Chapter 30
The next royal council meeting began exactly as Zuko had predicted. The previously arranged schedule was thrown out of the window as all the ministers and advisors began to speak all over each other, the recent assassination attempt having frayed everyone's nerves. Zuko initially tried to get the council session back on track, but had quickly given up, realizing that he had to allow his advisors to voice their opinions on the matter. Almost unanimously, they all called upon him to do the only smart thing possible, recall the order granting Ozai clemency and remove his father from the political equation.
Katara was feeling immense pride at how Zuko weathered all this political pressure heaped upon him, refusing to bow to the demands of his advisors. Katara could sense that for many of his advisors, probably for most of them, the issue was not that they were firmly loyal to Zuko and wanted to keep him safe. No, they knew perfectly well that if something were to happen to Zuko and Ozai returned to rule the Fire Nation, all of Zuko's advisors and ministers would be purged instantly, executed, imprisoned or exiled. These people were in love with their status and wanted to preserve it at any cost. If that meant pressing Zuko into eliminating his own father, well, that was no skin off their backs.
"Lord Zuko, you are refusing to do the right thing out of misguided sentimentality," the Minister of War was chiding her beloved. "Under these conditions, you make it impossible for us to ensure your safety!"
"Well, it is a good thing that I am not depending on you to ensure my safety, then," Zuko sighed, starting to look exasperated. "Can we move on at last? We have spent too much time on this issue already."
"My Lord Zuko, what will it take for you to reconsider?" the Minister of Intelligence asked, also looking frustrated. "What needs to happen before you even consider this option?"
"I'm not going to engage in any such 'what if' speculation," Zuko replied. "My decision is final," he added, hesitating a little at the end. For now, Katara realized. He meant to say 'for now', but then thought against it. He has a breaking point on this issue, and I need to make sure that he never reaches it.
The advisors still continued to mutter and complain for a while, but eventually the heat died down and the grumbling attendees returned to their normal schedule, one by one delivering their previously submitted reports. After the fiery debate regarding the assassination plot, these reports felt even dryer than usually, and Katara did not find much to contribute to them, even Zuko limiting himself to mostly nodding along and a few general inquiries. However, things were about to become a lot more interesting once it was the royal treasurer's turn to speak, the elderly man giving Katara a particularly admiring stare as he got to his feet to address the Fire Lord and his consort.
"My Lord Zuko, I'm sure you have browsed my reports and seen that the past week has been a resounding success for the royal treasury," the treasurer spoke with rarely witnessed enthusiasm. Delivering good news was clearly an unexpected occurrence for him. "Three days ago, Earth King Kuei finally put his signature on the agreement to purchase eight Fire Nation airships. The revenue produced from this sale will allow us to plug all the leaks in the treasury and even leave us with something in excess."
"The Dai Li are none too happy about this turn of events," the Minister of Intelligence frowned. "The unofficial channels are abuzz with veiled threats and promises of payback for this coup we staged."
"I hope you're not suggesting that we should have left Okashi and his son to be spirited away by the Dai Li," Zuko glared at the minister, who quickly backed down. "Anyway, I want you all to know that we have one person in particular to thank for this turn of events. It was Lady Katara who through her efforts secured Okashi's services for the Fire Nation. I think we should all applaud her triumphant success."
Katara felt her cheeks redden as Zuko and all of his advisors stood up from their seats and actually gave her a thundering round of applause. "I, uh... I am pleased that I could help the Fire Nation through my actions," she managed a little meekly, taken aback by all this unexpected praise.
"You should be proud of what you have achieved, Lady Katara," the treasurer smiled at her. "Lord Zuko, I hope you will consider my advice. I strongly believe that the young lady's talents would be particularly effective to use in foreign affairs. She is very well respected and trusted all around the known world. Her words would carry a lot of weight when representing the Fire Nation. She would make the perfect ambassador!"
"That is an excellent suggestion," the Minister of Intelligence echoed. "Lord Zuko, perhaps Lady Katara should be brought in on the colony project? I'm sure she could be of great help, especially now that the Dai Li will be sure to put increasing pressure on the colonies."
"I'm sure we'll bring Lady Katara in on this matter in due time," Zuko answered a little evasively. What is this colony project? Katara wondered. This is the first time I hear about it... why hasn't Zuko told me anything about this project? It sure sounds important. Still, pressing her inquiries during a council session was not something that Katara could do, so she resolved to interrogate Zuko on this matter later in private.
"And I am not even done with the good news, Lord Zuko," the treasurer picked up on his report. "I know, I know... I'm shocked and surprised as well," he added with a slightly self-deprecating chuckle. "But the benefits from securing Okashi's services for the Fire Nation will soon start to pay off in many other ways, not just in securing this sale of airships. His earlier invention, the time-candle, is slated for the start of mass production next week."
"That is good news indeed, I had a feeling that something like a time-candle had great potential," Zuko nodded approvingly. "I saw the sales projections. You are going to be one happy, smiling treasurer very soon. Much to the relief of us all."
The elderly treasurer chuckled, the man clearly in good spirits. "And I have even better news, Lord Zuko!" he announced. "I am pleased to report that the royal taste testers have finished their research of this curious invention called exploding peanut sauce. They are all in agreement that it makes the perfect condiment to go with the ever-popular sizzle-crisps."
"Well, I'll be damned," Zuko shook his head in wonderment, then glancing at Katara. "What do you know... Sokka was right."
"Sokka is very often right, which is rather frightening considering what comes out of his mouth," Katara said, unable to hold back laughter.
"We will begin mass-producing this new exciting product in two weeks. Our sales projections are extremely promising. This sauce is going to take the Fire Nation by a storm," the treasurer explained happily. "We are going to market it under our Flamey-O Hotman's Choice brand. The campaign slogan will be 'It's not the best choice, it's Hotman's Choice!'"
"Err... alright," Zuko managed, looking a little stunned. "Well, as long as it fills the treasury, I'm sure we're all going to be very happy. Was there anything else? No? In that case, let's conclude this meeting and I'll see you all again same time next week," he quickly rounded things up to cut off any attempts by the advisors to return to the already discussed assassination attempt. Having been dismissed a little abruptly, the council attendees were left with no other choice than to slowly file out of the room, leaving Zuko alone with Katara, with only the sole Kyoshi warrior watching over them.
"So... who knew that a peanut sauce would solve the Fire Nation's financial woes?" Zuko looked amused as he turned to face Katara, both of them also getting up to leave.
"Sokka would claim that he knew," Katara smiled at her beloved, but then her expression shifted to a more serious one. "But you really must explain me about this colony project. It seems like something very important, and yet you haven't mentioned it to me once thus far."
"Uh, sorry... but with everything else going on, I didn't want to throw too much on your plate at once," Zuko offered apologetically. "It wasn't my intention to hide anything from you, Katara."
"I believe you, but now that it has been mentioned, you should just go and tell me everything," Katara urged him, as she took his hand in hers and they slowly walked out of the audience chamber together.
"Well... it's a very complicated matter, and not easy to explain," Zuko sighed. "You were present for all the initial troubles that went down in Yu Dao, and how it led to them obtaining greater autonomy from both the Fire Nation and the Earth Kingdom. Well... Yu Dao isn't the only former Fire Nation colony seeking greater autonomy. In fact, it's the same story with all of our former colonies that initially decided against reverting back to being a part of the Earth Kingdom. But lately, the Dai Li are starting to instigate unrest across all these colonies. Their goal is to bring them all back into Earth Kingdom."
"I thought that the people of Yu Dao made their wishes very clear on the matter," Katara exclaimed angrily. "I assume that people in all those other colonies feel similarly to the people in Yu Dao."
"Yes, they're all packed with Fire Nation citizens who have lived in these colonies for their entire lives, their children and grandchildren have been born there, they have laid their roots in the colonies, but they still consider themselves tied culturally to the Fire Nation," Zuko explained. "They have no interest in living under the Earth King's rule. It's exactly the same story as in Yu Dao."
"They shouldn't be forced to rejoin the Earth Kingdom if they don't want to," Katara frowned. "I thought Earth King Kuei agreed to it when we reached settlement over Yu Dao."
"Mhm... Katara, you have met Kuei a few times. What do you really think about him?" Zuko asked.
"I think that he's nice and well-meaning, but... I'm not sure he makes a great ruler for his people," Katara admitted after some thought. "He seemed so much naiver than we were, and we were just kids! I know that he has tried to become more involved, but I'm not sure how successful he has been."
"You're almost entirely correct in your assessment," Zuko nodded. "But it's not just that he's incredibly naive, he is also very weak-willed and yields to the slightest pressure. The Dai Li have already retaken the reins from Kuei and have made him into their puppet. Kuei has no control or influence over what happens in the Earth Kingdom. He has once again become the tool of Dai Li."
"Ack! That is so frustrating!" Katara fumed. "I thought that after Long Feng... eh, no, I guess when I think about it rationally, I should have realized that Kuei will never become a strong, confident and insightful ruler. He's probably too distracted taking care of his pet bear."
"Anyway, in short, the colony project has to do with our own strategy regarding the Fire Nation colonies," Zuko explained. "It's important that we don't just allow the Dai Li to snatch them up for the Earth Kingdom. These colonies are still very much necessary for the stability of the Fire Nation."
"Really?" Katara wondered. "How come?"
"There are several reasons," Zuko replied. "All those Fire Nation citizens in the colonies still pay taxes that help fill our treasury. It's not a huge amount, but it's still sorely needed. Secondly, there's a lot of commerce between the capital and the colonies. If the Earth Kingdom took over the colonies, they would slap us with such heavy tariffs that it would greatly reduce our profits and give the treasurer and aneurism."
"Ugh! You're right, this is terribly complicated," Katara sighed.
"I know, that's why I didn't want to burden you with it just yet," Zuko smiled at her.
"Of course, now that you have told me of the project, I won't be able to stop thinking about it," Katara grinned.
"I know..." Zuko sighed in exasperation. "I regret telling you already..."
"Oh, shush," Katara glared at him, then giving him a slight bump with her shoulder. "Anyway, I just wanted to tell you how proud I am that you didn't give in to all those ministers who tried to force you... you know, about your father."
"Thanks," Zuko replied, but he sounded very hesitant. "But I'll be honest with you. I'm starting to have doubts about my decision... lately more and more so."
"Why?" Katara exclaimed passionately. "Zuko, I don't want you to be party to a murder of that pathetic, helpless wretch. Not because I feel pity for him, but because I fear for what it might do to you!"
"I know..." Zuko sighed. "It was an easier decision when it was just about my life being at risk. But ever since your safety has been threatened... if something happens to you and I prove unable to protect you, I will never forgive myself for not doing something about Ozai's influence when I had the opportunity."
Katara stopped in her tracks in the palace corridor, forcing Zuko to come to halt as well. "Zuko, I can't accept that you would consider executing your own father just to keep me safe from potential harm," she said in a trembling voice. "If you were to go through with it... I'm not sure I could live with myself."
"What... what are you saying?" Zuko instantly appeared deeply distressed.
"I... I don't know," Katara whispered. "But... I think it would make it very hard for me... to stay and continue as we are..."
"Well... Iroh said that if we were to become a couple, then you would serve as my moral compass," Zuko eventually gave a pensive smile. "How right he was. I just didn't realize that you would do so even if that meant placing yourself in such great danger."
"Sorry," Katara smiled apologetically. "Maybe I'm still being a bit naive, but I want to believe that we can draw a line at some things."
"I'd like to believe that as well," Zuko admitted with a sigh. "But... I'm not sure this is where I draw the line, even if Ozai is my own father. I'll try to respect your wishes, Katara. For as long as I can. But there may come a point at which I might have to yield, so I can't make you the promise that I will never call for my father's execution."
"I wouldn't want to force you into a promise that we both know you might have to break," Katara sighed. "I'm just trying to prevent you from going down this dark path for as long as I can, while at the same time hoping that we can end this rebellion without you having to execute Ozai."
"That would be the best outcome, I agree," Zuko nodded in agreement. "What a heavy topic of conversation, hmm? I feel all doom and gloom now."
"I would suggest some pleasant distraction," Katara gave him a wink. "But we don't have much time. I am starving, and then there's the matter of my father's departure back to the South Pole, so we should be heading to the harbor shortly. I need to have one last talk with him so that I'm sure that we have truly cleared the air for good."
"I know you've been frustrated with him, but I'm sure you realize that all he wants is to make sure that you're safe and happy," Zuko smiled at her.
"You're right, of course, and I wish I could give him better reassurances, especially on that first point," Katara sighed again. "Still, I feel like he's been slowly coming around to the idea of me staying at the Fire Nation court. I wish he could have stayed longer and become more comfortable with the idea of us being together."
"Of course, but your father has his own obligations to his people that are no less important than our duty to the Fire Nation," Zuko replied. "There will be other visits, I'm sure."
"At least Sokka has decided to stay," Katara smiled. "Though I'm not certain for how long."
"Things getting more serious between him and On Ji?" Zuko asked. "He better not rob me of one of the most promising recent recruits!"
"I'm sure we'd cope with that, somehow," Katara elbowed him lightly again. "I like seeing my brother happy, you know."
"I know," Zuko nodded. His face darkened as he became more pensive. "I wish I could see my sister happy…"
"I'm so sorry, Zuko… I also wish Azula would get better, even though she probably would still scare me quite a bit," Katara spoke, stopping and wrapping her arms around Zuko in a comforting hug, resting her head against his chest. "I hope that one day you'll be able to mend your relationship with a healed Azula."
"I hope so too," Zuko spoke quietly, holding her tightly. "Until then, I'll be drawing support from your strength and your compassion, Katara."
"That's right," Katara whispered into his chest. "Nothing can stop us for as long as we are together."
