This chapter actually wasn't written by me, but once again written by our very own HammerTide!
I can promise you all that this chapter is great and I am really appreciative to him for writing this one.
:)
With that said, let's get it started.
Zuko looked at the stacking papers on top of one another. The responsibilities of being a Fire Lord taking toll on him. All he does is worry for his nation while also trying to make amends for its sin against the world at large. No matter how much they try to convince him to hold its reparation, he cannot. He promised the other nations to uphold his end of the deal and failing to do so could mean that they have to fight again. As stubborn as that is, it is a sacrifice that he has to make it, so that what is wrong would be corrected and history would look kindly again upon their nation.
"My lord." A guard says as he carefully placed the papers to his liege's table, awaiting its signature. At this point, he can only sign what some of the palace governors can send him. He looked down and see the titles, the same lines and reasons to why such a thing must be continued and usually the reason was 'due to the lack of funding', Zuko read each one:
'Lower Class Reparations Act: To foresee lower class families be given monthly welfare: DISCONTINUED'
'Cadet Trainee and Military Recruitment Operation Act: To foresee individuals with no formal education be recruited into the military: DISCONTINUED'
'Welfare and Scholarship Act: To foresee lower class families be given free education to their children: DISCONTINUED'
Zuko could only watch as he dipped his pen and reluctantly signed each one. His hand trembling to the point that some of his signatures were unrecognizable, but the guard as his witness made sure that it is the Fire Lord himself that signed it. But as he signed away each piece of paper...he could see that the authors of those operations was none other than Azula herself.
So these are the policies and operations that Azula started that Father mentioned...
He feels it almost cruel to discontinue the policies and acts that Azula put forth, as if they never existed. But his movement was almost trained as he signed the paper and stamped it with 'DISCONTINUED'.
Once the guard left, he was left alone once again to dwell in his thoughts. At least he has the sanctuary of his own mind instead of being hounded by his ministers and advisers for inaction regarding reparation money. Advice spanning from cutting half of the reparation money, all the way to convincing the Avatar to convince other nations to hold a meeting and re-negotiate once again the terms of conditions that they had once agreed to . Zuko himself is convinced that he perhaps made a mistake in agreeing too eagerly their demands, but the damage has been done. And it is a sacrifice that nation has to make...
Or I am willing to make.
He remembers that last meeting he had with his advisers and ministers. Which wasn't that long ago.
"We cannot continue as such, my lord." Adviser Jiang says, the other advisors around him nodding in agreement. It was unanimous, it wasn't even a debate that soon enough that the nation would be crippled if they continue paying such operations. Burning through their treasuries so that the nation will repay and atone for its sin on what it had just done. "Renegotiate, my lord. We can re-negotiate with the other nations and the Avatar will be the mediator. If we can cut the reparations in half and stretch it longer, it is a better option since it is sustainable-"
"We have already agreed with the other nations, Adviser Jiang. The Fire Nation must uphold and atone for what it had done." Zuko cuts him off. Just wanting to end the meeting as soon as he can. He had already listened so many times over the year about the mumbles of his adviser that it became a chore to just listen. As much as he can trust them, the other nations won't look kindly at them once again if ever the nation will try to negotiate and might even broke off and re-ignite the war, especially after the incident at Yu Dao that almost did re-ignite the war.
"All of you can go to the governors of the colonies and explore options on expanding the agricul-"
Jiang then this time cuts them off. "With all due respect, Fire Lord Zuko. We are mere advisers, I have mentioned earlier that it is you and you alone has the power to solve what is plaguing our nation. All of your advisers already agreed that we cannot continue! Soon enough, our people will risk on facing famine on top of poverty." He said and Zuko went quiet. The advisors waited for a moment, hopeful that their elder adviser has finally knocked some sense into him and once Zuko opened his mouth, they eagerly awaited.
"It is...a risk and sacrifice that we'll have to make to make." Zuko said with finality.
Had Zuko paid closer attention to his advisers instead of shying away from their gaze, he could see their wide gazes. The feeling of betrayal etched in their heart that he'll allow to basically sacrifice the lives of his people for imaginary moral obligations. The disappointment, anger and grief in their eyes was for him to see but he avoided seeing them.
"No..." Jiang starts, as he looked at his other advisors and then faced the young Fire Lord. This time his attention was focused on them.
"It is a sacrifice YOU are willing to make. Fire Lord Zuko." Jiang bowed before him, there was no sense of respect to it. It was pure mockery that Zuko didn't even realize thinking it is just formalities. The way he said his title was etched in venom and added "The common people have to suffer because their leader decided to play the Nice Lord instead of taking the helm of the leader and doing what is best for the nation. Perhaps in a way as an advisor I failed the people for failing to convince you." He said before turning his back and walked away, the others following suite. "The meeting is over for today..."
"...Fire Lord."
Zuko didn't even get the chance to scold Jiang for such insolence because in a way he is correct. What leader would be willing to choose to let their people go hungry than to actually lead them to a better future? The Fire Nation has its sins to atone, but he wouldn't trade the livelihood of its people to pay for it. And all of his advisors just witnessed and listened to him proclaiming the opposite.
The overwhelming thoughts usually would have knocked him asleep already during this late at night, but the sound of a knocking door caught his attention and the voice of his mother made the young fire lord becoming energized again, at least getting to talk with his loved ones instead of just the same old faces of his advisors that he had to talk to everyday. It made him smile as he stood up and hugged her.
"How are you doing, mother?" Zuko asked as he sat back down again. It became a routine for him and his mother to talk during this hour. And it had been his favorite time of day knowing how the stress of leading a nation affected him so much.
Ursa smiled at the young Fire Lord. "I'm fine, Zuko. I'm just wondering also on how are you doing." She says as the sat down in front of him. Motherly eyes didn't hide her concern for his well-being nor did it hide that the had a lot in her thoughts. She now thought it was simpler when she was just Noriko back in Hira'a instead of the former Fire Lady Ursa. But all else, she can't leave her children, she had left them before and she will not do so again knowing how much she was needed.
"I'm doing fine." Affirmed Zuko, though trying to smile, the lack of sleep visible in his face gives it away. "Though, it's a bit hard being the Fire Lord." He admits, wondering if he was ever prepared to become one in the first place. Throughout his adventures with Uncle, he always thought that he is destined to be Fire Lord, that it was his birthright knowing he was the first born son. He never stopped and asked the question how will he lead the nation or if he was even qualified to do so?
It was another sobering reminder that Azula was the one who got the full heir education package, while he spent years pissing his life away searching for the Avatar. She would probably be able to figure out all these confusing finances and political problems, but he pushes that thought away for now.
Ursa tensed her eyes, she always came to Zuko just to ask how is it with Azula, whether or not there are any clues of her whereabouts. But then, it came back to the question of the attempted assassination in the palace. She avoided Zuko's eyes and always asked once more. "Zuko... about the recent assassination attempts...I believe Zula had nothing to do with it." She says and Zuko just stared at her for a few moments before coming to his senses on realizing what she meant.
He agreed, or want to agree. He doesn't know if Azula is capable of such a thing. He knew his sister, that if she harbors any ill feelings against them, she wants to do it herself. "I believe that too, mom." He agreed with her and his answer seems to help out the stressed woman. "I know Azula, if she harbors any ill feelings about us, she'll likely confront us herself. From that, I think she's not holding any ." Zuko says, sounding hopeful, but to Ursa it is just being too optimistic.
She knows very well that her daughter likely hates her...and Zuko as well.
"I wish that would be the case." Ursa says, her nights weren't the most peaceful, thinking back to the nightmare she had about Azula. It feels like this is punishment from Agni for abandoning her children when they needed her the most. She didn't even give Azula one last kiss goodbye to her forehead in the dead of night. How could she? She put her hand on her daughter after she was confronted that she was heard wishing to the older woman that she should have ended her pregnancy with her. "I have so many things to tell to Azula." She says with a sad expression, despite being surrounded by so much love, that love cannot fill in the void that occupied her first born daughter.
"I missed her and I want to apologize to her for all the things that I've done to her." Ursa says softly, she admitted her mistake, but as always Zuko is always there to say the opposite. That she did nothing wrong and that she is the best thing that ever happened. "I should have been stronger, I should have been there for her, I should have loved her more."
"There is nothing that you need to apologize for mom." Zuko says as he tried to reminiscent all the times that she has always been there whenever he disappointed, or whenever he felt sad. "You've always been there for us...for me and Azula even when we were down." Zuko says, not realizing how untrue his words are. That's what he always thought, never seeing beyond the cloud of his eyes that it was only him that his mother loved.
It is so far from the truth, Zuko. Ursa says in her thoughts as she looked at him. Zuko's attempts to console her about her guilt towards Azula only feeds the truth. Sometimes as good as a person Zuko can be, he is blind to the truth.
"I promise you...everything will be wonderful at the end, mom" Zuko assures her, but to Ursa, his words only ring uncertainty.
Mai likes to think that she is a very well rounded individual and not just the doom and gloom that her friends always makes her out to be. But for some reason, she always has that stony face despite having a wonderful time with Ty Lee walking outside the palace and into the city to meet with the commoners. Mai has to admit herself that her walks with Ty Lee ever since she had returned had made her time in the palace so much more bearable. The acrobat always has the thing to make her day be filled with something exciting.
Mai observed the the former circus performer, her friend walking on two hands happily, she found it amusing. And despite being so physically fit and capable herself, Mai couldn't ever imagine herself walking on two hands, it's none of the reason that she is incapable, but rather she found the thought of her hand touching the dirty ground so unhygienic.
"You know Mai, having to get out of the palace and go around the city skirts takes me back to when we were younger." Ty Lee says, displaying her great athleticism as she leap up back to her feet and continue walking with the current Fire Lady. "Ever since the end of the war we haven't been able to hangout as much. So I'm looking forward again to having these kinds of walks!"
Mai sighs, sometimes her friend is always melodramatic especially on remembering what was on the past. Unlike her, she doesn't to dwell what already happened. "Aren't you forgetting that you're an elite guard at the palace, Ty Lee?" Mai reminds her, rolling her eyes. Though from the looks of it, she didn't understand as Ty Lee only tilts her head in confusion. "It means that you're in the palace and you get to see me as much as you like, it's only when you were sent to Kyoshi Island that we actually didn't have walks together." Mai said.
"Oh, right. Hehe." Ty Lee chuckled as they entered the market district. She wanted to talk about what happened back then, when there were attempts on the Fire Lord's life. "So Mai, being Zuko's unofficial spymaster and all. Do you have any idea who did it?" She asked and Mai sighs again, both at the reminder of the assassination and her recent activities.
Particularly taking on the role of being Zuko's unofficial spymaster since his actual one didn't like him and never seemed to tell him anything useful. And Mai wanted to have a bigger role outside of being the 'Fire Lord's girlfriend' and future wife. She also hated being left in the dark so she decided to take matters into her own hands and started looking into the matter herself.
This was probably the one time she was grateful to her parents constant drilling of her building connections since it didn't take her long to start finding informants and insiders that could give her information.
But going back to Ty Lee's initial inquiry , she never liked answering questions regarding the assassination, she always tried to avoid it but she'll humor Ty Lee.
"No, my insiders still have no idea who did it." Mai said, and said nothing else to which Ty Lee probed further, though a bit reluctant.
The cheery Kyoshi warrior touched her fingers together, wondering and before reluctantly asking, scared that her question might make Mai go on an outburst. "Do you think...Azula could have done it?" She asked.
Mai sighs loudly and looked at Ty Lee, the pouting face of the kyoshi warrior is starting to get her. Ty Lee always have a knack to hit her soft spots. "Do you really want to know what I think?" Mai asked her to which the girl nodded. "No." Mai simply says, surprising her. "I know Azula that much, you know her too. You shouldn't even have asked this question. If Azula ever wants us dead, she'll want to be there to see us dead. She'll want to be the one do it with her own hands, she wouldn't resort to assassins to do her dirty work. She wasn't there, so likely it wouldn't be her."
Mai may not like Azula, but she still knows how she thinks and knows that her former friend would want to deal with her family and former friends personally.
Her answer made the cheerful girl smile a little , knowing that deep inside Mai still cares for their best friend in a way. "Yeah, but I can't help but wonder why. Why do people want Zuko dead?" Ty Lee says, despite being a smart girl herself, she tend to ask questions that she isn't familiar.
Mai continues forward. "Followers of Ozai likely." Mai says, she has heard from her insiders and spy cohorts that some people and soldiers and even ministers that Zuko is currently talking to are the followers of Ozai, yet despite this information it is still hard for them to keep track and pinpoint on who exactly they are. So Mai has no clue on what she can even tell Zuko since she has no idea who's Ozai's follower and who is not.
She has to admit , they are more clever than she gave them credit for. "Thinking that Ozai or Azula is the true heir to the throne and that Zuko is just a usurper of the throne and a traitor." Mai answered to her.
I mean, technically speaking he IS a usurper since Zuko pretty much betrayed his nation and only got the Throne because he beat Azula in the Agni Kai, but I'll keep that to myself for now.
Ty Lee decided to drop the subject. She doesn't want to dwell in further but rather just observed the people that she walked past. She began to notice that the people's aura are darker than they used to be. Before the end of the war, it was light, bright and somewhat she could feel the happiness in them, but now all of it is similar to her best friend, yet not an ounce of happiness to it. Mai has a dark color of her aura, but there is light inside of it, to Ty Lee she can't find any light in theirs.
"Though I'll have to say, I sense that the color of the auras of the people around us isn't as bright as they once were. I wonder what could that be." Confessed Ty Lee, putting a hand on her lip as she looked around in wonder.
It was easy for Mai to figure that out by comparing the current activities that merchants, buyers and sellers alike, on to why they are unhappy or to Ty Lee, why their "auras" are dark. Zuko's economic plan haven't been up to par especially considering that their problem is mostly on reparation money that they have been giving away. "I can see why, our markets these days aren't so buzzing with activity compared to the last couple of years since the recession hit." Mai explained to Ty Lee.
"Recession?" Ty Lee questioned, still not used to the complicated terms Mai sometimes blurts out.
"It means our nation is economically declining." Mai simply said and continued on. Seeing that Zuko's agreements with the other nations are starting to take toll with the effects on the markets being clearly seen. There weren't as much merchants now compared couple years past, there weren't as much merchants now nor are there as much people rushing over to buy what they are selling.
Sometimes Mai can clearly see the error of Zuko's ways even if they were made with the best intention, and she feels that mistake the blame partly belongs to her, she was there with Zuko during the negotiations and while she herself isn't officially the Fire Lady of the Fire Nation yet , since many fire ladies before her would just be a trophy wife to look beautiful to banquets and dances, but not her. Even if she was still just his girlfriend.
She has an obligation to protect and serve her nation, and yet that obligation felt like something she had failed.
I wonder if I have failed my nation...
She should have thought about it more thoroughly. "Sometimes I feel a bit stupid to allow such things to happen." Mai said softly to herself, her voice low enough that Ty Lee didn't hear her. They pressed forward, the people around them didn't even bother to glance, thinking they are just another noble, they were so busy with their lives, more concerned about when they will get their next meal for the day that they didn't even realize that the Fire Lord's girlfriend was next to them.
"Everything is ruined, the scholarships are no longer continuing." Mai heard some commoners talking quietly, but with her trained ears she can hear them. Though to her the conversation was boring and was about to move on with Ty Lee until the man added. "Princess Azula should have been our leader, she wouldn't have let us go hungry." His comment made the knife thrower stop, their conversation now seems much more interesting than her walk with Ty Lee.
"Where is she?" One of the peasant commoners asked, Mai didn't even bother to look at their faces, but rather she kept her head low. "We don't know, rumors say that she's imprisoned. A lot of people are beginning to question whether or not they can see the princess again."
You want to see that monster freed?
Mai thought as her hands clenched to a fist. Zuko might not be the best of all Fire Lords, but if Azula is being wanted by the people, she'll be damned before she'll let her hands claw back at the palace and bring itself to war again.
"I've heard rumors that the people are wanting to set the princess, they want to see her again, she'll help better the nation. Better than that fool on the Throne that we have right now" One of them says.
Help? Azula will slit your throat first before she'll help.
Mai thought angrily. She thought that Azula's influence was gone, but she didn't realize her support were this strong that its been a few years already since the end of their reign, people still look up to her.
She was about ready to go up to them and berate them, to question what they have done for the nation, had they not lead their nation to peace and come to an agreement would have been ruined by the combined might of the Earth and Water nations.
" The Fire Lord already discontinued the few policies and acts that the Princess created that were meant to help. We're on our own now" And from that, Mai stopped and thought for a moment.
While she didn't like the fact that commoners were bad mouthing her boyfriend behind his back...the practical side of her knew that they were right. That Zuko's incessant need to stand by his morality was going to be the death of them all.
"Mai, come on! Are you coming?" Ty Lee called from the distance, reluctantly shaking her head before continuing on, abandoning the fruitless pursuit. It wouldn't do good for her image if she is found publicly shaming poor commoners for ever questioning their leadership. It seems like that a discussion with Zuko about the state of affairs of the nation is inevitable. They need to reverse the damage that they have caused but also at the same time make amends to the sins of their nation.
It's easier to admit now that they have made a mistake during their leadership and they need to correct that.
"So...Zuko needs help?" The prodigious waterbender asked in confusion as she put warm water on Aang's cup. She was a bit surprised at their arrival thinking that they might arrive later and not only that, he brought Toph with him too. If he had brought the powerful earthbender to Katara that means Zuko's request must be serious. "With Toph coming with you, it must be serious." Katara noted.
" It is " Aang nodded.
He and Toph had finally reached the South Pole and met up with Katara and Sokka...now came the hard part of telling them what Zuko's request would be. He knew that his friends don't like Azula in the slightest and he can't totally blame them, he just hopes they will be understanding of Zuko's situation.
" So what's the big emergency ? " Sokka asked.
Aang took a deep breath before answering " Zuko needs our help...finding Azula "
A brief moment silence went passed them, as Katara specifically tensed up at the mention of the Fire Princess.
" Zuko wants us to help us find his crazy sister ? " Sokka was the one to break the silence.
" Pretty much Snoozles " Toph nodded boredly.
" But I thought Zuko already sent trackers after her ? Aren't they enough ? " Katara questioned.
" From the sounds of it, no, the trackers has come up with next to no clues about her whereabouts so Zuko wants our help to find her..." Aang explained slowly " Listen, I know you both have your reservations about Azula but Zuko needs our help so-"
" What are you talking about Aang ? Of course, we're willing to help find that princess " Sokka cut him off " I don't like the idea of that crazy blue fire throwing maniac roaming around free, so we better find her so that she can't hurt anyone else "
" Agreed. Azula's too dangerous to be left roaming around, we better find her before she does something terrible " Katara nodded in agreement.
Aang let out a sigh, he was glad that his friends had agreed...even if it wasn't for the most charitable of purposes towards Azula.
" Okay, we'll set out tomorrow morning when Appa's rested and we resupply " Aang quickly came up with a plan.
" It will be good to see Suki again " Sokka said with a smile.
" Blegh ! I'm not if you two are going to be disgusting in front of me again " Toph threw her tongue out in a mock of disgust.
" Hey ! You just don't get it !" Sokka yelled which sparked an argument between them.
Aang chuckled, it was good to have the Gaang back together.
Next stop: The Fire Nation.
I really can't thank HammerTide enough for writing this amazing chapter, we haven't really gotten to see the rest of the FN cast and I think they deserve the spotlight of this story a bit more. And I'm glad they had fun writing this chapter involving Zuko and the rest of the crew.
My favorite part was definitely the Zuko and Mai scene, where they are both now at last forced to confront the fact that...Zuko kinda sucks as a ruler. And they will address in an upcoming future chapter.
My only addition to this chapter was the Aang scene at the end...and you all know what that means, it means that we will FINALLY be getting past this slow-burn pacing and get to some action at long last. Because while I do enjoy the characters getting a few moments of calm, I also enjoy a little bit of violence thrown into the mix.
Which we will be getting. Very soon.
Now let's answer some reviews shall we ?
To gimenaguzman9:
Azula's whole life up to before she met Kazumi was basically being groomed to be the perfect heir and weapon. But now that Ozai is out of the picture and she finally has a proper mother figure that loves her. Along with having something she can dedicate her energy into, makes her a happy girl.
Happy Azula is the best Azula.
And yeah, I can just imagine the two casually saying my perverted grandmother.
XD
To haystun:
I agree that Mai, Azula and Ty Lee need to seriously talk about their relationship if they want to move on. For better or for worse.
Well, as this chapter shows Zuko is very inexperienced and has no idea how to lead a nation...
Ozai clearly isn't a better option, but you gotta give him points at least for knowing how to run a nation.
To Lord 770:
Your answer to that question may be answered sooner than you think.
:P
Yes, Jiang betrayed Zuko but I wanted to show that there was some depth to the reason for why he did it and not just because he's evil. He did genuinely try to make things work with Zuko, but Zuko's wanting to hold onto the morality that Iroh taught him causes way too many problems and has soured their relationship as Lord and Advisor. So he has decidedly taken things into his own hands.
And yeah, the Earth King is a pretty weak ruler, considering he got turned into a literal puppet by one of his own and his daughter ended up being even worse than him as a ruler. Clearly his trait of being a bad ruler passed down to his daughter.
To Scamper2:
Well, I hope my writing still pleases you no matter which direction I choose.
:)
With that said, I will see you all in the next one.
Angel Out.
