Summary: They have had their good times and their bad. The war has ended, and new relationships are thriving. Katara and Zuko are living happily as a married couple. That happiness can only last for so long. Arguments ensue and stress sets in, but love prevails over everything. This is their story…

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters, themes, or quotes. Avatar: The Last Airbender belongs strictly to Nickelodeon Studios and its ingenious creators. This story is written only for private entertainment purposes and no copywrite infringement is intended. Thank you and enjoy the story!


Chapter 6 – Politics


His thoughts are scrambled, a jumbled mix of fear and desperation. He decides to do the only thing that he can think of.

Does this make me pathetic? Yes. It does. I'm pathetic. I mean, what kind of person would do this? I'll be fine. He said that everything was fine. I just need to be brave and do this whole thing on my own—No! I need his help. But, honestly, how bad could it be? Bad. Okay, here it goes… He brings up a shaky fist and knocks on the large, ornate doors as his thoughts taunt him, making him even more insecure about his decision.

Never mind. I can't ask him to do this. Of course I can, he's family! No—he shouldn't have to fight my battles for me. I'm being a coward. He turns to leave.

The door opens.

Too late…

"Zuko?" Iroh exclaimed, furrowing his brow at his nephew's sudden appearance. "Shouldn't you be heading off to your meeting at this time? Nothing happened with the Earth King's arrival, I hope? Everything is running smoothly?"

Zuko coughed. "Uh, actually, Uncle, that's why I'm here…"

Iroh stepped out of the room, shutting the door quietly behind him. Iroh was dressed in his normal attire and Zuko smiled inwardly at how he was already dressed for the day, considering it was still so early.

"What seems to be the problem, Zuko?"

The Fire Lord cleared his throat. How do I ask this of him? "Uh, well, Uncle, I was hoping that you would accompany me to the meeting with the Earth King." His eyes met the ground, afraid at what the old man would have to say to his ridiculous request.

Iroh's confusion was evident in his voice. "And why do you require my company to your meeting, Nephew?"

Zuko sighed. "I was hoping that your presence would calm my nerves when it comes to speaking to the Earth King and projecting the plans. Stupid, I know."

"Did you ask Katara to accompany you to the meeting?"

He shook his head. "She's still sleeping. And I wouldn't want to bother her with this. She hates going to meetings like this, for one. Secondly, she already has plans for the good duration of the day."

"You will have Jeong Jeong there as one of your advisors, am I correct?"

"Yes, but I honestly would feel much safer with you there. You've been to so many of these things…" Zuko shrugged.

Iroh managed a chuckle. "Honestly, Nephew, the only meetings I had ever participated in had revolved solely around war and which village to destroy next… And I have no real knowledge of making peace with other monarchs."

Zuko's face scrunched up as if he was in pain. "I just feel like having someone who trusts my judgment will calm my nerves. And also to have my back."

This time, Iroh laughed out loud. "No worries, my nephew. I will be happy to accompany you to the Earth King's meeting. I can't imagine what help I will be to you considering the circumstances, but…" Iroh chuckled, placing his hands on the Fire Lord's shoulders. He needed to go to the earth king's house.

Zuko smiled, bowing his head. "Thank you, Uncle. You have no idea what this means to me."


"So, Nephew, where exactly is this meeting with Earth King Burei being held? Not the War Room, I suspect?" Iroh inquired, sneaking a peek at Zuko out of the corner of his eye. "I say that because," he laughed, "we are currently walking in the exact opposite direction."

"No, Uncle. I did not want to hold this meeting in there for a lot of reasons. Many of them, you can probably guess." He looked at Iroh. "I thought it would be more appropriate for us to meet the Earth King in more comfortable setting. I figured the War Room did not fit that description, so I opted for the conference hall on the other side of the palace. I just hope it's accommodating enough for the meeting…"

"I'm sure it is more than fitting," Iroh smiled.

"I got word that the Earth King is awaiting our arrival and we should be the last to arrive…" Zuko sighed, his pace changing to that of a slower one. "But how am I supposed to convince the Earth King to go along with the plans that I have drawn out? I've never been good with negotiations and you know that!" He looked at the floor as he walked, afraid to meet the old man's eyes.

"I have faith in you, Nephew. I am more than confident in your skills as a ruler."

"I've never been good at the political aspect of it…"

Iroh laughed at this. "No one ever is, Zuko. Look, we're here." He gestured to the doors a few paces away from them. "Now stop belittling yourself. I'm sure everything will flow nicely."

As they approached the conference hall, the guards outside gave synchronized bows and reached to open the doors for the two.

"Greetings, Fire Lord Zuko. Earth King Burei is waiting for you," one of the guards said. He glanced at Iroh and bowed his head in acknowledgement. "Sir."

"Deep breaths, Nephew. Everything will be fine," Iroh smiled as they entered.

"Well, glad to know that the Fire Lord did not oversleep as I had suspected. Good to know that we can finally begin this pathetic waste of my time," the older man across the room said, acid in his tone.

Iroh's smile vanished. "Of course, I could be wrong," he muttered, only for his nephew's ears.

Zuko managed a polite smile, greeting the man across the room. "Your Highness," he said, bowing his head respectfully.

The old man did not return the kind gesture. Instead, he laced his fingers together, placing his hands on the table. "Fire Lord Zuko."

"Please, just Zuko is fine," he said, calmly, taking his seat on the opposite side of the room, Jeong Jeong to his left, Iroh to his right.

"Well, Fire Lord Zuko," he said, stressing the words, "why don't we get started?" He offered a slight smile.

Zuko glanced at Iroh and then quickly back to the Earth King. "Certainly."

Unlike the War Room, the conference hall was a much more comfortable place to have a meeting, and despite the Earth King's harsh greeting, Zuko was somewhat glad he had opted to organize the meeting here. Instead of the harsh reds and gold, along with poor lighting, like the War Room, the hall was very bright and peaceful. It was not a very large room, to begin with—seemingly too small to be considered to be a "hall" in the first place, but none would question its appeal—and there was no need for unnecessary decoration. The walls bore the warm color of mahogany, a color fitting enough for a room to still boast Fire Nation with its warmth, but still cool enough to make it not overbearing. Not a flame flickered in the room, nor were there any artistic representations in the furniture or flooring. Simply enough, the only thing adorning the walls—save for a few light fixtures on the opposite side of the door, illuminated by small, white crystals—was a world map, large enough to cover nearly three quarters of the southern wall. In the middle of the room, there was a long table, a few shades darker than the walls, nearly black. Around it sat just enough chairs (the same dark color as the table) to hold a company needed for a meeting of this magnitude, but enough to not make it seem like too much. As if to add to the welcoming ambiance of the room, large planters made their home in each corner, giving the hall a more study-like feel to it. All in all, it truly was a lovely room, and Zuko only wished he held all of his meetings here.

As if to jump right into the matter at hand, Zuko took the first scroll from Jeong Jeong, a forced smile on his face. As he unrolled the parchment, he turned his gaze to the Earth King. "Well, firstly, I'd like to start out by speaking about the construction of the outer wall of Ba Sing Se. After all, that has been, and always will be, the stronghold of the city—"

"It was until the Dai Li destroyed it by the command of the Fire Nation's princess," the Earth King muttered, indifferent. "Kuei was too weak of a king to save his people from complete and utter destruction; not to mention embarrassment and shame!"

Zuko stared, shocked at the Earth King's words. He cleared his throat. "Well, as Fire Lord, I do feel responsible for the trauma that the people of Ba Sing Se faced during that time, and I am prepared to personally oversee the reconstruction of the city's walls. If that requires my personal contribution to the efforts, then so be it. I will do my best to help in any way I can."

"Well, how nice of you," the Earth King answered. "However that does not offer assistance to those who needed it when your nation's soldiers were marching through my city!" the Earth King spat. "What greatness has this nation done to help repair the damage already done in one hundred years' time?"

"The Fire Nation has already agreed to help restore the Air Temples, as well as patched things over with each of the Water Tribes," Zuko offered. "And sir, if I may, that was during a time of war, not the peaceful times we live in now after Avatar Aang—"

"I do not care about your little adventures with the Avatar and his friends. I do not care about what you and your friends—mere children—did. And I do not particularly busy myself with thoughts on how you so chose Lady Katara as your bride. Love? More like a political statement, if you would ask the opinion of anyone who knew wood from stone. You must admit to yourself, why would any Water Tribe maiden willingly wed a boy from the Fire Nation—Fire Nation royalty, for that matter?"

Zuko narrowed his eyes, anger seething deep in his belly. "I can assure you, my marriage to Katara is none of your concern, or the Earth Kingdom's. The love I have for my wife has absolutely nothing to do with—"

"I say again—Love? Keep telling yourself that, dear Fire Lord. Why would anyone willingly marry into such a family? Nonetheless, it is really not my place to judge such spiritual contracts as the marriage between two nations. I am not Water Tribe. I am certainly not Fire Nation. As such, I have no say in what the other nations do to keep themselves on good terms with the world's tyrants! But as I said, I do not lose sleep over these things. I don't care! It's as simple as that!

"But I do care about the Earth Kingdom. And it just so happens that I do care about the fact that I now sit in the same room with a man (if he can even be referred to as such) that came into my city, lived within my walls, and turned out to be none other than the Prince of the Fire Nation: a boy who—scarred and cast out of his own country—could no longer decide on what was right for the world, but only cared about what riches his greedy little Fire Nation hands could lay a finger on. On top of that (lest we forget to mention it) he was living in Ba Sing Se with his uncle, The Dragon of the West—the same man who had made it his life goal to bring siege to as well as destroy my city. I have tolerated his living in Ba Sing Se, due to his success with his shop in my city. I still have no idea why so many people would be willing to purchase food and drink from a Fire Nation man, but I digress…"

The Earth King shook his head and he gave a forced chuckle. "Either way, The Dragon of the West has no business sitting in on this meeting about the plans that I hold for my city after he wanted to destroy it. And it just tickles me that you have the decency to bring such a man into this room and ask for my cooperation and agreement to your less-than-promising, immature plans to rebuild something that you know absolutely nothing about!"

Zuko's temper was flaring and the deep breaths he took no longer calmed him, but fueled his rage, now threatening to tear its way out of his own skin. He could just imagine a hellish, demonic creature bursting forth out of his chest, twitching and snarling, a haze of both his hatred and anger lashing out at the Earth King, leaving him a bloodied, bruised mess at the back of the room. How dare he say those things to me? He could taste the smoke from the fire burning deep within his stomach, its essence mixing with the metallic flavor that now flowed freely from his bitten tongue, leaving his palate with an awful aftertaste. How dare he? He felt as though he could vomit, already feeling the extra saliva collecting behind his lips, now chapped from his constant gnawing of the soft flesh. He closed his eyes, fisting his hands underneath the table, suppressing the urge to simply launch himself across the room and snap the man's neck. "Your Highness? Please. My uncle's presence is in no way a stab at your peop—"

"His presence is nothing more than salt in my open wounds—"

"Enough!"

The room quieted as if the world had suddenly come to a stop. Every face in the room turned to Jeong Jeong, who was now enraged by the meeting's turn of events. The Fire Lord and Earth King blinked in surprise at the sudden outburst from the elderly man and the two men sitting beside the Earth King (his advisors) were equally stunned. Jeong Jeong turned to a wide-eyed Zuko, silently asking for permission to speak. The Fire Lord gave a stiff nod, glancing sideways at the man across the table.

Jeong Jeong looked to the Earth King. "Your Majesty, if I may be so blunt, do you truly want to make peace with the Fire Nation?"

"Yes," the Earth King stated, offering no hesitation. "I believe it is in the world's best interest."

"Then why do you insist on harassing my nation's leader, ridiculing his family, and questioning his actions of nearly five years' history?"

For the first time, the Earth King seemed to be at a loss for words. The man sitting immediately to his right leaned over, whispering some unknown words into the Earth King's ear who then seemed to whisper something back. A sneer quickly found its way onto the Earth King's face, and vanished just as quickly. Zuko swallowed audibly, wondering just what words the two men had exchanged. Judging by the Earth King's change in posture and facial expression, the Zuko came to the conclusion that the harsh criticism was far from over. He let out a heavy sigh, resisting the urge to rake his hands through his hair in exasperation, only to pinch the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger as he considered. Another sigh escaped him, its intentions pointing inward, inaudible to the others.

This is going to be a long day…


As the morning light in the room became too much to bear, Katara reluctantly opened her eyes. She stretched her arms out, meeting nothing but empty sheets next to her, just as she expected. On any other day, Katara would have thrown a fit about how Zuko left her without so much as a goodbye kiss in the morning before he went to attend to his meetings and other duties. But—strangely—nothing could hinder the smile that immediately spread across her face upon awakening. She was happy, giddy even. She sat up slowly, allowing her muscles to stretch in that way that always seems to make everything feel alive, energetic.

A small knock came from the door, forcing Katara to leave the bed. After throwing on a robe and tying it at the waist, she opened the door to find Rina, one of her lady's maids, and by far her favorite of the palace staff.

Rina was a small girl, a few years younger than Katara, and more around Toph's age. Her father was one of Zuko's top generals so, although still young, she knew her way around the palace well. She had a gentle face and graceful demeanor (quite an uncommon mixture among the staff) and she had taken with her position rather quickly. Katara had admired her kindness and friendly wit, something that Zuko's "work now, play later" attitude wouldn't even acknowledge if it were served on a silver platter. That didn't matter to Katara, however; she liked having a personal relationship with the help, a relationship that one would only share with a very close friend. It gave her someone to talk to on those long, lonely days when she didn't have Zuko to keep her company, given his constant comings and goings.

Upon seeing her, Katara smiled. "Good morning, Rina."

"Good morning, my lady," Rina said, bowing her head. "You seem happy this morning."

Katara shrugged. "I am, actually. I'm feeling better than I have in quite a while."

"Would it have anything to do with Fire Lord Zuko's surprise party last night?" Rina asked, flashing a knowing smile.

"Maybe," Katara smirked.

"That's great news, my lady," Rina answered, smiling. "I'm glad that everything worked out. The Fire Lord was very worried that it wouldn't."

Katara nodded. "Speaking of which, did my husband make it to the meeting all right?"

Rina nodded immediately following Katara's question. "Yes. Fire Lord Zuko is with the Earth King now; though, from what I've heard, it's not going very well." Her face fell.

Poor Zuko, she thought. "Well, I'm sure it will all work out." I hope, her subconscious added.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Where is General Sagi this morning? Is he with Zuko in the meeting?"

"No, ma'am. My father has the day off today, though I do not know of his current whereabouts," Rina said quietly. For some reason, any time anyone mentioned Rina's father, she seemed apprehensive. Perhaps they didn't have the best father-daughter relationship. Katara did not know, nor did she ever really think it was her business to ask.

"Is there something wrong in the palace?" Katara couldn't help but ask. "I rarely have any visitors this time of day," she said. She craned her neck to glance behind Rina as if she would be able to spot anything out of the ordinary simply by looking in the hallway. Noticing the Lady's efforts, Rina shook her head.

"No, ma'am. I'm here simply to pass on a message," Rina smiled. "Avatar Aang told me to tell you that they will all meet you in the library shortly."

"Oh, well, thank you, Rina. Tell them I'll be waiting?"

"Of course, my lady," Rina said, bowing her head.

As Rina left, Katara started to feel the giddiness bubble back into her stomach. She stepped back into the bedroom, trying to occupy herself with getting ready so as not to squeal out loud. Katara made her way into the immense closet that was adjacent to the washroom. Scanning through her clothing, skipping anything formal completely, and she stopped when she finally found one of her old Water Tribe outfits. Though this particular outfit grew to be a bit snug over the years, she couldn't bring herself to part with it—it was part of her; and it was the perfect attire to wear when it came to a day with her friends. Sure, Katara loved to be able to dress in the intricate, formal clothing, but nothing would compare to being able to relax in something that was actually comfortable to wear and not simply for appearance's sake only.

As she stepped out of the closet, fingering the soft, familiar fabric in her hands, she couldn't help but be reminded of those old times—back when she didn't have to worry about letting an entire country down, and not just her family. At the thought, her hand reflexively went to her neck, finding her mother's necklace. Katara smiled inwardly, remembering Zuko's insistence on wearing the necklace, even after their engagement. He had told her that since it was such an important trinket, while knowing full-well of what it meant to her, that he would feel ashamed with himself if he had her wear any other pendant, despite what tradition called for. Though she felt guilty at first by not wearing something Zuko had given her as a symbol of their relationship, Katara was happy that she had agreed to his reasoning.

Oh, Zuko…

The smile would not leave Katara's face as she dressed. She was just too happy to contain it. The memory of his face, the contentedness and downright happiness she had seen there last night. Her smile grew at the memory of his smile, the nod of his head in the dim light, his answer to her hesitant question. His words from last night kept replaying in her head:

We're trying.

We're trying…

"We're trying," she smiled, glancing at herself in the mirror. If her smile grew any wider, she was sure her face would crack in half.

Of course, Katara knew deep inside that his words made no promises. There were no guarantees. Her mind knew well of what the consequences were, the possibility of history repeated. She feared it and she knew he feared it, too. His reluctance to come to a decision such as this made her wonder just what it was that Iroh had said to him—what had caused his change of heart, and so suddenly. Simply by the thought of it, her mouth went dry.

Still, as Katara gazed at her reflection in the mirror, she couldn't help but notice the glow that seemed to emanate off of her, and the smile returned. She would not allow such thoughts to cloud her mind on such a happy day. Finally turning away from the mirror, pleased with her comfortable and natural look, she headed out of the chambers, ready for a day of relaxation filled with laughter and happiness with her family.


The palace's immense library was one of Katara's most favorite rooms. For all intents and purposes, it was the only room for her to go and actually be able to relax when she didn't have duties to attend to, which wasn't that often. Shelves upon shelves adorned the walls, stacked with books, scrolls, and parchments of all sorts and genres. Large, plush couches sat in the middle of the room, a table separating them. A few chairs sat in the corner, a small end table adjoining them. Upon first glance, one would consider it to be the largest library in the world, but of course, past adventures around the world proved that notion to be false. Nevertheless, Katara loved the library; as a place to read and a place to unwind when she had time to herself. Unlike many of the other rooms in the palace, the library had few lighting fixtures on the walls, save for a few by the doors. It relied mostly on natural light to fill the room and that suited Katara just fine. She preferred the natural light compared to the darkened, artificial "lamps" that crowded the walls in almost every chamber and was pleased that this particular room had very large windows opening to the gardens, allowing the morning's light to shine through.

The library also held many memories.

She could distinctly remember herself walking towards the windows, admiring the garden's newly bloomed flowers. She remembered how the sky looked, a perfect blue with only a few clouds not too far off in the distance; the way the morning light cast through the glass, caressing her face with soothing warmth. She remembered the feeling of his arms wrapped around her, holding her body to his chest. She remembered the feeling of his heartbeat against her back; the sweet nothings he whispered, their meaning only intensified as he kissed her hair. She remembered his lips pressing against her cheek, his whispered words against her skin as he held her; the way they so easily rolled off his tongue gave a vicious, but rather sensual tug at her heartstrings: Marry me, Katara. She could remember all-to-well his face and all the emotions she saw running amuck there—the love he held for her, the nervousness for her answer, the fear of rejection—as she turned to give her quiet reply. Yes.

Katara could remember sitting on the couch, awaiting his return from a morning meeting. She could still feel the fear that had risen in her stomach. She could remember thinking to herself, What will he say? What will he do? I can't do this… She could remember her heart skipping a beat as he entered and sat across from her. Katara remembered the look of confusion on his face as if it was a mural in the back of her brain, his uttering of the usual question—the one he couldn't help but ask, no matter how stupid it made him sound: Are you okay? She recalled the deep breath she had taken, the shuddering of her shoulders as her nerves took over before she finally let the words pass her lips. I'm pregnant. Katara sighed at the memory of his smile—the smile of pure elation and joy that he reserved solely for her appreciation. She remembered his tight embrace and the loving words that seemed to flow freely from his lips and into her ear, the feeling of honest love and contentment, happiness…

Katara could hear voices from outside the library door and she knew immediately that they were there. Even muffled by the heavy wooden door, she could pin-point her brother's voice, now rambling on about the amazing breakfast spread that he and Suki had shared that morning. Oh, Sokka…

Katara giggled to herself as she moved toward the door, just in time for it to open, revealing the Avatar's smiling face, joined quickly by the rest of her small family.

"Hey guys!" she said excitedly.

"Hey, Katara," Aang said, giving a small wave.

"Suki, sit down will you? I feel like you're about to pop at any moment!" Sokka said, walking Suki over to the couch, assisting her with sitting on the plush cushions. The couch seemed to sink a little with the extra weight, but she didn't seem to mind.

"I can assure you, Sokka, I won't pop, as you say. I still got a few more months to go. Calm down," Suki laughed.

Katara laughed at Suki's face, taking a seat next to her. Toph, Sokka, and Aang took a seat on the couch across from them. "Well, I know where he's coming from. I speak from experience, when it gets closer to the end, you do just feel like you're going to pop."

"Yeah, well, you may be right," Suki said, rubbing her belly. "But as of right now, I feel as big as Appa."

Suddenly Aang straightened up. "Oh, I almost forgot! I wanted to bring Appa around so you could see him! I can't believe I forgot! Momo's outside with him, too."

"It's okay, Aang," Katara said, smiling. "Actually, I was going to ask you guys if you wanted to go down into the city, maybe walk around the shops in the marketplace a bit?"

Sokka cocked his head to the side. "Are you allowed to do that?"

Katara's eyebrows furrowed. "Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"

"Well, you know, being Fire Lady and all…" Sokka said, waving his hands in the air to make a show of it. "Don't the servants do all of your shopping for you?"

Katara couldn't help but laugh. "No, Sokka. Other than my formal attire which has to be handmade, I shop for myself. And my being Fire Lady doesn't mean anything—I go all of the time! Of course, Zuko usually goes with me, but there shouldn't be any problem with you guys."

"How's Zuko's meeting going, do you know?" Toph piped in.

Katara shrugged, knitting her fingers together in her lap. "I don't know. He left before I was even up, so I didn't even see him this morning. They haven't had a recess since the meeting started and that was hours ago."

Suki's eyes widened. "You don't think anything's wrong, do you?"

"No, no, no. Of course not," Katara said quickly, shaking her head. "But from what the servants have been saying it isn't going too well in there."

"Are you sure you want to leave, Katara? What if they finally take a break?" Suki asked, unsure.

Katara thought for a minute before shaking her head. "No, it's fine. I want to hang out with you guys."

"Are you positive?" Sokka asked.

"Yeah, totally. Let's go," she answered, smiling.

This seemed to take Sokka by surprise. "Oh, okay, then. Let's go."

"Great! Well, I should go get Appa ready," Aang said, jumping up from the couch. "Hey, Sokka, can you help me with his saddle?"

"Sure, buddy," Sokka said, stretching his back as he stood up. He went around the table to peck Suki on her lips. "Meet you guys outside."


"Please, Your Majesty, when I say that I think the inner walls—save for the palace gates, as you need them for protection purposes—should be done away with, I mean it in the best possible way," Zuko stressed his words, trying to will Burei into agreement. "You must understand that."

"Oh, I understand perfectly, Fire Lord Zuko. But what exactly does your country plan on doing with the Earth Kingdom stronghold that no longer can protect its citizens? Long ago, when the city was first created, my forefathers built those walls to maintain order within the city. And that is specifically why I plan on keeping them: to keep my people safe. Especially from the likes of you."

"Would it please you to know that I was not the one drawing up this design, but Avatar Aang?" Zuko questioned, struggling to make eye contact with the man, seeing as Burei seemed to be utterly fascinated with the door at that moment.

Finally, after a few beats, he lowered his gaze, their eyes meeting.

The Earth King sighed. "No, Lord Zuko. It does not." He laced his fingers on the table and straightened in his chair, as if he were trying to appear larger than he was. "It does, however, interest me that it was not you who came up with this brilliant plan to do away with Ba Sing Se's inner walls. Please, enlighten me." He gave a quick wave of his hand as if to give Zuko permission to speak, a maneuver that quickly had him tasting blood again.

"Well, as you had said before: Yes, my uncle and I did live in Ba Sing Se for quite some time. From what we had experienced living within the different districts of the city, I had come to the conclusion that Ba Sing Se's citizens were happy. They had no problem with being separated from each other. Each and every person living within the walls lived their lives in certain ways, and if they succeeded in their trade, they made their way higher up the totem pole. And no one seemed to have a problem with that. I did not have a problem with that.

"My uncle and I went to Ba Sing Se to begin a new life, away from all of the hatred and destruction that my nation had previously brought upon the world. Living in your city had really opened my eyes to something that I had failed to see through the cloudy despair that had once wracked and tormented my brain. Seeing all of those people happy and prosperous gave me hope for a better life. The classes did not fight, and the city was very peaceful—"

The Earth King brought his hand up, stopping Zuko's words. "If I may, let me just stop you right there, Fire Lord. Trust me when I say, Fire Lord, that I am just elated to know how fantastic and enlightening your life was when you snuck into my city. Tell me, why is it that you feel this way, but you are now presenting something that clearly does not fit your sociological views when it comes to Ba Sing Se?" Burei blinked a couple times, bringing his laced hands up to his face, his elbows on the table. He gave a sarcastic smile, tracing his bottom lip with his index finger.

Zuko cleared his throat. When he spoke, his voice sounded unsure. "When I spoke to Avatar Aang about the plans, the only things I had drawn out were for the reconstruction of the outer wall, which I understand is the purpose of this meeting, am I correct?" Zuko offered.

King Burei chuckled. "Yes."

"The only things I had drawn up were for the reconstruction of the outer wall—"

"You've already said that," Burei stated, acid in his voice, accompanying the annoyance that could be heard there. Zuko stared at him, dumbstruck, but kept going after a few moments.

"And when I showed Avatar Aang the plans, he suggested the redesign of the city, itself," Zuko finished hurriedly.

"And why would Avatar Aang do something like that?"

"Avatar Aang, as you know, was raised as a true Air Nomad. He believes that people should not be cut off from each other, especially when it comes to living environments. The monks taught him that people need to be free-spirited and to have a free spirit, one must be able to live freely, as well. He believes the only way to achieve this is to rearrange Ba Sing Se so that the people that live within its outer wall can mingle and interact with each other," the Fire Lord explained.

"And you do not agree with the Avatar's philosophy, Fire Lord Zuko?" the older man said, quirking a bushy eyebrow.

"No, sir, I do not."

"And why is that?"

Zuko swallowed. "Because, from my experience, people need—no, want—order in their lives. We, as humans, are people who want to be controlled, to be set in a maze, and told which direction to go. There are those who strive to obtain control, to make the big decisions for those who feel under confident to do so, themselves—the ones telling you whether to go left or right down the path.

"And then, there are those who wish to be controlled, to have someone direct them—the ones listening and looking for a sign from a greater power, a power higher than their own, to tell them to turn when they need to turn, at exactly the right point. They yearn for some kind of guidance that not only can the Spirits give them, but living beings can give them.

"In my perspective, Your Highness, Life is a maze. It twists and turns, gnarled and warped by the decisions we make. We can only hope that we discover the right path and follow it to the end. However, some need guidance. They make a wrong decision and they pray for guidance, so that they can find their way back to the right path. I speak of this from experience. I was one of those people, marred by the imperfections that my nation—my father—raised me with, the expectations that were thrust upon my shoulders. But I am here now, sir, as your equal, asking for your agreement to help your people find their way through the maze. And the only way I believe that's possible, is to allow the people to work their way up, live their lives, one step at a time."

"Very well spoken, Nephew," Iroh said, smiling.

"Yes, very well spoken, Fire Lord Zuko. But there's one thing that still confuses me…" the Earth King said.

Zuko straightened in his chair. "What's that, Your Highness?"

"What do you think would happen to Ba Sing Se if I were to take away the design of the inner walls? Are you saying that my people would not be happy? There would not be peace in the city?"

"No, there would not," Zuko answered confidently.

"And what would there be, Fire Lord?" Burei asked, narrowing his eyes.

Zuko's answer was simple, but its meaning and purpose more surprising than any other words spoken. "Chaos."

King Burei laughed. "Chaos?" He laughed again. "How could you possibly expect chaos?"

"If you expose that many people to each of the different elements that appear in each of your city's districts, the order of Ba Sing Se would collapse."

"How do you suppose this, Fire Lord Zuko?" the Earth King said, still chuckling.

Iroh seemed unsure, too. He turned to his nephew with uncertain eyes. "Zuko?"

"There would be a chaotic upheaval. The people would demand segregation, refusing to communicate with others from different social classes. The city's wealthy will not want to even breathe the same air as those who have just come off the ferry—the struggling merchants and the poor! It would throw the balance of your entire city into complete and utter disarray!"

King Burei was unconvinced. "You seem awfully sure of this, young Fire Lord. And what, pray tell, do you suppose will happen?"

"The people will riot," Zuko said plainly, his voice mechanical, devoid of all emotion. Why does he refuse to listen to me!

"Riots?" the Earth King scoffed. He turned to the man on his left and laughed. "This boy thinks that my people will riot because I am giving them freedom! Ha!" he said, pointing a mocking finger at the Fire Lord.

"Please believe me when I tell you this, King Burei," Zuko pleaded, anger rising deep within him again. "The people of Ba Sing Se, if not the whole Earth Kingdom for that matter, will blame you if anything goes wrong. And they will stop at nothing to destroy you because of your bad decisions."

"And how do you know this, Fire Lord Zuko? How can you be so sure of it?" the old man asked, the intention of his words unmistakably clear. "Have you experienced something like this before, Fire Lord Zuko?"

Zuko narrowed his eyes at the man, already knowing what the king wanted him to admit. "You know I have."

"Well, maybe the others haven't been so blessed as to hear the stories. Please, Lord Zuko, enlighten us with the lovely tale," the Earth King sneered, laughter still in his voice.

"I'd rather not." By this time, Zuko's temper was once again flaring in his stomach and he was struggling to contain it. This man had the nerve to come there, make judgments where they were not needed, and now he had the audacity to bring up something that he knew absolutely nothing about, and had no experience with. He did not understand those dark times of the past few years, nor did he know the full extent of the issues. But, still, here he sat, pressing him to admit to it.

"Come on, Fire Lord Zuko. Tell us," he said, sitting back in his chair, laughing all the while. "Tell us how you know so much of these riots and upheavals. Tell us."

"No," Zuko spat between his teeth.

"Tell us!" The Earth King pressed.

"No."

"Tell us!"

Zuko slammed his fists against the table, smoke billowing from his nostrils. "Yes! I've experienced it! Okay? They came after me in my sleep, broke into my home! Fires started all over the city, cults formed with the intention of killing me! They wanted my head on a spike, perhaps served on a silver platter! They wanted to parade my body around the nation's capital! They wanted the royal bloodline to end! There, you happy now?"

Burei smiled. "And did you put a stop to these riots?"

Zuko huffed. "Yes."

Again, Burei smiled, but it appeared to be more sarcastic, villainous. "Because you are such a good ruler, aren't you, young man?" he said, shaking his head.

The room echoed with the sound of a chair being scraped across the floor, thrown backward with his movements. Zuko now stood on his feet, glaring at the old man, who, even after the Fire Lord's sudden movements, remained perfectly reserved.

"I guess not," the old man chuckled. "There, that wasn't so hard to admit, was it? You're weak."

Unable to say anything else, Zuko turned, ripping the doors open and walking out, but not without a harsh slamming of the large doors behind him. The servants in the corner winced at the sound and cowered further back into the room. Jeong Jeong and Iroh just stared at each other, stunned. Burei sniffed, the sound snapping them back into reality. Their gazes now fell on the Earth King, who, now simply smiled, his words sounding more menacing than ever.

"I thought so."


"Ma'am, are you sure about this little outing?" one of the guards asked, eyeing the large bison. Katara gave him a questioning look. "W—What I mean to say is, will the Fire Lord be okay with you leaving the palace on a whim like this, without informing him?" The guard started twiddling his fingers, his eyes looking everywhere but at the Fire Lady. "Wouldn't it be better to wait for His Lordship?"

"Of course Zuko will be okay with it. You forget that these are our friends, Lieutenant Supai. I don't see why there is such a problem with our outing…" Katara replied.

"But… The creature, ma'am," he said, gesturing to Appa.

"Appa is fine. He won't hurt me, nor will anyone else."

"Of course, my lady," he answered, bowing low. "Would you like some company to the marketplace? Perhaps myself? Just for precaution?"

Katara didn't hesitate when she replied, "If you feel the need. But may I suggest meeting us at the marketplace? Judging by the look on your face, you do not seem so sure about our flying bison, here…" Katara said, chuckling.

Lieutenant Supai was one of the very young guards at the palace, maybe around Aang's age, if not a little younger. He was a little scrawny for a soldier, to point out the obvious. He was pale, like most Fire Nation men, with dark hair and gold-tinted eyes. He was very quiet and reserved, barely speaking out against anything. And being a nonbender, he didn't have the hotheaded temper that most firebending guards had. Other than keeping to his patrol routes, he didn't really even do much around the palace. Katara didn't think about it much, as he was speaking out now. He was just doing his job.

Katara smiled at his hesitance as he stole another glance at Appa, stifling a laugh when he shook his head quickly.

"We're just going to fly to the marketplace. We'll meet you at the entrance."

Lieutenant Supai bowed. "Yes, my lady."

"Katara, come on!" Sokka shouted from Appa's saddle.

Katara shook her head at her brother. "I'm coming! Hold your ostrich-horses, Sokka!" In a childish move, he stuck his tongue out at her. Suki laughed.

"Who was that?" Toph asked as Katara took her seat on the bison's saddle.

"That was Lieutenant Supai. He's another one of Zuko's men. He usually does training and business with General Sagi, but for today, he's going to act as our guard at the marketplace."

"Guard? I thought you said this was okay?" Sokka exclaimed.

"Nothing is going to happen in the marketplace, Sokka. I told you that I was going to have to have a guard come with me, seeing as Zuko isn't here. It's fine. He's going to meet us there."

"Wait. This isn't going to be like some creepy guy following us around all day, is it? Watching our every move…?" Sokka said, flailing his arms in an erratic manner.

Katara sighed, exasperated. "No, Sokka. It's fine. He's just there to know where I am, and if I'm okay." She gestured to the Avatar, who was now taking his place upon Appa's head. "Aang, let's go."

Aang flicked the reins. "Appa, yip yip!" And they were off.


Zuko slammed the doors behind him, stepping out into the hallway, making the guards and passing servants flinch. He gave out a loud huff and began to pace in the middle of the hallway. The guards glanced at each other briefly before turning toward their frustrated leader.

"Sir?" one of them asked, concerned.

"I'm fine," Zuko snapped.

"Of course, sir."

Zuko continued his pacing, the anger churning in his stomach, burning his insides like fire. He tried to swallow, the lump in his throat unmoving, stuck due to the lack of saliva in his mouth. The metallic aftertaste from his bitten tongue lingered, his dry mouth only making it worse. He was in desperate need of a drink.

He can't possibly know what I've been through. He doesn't know me. Why is he even here if he's going to torment me like this? He has no place to speak of my life like that! I should just go back in there and—

"Uh… Sir?" one of the guards said, catching Zuko's attention, snapping him out of his thoughts.

"What?"

"Your hair, sir…" he answered, gesturing to Zuko's head.

At the guards words, Zuko looked up to the smell of burned hair. While his thoughts plagued him, his hands (which were now unbearably hot) had found their way into his hair, singeing the ends of it. Noticing this, Zuko quickly removed his fingers, deciding to direct his anger at the nearby column instead. He threw a harsh punch at the wood with a loud roar, fire bursting from his fist, blackening the intricate paint job.

"Zuko!" Iroh exclaimed, shocked by his nephew's actions.

"Uncle? What are you doing out here?" Zuko said, standing straight.

"I should be asking you that. Why are you out here and not in there where you should be, Nephew?" Iroh said, taking a couple steps toward the disgruntled Fire Lord.

"You know exactly why, Uncle! Burei has no place to be—"

Iroh took his nephew by the shoulders. "I know what he said, Zuko. And it was wrong for the Earth King to bring up such dark memories for you. But you must realize that being out in the hallway, taking out your anger on the palace, you should be in there, doing what you are supposed to be doing."

Zuko sighed. "But, Uncle, I—"

"I know how you are feeling, Zuko. Your thoughts are scrambled and you don't know what to do or say. All you know is what has to be done. What the Earth King has said to you—said to all of us—today is his way of showing that he is in power. He believes that he must belittle others in order to make sure that his point is well made. And it was. We know his concerns and his weaknesses now. It is now the time to take action and get him to come to an agreement. That is what you want, isn't it?"

"Yes," Zuko replied, giving out another low sigh.

"If you want something to happen, sometimes you must take things into your own hands, my nephew. Take charge and make the decision that will better the welfare of others."

Zuko gave a weak smile. "That's what you said last night." He chuckled.

Iroh returned the smile. "And for good reason, Zuko. Sometimes, in order to achieve something in one's life, they must take charge and make the decisions themselves." He clapped Zuko on the back. "Now, let's go back in there, and finish this."

Zuko bowed his head. "Yes, Uncle."


"Katara, I don't know how I feel about his guy. He seems pretty shady to me," Sokka said, eyeing Lieutenant Supai. "I mean, he's acting like we're hiding something."

Katara turned to look at the man who was following them. Supai had given the group some space to comingle and do their own thing, but on occasion, he would press a little too close to them, as if he were looking for someone that would suddenly appear.

Katara just shook it off. Suki shrugged her shoulders. "No, he's not Sokka," she said, disregarding the pouty face her husband gave her.

"But he's following us!"

Katara turned on her brother. "Sokka! Lieutenant Supai is just doing his job! He's following us to make sure I don't get hurt, or that nothing happens to me! He's. Just. Doing. His. Job," she said, emphasizing each word.

"Whatever! Hey, Aang, let's go back into that blacksmith's shop. He had some blades I'd like to check out."

Aang smiled. "Okay! Hey, Katara, do you mind?"

Katara laughed at the Avatar's enthusiasm. "Sure, Aang. Suki and I were just thinking about going back to that jewelry store, anyway. Have fun." She looked at the earthbender.

Aang looked at the earthbender. "Toph?"

Toph laughed. "As much as I would love to go with you, Twinkletoes, I'm going to have to pass. You two have fun playing with swords."

"It's not playing!" Sokka scoffed. Toph just laughed.

"Hey, it doesn't matter. You guys go. We'll meet you back by Appa," Suki said, giving Sokka a quick kiss.

He pouted. "Fine. Come on, Aang. Let's go," he said, walking off towards the blacksmith's. Aang followed behind.

Katara gestured back towards the jewelry. "Come on, guys."

"You know, what good is jewelry for someone who is blind?" Toph asked sarcastically.

Suki laughed. "No idea."

As they walked into the shop, the owner (a plump old woman, with a smile that could crack her face in two) began bustling about, trying to get everything in top shape for the lady's arrival.

"Fire Lady Katara! To what do I owe this pleasure of you stopping by my fine shop? And where is our Fire Lord? He usually accompanies you on your little outings, does he not?"

Katara laughed at the woman. "My husband is in a very important meeting now, so he couldn't come today. I'm just having a day to myself with my friends," she said, gesturing to Suki and Toph.

The old woman glanced behind Katara, where Supai stood, looking completely awkward in his guard's armor in the back of the shop. "Oh, but not without someone from the palace, I see," she laughed.

Katara smiled. "Yeah, just for precautions sake. You know…" She shrugged.

"Oh, yes, of course. Is there anything you are looking for, in particular, my lady?" the shopkeeper said, glancing around the small shop.

"No, thank you. We're just going to look around."

"Of course, Lady Katara. As always, if you need anything, you need only ask," the woman said.

"I will."

The woman bowed. "My lady," she said gently. With that, she smiled, and turned to go back to the counter.

Suki laughed, holding her pregnant belly. "Wow. People really do treat you nice around here."

Toph laughed. "Duh, that's how you're supposed to treat royalty."

Katara shrugged. "Yeah, you get used to it. Let's go look over here," she said, making her way over to the shop's assortment of necklaces and chokers.

"Well, I'm just going to stay here by the counter, you two have fun looking at your fancy, girly stuff," Toph said, leaning back on the stone wall, crossing one leg over the other as if she owned the place.

Suki shrugged. "Suit yourself," she said, following Katara.

The shop didn't have a very large assortment to choose from, being the small, family-owned shop that it was. But there was just something about it that always drew Katara in. The friendliness of its staff and the quaintness of the room just screamed home to her, and she just couldn't resist coming back constantly. Like the shopkeeper had said, Zuko usually came with her when she decided to visit the little shop. While she glanced around, oo-ing and aw-ing at random things around the shop, he would usually head to the back and converse with the owner's husband. Like the old woman, her husband was very kind. He was a little on the short side, a very round man, but he never failed at striking up a good conversation. And with Zuko, that really said something. The man never failed to bring a smile to Zuko's face, one of those rare ones that really only Katara had ever seen. It brought her great joy to know that coming to this little place (such a small, trivial thing, when one thought about it) could bring him away from all of the stresses of running the country, and actually make him smile for once. The thought of him brought back the worry that something went wrong in the meeting and Katara had to take a deep breath to steady herself. When she let it out, it came out as more of a shudder.

"Everything all right?" Suki asked, stopping her perusal of the nearby headpieces. At her question, Supai became alert, stepping forward so that the women were not only within sight, but clear earshot, as well.

"What? Oh, yeah, everything's fine," Katara answered. "Just thinking."

"Okay," Suki answered, smiling.

"You know, Suki, I can't thank you enough for coming last night. It really was great for you and Sokka to come all of this way just for a silly celebration like that…"

"You know, Katara, it's no trouble. Granted, with a few more weeks, I won't be able to travel anywhere else, given the baby. Sokka was on edge enough coming here this time, but I persisted," she chuckled. "I love him and all, but your brother can be a real pain in the backside. I mean, I'm pregnant, not glass. I won't shatter."

Katara laughed at that. "Yeah, well, still. Thanks for coming. I haven't seen you in so long. Letters just aren't the same, you know?"

"Yeah," Suki smirked. "But you and Zuko were pretty quick on ditching your own party last night… Where did you guys sneak off to, huh?" she said, giving her sister-in-law a knowing smile. Lieutenant Supai drew closer, trying to get a better listen at what they were talking about.

Katara stopped fiddling with one of the beaded necklaces and turned to her. "Oh, Suki! It was amazing. And guess what? I have great news!"

"Do tell," Suki chuckled, acting like a teenager sharing gossip at school.

"We're trying again." At that sentence, Supai backed off all together, stepping back towards the entrance of the shop. Toph took notice of this, but didn't say anything.

Suki squealed, clapping her hands together. "Oh, my goodness! Katara, that's great news! What changed his mind?"

"He said Iroh talked to him," Katara said.

"Iroh?"

"Yeah, I guess he had a real talk with him. Whatever Uncle said to him must have helped him make the decision. I don't know what Zuko would do without him…"

"But still, that's amazing news! You're trying to have a baby!" Suki clapped again.

"Uh, guys? Would it interest you enough to know that that guard guy that's been following us all day just left?" Toph asked, stepping up to them.

"He left? What do you mean?"

"I mean he just took off out the doors. He seemed to be in a hurry or something," Toph said, crossing her arms.

"Why would Supai leave? There's no military business going on today…" Katara said, furrowing her brow. "That's really strange."

"Oh, well, nothing happened anyway, right? Let's just go back and see if we can find the boys. I told them we'd meet them by Appa. Hopefully Sokka didn't have too much fun," Suki laughed.

"Okay."


"Ah! Here's the Fire Lord, gracing us with his presence once again!" Burei said, leaning back in his chair.

Iroh took to his seat while Zuko remained standing. The Fire Lord lifted his hand as if to silence any other comment that the Earth King might have.

"Please, Your Majesty, I have something to say?" Zuko said, eyeing the man carefully.

The Earth King gave a slow nod and Zuko took a seat.

"I know that I have come from a family that you do not particularly like. The actions that my father, my father's father, and my great-grandfather took are unforgivable. But believe me when I say this, Your Highness: I am not them. Yes, when I was a boy, I was taught that the Fire Nation should be the world's leader; that everyone would prosper from our leadership. But through my time in exile, I have learned the complete opposite. I have lived amongst your people, have suffered what they have suffered, lost what they've lost. My time spent in the Earth Kingdom as a refugee will forever change my outlook on my decisions. It changed the way I think, the way I feel. Being one of those people who look up to those in charge, hoping they make the right decision will forever stay in my heart. I can tell you this, sir: it is not a pleasant feeling—knowing that you may not wake up safe and sound tomorrow, not knowing if your life is going to continue the way it's going, if not at all. Call it a consequence of war.

"But those times of war are over now. They have been over for a while now. I told you before that Life is a maze and that the people look for guardian to help them through. That being said, however long ago, the world is still suffering from the war's end. People have fallen off the right path, and now they are lost, confused with what Life has thrown at them. And it is now up to us, Your Highness. We are the ones they are looking up to now. We are the ones that are supposed to guide them back. And for us to do our jobs correctly, sir, we must put our differences aside, and think of the only thing that matters in the end—the people. We need to think about the citizens of Ba Sing Se; the citizens of the world."

The room fell silent once again. Zuko could not only feel, but hear his own heart beat in his chest, its rhythm now growing faster due to his nerves. He swallowed, making eye contact with the king. After another beat, something happened that startled everyone in the room, a loud noise echoing off the walls, ringing in Zuko's ears.

The Earth King was clapping.

After a few moments, the Earth King finally spoke. "My sincere apologies, Fire Lord Zuko. I seem to have let my past memories get the better of me. I had no intention to criticize your judgment and decisions. This is your home and I have no place to say such things. I'm sorry," he said, visibly nervous. He bowed his head. "I now understand where you come from. Though I am still on edge about your decisions regarding the Harmony Restoration Movement from years passed—as I never believe I will think differently, regarding the subject—I can see a very powerful, driven ruler in you, Fire Lord. You are a smart man, Fire Lord Zuko, willing to do anything to get your point across, with only your people's interests at heart. You are strong-willed and are very capable to lead your country with a strong heart and mind, something that not even the brawniest man could ever do or achieve in his lifetime. I admire that." For the first time all day, the Earth King gave a genuine, heart-felt smile.

Zuko sat there in shock, at a loss for words. There was no way to explain the thoughts going through his head. The strange turn of events in this meeting overwhelmed him—the sudden changes in the Earth King's demeanor stunned him. He had no other choice but to accept his apology and to offer forgiveness, to thank him. But even still, no words left his mouth.

Iroh took notice of his hesitance and clapped him on the back, getting his attention. Zuko jumped at the sudden contact and cleared his throat. "It's quite all right, Your Majesty. I understand the many levels of sadness that you and your people are feeling—especially in Ba Sing Se. I understand that it still puts you in a strange position, my leaving the Fire Nation colonies in the Earth Kingdom as well as the newfound status of the Harmony Restoration Movement as of four years ago. And I deeply apologize for my hesitance regarding the reconstruction of the Earth Kingdom's capital. I have been trying my best to see to it that my name is not put to shame like my predecessors.

"As I said before, I am willing to do everything in my power to make the Fire Nation's relationship with the Earth Kingdom sound and peaceful. If that takes my personal involvement in the matter, so be it. I just want to see each of the nations at peace with each other, and for all of this destruction and hate to be behind us." He made a move to stand and walked around the table towards the Earth King, ignoring the stares of Jeong Jeong, Iroh, and the other advisors. As he approached the Earth King, he met his eyes. "If you are willing to see this through…" He offered his hand.

The Earth King stared back at Zuko, analyzing the determination he saw there. Another few short moments passed before the Earth King stood slowly, eyeing Zuko with a smile ghosting across his face, and shook his hand.


Lieutenant Supai was running, running faster than he ever thought possible, faster than he ever had in his life. Sweat dripped off his brow and he could hear his own heartbeat in his ears. Just a little farther…

Just before he was completely run out, he reached his destination—a small shack just past the outer limits of the capital city. It was a little run down place, the sort of place one would only live in when there were no other places available. The paneling was coming undone, the rotten wood falling to bits, and Supai only hoped that the building did not crumble on top of him as he opened the door. It was dark inside the main room, no sound but the floor creaking underneath his feet. There was nothing in the room, save for a few chairs knocked over. Cobwebs adorned the walls and the air was filled with dust.

Supai coughed, reaching his destination of the far bedroom in the back of the small building. There was a single candle flickering in the corner, its light not doing very much for the dark room, the flame only illuminating the man's face as he sat on the rickety old bed in the corner, the shadows casted across his features. As soon as the man was in view, Supai stopped, giving a salute.

"Sir," he acknowledged, his military-trained voice making an appearance.

"Well?" the man asked from his perch on the bed, his voice rasping due to the inhalation of dust.

"He was not with them, sir." Supai said, his voice shaking.

"Of course he wasn't with them, you idiot!" the man growled, his face turning menacing in the shadows. "I told you he wasn't going to be there! Do you ever listen, Lieutenant? Or am I going to have to find a replacement for your sorry little position?"

"N—No, sir. I simply forgot," Supai stuttered. "I did what you asked. I followed them all day, like you asked, sir. I listened to every word the lady had to say…"

"And?" the man stressed.

Supai swallowed audibly. "Yes, sir. The Fire Lord and Fire Lady are trying for another child." He looked at the ground between his feet, afraid to meet the man's eyes.

The man sighed, rising from the bed. "This is bad news, indeed."

"How sir?"

"Do you listen to anything, Lieutenant?"

"Why, yes, of course. I—"

"If the Fire Lady becomes pregnant, all of our hard work will be ruined! Our efforts will be for nothing!" the man shouted.

"So what should we do, sir?" Supai asked.

"Don't you understand what this means? If Zuko's line continues, there is no way we will be able to rise up. Fire Lord Zuko's bloodline must be ended."

"What are you saying, sir? We kill him?"

"We do what we must. Zuko's life must end in order for His Majesty to rise to the throne," the man said.

"But… What about Lady Katara?" Supai asked.

"Fire Lady Katara cannot conceive a child. It would ruin everything…" The man started pacing, his walking space minimal due to the confines of the small bedroom.

"You said that already, sir…" Supai said, letting out a little cough.

The man stopped, bending so he was eye-level with Supai. "I know what I said, Lieutenant!" The man resumed his pacing. "We need to take action. Something must be done before it's too late."

Supai cocked his head to the side, struggling to read the man's emotions in the dim light. "Sir?"

"We do everything we can until something can really be done."

"Something, sir?"

"We need to come up with a plan…" The man stopped his pacing, and brought his hand up to his chin, stroking it. "It think it's time I had a meeting with the Phoenix King."


So, here are the meanings of our new character's names. See what you think...


- Burei: rude in Japanese. I think it fits our new Earth King's personality.
- Sagi: con in Japanese. I wonder where this will come in... *evil laugh*
- Supai: spy in Japanese. Self explanatory.
As for Rina, that's just a name that I came up with. There's really no significant meaning there...


As always, I hope you enjoyed the chapter, and reviews are greatly appreciated.