Author's Notes: Hey everyone, I am glad that you liked the last chapter and I hope that you like this one as well.
Patriotism is when love of your own people comes first nationalism, when hate for people other than your own comes first- Charles de Gaulle
Akemi sat alone in the throne room staring silently at the flames that burned before her. The meetings had ended for the day and the councilors had departed leaving her alone with her thoughts. She was tired and she had been so for some time. When she had been younger she had looked forward to being Fire Lord. She had always watched her father holding court and had been awed by the pomp and ceremony and the near worship level of adoration that people had given to her father and had been thrilled at the thought that one day that would be given to her too.
The thrill was long gone now. She was the Fire Lord in all but name, she was the leader of a nation and the mother of its people and like any mother she felt her people's pain. She insisted that she be presented with all the casualty reports. While Aunt Azula said that those deaths were not on her and intellectually Akemi knew that this was true. Still, she had given the orders which had led to those deaths. Others advised and counseled her but in the end she had to make the decisions and live with them. This, plus all the other concerns of leadership, hung on her like a great weight and it were hers alone to bear. She spent all of her days surrounded by people but she found she often felt very alone. The curtain of fire before the throne seemed like a barrier which could not be breached, and she was just so tired.
At times she just wanted to scream and lash out at something, at anything, but she could not, she had to always present an image of calm strength to those around her lest she appear weak and cause them to lose heart. Nor could she loose her frustration on the enemy. The Fire Lord had to remain in the capital to direct the war efforts, she would see combat again only if the capital again came under siege, a fact which made her feel guilty whenever she found herself wishing to see combat again. She found that she envied Zokar. While it was certain he had his own worries and concerns he was not responsible for the lives of every citizen in the Fire Nation and he could strike out at those responsible for his fears.
For a moment she felt a flash of envy towards him and felt that she would like nothing more than to switch places with her brother. Almost immediately she chastised herself for thinking such a thing. She was the eldest, it was her duty to wear the crown and all the difficulties that it brought. She had been trained her whole life for this, it was her duty and she would not shirk it. They each had their own role to play, his to be the strong arm and hers to provide leadership. By effectively leading the nation she protected Zokar and all the others and ensured that as many of them as possible made it home.
She rose to retire for an all too brief period of rest. As she did she sighed, she missed her parents so much it hurt. She then heard someone coming towards the throne room. She sighed and schooled her face into an impassive expression. The curtains at entrance parted and Azula entered. She approached and offered a slight bow, strictly speaking it was far less than was required but Akemi was too tired to care.
"Is this an official matter Grand Councilor and can it possibly wait till morning?" Akemi asked, though her tone held little hope. Azula shook her head sadly.
"I fear, Fire Lord, that the answers are yes and no respectively. I received a messenger-hawk from Zokar. He writes that the defenses of Loa Chi have successfully repelled."
"Well, I can see that being official news but I am having some difficulty in seeing that as bad news." Akemi interjected, trying to lighten her aunt's mood, which she could see a dark one. It did not work.
"There is more I fear." Azula said. "Something that I have feared for some time. It might be better if you read it for yourself." With that she handed Akemi a letter.
She took it and read. It was a recount of the battle, she scanned through it rapidly till it began to speak of new Earth Kingdom weapons. She paused and then went back and read it again and finally a third time. At last she looked up at her aunt.
"While this is an unexpected development surely this is a good thing? The Earth Kingdom is our ally is it not? Surely their becoming stronger is a good thing? Especially as the state of our own mobilization means it will be some time before we are able to send them any large force to support them." Azula sighed.
"I fear there is more to it than that. Tell me, have you ever heard of the Homeland Reclamation Movement?" Confused Akemi shook her head. "It is a movement in the Earth Kingdom which started shortly after the war ended. It was formed in protest of the giving of our former colonies to form the United Republic of Nations instead of returning them to the Earth Kingdom. The Movement has always wanted the land returned to them. What is not so well known is that they were also angered by the treaty which ended the war.
"They wanted the Fire Nation completely demilitarized and perhaps even occupied by the other nations to ensure that we will never be a threat to them again." Here she paused in smirked in a rather unpleasant fashion. "They also had designs for me as well. A wall and a sharp spike were involved I think.
"That is not important. What is important is that General Durjaya is a member of this movement, if not one of the leaders, and here he is in charge of these new weapons."
"Do you think that he is working with the enemy?" Akemi asked. Azula shook her head.
"No, I don't think so. The Movement, whatever else they are, are patriots. They would never side with anyone who is seeking to undermine the Earth Kingdom. But they are not our friends. My sources tell me that they are disgusted with the Earth King for agree to the treaty and the formation of the Republic and may be planning a coup. If that happens and they do seize power I will expect that they will attempt to use the chaos of the current situation to reclaim the lands that they see as theirs. Additionally, they may even attempt to invade the Fire Nation with the aid of these new weapons."
"Which will only improve with time as the current conflict goes on and drains our forces." Akemi finished grimly. Her aunt nodded in acknowledgement. "What are we going to do?" Akemi asked.
"I think our course of action is clear. In addition to ensuring that we do not overextend our forces in the Earth Kingdom we must get our hands on their new weapon."
"How do you propose that we do that? I find it hardly likely that they will be willing to share it with us."
"Oh of course they will not." Azula said. "We will, of course, ask for it officially, perhaps hinting that the level of their willingness to share may affect the level of our willingness to commit troops to aid them. Naturally they will refuse. Unofficially we send word to Zokar to steal the plans for the weapons and the formula for the power that they use."
"Zokar?" Akemi asked, her tone one of disbelief. "I mean, he is a fine soldier but he is hardly a thief." Her aunt smiled in a way that suggested that she was enjoying a private joke.
"Oh, I think that you find your brother rather a resourceful individual." Akemi hesitated for a moment, this went in the face of all that her father had taught her about how to deal with allies. Azula seemed to sense her thoughts.
"You are the only one who can give the order but you have to remember something. It is the duty of the Avatar to care about all the nations equally, not yours. You are the Fire Lord, your first, last and only duty is to the Fire Nation. You most protect it at all costs, by any means necessary."
Akemi thought about what course of action to take, she felt that if she followed her aunt's advice she would be betraying her parents and possibly destroying the delicate peace between the Fire Nation and the Earth Kingdom and bringing about a new war. Then she remembered the casualty lists and she imagined a war fought with the Earth Kingdom. A war with the Earth Kingdom possessing weaponry that the Fire Nation did not and her resolve hardened. She looked at her aunt, her resolve hardening, she was indeed the mother of her nation and she would do everything possible to protect her children.
"Send him the order."
Author's Notes: Well what did you think, I wanted to show that Akemi is not just the damsel behind her brother, that she had strength of a different kind. How did you like how she is shown? What did you think of the Earth Kingdom movement? I was thinking of France's attitude toward Germany after WWI and surly there must have been people who felt that way in the show, what did you think? Did you think Akemi was abandoning her parents' teachings too easily, I wanted to show the stress of leadership, did I? Till next time please pray for the hostages held by ISIS and others and their families and all who need prayer. Bye and may Jesus bless you all.