A/N: Who'd have thunk that this story would have gone on for as long as it has? I am about to shift the direction of everything after the next few chapters because we need to find out what the heck is about to happen to these poor little baby loves named Sokka and Zuko. Sokka is ready to kill the Fire Lord, and Zuko is suffering from PTSD. Her family is the worst. No truly. It is beyond me why no one can see how much better at this kingdom ruling thing Zuko is than the rest of her family. She is singlehandedly saving her kingdom one dumpster fire at a time... Anyways, let me know what you think, and happy reading!
Disclaimer: If it looks like a turtleduck and quacks like a turtleduck, why would you think it's a swan-goose, Sokka?-Princess Zuko
Chapter 24: Who Will Stand For Them?
Zuko and her friends were strangely absent from the next day's meeting to the surprise of the delegates and nobles. They thought for sure that Fire Lord Ozai would be announcing an engagement to the High King of the Earth Kingdom after the previous day's display. No one save a few were aware of what had transpired between the Fire Lord and his daughter that night.
Instead, Ozai encouraged all to remember why they were there and revealed news of a special religious ceremony that would occur in the fall for Zuko. He beamed and boasted at how the rite was considered the highest honor for any woman in the Fire Nation.
"Princess Zuko has volunteered herself for this great opportunity to contribute to the ongoing growth and prosperity of the Fire Nation," he announced.
Strange looks passed among delegates, diplomats, and noblemen. He ignored the stares and confused looks and continued.
"She will bear an heir for the kingdom and there will be no marriage to anyone. It is a long-held and spiritual tradition in the Fire Nation. Zuko will become a symbolic bride for Agni and bless the nation with her gift." he concluded.
Earth kingdom diplomats unfamiliar with the practice wondered if the Fire Lord intended to allow his daughter to have a child for the kingdom without a husband. How would the heir be legal? They wondered amongst themselves.
Fire Nation noblemen glanced at each other briefly. They considered if this was something that the Fire Lord should have shared with foreigners. Who knows how the information could be used against them?
Sokka, who had just returned from Yu Dao yet again, and heard about the happenings while he was gone practically had steam pouring from his ears. He was ready to kill Ozai for the way he treated Zuko the night before and wasn't so sure that it still wasn't off the table.
Zuko refused to tell him what happened in her father's study, the look of terror on her face let him know that perhaps her life had been threatened. Toph pulled the prince aside in the morning and revealed everything. He remembered Zuko's distress and knew then that she really needed to get away from her family before it was too late.
The poor princess was in such a state of panic and anxiety that it took Katara's water healing to calm her down enough to sleep. Zuko was no longer safe in her own home. They didn't deserve her and he would be damned before he let them harm her anymore!
That day's efforts for a compromising solution between the two countries fell flat and delegates and monarchs alike grew weary quickly. The days turned to weeks with the two delegations no closer to finding a resolution for the colony situations than before they began.
Tempers flared as the Fire Nation felt that they didn't have to give up their claim to the colonies by right of conquest, but the Earth kingdom made it clear that the Fire Nation lost that right when they lost the war. Any lands taken by false pretense would and should be returned to the kingdoms to which they belong.
Ozai knew that giving in to returning the colonies without some sort of compromise or concession would lead to the sure and slow death of the Fire Nation. Most of the raw goods, grains, and produce they use and import come from those colonies. It would be inevitable that the Fire Nation would either receive high price gouging for products they currently receive for free or they would be discriminated against and sanctioned from what they felt was their country by right.
Either way, the two nations were at a stalemate. Zuko slowly but surely came back to herself as time went on. She had given up on participating in the meetings physically because she didn't want to give her father any reason to mistreat or hurt her again. She absentmindedly touched the spot where the razor-thin cut had been. Katara had healed it with her water abilities but Zuko still felt the blade in her soul as if her father were still cutting her even then.
She was just too afraid to show her face at the meetings and her father's mission of terror was successful. Though Zuko didn't attend the meetings, Sokka and Toph kept her abreast of the happenings and highlights. Today they were in the private gardens near the duck pond. Zuko was resting her head comfortably on Sokka's lap as he looked out over the pond absentmindedly tossing crumbs in for the turtle ducks. Sokka sighed wearily.
"Honestly Zu, I wish the delegations could be more like Yu Dao," he said wistfully. Zuko inclined her head towards Sokka.
"What do you mean Sokka? How could they be more like Yu Dao?" she asked curiously. Sokka took a deep inhale in his nose and shrugged.
"Yu Dao is such a perfect blend of Earth and Fire that they have a solid and viable economy. Everyone benefits from being a part of their system. It really works. Those who try to keep up unrest are quickly shut out because of the positive benefits of the economy to all people. There isn't any room for division by country or nationality. They just exist as one people." he said quietly. Zuko was thoughtful.
"What makes it all work?" she asked sincerely. Sokka lifted his head and hummed.
"They don't allow cultural differences to affect the work they do. They embrace Earth culture and they embrace Fire culture and one isn't considered better than the other. They blend where they can: from the food and clothing to the people themselves, and they accept what can benefit all. At least that's how I see it." he said simply.
Zuko was pensive as she pondered what Sokka revealed. Could there be a compromise that the delegations could make when it comes to the colonies? She wondered. The arguments made throughout the duration of these meetings were all about the individual economies of the Earth Kingdom and the Fire Kingdom. What if there was a compromise that would benefit both economies and allow them all to "save face" in the end? She thought to herself.
As they neared the deadline set between the two countries to come to a compromise and solution acceptable to the Earth and Fire delegations the tension in the room was thicker than the butter from a sheep-goat.
Zuko had come into the meeting that morning requesting an audience with both delegations. Ozai was livid. Had this girl completely gone off the deep end? She was willingly placing herself in a position of intense shame and scrutiny just to beg for her Earth friends! There was no way he was willing to allow this to continue.
"Zuko, though I know the esteemed Earth Kings are your "friends" you have no right to speak in this forum. You are not the Fire Lord. You're not even the heir apparent! Do you dare come here and think you can exercise authority in a meeting that you were fortunate enough to attend?" he spoke in solid rebuke.
Murmurs filled the room at the shame the Fire Lord heaped upon his daughter. Many agreed that the princess had been taking liberties that perhaps were from the amount of freedom she thought she possessed. Some clucked their tongues and others hinted that perhaps there should be some sort of consequence for her insolence as an example to others.
Ozai smirked to himself knowing that if he chose to do anything to chastise the princess later it would be supported because of how out of protocol she was. King Bumi furrowed his brow as he watched the scene play out before him. He knew Princess Zuko to be a fair and honest girl who was always full of honor and integrity. She wouldn't put herself at risk if she didn't have something meaningful and helpful to say. He spoke up.
"I would like to hear what the dear princess has to say, Fire Lord Ozai. We have been at this for weeks with no real solution and no closer to a viable path of action. I am willing to see what she has come up with if my colleagues agree." he said quite calmly and unexpectedly sane.
King Kuei too knew that Zuko would not be so bold as to take a chance that could lead to a heavy rebuke if she truly did not believe in what she had to say.
"I too would like to hear what the princess has to say, Fire Lord. Perhaps she has a vantage point about the situation that we have not considered because we have all been looking at it in one way. Our way." he said plainly.
Ozai breathed in through his nose to calm himself. He didn't want to appear unreasonable before the delegations and his own people so he conceded.
"Zuko, you have five minutes to share your point. Make them count," he said with an underlying threat that only she could feel. Zuko swallowed hard. Well, here goes nothing, she thought.
"I am aware of the desire of both countries for certain outcomes in this debate. There has been no movement forward because there hasn't been a true compromise presented," she began boldly. Delegates looked at one another in question and concern at her words.
Zuko felt the rising tension and continued quickly so that the sides wouldn't devolve into an arguing mess once again.
"In all of the discussions there have been several considerations overlooked in favor of setting things "back to normal," she said gently.
"This war has created several realities that cannot be undone. I am living one of them and there are others like me who do the same. We have new realities of landscapes, economies, and even the demographic makeups of communities." she added cautiously. The room was silent at the weight of her words. Many were quite aware of some of those demographic changes.
Kuei caught on quickly and urged her to get to the point. "Yes, these are all facts we are aware of but how do you propose we get back what is ours?" he questioned. Zuko took a breath and nodded.
"I don't propose that you get back what is yours—at least not in its entirety and not in the way that you envision," she said to the rising ire of delegates from the Earth kingdom.
"Then what do you propose, princess? That we just let the colonies go to the Fire Nation with no concessions? Preposterous!" one Earth noble shouted. The murmuring and shouting increased to a near fever pitch until Ozai stood up and shouted above them all.
"I believe YOU all said you wanted to hear my daughter out! At this point, I think that you owe it to her to hear everything she has to say before you pass judgment. We have not gotten very far and we only have this day before we go our separate ways." he chided over the shouting delegates.
The group immediately silenced themselves knowing that they were allowing emotions to overrule judgment once again. Some flushed in embarrassment over letting the words of a mere child upset them so. Others chaffed at a just rebuke from the Fire Lord. Ozai, however, realized that his daughter may be on to a solution that would answer his concerns even if he still despised her unseemly interruption.
"Continue daughter," he said gruffly. Zuko let out the breath she had been holding and bowed to her father. Her voice shook a little as she began again.
"As I said, I think that because we have a world that is vastly different from 100 years ago, we should begin to adapt to this new era we are entering," she said tentatively. When no one interrupted again she continued.
"There is a colony that is as old as the war itself which has become something that neither the Fire Nation nor the Earth Kingdom could have ever realized. Yu Dao is a thriving, growing nation that is neither Earth nor Fire. It is something altogether different and it is working." she said.
King Bumi and Kuei sat up at her assessment of the colony. They immediately understood what she meant. Yu Dao had been operating successfully without support from their kingdoms for decades. In fact, the now thriving city had been considered a lost cause long before the Fire Nation came to colonize. When Zuko felt their energy shift she added,
"The newest colonies are too young and the wounds of war too fresh to find any semblance of cooperation there between our two countries, and rightfully so. Yu Dao is a different circumstance, however, considering the city was once referred to as the badlands of the Earth kingdom at one time was it not?" she asked innocently.
Both Bumi and Kuei as well as a few older Earth delegates were quite aware of the previous reputation of Yu Dao and remained silent. Zuko smirked slightly.
"I do not claim that our nation should have a right to this colony by conquest, nor do I believe the Earth kingdom should force the colony to disband to restore what was taken," she said. King Bumi smirked at her wise assessment and urged her on.
"Well then dear princess, what do you believe?" he asked. Zuko nodded graciously and said,
"I believe the newest colonies should be returned to the Earth Kingdom and a special concession is made for the colony of Yu Dao because of its unique makeup and established economy," she said simply.
Ozai sat up at this. Did she expect the Fire Nation to give up all the colonies in the Earth Kingdom? He was about to dismiss his daughter when the Avatar spoke up in her stead.
"I think I see where this is going. What are you proposing exactly, Princess Zuko, for the colony of Yu Dao? He asked curiously and thankful that she had the presence of mind to find a compromise that further affirmed his decision to protect her at all costs. Zuko smiled gently at her friend for his help a slight dimple creasing her cheek.
"I propose that Yu Dao become a neutral territory with concessions for both the Earth Kingdom and the Fire Nation. Both countries benefit from the raw materials, goods, and specialty products produced in Yu Dao. Both countries have a vested stake in the territory." she added. When Zuko realized she had all three monarchs' full attention she broached,
"What if Yu Dao worked towards becoming an independent nation that is open to free trade with all nations and had certain requirements to gain their total independence?" Bumi and Kuei looked at one another in amazement. How had Zuko come to this conclusion having never been to Yu Dao? How was the blind princess so aware of the inner workings and desires of the distant colony?
Diplomats from the occupied territory have spoken on more than one occasion to Kuei and Bumi about becoming their own nation apart from Earth. What Zuko was asking them to do was something that has never been done in the history of the world, but it was a plan that could work.
Ozai was truly intrigued now. How would making Yu Dao an independent nation benefit the Fire Nation? He wondered. As if sensing her father's question, Zuko quickly added,
"In terms of concessions, Yu Dao would contract to pay a tax to the Earth kingdom for a pre-determined amount of time and form a charter that would allow it to become its own entity. As a free entity they would be allowed to trade openly with other countries and produce goods and services for export to further boost their economy," she explained. Zuko turned towards her father crossing her fingers in her mind.
"The Fire Nation would benefit through advantageous and exclusive trading rights on certain high-value commodities, products, and services for a predetermined time. Of course, this time period would not be as long as the Earth kingdom's taxation since it is a concession after all, but it would solve the issue of still having our countries' desirable products available at a reasonable price," she said.
Ozai's eyebrows rose in wonder then furrowed in irritation. Where did this girl get so much knowledge? If she had spoken up sooner they would have been done weeks ago! He fumed inwardly. Ozai fought back the niggling feeling that perhaps he truly underestimated his daughter too. Zuko broke his train of thought with her final statement.
"This arrangement will allow the other unsettled and younger colonies their freedom to return to the Earth kingdom without further bloodshed and hopefully further animosity," she concluded.
The delegation sat in awe at the wisdom of the Fire Lord's daughter. They had not expected an idea that was so outside of the black and white view that had been espoused over and over throughout the tedious month of meetings. Some wondered why Princess Zuko wasn't the heir apparent disabled or not. She was a much better problem solver than anyone realized.
Ozai looked over at his brother who was also looking at him. Iroh's expression told him that this was perhaps the idea they needed all along. The Fire Lord then felt a short intermission was in order. He stood and cleared his throat to speak.
"I think that what we have heard today deserves serious consideration. Though my daughter broke protocol with her impassioned disruption, I do believe her intentions were pure and the princess was looking out for the best interest of all the delegations present. I recommend that we adjourn for an hour to discuss this and make a final decision." Ozai suggested.
The delegation agreed and went into their own private groups to discuss the unexpected solution to a century-long problem.
"Well Brother, I know you have an opinion on what my daughter has suggested. What is it?" Ozai said as he walked into his private chamber behind the burning throne of his council hall. The substantial soundproofed door swished closed with a solid thump ensuring the room would be secure and they could speak freely about what they heard.
Ozai sat himself down upon a luxurious silk cushion moving his robe out of the way and waited. Iroh took a seat across from the Fire Lord all the while keeping his face impassive and letting on nothing he was thinking. The old general knew his brother well enough not to give a direct complement to Zuko and opted to say,
"You have raised a discerning and well-spoken daughter." The Fire Lord smirked at his brother's diplomacy and nodded.
"I believe her suggestion is one that would serve us very well in the end and would solve a decades-old dispute without plunging us back into war. If this works, I would be glad to have Zuko become an ambassador for our country in Yu Dao after she gives birth to the next heir of the Fire Nation." Ozai determined.
Iroh took in a slow deep inhale. He would not give energy to his brother's ridiculous notion that Zuko was expendable. He couldn't understand why Ozai was so determined to ruin this girl's life completely! She just saved the nation from an all-out return to a war that neither country was prepared for and yet he continues to insist on using Zuko for his own sake.
"I believe she would be honored, Brother. Have you considered having her on the committee to help draft the resolution? It would be most appropriate since it was her idea." Iroh broached carefully. Ozai leaned his head back and sighed as if wearied from thinking about Zuko.
"How would she have time to do that if she's going to be preparing herself to become a Bride of Agni in the fall? He snarked. Iroh smiled gently.
"It is early summer yet, Ozai. I do believe a draft could be created within a month or two's time. Our nations wouldn't necessarily need Zuko there for the ratification, but it would show confidence in her wisdom by your acceptance and our nation would be the ones given credit for finding a solution to a problem we created. Having her on the committee would further establish that we are being cooperative." Iroh said knowing that he was right and how people think.
How would the other nations react if she were allowed to go as far as to make such a powerful proposition to her own possible hurt and then be shut out of the process? Iroh rested his hands carefully one on the other across his midsection and waited. He wanted to give his brother a moment.
Ozai looked at his brother suspiciously. He cocked his head to the side as if trying to see what lay behind Iroh's thoughts. He didn't want to admit that his brother's words made perfect political sense, but he worried about letting Zuko out of his sight before the Matsuri. What if she tried to escape using this treaty as a ruse? He needed to be sure she would fulfill her duty and protect the line of Sozin.
"I worry about Zuko traveling so far in her new state. What if someone takes advantage of her or she becomes a target? I wouldn't be able to bear it." Ozai said not admitting to himself how much his words were actually true. Iroh nodded understandingly. He knew that Ozai needed assurances and that his fear was founded though some it out of a sense of paranoia and guilt.
"Perhaps if you chose her entourage and guard and each person involved assured their loyalty upon pain of death if something happened to her. Would you agree to let her go?" Iroh asked simply. Ozai sat pensively for a long moment obviously arguing within himself and running potential scenarios of the worst possible outcomes. He took a deep breath and pursed his lips a very uncommon move for him. He looked his brother in the eye seriously.
"Would you bond yourself in this manner and accompany her? She must return to our nation safely and... intact. Would you be willing to make that kind of sacrifice to ensure her return?" he asked knowing his brother's answer already. Iroh saw Zuko as one of his own children and treated her as such. He wouldn't hesitate to protect her. Iroh smiled knowingly. "Without hesitation, brother."