As Zuko took his seat to the right of his father, the constant conflict that raged within him about his choices came to a momentary lull as he felt happiness after finally receiving the acceptance he longed from his father once again. It was in this very room that he damned himself to dishonor and being back once again showed how he has finally redeemed himself in his father's eyes.
Looking towards the seated generals below, Zuko saw mostly aged veterans. Several of them, Zuko faintly recognized from his first war meeting, though most of them he didn't really know. The only one amongst them that Zuko fully recognized was the only one who was young and sitting in the far corner, Senzin Zhou.
Zuko had a few memories of Senzin when he was younger, mostly when he interacted with Mai or visited his cousin Lu Ten. Senzin back then was someone who was warm and friendly with everyone, including Zuko, and that gave Zuko a good opinion of the older male. And also hearing from his girlfriend, Mai, that Senzin was once a close friend of hers, someone akin to an older brother back then, Zuko looked positively towards Senzin.
Still, it was confusing to see someone severely different from those sparse memories and Mai's stories. It was no question that the young war hero, General Senzin Zhou, was the same Senzin Zhou of Zuko's and Mai's childhood but the contrast was clear. Where once the man smiled easily and was relaxed, he now was distant and professional, though no less polite. Mai even spoke about her dismay regarding Senzin during that night in Ember Island, how he still felt so far away from her even if they finally met once again back in Omashu.
That night was a night of many revelations, one of which was the surprising actions of his sister, Azula. Sure, she still spoke in that arrogant tone that felt like it was insulting you with every other word during such an emotional moment between the four of them, but she showed a unique sort of delicateness towards Mai when she spoke. No matter how blunt the words Azula used, a reassuring hand on Mai's shoulder spoke volumes, and Zuko was sure that Mai understood that as well.
Maybe his sister wasn't all bad.
"General Shinu, you're report."
Zuko was snapped out of his silent musings after hearing his father begin the war meeting.
"Thank you, sir." Zuko saw one of the generals, someone that seemed faintly familiar to him, stand up to provide his report.
"Ba Sing Se is still under our control however, earthbender rebellions have prevented us from achieving total victory in the Earth Kingdom." General Shinu stated, walking towards the far end of the war map.
"What is your recommendation?" Zuko heard his father ask from his side.
Zuko saw General Shinu and Senzin share a quick look, as if confirming something with each other, before the older general spoke up again.
"If you would allow, sir, General Zhou can explain the plan in detail." Shinu answered, gesturing towards the still seated Senzin who patiently looked towards the Firelord.
"Very well." The Firelord simply agreed.
"Our armies are spread too thin, fighting on multiple fronts in the large Earth Kingdom continent, but once the eclipse is over and the invasion defeated, we can begin establishing a lasting peace." Senzin began, standing up and taking up the spot where General Shinu once stood.
"With the unorthodox subjugation of Ba Sing Se by Princess Azula, a unique opportunity has presented itself. To much of the Earth Kingdom and Ba Sing Se itself, it would seem that the city simply invited our forces in instead of falling to a military siege." Senzin explained smoothly, making Zuko think he practiced this beforehand.
"We propose that instead of full occupation of the city, a puppet government be installed in Ba Sing Se. And while the Earth King has escaped capture, his prior seclusion from the greater city will allow us to continue a ruse of having the legitimacy of the Earth King. With Princess Azula's control over the Dai Li, we are assured of total oversight over Ba Sing Se."
"Excluding our existing colonies in the Earth Kingdom, we should also pull back our troops from occupied territory and transfer their control to the Ba Sing Se government. This will allow us to reorganize our forces and strengthen the legitimacy of our puppet in Ba Sing Se. With that, we'll declare a peace with the Earth Kingdom and have Ba Sing Se declare further resistance as treason. Those stubborn may find no fault in continuing the fight against our troops, but they will falter once they fight their own countrymen as well." Senzin finished, bowing his head.
"Hmm." Zuko heard his father contemplate from his side before he was suddenly addressed.
"Prince Zuko, you've been among the Earth Kingdom commoners. Do you the general's plan would stop these rebellions?" Zuko's father asked, turning his head slightly to look at his son.
While the question was sudden for Zuko, he already did have an opinion forming as he heard Senzin's plan. While the elaborate plan might be more effective than simply sending Fire Nation forces to crush the rebellions, Zuko felt that the Earth Kingdom spirit was too stubborn to truly be quelled by anything. So, without hesitation, Zuko spoke what he thought.
"The people of the Earth Kingdom are proud and strong. They can endure anything, as long as they have hope."
Zuko cautioned a look towards Senzin and saw a particular look on the young general's face. He had an eyebrow raised and his squinted eyes were directed towards Zuko. Zuko didn't know if that look was of disappointment, mild irritation, simple consideration, or a mix of all.
"Yes, you're right." Zuko suddenly heard his father agree with him.
"We need to destroy their hope." His father continued, with a dark finality in his voice.
Zuko grew alarmed at the statement. He didn't mean for his opinion to construed as something drastic. He needed to correct himself and clarify what he meant.
"Well, that's not exactly what I-" Zuko began explaining, but was interrupted by his sister.
"I think you should take their precious hope and the rest of their land and burn it all to the ground." Zuko saw Azula say from the other side of their father.
Zuko grew horrified at the course this discussion was going and was becoming more horrified by his father's acceptance of his sister's plan.
"Yes, yes, you're right Azula." Their father readily agreed as he stood up and walked down to the war map. As their father spoke, Zuko saw Azula to smile triumphantly as her idea was accepted.
"Sozin's comet is almost upon us, and on that day, it will endow us with the strength and power of a hundred suns. No bender will stand a chance against us." Their father explained to everyone.
"What are you suggesting, sir?" General Shinu asked, in what Zuko could only describe as cautious dread.
"When the comet last came, my grandfather, Firelord Sozin, used it to wipe out the Air Nomads. Now, I will use its power to end the Earth Kingdom – permanently."
Zuko's eyes widened at that proclamation. His father finally concretized the idea of Azula into a complete genocide of the Earth Kingdom. The conflict within Zuko resurfaced once again with such rage, screaming out against the sickening evil that was voiced out.
"From our airships, we will rain fire over their lands. A fire that will destroy everything, and out of the ashes, a new world will be born. A world in which all the lands are Fire Nation, and I am the supreme ruler of everything!" Zuko's father finished, raising his arms up in a grand pose.
Zuko heard many of the generals give their applause to his father's proclamation, but he quickly tuned out that noise in favor of his thoughts. The conflict has ended within him; Zuko knew that was happening was wrong. It was the death of countless innocent lives, innocent lives he bore witness to not too long ago.
But disgusted as he was of the plan, Zuko couldn't find the strength to contest it. He remembered the last time he tried to do so. The reminder still burned faintly on his face. Besides, what else could his dissent do at the moment? While he was a prince, he was once exiled, and his opinion won't hold much sway over the decision. As much as Zuko wanted to share his opposition with the room, he knew in his heart that he would have to take find a different opportunity to stop this plan.
"Do you perhaps not agree with my plan, General Zhou?" Zuko suddenly heard his father inquire, causing the prince to look up towards the general.
In the group of the generals below, it seemed that only Senzin did not clap his hands in agreement with the Firelord.
Zuko saw the clear, disappointed look that Senzin had, and traced the gaze to his sister. To Zuko's surprise, Azula broke away from the general's gaze, avoiding it by looking down, though out of shame or just annoyance, Zuko didn't know.
Zuko hoped that if not him, then at least a man like Senzin would voice out dissent against such a plan. He was a good man. More than that, he held strong influence within the military, especially with the generals in the room currently. If he tried, Senzin could probably unite the generals to oppose the plan.
Sadly, Zuko felt his hope slip away as he saw the clenched fists of Senzin slowly relax and the man himself give a deep bow towards his father.
"I defer to your royal wisdom, Firelord."
