Commander Zhao leaned forward over his map of the Earth Kingdom. He had spent years looking at maps like this, so much so that he could tell you where every little town, village or hamlet was from memory. He bet he could even find a Daofei lair if he tried. He cast his eyes over the colonies. While not every colony flourished like others each one was still stable. This fact alone was almost as assuring to him as divine prominence. The Fire Nation was meant to rule over the savage masses and the short-sighted children of Ozai would be made to see that.
Thankfully a great many from the Colonies saw things his way. "A good number of men and women from the Colonies have already pledged themselves to our cause and I expect many more to come, once we have the men we'll take Makapu Village for the True Fire Nation." He told his second in command, Unoyo. She was a tall, well-built woman with dark hair and the typical amber eyes of a Firebender of which she was Zhao's equal in both skill and ferocity.
"We'll only have a short window of time before Ozai's brats get wind of our actions," he continued, "We'll have to take the village with as little damage to the infrastructure as possible because when they come we'll probably end up being besieged."
"Our spies marked the location of their cold storage, we'll strike just after the harvest when they'll have enough food to last our army through the winter if we ration properly," Zhao pointed to a red dot on the map of Makapu Village, "But if this is destroyed then we'll have no chance of outlasting them, make sure your men know not to burn the cold storage."
"Of course Commander Zhao," she promised as she saluted him. Zhao knew he was ill-suited for peacetimes. He had spent his entire life training to conquer in the name of the Fire Nation but when Ozai died so to did his purpose. War is where he belonged even if it meant starting one himself. Even if it meant dying for his beliefs.
Suddenly a soldier burst into the tent and knelt on one knee. "Speak," Zhao told him without looking at the man.
"Commander Zhao, our spies in the homeland have reported that more messenger hawks were sent to Omashu and Ba Sing Se," he reported, "They used the Raven Eagles to intercept them and the messages were destroyed, they're confident that none escaped."
"Good work," Zhao said to him and the messenger bowed as he walked backwards out of the tent. "The world fully expects the Fire Nation to break the peace," he said to Unoyo, "And from what I gleaned from that pathetic Peace Summit, the Earth King has no love for the Fire Nation." He indicated to the walled city of Ba Sing Se.
"We're nearly ready," He looked back at Unoyo again who could practically read his mind by now. "We're close to putting the Fire Nation back on its true path, win or lose the world won't stand for Zuko's apparent treachery."
"They'll come for him," Unoyo looked Zhao in the eyes. Another reason he respected her since most men avoided making eye contact. "No negotiations, no ceasefires, he'll have to defend himself and fight like a true Fire Lord."
"Or he'll die a coward," Zhao added, "Not long now, we just need to be patient."
"It's been a month now," Azula said impatiently to Zuko as they walked through the palace. Servants bowed as they passed, though neither sibling took any notice. It was a habit they had picked up, what with them being royalty, though Katara had always made a habit of remembering their names. "You'd think Zhao would have made a move by now?"
"I know how you feel," Zuko agreed with her, "For all his flaws he's still one of the sharpest minds in the Fire Nation and a master strategist, he won't do anything until he's ready and not a moment sooner."
"Where do you think he'll turn up then?" Azula asked Zuko.
"Lately there have been reports of people leaving the Colonies and disappearing into the wilderness," he said, "At first nobody batted an eye, the Earth Kingdom can be an unforgiving place, especially so for the colonists, but now we have a long list of people who just vanished and most of them are ex-soldiers who were released from service after the war ended."
On top of paying commiserations, the world leaders had demanded that Zuko reduce the size of the Fire Nation army during the peace treaty signings but he would be allowed to keep the Colonies. It had been old King Bumi who had suggested keeping the colonies under Fire Nation rule since they had proven that peaceful coexistence was possible as generations of once Earth Kingdom citizens lived under his rule. They would serve as an example that harmony is possible. He knew that the Fire Nation nationals were better off than the Earth Kingdom citizens but it was something he was working on. Even so, a great many who wore green and could even Earthbend in the Colonies proudly considered themselves Fire Nation citizens.
Zuko agreed to the terms so the Navy had been cut in half with many ships now being scrapped. He was allowed to keep what few blimps and war balloons that remained so long as the blueprints were shared among the nations. The ground forces had met a similar fate. Most soldiers were happy to return to simple lives but it was impossible to satisfy everyone.
They entered the war room to get some privacy and he recalled the many meetings he had held with the high ranking generals his father had once controlled. When he first became Fire Lord he was constantly questioned by the generals for his decision to continue with the plans for peace Azula had set in motion during her brief stint as Fire Lord. For months he waited for them to come around but the war was all these men knew. He truly did pity them but stubborn old men like them were dangerous and if peace was to achieved he had to remove them.
After hours of discussion with his Uncle, Zuko finally made a decision and gave them an ultimatum. Retire with their honour intact or be exiled. The common people wanted peace so exiling a few old generals wouldn't garner much bad favour and he could handle the nobility. Thankfully, not one of them chose exile and from what he had heard a good few of them were spending their twilight years in luxury on Ember Island. The only problem was that he now had no generals. That would have to be fixed but all in good time, right now he had to deal with Zhao.
"Do you think he could be preparing to take territory in the North-West?" Azula asked him. Referring to the Colonies north-western position in the Earth Kingdom.
"I do. If he's recruiting soldiers from the colonies who still believe in Great Grandfathers vision then the only logical step is to take land close to the colonies." He folded his arms and looked grimly at the floor. "Zhao attacking is inevitable at this point, we just have to wait and react quickly if we don't find him first."
"Even if he does attack he can't hope to fight both the Fire Nation and the Earth Kingdom at once?" Azula pondered aloud, "It doesn't make sense."
Zuko sighed loudly. "A year ago I met with the Earth King, King Bumi and the High Chieftains of the Water Tribes for the Peace Summit in Ba Sing Se," he told her, "This was when Zhao was still living in the Capital City and he insisted I bring him along."
"He wanted to attend the Peace Summit?" Azula looked confused. "Why?"
"It was Uncle's idea to accept his request. At first, we thought he was giving peace a chance but now I think he was just gathering information on what the other nations thought of us," Zuko folded his arms and looked at the floor. "Thanks to you I was welcomed by Chief Hakoda and even King Bumi was rather nice, which only seemed to irritate Zhao, but when I met with the other leaders they weren't so pleasant. I assured them so many times that the Fire Nation wouldn't instigate another war so long as I'm Fire Lord and do you know what they said?"
"What?"
"We will see," he looked disgusted at their words, "They gave Zhao everything he needed and he's going to use that distrust against us." Zuko's voice shook like he was about to start crying from the stress of it all. "He probably doesn't care about winning or losing. All he wants is for people to assume that I gave the order. If the world leaders think I stabbed them in the back there won't be any peace talks or deliberations, they'll put down Zhao's incursion and then they'll come for us."
"The best we can hope for is that King Bumi speaks in our favour when the time comes, otherwise, we'd be lucky if they don't kill us on sight." Zuko began to rub his forehead, he could feel a migraine coming. Azula pitied her brother, he looked so tired.
"You said that you sent messages to Bumi and the Earth King right?" Azula suddenly remembered him saying.
"We've heard nothing from Omashu or Ba Sing Se," she was told, "I think the messages are intercepted by Zhao's supporters here in the capital."
Azula cursed under her breath but then seemed to have an idea. "Then why not go to Omashu and tell King Bumi what's happening in person?" She suggested eagerly.
"The journey would take weeks and Zhao could strike at any moment," Zuko said back, "And I can't leave the Fire Nation on such short notice, not when I'm needed just to keep things stable. Even if you and Katara left now there's no guarantee you'll make it in time." Zuko looked at Azula apologetically. "When Zhao attacks we'll just have to hope people will see reason," he looked at Azula and forced a smile, "You're friends with Bumi aren't you?" He was almost pleading with the way he spoke and Azula smiled softly at him. "Do you think he'll speak on our behalf?"
"We have a mutual respect," Azula admitted, "I don't know much about him but he's incredibly patient. He spent weeks hanging in a metal prison above his city while our forces occupied it just waiting for the perfect moment to strike," Azula laughed as she told the story, "He didn't know what he was waiting for but he waited nonetheless and then the Day of Black Sun happened and the rest is history."
"My point is, I don't think he'll act rashly. All is not lost, big brother, we may yet get through this ordeal alive."
"Maybe," Zuko said with a dry laugh, "Maybe..."
It was late at night when Zuko finally received the news he had been dreading. A messenger had burst into the room and his urgency stopped the young Fire Lord from being angry. "What is it?" he said, rubbing his good eye tiredly, "What time is it?"
"Early morning Fire Lord Zuko, forgive me," the man was kneeling at the foot of the bed, "The aviary just received a messenger hawk from Omashu bearing the kings seal so I thought you'd want to see it right away." He offered the wax-sealed cylinder to Zuko who took it quickly. It hadn't been tampered with.
"Good work, now go rest," he said kindly, "That will be all."
"Thank you Fire Lord Zuko." The man backed out of the room and the guards closed the door behind him. Once he was alone Zuko broke the wax seal and poured the scroll out of the protective casing and began to read.
"By Agni," Zuko breathed out...
Azula and Katara entered the war room with tired expressions. They were both still wearing their nightclothes after being dragged out of their bed to answer Zuko's summons. "Zhao's taken an Earth Kingdom village," Zuko told them bluntly when they entered the war room, "King Bumi is now demanding I answer for these crimes in person."
"Well, that's good news right?" Azula asked him.
"I just wish I'd done it sooner instead of just sending hawks," Zuko was good at berating himself, Azula knew this all too well. "No doubt Zhao thought the same and banked on the idea that I'd stay in the Fire Nation. Even with this good news I can't help but feel like we've been played. I'm such a fool."
"Zhao may be brilliant but he isn't omnipotent," Azula assured him, "He doesn't know a thing about the other nations other than how to fight them, and the fact that King Bumi is willing to be talk is proof of his ignorance." Zuko nodded and smiled at his sister.
"You know, sometimes I forget I'm the older sibling," he admitted with a nervous smile, "You would have made a wonderful Fire Lord."
"Oh, are you offering me the job?"
Zuko shook his head quickly. "Too late now, no takebacks."
As they laughed together Katara suddenly cut in. "Hey, what village did Zhao take?" she asked, pulling Zuko and Azula back to the situation at hand.
Azula read the letter and answered for Zuko. "Makapu Village, if memory serves it was made famous thanks to a fortune teller," she raised an eyebrow as she read on, "Very clever Zhao, this place was bound to get you noticed."
"But Makapu's so far from Omashu, why is King Bumi the one dealing with this?" Katara was looking at a map in the centre of the war room but she looked to Azula for an answer who just shrugged.
Zuko replied for Azula this time, "Could be because you spent weeks in Omashu under his care and I spoke to him at the Peace Summit?" Zuko sat at the edge of the podium now, his hands clasped in front of him. "Either way he's extending an olive branch and I don't think Zhao counted on that. We can't waste this opportunity."
"What about the villagers?" Katara then asked, "You know what Zhao did to Toph when she made him mad, we can't leave them at his mercy while we're down in Omashu."
"Katara's right," Zuko looked at Azula, "I'll arrange transport to Omashu for myself and a small contingent of men while you and Katara confront Zhao"
"And do what?" Azula said with a laugh, "Fight Zhao's army, just the two of us?"
Zuko sighed irately. His head was a mess, he was angry and tired which was making him make stupid decisions impulsively. "Sorry, you're right, but what do we do?" Zuko pleaded at them.
"We send an undercover agent," Azula told him, "Someone who can get behind enemy lines and prepare the villagers for rescue, maybe even run some disruption."
"We'd need someone in as soon as possible, preferably before we reach Omashu," Zuko rubbed his chin, almost mimicking the way Iroh would stroke his beard. "Do we have any allies who we can count on?"
"I'll do it," came a new voice from behind one of the pillars that lined the throne room. The three teenagers all turned around at once and watched as Toph stepped out in front of them. She stared intently at the three of them. "I'll go to Makapu."
"This was a private meeting Toph!" Zuko said angrily, "You had no right to sneak in here!" He had of course met Toph by now and the pair had become fast friends. This still didn't excuse her sneaking into a private meeting.
"Zhao murdered my family right in front of me and then he had me tortured for months!" Toph shouted back, rolling up her sleeve to show off just one of the handprints that branded her body. "If anyone has a right to be here, it's me!"
Zuko glared at Toph, who simply stood her ground stubbornly. Azula sighed and stepped in front of Zuko. "Relax Zuzu," she said to him but then addressed Toph, "What's your plan, Little Mole?"
"It's like I said," Toph said resolutely, "I'll go to Makapu."
"I still think this is crazy," Katara said for the thousandth time since they had left for the Colonies, "What if he recognises you?" They had finally made a plan and were based in one of the colony towns while they prepared to enact it.
"He won't," Toph assured her, "Last time he saw me I was all dressed up in nobles clothing and that was two years ago."
Katara, Zuko, Azula and Toph all sat in a meeting room in the home of this colonies mayor. Iroh had stayed behind to run things while he was gone. Zuko had received a messenger hawk from him not long ago and apparently, he was preparing a new holiday called 'Tea Appreciation Day'. Zuko had smiled as he read the letter, he loved his uncle so damn much.
"The scouts came back with good intel," Zuko told the room, "The citizens seem largely unharmed but they've been put to work digging a trench to fortify their defences."
"That'll cause problems," Azula ran her finger around the map the scout had drawn, highlighting the trench. "But it could be the best way for Toph to infiltrate the village, you can pretend to be an escaped worker to get in."
Toph had donned some simple travel clothes in preparation for her journey and while she was confident the plan would work, Katara was still worried. "Are you absolutely sure about this Toph?" Katara asked the girl, "His men were horrible to you last time."
"Please Katara, I'm sure," Toph said to her, "Stop worrying so much." Katara shook her head at her request and Toph clicked her tongue in annoyance.
"Once you're inside you'll be on your own," Zuko cautioned her, "You'll need be prepared to spend months in Makapu."
"If that's what it takes to stop Zhao then I'll do it," Toph's confidence was contagious and nobody at that table doubted her willpower.
"What you need to do during that time is assure the villagers that help is coming, Little Mole," Azula now said, "Keep their morale up but don't let them revolt, Zhao's men will crush them flat. Just make sure they're ready for when we arrive."
"Keep everyone in good spirits but don't fight until you arrive," Toph said with a nod, "What could go wrong?"
"Don't forget what I told you about manipulation," Azula also added, "There might be those among the soldiers who don't know what Zhao's really capable of, if you get the opportunity to turn some of his men against him then do it." Toph nodded her understanding, she could already tell if someone was lying and even discern emotions if they were strong enough so the working theory was she could use that to knowledge to turn most situations in her favour.
Soon it was time time to move out. Toph was given some basic travel supplies for her journey to Makapu while everyone else boarded a ship that would sail south, as close to Omashu as possible. Toph said her goodbyes and set off, unafraid of what was to come...