Chapter 10: The Calm before the Storm

Appa soared into the sky, carrying the Avatar and the Fire Lord on his shaggy back. The bison let out a pleasant rumble as he grazed a passing cloud. The moisture from the gaseous water caused Zuko's cloak to become slightly damp, although he quickly remedied this with a bit of heat. Zuko stared at Aang, but the Avatar remained with his back turned. He had been surprisingly quiet during their excursion, and Zuko found it peculiar. Not that he had anything to say himself. Although this trip was intended to be for Aang's benefit, Zuko had some questions he hoped his friend could answer.

They landed on a mountain outcrop not too far away from the Capital, and the two men dismounted from Appa's back. The bison turned around and began rummaging through some nearby bushes, presumably looking for a snack. Aang wandered forwards until he came upon a small totem with several offerings placed near the base. "I hope this helps Aang, I know the Fire Sages climb this peak occasionally. It's supposed to be some kind of spiritual place, although I'm not sure what it is specifically. I was never very good with history."

"That's alright Zuko, I'm sure it's fine!" Aang quickly plopped down in front of the totem and began to meditate. Zuko joined him, but it didn't take long for Aang to make up his mind regarding the mountain's spirituality. "Yeah… I'm not really getting anything."

"Sorry about that, I guess this place isn't all it's said to be."

"That could be the case, but I also could've just missed it. Spiritual stuff is like that sometimes, and I've had a harder time connecting lately."

"Why is that?"

"I'm not sure to be perfectly honest. For the past year I've felt a bit off, but it's gotten worse recently. I know some people say they don't feel whole, but it's kind of the opposite for me, if that makes sense."

Zuko stared at his friend for a moment before shaking his head. "Sorry Aang, I'm afraid I don't really understand."

"That's fine. It's nice to just have someone listening. I'm sure Katara would always be willing to talk, but I'd rather not make her worry if I don't have to."

"Have you thought about consulting your past lives?"

"Not really, I don't think it will be worth the effort. Besides, they were useless when I needed their advice before the battle with Ozai. They all insisted that I had to kill him in order to win, but they were wrong. It makes me wonder if I can really trust them in the future."

A silence emerged between the two men, and Aang unfortunately felt the need to break it with the first thing that came to his mind. "So… how are things with Mai?"

Zuko's face immediately became dour, and Aang didn't need his Avatar senses to tell that he had brought up the wrong topic. "Things are… not good Aang."

"Oh… I'm sorry I mentioned it."

"No, I understand. It's been a while since you last saw us. I was trying to salvage our relationship, but I'm beginning to lose hope. I care about her, but we don't have the same kind of connection that you and Katara have. Our relationship is fragile, and as much as it pains me to admit it, I don't think either of us is really willing to commit."

Aang nodded along, a sheepish but caring expression on his face. "Is that all that's bothering you?"

Zuko briefly tensed up before letting out a massive sigh. "No… there is one more thing." Zuko's expression was grim, but he met his friend's gaze head on. "I want this to remain between us, understand?" Aang nodded and Zuko continued. "I had an experience recently that… challenged me, and I wanted to ask you some questions. I'm hoping your answers might offer me some insight."

"Fire away Zuko."

"Have you ever experienced a vision?"

"Well… there was that time I couldn't sleep before the invasion and I began to hallucinate."

"No, I'm not talking about hallucinations. I'm asking about visions."

"Yes… I think I have experienced those, they sort of come along with being the Avatar."

"Okay, now comes the important part. Have you ever had a vision of someone you haven't met yet?"

Aang's eyes lit up at Zuko's question. "Actually, I have. A while back we got sucked into a swamp in the southern Earth Kingdom. To this day I still don't know what was responsible for the twister that caused Appa to crash, but regardless we ended up there. We eventually met a tribe of waterbenders in the swamp, and I did some Avatar stuff, but that's not the most interesting part. We all experienced visions. Sokka saw an apparition of Yue, and Katara thought she saw her mother. My vision was different. I saw Toph, but this was before I even knew she existed. She was accompanied by a flying boar, which eventually led me to finding her home in Gaoling."

Zuko's eye widened at Aang's response, and the Avatar immediately realized he had given his friend a potent answer. "Zuko… who did you see?"

"I haven't told this to anyone else, and I want it to stay a secret. I saw a girl, she couldn't have been more than eight years old, and she was very well-dressed. It was my first time seeing her. I don't know her name, and she doesn't even exist yet, but I do know who she is."

"Who do you think she is?"

"I saw my daughter."

Aang's eyes looked like they were about ready to leap out of their sockets upon hearing Zuko's claim. "Are you sure?"

"Well, she did call me 'dad', so I'm pretty certain."

"Wow… that might be even more impressive than me having a vision of Toph." Aang was about to continue heaving praise on Zuko's experience, but he noticed that his friend maintained a melancholy expression. Suddenly, the dots connected inside Aang's head. "Was she…?"

"No… she wasn't…"

"Then, do you know who…?"

"Yes…"

"Do you love her?"

"I don't know."

Aang's face suddenly flared with anger and he leapt onto his feet. "It isn't Katara is it!?"

"What? No! I mean… Katara's gorgeous, but she isn't really my type."

Aang relaxed his posture and sat back down. His face returned to its usual jovial appearance, although perhaps with a slight sheen of embarrassment. "Sorry about that… I just had to be sure."

"Don't worry… I understand Aang."

"I'll be happy for you whoever it is, as long as it's not Katara."

Zuko chuckled lightly. "I'm going to hold you to that Aang."

Aang smiled briefly, but his face quickly scrunched up in concentration. Eventually he must have landed on something he wanted to discuss. "How are things with Azula?"

Zuko looked slightly hesitant to answer, but he proceeded anyways. "Things are fine… it's kind of nice having her back."

"Zuko, you know I have to ask this, but she isn't influencing your rule or anything right?"

Zuko's expression morphed into a scowl which he failed to hide. "If you're referring to the situation in the colonies…"

"No! I was just asking about Azula."

"These past few months have been… illuminating. I've come to realize that there's a lot more to her than I used to think. She pushes me around a bit, but not like she did in the past. There's a lot of bad blood between us, but I think it's slowly starting to wash away."

Aang nodded his head, but Zuko could still see the concern in his eyes. The Fire Lord got up and turned around. The capital was just barely visible in the distance, and Zuko found the view almost mesmerizing.

"Zuko, about the colonies… you do understand that I'm restoring order to the world, right?"

"Yes…"

"But I'm guessing you can't promise to make a decision I'll like?"

"No, I cannot…"


A massive fireball slammed into one of the many stone pillars that had been erected on the courtyard. Several more followed suit, until the pillar bore a greater resemblance to a volcanic rock. Zuko took a deep breath and inspected his handiwork. It was sometimes hard to believe he had come so far, but the proof was right in front of him.

Zuko uprooted himself from his stance and concentrated as hard as he could. Then he proceeded to leap into the air. But instead of falling down he continued to rise. A jet of fire propelled him towards the sky, before gracefully easing his decent to the ground.

Zuko loosened his stance and began moving his arms in wide arcing motions. Energy collected in the air before condensing together and propelling forwards as a bolt of lightning. Zuko suspected his electricity was becoming more powerful, but he currently lacked the skill to successfully execute the technique with regular consistency.

After gently rubbing his shoulder, Zuko returned to his firebending forms. He created two long tendrils of flame, a move he was particularly proud of, and followed it up with a massive eruption of fire. A whirlwind if heat impacted the training obstacles and Zuko felt a deep satisfaction within him.

The feeling was brief however, as the reason he was training so hard resurfaced in his mind. Zuko had just received a report outlining the rapidly deteriorating situation overseas. The Harmony Restoration Movement, which he had not initially considered a threat, was quickly morphing into frenzied mob of Earth Kingdom nationalists. They had been protesting outside major cities in both the Earth Kingdom proper and the Fire Colonies.

Zuko could put up with such rabble. The more concerning reports explained how Earth Kingdom soldiers were encouraging these people. And most alarming of all was the response from Ba Sing Se. Zuko had been unable to get a direct correspondence with Kuei, and any letters he sent seemed to illicit a generic response. Besides the king, none of the other officials had seen fit to do anything. He had even received information from his agents that some of them were funding the protestors.

Zuko hadn't expected the ceasefire to remain the only solution forever, but the Earth Kingdom was becoming agitated much more quickly than he anticipated. Soldiers were already probing the temporary borders, and there had even been a few close calls. Zuko didn't want to imagine what might've happened if there had been a miscommunication.

"My hand has evidently been forced, but they had better wise up before my visit. My people are not as forgiving as I am."

Zuko shifted his form and began to move like no other firebender did, apart from the Avatar. He felt all the distinct aspects of firebending; not only destruction, but life as well. Energy flowed through his body, fueled not with anger but love. A brilliantly-colored storm of fire emerged in front of him, and Zuko smiled.


Zuko sat behind the crackling fire channel. He had experienced many of these meetings before, but none were as imposing as this one. He was meeting to discuss many things, including his fast-approaching visit to Yu Dao and the peace negotiations with the Earth Kingdom. As members of his council shuffled into the throne room, he heard Azula hissing into his ear. "They should wait for the Fire Lord to arrive, not the other way around."

"Father waited for me, it seems like the least I can do."

"That was different, you were the Crown Prince. They are simple generals and politicians."

"Whatever, I don't have time to argue."

Azula scowled and returned to her place beside Zuko. They waited for the last few stragglers to arrive before beginning the meeting. It didn't take long for the topic of Zuko's Yu Dao visit to come up. His council was naturally concerned about his prolonged absence during an active rebellion. It would have been customary for Zuko to leave Azula in charge, but she had insisted on accompanying him to Yu Dao. Besides, Zuko wasn't quite comfortable trusting her with so much power.

Nonetheless, the situation seemed to irritate one of Zuko's councilmen. "I request a turn to speak!"

"Your request is granted War Minister Qin."

"Thank you my Lord. It is my humble opinion that, considering the current situation in the homeland, the Fire Nation's management should be temporarily transferred to the Ministry of War while you are away."

There was an immediate outcry from the other councilmen. They neither expected nor liked Qin's blatant attempt to outshine them, and the noise inside the room grew considerably. "That's enough!" Zuko's voice boomed throughout the chamber, and the chatter of the councilmen died down. Zuko was about to continue when he heard Azula give a light cough. She quietly gestured for a chance to comment, and Zuko obliged.

"The War Minister's brazen request is duly noted. However, I fail to understand why he should have the privilege of ordering the rest of you around. What do you have to say?"

Qin eyed Azula cautiously. The slight smirk on her faced hadn't escaped his notice, but he intended to provide an answer. "With all due respect Princess, I think the reason is quite obvious." Qin turned towards his fellow councilmen before continuing. "Let us dispense with the notion that everything is business-as-usual in the homeland. As I'm sure you are all painfully aware, significant swaths of our great nation are in active rebellion. It would be the most reasonable course of action to leave the duties of management in the hands of my department, since we are responsible for overseeing the continued improvement of our glorious military."

"I agree entirely with your assessment of our current state War Minister. And since you seem to have claimed the military as your own, would that not also make you responsible for our continued failure to reign in these rebels?" Azula feigned a sweet smile, and Qin immediately went pale.

"Princess… I… I did not intend to be so bold."

"Naturally, your intentions seem to bear little fruit. Do I have to remind this assembly of the War Minister's most recent exploits? The allegedly unstoppable drill that was designed to penetrate the walls of Ba Sing Se comes to mind."

"I will grant you that it was a small oversight on my part, but I hardly think one example can showcase my worth."

"You forget that it was a particularly expensive project. I don't deny that your department has achieved many breakthroughs, but they pale in comparison to the ingenuity of our people. Do not forget that I succeeded when your overgrown toy failed."

There were several subtle murmurs of approval from the other cabinet members, and Qin began to look sick. He bypassed Azula and looked straight at Zuko. "My Lord, I must implore you to consider my offer!"

Zuko stared at the man with an unreadable expression, and the entire room waited with bated breath. Zuko had given his cabinet a long leash, but nobody had a right to undermine the Fire Lord. "War Minister Qin… you're fired."

Qin's let out a small gasp, his jaw hanging open like that of a particularly dull-witted fish. However, he didn't protest the Fire Lord's decision. And after giving a small bow he exited the room. Zuko stared at a woman that had been sitting behind Qin, presumably his assistant. He gestured for her to rise. "I don't know your name and quite honestly I don't care to. My only requirement is that you do a better job than the former War Minister. Are you up to the task?"

"Yes my Lord, I will not fail you." Her voice was small but determined, and the other ministers took notice.

"You may begin now."

The woman stumbled only briefly as she gathered some papers sitting on her side of the table. "Admiral Jee's fleet will accompany you to Yu Dao my Lord, and Admiral Chan's fleet will be redirected to patrol the coastline. Is this satisfactory my Lord?"

Zuko nodded his approval just as another minister spoke up. "My Lord, you have yet to address how we will manage affairs in your absence."

"I will leave this cabinet in charge while I'm away. However, you will not be acting without supervision. I am entrusting Lady Mai to act in my place, and you must consult her before any drastic actions are taken." Azula seemed slightly annoyed by Zuko's decision, but the Fire Lord believed it was the best option at the moment.

Just as Zuko was about to conclude the current session, the new War Minister spoke up. "My Lord, regarding the situation overseas, what will you do if things do not go as planned?"

Suddenly everyone had their eyes on the Fire Lord, Azula included. Zuko was hesitant to respond, but he knew that a strong answer was required. "I will always strive for a peaceful solution, but sometimes fate has other plans." Zuko took a deep breath. "If Kuei wishes war with our nation… then he shall have it."

There was a nearly unanimous nodding of heads as the ministers got up from their seats and filed out of the throne room. Zuko turned to face Azula, only to find a prideful smile on her face.

"We might make a proper Fire Lord out of you yet."


Aang leaned lazily against the back of Appa's saddle. The giant bison had been flying over the heartlands for several days now, and Aang was practically bored to tears. The flat endless expanse of dirt and grass paled in comparison to all the wondrous things he had bore witness to during his previous travels.

"Oh look, another farm… this one has two barns. How exciting is that?" Appa gave an apathetic rumble in response. "Sorry Appa, this just isn't very exciting."

Aang sighed as he began reorganizing his supplies for the eighty-second time. "You know sometimes it feels like I've peaked early. I mean, I mastered all four elements and ended the war. What else could compare to that?"

Appa let out a perturbed noise and jostled his saddle. "Whoa, calm down! I didn't forget about Katara, she's the one thing I'm still looking forward to. I just meant that it's strange having so little to do these days. You can understand that, right?" Appa let out a huff of air in response and sped up his flying.

Aang laid down on his back and stared at the sky. The passing wind created an eerie noise. It almost sounded like…

"Aang…"

Aang jolted upright and accidently vaulted over Appa. An alarmed expression befell the friendly bison, and he swooped down to retrieve his master, who was currently slowing his descent with airbending.

After some frantic maneuvering on Appa's part, he managed to catch Aang and steady his course. The bison gave Aang what could only be described as a stern lecture, leaving the young Avatar slightly embarrassed.

"I'm sorry Appa, I just got startled… I could have sworn I heard a voice."

Appa gave a final indigent huff, and Aang laid down to get some rest.


As the Imperial Firebenders ushered personnel to the Harbor, Zuko took the opportunity to stop by Mai's house. She had already been informed of the task that had been assigned to her, but Zuko wanted to bid her farewell before he departed.

He knocked on the door and was led inside by a servant. Mai was sitting in her living room, sharpening her weapons in near-total darkness. Zuko took note of just how creepy this behavior would've been from anyone but her. Mai didn't acknowledge his presence, but Zuko knew she was listening.

"Hey I just wanted to let you know that the military is likely going to be pulling off some operations while I'm away. Just make sure they don't do anything stupid, alright?"

Mai briefly glanced up from what she was doing. "I could've figured that out on my own. Why did you really come here?"

"I… well… I don't know."

"Well, that's the first honest thing I've heard from your mouth in a long time."

"Look Mai, I didn't come to fight with you. I thought you would be happy now that I've given you something to do?"

Mai stopped sharpening her blades and stood up. "You make too many assumptions."

Mai glided past Zuko, but he grabbed her arm before she could get away. She turned to face him, her expression blank as usual. Zuko placed a gentle kiss on her lips before pulling away. "I'll miss you."

"Have a safe journey Zuko." And with that Zuko was left standing alone.


The first of Ba Sing Se's great walls came into view on the horizon, and Appa made sure to awaken his master. Aang rubbed his eyes just as Appa soared over the massive structure. Several small villages dotted the surrounding farmland, and a handful of residents emerged from their homes to wave at the Avatar and his bison. Aang waved back, although he could barely make out the tiny people on the ground.

"I can't say I'm all that excited to be back here, but it will be worth it to see Katara."

Appa gave an approving rumble and picked up speed. Within a few hours they had reached the capital of the Earth Kingdom, and Appa made a beeline for the Jasmine Dragon. While on route, Aang noticed that the streets seemed much less lively than that last time he had been here. "I hope I haven't arrived on a holiday or something…"

However, Aang quickly brushed that particular oddity aside when he caught a glimpse of Iroh's tea shop. It seemed to lack the crowded lines of customers, but he could still smell the sweet fragrance of spices and tea leaves. Aang dismounted and practically ran towards the building. He cast open the doors and crashed into someone on the other side.

"Ouch… watch where you're going!"

"Katara!" Aang flung himself onto the young Water Tribe girl, wrapping her in a tight embrace.

"Aang! I missed you so much!" Katara returned his affection, placing a light kiss on his head.

"I knew I would find you here! You won't believe how much I've been anticipating this!"

"Oh, I think I have an idea…" Just as Katara was about to give Aang a proper kiss, they were interrupted by the sound of someone coughing.

"Get off the floor! You two do realize we're not that kind of shop, right?"

Aang and Katara both turned bright red as they quickly moved to get up from the floor. A girl with brown braided hair was staring at them with a bemused expression. She was wearing an apron and holding a tray, so Aang assumed she must be one of the waitresses. Katara readily confirmed his suspicions.

"This is Jin, she works here."

"Thanks lady obvious…" Jin stared at Katara and crossed her arms. "I get paid to keep this place in a respectable state. You two will need to go somewhere else for that kind of thing."

Katara looked mortified and hastily attempted to explain that they were only about to kiss. Jin chuckled at her response. "That's always how it starts." She cast a sultry glance in their direction, and Katara nearly gasped in surprise.

"Anyways, do the two of you want a table?"

"Actually, I was wondering if I could talk to Iroh. Is he available at the moment?"

Jin looked slightly annoyed that Aang wasn't there to order something, but thankfully she obliged. "Mushi, someone's here to speak with you!"

Not wanting to further bother Jin, Aang turned towards Katara with a confused expression. "Mushi? What's that about?"

"It's Iroh's alter-ego Aang. I doubt he'd get so many customers if everyone knew he was from the Fire Nation."

"Oh… I never thought of that."

There was a sudden commotion in one of the back rooms, and Iroh emerged a few moments later. Aang noticed that he was wearing much nicer clothing than he usually did, and his hair also looked like it had been recently washed.

Iroh beamed when he caught a glimpse of Aang. "Oh my, what brings the Avatar to this humble establishment?"

"Hey Iroh, I just thought we could spend some time together. I have a few things I wanted to talk about. By the way, what's with the new getup?"

"Well, it just so happens that I'm going on a date!" Jin smiled at the old man, while Aang and Katara looked noticeably surprised.

"So, you finally got her to say yes?"

"I did indeed. While I'd like to think she was drawn to my excellent taste in tea, it probably has more to do with my new form." Iroh briefly squeezed his muscle to drive home his point.

"Who are you meeting?"

"I'll tell you when I return Avatar." Iroh's smile always found a way to penetrate Aang's heart. "That is, unless what you need to tell me is urgent."

Aang shook his head. "No, enjoy your night Iroh. Besides, it will give me time to catch up with Katara." Aang smiled at the love of his life, and she wrapped her arm around his back in response.

Iroh smiled. "Ah… young love. I remember when I wasn't so different from the two of you."

Jin was the only person not sickly happy. "I'm the only one without a date…"

Iroh gently patted her shoulder in response. "Don't fret. I'm sure you'll find someone eventually. Who knows, perhaps you'll even run into a handsome young firebender?"

With that Jin finally smiled, and Iroh bid everyone goodnight.


Everything was in order for Zuko's trip to Yu Dao. But the Fire Lord had one final stop to make before he set sail.

He was accompanied by no guards, or any other form of protection. All he carried were a set of keys and a small platter that hosted a single cup of black tea. The drink wasn't for Zuko. He much preferred the more mild taste of oolong tea, as did almost everyone else he knew. That was, except for one person.

*click*

He discretely opened the cellblock door and stepped inside. It wasn't long until he reached his target. The man's voice had lost none of its sinister charm.

"I'm so lucky to have a son that's always willing to visit me in this forlorn place."

"Father…" Zuko handed to the cup of tea to the former Fire Lord, who didn't bother cooling it off before he took a sip.

"Back so soon?"

"I need some advice."

A cruel smile slowly spread across Ozai's face, and it became ever more thoughtful as Zuko explained the situation he was in.

"Do you remember those vacations we used to take on Ember Island?" Zuko nodded in response. "I recall one particular summer we spent at the beach. You couldn't have been older than three at the time, and we had left Azula with my mother." Ozai stopped to take another sip of tea, and Zuko tried to stifle his irritation. The slight smirk on Ozai's face didn't escape his notice.

"Anyways, you were playing by the shore when you suddenly noticed a turtle-crab being attacked by a hawk. You ran as fast as your little legs could carry you to rescue that turtle-crab. You always did possess a certain affinity for the weak." Zuko grimaced at the remark.

"But then, when you had the turtle-crab safely in your arms, you hesitated. The hawk was badly emaciated, and when you looked into its hungry eyes, you realized you were condemning it to starve." Ozai took yet another sip of tea.

"You didn't know whether to side with the hawk or the turtle-crab. And before you could reach a decision, a massive wave washed over the shore and carried you out to sea. I dove into the water to save you, and you spent the rest of the day in your mother's arms coughing up sea-water."

"I came here for advice, not some old memory! I want to know how to solve the crisis in the Earth Kingdom without damaging my rule!"

"And I told you."

Zuko closed his eyes and pondered what his father had said. Slowly, the pieces began to fit together. "At the beach, I was overwhelmed by my options and I couldn't decide whose side to take. My indecisiveness put me at a needless risk." Zuko waited to see his father's reaction, but the old man remained as still as a rock. "I think I should have sided with the hawk. It was strong and noble, much like the Fire Nation. It had earned its meal."

Ozai set his now empty teacup down on the floor. "You are only partly correct. Your inability to make a decision was indeed the catalyst for your failure. But you're wrong about the hawk."

"So you're saying I should have sided with the turtle-crab?"

"Yes and no. What I'm saying is that neither option was inherently right or wrong. The hawk would have killed the turtle-crab if you hadn't intervened. It would be a fulfilling meal, but the Hawk may not have had much life left in it anyways. The turtle-crab was still healthy; perhaps it was more deserving of life. The point is that they weren't in a position to decide for themselves."

"What do you mean?"

"Use your head boy! Think about it."

"They couldn't decide for themselves because… because I was there."

"Correct, you were stronger than both of them. If you decided that the hawk deserved a meal, then it did. And if you decided that the turtle-crab deserved to live, then it did. You are in the same position now. You are the Fire Lord, and whatever you decide is right."

"No… I don't believe that! There has to be a right solution, I just need to find it."

"Were you listening to a single thing I said? You sicken me Zuko."

"You have no right to speak to your Fire Lord that way!" Zuko met his father's gaze head on, and let it be known that he wasn't the same little boy who could be pushed around. Ozai seemed to retreat.

"Perhaps I need to spell it out. You are in a snag over what to do with the colonies. We have already established that you need to make a decision, lest that opportunity be stripped from your control. If you decide to keep them, you will invoke the wrath of the Earth Kingdom, and very likely the Avatar. He is a relic of a bygone age, transfixed on keeping the world frozen in time and denying change. But if he could defeat me, you don't even stand a chance. You could also decide to relinquish them, but I don't think you're going to do that."

"And why is that?"

Ozai smirked. "You don't really think the Earth Kingdom, after being humiliated time and time again by our mighty nation and their own incompetence, will be reasonable? You've lived among them before, and you know all about their barbarism and savagery. I think you already know that they won't treat the colonists fairly. To show that they are strong, the armies of the Earth Kingdom will wipe them from the face of the continent!"

"Not all the people in the Earth Kingdom are like that. And besides, why do you care?"

"I don't. The colonists are an expendable mongrel people. I would gladly sacrifice them if it meant preserving those who truly matter. But we aren't talking about me, we're talking about you. I know that you care for those people, and it is a grave weakness on your part. However, you are the Fire Lord. Saving the turtle-crab might not have been the right decision inherently, but it was the right decision for you."

Zuko stared at the floor, his mind in deep turmoil about what to do. "I don't know. If I am strong then I shouldn't be bound by binary options. As it stands now, I think the matter is still up for debate."

Ozai let out a loud sigh and repositioned himself. "I think that's enough for now Zuko, I'm tired."

Zuko glared at his father. "Whatever decision I make will involve my people, because unlike you say, they aren't expendable. And when I do decide, I will be decisive. Goodbye father, perhaps you will grow a heart while I'm away."

"Not likely."


The young guard stationed himself nervously in front of a large metal door. The dark passageways of their secret base were illuminated solely by a handful of braziers. Behind the door, he could hear the faint whispers of several individuals. They were his superiors. They were going to set the Fire Nation back on the right path by restoring the true Fire Lord to his throne. Or at least, that was what they had claimed.

The young guard could sense the shadow of doubt lingering ever longer over his mind. And if he had noticed it, then his superiors certainly had as well. It wouldn't be long before they started asking questions, if they even bothered with such a formality. He had recently become acquainted with their benefactor, who was far too naïve for his own good. The young guard knew too much, and if his loyalty continued to waiver, he would become a liability. It was far too much for him to handle. He was in too deep, and he might need to get out now in order to set things right. It was risky business, but so was life.

The young guard pushed the chattering voices out of his mind and abandoned his post, oblivious to what was transpiring behind the closed door.

"General Bujing, are you certain everything is in order?"

"It is, thanks to the hard work of our warriors," Bujing gestured above him, to several cloaked figures perched on the scaffolding. Their faces were obstructed by the masks they wore, but the traitorous men knew all too well what their false Kemurikage were capable of.

"Sir, how can we place our faith in these newcomers?"

"Their training goes well. Soon they will have no difficulties annihilating our enemies!"

"Perhaps, but surely you must realize that these kidnappings are drawing unwanted ire to us?"

"I'm afraid it is a necessary step to maintain our guise. Besides, it's never too early to start training the next generation of loyal combatants."

Another voice suddenly joined the conversation. "But what of our contacts overseas, how do you know they can be trusted to continue cooperating with us?"

"I assume you are familiar with the phrase 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend'. In this case, the enemy of our enemy is more akin to a stick, which we can use to bludgeon our enemy before snapping it in half."

"You forget about the Avatar, he will surely destroy us before we can achieve our designs."

Bujing smiled cruelly before once again gesturing above him. One of the cloaked warriors descended from the ceiling and made her way towards the central table. Her mask was not blank like the others, but instead adorned with faded red markings. There was something unsettling about her presence, and many of the traitors felt a shiver run up their spine.

Bujing's smile grew even larger. "We may have found a solution for that."


Author's Notes

That story about the turtle-crab and the hawk is taken from an Avatar comic called the 'The Promise'. The comic itself is pretty bad in my opinion, but that particular section is by far the best scene.