It is the combination of the four elements that make the Avatar so powerful, but it can you more powerful too.

The meeting of advisors were gathered below, all surrounding the long table in the centre. All were awaiting the arrival of their lord, who was already behind schedule. Doors opened wide from the left side, entering from was Ursa, dressed in her royal Robes, swiftly followed by Fire-lord Zuko, garbed in his full regal armour. The Mother and Son took their seats at the head of the table.

"We are sorry to keep you gentlemen waiting," said Ursa.

"Yes, we have been tied up in other things, Governor Shino, I would to hear what you have to say first." addressed Zuko.

"Thank you my Lord."

Governor Shino was well respected amongst all at the meeting, including Zuko, but there was nothing stopping Zuko from his usual daydreaming. Although he was listening to the Governor and he understood his content, Zuko couldn't keep out of his own head, there was too much happening now. Even three years after the war had ended, its repercussions were still being felt, much of the old leaders had banded together to for a political rebellion who still believe the lies of the dethroned Ozai, Yu Dao was growing rapidly and he had drastically changed his military to aid the city in its growth. To top it all off, Mai had left him over a year ago for talking to his father about the political affairs of the Nation, not one of Zuko's greatest moments.

His head filled with weariness, this had been his fourth meeting today and he still had to look over the latest report from Yu Dao, the tempting embrace of sleep would be well welcomed and uninterrupted meditation would help him keep his head.

"... So from the information we have gathered, the rebellion is centered around a coastal town on the South eastern point of the country, with approximately one third of the influential members finding their ways into schools to try and spread the support for the old Fire-lord. Sir what do you think would be the best course of action?" Governor Shino relieved his pointer from the map and faced Zuko.

This woke Zuko up from his pleasant fantasy, though Startled at the competence and efficiency of the rebellion or at least at how Shino reported them to be, but all he only really knows that they fight for Ozai. "Who are these influential members?" asked Zuko, "What can you tell me about their previous positions in Ozai's regime and could you enlighten me on what part of Ozai's regime they want returned to the system?"

Shino acknowledged this request and was formulating his response, Ursa, turned to Zuko, seeing the sleep-deprived Fire-lord, a breaking man leading a broken Nation. She had taught her son to be kind, fair and to stay true to who he is, but her advice on leading a Nation was limited but her understanding nature was able to steer Zuko in the right direction from time to time. Seeing her son at the point where he is struggling to keep his head above water, really pained her.

"Well sir, we can't determine too many of the influential figures, they range from ranking officers and noblemen to tradesmen and farmers. The diversity and choice of its open members changes every time we investigate. As for their motives, I can see that they are two main groups of motives, hubris and lack of funding. Noblemen and the officers are most likely driven by their hubris and want Ozai to continue his conquest of the other nations. The other group, I think are joining because of the money and help they got from Ozai for making weapons and supplies for his armies." Shino explained.

Zuko, picking up on Shino's points, "From your opinions Governor Shino, do you think we could almost half the rebellion group by stretching our funds to accommodate tradesmen and farmers and helping them develop into a more profitable business?"

Unanimous murmurs filled the room, other leaders conversing about how it would already affect their lives, until Ursa began over them all.

"Understanding the lives of the lower class is a good way to approach this problem." proclaimed Ursa, "The lower class is the mass of this nation and was hit hard with the war, with conscription, lower working age and low pays, now that the war has ended, why cannot our country prosper too, we are helping Yu Dao to become a great nation, so if we can help our own nation prosper, it will bring a better life to both sides of this ocean."

Silencing the room, the flickering of light was the sound, until all of the room started murmuring to each other above Ursa's proposition.

"It seems like a good Idea, but I don't know if it will work."

"How are we going to accommodate the soldiers and the workers in Yu Dao? It's going to look like another invasion."

"What is it going to take to convince these people that we can support them by doing this?"

"Where are we going to find the funds?"

"Who is going to suffer when we start to help these people?"

"Why are we even wanting to help...?"

"They are criminals, why..."

"Bettering our Nation..."

"Greater good?"

Zuko couldn't stand it any longer, he sighed, and put his energy into the flickering candles. Each burned whiter and brighter, but no bigger or more intimidating, and caught the attention of the governors.

"If there is anything to take away from this is that the resistance are simply people wanting a better life, the previous Fire-lord gave them that for a hundred years so, trying to implement this might help our relationship with this group. Killing them is not an option and we do not have the resources to start a civil war. Governor Shino, I will look into this solution myself and I will have consideration for any other option that are put forward by the rest of this council." Zuko was tired but spoke strong and he couldn't just believe that he gave himself more work to do. Reading the testimonies of the governors won't be something he's looking forward to. "That is all."

Saying his last few words, Zuko and Ursa stood up and took their leave, trusting the governors to sort out their opinions and compromise between themselves.

/New Scene

There were pros and cons to meditating at night. The sun being a large part of a fire benders power, at night Zuko could only rely on his own inner flame for his warmth and power. However, doing so would strengthen him to control that flame, and not have to rely on a sun for strength. Because of his work, one would expect his inner flame to be pretty strong right now.

Breathing in once more, the candle flame grew larger and closer as he spun on his back. Fire blazing around his body, be brought himself to a handstand and augmented the blaze with his legs. A half flip forward, he landed on his feet and summoned a fire blast in-front of him.

Breathe In.

He rolled his arm and started a Diagonal flip, controlling half to the previous candle fire and blasting it forward. Landing on his left, he send a fire stream from his right leg, then spinning that leg behind him, putting his left palm out and sending two equally powerful fire streams. Turning his body around so his right leg become his front foot, he ended his drill.

Breathe In.

Breathe Out.

Wiping the sweat off his body, he left the candles to be put out by the servants of the palace and retired to his work chamber, it was only the early evening so he could work till the moon rose a little more.

.

.

.

Zuko had probably read through five reports by now, until Ursa entered his study.

"There you are Zuko, I've been looking for you." Ursa looked at her son, still reading. "I'm concerned about you Zuko, I can understand your desire to return the Fire Nation to honour, but that won't happen shortly. One hundred years takes two hundred years to undo Zuko and you mustn't burden yourself entirely with it."

Zuko looked up from his report. His drifting eyes stared at his mother as he spoke.

"Then how Mother? I am trying to help my people have pride in where they live, not be shunned by the world for the orders of their previous leader. I understand that redemption is not easy but taking action quickly will help show the world I am not an incompetent leader."

"Zuko, the world knows you are not incompetent. They know you were the one who trained the Avatar in fire-bending when none else would have. You have shown your bigheartedness to the people of Yu Dao in offering to help them gain their place in the new world. There still will be hard work, but you should give yourself time to sift comfortably through it all. It works that way in the other Nations so why do you feel that you must work this hard to be the same as them?"

Zuko sighed into his page and leaned back in his chair. He wanted to retrieve his nation from the pits of shame and lead himself to a pit of despair and exhaustion. Once again his ambitions were getting ahead of him, but this time he knew it was better for him than his three year folly searching for the Avatar.
"There must be some way the both sides can benefit mother? What do you think I could do?"

Ursa smiled, he was finally listening to himself. "Well, what are you reading?" Ursa walked over to the desk to retrieve the papers from his desk. Turning to the front, the report read 'An overview of peasant life in Yu Dao'. This gave Ursa an idea straight away, Iroh had told her numerous times about their travels through the Earth Kingdom, from him drinking white jade tea, Zuko's training and even a little date with a Ba Sing Se girl. He may not want to relive that life, but he might as well get involved in his report and not just read about it.

"What about a break from the palace life then, you're reading about the peasant life, why don't you live amongst them?"

"I don't think I can do that mother. I am needed here, this is a crucial time where if I do anything to upset the balance we worked so hard for, the rebellion will start a civil war. Our troops are too unprepared to war with them, and we cannot rely on Aang to help us again. That's why I am reading all these papers, the more we know, the better."

"Then trust the others with this information that you know. Let the other governor's help you, Governor Shino is more welcoming to your ideas than the others. You can trust Shino and I to help steer the rest in the right direction." Ursa walked around to Zuko and put her hand on his shoulder and brought his head into a loving embrace. "You don't need to carry everything yourself. You can leave this nation in like-minded people."

Breathe In.

Breathe Out.

Ursa looked down at her son sleeping in his chair. Leaving Zuko to the loving embrace of sleep, Ursa was already making the preparations in her mind of Zuko's little trip to Yu Dao.

/New Scene

Zuko had answered the call of the rising Sun, lifting his head of the desk, creaking and groaning under a terrible night's sleep. For one, he hadn't finished reading his report on Living standards on Yu Dao, had fallen asleep mid conversation with his mother and sleeping on his desk is never a good thing for him these days.

One of the palace attendants had entered the room, surprised to see Zuko half asleep in his chair.
"Oh good morning My Lord, I have just come to collect some papers if you don't mind me intruding."

Tired and stressed, Zuko countered, "Of course, yes, please."

Hearing his permission, the attendant started collecting almost all of the paper on Zuko's Desk but he didn't notice. Zuko had just slowly wondered out of the study to get changed for the rest of the day. In his chamber was his unusual clothes, a simple red robe, boots and pants. Zuko though he strictly ordered his ornate armour or his working days, but there was no servants around and the robe was a better idea with the conditions. He sighed, knowing he'd have to change before attending any of meetings today, but the robes will do for breakfast.

The palace seemed rather barren this morning, usually by now there would have been the first meeting of the day, but there was no governors in sight and Zuko could not find his mother either. He'd rather use his time wiser and study some more reports but remembered that the attendant had taken them all since arrival in the study. Chaos was driving Zuko now, he knew he was busy today and he didn't have time to try and find everyone, he hadn't even gotten out of the clothes from earlier. Realising that the only way to help him control this situation meant meditation, which also takes time.

Zuko found his way to the Palace gardens, by now the Sun was one quarter high in the sky, but he could feel its energy flow smoothly through his body. Sitting down in-front of the small turtle-duck pond, he meditated.

Breathe In, Breathe Out.

He felt the warm glow of Sun on his face, the energy flowing in and out in perfect sync with his own breathing. The Suns energy felt much stronger than he had ever felt, most likely due to his constant night training, it was like a blaze inside of him just bursting to get out. The erratic inferno burned inside his stomach, discouraging his mind of food and sleep. The strong heartbeat of its energy radiated through him, rejuvenating him. This was the best he had felt since Mai but he couldn't afford to think of her right now. Zuko smiled to himself, "I wouldn't mind staying a little while longer."

"Excuse me My Lord, is this a bad time?"

That wiped the smile off Zuko's face, "No, please, go ahead. Where do I need to be and with whom?"

"Well, sir, you are required in the main hall, Governor Shino and Lady Ursa have called a meeting together."

Zuko took one deep breath and walked to the attendant, "Okay, but I will need my royal armour for this meeting, I need to have my top knot laid out and..." The attendant cut him off, much to Zuko's annoyance.

"No sir, she asked you to be immediately removed from what you were doing and join the table immediately. I then ask you to simply follow me please."

Puzzled and confused, Zuko followed the bold man into the main hall, stopping only before the doors. Just mentioning Zuko to walk through, Zuko pushed through the doors and into what he thought was going to be the worst meeting of his life.

/New scene

Ursa and a select few had only been waiting a short while until Zuko entered from the left, still warm from his meditation. There was a quick greeting and the Meeting was under-way.

This again wasn't part of anything that was planned for today. The table consisted of Zuko, Ursa, Shino and a few other supportive members of Zuko's reign. Ursa started off the meeting today.

"Gentlemen, as we know, the Fire-Nation has been working actively and tirelessly to restore the balance to the world. The Fire-Lord has worked with generals and engineers to redesign our war machines and our armies to help build the new republic of Yu Dao and also works tirelessly with you here to try and have the best possible life for our citizens. Today, I have an unorthodox proposition for our Fire-Lord and I know you gentlemen are behind me in this so." Ursa turned towards Zuko, his eyes filled with confusion. "What we have put together, Zuko, is a group of governors that are tasked with helping your endeavours to aid Yu Dao while still keeping our own interests of our nation in mind." Ursa mentioned the group of people in-front of her.

The small group consisted mostly of other governors and noblemen, all had the reports that were Zuko's desk, shared amongst each other.

"Why are you doing this mother?" Zuko's face changed to a mixture of anger and confusion. "I understand your concern but I don't need this help."

Ursa smiled at his ignorance, concluding that he fell asleep before she had fully formulated her idea.

"Well, Zuko," said Ursa, "You read all of these reports on the lifestyle of Yu Dao, but you have been living in nobility where stress if caused from intellectual problems. So it has been my idea that we will sent you to personally overview the lower class citizens of Yu Dao personally."

"Mother, what gave you this idea. I need to be here, leading in the positive direction, not gallivanting around in the Earth Kingdom. I've lived as a refugee in the Earth Kingdom for a few months and I know the people there are very resilient. If I can stay here, secure enough to lead and I can still get all the information I need from the reports from our advisors, then I don't need to go in person."

"Zuko, we are here to help you. When you chose your fellow leaders, you chose them not just for their loyalty to you, but their good intentions to the Nation. If these were the Leaders you chose, they have proven themselves to have similar intentions to you. They also know you a little Zuko, they are a little more attuned to what you were to think and I am here to make sure that happens to its fullest."

Iroh had always told Zuko when he was being stupid and needed help. Ursa was now using the same technique, only this time he knew Ursa was right. He did need help and this wasn't healthy for him, even today's quick respite had shown him that.

Zuko sighed, "Alright, I accept your proposal but how is it going to work, I can't just pop into the Earth Kingdom and go 'Hello, Zuko here, but I am not here invade you at all'."

Ursa smiled, "I've already sent a messenger hawk to your Uncle in Ba Sing Se and he should agree to send back a few things here to the Fire-Nation and some items to the contact in the Earth Kingdom. We only have to wait a few days for both sides to be ready, so in the meantime, we must get down to more important business, Zuko speak out if you have any objections. So first we have Nobleman Chang for..."