The gathered generals glanced nervously at the shadowy figure that sat resolutely on its throne as they filed in. Murmured greetings and the faint rustling of paper filled the silent Throne Room as the light glow of the dimly lit fire pits radiated outwards, casting deep shadows over the gathering generals and ministers. Behind them, the shadowy figures of the Palace Guard were spread out around the perimeter of the room, their crimson helmets glinting dangerously as they studied the gathering officials.
Then, once the generals were all gathered, they sat themselves down in chairs around the new map table that had been erected in the throne room. Minister Watao, the Minister of Defense, bowed stiffly towards the shadowy figure.
"Fire Lord, we are here to discuss the newest developments around the world and in the Homeland. May we proceed?"
The figure nodded, silent.
Watao nodded to Minister Nanako, Minister of Foreign Affairs. The strong, proud, 35 year old woman bowed graciously to both Watao and the Fire Lord, then cleared her throat.
"As you all know, the state of affairs around the world has worsened considerably. The Equalist movement, which we originally thought was harmless," she spat, glaring at Minister Takagi of the Domestic Affairs Ministry, "have proven themselves to be a legitimate threat."
"How much progress have they made?" The Fire Lord asked.
Nanako grimaced slightly.
"Unfortunately, their reach is quite extensive. Their movement is strongest in the United Republic, where it is rumored that their leader, a man named Amon, is based, but secondary movements have begun springing up all over the world. Earth Queen Hou-Ting has taken no action as of yet, but the movement grows abundantly in the urban centers, especially Ba Sing Se. Chief Unalaq has reported scattered Equalist protests, but as you know the Chief's police force is quite harsh in regards to things like that. The Southern Water Tribe has reported several pro-Equalist protests recently, and most importantly, we're seeing large concentrations of Equalist activity domestically."
"What of the Avatar? Has she been notified?"
The assembled ministers all looked at Master Ota, the White Lotus advisor to the Fire Lord. The man stood, nodding towards the Fire Lord in respect.
"The Avatar, while learning quickly, is still a far ways away from becoming fully realized. She remains in the Southern Water Tribe mastering her Firebending. Master Tenzin informs us that he plans on paying a visit to the Avatar's Compound in several weeks, but that disturbances in Republic City have stalled progress quite a bit. Master Katara assures me that the Avatar is progressing nicely."
"The Avatar should be involved, don't you think? The Equalist movement is a threatening development that may very well upset the balance of the world, and that is the Avatar's duty, is it not?" asked General Maeda of the Fire Army.
"The White Lotus agrees that although the Equalist's progress has been alarming, they are in no position to pose a serious threat to the world's balance to warrant the Avatar's intervention," Master Ota fired back.
"That's absurd. That's what we thought about the Triads, and now look at us; most of the coastal cities are practically run by the Triads," glared Minister Takagi of the Domestic Affairs Ministry.
"What does Chief Beifong think? She has been trying to halt the progress of the Equalists for quite a while, and she is very accomplished," pointed out the Fire Lord.
"Chief Beifong is of the opinion that the Equalists are gearing up for something big. There have been no attacks or demonstrations for quite a while, and the Republic City Police Force is currently occupied with cleaning up the streets. But I, for one, agree with Chief Beifong; we need to take action before the Equalists become too powerful," Nanako said, grimly.
The Fire Lord hesitated for a moment, then looked at General Maeda and Admiral Hao of the Fire Army and Navy.
"If we were to send an expeditionary force to assist in rooting out the Equalists, how ready are our forces?"
Maeda and Hao glanced at each other uneasily, remaining silent.
"The military has been severely reduced due to the internal investigations pertaining to Triad corruption. However, we could muster the 12th Division and the Northern Fleet in a week or so, but I doubt that they would do much good. As you know, your Highness, the Mark V Tanks are currently being integrated, as are the new Dragon-class Ironclads and the Type Seven Cannons."
"What of the United Forces?"
Ambassador Karnoc of the United Republic stood, bowed, and scratched at his long, pointed sideburns in nervousness.
"Your Highness, the United Forces are occupied at the moment. The conflicts in the Si Wong Desert have not yet been resolved, and most of the First, Second, and Third Divisions are engaged in peacekeeping duties. The Fourth is currently unoccupied, but they are still recovering after having taken heavy losses in the Anti-Pirate Campaign."
The Fire Lord paused, thought for several minutes, then stepped away from the throne and walked through the flames, standing at the head of the table.
"What of my father? Has there been any word?"
Minister Nanako shuffled through some papers.
"Last we heard, your highness, Lord Zuko was still on Ember Island."
Fire Lord Izumi, daughter of Lord Zuko and mother of General Iroh II, smiled to herself and leaned on the table, looking at the expectant faces of her ministers. The information that had just been given to her was disturbing, indeed, but her mind raced in an attempt to find an answer.
"When Avatar Aang and his allies traveled to Ba Sing Se during the Hundred Years' War, they encountered a group known as the Dai Li. These covert operatives lived in the shadows and were only truly defeated when they showed their hand. Not to wax on about old war stories, but I feel that the same principle applies here. The only way for us to decisively defeat the Equalists is for us to get them when their plans come to fruition. Otherwise, the movement will endure and survive despite our best interests. You forget that the New Ozai Society was only recently extinguished after they tried to take the Capital."
The Ministers shifted uncomfortably as the reminder of the insane coup attempt came to the forefront of the conversation. Several years ago, the militaristic revolutionary group known as the New Ozai Society tried to take over the Government and the Capital City. It had taken a full week's worth of street-to-street combat and the combined efforts of herself and the Palace Guard, as well as an entire Division of the Fire Army, to end the chaotic battle.
When the battle had ended, the New Ozai Society had been eliminated, most of its members being sent to the Capital Prisons, the Boiling Rock, or the many different Prisons around the Fire Nation. The week long, brutal coup attempt had been burned into the consciousness of the Fire Nation, and the fear of revolt, bloodshed, and revolution remained.
The Ministers, however, offered no opposition, although Nanako looked slightly disappointed.
"As General Maeda and Admiral Hao pointed out, our military capability is greatly diminished, and quite frankly, we have enough problems to deal with domestically to intervene in the other Nations."
Several Ministers let out exasperated sighs, but Izumi held up a finger.
"But, I am willing to offer any sort of support we can to our allies around the globe. So I want messages to be sent out to the other Nations asking whether they require our assistance in any way to combat the Equalists. I fully expect that our esteemed allies have it under control, but if we do get any requests, I want as much military strength as we can muster to assist in anti-Equalist efforts. This anti-bending revolution has gone far enough. Now, unless anyone has any questions, I am quite eager to go back to my quarters and complete some paperwork. Any objections?" she asked wryly.
The Ministers chuckled and bowed deeply. The council split apart, and Firelord Izumi remained, shaking hands and bowing to other Ministers.
Once most of them had left, Minister Nanako walked up. Izumi had a deep respect for the woman; she had served in the Fire Army for several years through the chaotic Anti-Triad raids and the Foggy Swamp Revolutionary campaign. Nanoko was strong willed and stubborn, which was something Izumi shared with the woman, but Nanako always reminded her of her old friend Lin Beifong. Nanako even had a scar running past her right ear to her chin, which added to her intimidation factor.
"Your highness; I wanted to thank you for advocating intervention. Most of my colleagues are of the opinion that the other Nations' problems are not our own, no matter how much I try to tell them otherwise."
Izumi nodded.
"My father always taught me that as Firelord, not only do I have a responsibility to my people, but I have a responsibility to the World as well. It's been sixty-eight years since the Great War ended, and although our Nation has come a long way, our atonement for our past sins is not over."
Nanako nodded in agreement.
"Your parents raised a fine leader, your Highness. Thank you once again."
They bowed deeply to each other. Then, after all the officials had left the Throne Room, Izumi slumped into a chair, letting out a long breath. Colonel Liu of the Palace Guards walked up to her and rested his helmet in the crook of his arm as he bowed.
"Captain, please. I'll have none of that official stuff right now. I'm too tired for that."
"Will you be wanting to return to your Chambers, Mi'lady?"
Izumi yawned, nodding. Then, wrenching herself to her feet, she followed the squad of guards as they climbed some stairs to the Royal Quarters. As she climbed the stairs she quietly thanked her rigorous training schedule and daily exercise that she was still relatively spry at the age of fifty-two. Her hair, which had once been a flowing, raven black, much like her mothers', was now streaked with gray and even white.
Her father had once joked that being the Firelord aged you quicker than watching The Boy in the Iceburg a hundred times.
They soon arrived at the Royal Quarters, and Izumi thanked her guards, who took position around the hallway and her room, and she closed the tall doors with a relieved sigh. She crossed to her large table and eagerly set her ceremonial chestpiece on the table, groaning with relief as the incessant pressure was taken off. She collapsed in a chair, yawning again, and pulled the Fire Lord's hairpiece out of her hair and set it in a velvet box.
Then, after simply sitting for a while, she quickly dressed in her nightgown and crossed over to her small dressing room. Then, she lit some candles with her firebending and took two pictures out of a drawer. The picture was an old photograph of her parents and her sitting in the Throne Room for an official photograph.
She stared at her younger, sixteen year old self sadly, missing the days when things were simpler. Days when she'd have fun throwing knives with Mom or firebending with Dad. Or even just relaxing by the Royal Gardens with her father, talking about life.
Her father, in the photograph, was only forty three, and he smiled broadly, his good side tilted towards the camera as his comforting golden eyes shined brightly as he held his wife closely. Her mother, as she usually did, looked slightly bored, but smiled slightly, her usually cold eyes shining in joy for one rare moment.
Izumi found herself missing her mother more and more. Mom's death had been devastating, and Dad had been crushed for a long time. Mai had passed away in her sleep after suffering through a month of illness, and her passing had cast a pall on both her father and herself for many years. She and her father had gotten through the grief together, both of them comforting the other, taking refuge in each other's mutual support.
The other photo was of her, her husband, and her son in a similar pose, and the tears came once again as she sobbed silently. Her husband, a Lieutenant in the Domestic Forces named Kazuo, had been a radiant, optimistic man who had loved her very much. Her parents had simply adored the man, and the two had been wed twenty years prior, when the two had been in their thirties. Then, they had had Iroh II, and everything had seemed to be perfect.
Then, when Iroh II had turned twelve, Kazuo had been assisting in a raid against the Triad gangs that had taken root in the Fire Nation when he was unceremoniously killed by the leader of the Agni Kai Triad, a crime boss named Matsuiji. His death had sent Izumi into a depression, and her mother and father, as well as young Iroh, had managed to get her through her husband's death with support, generosity, and advice. Of course, her father had blamed himself for Kazuo's death, but Izumi eventually got over her depression and moved on, an empty space permanently blasted into her very soul.
Wiping away a tear, Izumi of the Fire Nation set the two photographs back in the drawer and crossed to her large bed and flopped inside gratefully, embracing the warm comfort of sleep. It had been a very long day, and there was much more to do, but at least now she could relax.
At least, for a while. Then, she thought as she drifted to sleep, the real work would begin.
Hey guys, so this is a story I've been wanting to write for quite a while. I've always been curious as to who and what Zuko's daughter truly is, and this series will offer a glimpse into her day to day life, as well as events of her past. I'm currently balancing this story with my Qin Lee one, so there will be a lot less updates, but once I finish Qin Lee, I'll devote most of my energies to this.
Let me know if you have any suggestions or comments, and thanks for reading!
-IGdude117