Chapter 27 – Testimony of Truth
For a brief moment, the room was filled with delightful camaraderie as master and student were reunited. Fire Nation citizens were known for their disciplined expression of feelings and Piandao was no exception when greeting his student. But Sokka was having none of it, he threw his arms around the taller man and hugged him like a child greeting his long, lost father. Iroh chuckled in amusement as he watched the reunion with a smile on his face, glad that happiness produced by the reunion of close friends refused to die in the onslaught of troubling times. But such moments, were like beautiful pieces of music, inspired by the heart and soothing to the soul, but doomed to fade with the passage of time. Sokka could not ignore the fact that he was meeting his Master under troubling circumstances and they had to address the situation.
The warm elation that filled the room gradually faded away as the group gathered around the large circular table. Piandao had the largest map Sokka had ever seen in his life placed on the table. For a moment, his eyes glowed with appreciation, as the master swordsmen began to speak.
"Fire Lord Iroh, your absence from the Capital has encouraged the T'ien Ti to be bold and aggressive," he explained, "They have attacked key military and administrative buildings throughout the city, attacking in small groups that appear and disappear abruptly."
A tense silence followed this statement.
"They have targeted key officials throughout the city, district officials who support the Fire Lord, but we have managed to thwart them," explained the master swordsmen."
"Do you think they're trying to take control of the Capital?" asked Suki.
The question had Sokka's mind working furiously and he found himself talking before he could stop himself.
"I don't think that's the case, if they're going for an all out coup, then small mobs attacking district buildings aren't the way to go about it. If you want to take over a city you go for the top of the food chain with all you've got."
"Indeed," agreed Iroh. "In my absence, I left power with the Dragon Council, what has been their reaction to this?"
The mention of the government brought a dark look on Piandao's face, the first visible sign of distaste.
"Weak and indecisive," he said, "The Dragon Council has debated for hours over what sort of action to take, stalling day after day while buildings are burnt and people suffer,"
Iroh hummed to himself as he began to stroke his beard, he did not say anything for a while and there were no signs of anger from him, nor a verbal expression of distaste but there was not a single soul in the room who did not feel the cackle of lightening emitting from the man. Iroh's cool façade was fast reaching its end.
"I did not create the council to be weak in these troubled times," said Iroh, "If they cannot come to a conclusion then it is internal dispute over the ideal solution."
"Perceptive as always Grand Master," replied Piandao. "Jeong Jeong has sent us word that the council cannot decide whether to consider the T'ien Ti a terrorist group or a random street mob."
"But what difference does that make?" asked Suki, with a hint of incredulity in her voice. "These people are destroying your city, shouldn't they be doing something?"
"She's right," said Iroh, "While there is a difference between the two, they will both inflict damage that will devastate us. There is a reason why the Council is stalling and it is not indecision over what the T'ien Ti is,"
"You suspect traitors," said Piandao, he was not asking a question, but making a statement.
"Indeed, I have long pondered how the T'ien Ti was able to infiltrate the palace and make an attempt on my nephew's life. How were they able to mobilise the manpower from Sozin to the Capital within a span of six days during my absence? I do not think they could have done this alone, someone close to my government or close to the prince has helped them."
The blatant statement of treachery sent chills down Sokka's spine; he had suspected that someone was feeding information in the dark corners of his mind, he had suspected it ever since he heard about the Dragon Regiment's ambush at Sozin, but to hear it stated in such a point blank manner seemed to push it past a point of no return, almost like you said something inappropriate and you could not take back the words .
A sharp, urgent knock on the door interrupted proceedings, Piandao nodded to one of the men standing silently in the corner. Two men moved towards the door, one opened a small hatch the other stood beside it, leaning against the wall with a sword in hand.
"Who goes there?"
"An old friend," called a voice from the other side, "We tasted fruits at the South East Garden."
Piandao nodded and the man opened the door. A young woman walked in, she nodded at the two men guarding the door before bowing to the masters.
"Master Piandao I come with word from Master Jeong Jeong,"
The tension in the room rose at these words, Sokka could feel his heart beat rising with tension.
"Speak," said Iroh.
"The Master has stated that the Council has agreed to pass 'The War Minister's Act,"
Sokka exchanged confused glanced with Suki but Iroh and Piandao exchanged significant looks.
"Did he say when?"
"Today, Interior Minister Yen has stated that he will deal with the T'ien Ti as soon as the act passes."
"The timing is suspicious," muttered the Fire Lord,
"They move to pass the act as soon as you arrive," stated Piandao.
Sokka glanced at the two older men, completely at sea as to what they were talking about.
"What I don't understand is, what does he stand to do with half the army at Sozin? Who could he possibly deal with…."
"What if he doesn't intend to?" spoke Iroh.
"That might be a possibility but then-"
"Whoa, Whoa halt the brakes here!" cried Sokka, "I hate to break up an epiphany but what exactly is the 'War Minister's Act?"
"Sorry about that, Sokka," said Piandao, though the smile on his face indicated that he wasn't so apologetic. "It is a ruling that is extremely important in the world of Fire Nation politics."
"To properly understand the law we will have to explain some background information," said Iroh. "The relationship between me, the Fire Lord and ministers is a precarious one. The Dragon Council is filled with ambitious people always jostling one another to try and stay one step ahead. During the war, it was about conquering territory, now it is all about deceitful games."
He paused to allow his words to sink in.
"In years past, the Fire Lord was usually immune to political intrigue, he was after all, the most powerful bender in the country and one who ruled by divine right. But in recent years, that shield of divinity has cracked, the throne has changed hands to many times in one life time, from Ozai, to Zuko, to myself and very soon it will be back to Zuko."
An image of Zuko dressed in regal robes sitting stiff and upright lording over a council meeting popped into Sokka's mind and he couldn't help but snort in amusement. Suki threw him a hard look that told him to pipe down.
"I'm an old man," continued Iroh. "And I'm seen as vulnerable, hence now the ministers extend their games onto me, trying to weaken my hold on power and this mess with the T'ien Ti has only encouraged them to be bold."
"The relationship between the ministers and General Iroh is a volatile one," added Piandao. "With the reform of government, the ministers have power, but the armed forces remain under the command of the Fire Lord and the prince."
"But the War Minister's Act changes all that," said Suki.
The swordsmen nodded in approval,
"Indeed, the act grants the Interior Minister the right to command the armed forces, and therefore, he can declare anyone an enemy of the state."
A tense silence followed these words; a sudden realization had just dawned on the entire group.
"Master, did you just say that should the act pass the Minister will be able to declare anyone an enemy of the state?"
Piandao nodded.
"So I guess the question is, which side is the Interior Minister on?" said Suki."Ours or theirs?"
"What are you talking about?" said Sokka, waving his arms to make his point. "He's in Iroh's government he's on our side, right?"
To Sokka's surprise and dismay, Iroh directed his eyes towards the table, a dark, contemplative look on his face.
"I'm not sure."
Organized chaos, the paradox was the only way Lee could describe what he was seeing in Da Jia, innocent people, women, children and the old were being rounded up like cattle and cramped into rudimentary prison camps that consisted of nothing more than a fence circling muddy ground, with no toilets or places to eat. Lee could see the looks of fear and confusion on their faces but the imposing presence of soldiers willing to kill anyone who voiced protest prevented them from expressing their feelings. Lee glanced around at the foreign buildings and the Yu Yan soldiers who gave him blatant hostile looks. The rouge felt like an alien, alone, unwanted and unwelcome. Even the T'ien Ti, the very group he pledged allegiance to did not trust him, the former lieutenant could see it in the eyes of the men he commanded, seeds of discontent were growing, threatening to explode into a coup. Lee knew that he was acting on borrowed time, as soon as his use to the T'ien Ti wore out they were going to turn on him. Lee needed to act quickly.
"Xiu Lee!"
Lee cringed as Sui called his name.
"What?"
"The tribe leaders want our men to move out and guard the outposts." She reported.
Sui was playing the faithful role of second-in-command, but Lee knew that she was spreading the discontent running rampant in the T'ien Ti squad he commanded.
"Fine, do as they say," said Lee. "Our job was to support them, they've got things under control. Now we move to find Prince Zuko."
"Do you think he's still here?"
Lee nodded. "The prince will not turn tail and run," he replied, "Not while this is going on."
For the first time since they began speaking, Lee turned to look at Sui, her resemblance to Mai was unnerving, they shared the same pale face, the same dark, beady eyes, the quaint little nose and the whisper, thin lips. But where Mai's eyes glazed with boredom, Sui's flared with defiance, when Mai's thin arms were folded into the depths of her robes, Sui folded her arms across her chest, her feet spread apart, looking at everyone in the eye.
"Is there anything else that I need to know?"
"No" came the curt reply, but Lee had the impression that Sui was not telling the truth.
"Very well, give the order to move out."
"Of course, sir"
There was a hint of mockery in Sui's words, her eyes glowered with contempt as she bowed and walked away. Lee could feel a tingling in his gut, an uncomfortable sensation that told him that something was happening, like clouds converging for the storm. The bender needed to know what was going to happen and fast.
'I need to find Mai'
While Lee had been barking orders, trying to keep the T'ien Ti busy, Mai had silently slipped aside, intercepting letters for Sui, interrogating (and disposing) soldiers and now scouting Yu Yan territory to find out what was happening.
Lee observed his surroundings with keen eyes, Mai would not come to him, he would have to go to her. There were still plenty of people around, for there were prisoners still being shuttled about, but the lieutenant was trained well. Lee scanned the area carefully, his eyes passed over helpless women and fearful children, when he saw what he was looking for. A slim figure in robes of red and black, with a flash of a pale face framed by a black hood, the figure came and disappeared so quickly that Lee would have missed it had he not been looking for her. The figure nodded to him before disappearing into the crowd.
Lee knew where he had to go and he quickly made his way towards what was once a small market, but now remained empty save for a few Yu Yan soldiers who were now treating it as a gathering place. Lee walked past the makeshift barracks towards a large tropical tree that was fairly isolated from the chaos of an imprisoned city, the former lieutenant cast his eyes around looking for people who would be listening, but there was no around. Lee leaned against the rough bark and waited.
"You're doing a terrible job as leader," whispered Mai.
"Well, hello to you too," hissed Lee, partly out of annoyance and partly out of surprise.
"I'm serious, Lieutenant,"
"And I'm being courteous, and its ex-lieutenant,"
"There is serious talk amongst the men of double crossing you,"
"Led by Sui, I know, I'm not blind," snapped Lee. "Something else is happening Mai, I can feel it."
If Mai was annoyed that Lee was addressing her by her first name, she did not show it and he couldn't care less.
"Sui has been in contact with the Junfa," said the noblewoman. "Her job has been to keep an eye on you, I don't know why exactly, but the T'ien Ti's leader seemed more concerned about your loyalty than mine."
"He knows that I work for him on borrowed time," whispered Lee, thoroughly impressed that Mai was able to snoop around despite the tight watch they were both under.
"Did you gather anything else?"
"Yes, one of the Ministers in the Dragon Council is working for the T'ien Ti, he has been ordered to betray Iroh at a certain time."
Lee felt a stab of fear at the thought of the old man being in danger.
"When?"
"Soon,"
'Doesn't exactly narrow it down' thought Lee.
"Sui has been receiving updates on what has been happening throughout the Fire Nation," continued Mai, "There is nothing specific in those letters, but by reading several of them I've been able to get a general picture of what has been going on back home while we stuck in this… place,"
Lee nodded,
"Go on,"
"The T'ien Ti have caused a lot of havoc in the Capital and the 'War Minister's Act is about to be passed by the Council."
Lee clenched his fist in agitation, the situation was getting worse with each passing hour.
"How do the Yu Yan fit into this?"
"From the information I've been able to gather, the T'ien Ti were simply supporting the tribal leaders who oppose the Khan to keep them distracted."
Lee shook his head in wonder, so many things were happening at once and hurtling towards a very chaotic conclusion.
"You mean, to make sure that there is no support for the Fire Lord?"
Mai's silence was all the confirmation he needed.
"There's something else, Lee,"
'Other than what's already happening?'
"Yeah?"
"It's the Junfa," whispered Mai, "He's coming here, the leader of the T'ien Ti is coming to the Yu Yan Islands."
For a moment, Lee's heart stopped beating, memories of a dark event a life time ago flashed through his mind.
"Did he say why?"
"He left no reason but orders,"
Mai paused, and Lee had the impression that she was studying him.
"He left orders that you're to meet with him,"
Lee clenched his fists as his heart constricted with apprehension,
'Am I finally going to get answers?'
Lee turned around and glanced at the pale woman, her eyes had lost that bored look, while she lacked the fire of most girls he had met, she certainly wasn't as cold as stone.
"Lieutenant, why is the Junfa so eager to meet you that he would actually come out of hiding?"
Lee shook his head,
"I don't know the Junfa's real reasons for coming here," he said, "But I do know one thing: Our time is up,"
"Meaning?"
"Get ready Mai, we are leaving soon,"
While the sun rose to a bustling city filled with optimism and peace, it now set on a prison camp cramped with disillusioned and subdued people. A graveyard could not have been more silent as nobody dared to move or speak. The breeze felt frigid in the tense atmosphere as Yu Yan soldiers of different tribes eyed one another with distaste. There was no full moon tonight, low clouds hung over the city, like a thick veil that prevented any light from passing through. A small camp fire was set up amidst the rubble of what once been a market stall. The coup was surprisingly bloodless, nobody was killed, no one drew weapons, the Khan had simply surrendered his power to malcontent tribal leaders without so much as token resistance.
Katara and Zuko approached a campfire in disguise.
"May we join you?" requested Katara.
'This is not going to work' thought Zuko, he was clad in a plain red and black suit, made out of cotton with his face covered by a hood.
It was oddly reminiscent of the suit he used to wear during his days as a refugee. The prince would have been quite comfortable had it not been for the precarious situation they were in. The guards sized their comrades up before nodding, the two guards in disguise sat down slowly.
"Broth?" asked one of the guards, a man with a stocky physique and a round face held up a bowl of a spicy brown liquid. Having eaten and drank with his regiment in the past, Zuko knew that it was polite to accept food when offered, so he accepted the bowl with a nod of thanks, Katara mirrored his act and accepted a bowl as well.
"How goes the patrol?" asked another guard.
"It… went well," said Zuko.
The men around the fire stared at him, feeling the need to be more convincing, he added.
"Nothing's going on out there,"
"You mean nothing interesting happened," spoke a guard, in a deep gruff voice, he had a broad, thick build that made him resemble a human fortress. "I came here expecting to see a blood bath, people dying, women screaming, buildings burning, a true battle, you know, but instead what do we get, a pansy leader who gives in without so much as raising a fist, pygmy-bear balls I tell you!"
He spat on the ground to make his point.
"It makes you wonder why the Khan surrendered so willingly, doesn't it?" said Katara.
"Its because he's afraid of us, the T'ien Ti!"
A gloating roar followed this declaration, the prince and the waterbender joined in, but rather reluctantly.
"The Khan may have surrendered," said one of the guards. "But his subordinates put up one heck of a fight, one of the lieutenants took down ten men before we could capture him. Never thought such a skinny guy could do so much damage,"
"I hope you guys put him somewhere secure," said Zuko. "Or he might escape,"
"Nah, no way is he going to escape the west tower, bounded up like that," said the guard. "Isolated from his men, he's helpless."
"There seems to be some confusion over where the soldiers are being held," said Katara. "We saw some men thrown into the camps with the other people, but Chan said they were being held in one of the temples."
"It's a bit of both," spoke the big, gruff guard. "Most of the men have been kept in camps, but some of the most dangerous men have been isolated in the temples. But the T'ien Ti has no business in such things, we were only sent to support the leaders who want the Khan gone, nothing more."
'I thought they were here to stop me from negotiating with the Khan,' thought Zuko 'If I was just a small part of their plan, then how long was this coup being planned? Did Lee know about this? Or is he being used?'
"Well, I think its best that we get going, come on Chung."
Zuko jumped in surprise as he realized Katara was addressing him.
"Patrolling?" he asked.
Katara looked at him, had she not been wearing a mask he was certain that she was rolling her eyes at him.
"Yes, come on." She said, in a slightly annoyed tone. "We still have to patrol the western borders, remember?"
'West-. Oohhh'
"Yes, of course."
"You almost blew it," hissed Katara.
"I don't like patrols," defended Zuko. "Besides, you weren't exactly subtle yourself, Patrol the western borders? Chung?,"
Katara folded her hands and looked away, "Those guards were giving us really suspicious looks," continued the waterbender. "I hope they don't suspect us."
"It's a disguise Katara, its bound to wear off."
Katara turned to face him, it was impossible to make out her expressions given that she was wearing a mask but Zuko could imagine her raising her eyebrow at him.
"Well, aren't you the pillar of optimism, mister prince,"
"Hard to be optimistic with the way you improvise, Chung?"
"Shut up," snapped Katara, "I'm not exactly familiar with Fire Nation names, but that's not the point, we have to get the west tower and free that lieutenant,"
The sound of footsteps approaching forced the waterbender to stop talking, two T'ien Ti men walked passed them and nodded at Zuko and Katara. The prince was surprised that the guards did not ask why he was wearing hood but walking by several T'ien Ti fighters, he noticed that while they generally conformed to the standard red and black tunic, the warriors wore accessories that expressed individuality.
"We need to get to the west tower and free that commander." whispered Katara, "Do you know which direction to go?"
But the prince only shook his head,
They had barely taken two steps when a regiment of soldiers marched towards them.
"You two!" barked a voice.
'We've been exposed!'
Zuko clenched his fists, in apprehension. Before he could even flex a muscle, he heard something that he was not expecting.
"The Junfa is here, move your butts!".
Zuko acted on impulse and grabbed Katara's arm.
The prince and the waterbender found themselves being swept into the whirlwind of a crowd. The group of soldiers marched towards a settlement of simple of tents that Zuko could tell was the T'ien Ti camp. The prince could see people running around in tremors of excitement. The prince's sharp ears caught snatches of conversation.
"Why do you think he's here?"
"Is it the Yu Yan?"
"Does that mean that he's ready?"
'Ready for what?' Thought Zuko, from all the excitement being generated, the prince understood that the Junfa was a very important person who did not appear frequently before his followers.
'An underground terrorist group cannot have a large hierarchy, if this… Junfa is so important could he possibly be their leader?'
The revelation was so startling that it was possible just as it was impossible, possible because it was a logical deduction, impossible because such a chance encounter seemed to be far too random. 'But' he thought to himself. 'Why would he come here?'
The Junfa already had men on the island to negotiate with the Yu Yan, what could possibly motivate him to come out of his hiding place, especially when he and his men preferred to operate from the shadows? A burning desire to find answers hit Zuko in the pit of his stomach, thoughts of rescuing the Khan's supporters faded from his mind as his thoughts turned to uncovering the identity of the mysterious leader.
The warriors of the T'ien Ti both bender and fighter were aligned in tight squares, they formed a long, narrow path right down the centre of the camp, shadows spread like large canopies over the ground. The orange light of the torches glowed like the sun, but seemed like tiny pinpricks of light in the background of the trees that loomed menacingly over the tents. Zuko could hear men whispering, their words were too indistinct to make out anything concrete, but they sounded excited at the thought of seeing their leader.
Suddenly, the whispers were cut off abruptly, and a tense silence filled the air. It had gotten so quiet Zuko thought that breathing too loudly would expose them. The prince found himself in the third row, though it did not provide the best view it meant that he was reasonably hidden from anyone who might have been looking for the prince of the Fire Nation. A figure cloaked from head to toe in black marched into Zuko's line of sight, the prince glared at the man who was trying to topple his family and destabilise his country. The whispers returned again, the men murmured in excitement, anticipating what their leader might do or say. Zuko sneaked a glance at Katara, the waterbender glanced back and nodded, showing her unwavering support. The dark figure raised a hand and the murmuring faded away, like a breeze.
"Valiant brothers and sisters, I want to thank you all for risking your lives, for willing to come to the backdrop of this peninsula, thank you for coming to the Yu Yan Islands."
A murmur of approval rose up at his words, but the leader raised his hand and all murmurs ceased.
"We came here with the anticipation of a fierce fight, but unfortunately it has not come to pass, some of you are relieved but I also understand that some of you are disappointed."
A whisper of consent rose amongst the people, the Junfa waited for the whispers to die down before continuing.
"But stay strong my brothers, for the time will come soon, the hour of reckoning will be here and a call to arms the likes of which you have never seen before will resonate across the land. Every man and woman will be called upon to hold up the banner of freedom as we overthrow the monarchy!"
Zuko felt his entire body go numb with shock as the people around him cheered, men and women, alike threw their fists into the air roaring with the delight at the thought of the royal family's legacy burnt to ash. The prince had suspected as much, but to have it put in such a blatant manner was shocking.
"So stay sharp, my brothers and sisters, be vigilant, for the call can come at anytime and we must be ready, there can be no mistakes when freedom is at stake!"
A cheer followed these words, the Junfa stood silent, enjoying the feeling of exhilaration that his words created.
"Now go! Man your posts, sharpen your blades and oil your armour. We prepare for war!"
Anger reared its head like a venomous snake within Zuko, he clenched his fists and gritted his teeth in an attempt to control himself as the surrounding torches flared as if doused in oil. People were now moving, the long rows broke apart and the rigid formations disintegrated, but Zuko stood still, paralysed by anger and torn between charging after the Junfa and walking away. A strong urge to end the man's life coursed through his veins, a feeling he had never felt before began to grow, curdling his soul and feeding his anger. Zuko was hit with the strong urge to burn this man to ash, he did not care if there were people surrounding, he did not care if they would try to hurt him, all he wanted to do was hurt the man who had caused him so much trouble.
The prince was pulled out of his thoughts by a gentle but firm hand.
"Come on," whispered Katara, amidst buzz of busy people. "We need to move, now."
Suddenly, the world came back to him, he could hear the people, he could feel the excitement, but more importantly he could feel his hand in Katara's own. It was if he was pulled out of a pool of water, he was washed with a sense of awareness and the intensity of his hatred and anger made him recoil in shame. Katara dragged him away to a dark corner, away from prying eyes and snooping ears, a secluded corner amidst trees. The waterbender had not taken off her helmet, a smart choice considering their situation but Zuko wished she would take it off just so that he could look into her eyes.
"Zuko, I know what you're thinking-"
The prince looked at her in surprise, surely, she wasn't implying that…
"I understand how you feel but rescuing the Khan and his supporters is what's important."
"You don't know how I feel" growled Zuko, before he could help himself.
Katara had opened her mouth to say something but paused at the prince's words.
Zuko cursed himself for hurting her. "Forgive me," was all he could say.
Katara shook her head.
"No, I get it," she whispered, she sounded sympathetic but there was a hint of urgency in her voice that indicated something else was on her mind. "But Zuko, we have to make a choice…"
She trailed off knowing that Zuko didn't need anymore clarification, the prince himself understood that they had come to a crossroads. They had landed on the island with the intention of working together, but there had been too many twists in this plot, there were many players in the game and their disposition had changed. Zuko's heart was with the people of the Yu Yan, the innocent who had been caught in a game of leverage and deception, but his interests had been directed elsewhere. The Junfa, the leader of the T'ien Ti was here on the island, why would he make his appearance here after hiding in the shadows for so long? What did he mean when he said that the hour of freedom is at hand? These were questions that burned in the firebender's mind and nagged his conscience. Zuko knew that he could not commit to the task that Katara wanted him to do, as a prince, he had an obligation to protect his people from all those who tried to throw them into the pit of chaos. The traps maybe in motion, but he had the chance to unravel it all. There was no way they could continue together, from here on end, they would have to separate. The question was, will Katara see his way?
Life had thrown its share of obstacles at Zuko, placing him in positions he never imagined he would be in. The prince never thought that he would be walking amongst his enemies, those who had hidden in the shadows of a mountain now camped in the open, bearing an odd pride in their obvious presence. The T'ien Ti were on high alert tonight, and the smallest mistake would be enough to raise the alarm. Zuko did not mind blending in when Katara was with him. But she was now gone, departed on her mission to free the Khan's supporters.
The T'ien Ti camp was spread out in a large square formation; simple white tents were set up two feet apart from each other. Each tent was barely enough for one man to fit in a sleeping bag. Men had set up campfires around certain tents, where they gathered in groups to talk, they were all terse conversations, perhaps discussing what might happen with the Yu Yan and Fire Nation. The stiff atmosphere of the camp, allowed Zuko's own stiff posture to blend without notice. The prince walked through the camp, nodding to some of the men in an attempt to feign acknowledgement, while keeping a sharp eye for the Junfa's tent.
The prince found himself wandering through the camp, even onto the borders when he finally found it. The Junfa's tent was set up on a small hill that overlooked the camp and looked like a small house compared to the rudimentary setups of his followers. Zuko felt his pulse quicken in excitement.
'I'm so close' he thought 'But I have to be careful'
The prince found himself on the outskirts of the camp, hence, they were not many men around and the sentry's attention was elsewhere. The hill was an easy climb because it was not steep and the ground not slippery, allowing the prince to climb up very quickly. The prince found himself staring at the side of tent, its interior was glowing with a yellow light, revealing two shadows sitting opposite each other, one figure seemed to be preoccupied while the other was still like a statue. Zuko sneaked around, hoping for a small opening, the prince moved to the back of the tent where he noticed the yellow light spill out onto the ground. Zuko couldn't help but smile to himself when he saw the opening. The prince sneaked towards the opening and positioned himself so that he could hear the conversation taking place while remaining unseen.
The voice of the Junfa, still fresh in Zuko's memory greeted him from within the tent.
"I thank you for taking the time to meet me, Lieutenant Lee…. Or should I say former Lieutenant?"
Zuko felt an unpleasant lurch in the pit of his stomach. 'Lee? What is he doing here?'
"I'm glad you're here, Junfa," spoke Lee, a monotone that expressed no emotion, it was clear that Lee had business to discuss with the Junfa.
Zuko could easily imagine the man sitting with his legs folded and his hands on his knees, a tense look on his face. "It saves the time I had to take to meet you."
"How goes the hunt for Prince Zuko?"
The Junfa dismissed Lee's words with a change of topic, as if he were dismissing a servant with a wave of his hand.
"He remains unseen," said Lee, and Zuko could just imagine him clenching his fists agitation. What was it that was so urgent for him to discuss? "There are two options as to his whereabouts: He could either be hiding or disguised as one of your men."
"Which is one more likely?" asked the Junfa, a light slurping noise followed his words and Zuko suspected that he was drinking tea.
"I maybe wrong, but I suspect that the prince is amongst your own, hiding is far too difficult with both Yu Yan and T'ien Ti soldiers on sharp watch."
Zuko felt a pang of pain in his chest, the ones who were close to you could be your most dangerous foe. It was also now evident to the prince, why the Junfa was willing to place so much responsibility on Lee even though his allegiance to the group was only days old. Lee had something that few people had, an understanding of Zuko's thinking, knowledge of the Junfa's enemy which was far more valuable than anything else.
"How long will it take to find him?"
A short pause followed these words, Zuko held his breath, fearful that his breathing would expose him.
"You know the answer to that, Junfa," spat Lee.
Zuko could hear the anger in his voice, and he could easily conjure Lee's face, fine features warped into a look of barely concealed anger.
"I came here to discuss a different matter, our agreement."
"Agreement, you say? I remember the terms, do not push me, Lieutenant," said the Junfa.
"One day, when I was fourteen, I ran into two military officials, they both claimed that I resembled someone. When I asked my mother who was it, she refused to answer, moments later, while I was away… she was killed."
Zuko felt a knot tighten in his chest, as if someone was constricting his air passages. The word 'mother' echoed in his head and he had to force himself to focus on the conversation in the tent.
"What I want to know is," hissed the former Lieutenant. "Why was she killed? What secret was she keeping? You said you had the answers and I want them."
Zuko waited with bated breath, praying to the Spirits that no one would interfere. A long silence followed, Lee's words, for a moment, Zuko felt that the Junfa would not grant Lee's demand.
"Do you know how I was able to successfully infiltrate the palace and almost assassinate the prince?"
Zuko thought back to the day two assassins had entered his home and had almost killed him, forcing Iroh to take him to Shu Jing and summon Katara to accelerate his recovery.
"I provided the times when the guard's shifts changed," said Lee.
"You did, but how were my men able to navigate the large complex of the palace? How did they know which way to go without getting lost and raising the alarm?"
"You provided the information," said Lee.
"Indeed, I did," said the Junfa, sounding pleased. "But how do you think I was able to get such information?"
"Why don't you tell me," hissed Lee.
"As I told the prince and I am telling you, I did not always spend my time in Sozin. I came from a small rural village. When I was your age, I joined the army, drunk on the idea of glory to the Nation, unfortunately, after ten years in the frontline I saw a different story,"
The Junfa paused for effect, the prince concluded that the man was a master orator, but more importantly, did Zuko really meet the leader of the T'ien Ti and not realize it? Was it after the events at Sozin?
"But I had suffered an injury that was to handicap my abilities on the battlefield for a long time, I had no choice but to leave the army, but word of my prowess reached the Fire Lord's ears and he offered me a position in his palace,"
"You mean?"
"Yes, I was head of the Royal Guard under Fire Lord Azulon, a position that you once occupied. There is not a single nook or crevice of the palace that isn't known to me. While I was there, I was knowledgeable not just in the geological facts of the palace, but the dark secrets of the family who lived in it."
Zuko felt a shiver go down his spine, and he steeled himself for what might come.
"Azulon's two sons, grew up to be two very different individuals," explained the Junfa, "Iroh, was proud, steeped in an old-fashioned sense of honour, where a man must tackle his problems head on and wrestle them into submission. To be the lord of his country, a warrior of myth and the pride of his family, that was Iroh's dream and he found his calling in the military. Ozai, on the otherhand, was a different case, despite his prowess in bending, he did not find the battlefield as appealing as his brother did, politics was where his interest was and when he was young he entered a world of shadows, where battles were not fought with swords and fire but leverage and deception."
It spooked Zuko that his enemy knew so much about his family and had once been so close, what had happened that a man so close to his family would turn on them?
"Why are you telling me this?" asked Lee.
"To make my point, about the brothers," said the Junfa. "Iroh was a disciplined man who did not deceive people though he could read other's deception. Ozai, on the otherhand, was the embodiment of lies, and he had many secrets. Before he was a married man, Ozai had an affair with a young lady, a noblewoman married to one of the most powerful generals in Azulon's court. The prince had his affair for four months, he would meet her in secret, in the palace or throughout the city."
Zuko was surprised to hear this story about Ozai, he may have not known all the details, and the source itself is questionable but it seemed like Ozai was an actual human being with feelings.
"The Fire Lord turned a blind eye to this, for he did not care what his younger son, so long as it did not deter the war effort. But one day, something happened that shattered this little melodrama: Ozai impregnated the noblewoman, while her husband was away at the front,"
Zuko's heart fluttered uneasily at these words, could it be? Was what this man was saying true? The prince's mind was numb and he could not think.
"Why are you telling me all of this?" snapped Lee, "I'm getting there, Azulon could not let this get out, for it would damage relations with his finest general, and so he ordered me to kill the child after the mother had given birth."
Those words did not surprise Zuko at all, Azulon was not known for his sympathy, even when it came to children.
"The Fire Lord wanted the child gone but I was human, I had a conscience, and so I could not kill a baby. So I devised a plan where everyone's needs would be met."
"Pray, tell, what was this glorious scheme of yours? Though it has no relation to me."
The Junfa chuckled, "All in good time, when the woman gave birth to the child, a boy. I handed him to one of the palace maidens, telling her to raise the child as her own. When she fled with the child in the middle of the night, I told the Fire Lord that I had you killed. I did not know where the maiden went with the boy but later on I found out that she went to North Chung-Ling."
The dots were connected to form the drawing and the truth hit Zuko, as hard as Azula's lightenin.
'By Agni, this can't be…..'
Inside the tent, he could hear Lee mutter.
"No way,"
"Yes," said the Junfa. "The reason why you grew up in a gutter, the reason your mother was killed, the reason you were denied your heritage, all comes down to this…. You are a son of Fire Lord Ozai."
The wind howled as an unnatural silence fell upon the grounds, Zuko could feel his own heart pounding, shock rendering his body numb.
'Lee? Ozai's son? But…'
The sound of Lee's voice jarred the prince out of his thoughts.
"Am I really supposed to believe that?" asked the Lieutenant. "That I'm the illegitimate son of the former Fire Lord?"
"I gain nothing by lying to you," said the Junfa. "Search the Dragon Bone Catacombs, it stores records on every dark happening in the palace. I had my suspicions ever since we met at Sozin, and what had happened to your mother confirms it."
oAnother unpleasant bolt struck Zuko
'Sozin!'
Was the Junfa hiding amongst the people when he was there? How did he meet Lee?
"Do you realize something?" asked the Junfa. "You're Ozai's son… that means that you're Prince Zuko's half-brother. Isn't that right, my prince?"
A searing plume of flame jettisoned through the tent, inches above Zuko's head. The prince rolled away and leapt to his feet. A round hole large enough for a man to fit through had been burnt through the tent. The prince could see two people on their feet, one was a lean figure cloaked in black with brown skin and dark eyes that glowed with smugness. The other was a taller and broader figure, who Zuko knew was Lee. In the background, Zuko could hear people yelling, he did not have much time to escape. The Junfa spread out his arms, from anybody else the gesture would have looked like welcome but he knew that the Junfa was mocking him.
"Welcome to my humble abode, Prince Zuko," said the Junfa, his tone dripping with malicious delight. "I've been waiting for this moment since we last parted."
"Parted? I've never met you before!" snapped Zuko, he kept his eyes locked on the man who was speaking not daring to look at his old friend.
The Junfa gasped and his hands flew to his chest.
"I'm hurt, prince Zuko," he said. "I would have thought that you would remember me, but I guess the royal family is far too busy mingling with the finest of the nobility to remember faceless commoners such as us."
Zuko gritted his teeth in frustration, biting down the urge to respond to the man's provocation. The Junfa took a step forward, closer to Zuko and away from Lee.
"Perhaps I can help you," said the Junfa, he reached up and threw of his hood with flourish and Zuko was presented with a face he never imagined he would encounter under these circumstances.
"Zac? Zac Fou? It was you," snapped Zuko, anger burst forth like a raging volcano spilling out of control as his fists lit up with flame."It was you the entire time."
"You are correct sir!" said Zac Fou, "Your struggle to put down the riotous fires of North Chung-Ling, that fateful decision to send the Dragon Regiment to Sozin, that glorious, bloody battle at the foot of the Dai Chi Mountains, the attempt on your life, your Lieutenant's tragic betrayal, the coup of the Yu Yan… every single moment that unwound the fabric of stability and brought you to this moment has been courtesy of,"
Zac Fou tapped his temple with his forefinger."Me."
This was not the stoic, humble old man that Zuko had encountered at Sozin, there was an aura of charisma, a radiance of arrogance and a shield of egotism that Zuko had seen in his father, convincing the prince that he was indeed the leader of a terrorist group trying to overthrow his Uncle.
"Of course, I never dreamt that you would just amble into an enemy camp and plop yourself into my hands," Said the Junfa, his eyes gleamed with malicious delight. "You wanted to find information, did you not? You wanted to know who I was and what my purpose was. Well, unfortunately you will get neither, but I will tell you this."
He paused for effect and his golden eyes glowed unnaturally in the semi-darkness of the ruined tent. "By dawn tomorrow, Fire Lord Iroh's head will be severed from his body and hung on a pike for every single man, woman and child to spit on."
Zuko roared like a dragon and unleashed a volley of fire so bright it could have been seen from the skies. For a moment, Zuko's vision was filled with glowing colours of yellow and blue, blinded by the product of his own power, he could feel his skin blistering under the intensity of the fire. For a moment, the fire lapsed into the skies cascading clouds that lit up the sky.
Zuko took a deep breath, glaring at the spot where Zac Fou had stood, as if he was able to see through the flame. Eventually, the fire faded away, there was nothing left of the tent but ashen rabble, smouldering in the darkness. The fire simmered down and the thick veil of smoke faded away. When everything cleared, Zuko could see a dark figure standing in the backdrop of a hill.
'No way…'
Suddenly, the lingering smoke cleared away, there had been no breeze but the smoke had faded as if pulled away by some external force, Zuko recognised as the work of a bender. Zac Fou was standing where he had been before the prince attacked, his clothes not even singed. Despite the intensity of Zuko's attack, the Junfa had not been touched.
"Hmmm…. I see your bending has more power when angered,"
The nefarious voice of Zac Fou hung about the air like a stale stench, Zuko clenched his fists in surprise.
"It is a disposition we firebenders share, do you not find it ironic that I could almost call you my brother on the basis of being a firebender?"
Zuko was breathing hard, his body trying to recover from the attack he had unleashed, the attack that had been effortlessly negated by Zac Fou.
"You can't fool me," hissed Zuko, speaking as his lungs tried to gulp as much air as possible. "You and I are nothing alike."
"Don't be so sure of that," said Zac Fou, with a grin that bore brilliant white teeth.
"We're both leaders who serve a purpose, looking to rebuild what has been lost, but that is where the similarity ends."
'He's stalling, waiting for his men to catch me, I have to get out of here…. But where's Lee?'
Lee was nowhere to be seen, a small part of Zuko, festering and growing with each passing moment, could not afford to leave his friend behind, a friend who he had just discovered was his own brother.
"Prince Zuko, the scarred heir who had to battle his own sister to legitimize his birthright, the weary warrior who had brought an end to a war that ravaged the world, and now the visionary leader who wants to rebuild his country's shattered economy. All so poetic, all so grand, all so delightful to the ears, but there is one problem. Can you not see it?"
Zac Fou had moved away from Zuko. The prince's body were starting to recover, but he was still in no position to be moving, in his anger, he had unleashed a volley of flame beyond the capacity of his body and he was now paying the price through lost time, time that could have been spent escaping was instead spent listening to the ramblings of a man waiting for him to be captured.
"I don't know what you are talking about," snapped Zuko. "But I saved my country from itself!"
"Indeed you did," replied Zac Fou, "But your grand 'vision' is far too short sighted to ever create a sustainable future."
"You're just rambling," snapped Zuko, "Rambling like the old fool you are!"
"Am I?" asked Zac Fou, looking at Zuko with an arched brow of query.
"Iroh is now a man of peace, a pacifist drunk on the delights of tea, when you take the throne, all will be well and good, but what about after your time has ended? What then for the future generations? Who is to say that somewhere down the line, a new Fire Lord will disregard the peace and diversity you fought for? Who is to say that a new Fire Lord, in a bid to satisfy his own lustful greed will enslave the people to die for an agenda that satisfies only him? The cycle will start again and the people will lose their freedom, mere cogs in a machine created for destruction. Liberty, happiness and individuality, all of that will fade away and we will be right back to where we started. Do you not see?" said Zac Fou, his grin growing into a sneer. "You're not creating peace, all you're doing is rebuilding the machinations that will set the world aflame, again."
Zac Fou had not even raised a hand to hurt Zuko, but he may as well have slapped the prince across the face and spat on him. Zuko was enraged and he opened his mouth to argue, but he could not find the words to articulate his defence. A thin whisper, faint as the water in air, told him that perhaps, Zac Fou may have had a point.
"Do you realize now?" queried Zac Fou, with an air of triumph. "So long as power is concentrated solely in the hands of the Fire Lord, the people will never be free, they will always be looking behind their backs, watching, wondering, fearing, when their own ruler will turn his flames upon them."
"I will never let harm come to my people." roared Zuko,
"No! We will never let that happen!" snapped Zac Fou, his eyes seemed to bulge with anger, glowing with intense hate. "We, the T'ien Ti who pleaded for the welfare of the people while your ancestors fought for control over this archipelago, We, who were slaughtered like animals, We, who lay dormant for more than a hundred years because of that purge, we will overthrow the Fire Lords, and give the people the power to decide their own fate."
In two steps, Zac Fou had closed the distance between him and Zuko, with unnatural strength; he grabbed Zuko by the scruff of his neck and lifted him as if he were a ragged doll.
"Prince Zuko, the reign of the Fire Lords will end, and it will end tonight!"
The man who he met at Sozin, the man who had presented himself as the leader of the hapless people of a destroyed city, the man who had managed to created a delusion of the humble worker who had lost so much had lifted the veil of secrecy and Zuko now understood his true nature. Zac Fou was no saviour, he was a villain, a demon who had conjured a mask of humanity to fool the prince and his allies. It was now clear to Zuko, that this man had engineered Sozin's destruction while hiding amongst its masses, it was unquestionably evident that he had planned out the obliteration of the Dragon Regiment while pretending to whimper for its leader's fate. Looking at the Junfa, he knew as Zac Fou, Zuko now understood, this man had not been hiding behind walls but behind the faces of the masses, he operated on deception, betrayal and secrecy, everything that Zuko despised. The prince hated this man with a passion.
The dark atmosphere came to life as a thick stream of fire blazed through the air. Zuko felt Zac Fou release him and he fell to the ground again, he got to his feet and looked around for his saviour. Lee was standing no further than three paces to his right. Unlike Zac Fou, Lee had obviously been affected by Zuko's assault, his clothes were charred black and signed in many places, but his eyes burnt with intensity as he glared at Zac Fou.
"That was some attack, my prince," he said, "You almost had me,"
Zuko smirked at the man before getting to his feet.
"No more than you deserve,"
The prince could not discern how he felt at the sight of his former Lieutenant, certainly he was glad that the man was alive but a shadow of apprehension clouded Zuko's view of Lee's actions.
The prince turned away from Lee, whatever issues they had could wait, but right now there was the problem of Zac Fou.
"So," said the leader. "Does the dog go crawling back to his master?"
"No, the dog is going to burn you to ashes," snapped Lee.
He unleashed two quick streams of fire and followed it up with a kick. Zuko could feel strength return to his limbs and he released his own volley of flame. Powerful attacks rushed at Zac Fou from different angles, but he was able to batter them away as if he was attacked by children. Zuko summoned his flame daggers to both hands, the luminescent weapons glowing with malice in the dark. The prince charged at the leader of the T'ien Ti and he felt his limbs fall into the familiar routines he used to exercise daily. Zuko moved fluidly, attacking then morphing into defence effortlessly. But no matter how fast Zuko moved, regardless of the strength behind each move, he was always one step behind. Zac Fou ducked in and out of Zuko's attacks, moving with the agility of a much younger man. The prince suddenly, felt pain erupt in his side and he was knocked backwards. Zuko hit the ground and he gasped for air, when he came to he could see Zac Fou bearing down on him with a fist burning with fire. Zuko could do nothing but hold his hands up, his instincts telling him that he was too late. Lee leapt at Fou, brandishing a fiery sword, he slashed aggressively at Fou who was forced to leap back to avoid the assault. Lee did not even turn to acknowledge Zuko but continued his attack. The prince got to his feet and looked around, a line of torches could be seen rushing up the hill. They had only moments before they could escape. Zuko turned and ran forward, he leapt into the air and kicked hard unleashing two volleys of fire. Lee exchanged blows with Fou who had summoned his own weapon until the last minute when he leapt out of harms way. Zac Fou parried the two volleys sending each one into the ground.
"We have to go," hissed Zuko, "Soldiers will be coming here at any moment,"
"No, you have to go, I'll stay here and distract them," snapped Lee, he was panting hard as he spoke, clearly, Zac Fou had pushed him.
"He won't fall for such a distraction," snapped Zuko. "We have to retreat, now!"
"You're not going to give me orders, are you?" said Lee. "I'm not your Lieutenant, anymore."
"No, I'm asking you as my friend," Zuko was not yet ready to call him brother.
The words made Lee hesitate and he glanced at Zuko, brown eyes clashed with golden in a battle for compliance.
"You say we don't have much time?" asked Lee.
"Look for yourself," said Zuko, gesturing down the hill, men were so close that it was now possible to distinguish the accessories that made each man unique.
Lee glanced at Zuko and nodded,
"Shall we try that?"
In one swift movement, the prince and his former lieutenant stood back to back. They had only discussed this in theory but had never actually attempted it because it was considered far too dangerous. If it worked, they could take down an entire force and escape, if it failed they would be burnt beyond human recognition. Zuko did not think about success or failure, the task at hand was all that mattered. Both benders summoned large fireballs that illuminated the hill they stood on. Zuko took a deep breath and began to move his arms in a circular motion, over his head and beneath his knees. With each repetition he could feel the chi flow faster, gushing through the dams of self-control, with each motion the flames grew stronger, larger and more intense. Zuko's heart was pounding with energy, the blood rushing with the spike of adrenaline. The prince could not hear Zac Fou shouting, he could not hear the panic cries of men as they clambered the hill. All that mattered was the fire, the chi and the power flowing through his veins. Then in one fell swoop, both prince and lieutenant brought their fists down on the ground. An explosion rocketed through the atmosphere, a plume of ash and fire rose into the sky, looming over the islands and blocking out the sky. Fire and lightening cackled with glee, choking the clear, starry sky, corrupting it into a black, smoking menace. To anyone looking from a far it was as if an unholy demon was making its entrance into the world. From the distance of the camp, a waterbender hoped with all her heart that her prince was still alive.
The Palace had been his home, within its expansive walls he had lived out beautiful memories that made him smile, witnessed heinous acts that made him grimace and terrible memories that should buried deep in the dark recesses of his mind. Iroh should have felt like he was coming back home but instead he felt nothing. The Fire Lord felt like a stranger, entering… no invading someone else's home, his footsteps haunting the empty corridors like an unwelcome ghost. Iroh walked with intent, making his way directly towards the chambers, where he knew his ministers were engrossed in a meeting, intent on passing the War Minister's Act. Iroh could not bring himself to trust any of his ministers with power over the army and he had to prevent the act from passing. The retired general could only hope that he was not too late. The doors to the chambers were closed, flanked by two common palace guards. They gasped at the sight of their Fire Lord.
"F-Fire Lord Iroh!" they gasped, "We weren't expecting you,"
"Should I be sorry to disappoint?" asked Iroh, his eyes were focused on the doors, as if he could see the proceedings within.
"O-o-of course not" said the guards, "But we cannot let you in, Minister Yen has ordered that no one be allowed in until the meeting is over,"
"Tell me, is this Minister Yen's palace?" asked Iroh, turning his eyes to look at the guard who had spoken.
"O-o-of course not, sir" stuttered the guard.
"But-"
"Minister Yen does not have authority in my home anymore than I have power in an Earth Kingdom prison, is that clear?"
"Yes, sire,"
"Good, now open the door,"
Iroh took a deep breath, as he folded his hands into the sleeves of his robes, while the guards bustled to comply. Iroh needed to stop the proceedings from taking place, he needed to ensure that power lay within his hands and stability prevailed over chaos.
Iroh could sense the tension as soon as he entered the room, his sharp senses attuned to the signals of emotion were quick to catch the tense posture of each his ministers. The brief moment of shock when their eyes widened in horror and the pale hands as each one clenched their fist in anticipation. Iroh's eyes scanned the ministers of the Dragon Council, men he had appointed to each position, men he had once trusted to lord over the recovery of his nation in his quick scan of the room, Iroh noticed that Jeong Jeong was not present in the meeting. Finally, his eyes fell on Minister Yen. The tall, thin man smiled at him as rose to his feet and spread his arms in genial warmth.
"Welcome, back Fire lord Iroh, though, I must say that we weren't expecting your return."
"It would seem that I am the one who has been left in the dark," said Iroh, "I see that you are looking to pass the War Minister's Act,"
"A response deemed appropriate to the-"
"A response that does not have my approval,"
Iroh did not shout, he did not even raise his voice, but the lamps that had been burning low began to grow brighter. There was not a single soul in the room who did not notice this.
"I am sorry to hear of your disapproval," said Minister Yen, whose eyes flitted onto the lamps before focusing on his Fire Lord once again. "But times have been trying since your departure and Prince Zuko's absence has not helped, terrorists run rampant in our city and the one person who has authority over the military is conveniently absent."
"Where I go and the timing of my departure is none of your concern, Minister" snapped Iroh, walking around the large table and closing the distance between him and Yen.
"Of course not, Fire lord," said the Interior Minister. "But I can say the same thing about you and the military,"
Those words made Iroh pause in his steps, he glanced at each of the ministers, each of whom quavered under his glare.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean exactly as I said," sneered the Minster, "The 'War Minister's Act' has passed Fire Lord Iroh, with a clear majority, I am now Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces."
Within the depths of his robe, Iroh clenched his fists and he felt his heart racing.
'I am too late'
Before his mind could process anymore, he felt two people grab him roughly by his arms and hold him firm.
"As I was saying," said Minister Yen, turning his attention back to the Ministers. "This terrorist group has launched countless attacks that have devastated our already fragile infrastructure and attacked some of the most prominent civil workers. We need to put an end to this terror before it can spread beyond our control."
Iroh could only stare in surprise, Yen had taken over the meeting as if Iroh was nothing more than a servant serving tea. The former general realized that it had only taken Yen a few days to bring the council under his influence, was his grip on the Throne that fragile?
"How do you propose to defeat the terrorists, Minister Yen?"
"The solution is simple," said Yen, "A swift, decisive and brutal retribution, with help from allies, of course."
"Allies?" queried one of the ministers.
"Indeed, I have been in contact with a merchant whose family has provided weapons and men to the Fire Lord while the Hundred Year War was in full swing, he has agreed to assist us."
"By providing men and weapons?"
"Indeed, the clan leader is unable to meet us in person owing to the current situation in the capital, but he has granted me my request" said Yen.
The minister made his way to the Fire Throne that had for so long been empty, then to the shock of everyone in the room, Yen sat down on the throne, a position that had been Iroh's.
"Send word to the army, all regiments are to cooperate with the T'ien Ti, to hunt down and wipe out The Order of the White Lotus." Yen turned to look at Iroh with a malicious look on his face. "The city shall be cleansed of their presence,"
A/N: I know I promised quicker updates, but real life has not been kind to me, events have taken place that killed my writing mojo. I was also hit by a writer's block when I wrote several versions of chapter 26 before trashing them. Then when I finally had it figured out, somebody stole my USB and I lost half my chapter. Finally, when everything was sorted out and I got back to writing again, I decided that rather than posting one chapter after such a long time I decided to take a little extra time and post two chapters. I can't make any promises but I will crank out Chapter 28 as soon as I am done with it.
But now away from depressing thoughts and onto the story. What do you think Aang will do? What choice will he make? Do you think he is alive? What do you think Zuko should about Lee in light of the information he had heard? Should he accept Lee as a friend and brother? Or cast him into exile? Read and review expressing your opinion.
