Italics indicates flashbacks.
Kuvira had logically expected this to be a rather grim week but instead, it had turned out to be unexpectedly amusing. While packaging back the sharp looking uniform she had briefly used in her latest court hearing in a neat, orderly bundle, Kuvira recapped the most recent events that highlighted this particular week. The monotony of her seclusion had been markedly altered by the events that took place during the last days, concluding rather spectacularly with today's events.
A few days ago she was informed that she would be allowed to spend an hour every day at the prison's yard under close supervision as part of the newly added privileges earned by her cooperation and good behavior. The prospect of being outside under the sun again after countless days under the underground dimness of the subterranean levels of the prison where her cell was located almost made her tear up. The fact that she would have to endure being handcuffed while outside and that she would be separated from the rest of the penal population didn't dampen the joy of a most welcome change in scenery. She recognized it was a huge leap of fate on the part of the prison's administrators to allow this to a dangerous inmate but the fact she had been nothing but compliant since her arrival surely weighed in her favor. It was her first major victory since her arrival and she was determined to make the most out of it.
Today, the day of the last hearing of her trials another surprise awaited in the morning. The night before she had tried not too successfully to make her prison uniform look somewhat presentable for her last public appearance. She might be a convict but still held a modicum of pride and wanted to look her best and to display a strong impression under the given circumstances. Apparently the fact that it was her last public appearance had not been lost by some government bureaucrat with a flair for the dramatic and the next morning a package was delivered with what she assumed contained a new set of prison garb. Instead, it was her Earth Empire uniform. Dark eyebrows rose in amazement.
"They really want to remind everyone beyond any doubt that it is me in that courtroom" she had retorted with a smirk while inspecting the pieces of clothing that comprised her martial ensemble sans any piece of metal as an obvious safety measure. It would be a powerful, indelible image guaranteed to make it to the cover of the newspapers: the deposed dictator in fetters and chains put away for good. She immediately tried the uniform on, noticing that the fit was looser, undoubtedly due to the weight lost during her incarceration. Not being able to follow the rigid physical routine she had maintained for years had made its impact in her physique. The uniform felt incomplete without the metal adornments but it still looked sharp and presentable and was a far better trade than her convict clothes. Clad back in the familiar silver and greens, enjoying the comforting weight of the boots on her feet she appreciated the publicity stunt, savoring in the aura of strength the uniform projected. As she fixed her long hair to complete the image, Kuvira vowed to make sure they would get the impression they were expecting.
And then it was the trial itself. The stands were filled to the brim by spectators who did not want to miss the conclusion of the most important trial in years.
"It should be over soon" she told herself as she approached the panel of judges with measured, confident steps t. The events played out just as she had rehearsed many times on the solitude of her. A litany of charges were recited as in the first day, and as if in a replay of previous sessions, Kuvira articulated her apologies for the destruction that came from the invasion and voiced her willingness to collaborate in whatever the government saw fit to mitigate the damages. However, she did not recant of the decision to annex Republic City territory based on the principle that the city's origin was and would remain a sore subject for Earth Kingdom citizens. This was due to the fact they weren't given a choice on how their territory was to be disposed of. Therefore, her efforts, misguided methods and all, had been focused in correcting what in their opinion was an historical slight. She was quite aware her unwavering stance wasn't going to endear her any fans if there were any to win anyway, but her pride demanded to have her opinion recorded for posterity. She didn't expect to have more opportunities to do so publicly after the trials were over.
This had been the easiest part of the trial. Even hearing the verdict out loud didn't bother her as much, having dedicated for the past months developing the mental fortitude to endure this moment. What it was difficult and no amount of resilience would have properly prepared her for was to glance across the courtroom and witness among the spectators her adoptive family and the myriad expressions on their faces, none that could be considered particularly approving of her or the events taking place. The former leader was grateful none of them participated actively in the trial. It took most of her resolve to maintain her detached countenance in their presence.
Since her surrender and detention, the Metal Clan and she had barely crossed words and every letter she attempted to write to them had ended up tossed as a crumpled ball of paper on a corner of her prison cell. The dispassionate expression she held almost collapsed when she exchanged a quick glance with Baatar and saw his anguished, disappointed look. There was the shroud of anger flickering behind the bespectacled eyes but for a brief instant, she could swear she saw the melancholy of remembrance of better days gone and with it, the faintest of smiles which made her own eyes water. Kuvira wasn't sure she wanted to meet Suyin's eyes. She didn't have to see them to know what they would reflect and she wasn't sure if she felt ready for that just yet.
Just when the procedures were about to conclude, an unexpected intervention that sure made radio breaking news occurred. At the last minute to add to the courtroom drama, a group of Earth Kingdom jurists requested the opportunity to announce their petition: that custody of the prisoner should be bequeathed to the Earth Kingdom authorities on the basis of the prisoner's nationality and her inherent right to receive a trial under that nation's laws. There was also a challenge to the legality of a head of state from one nation interfering in affairs of another nation by making executive appointments, being in this case Raiko's appointment of Kuvira as provisional ruler. She found quite extraordinary that even with the transition to self-ruling states, the different provinces had agreed to make common cause in this petition. It seemed Chief Lin Beifong had been right after all and even if these jurists were seeking fame rather than reaffirming a sovereign state's rights with their intervention in her trial, their ploy threw a wrench to what was supposed to be an open and closed case. Judging by Suyin and Baatar Sr.'s aghast expressions, it seemed Zaofu had not been informed by the other provinces of their intentions, outmaneuvering them before they could present a staunch opposition to the petition. It seemed that even with the new political changes going underway, the nationalistic pride still lingered enough to claim their sovereign right publicly. After a rather lengthy deliberation by the panel, it was decided that the request from the Earth Kingdom provinces would be received to be reviewed in all its merits. In the meantime, the prisoner would remain in Republic City custody pending the resolution of this new angle to the case. And with that unexpected turn of events her trial had ended, or at least this chapter because a new chapter had just begun.
The hectic day had finally come to an end and Kuvira was left with a contradictory mixture of emotions. On one end, there was the knowledge that some people still proffered some measure of gratitude and respect for the fact she had stepped up when the nation needed a leader. On the other, the realization that the possibility of mending her frayed relationship with her foster family was nowhere near close to attainable and that last fact tarnished the other positives. Then again, the sibling relationship between the Beifong sisters had been at odds for decades and just recently had improved. Ironically, fighting against her as a common foe had become just the right motivator and bonding experience to solidify their relationship and had brought Lin closer to her sister's Su's family.
"Perhaps I should try writing those letters in ten years," Kuvira murmured with a grin, reflecting on the unyielding stubbornness of the sisters, something that apparently had inadvertently rubbed on her too. Fragments from better days gone by flashed through her mind as her memories took her back to the days when becoming a stone cold dictator would have been seen a most ridiculous notion and the young protégé of Suyin Beifong was a far cry from the woman who took into her own hands the reins of a whole nation.
-oOo-
Suyin Beifong was nervously pacing the distance of the enormous hall designated as center stage for her latest endeavor. Her striding was so heavy and repetitive it menaced to leave a footprint trail over the hard, polished surface.
"Kuvira! Where in spirits is that girl? Hasn't she realized what time it is?" The leader of the model city of Zaofu was a literal nervous wreck. She snapped her attention from inspecting the metal cables that hung from the ceiling to the group of young women in sleeveless shirts and wide legged pants performing stretching exercises at a nearby corner.
"Have you all memorized the routine as rehearsed?"
"For the fifth time in a row Su, we have" one of the young women replied exasperated, attempting to concentrate on her exercises while others visually inspected the white wrappings around their arms and feet. Suyin's nervousness was spreading across the hall, compounding the anxiety already built up from anticipation to a live performance. Fortunately for the performers, Aiwei, the balding, bespectacled trusted advisor to Su was making his entrance, which shifted her attention from them to him.
"I've been told you seem to be a tad on edge Suyin," the man addressed the youngest Beifong sister.
"Of course I am. We're about to perform in 15 minutes and I'm missing one of my performers. Where did that girl run off to?" she replied, frustration lacing her words.
Aiwei offered a visual clinical assessment of the matriarch's current state. It might not be the best moment to remind her of an oversight of her own doing that contributed directly to the situation at hand. But fate had a way of intervening in the right moments when such binds arose because a voice filtering from the hallway could be overheard speaking to an unknown interlocutor, in time to save him from breaking the hard truth to his superior. Both Aiwei and Suyin lead their attention to a young woman who had just entered the hall, approaching the group with long strides.
"What do you mean she's furious? She knew where I was and that I wouldn't be able to make it today!" The long, dark braid of the young woman snapped from side to side when surrounded by the other performers, trying to reply to all of them talking at the same time. She was wearing the uniform of the city's guard, albeit not in its usual pristine condition.
"There you are! What kept you so long and why haven't you changed for the performance?" snapped Suyin at the newcomer which glared back at her with annoyed emerald eyes.
"What kept me? I just returned with my squad from our field exercise. You know, the field exercise I reminded you about a month ago..?"
"Nonsense. I would have known if there were scheduling conflicts."
"And I think I told you exactly that in similar words."
"Couldn't you just have missed the exercise so you could make it with the dance troupe? You know quite well how important this is to me" the metal city matriarch retorted, hands resting at her waist.
The younger woman let out a frustrated sigh. "And so completing the required training for me to join the guards."
"I thought you weren't serious with that. You have an amazing artistic disposition which is served quite nicely with the dance troupe. Where does soldiering fit in all of this?" the youngest Beifong sibling inquired intrigued by the sudden martial interest of her protégé.
"There are not incompatible interests Su and as much as I like dancing, I really admire what the guards do and would like to join them and be a full-fledged member, not just a cadet," the dark haired woman replied earnestly.
Suyin assessing her protégé's answer and demeanor, decided in her mind it would be better to approach the irksome subject on a more opportune moment.
"Can we talk about that later? Since you're already here, I think I can buy us some time so you can clean up, change and join the group. Can you do it? None of the other girls know your part of the routine as well as you do and the performance won't be as good without it."
"Really…how much time do I have?"
"About 10 minutes….I think I can squeeze a bit more if I can figure out some last minute delay." Su's eyes brightened enthusiastically when a tall, bearded man approached her.
"Darling, the guests are all here. They're really curious about what you have concocted this time around," Baatar Sr. said with a gentle smile. Upon noticing his wife's protégé choice of clothing and the stage of commotion among the performers he had stumbled into, he arched a worried eyebrow over thick rimmed glasses. "It's everything okay?"
Suyin placed a reassuring arm over his shoulder. "Everything's fine darling. I just need you and the boys to provide a bit of distraction until I get the troupe ready. How about Junior and you talk more in depth in the design of the metal props and the cable and pulley mechanism? And I'm sure Huan will be delighted to talk about his latest sculptures."
"Are you sure about that?" Baatar Sr. questioned.
"Of course," she affirmed confidently. "I just need some extra ten minutes to turn this soldier back to a graceful and elegant dancer." Kuvira couldn't avoid rolling her eyes at that. "And you, get going. Midori, Aya, go and help Kuvira change."
A very successful dance performance later, a tall young man and the dark haired dancer mused on the events that had transcribed hours ago. The reputation of Zaofu's matriarch had been preserved once again and the interpretation had gone without a hitch, the latecomer being able to seamlessly join her companions as if the hours of scarce sleep and vigorous physical exercise she had endured during the week of field exercises hadn't dented the performer's stamina and grace.
"Your mother doesn't seem to know how to take no for an answer."
Kuvira was leaning against a balcony overlooking the domed city. A man that usually was taken as the younger version of his progenitor sans the gray coloring at his temples was listening attentively with emphatic expression. He had been many times in the same position as the eldest son to the metal clan matriarch.
"No, she doesn't. You should know it well by now. Since you showed talent in metalbending and dancing, she's been onto you more rigorously than even with Opal and the twins."
"My abilities have been a curse then" she commented with a smirk.
"Don't say that. Your skills might have given you a much better life that even you could have expected," the young man replied with a more serious tone, alluding to her companion's sad backstory.
She smiled wistfully. "I know. It's just that sometimes it's hard for Su to listen, to actually listen to what you have to say. This past week with the guards was hard but I had an amazing time. I really think I have the aptitude to be a leader and do something worthwhile."
"You'll just have to manage the two things by avoiding sleeping and eating most days and she should be off your back for a while" Baatar replied grinning.
The dancer laughed at that. "So that's how you do it then. I know you have been wanting to promote your ideas but have been cornered to work on your dad's projects instead which in turn are your mom's."
"I haven't slept for two weeks straight but I finally finished the blueprints of my concept of a high speed rail transport for long distance travel." Baatar turned to face his companion." How about when you can spare time between twirling in cables and soldiering around, you drop by my office to see them?"
She offered a suspicious glance. "Are you sure you just want to show me blueprints or are you looking for an excuse to meet me in a more private place?"
"Uh…" Baatar stammered, color rising to his face. Kuvira snickered at his mortified reaction.
"I'm kidding! Tell you what…I should have time after the tests to select the next officer candidates. I'll love to see your drafts. You know I mean it when I say that among all the people here, you seem to understand me. I really appreciate that. I'm also curious about those other designs you've been working on. You mentioned something about metal suits?"
"Mecha suits, yes...I believe they can have many applications in industry. I think it is possible to even build a bigger one but the right energy source for something with the dimensions I imagine still doesn't exist."
The dancer arched an eyebrow at that.
"You men and your toys. It's always about size with you!" Baatar coughed mortified and was replied by her playful chuckle.
"Well, I think I'd better get going before I'm late again. Your mother wanted to celebrate her triumph with dinner with the troupe. I hope you can make it and we can continue our conversation there." The performer waved and made her way inside.
"I'll see you there" the young man replied with a hopeful lilt in his voice following the dancer with his sight until she could no longer be seen.
-oOo-
In the present, Kuvira eyed the writing material over the table and concluded that perhaps, some letters could be redacted before ten years after all.
