Izumi's voice echoed through the large hall as the speakers whined slightly, and she tried her best to not think about how many people were listening to her through their radios. The two-tiered, arc-like structure was packed with all 500 representatives, and the frontmost bleachers to the podium, divided by both a line of soldiers and a wooden railing, was packed with reporters holding cameras and notepads intently.
"The rumors are true. I was there. I traveled through the Si Wong, and I was captured by the leader of the Hami Tribe. And the horrors he told me of- a thirst for vengeance and domination- frightened me to the very bone. I escaped through luck and some quick-wittedness, but that is not the point."
The gathered representatives muttered urgently.
"We have been lied to. The situation in the Si Wong is not, as we were told, going well. The peoples of the desert tribe are just as oppressed as they were before the Alliance intervened, and the general retreat only allowed the strong to prey on the week. For years, either through incompetence or outright corruption, United Forces commanders in the Si Wong have been ignoring the realities of the situation, which has deteriorated under their negligence."
Murmurs of outrage- hopefully from her supporters- broke from the seated representatives.
"So I call on my fellow world leaders to put a stop to this injustice. To President Raiko, I demand that greater transparency and the proper procedures be put in place to stop the horrors going on in the Si Wong Desert. And to the Earth Queen, I say this: for all your posturing about consolidating control in the desert, I never once saw the yellow and green of your army helping any of the helpless refugees. Your people are suffering, and I call upon you to work with us to put an end to that injustice."
She steadied her breath, looking out into the crowd.
"We are in strange times, my fellow citizens. Our shipping is being raided by forces beyond our comprehension, and political turmoil seems to lurk at every corner. By going on this unsanctioned raid, I have failed you- I know that. So to you- representatives of the National Assembly- I say this. I will work with you as much as I can to broker a bipartisan peace in the Assembly and to increase transparency and accountability in the government. Now is not the time for pointless bickering. Now is the time for unity and strength. Long live the Fire Nation."
She gathered her pages, striding down the steps of the large stage towards the doors, silently thanking the uniformed rows of Imperial Firebenders guarding her from the veritable swarm of reporters. Amongst the representatives, both applause and loud chatter filtered through the commotion, and Izumi's ears rang slightly as she exited the busy hall, and into a hallway.
Ren caught up with her, worming her way between four uniformed guards.
"That didn't go as bad as we thought," she said, optimistically.
"You're right. But the fight ahead will be worse. Shimin will still be furious."
Representative Shimin, the head of the pro-royalty 'Rekishi Party', had been furious upon Izumi's revelation that she had gone gallivanting in the desert. Shimin, who Izumi had always respected, had stormed out of the meeting a few days before her announcement at the Assembly, calling her a 'hotheaded vigilante eager for glory'. If Izumi had wanted it, she could have had the representative disciplined, but such an action belonged to her more malicious ancestors, and had no place in the modern day. Plus, Izumi respected the woman too much to do something of that caliber.
They exited into the afternoon light of the capital, and were ushered into a large Satomobile, which roared back down the road towards the palace. Izumi peeked out of the rear window, smiling slightly as the tide of reporters spilled out, too late to catch her.
"Set up a meeting with Shimin and any allies we have left in the Assembly for this afternoon. We'll need to strengthen our unity, if we can, and plan for any response that the opposition will have."
"As you wish, Your Highness. Also, you have a meeting with that Ambassador Naing, Karnoc's replacement."
Izumi nodded. After she had shared her findings with the other world leaders, she had received some mild reproach regarding her recklessness, but also vigorous apologies from Raiko, who assured her that the United Forces High Command would be getting a full-scale investigation into the Si Wong fiasco, with the notable exception of her son and other commanders who had been deployed elsewhere.
While she still didn't fully trust the man, she felt that his apologies were sincere, and believed that he truly didn't know anything about the situation in the desert.
Her return to Tu Zin had been emotional. She had spent almost all of her time there avoiding the United Forces commanders (who, in turn, avoided her), and searching for someone amongst the thousands of refugees to take Xiu Mei in. The search had been arduous and difficult, especially with the healing injuries the two had sustained.
Finally, they found the girl's cousin- a grim-looking young man of around twenty years who had thanked Izumi greatly for everything she had done to rescue the girl.
As Izumi had left, the girl had hugged her, and Izumi reciprocated.
"Thank you so much," Xiu Mei said, crying slightly.
"Thank you, Xiu Mei. You showed me that as long as we have something to fight for, we'll never be without hope."
She had stood, and the girl had retreated several steps, taking her cousin's hand.
"You have a beautiful name, by the way. My mother had the same name- Mai. I think she would have liked you, actually."
The girl had smiled then, and Izumi had left with her confused gaggle of advisors and her bruised bodyguard, who, as always, was devotedly by her side every step of the way.
Her office was as warm as it always was. The pot of tea and plate of steamed buns that were always placed there looked appealing to Izumi, as were the shelves of books, scrolls, and papers that formed her study. She missed the days where she could sit in the library all day, reading fascinating stories and savoring the gentle breeze floating through the open windows of the Royal Library.
Catching herself drifting, she turned her attention back to the man in front of her, who was kneeling on the ground, bowing so low that his head touched the floor in the traditional sign of supplication.
"General, rise. It's not right for a man of your standing to lower yourself so."
General Maeda rose, his face contorted in genuine shame.
"I must, Milady. I have failed you. I told you falsehoods and allowed thousands to die in my ignorance. I will gladly accept whatever punishment you see fit for me."
Izumi smiled, gently laying a hand on the gray-haired man's shoulder and guiding him towards one of the chairs in front of her desk. She gestured towards the tea pot on her way to her large walnut-wood chair. She sat, smiling kindly.
"You were led to ignorance by corrupt liaisons, General. Your honor is decidedly intact. I won't throw my best general in prison. That may have been the way my ancestors did it, but it is not the way I do it. Now, I believe you had some news."
The man hesitated. Izumi chuckled, rolling her eyes. Older folks- those who had grown up during the waning years of the war- always had a manner of subservience and ingrained fear of authority. She couldn't blame them, of course, as the propaganda machine of her grandfather had brainwashed an entire generation into subservience.
"Let us move on, General. No punishment shall be passed upon you. Your honor is, as I said, still solid."
He bowed, pulling out a folder of paper.
"There's been a development in the Southern Water Tribe."
Izumi frowned. The Southern Tribe had always been a good friend to the Fire Nation, and the trade routes going from the South to the Fire Nation were the ones being supposedly attacked by Spirits.
"I know that you haven't been brought up to speed since you got back, but the situation appears to be dire. A few days ago, during the Winter Solstice, our Fire Sages reported that Avatar Korra had done something incredibly spiritual for the first time, and that its effects were resounding, to say the least. I can't admit to understand spiritual matters all that clearly, but from my understanding, the Avatar opened an ancient Spirit Portal- the one situated on the South Pole. There is one in the North Pole as well, but that one appears to be untouched."
Izumi frowned. After the Avatar's defeat of Amon, not much had been heard of her, outside of probending rings and some business about an insidious spirit rampaging around Republic City. To hear that the purportedly hot-headed and intensely physical Avatar was suddenly engaging in spiritual matters was unusual, to say the least.
"Here's the trouble, your Majesty. We've been noticing that the Northern Water Tribe has been strengthening its military- it's moved all nonbenders into reserve units, and brought all waterbenders into active duty. It has also received an order for twenty Falcon-Class Battleship, purchased through false-front companies and masquerading as United Republic buyers."
"How did you find this out?"
"We sent spies after they began expanding their army months ago- begging your pardon, but I believe you signed an order?"
She wracked her memory and dimly recalled signing some documents from the Foreign Intelligence Service regarding spies after a particularly long day.
"Of course. So why are they building up their army and buying battleships?"
"Well, your Highness, we lost track of their fleet soon after they were deployed. We suspect that they used waterbending to escape our aeroplanes, but the important thing is that they reappeared a few days ago, and promptly locked down and began a blockade of the Southern Water Tribe Capital."
Izumi's eyes widened in shock.
"A blockade?! Is Unalaq mad?"
Maeda nodded grimly.
"That's not the worst of it. Ambassador Innugati- who is currently back in the Southern Tribe for the Glacier Spirits Festival- sent word that after increased tension, a group of Southern terrorists kidnapped Unalaq and attempted to kidnap him until the Avatar stopped them."
"Spirits. What about Tonraq? How is he?"
"That's the trouble, ma'am. He and his wife were arrested for conspiring against Unalaq this morning."
Izumi blanched. She didn't know the Tribesman well, but she knew that her father trusted the man with his life. The Zaheer incident during Korra's childhood had earned Tonraq Izumi's respect, and he had held it for some time afterwards.
"Can he do that?"
The General shrugged.
"Frankly, ma'am, the situation is… complicated. Technically, there is no such thing as the Southern Water Tribe- it's a province of the Northern Tribe. But the South has been operating independently and with autonomy since the beginning of the Hundred Years' War."
"Options? What's the worst case scenario?"
"You mean war? Well, after the uprisings a few months ago, our military is still in a relatively high level of readiness. If you make a declaration, we can achieve full mobilization in about four weeks- that includes the Navy, Air Force, Special Division, and every aspect. Militarily, an invasion of either the South or North- South if we need to liberate it- would be difficult. My recommendation would be to land somewhere outside of the range of the Water Tribe fleet and then move our troops via Satomobile, airship, or foot to rendezvous points around the city."
He leaned forward slightly.
"Then, we could probably try to link up with anti-North insurgents and push the North out."
"What would be the cost?"
"We'd have to get the Strategic Advisement Center on it for a formal number, but I'd predict that we could, worst case, take anywhere around 10,000 casualties. They're in their native element, they have naval superiority, and the cold actively works against us. It's a Northern Siege scenario all over again."
Her father's harrowing tales about Admiral Zhao's siege of the Northern Water Tribe were enough to tell her that a battle there would go badly for the Fire Nation's armies.
She frowned.
"Keep me apprised of the situation, General. I want updates anytime there's a new development."
He stood, saluting.
"Of course, your Highness."
As he left, Ren popped her head in again.
"The representatives are here, madam."
She sighed. She had forgotten about the politics. Sometimes, despite her support of maintaining powers in the Royal Family, she wished that she never had to deal with politics again. She nodded, gesturing for Ren to bring them in, and tried to push thoughts of the new crisis from her mind.
Air Temple Island
153 A.G.
The service was as tasteful as it could be. The funeral, viewed and attended by thousands, had been something of a grand spectacle- the monks, the chanting, the thousands of sobbing and crying people- every one of which had, in some way, been affected by the incredible life of Avatar Aang.
Izumi had sat by her father. Her son, who had left a year ago to join the United Forces, sat by her, looking sharp in his crisp, maroon uniform.
After the funeral, however, only those that had known him- truly known him, remained. They had moved into a smaller room on Air Temple Island, where the small box carrying his ashes sat on a small, almost rustic table.
Her father stood by Katara and Sokka, comforting the two of them whilst trying to be calm himself.
She worried for him. He had turned 70 a few months ago, but his features seemed much more tired and worn out than most men his age. Then again, it had only been a few years since her mother had died, and rumors of his sisters' death had even been floating around after Mai's funeral.
His uncle, father, mother, and step-father were all long-gone, and she knew that her father was feeling very, very alone.
She couldn't even begin to think of how badly Tenzin, Kya, Bumi, and Katara must have been feeling.
Someone tapped on her shoulder, and she turned. Her son stood there, grimly. She worried for him, as well- as any parent would. He had been quite fond of his grandmother, and with Kazuo's death but seven years ago… she worried that his new career was one of escape and distraction, but she would never tell him so.
"I'm due to be back at headquarters in five hours or so, mom. I'll have to leave now; I already said goodbye and passed on my condolences to Aang's family."
She nodded, hugging him.
"I'm proud of you, Iroh. I'll see you."
He smiled sadly, hugging her back. As she released him, she noticed that Katara was standing by the box, alone as her father, Sokka, Toph, and even Suki talked. Izumi strode towards the aging waterbender, putting her hand on her shoulder.
Katara looked at her, smiled tearfully, and simply hugged her. Izumi had to hold back the urge to cry again, her memories of Aang coming back as she embraced the world-famous healer.
"I'm so… sorry, Katara."
"Thank you, Izumi. It means a lot. We… we knew that it was coming for quite some time, but… it's still hard."
Izumi nodded. Katara gestured towards some empty chairs against a wall, and she joined Katara by them, ensuring that she sat down alright before joining her.
"He lived a full life, Katara. He loved you and the kids, and nothing will ever change that."
She nodded.
"Airbender tradition states that we take his ashes to the highest peak of his home- the Southern Air Temple- and let his ashes mingle with the mountain winds so that his essence can become one with the very world."
The woman sighed again, clasping Izumi's hand with her own.
"He was very fond of you, Izumi. He always appreciated how much you looked after his kids, as well as Toph's kids. I think, in a way, we both thought of you as being one of our own- as much as your parents were siblings to us."
Izumi nodded, wiping a tear from her eye.
"I know. I miss him so much."
Katara smiled sweetly, glancing at the wooden box with the photograph behind it. The portrait was… uncharacteristic. The photograph showed Aang in his most well-known format; the stern, fair, and justice-seeking Avatar who ended the greatest war in the history of mankind. But what it didn't show was the other side of the Avatar- the trademark infectious grin, the goofy enthusiasm, and the ever-present, unshakable optimism that defined his presence.
"Your father has gone through quite a lot as well. He's very lucky to have someone like you- especially after everything the both of you have gone through."
She smiled, thinking back to a distant memory.
"I remember that when your father first came to join us, we all distrusted him. I virulently hated him, misplaced my anger may have been. But besides Toph, Aang was the only one of us that readily accepted him into the group- and this was after being hunted for a year by your father and betrayed by him in Ba Sing Se. It was my husband's acceptance of your father that lead me to slowly forgive him."
Izumi smiled sadly. She had never heard that aspect of the story- thinking about it, however, made sense. If she had ever known anyone who was literally incapable of hating someone, it was Avatar Aang. Even in the face of her grandfather, one of the most despised people on the planet, he had shown forgiveness where others may have been merciless.
He had been a man of true character, and the world seemed so much dimmer now that he was gone.
"So what's the bottom line?" Izumi asked, glancing at the clock that read 2:00 in the morning.
Shimin, who seemed to have cooled down somewhat, sighed in exasperation.
"The coalition may fall apart next election, and we'll lose our edge."
"And whose fault is that, Representative," asked Representative Ningil, head of the pro-Royalty Constitution Party.
A clamor rose steadily from the delegates, and Izumi decided that she had had enough. She slammed her hand on her desk, causing the representatives to jump. The fireplace brightened for a second as well, before dying down as she cooled down.
"Look. I know I made a grave mistake, but I assure you, it had to be done. You don't have to agree with my decision, but if you want to continue supporting this side of things, then I suggest you make peace with my actions. I've already apologized, but what I won't do is apologize for saving the lives of innocent people and revealing incompetence in our allies' military forces. I also won't tolerate bickering. Our opponents may be driven apart by schism, but thanks to my efforts, they may now have a common enemy to unite behind."
The delegates quieted down.
"So what do you propose, then, Your Majesty? You have to know that they'll try abolishing the Royal Family again," said Representative Zemeh, the head of the National Independence Party, a slightly-radical party that supported the Royal Family zealously.
She nodded in thanks.
"Currently, the Industrial Progress Party and the Non-Bender Independence Party are both neutral. If we can somehow sway them over to our side before the next bill comes out, it would give us a great edge."
Zemeh frowned. The National Independence Party was something of an anathema to the seeming Equalist Nonbender Independence Party. The NIP supported bender rights and even had many supporters who viewed benders as being vastly superior citizens to non-benders.
"I know, Zemeh, but their voting base is quite high, and they're prone to get more seats in coming elections."
He shrugged.
Izumi sighed, hoping that her next question would be met with silence.
"Any concerns?"
Her heart leapt for joy as the representatives, most likely exhausted by now, shook their heads and grumbled, walking out. As they bowed and wished Izumi a good night, she leaned back into the padded cushions of her chair, a dry, tired feeling blanketing her like a smothering blanket.
Shimin lingered, and walked towards Izumi's desk.
"Lady Izumi, I just wanted to apologize…"
Izumi held up her hand.
"No need, Shimin. You had every right to react that way. I won't say that what I did was wrong, but I will admit that doing it without thinking of the consequences was incredibly foolish of me."
Shimin nodded respectfully, bowing once and striding out of the dim office. Ren poked her head in again, and Izumi groaned loudly, making a sound remarkably close to the mating call of Iguana-Seals.
"Tell me we're done for tonight."
Ren smiled, her subtly aged features forming an expression of sympathy.
"Yes, your Highness. You can now go to bed."
Izumi could have kissed her.
Hey all,
So sorry for the lack of action in this chapter. For those of you who are interested in politics and political intrigue a la 'House of Cards', these next few chapters will probably appeal to you. There will be action scenes coming up, however, and rest assured that the story lines I have planned for Book 3 and 4 will have more than enough action.
As always, feel free to leave feedback in the reviews section.
Until next time,
IGdude117