Book 1: Civil War
Chapter 5: Family History
Zhongfeng and Fudo cannot believe their eyes or ears. "How could you," is all Zhongfeng can manage, while Fudo just drops his head in defeat.
Shiwang just shrugs. "It was quite simple actually. I knew father was going to name you his heir, so I made a deal with our uncle, the leader of the rebels."
"What was the deal," Zhongfeng barks at him.
"That I would become Fire Lord, and then name him as my heir," Jianchi replies.
"You're both traitors," Zhongfeng shouts at them.
"Do you know how this war was started," Jianchi turns and asks him.
Zhongfeng is taken aback by how he looks identical to his father. He has the same brown hair, blue eyes, and the onset of wrinkles on his forehead. Despite the similarities, he looked younger than his father.
"It was started because some people wanted power that wasn't theirs. They wanted the Fire Lord dead."
"Wrong," Jianchi shouts. "It was started because I wanted the position I deserved. I don't want to kill my brother. Shiwang, take Fudo out for a walk. It's time your brother is enlightened on some family history."
"You're father, Moshu, and I are twins. Identical twins to be exact. We did everything growing up/ That all changed when we were 13. Moshu and I were training one day, when our father, your grandfather, Wushi, pulled me aside. He told me that I was to be pulled from the Royal Academy, and told me I was to be trained to lead, as he had seen my leadership abilities. I then underwent tutelage from him, many political leaders throughout the world, and some of the best generals the Fire Nation has ever seen. By 15 I was governor of a small village, and by 18 I was an adviser to my father.
Moshu became jealous at my success, and constantly asked our father to be given the education that I had, but was denied every time. Our father told him he didn't have the skills he was looking for. So, when the time came for the Crown Prince to be named, everyone in the nation, myself included, expected me to be named the official heir to the throne. But, when the time came, he named Moshu as his heir.
No one cheered or applauded, they just stood there, agape. They could not believe what had transpired. After the ceremony, I confronted my father. You know what he told me? He told me that a nonbender could not be on the throne. That it would be a disgrace to the entire nation if I was named the Crown Prince.
From that moment on, I vowed to never lose to a bender at anything. To this day, I have not failed in that mission. I was still an adviser when Moshu took the throne. He would ask for my advice, and then do the exact opposite. That is when I had enough. I banded together a group of like-minded individuals, and marched on the palace. Moshu had somehow caught wind of the plan, and fled from the palace. We left only one survivor, to tell of the destruction we wrought. That is how and why this war was started."
"You said you have never lost to a bender, but you're losing this war," Zhongfeng mockingly says.
"I have never lost a battle or fight in this war. Those losses have been with other leaders of the rebellion," Jianchi says proudly and matter-of-factly. "You and I are not so different. We were both trained to be the best of the best, and we have fulfilled that."
"You just want power," Zhongfeng replies.
"Your father has led this country to ruin. I will be taking what is mine, and lead this nation the way it needs to be led. Certainly you can see your father is not doing any good for this nation," Jianchi says sternly.
"Despite what I believe, I will not turn on my father, the Fire Lord. I will defend him until my final breath," Zhongfeng says proudly, but deep down he feels that Jianchi is right.
"That can be arranged," Jianchi says.
"I challenge you to Jian Dou. If I win, you let Fudo and I go," Zhongfeng says confidently.
"Accepted. If I win, I get to kill that spy myself."
"Deal," Zhongfeng says, confident in his ability to beat Jianchi in a duel.
Jianchi just smiles slyly, and cuts Zhongfeng down. "I will let you out until our duel, but don't try anything, or I will kill you."
In the Northern Air Temple, the floating man is once again interrupted during his meditation.
"Master, the avatar has been captured, should we mount a rescue attempt, or take out the Fire Lord while his most trusted guard is away," the young man asks.
"No," the Master says. "It is not yet time to reveal ourselves."
With that, the young man leaves. The Master smiles, as he knows their time is coming, but they can't rush into it. They must wait patiently for the right time to strike.