Mai tried to stifle a yawn as she sat, cross-legged, on the dais to the right of Zuko's throne. Honestly, she could think of a thousand things she would rather be doing instead of listening to Zuko hand out titles and lands to various nobles. But she knew Zuko would appreciate her being there, visibly supporting him during this especially unpopular time. So she sat.
"Lady Keiko," said Zuko to the noblewoman kneeling before the throne. "You and your family have ruled Dalong Island well for many generations. I am especially impressed by how you have helped soldiers returning home from war adjust to peacetime. Therefore, I grant you the Isles of Emerald, formerly administered by Lord Ukano." Mai winced slightly at the sound of Zuko giving away her ancestral land. She didn't even like the Isles of Emerald-the locals were uneducated and the weather was too hot-and Mai was the one who suggested Zuko give the Isles to Lady Keiko in the first place. But it still stung. She would have to speak to Zuko about her brother Tom-Tom. Maybe they could give him some lands when he was older…
"Thank you, my Lord," said Lady Keiko, bowing deeply. "We hope to serve you with honor." Mai saw Zuko smirk at her turn of phrase.
The next noble came forward, and the next, and the next. Mai passed the time by watching a dragonfly soar idly around one of the columns to her right. It landed on one of the carved dragons' eyes, and Mai resisted the urge to throw one of her blades at it. She could probably hit the eye from here.
"To all those who have served the Fire Nation loyally, I give you my thanks!" said Zuko. "Together, we can forge a new era of peace and prosperity!" He whispered something to the guards and stood, sweeping off the platform and to one of the rooms behind the throne. Realizing a little too late that she should follow, Mai hurriedly rose and also descended the steps. Even though she had volunteered for this, she felt like a show animal, and her neck prickled as the eyes of the entire court pierced her back. Ah yes. Poor Lady Mai, whose fiancé cheated on her before they even married.
Zuko had decided a private audience was best to tell Lord Sugawara and Lady Satoko that their sons were dead, killed while fighting alongside the New Ozai Society. Mai entered the smaller chamber behind the throne. Zuko was already sitting, drinking a flagon of water.
"How are you doing?" he asked her, offering her the water. "I know it's been hours."
"I'm dead. You are talking to a corpse, because Mai died two hours ago," Mai deadpanned. Zuko rolled his eyes.
"So you're fine," he said. "Giving the land to Lady Keiko was a good idea, Mai. I think she may actually refrain from stabbing me in the back." He called for the guards to bring in the tea.
"The Earth King and the Water Tribe Chieftains arrive tomorrow," said Zuko, leaning back in the smaller throne designed especially for the audience room. "Hopefully what I've done today can prevent a New Ozai Society attack for the next week."
"I don't know, a little hand-to-hand fighting and fear of death might make our honeymoon more entertaining," said Mai idly. Zuko raised his eyebrows and sat up straighter. "That can be arranged," he started.
"The Lord Sugawara and the Lady Satoko!" an Imperial Guard announced. Fun time was over. Zuko nodded somberly as the nobles entered.
"Please, take a seat," Zuko said. They obeyed. "I'll cut to the chase," Zuko said swiftly. "Lord Sugawara, where is your son? Why did he not come with you to the capital?"
"He's ill, my Lord," said Sugawara smoothly. He looked young to have a teenaged son, probably only in his mid to late thirties himself. Mai noticed he was well built, his armored shoulders well shined. "Yaru stayed home to recover. I said goodbye to him yesterday."
"Really," said Zuko flatly. "Fascinating, Lord Sugawara." He snapped his head to stare at Lady Satoko. "And you, Lady Satoko, where is your son?"
She twisted her hands nervously. "My Lord...I…I haven't seen my son in several weeks," she confessed. "I was hoping he had run off to stay at our house in the Capital, but he isn't here. Why?" she leaned forward eagerly. "Do you know where he is?" Mai felt a cloud of dread settle upon her. This poor woman.
"Unfortunately, both of your sons were traitors, members of the New Ozai Society, an organization that seeks to restore Ozai to the throne and resume the world war," said Zuko sternly. Lady Satoko gasped, but Lord Sugawara's face remained stony. "And…" Zuko's face twitched with sorrow before returning to his Firelord mask. "And they were both killed seven days ago after they attacked my Imperial Guards."
"No!" moaned Satoko. "My son would never—how could you—you must be lying!" She shoved her chair backwards, away from Zuko.
"I'm afraid it's quite true," said Mai, stepping in. "Out of respect, we will return your son's body to you." Satoko still looked devastated, confused. Either she was an excellent actress, or she didn't know about her son's betrayal.
"You're awfully quiet, Lord Sugawara," said Zuko softly, menacingly. "Did you send your son to the Capital to overthrow me?" The tension in the room immediately mounted. Satoko stopped crying.
"I'm sorry to hear my son is dead," said Sugawara slowly. "But I'm sorrier to see you still alive." Mai jumped up, flicking knives into her hands, ready to fight. But the two men just stared at each other, unmoving.
"I'm not easy to kill," rasped Zuko. He lifted his hand, indicating for the Guards to remove Sugawara from the room.
"We'll see about that," snarled Sugawara. He too jumped up from his chair, pounding the desk between himself and Zuko with both fists. "Firelord Zuko, I challenge you to an Agni Kai before the whole court! I challenge you not for the throne, but over the life of my son."
What? Mai had anticipated a fight, but a public Agni Kai? With the Firelord? Zuko too looked taken aback.
"You're challenging me to an Agni Kai four days before my own wedding?" he said incredulously. As if Sugawara cared about the Firelord's personal happiness.
"Do you accept?" spat Sugawara, still towering over Zuko. A lazy smile spread over Zuko's face. "Oh yes, I accept," he said with relish, still sitting. Somehow, he managed to stare down at Sugawara from a seated position, a glint of someone else in his eye. Mai shivered. There were times when Zuko's resemblance to his father was disturbing.
Suki fumed as she watched Zuko enter the large arena. As his bodyguard, it was beyond infuriating to sit in a stadium and watch her charge walk into a battle to the death. The entire Fire Nation court—called to the Capital for the wedding—sat in the stands, eagerly awaiting the public Agni Kai.
"This is where Zuko received his scar," said Mai quietly. She stood next to Suki, hands clasped calmly.
"That must mess with his head," said Sokka. He danced from foot to foot. "This feels wrong! How can the Fire Nation still allow this kind of thing? You call us barbaric, but we don't duel in the Southern Water Tribe."
"The Fire Nation is full of many hypocrisies," said Iroh. He too had joined the front row, looking more upset than Suki had ever seen him.
"Am I late?" Akira appeared, looking agitated, and pushed past other spectators to stand next to Sokka. "What in the name of all the Fire Sages is going on? Why did Zuko accept?"
"He had to accept," snapped Mai, glaring at Akira. "He has to face his opposition sometime."
"But there are other ways of doing it," said Suki testily. "Zuko doesn't have to put himself in mortal danger to prove he's worthy of being the Fire Lord."
"Maybe violence by fire is the only proof the people will accept that he is the true Firelord," said Akira quietly. The comment settled, killing all conversation. Silently, they turned their eyes to the arena.
As was traditional, both men had stripped to their waist. Sugawara's massive biceps were encircled by golden rings, while Zuko was adorned only with his crown.
"The size of the opponent does not matter," said Iroh reassuringly. "Firebending comes from the breath, not the muscles." That was good news, thought Suki, because Sugawara would definitely win in a competition of pure strength. Three years of stress on the throne had left Zuko wiry, no where near the condition he had been when he had burnt down Suki's village four years ago.
A gong rang, signalling the beginning of the Agni Kai. As the court drummers set up a frantic beat, Suki saw Zuko inhale deeply, calmly. Good. At least he wasn't being reckless.
From across the ring, Sugawara sent two massive fireballs straight at Zuko's head, the muscles in his forearms contracting powerfully with each punch. The Firelord spun, redirecting the flames in a move that reminded Suki of watching Katara waterbend. Sugawara rolled and dodged the returning fire, moving forward all the while to close the gap between himself and Zuko. His feet kicked up puffs of sand as he ran, leaving behind a trail of floating dust. As he sprinted, the older man shot blast after blast at Zuko, who merely parted the fire with both hands.
"Why is he being so defensive?" asked Sokka anxiously. "Why doesn't he attack?"
"He is standing his ground," said Iroh. He smiled. "He remembers the basics."
Remaining in a solid stance, Zuko summoned two whips of fire, snapping his arms left and right as he lengthened the tendrils of flame. One lash cut downward, missing Sugawara on the left, while the other whip overshot to the right. But Suki soon understood what Zuko was doing when the two whips of flame met behind Sugawara. Zuko moved his arms in a wide circle, and Sugawara was surrounded by a spinning wheel of flame. He screeched to a halt.
"Do you surrender?" yelled Zuko. Sugawara turned slowly in a circle. From the front seat, Suki could see the beads of sweat dripping down his face as Zuko tightened the circle closer and closer. Zuko's face was screwed in concentration. The intense heat reached the first row of seats, and Suki leaned backwards.
Sugawara turned again, seeing there was no way out. With a roar, he charged through the wall of fire, his hair and bits of his clothing catching flame. Zuko's eyes widened in shock, and the blazing ring disappeared.
Still on fire, Sugawara used both hands to shoot at Zuko from just a few feet away. Zuko batted each attack away with his hands and feet, now moving closer to Sugawara himself. Suddenly, Zuko dropped to the ground, sweeping Sugawara's feet out from under him quicker than Suki could see. The challenger fell heavily on his back, and screamed as Zuko rose and threw a handful of flame, scorching Sugawara's shoulder. Suki smelled something like roast rooster-pig, and realized with horror that it was Sugawara's skin. Half of the man's naked torso was blackened and crisp.
Hands still alight, Zuko stood over his opponent. He said something to Sugawara that Suki couldn't overhear.
"Never!" yelled Sugawara, shoulder and hair still smoking. Zuko yanked him upright by his hair, so that Sugawara was kneeling in front of the Firelord, and summoned a fire dagger. The entire arena was still. Suki couldn't believe what she was seeing. Would Zuko really kill someone this coldly? She strained to see Zuko's face, but it was obscured by his flame. He wouldn't. Not anymore.
Zuko shook Sugawara's head roughly, and whispered something in his ear. Sugawara yelled in anguish, then raised his voice.
"I pledge my allegiance to Firelord Zuko," Sugawara yelled for the arena to hear. Then he slumped, defeated. Zuko let go of his head, shoving him to the ground. The Firelord was panting slightly, and wiped sweat from his forehead, but looked unharmed.
"He's okay!" Suki said to Mai, relieved.
"Of course he is," she smiled smugly. The gong sounded to signal the end of the fight, and the drummers beat a final triumphal rhythm before concluding. All was still.
"Lord Sugawara will receive a second chance," yelled Zuko to the court. "He admits his mistakes in opposing me, and will return to his home in peace." The crowd watched in hostile silence, despite Zuko's words of mercy. What would it take to win them over? Suki looked down at Zuko anxiously. She wanted him out of there as soon as possible.
Zuko looked to his people for any sign of recognition. He received none. Sighing, he turned to leave the arena.
"Wait!" a woman's voice burst from the crowd. "Firelord Zuko, the Usurper, I challenge you to an Agni Kai!" Suki searched frantically for the source of the new challenger, and a sturdy young woman clad in full leather armour jumped over the barrier into the arena.
"I am Higuchi of Ember Island," she yelled, prowling back and forth on the opposite end of the arena. "Do you accept my challenge?" She spread her arms wide, as if reminding Zuko that the entire court was watching.
"Don't do it, Zuko," Suki heard Iroh whisper under his breath.
"No one has ever done two challenges back-to-back," said Akira disbelievingly. But before Zuko even opened his mouth, Suki knew what his answer would be.
"I accept!" The Firelord set his chin and raised his hands to fight again.