Interlude Fifteen: Meanwhile, at the North Pole

Black smoke trailed from ruined Fire Navy destroyers and contrasted sharply with the frigid, polar air, the dark soot of the Fire Nation's war engines befouling the clear, clean skies of the North Pole.

Though it appeared as if the Fire Navy had suffered another loss, the leaders of this expedition making their way through the frozen plains outside the far north stronghold of the Water Tribe were more than happy with recent events.

"So they bought it?" asked the higher-ranking officer.

"Yes, Admiral!" replied the aide. "And may I say, your 'son dying' was inspired!"

"Ha! General Iroh is good for something, after all! His tale of woe, of lifting the siege of Ba Sing Se because of the death of his son, is so well known, I knew they would be fooled!" laughed the Admiral. "That reminds me, Ping was exceptional as my 'dying son'! Give him that promotion he wanted, of weapons officer on Captain Gui's ship! He's earned it!"

"Yes, sir. And the peace offering was accepted by the Chief of the Water Tribe, so everything is going according to plan!" said the Admiral's aide.

"Wonderful! Soon, they'll be so dependent on what we can provide them, they'll beg us to work our coal mines for us, just to get more of our enticing products and technology! Praise the Fire Lord! His genius knows no limit!" sang the Admiral.

"Praise the Fire Lord!" mouthed the aide. "Sir, that does bring us to another matter. We're going to have to get a replacement for Ping."

"Ah. Ask Captain Fa to send another cabin assistant. He has a few extra sailors on his ship." replied the Admiral.

"Yes, sir." the aide complied.

As the two men trudged on through the Arctic wastes, the virgin, untouched snow behind them stirred.

Then a young girl dressed all in white emerged from the polar snowbank.

Minua!

Quickly, she raced to her home, and her leader, the Chief of the Water Tribe!

"Grandfather!" cried the girl, a term of affection for the old man, as he was not really her grandfather. "The Fire Nation is trying to trick us! They don't want peace!"

"Minua, child, calm down!" cautioned the Chief. "Do not upset the people!"

"But, grandfather, the Fire Nation! They're planning to..." she began.

"I know, Minua! Hush!" bade the wise leader of the Water Tribe. "I know the Fire Lord's deviousness knows no bounds! But the people are tired of war! They want peace. Even a peace such as this! And if our enemy asks for peace, we must give him a chance, no matter what we think of him. It is our way."

"Is it also our way to work their coal mines? Because that is what they intend!" snapped the young teen.

"Minua...Look around. We can not afford another war." said Chief Arnook, motioning to the damage wrought to the Water City by the recent battle. Though the ice buildings were mostly restored, debris and shrapnel still littered the watery boulevards. Far more injurious were the scars on the proud tribe's soul. The belief they were invulnerable, inviolate in their frozen fortress, had nearly expired in the wake of two attacks from the Fire Nation in as many years. "When Master Pakku journeyed to the South Pole to aid our brothers and sisters there, he took with him some of our most skilled water benders! We have to take the deal the Fire Nation is offering. It is for the good of all!"

"This never would have happened if the Fire Spirit had returned to us!" spat the angry 13-year old, fingering the betrothal necklace she had made herself, and that she had hoped to present to Zuko after he ended the war and came back to the North Pole, as he had promised.

"Minua, that was ever a thin hope. Now, please, granddaughter, let us work towards happier days ahead." he said, imploring her to release her anger.

"No!" she yelled, as she spun away from him and ran off. "He was going to save us, but you gave up!"

"Minua! Don't!" Chief Arnook called out.

He thought of chasing after her, but was stopped by his wife.

"Let her go, Arnook." she said. "She is young. Time will ease her mind."

"I hope so, my love." Arnook replied.

Minua hurried first to a Water Tribe storehouse, then to the Fire Navy command ship in the harbor, taking care not to be seen coming from the direction of the Water City.

Then she presented herself to the Admiral.

But she didn't look like a Water Tribe girl anymore.

She had donned one of the Fire Navy uniforms the Water Tribe used for infiltration of their enemy's forces.

Also, her betrothal necklace was gone from her neck.

But she kept it close by, in her pocket.

She felt it through the fabric of her pants as she, nervously, summoned her will for the task at hand and said, in her best Fire Nation accent, "Admiral, sir! Rong, reporting for duty!" while standing at attention, in perfect military formation.

Minua hoped and prayed the Admiral or his men would not notice her knees knocking together.

"Really?" said the curious Admiral. "And who might you be?"

"I am to be...your new cabin assistant. Captain..Fa sent me." Minua carefully answered, avoiding the Admiral's piercing gaze lest her nerves give herself away. "My name is Rong."

"Ah, yes. That name means 'martial'. Very strong. Good, yes." the Admiral replied, seemingly pleased with his new assistant.

Minua breathed a sigh of relief, and the air expelled from her puffed-out chest made her look two sizes smaller.

Then the Admiral looked at her again, and her chest grew with hungry gulps of air.

"Admiral, as Captain Fa anticipated our request, I will delete your order from his command packet. There is no need for him to send anyone else." advised the aide.

"Yes, yes, of course. Captain Fa is a sharp man." the admiral said to his advisor. "See that he gets a commendation placed in his file." Then, turning to 'Rong', his new cabin assistant, he said "I hope you have no problem with hard work! You'll get plenty of it here!"

"Yes, sir! Thank you, sir!" replied 'Rong'.

"That will be all!" the Admiral said, dismissing her. Then he motioned to his aide "Show her to her duties aboard ship."

As the Fire Navy Admiral's ship sailed away from her Water Tribe home, Minua wondered if this would be the greatest adventure of her life...or the greatest mistake, of a too-short life.

Things sure do look bad!

Terrible, even! Horrible!

Phobos has beaten everyone, and will probably destroy the world!

(And rule that which he doesn't destroy!)

Plus, Will thinks she can win by losing!

And young Minua is sailing with the Fire Navy!

Is there any hope left?

Well, in the words of the All-American Rejects,

"And even when your hope is gone, move along, move along, just to make it through!

When everything is wrong, we move along."

That's all I got.

Pray.

'Cause I don't think everyone's making it out of this one.

Next:

The finale to Act III: Water.

Well-named, too, as Irma and Katara have a special role to play.

Notes

Minua first appeared in Interlude 5: Zuko and Jet.