Title: The Aftermath

Rating: T+

Summary: It is 10 years after the events of Sozin's Comet. Under the rule of the pacifist Fire Lord Zuko and the guidance of the Avatar, many expected the world to heal from the damages suffered during the century-long war. But evil is still afoot, and threatens to disrupt the peace once again ...

Disclaimer: I don't own any components of ATLA.

Warning: Mild adult themes. And for this chapter, vulgarities! Well, it's not the F word, it's the S word, you know, the one that means feces. And it's only used once so ...

Chapter 5: Politics

In the Fire Nation Palace

The whispers and murmurs did not go unnoticed by Fire Lord Zuko. The disapproving looks and venomous glares that were directed to him from his palace staff as he went about his daily duties were painstakingly obvious. The quiet air of hostility surrounding the palace was both unnerving and disquieting. Usually, moments of silence like these were hard to come by, and Zuko had enjoyed these serene moments, where a sense of calm and ease had settled upon the otherwise hectic atmosphere that was the Fire Lord's palace.

But there was a subtle undercurrent of treachery this time round, and the air was saturated with a quiet unspoken threat. Zuko could feel it. The unsettling calm before the storm. A storm of change, of revolt. The Fire Lord could feel it. And all this ... all this just by a few words by his ruffian son.

Perhaps I should have been stricter on him. Could Ozai have been right? Had he been too lenient?

Zuko remembered the words of his Father on the day of his escape.

--

The jail cell had been busted open by Earthbenders, and his soldiers were having a difficult time combating the clearly superior warriors - The White Geckos. The terrorist group consisted of the most powerful and skilled of Earthbenders who had refused the new leadership of the then teenage Avatar and Fire Lord. Zuko had arrived there just as his Father was leaving, his imposing figure - still regal after many years in prison - standing upon a pillar of Earth.

"I heard what happened to your pathetic brat of a Son. He deserved it all, you know. He was just like you as a child, defiant, foolish and idealistic. He should have known his place in this world - you should have made him realize that! But you didn't. All boys need to learn respect. My Father taught it to me, I made you learn it, but you haven't been firm with your child, and have not taught him the values that made the Fire Nation the greatest nation in the world."

Zuko had executed his improved combustion technique towards the former Fire Lord, but a huge explosion later, only rubble and trailing tendrils of smoke remained, his Father having escaped along with the Earthbender terrorists.

--

The Fire Lord paced up and down in his throne room, deep in thought, worried about the repercussions of his Son's actions, augmenting the flames surrounding his throne as he did. The yellow flames flickered from orange to red.

Carefully considering and contemplating the problems that awaited him, the normally alert Zuko didn't notice the herbalist approaching, despite the fact that her footsteps were loud and hurried. Wispy strands of dark brown hair fluttered behind her as she progressed into the Fire Lord's chamber.

"Zuko ...", Song muttered breathlessly. "I heard about what happened with Kuzon."

Silence. The flames flickered from a deep red to a pinkish shade. It lightened further into a sharp violet color. His back facing Song, Zuko spoke, cynicism lacing his voice.

"How was the baby shower? I hope Suki enjoyed my gifts. Perhaps she'll do a better job of raising her child than I did."

Zuko turned to face Song.

Her warm winsome features greeted his fiery gaze. Zuko's features softened, the hardened expression on his face and all the anguish that came with it vanishing in an instant. He couldn't get angry in front of such a pretty concerned face. Genuine affection and care was etched on Song's seraphic face, and he simply couldn't bring himself to unleash his anger on her. As he stood there, anger and anguish dissipating, he once again was caught unawares as Song closed the distance between them, cupping Zuko's right cheek with her hand.

"It'll be alright", she whispered tenderly, her hazel-brown eyes revealing concern and kindness. "He will come round, just like you did."

Zuko suddenly realized that they were standing far too close for platonic friends, and that Song's eyes were glimmering with pure wanton desire.

She pulled his face down towards hers, their lips just touching each other.

"I love you, Zuko."

The words were uttered meekly and rather nervously, but it sparked something in Zuko. He crashed his lips onto hers, and ran his fingers through her dark luscious hair. Song straddled Zuko, her legs wrapped strongly around the muscular body of the Fire Lord.

Zuko burned with desire, he hadn't had this for so long. With everything going on, he longed to lose himself in the pleasure of a woman.

He backed away for a bit, stripping himself of his ceremonial robes, before pressing himself against the taut young body of the Earth Kingdom herbalist, who had also shorn herself of her outer robes.

The Fire Lord continued his groping of her lithe female form, and Song could feel him hardening through the thin fabric of his undergarments. She wrapped herself around Zuko even more tightly, and whispered seductively into his ear.

"You're going to be my first."

Zuko suddenly froze, his hands no longer exploring the sensuous curves of his female companion, his mouth no longer nibbling at her exposed neck.

The Fire Lord instantly regained all of the poise and dignity required of his position, and put his robes back on silently, as a baffled Song, in a state of undress watched on.

'What's wrong?", she said breathlessly. "Don't you want me?"

Zuko simply walked out of the room, the flames around his throne mellowing into a pale yellow, leaving a confused Song lying on the floor, hair ruffled and clothes barely hanging on to her slender frame.

--

The Meeting Room was a maelstrom of disorder and chaos. Ministers and Politicians were waging a verbal battle, and Iroh, despite his strong urging for order and some semblance of a civilized court meeting, was unable to establish any form of control.

It was only until a crackle of electricity streaked through the room that a large shush seemed to descend upon the ministers. Tiny wisps of smoke rose from Iroh's 2 extended fingers.

"Now, we are going to wait for the Fire Lord like the civilized gentleman of high society that we are, instead of like 10 year olds arguing over the last piece of fried Komodo Chicken."

Disgruntled sighs of annoyance came out of the men, and Iroh took a deep breath before sitting down at the right side of the empty Fire Throne. Zuko was tardy. Again. His nephew really had to work on punctuality. Being fancifully late was perfectly fine for famous actresses and singers in the Fire Nation, but the Fire Lord was always expected to be the first to any meeting and the last to leave. Although Iroh hated to admit it, Ozai upheld this unspoken rule all the years of his tyrannical reign.

A few short minutes later Zuko appeared, adorned in full ceremonial robes and armor. He walked quickly up to his throne, aware that the eyes of the entire court were on him, some glaring daggers, others looking on in disappointment, heads shaking, whilst a small few looked on, eyes filled with steely determination in support of their leader.

Seated at his rightful place, Fire Lord Zuko addressed his government.

"I am sure we all know what has transpired in recent times. I would like not to be reminded of it."

Zuko paused, waiting for any response. A few heads nodded, but that was all. He continued.

"So, let us now discuss the important issue of the rebel forces. As you know, the White Geckos have recently taken over the Southern border of the Earth Kingdom - Shandu, from what I've heard have been recently liberated by the Water Tribes/Kyoshi Island alliance, but Qing Juan remains in the hands of these terrorists. It is of major importance that ..."

Minister Quon suddenly stood up, pointing an accusatory finger at the Fire Lord.

"Important? Your son has ran away from home, defamed your name and you choose just to ignore it? Have you seen the papers, Lord Zuko, have you seen what your Son has published about you?"

The scrawny middle-aged man turned around, addressing his fellow ministers and politicians. He unveiled a crumbled parchment, revealing this morning's paper.

"Let me just read out one example, Fire Lord.", Minister Quon said.

"I quote:

On my 8th birthday, my Father, Fire Lord Zuko forced me to stay in my room, and not show up for my own party. He told me that it was purely for political reasons, that people would think badly of me if I were to show up, but the truth was that he was ashamed of his son. He was too proud, too arrogant to show the world his hideous child. When I sneaked out of my room and went down anyway, my Father, our Fire Lord, in a fit of rage, slapped me across the cheek, and dragged me to my room. All this. On my birthday last year."

Gasps were heard from the parliament. Quon continued.

"Why should a man who can't even look after his own family be responsible for our great country? What should we let this terrible father look after our families. But no, my fellow kinsmen, that's not the problem, the bigger question we should ask is this: Why should we continue to persist with what clearly is a flawed method of government - a monarchy, where one man has far too much power? We all saw what happened under Sozin, Azulon and Ozai. No one man should wield too much power. Many major Earth Kingdom cities have long since set up a democratic ruling system whereby we, the cabinet actually have a say in what happens, and the people's voices are heard."

Minister Quon turned to face Zuko once again.

"You are in no position to lead this country, much less try to heal the world."

His bold statement encouraged and cajoled the other dissenting ministers and politicians to voice up.

"You are totally inexperienced, you know nothing of the world and how it works!"

"Your early policies promised to solve the problem of the rebels, but until now they are still strong, heck, they've become stronger!"

"You are no better than your Father!"

The last remark drew a response from Zuko. Dark green flame emerged from his fists, burning a hole in the conference table and continued downward, singeing the floor.

He yelled, anger evident on his handsome face.

"I am nothing like my Father! And I have sacrificed everything for this country! You all act so high and mighty, but you do not know how much I slave and tire for this country. Do you know how much I do to ensure everything my Father and forefathers have done in the past are reversed, how much I've tried to stabilize our country's failing economy, which had total dependency on the war? Do you know how many schools and institutions I have built from scratch, how many factories I have had to tear down, how many people I had to make sure were re-employed? Do anyone of you honestly think you could have done a better job than me? Anyone?"

Minister Quon once again stood up.

"No one person could have done a better job than you perhaps, but a coalition government might have."

The other dissidents nodded in agreement.

Iroh came to his nephew's defence.

"In principal, it sounds like a grand idea, but how will anyone agree on anything if so many different individuals' opinions have to be met? Minister Quon, you and your so-called democrats here all have different ideas of how to run the country, and the deliberating and consulting will only delay the decision-making process far too much."

And for once, the small minority that had offered Zuko looks of support as he had strode in, nodded.

"My nephew is not as inexperienced as you think he is. He has travelled the globe, seen the ways of others, and has a vast amount of worldly knowledge. He is wise beyond his young years, and his firm decisive leadership is what this country - and what the world - needs now. The Fire Lord recognizes the problem of the monarchy, indeed, we have had long discussions on the dangers of having one person with too much power. Trust me, we have debated it. But right now, in this unstable world, in these dangerous times, we cannot risk change."

Silence fell over the court, and recognizing the awkwardness of the situation, Iroh added diplomatically:

"Some interesting issue were raised today, and we all, I am sure, are rather tired from all the discussion, so for now, the meeting will be adjourned. We shall resume in morning."

Iroh sat beside his nephew, watching the streams of ministers and politicians leave the room.

One of the last to leave was Commander Longshot, leader of the Yu Yan Archers. He rarely spoke.

"Don't let Quon get you down, my Lord, he's been gunning for the throne ever since your coronation."

Zuko nodded, acknowledging the Archer's words, silently appreciating the vote of confidence. Coming from a man of few words, it meant a lot.

After everyone had left, Iroh turned to Zuko, saying sagely:

"You do know that your court is still filled with corrupt officials, who are displeased that their wealth and status in society has diminished since you implemented your policies. Quon is one of the many who are suspected of abusing the system when Ozai was in power, but there never has been any concrete proof that he took advantage of the tax payers' money. There are many others like him, and you have to be careful, Zuko. These are powerful, dangerous men, who have grown up with greed and ambition in their hearts. The doctrine of Sozin has been ingrained in their hearts; it's been ingrained in the hearts of all who are educated. The scholars, politicians and ministers who serve under you, majority of them still believe in the ways of our forefathers, and the whole democratic nonsense is just a smokescreen for their true intentions, which is that of continuing what Ozai has started."

Zuko looked at his Uncle, his golden eyes displaying plaintiveness and sadness.

"I don't know what I would do without you, Uncle. You should be enjoying the rest of your days socializing, brewing tea and playing Pai Sho, but here you are helping me fix my mess. But Quon raises a good point. If I can't even control my own son, why should anyone believe I am fit to run the country? Am I really like my Father, Uncle? Have I become like Ozai?"

Iroh patted his nephew's back.

"You never knew how a Father was to raise a child. Ozai never gave you any example to follow. And Kuzon, well, he's reaching those essential years whereby he has to make his own choices in life, and he has to choose, just like you did, whether his disfigurement determines his destiny."

"But Uncle," Zuko interjected. "I only had a scar, Kuzon's whole left side ... it's burned off. He is completely blind in one eye, and he can barely walk in the streets without a child screaming at him. I thought I looked like a monster. But Kuzon ... what could he possibly think of himself as? And unlike me, he is doomed to carry that burden with him all the days of his life. My scar was healed ..."

Zuko subconsciously raised his left hand to touch the smooth surface of the area surrounding his left eye.

"But Kuzon's disfigurement ... can never be healed. His skin was twisted, contorted by flames, and will never grow properly. He will never be free of this burden ... this horrible burden, and it's all my fault. That day, I should have never ..."

Tiny droplets of tears fell from Zuko's glistening eyes. Iroh stopped him before he could continue wallowing in his self-pity, guilt and anguish.

"The past will never change, Zuko, we can only try to change the present. You must stop blaming yourself for what happened to Kuzon ... you have to move on and forgive yourself. Otherwise Ozai, the White Geckos, Quon and all your other enemies, they will win. You need to be strong, Zuko, no matter how hard it is, you need to be strong."

Zuko, wiping away tears, looked at Iroh and queried,

"So then, I ask, who Uncle, apart from you, can I trust?"

In the North Pole

Master Pakku had came to see him earlier this afternoon, but Chief Arnook had been far too busy to meet up with the waterbender. The Chieftain had proposed a meeting at dinner though, and Pakku, always a sucker for jellied octopus-eels, had complied.

"So ...", Pakku began, swallowing a spoon of stewed sea prunes as he did. "I'm sure you know the problem we've been having with the refugees."

"Yes ... yes", the Chieftain replied, assuring his guest that he was up to date with his state's problems. "Our existing resources cannot continue to provide for both our people and these foreigners."

"Not only that ...", Pakku continued, as he deshelled a Sea Snail-Crab with his waterbending, using two shards of ice to pick apart the steamed crustacean. "They have been rumors that some of these refugees are actually undercover agents of Princess Azula's forces."

Wine flew out of Arnook's mouth as he sputtered: "But ... but ... what could they possibly gain from being here? I know Princess Azula captured Ba Sing Se through an internal coup, but she had the support of the Dai Li, and Ba Sing Se was a largely politically unstable place at that time. None of those factors apply to us."

Pakku popped a piece of Snail-Crab meat into his mouth and explained: "I don't think that is Azula's intentions, my associates from the Order of the White Lotus, who have reliable sources, have told me that Azula's agents are not spies, or ordinary foot soldiers."

The master waterbender stopped, reaching with his chopsticks, for the culinary delight that were jellied octopus-eels.

Arnook curiosity peaked, demanded impatiently,

"What did their sources say, tell me, Pakku!"

Pakku rather nonchalantly replied.

"Assassins, Arnook, they believe we might have some assassins in our midsts. I doubt they're here to kill you, if they were, you'd have been dead already. The Order of the White Lotus believe they are after a waterbender, as their sources confirmed that only firebender assassins were sent."

Arnook's blue eyes widened in horror as he realized what was going to come out of Pakku's mouth next. His suspicions were confirmed shortly after.

"I'm certain I am the one they are after."

A small trading town in the Earth Kingdom

The town was bustling with activity, shady businessmen haggling over prices and unscrupulous sellers trying to make a quick buck.

Jet hated this town. This was the living example of everything that was wrong with the world. Ambition and greed. Money and power. But all this would come to an end, once his New World Order was put in place. It was like Professor Chang said, as long as there was money and power in this world, men would continue their ways, and future wars would be inevitable.

"Azula, may I suggest something?"

Jet's question was directed to his veiled companion. They had worn disguises to ensure no one would recognize them. Jet himself had tied his hair up in a ponytail.

"Yes, dear, we'll burn this town down to the ground first."

Azula sat flatly, knowing exactly what her lover had in mind.

As they walked over to the stable, whereby a group of lecherous men were selling exotic animals, Jet whispered a question to Azula.

"Even if we do find him, what are you going to do? You two aren't exactly on the best of terms."

"I'll get his cooperation ...", Azula whispered back. "I can be very convincing when I want to."

When they finally made their way to the stall, amidst the tune of many catcalls and whistles, Azula dropped a sack of gold on the table.

"We want 2 of your fastest steeds."

"You know ...", one of the men suggested lewdly, "Your payment doesn't have to be in cash."

The other men at the back laughed and cheered in drunken stupor.

Jet took action, gripping the offensive man's neck and slammed him against the wall.

"You will take our money, and you will give us your best steeds. And don't you try and pull any shit, because my girl there, she can end your life with a single blow. As can I."

"Apart from ... tiger-dillos, mole-hawks ... and other dangerous pets, we ... do sell Mongoose Dragon thorough-breds", the man whose throat was in the vice-like grip of Jet spat out.

His throat straining from the pressure, the man shouted out coarsely, "Hao! Get them 2 Mongoose Dragons."

Jet loosened his grip, letting the man fall to the ground. He looked over to Azula, who flashed him an approving smile.

God, he loved this woman.

Author's Notes: Sorry once again for the lack of Zutara fluff. But it's coming soon, I promise. There are a few things I have to build up first though. Sorry for all the political babble about the Fire Nation, but clearly, history has shown that revolution occurs quite frequently in monarchal societies. By the way, jellied eels actually is a real dish, served in England. You eat it like a lollipop. It just felt so much like what the Northern/Southern Tribe cuisine would contain. Can you just imagine Sokka or Katara sucking on jellied eels in the South Pole? I can!