"Wow," Tarrak said under his breath, "that's a lot more people than I expected."

Kia nodded. "I knew there'd be a decent turnout. We probably should've left earlier." It was a pointed statement, to which Tarrak didn't reply. Smart, since he'd been the one to make them late this morning.

It was the first time in a long time they'd opted not to open the shop on a normal workday. Instead, they were heading to the Palace for the emergency Council meeting that had been called. Kia had half-expected the Council to meet privately to discuss the events in Republic City. The fact that they opened it to the public meant that they wanted to hear what people had to say. As did Kia, which was precisely why she and Tarrak had decided to attend.

And even though they'd made a point to arrive early, it seemed as though everyone else had had the same thought as them. They joined the crowd that was milling about outside the Palace, casually trying to work their way to the front.

If Kia had to guess, there were around a hundred people, all waiting to either be heard or hear what the Council and their fellow Tribesmen had to say. And since this directly affected her family, Kia was adamant that she and Tarrak be inside to witness the debate. Whether they'd actively participate in it or not, was still up in the air.

They still had about a half-hour to kill, so she casually made small talk with those around her, trying to gauge the general feeling of the crowd. What she heard was about what she expected. There were mixed feelings about the whole thing, which she could certainly relate to. Most were more upset that their Chief had lied to them than they were about anything else.

"Live and let live, that's what I say," one woman said. "If she's been here this long and hasn't caused any problems, then I don't see any reason why she shouldn't be able to stay. The United Republic needs to keep its nose out of our affairs."

"Because she's a criminal," another man shot back, "and criminals deserve to be punished for their crimes."

"Who says she hasn't been punished already?" Kia offered and the man gave her an annoyed look.

"I don't call living free down here being 'punished'," he retorted.

"What I don't understand is why the Chief lied to us," a younger gentleman cut in. "Does he not trust us? If he would've just explained why she was down here in the first place, then we might be more understanding. It's not like she's the first foreigner to try and make a home here."

Everyone around them nodded their heads in agreement and Kia found herself doing the same. She'd never agreed with Tonraq's decision to keep Vira's presence here a secret, but she also knew why he'd done it. It was a reason she knew would never become public knowledge, and she wasn't about to be the one to spill the details now.

"I'm sure he had his reasons," she said, knowing it was about as unsatisfying an answer as anything.

"Reasons he still should've shared with us," the older man grumbled.

The conversation came to a halt as the doors that led inside suddenly opened. It was rare to see the Palace guards on duty, but two marched out and stood on either side of the doorway, ushering everyone inside in an orderly fashion.

Kia's hunch that they needed to be near the front turned out to be correct because once the large meeting room was filled to standing room only, they shut the doors, leaving a few dozen people to wait in the hall outside.

Kia and Tarrak managed to grab two seats near the middle and everyone quieted down as the Council and Chief Tonraq filed in, taking their seats at the long table that was set up on an elevated platform in front. After everyone was seated and the room was quiet, Tonraq stood.

"I'm sure you're all aware of why we called this emergency meeting of the Council today," he began, "so I don't feel the need to reiterate what the newspaper has already said. However, there were some discrepancies between what you read in the paper, and what the truth is. I am prepared to give you the truth now."

Subtle creaking sounded throughout the room as people shifted in their seats, their entire attention on their Chief. Kia glanced at Tarrak, knowing he was thinking the same thing as her: what, exactly, was Tonraq going to tell everyone?

"The claim that Kuvira Beifong was hiding out here, trying to rebuild her army, is patently false. The claim that she was plotting to overthrow me and the Council in order to take over the South, is also patently false. Anyone who has interacted with her—and the majority of you probably know her by the name Vira, not Kuvira—will know that both of those claims are simply not true.

"Yes, she hid her true identity from everyone—that cannot be denied. She did so for her own safety, needing to keep herself hidden from her own people, who wanted her dead. Choosing to deceive you wasn't a decision she took lightly. And neither did I. I know a lot of you are upset at my decision to keep this from you. And you have every right to be. But know that I made it in order to protect us, the Tribe, as a whole.

"There are those in the Earth Republic who would stop at nothing to see her dead. To them, that is the only just punishment for her crimes. And the last thing I wanted was to bring those dangerous people onto our land. They already tried to assassinate her once—if they knew she was here, I had no doubt they'd try again. That is why I kept it from you. That is why only a handful of people in the entire world knew the truth."

He sighed, seeming to steel himself. "I know some of you have lost your faith in me. And I don't blame you. All I'm asking of you now is to open your minds and your hearts and ask yourselves: Are we the type of people who turn our backs on those who need us the most, simply because of the mistakes of their past? Or can we look past that and truly see someone for who they are now?"

Kia had been watching the crowd as he spoke and saw a lot of heads nodding as Tonraq sat down. His not-so-subtle call-out to their very nature as a people was a nice touch, but Kia wasn't sure it would work. While the Tribe did tend to take in refugees from all over the world, the vast majority of them didn't have the criminal past that Vira did. That wasn't to say that none of them weren't criminals, but to her knowledge, no one had been as high-profile.

"Thank you, Chief," one of the Council members said as he stood. "We'll now open up the floor to anyone who wishes to speak their opinion on this matter. As a reminder, keep things civil. If you cannot meet such a simple requirement, you'll be escorted out."

For a few moments, no one spoke. Then, finally, one man rose to his feet and bowed slightly to the Council and Chief. "With all due respect Chief Tonraq, I find it a little hard to look past the crimes of a dictator. Nothing can change what she did, regardless of what kind of person she is now." More head nods from the crowd and the man's voice gained a little more confidence.

"And furthermore," he went on, "how are you sure that what the newspaper said isn't true? Did she tell you herself? Forgive me if I'm not willing to easily believe the words of someone whose best interest would be to lie about their actual intentions. She could've told you what you wanted to hear, then went about laying her plans to take over. What proof do you have that that's not exactly what she's been doing this whole time?"

"Because what would she stand to gain by trying to take control of the South?" Another man's voice, from behind her, and Kia turned to see who it was. She shouldn't have been surprised to see Sakku here, given that he ran the factory and was Vira's boss, but she was.

"You heard the Chief," Sakku continued. "She came to us needing protection from her own people. Why on earth would she want to bite the hand that fed her? That doesn't make any sense."

The other man had no answer, and an older woman also stood up. "I believe you're both looking at this all wrong. It's not the South she wants to take over. If her own people tried to assassinate her already, what's to say she doesn't want to seek revenge on them? Maybe retake the Empire she once lost, with the South's help. Think about it: she garners our sympathy, rallies people to her side, then marches north, dragging us into another war."

"That's ridiculous," Sakku retorted, folding his arms across his chest. "Have you even met Vira? Talked to her? Ever?" The woman didn't reply and Sakku shook his head. "I didn't think so. Maybe if you had, you'd realize that what you're saying is so completely outrageous it's almost laughable."

"Careful," warned one of the Councilors, and Sakku inclined his head slightly.

"Apologies, Councilor," Sakku said. He turned to face the Council directly. "All I'm saying is, sometimes it just takes getting to know someone to truly see who they are. I've worked with Vira every day for the last two years, almost. And I have seen nothing that would indicate either of those accusations are true."

He flashed a pointed look at both the man and woman still standing, then took his seat. The other two did as well and it continued from there. Kia stayed quiet, choosing instead to listen, but as the meeting dragged on, a few things started becoming clear.

One, the majority who chose to speak up against Vira, were doing so out of a place of ignorance and fear, basing their opinions on what they'd heard from their neighbors or read in the paper. They had no legitimate evidence to support any of their claims. Unfortunately, only one other person besides Sakku was brave enough to stand up and try to contradict them. And that person also worked at the factory.

Another thing that Kia realized was that Vira's determination to keep a low profile—which had been the right decision until now—was actually hurting her. There were very few people in the audience speaking up that actually knew her or had spoken to her more than once.

And Kia knew there were definitely people in here that didn't care at all about who Vira was or what she'd done. They were here for the drama and had no desire to speak up, one way or another. It got to the point where she finally couldn't take it anymore. As soon as the man who'd been talking took his seat again, she stood up.

"How many of you own a snowmobile?" she asked, looking around the room. She was met with confused gazes; people turned and looked at their neighbors, wondering if they should answer or not.

Finally, a few hands went into the air, followed a few moments later by more. Kia waited patiently until over a third of the room had their hands raised.

"And how many of you could not have afforded to buy one, before the new factory opened here last year?"

A few of the hands went down, albeit slowly and with a great deal of reluctance, their owners not wanting to admit that they were better off financially than most. Kia nodded. That's what she'd thought.

"And how many in here are either employed at the factory or know someone who is?"

Again, more confused looks, but more hands went into the air, joining the ones that were still raised. Now, well over half of the room had their hands up, including Kia and Tarrak.

"Now, look around the room," Kia instructed them and they obediently did, most noticing with surprise how many hands were up.

"Every single one of you has Vira to thank for that."

Surprised murmurs rippled through the crowd as everyone slowly lowered their hands and Kia went on. "She was the one who wrote the proposal for the factory, and worked alongside both Chief Tonraq and the head of Future Industries, in order to get it built."

She pointed to Sakku. "If you don't believe me, ask Sakku. Like he said, he's been working with her there since the beginning. The point I'm trying to make is this: Vira didn't have to do any of that for us. She wasn't born here. She has no ties here, no loyalty to the Tribe or anyone in it. She could've kept her head down and not gotten involved in anything. I certainly wouldn't have blamed her if she had.

"But she didn't. This Tribe took her in when she had nowhere else to go. Even if we didn't know who she really was, we still gave her a home and made her feel welcome. Just as we do for all foreigners who land on our shores. We give everyone a chance unless or until they prove to us that they're not deserving of one.

"And in the past three years, Vira has done nothing to indicate that she's not deserving of one. In fact, she's done quite the opposite. If there's one thing I can say with absolute confidence, it's that she has done more for this Tribe in the last three years, than most of you sitting in this room have done your entire lives."

That elicited an uncomfortable ripple of murmurs, which indicated that Kia's words had hit entirely too close to the truth. She pressed on before anyone could object. "She doesn't have an ulterior motive. She's not out to deceive us or overthrow our leadership. And she's certainly not here to try and take control of us.

"Maybe the question we should be asking ourselves is this: if given the chance, what else could she accomplish that would benefit the Tribe in another three years? And three more after that? And I, for one, think she's deserving of that chance."

Kia remained standing, waiting for someone to get up and challenge her. Her family was well-known and respected throughout the Tribe, but even still, she knew what she'd said had doubtless ruffled some feathers. When everyone remained seated, she bowed slightly to the Council and Chief, then sat down.

"Where did that come from?" Tarrak asked her, his voice no louder than a whisper.

Kia shrugged. "I honestly don't know. I guess I just got tired of hearing people who've never met her, try and say she doesn't belong here."

"Did you mean what you said? Or was that just you trying to call the hypocrites out?"

"I meant every word," Kia replied. As surprising as that was, it was the truth.

Tarrak leaned over and gently kissed her on the cheek. "If Nayuh was here, I know she'd be just as proud of you as I am."

Kia smiled slightly. "What happens to Vira will affect this entire family. And not just because of Nayuh. I've been reluctant to see it, but you're right: Vira is a part of this family now. Even if it's not official and may never be."

"You never know," Tarrak said, squeezing her hand slightly. "This could work out in our favor."

"I guess we'll just have to wait and see."

Kia sat and listened as a few more people got up after her and tried to raise an argument against allowing Vira to stay. But it seemed as though her little speech had made quite an impact. Not one of the arguments held any amount of merit, and the speakers didn't seem all too keen on trying to defend their point anymore.

When it became obvious no one else was going to stand up to speak, Tonraq rose to his feet again. "You've given myself and the Council a lot to think about. Thank you all for coming. We will now retire to our chambers to discuss this matter and try to come to a decision that's beneficial to all of us."

He bowed slightly, then the rest of the Council stood up and filed out of the room. The crowd took that as their cue to leave as well and people began slowly exiting the meeting hall. Kia and Tarrak stayed seated until most of those around them had left.

They were making their way towards the door when Kia heard someone calling her name. She looked over and realized it was Sakku, who was motioning for her to come over to him. Tarrak exchanged a look with her, then together, they walked over to Sakku.

"Did you mean what you said, about Vira deserving a chance to stay?" he said, without any preamble.

Kia nodded. "I did. There are very few people in this Tribe who know her like we do. I think, if given the chance to actually get to know her, people will see what we see."

"I agree," Sakku said. "Have you heard anything from Vira at all? Do we have any idea what's going to happen in Republic City?"

"No, I haven't," Kia answered. "I spoke with Nayuh a few nights ago and she said that no one but her lawyer is allowed to see her. So even she doesn't have any idea what's going to happen. She did mention something about there being another tribunal, possibly, to decide if Vira will remain in prison or not."

Sakku stroked his beard thoughtfully for a moment. "Well, a lot of the workers at the factory have come to me, asking about how they can support her. Which is why I wanted to talk to you. I have a proposition for you, if you're willing to hear it."

Tonraq paced back and forth in his office, too keyed up to sit down. He'd left the Council in their chambers about an hour ago and hadn't heard from them since. They'd all agreed that, given his closeness to Vira, Tonraq would not be privy to the discussion about whether or not Vira would be allowed to stay in the South.

And so far, the debate had been going on for far longer than he'd expected. Which could either be a good thing or a bad thing. He supposed he should be thankful that they hadn't outright rejected his proposal in the first place, and were at least taking the time to consider it and weigh all their options.

Finally, the door that led from his office to the Council chambers opened, and one of the Councilors, Siku, poked his head in.

"We're ready for you now, Chief."

Tonraq nodded and followed Siku into the chambers, where the remaining Councilors were seated comfortably on the couches and armchairs that decorated the room. Most nodded amicably in his direction, and Tonraq couldn't sense any animosity from them. It was a relief, to say the least. He'd been worried that this would cause a massive rift with his friends and peers that couldn't be bridged.

Siku was the one who spoke first. "After going over what you're proposing, along with what was said during the meeting earlier, we've come to a decision." He motioned for Tonraq to have a seat, so he did.

"First of all," Siku started, "I'll admit to the fact that I had no idea how large of a contribution Vira has already given to the Tribe, simply by helping to bring the factory here. That came as a shock to all of us, I think." The rest of the Councilors nodded their heads in agreement.

"That contribution and her continued work there cannot be overlooked," Siku went on. "I've never heard anyone employed at the factory say anything negative about working there. That speaks highly to how she and Sakku have run the place since it's opened. That, also, cannot be overlooked."

Tonraq nodded, wishing Siku would get to the point. "That being said, we understand the reluctance that some members of the Tribe have with allowing her to stay. And I have to admit, they do have a point. With someone with a past like hers, we cannot fully trust her intentions." Tonraq's shoulders slumped ever so slightly and he braced himself for what he knew was coming.

"However," Siku said, "we believe that we can trust her actions. And so far, Vira's actions have been nothing but positive. And while you did lose some of the public's faith, for lying to them, you haven't lost any of ours." Tonraq looked around, surprised, and saw the other Councilors were nodding along with Siku's words.

"Even before you became Chief, you've had the Tribe's best interests in mind," Siku said. "Your commitment to them is above reproach. That is the only reason why this Council hasn't lost its faith in you. We trust that you will always put the Tribe above everything else. You've never shown us that that's not the case. Ever."

Tonraq solemnly nodded. "You know that I'd do anything to protect our people. Every decision I've ever made as Chief has been with that in mind. Including this one."

Siku nodded as well. "We know that. Which is why we all agreed to move forward with your proposal. I believe Kia said it perfectly earlier: if given the time and the right support system, what else could Vira do to help improve the Tribe? The Council thinks it's worth pursuing. And, of course, if she steps out of line, we'll be more than happy to send her to our own prison."

"She won't," Tonraq said. "She loves the Tribe and its people. She's adopted our culture, our customs, and tried her very best to assimilate herself into it. I can't speak for her, but I know she's found a true home here. One I can guarantee she'd fight for. The very last thing she wants to do is jeopardize that."

"That is very good to hear," Siku said.

"So, does this mean I have the Council's permission to take this proposal to Republic City and present it to the President?" Tonraq asked.

Siku nodded. "It does. However…" He trailed off and looked around the room at the other Councilors. "You won't be going alone."

Tonraq blinked a few times, suddenly uncertain of what he was saying. Siku took his silence as a cue to continue. "While we haven't lost our faith in you, we have agreed that your decision to keep this from the rest of the Council was made in poor judgment. At the very least, you should've informed us right away of her presence here.

"We are not the North. We do not operate the same way they do, for a reason. The decision to allow her to stay and to keep her identity a secret wasn't yours to make alone."

"You're absolutely right," Tonraq said, bowing his head. "I should've informed the Council immediately. I'm sorry." He had a feeling he knew what was coming, he just needed Siku to say it out loud and make it official.

"And your apology is accepted," Siku said. "However, the Council has agreed that going forward, you will no longer be the Chief of the Southern Water Tribe. It was a unanimous decision. I'm sorry, Tonraq, but we cannot just simply overlook this egregious error in judgment."

Tonraq nodded. "I understand. And while I don't regret my decision to allow Vira to stay, I do regret not consulting the Council prior to making it. I accept your ruling and will step down immediately."

Siku held up a hand and to Tonraq's surprise, was faintly smiling. "Not so fast. A sudden change in leadership is the last thing the Tribe needs right now, especially when we need to present a unified front in Republic City. So, for now, you'll remain the Chief, until this is over."

Tonraq breathed a small sigh of relief. Not being able to go to Republic City and present the South's terms would've been devastating. A thought suddenly occurred to him. "You said I wouldn't be going to Republic City alone? Who will be accompanying me?"

Siku smiled. "The new Chief. Which, we're going to vote on here in a minute. However, whoever is elected won't be introduced to the Tribe or the rest of the world until everything in Republic City is settled. He, or she, will be the one accompanying you. It'll be a good way to make introductions to the other world leaders, as well."

Tonraq inclined his head slightly in acknowledgment. Then he looked around the room, meeting each Councilor's eyes as he did. "I appreciate the opportunity I've had to be the Chief for all these years. And I appreciate you allowing me to see this one last thing through until the end."

"Your service to the Tribe cannot be understated, Tonraq," Siku said. "Everyone in this room is grateful for the time you gave us." He stood and walked over to Tonraq, giving him a firm handshake. The rest of the Councilors followed suit, shaking Tonraq's hand and offering some words of thanks.

Once that was finished, Siku stood again. "Very well. Those who wish to be considered for Chief, the floor is yours. Keep your statements brief and to the point. We will vote immediately after."

Tonraq stayed and listened to the speeches. He wasn't sure if he'd be allowed a vote or not, but it didn't really matter. He was still trying to wrap his mind around what had just happened. He knew his time as Chief would eventually come to an end, but he hadn't expected it to be like this. So sudden and abrupt.

But, it was for the best. Everything Siku had said was true, and even though it pained Tonraq to give up the position, he didn't regret what he'd done. Being Chief was never about power or control. It had always been and would always be about doing what's best for the Tribe. He could only hope that whoever would follow him, would continue the legacy that he started.

And now, knowing his time was coming to an end, Tonraq vowed to do whatever it took to return Vira back to the Tribe, where she belonged.

"You're going to wear a hole in the floor if you keep pacing like that," Kia gently chided Sakku.

He flashed her an annoyed look. "I can't help it. They've been in there forever and I'm needed back at the factory. Everyone is waiting for an answer and I don't want to come back without one."

Kia understood his impatience, but it was out of their control. Tarrak had left the two of them outside Tonraq's office a half-hour ago, his impatience getting the best of him as well. He'd mumbled something about going to the shop and Kia knew he'd be holed up in his workshop for the rest of the afternoon.

"I can call you, as soon as I hear something," Kia offered.

Sakku shook his head and resumed his pacing. "No…I'm sure they won't be too much longer."

It was the third time one of them had said that in the last hour. And each time, Kia had hoped that Tonraq would emerge from his office with a smile of victory on his face. She wanted to know the Council's decision on Vira's fate as badly as Sakku did, but pacing back and forth wasn't going to quell her impatience.

Instead, she leaned against the wall, mindlessly watching Sakku trudge back and forth. Neither one of them felt the need to hold much of a conversation, which left Kia alone with her thoughts. They were all over the place, jumping between all different sorts of scenarios that might happen, depending on the Council's ruling. From weddings and babies to ugly break-ups and a cold prison cell, and everything in between. She tried not to entertain the more negative ones, but they forced their way through anyway.

Finally, the door to Tonraq's office opened and the Chief walked out. He looked more than a little surprised to see the two of them standing there, clearly waiting for him.

"Well?" Sakku demanded, folding his arms across his chest and stepping into Tonraq's path. "What's the Council's ruling?"

The smile Kia had been hoping she'd see formed on Tonraq's lips. She sighed in relief, even before he got the words out.

"They've elected to accept my proposal. Vira will be allowed to stay in the South. Provided I can convince the President of the United Republic to accept our terms for her release, that is. I'm leaving first thing in the morning to head to Republic City, to present those terms to her and the rest of the world leaders."

"Well, we're going with you," Kia said and Sakku nodded in agreement. "I have as much of a stake in this as anyone and I want to be there. For my daughter and for Vira."

"You're not doing this alone, Chief," Sakku added. "There are at least a dozen workers, if not more, from the factory that want to go with you as well. Maybe if the President sees how much support Vira has back here, she'll be more inclined to release her."

Tonraq's smile grew wider. "You have no idea how happy that makes me, to hear that. And I know Vira would greatly appreciate any support she can get. But, since we don't know what's going to happen yet, I'm going to have to ask you to wait. Let me go up there and see what the President has in mind first. And as soon as I have a more solid idea of what's going to happen, I'll let you know."

It wasn't what she wanted to hear, but Kia had to admit that Tonraq had a point. Neither she nor Sakku could afford to sit up in Republic City for days or weeks on end, waiting for the President to make a decision. Sakku seemed to realize the same thing, although he looked far less happy about it.

"Alright," Kia said, "we'll wait to hear from you then."

"Believe me, I want this resolved as quickly as both of you do," Tonraq said. "As soon as I know something, you'll know. I promise."

"Thanks, Chief," Sakku said, reaching to shake Tonraq's hand. Tonraq obliged and, after shaking Kia's as well, headed off in the direction of the living quarters of the Palace.

Kia fell into step next to Sakku as they walked towards the exit. "You said at least a dozen of the workers want to go to Republic City?"

Sakku nodded. "Yes. And your son is one of them."

"That's not surprising," Kia said with a chuckle. "He and Tulok both see her as part of the family. Which, I suppose, she is." Sakku didn't say anything, but Kia saw he had a pleased smile on his face.

"Anyway," she continued, "you work on gathering as many supporters as you can, to come with us. Just make sure everyone is ready to leave, whenever the Chief gives us the word."

Sakku nodded. "I will. And we will be. With any luck, the President will agree to the Chief's terms and we'll be able to bring Vira back home, where she belongs."