EARLY JULY

Through a long line of third parties, Longshanks eventually heard that the Gaang had attempted to get the Earth King's support. Though they failed to get it, it still didn't sit well with him knowing that they would do anything to prevent Scotland from collapsing.

WESTMINSTER PALACE, LONDON

In the foreign affairs room, Edward was practicing archery with friends. Longshanks entered and began talking once everyone froze.

"MacKay has recently visited the Earth King along with the Avatar and his friends."

"I know", Edward said. "MacKay is still no threat. The Earth King turned them down."

"Well then, if he's no threat, what would you do next?"

"...Nothing"

Longshanks looked around and said to everyone else, "Leave us". Everyone then left. Edward was now confused. He shouldn't have been, considering how Longshanks thought it was the wrong answer. He then smacked Edward with the back of his hand, knocking him to the ground.

"The Earth King is the supreme leader of the Earth Kingdom. If he changes his mind and supports the Scottish, his entire army will sack England and our way of life will disappear. MacKay will do anything to save Scotland, and by visiting the Earth King, he has attempted oblivion. Now stand up. On your feet."

Edward then stood up and Longshanks continued, "Tonight, think long and hard about what MacKay has done. In the morning, I will be going to Ireland to press our rights there. I will be attempting to bribe those savage beings we call the Irish. Money and estates are the key to them swearing loyalty. While I'm gone, I will leave you here to quell this rebellion. Understood?"

"...Yes."

"One day you will be a king. At least have the decency to act like one."

Longshanks then walked away, making Edward feel somewhat weak. His wife, who was standing in the background the whole time, came up to him and attempted to comfort him. Instead of accepting it, he yelled, "Get away from me!"

As he exited the room, he told his friend Phillip, who was in the hall, "Convene my military council!"

Edward's wife, who was not pleased about being married to him, started crying. Her friend who was standing next to her said, "I hope your husband goes to Scotland and meets MacKay. Then, you'll be a widow."

Later that day in the foreign affairs room, Longshanks was having one last meeting with his advisors and some high ranking nobles before his departure.

"So", he started. "Any further updates on our northern forces?"

"Umm...no, sir", one advisor told him. "For the past couple of weeks the northern forces have been in a stalemate. They have moved neither forward nor backward."

"Well then, what about the central forces?"

"They're making decent progress, sir. Any day now, Clan Wallace will run out of energy and be toppled."

"Ah, yes. It's such a pity that the Wallaces are the most powerful clan in Scotland. And yet there the one group standing in our way of reaching Edinburgh."

"Shall we attempt a strategy, sir?"

"Hmm...Possibly...Possibly"

A couple seconds later, one of Longshanks' squires came in carrying a letter and said, "Sir, a message from the northern forces."

Longshanks took the letter and read it. He then said with a somewhat upbeat tone, "Gentlemen, it looks like our patience has rewarded us. The MacDougells have been defeated."

Everyone applauded before the advisor asked "What does it say, sir?"

"Apparently, Glasgow has been sacked and as a result, the province has been captured. We now have a little more breathing room it looks like."

Though everyone there seemed excited about it, another advisor asked Longshanks, "So what do we do next, sir? With Clan MacDougell out of the way, MacKay might immediately go back to Ba Sing Se and beg the Earth King for his support."

"Yes. That is possible. We must think of something that will only scare him into staying instead of leaving again."

Longshanks then got an absolutely sinister idea that only had been proposed, but never enforced...until now.

"Squire", he said.

"Yes, sir?"

"Ride all the way to the Glasgow in the MacDougell province and tell our northern noble there that he has complete permission to do 'the unthinkable'. He'll know exactly what it means."

"Yes, sir."

The squire then left and Longshanks knew this idea would keep William from returning to Ba Sing Se.