A/N:And after 40 chapters, we officially have 400 reviews! What a nice round lovely number - and it's all thanks to you, dear readers! Thank you to Goku275, Guest x2, AsahixMe, Black Dragon Master, Lightbrightfury, Sharpe, BrightWatcher, devilfiredog18, kalu23, CrazyPhenom, Raider, Aquamirra - and yes, even to our regular Makorra-antis Redfox and Thunder - because y'all have also added to the review count. (I actually suspect you're the same person, because of the high similarity of your review style and content - if so, DOUBLE thank you for contributing more reviews).
Speaking of which, however, I think I need to once again address those of you bashing on Makorra. Please do not feel obligated to continue reading a story with a pairing you dislike - you are always free to read Korrasami fics instead. Let me repeat that - you do not need to read this if you don't like it. I will NOT be going back to Korrasami in this fic and I will NOT be creating an alternate Korrasami ending; this story itself is ALREADY an alternate ending to canon. You have already made your views on Makorra abundantly clear, and need not keep repeating the same (flawed) points about things I have painstakingly disproven in this story or in my author's notes. I haven't been acknowledging your feedback because I've already addressed it, but my words seem to be completely ignored, and I can't do anything about that, I'm afraid.
So, Thunder, Redfox, Fing fang chow, AlphaWar, Mr Wilson - whoever you (or y'all) are...consider this your final acknowledgment. While I thank you for your contributing reviews that got me to 400, I (and the readers actually enjoying this story) are getting quite tired of your persistent nagging, as you are obviously only here to bash and not open to engaging in an actual discourse, else you'd be creating an account to debate in PMs like civilised fanfic readers. Henceforth, any such review repeating the same tired comments about how 'Makorra is toxic', 'Korrasami is a thousand times better', 'You're not respecting Korrasami if Mako and Korra are together', 'Mako is a horrible person' etc. etc. - will be deleted. I think I've been very patient and I honestly don't mind constructive critique if you have something of actual substance to say, but from the last month or so, you obviously don't, and I'd rather not have mindless comments cluttering up my reviews. Thank you and good day.
Now, on with the chapter!
41. Three coins in the fountain, each one seeking happiness
Fire Lord Izumi receives them in the antechamber.
"Varrick. Welcome to Caldera. I was wondering when you would be making a play."
"Your Majesty." The businessman bows with a flamboyant flourish, while Zhu Li curtsies primly beside him. "I, at last, have something worthwhile to offer, and so here I am, to discuss business that will hopefully be very profitable for both of us."
"Hm. We'll see." Izumi glances at the rest of the party behind Varrick. "Avatar Korra. It is my honour to welcome you to the Fire Nation." Izumi bows in the traditional Fire Nation style, palm to fist.
Korra imitates her. "The honour is mine, Fire Lord Izumi. Avatar Aang had close ties to your family, and it would be my pleasure to continue that tradition. I'm sorry it took me so long to come visit."
Izumi smiles enigmatically. "No need to apologise, Korra. It's been a busy six years since you arrived in Republic City. I daresay this is the first good opportunity you've had to drop by."
The Fire Lord turns her attention to him next; like Korra, he drops into the Fire Nation greeting. Next to him, Bolin does the same.
"Mako, Bolin." Izumi inclines her head to both of them, greeting them in turn. "It's good to meet you properly."
"Likewise, Your Majesty," he responds. "Thank you for having us."
The courtesies observed, Izumi now addresses the group as a whole. "I'm sure we'll have plenty of opportunities to discuss whatever we need to —" Her gaze lingers on Varrick, who grins. "— but you've had a long journey, so let's put off such matters until tomorrow. You are all welcome to stay in the guest quarters, of course — but there are several pleasant hotels nearby if you'd prefer?"
He and Korra trade a glance, and Korra speaks up, "If it's not too much trouble, Fire Lord, Mako and I would like to stay here."
"Me too!" Bolin puts in quickly.
Izumi nods. "Varrick, what about you and your wife?"
"Thanks very much, Majesty, but Zhu Li and I want to check out the Sunstar Hotel," Varrick announces. "I hear it's gorgeous!"
"It's one of our best," Izumi agrees. "You'll enjoy your stay there. Korra, Mako, Bolin," she says to the trio, "You may leave your luggage here, and I'll have the servants prepare three guest rooms. In the meantime, would you like to walk around the gardens?"
"We'd love to, thank you!" Korra exclaims, grinning at him. He nods in agreement.
Bolin, however, is distracted by some strange gestures Varrick is making in the corner, and says, "You two go ahead, I think Varrick wants to talk to me."
"Don't get carried away," he warns.
Izumi assures them she'll send someone to find them when their rooms are ready, and then he and Korra are off.
The gardens of the Royal Fire Palace are beautiful, full of red and orange blossoms that bloom year-round thanks to the tropical weather and rich volcanic soil of the Fire Nation.
They pass a turtleduck pond and Korra, having never seen turtleducks before, pauses to adore the cute little critters.
That's when he notices a familiar figure standing by a large fountain.
Even in side profile and five yards away, Iroh looks troubled. He nudges Korra and starts out in Iroh's direction.
As they approach, he notices Iroh tossing something small and shiny into the fountain. The coin — for that's what it must be — hits the water with a gentle splash. Iroh pauses for a moment, almost as if he's murmuring a prayer — and then he retrieves another coin and repeats the process.
"Hello, Mako, Korra," he says without turning around.
He and Korra blink at each other and give up trying to be unobtrusive.
"When did you realise we were here?" he asks.
"I saw you at the turtleduck pond." Iroh turns to face them and bows formally, hand to fist. "Welcome to my home, friends." They copy the gesture, and Iroh questions, "What brings you here?"
"Varrick has business to discuss with the Fire Lord," Korra answers quickly. "We tagged along for the trip."
"I came to see if I could maybe find something about my mother's family," he adds. "And in case you needed a friend."
"Thanks." Iroh sighs and tucks his hands into his pockets. "I've been here a week and I'm no closer to figuring things out. It's driving me nuts."
"Is that why you were tossing coins into the fountain?"
Iroh chuckles lightly. "This fountain has significance for us," he explains. "My grandparents first met at this fountain, and at some point fell in it together. They named my mother for this fountain, and once she found out, this became her favourite ornament in the grounds." He smiles gently. "She claims she first kissed my father here, and told Grandfather that she was pregnant with me here as well." He sobers slightly. "And after my grandmother died, this is where Grandfather told us he was abdicating."
"That's a lot of history," Korra remarks.
"Precisely. Which is why it has…sort of a legend, within my family. I don't know when we started the tradition, but we've taken to wishing on this fountain. I remember Mom telling me that whenever I really wanted something, or needed guidance, I should toss a coin in and make a wish. She cautioned me against frivolous wishing, naturally — but …" He exhales. "Grandfather says this fountain led him to happiness. He used to come out here with Nana a lot, when they needed to talk about things. I guess I'm hoping some of that wisdom will rub off on me."
He clasps a comforting hand on Iroh's shoulder. "I'm sure you'll figure it out. And hey, I'm here for at least a month — I'll be your sounding board."
"Thank you, Mako."
"Iroh," Korra speaks up, "I know I'm not as close to you as Mako is, but I know something about being torn between duty and happiness. I'm here for you as well."
Iroh inclines his head. "Thank you." The prince's golden gaze turns to him. "Your mother's family, huh?"
Recognising the subject change for what it is, he nods. "Yeah. I don't really know anything about them. But since I'm here, I might as well see if I can find some clues or records somewhere."
"We keep the census records for the entire nation in the Royal Archives. I can take you there one of these days," Iroh offers. "Do you know which state she was from?"
He shakes his head. "No idea."
Iroh winces in sympathy and withdraws his hand from his pocket to hold out a coin. "I think you may need a wish too, my friend."
He looks from Iroh to the coin to the fountain, shrugs, and accepts the coin. He doesn't actually believe wishing on the fountain will make a difference — nor, he suspects, does Iroh — but there's no denying the sentiment, nor the appeal of the idea that some higher power may deign to grant their desires.
Iroh offers Korra a coin, too, but she declines.
"I already have everything I want," she says, smiling softly at him.
He smiles back, and, holding the coin between his fingers, contemplates what exactly he wants to wish for. Iroh obviously intended for him to wish for something regarding his mother — but the more he thinks about it, the more he realises that's not his most pressing need. While it would be wonderful to connect with his mother's heritage, he's managed just fine without it; and truth be told, he's quite content with his life as it is. He would certainly like to know where he came from, but he doesn't need it to be happy.
He tosses his coin and watches it arc into the fountain. It gleams as it sinks slowly to the floor of the basin, shifting gently under the eddying swirls of the water feature.
"I think Akiro's coming for you." Iroh cants his head towards the servant who is walking towards them.
The servant — Akiro — approaches them and informs them that their rooms are ready. Evidently, he will be sharing a room with Bolin, while Korra gets the adjoining room to herself.
"Please, follow me," Akiro invites.
He meets Korra's eyes briefly before turning back to Iroh.
"Find me if you need to?" he says.
"Naturally."
He lets Akiro lead them away, but his mind still dwells on his friend's plight and the coins bearing their mutual wish in the fountain.
Let Iroh find his peace.
A/N: Lyric is from an oldie but a goodie - 'Three Coins in a Fountain' by Frank Sinatra. Boy, did I have to dig deep for that one.
As with many of the songs I've been using lately, the three coins have both a literal and a metaphorical meaning. The literal meaning, naturally, refers to the three coins tossed into the fountain in today's chapter - two from Iroh, one from Mako. Metaphorically speaking, fountain = Izumi (because that's what her name means) and Izumi = Fire Nation (because a ruler represents her nation); and the three 'coins' seeking happiness in the Fire Nation here are Iroh, Mako, and Izumi.
Merry Christmas!