainwashed people among their soldiers, they will be prepared for it. There was also another point...

“I don’t know if I should tell Father about the method of controlling people we found,” Azula shared her thoughts when we were alone.

“I don't quite understand your hesitation, Princess,” I answered honestly. “I know your relationship with your father is currently strained, but you seem to be a patriot of your country. And the knowledge we've gained could elevate it.”

“That is indeed true,” Azula nodded. “Any ruler would want to obtain a method of controlling people, and my father is no exception to that rule. I just think he will use the acquired knowledge not only on the enemy.”

“Are you concerned for yourself, Princess?” The look Azula gave me after I asked the question conveyed all her thoughts on the matter. I sighed heavily. I would have to get my hands dirty again. I didn't mind doing it. I was just tired of killing. “The scientists. Princess, for the knowledge of hypnosis to remain a secret for as long as possible, the scientists should also be eliminated. We will thin the ranks of the prisoners during the execution of your plan, but no one has touched the scientists yet. Should we eliminate them directly or proceed more subtly?”

“What do you propose?” Azula focused her attention on me.

“Let’s say... The former inmates of this prison held a grudge against its staff, so they decided to get rid of them. To get to them, they attacked our forces and cut down all the scientists. But I was nearby and intervened. Unfortunately, I was too late. All the people we captured were slaughtered.”

“And the role of the vengeful inmates will be played by those who refused to follow me?” Azula rubbed her chin. “Then we immediately get rid of two unnecessary questions from the soldiers. First, why did the people who disagreed with me suddenly die, and second, why were important captives killed. Even if there are informants among the squad, Father should not figure anything out. And we will maintain a relatively good reputation among our people, rather than becoming evil spirits who kill everyone indiscriminately, since, ideally, the blood is not on our hands. At least, that's what the soldiers will assume.”

Well, as for "evil spirits"... Azula probably forgot that I am already called that from time to time. But overall, she was right. For people to obey you and not hang you for murdering your own citizens, you have to be a little cunning.

For the record, the Princess, of course, was generally favored by her people, but in this case, she wanted to protect herself more than those unfortunate people who refused to follow her and the Dai Li scientists.

“Also, unfortunately, the lava bender should be eliminated. He also knows too much. If his tongue is loosened in prison, the truth that you are hiding valuable information from the Fire Lord will surface.”

“It’s a pity, but his death is an acceptable sacrifice to ensure my own safety.” Recently, Azula has been demonizing Ozai a little too much. And I wouldn't say I'm against it. On the contrary, it’s even advantageous for me. She now sees support only in me, which undoubtedly brings us closer. I was convinced of this once again when she stroked my cheek and continued with a voice full of concern. “Your safety is also important. Do you need help with eliminating the prisoners?”

I shook my head. The former inhabitants of this prison could not be called outstanding warriors or even particularly strong Benders. Such people simply cannot be held in huge numbers in one place. Good warriors and Benders simply do not surrender to the enemy. And even if it does happen, no one would take them prisoner.

A Firebending master is too difficult to control. Unlike others, they don't need their bending element nearby. They literally convert their energy, chi, into flame. If a master isn't allowed to use their hands, they'll kick and send a fireball that way. If their hands and feet are firmly shackled, the flame will shoot out of their mouth. Wrap the Bender completely in chains, and they will eventually melt them.

The local guards understood all this perfectly, so the prison only held Benders who, compared to a Firebending master, could only show children's tricks and were incapable of anything more. Mere cannon fodder. And to handle this fodder, even if it was aggressively set against me, wouldn't require much effort, let alone the help of Princess Azula herself. I could manage alone. At most, perhaps I would ask for the Lieutenant’s help to move the bodies of the dead to the right location, making everything more plausible.

Fortunately, this soldier is not talkative, and after the operation is carried out, his lifeless body won't have to be placed nearby.

It was somewhat amusing that Azula thought I was getting my hands dirty for her sake.

Finally, the preparations were complete, and Azula's plan entered its final phase.

Moving a squad of nearly six hundred soldiers to Omashu unnoticed was a nearly impossible task, but I seemed to have succeeded. At the very least, we didn't run into an ambush or fall into any trap. Although our journey took a considerable amount of time, it was clearly worth it. Our group was literally right under the city defenders' noses.

“Azula, all this time you were…” Ty Lee looked at the Princess with wide eyes, unable to finish her sentence.

“I thought we were looking for the Avatar,” Mai was grimmer than usual. Yesterday, she once again sent Prince Zuko misinformation about the location of the Bender of all elements. Perhaps the girl was beginning to suspect that Azula was simply mocking her brother and uncle, using Mai to make them jump from one part of the Earth Kingdom to the completely opposite. It doesn't matter. Soon, the Princess and I will deal with them. And with Mai too. Azula doesn't forgive betrayal.

The Princess herself was now watching Omashu with a slight smile. The city was asleep. There was silence. Only King Bumi's palace stood out from the picture of nighttime Omashu, as it was lit up. No one suspected that a deadly threat, in the form of our squad, was positioned practically at the city gates. No one expected an attack. Not at all. It will be a surprise for the ordinary citizen and King Bumi himself.

Omashu will go up in flames today. That much was legible in Princess Azula's gaze. In her smile. The fire will drive away the darkness and climb to the very heavens, and the cries of the combatants will chase away the silence for many miles.