I managed to get this one finished early , so hope you all enjoy !

I wanted to shift the focus back to the Fire Nation family for this chapter so I hope you all don't mind.

:)

Big thanks to HammerTide for beta reading this chapter and even giving Ozai's lines to Zuko at the end of this chapter.

With that said, let's get this chapter started !


The suffering of a Fire Lord never seems to have any end to it. And here Zuko once thought that the Fire Lords of the past meant spreading suffer everywhere and everyone around them ...yet it seems that even Fire Lords cannot burn or escape from the torture that is paperwork.

Yet Zuko is firmly preferring dealing with paperwork over having to attend meetings , especially since his advisors and ministers appear to be at their wits end with him. And Zuko shared the sentiment quite frankly.

He had another meeting with his advisors earlier...it did not go well. It was another round of his advisors and ministers telling him about the growing problems the Fire Nation had and kept advising him to lower reparations or cut them off entirely. But Zuko stood firm in his decision and just told his advisors to mend the problems the best they could...

Was this what his father had to deal with on a daily basis ? Dealing with annoying ministers and advisors... having to play along with the nobility of the Fire Nation to make sure they weren't undercutting him or the rest of the nation ? Was this what his grandfathers and ancestors had to deal with ?

Zuko wasn't sure... but he was at least sure that he didn't want to sympathize with his father or past Fire Lords who wrought a hundred year war on the entire world.

Zuko looked over the paperwork and he leaned back in his chair with a sigh... as he thought about Captain Shin and his assignment...Zuko reminds himself to give Captain Shin a raise after all this is over ... after all he and his team had to endure in that Forest.

Some part of him knows that its wrong to have somebody else try to find his sister and fix his mistake...but the practical side of him knows that he couldn't just abandon his duties as Fire Lord to go on a quest to find Azula.

And what about his sister ? What exactly is he going to do if they do find her ?

Its unlikely that Azula will come back willingly... and he doubts that Captain Shin and his team could handle his sister.

And that's in the case that she's even still alive in that forest.

A small voice in his head says that sound disturbingly like Ozai's that he decidedly ignores.

And even in the small miracle chance that she is still alive and they manage to bring her back to the palace...what's he going to do then ?

Mai is clearly in conflict about how she feels about Azula...Ty Lee he's not so sure about her personal opinion regarding Azula ...Suki definitely hates Azula and he can't quite blame her for that really after she stuck Suki in Boiling Rock.

The only person he can think of who would be accommodating of Azula would be his mother...and he vividly remembered how well their last meeting went.

And then there's Ikem and Kiyi to worry about... he's not sure either of them would be comfortable getting close to Azula after their first 'meeting'.

So he's not sure he can safely bring her back to the palace...but its not like he has any other place to put her. Not after how badly he screwed up by putting Azula in that asylum...

Agni knows Zuko missed home a lot when he was banished.

Zuko looks at the clock on the wall and sees that its almost time for lunch.

He was looking for an excuse to get away from all this paperwork anyway.


Lunch was a pretty quiet affair all things considered. His mother was still relatively passive and quiet , no doubt from the shouting she had done a few days ago with Ikem and Kiyi trying to cheer her up.

So that just left Zuko and Mai at the table , sitting next to each other in silence. The only notable noise that could be heard was the sound of Kiyi talking to her mother...along with Ikem's coughing that had started when he begun eating.

" So I heard you got into another argument with your advisors and ministers today ..." Mai said out of the blue.

Zuko was caught off guard at first , but let out a humorless chuckle " That's putting it diplomatically Mai..."

" So what was the argument about this time ? " Mai asked.

Zuko let out a sigh " ...The same as the last time...they kept telling me that they were losing funding and money necessary to keep social programs running ...along with the fact that we may be dealing with famine and poverty soon..."

Zuko felt a splitting headache coming on as Mai put a hand on his shoulder.

" You know...you might get more done if you worked with your advisors instead of against them " Mai suggested.

" I know that..." Zuko wasn't an idiot , he knew that his advisors were good people and legitimately trying to help ..." But the issue is that we can't just stop paying reparations to the other nations , not after everything we've done to them ..."

Mai gave him a sympathetic look " You can't make amends with everybody Zuko ..."

" I know that ...but I want to try at least " Zuko said " And also I-"

Zuko was interrupted by the loud coughing of Ikem...that seemed to have gotten worse over the course of the meal. Now both Ursa and Kiyi were looking at the man with concern in their eyes.

" You okay Ikem ? " Zuko asked concerned.

"I'm ...fine Zuko ..." Ikem said as he coughed some more.

" What's wrong daddy ? "

" My love , what's going on ? " Ursa asked with fear in her eyes.

" Its nothing I'm just...having trouble breath...ing..."

Those were the last words Ikem said ...right before he fell out of his chair and onto the floor.

" IKEM !"

They all shouted as they leapt out of their chairs to help the man. Ursa and Kiyi were by his side in moments while Mai and Zuko were shouting for help.

" Get a doctor in here now !" Zuko shouted to the guards who quickly ran off to get said doctor. And Mai went up to him...and saw that he was sweating and having trouble breathing.

" Daddy ! Please wake up !" Kiyi said desperately as she shook his arm.

"Ikem ! Stay with us ! Please !" Ursa pleaded.

Mai on the other hand had her eyes widened as she realized what was wrong with Ikem.

" What's wrong with him !? " Zuko shouted.

" He's been poisoned !" Mai shouted as she turned to the food Ikem had been eating moments prior and smelled it.

Mai may not have been an expert on poisons...but even she could there was something off about the meat Ikem had been eating.

" My lord ! I'm here !" The doctor finally arrived.

" About time !" Zuko shouted as the guards moved Ikem onto a stretcher and Zuko handed the doctor the food Ikem had been eating " This man has been poisoned , figure out whatever the hell was in this food and save him !"

The doctor nodded " You heard the man get moving !" The doctor shouted at the guards who quickly moved the dying man out of the room.

The rest of the family following quickly behind...

All of them praying to Agni that Ikem would pull through.


The next hour and a half could only be described as nerve wracking dread as the doctors at the infirmary did their best to save Ikem's life. They had shuffled Zuko and the rest out of them out of their so they could do their jobs...and Zuko was left with the task of comforting his crying mother and little sister. Who were both holding onto him like a lifeline. While Mai just stood off to the side with her arms crossed .

" H-How could this have happened Zuko ?"His mother asked through her sobs.

" W-W-Why would anyone hurt daddy ?" Kiyi asked as well through tears.

" I...I don't know... I just don't know " Zuko said as he held them close.

At that moment , the doctors came out and they all turned their attention to them.

" Doctor , is he okay ? Will he ...live ?" Zuko said dreadfully as Ursa and Kiyi looked on with dreadful and desperate expressions.

" Rest easy my lord , we were able to get the poison out of him in time and get him to drink an antidote " The doctor said quickly which let a wave of relief wash over them.

" Oh thank Agni..." Zuko said with a breath.

" Daddy's going to be okay Kiyi..." Ursa said as she hugged her daughter.

" We were lucky that it was a relatively weak poison...though it could have killed him, it gave us enough time to save his life " The doctor explained.

" Can we see him ?" Ursa asked.

" Of course , Lady Ursa , right this way " The doctor nodded as he opened the door for her.

" You go ahead mom, I ...need to speak with Mai " Zuko said and Ursa nodded before she stepped through the doors with Kiyi.

That just left Mai and Zuko...a silence over them.

Mai didn't hesitate as she grabbed Zuko's hand in comfort and pressed her head against his chest.

" How could this happen Mai ? " Zuko said " How could I let this happen ? Targeting me is one thing...but those around me ? That's just-"

" You can't blame yourself Zuko..." Mai interrupted" The blame lies on whoever did the deed. Not you..."

Zuko understood that ...but deep in his heart he couldn't quite believe it.

" My lord ! "

They were both interrupted as they turned to see Captain Rei approaching them.

" Captain ...how did the investigations go ? " Zuko asked.

He had sent Captain Rei to investigate the palace kitchens and staff to find out how the hell poison wound up in the foods of one of the Fire Lord's family.

Though...from the looks on her face , he could already tell she didn't have good news to tell him.

" Not good my lord . All the servants and cooks swear on their lives that they didn't touch the food " Rei said with a sigh " And I couldn't quite tell if any of them were lying or telling the truth either my lord... my apologies "

" Its fine..." Zuko waved her off.

" Well its blatantly obvious that one of them is lying and poisoned the food " Mai said bluntly " I think we should interrogate them until one of them spills "

" We can't do that Mai " Zuko said firmly " We don't even know if it actually is one of the servants or someone who managed to sneak into the palace and poison the food. And even then we would be hurting innocent people..."

Mai sighed " So what are we supposed to do Zuko ? "

" Just ..." Zuko struggled to think of a solution " Send the cooks on paid leave and bring in a second team for now until we get this mess settled "

" Alright ...its not a perfect solution but it'll do for now " Mai said as she walked off with Captain Rei to get it done.

Leaving Zuko to his own doubts about the assassination...and what it could mean for his family.


Zuko couldn't sleep that night.

He knows he probably should with how much paperwork he still needs to do... but he still couldn't get his mind off of what happened today.

Ikem almost died.

His mother's husband. The man she truly loved instead of his father...almost died because of him.

That thought disturbed him more a lot more than he should have let it.

While Zuko wasn't foolish enough to think he could build a father-son relationship with Ikem , a proper and better one that he did not have with his own father...he still liked Ikem and was glad that he took care of his mother.

Zuko let out a sigh as he got out of bed, turning to Mai who was still asleep giving her a gentle kiss before he left the room.

He gave the guards outside the basic excuse before he went on his way...

To speak to his father once more.

The walk to the prison wasn't that long , in fact Zuko had grown quite used to it at this point.

Along with making the tea and bringing it to the cell that held his father.

As he opened the door , he was greeted by his father's voice.

" Ah ...so he returns once again " Ozai said amusingly " And you brought tea this time..."

Zuko said nothing as he laid the tray down close to the bars , as Ozai got up and moved closer so that he could take a cup.

" And what troubles do you bring to me this time Fire Lord..." Ozai said as he took a sip.

" ...There was an assassination attempt earlier..." Zuko said bluntly.

" Oh ? And who was the target ? " Ozai asked.

" ...Mother's husband..."

" Ah ...Ikem was it ? Can't say I have much sympathy for the man who took my wife " Ozai said spitefully.

" He's a better husband than you were to mother..." Zuko retorted.

" Only because the fool has never had to endure the responsibility of royalty..." Ozai shot back.

Zuko grumbled this was going nowhere and fast. He needed to get to his point already

" ...Forget that...I already know that the assassins who are trying to kill me are from groups who are unhappy with a lot of my decisions..."

" Oh , I wonder why..." Ozai said dryly.

" And I came to you for advice on ...how to make the people like me..." Zuko spat out "I've done all I could-"

" Have you ? Have you truly all that you can for this nation Zuko ? " Ozai said accusingly " No , you haven't. All you've done is play a pretentious ruler who is too spineless to stand up to a bunch of dirt eaters and water tribe savages. Hell , you cannot even affirm your rule by executing those who stand in your way at the very least..."

Zuko grit his teeth " I've done all I could... I gave them democracy , freedom from a century long war and I've done my best to keep the other nations happy... but famine and poverty are on the rise in our nation because lacking funds that are being paid as reparation money to the other nations...my advisors have told me to stop paying them but at the same time I cannot break the promise I made to the other nations-"

" Honestly Zuko , who cares about the other nations ? You should listen to your advisors and ministers. Agni knows they are a hundred times wiser than you are " Ozai said spitefully " And a Fire Lords duty is to his own people-"

" Oh and that's something you've done for your own family !? Are we not part of the Fire Nation too ?!" Zuko shouted as he stood up.

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Ozai was quiet for a moment at Zuko's outburst , not showing fear at all.

Zuko took a deep breath and sat back down.

" Do you want to know how to make the people like you Zuko ? " Ozai said after a moment.

Zuko was caught off guard but nodded.

" To do that ...I'll tell you a nice little story about Azula , the true daughter of the Fire Nation and who should have been Fire Lord..." Ozai said spitefully " Do you want to know why she was so beloved by the Fire Nation ? Its citizens and people all around ? Had the support of not just the rich and middle class but also the poor and common man ? And respected by many in the military at large ? "

Zuko nodded to that as well , getting interested in this story.

" I don't need to tell you that Azula was bright from a young age ...much brighter than you were , but even she exceeded my expectations" Ozai said with a smirk " She saw the corruption that ran through the Fire Nation at large , from nobles who routinely committed unsavory business practices for their own gain at the cost of the common folk , to regular guards who turned a blind eye to banditry in exchange for a bribe ...and she fixed it "

" She ...fixed it ?" Zuko repeated confused.

" She meticulously started sorting out the nobles and high ranking guards that were corrupt and abused their power...and she in turn used their acts against them. She blackmailed each and everyone of them with their dirty little secrets , to follow her command and to act accordingly... or have their reputations dragged through the mud and lose everything . She HELPED the people of the Fire Nation Zuko... which is more than I can say for you"

" And she didn't stop there... she also started a social program that gave poor firebenders and young adults scholarships so that they could grow up educated and either enlist in the military or make their way into higher paying jobs. Both of which ended up helping both our military and economy " Ozai explained " This gave her even more support not just from the rich and the middle class...but also from the poor peasants that felt they owed their lives to her "

Zuko's eyes widened at this explanation.

Azula..did all that ?

" Oh and did I mention that she did all this while you were on your merry quest to capture the Avatar ? " Ozai added which made Zuko's eyes grow to the size of saucers.

" She did all that while I was banished !? " Zuko shouted. Azula had to have been extremely young when all that happened...

And she still managed to do it.

" Yes..." Ozai nodded " Do you understand now Zuko ? Do you think you deserve to sit on that Throne and call yourself Fire Lord when you have done nothing to earn it ? To earn the people's respect ? "

Zuko kept quiet at Ozai's words , feeling the sting of their truthfulness.

"Could you imagine, Zuko if the people had a choice to choose between their beloved princess and the disgraced prince ?" Ozai asked " Do you think anybody would side with you ? Support your rule ? It wouldn't even be a contest. That's what you call democracy..."

Zuko couldn't think of anything to say. He wanted to say something...but the words died out in his throat.

"Take it as you will Zuko , my advice is either you cut off your fist and make it become more iron or let the people overthrow you the moment Azula steps in the shores of the capital once again . I've given you all the advice that I can Zuko. Give a reason to make the people love you. And these followers of mine who wrecks havoc upon the country seems to be a good reason "

Ozai finished as he downed his tea in one go.

" I think we're done here... have a goodnight Fire Lord..."

The title sounds more like mockery and he knows it.

But he doesn't say anything more...as he picks up the tray and leaves the room.

He doesn't say anything as he begins the walk back to the palace. To catch some restless sleep before the morning light.

Because he knew deep down, so deep down that he would never openly admit ... that his father was right.


I don't know about the rest of you , but I always just love Ozai in these chapters. The way he just breaks down and says it straight to Zuko's face how much he sucks at his job of being the Fire Lord hits pretty hard. And it makes even worse when Zuko knows that what he's saying isn't even just the run of the mill mockery but straight facts that are being thrown in his face.

Now obviously Zuko isn't a perfect Fire Lord...but you gotta give points to the kid for trying at least. I really wanted to show Zuko straight up struggling to get used to his new position of Fire Lord and dealing with all the horrifying and somber realities that come with it.

If it wasn't clear before , this story isn't exclusively a healing story for Azula but also a growing arc for Zuko and the other characters.

That is all I will say for now , next chapter we'll be getting back to Azula and Kazumi , hope you're hyped for it.

With that said , I'll see you all in the next one.

Angel Out.