Chapter 4 – The Prophecy

Mai glowered at her host. "Why have you brought me here?"

The Shaman smiled, "It was necessary. The child you bear within your womb carries the blood of the Avatar Roku. You have gifted the child the blood of the Great Sage R'kyu the Wise. Your child will lead the Fire Nation to a new era of greatness, as a true Son of Fire, but only if he is properly prepared, free from the corruption of the line of Sozin."

Mai scoffed, "R'Kyu the wise? More like R'Kyu the Mad! He was driven out of the Sage's Temple and exiled by Sozin's father for his madness. It took five generations for my family to recover from the shame."

"Genius and madness are often confused, my child," the Shaman explained. "And one cannot gaze upon the face of the Spirit of Fire without being changed. R'Kyu was exiled because he foresaw Sozin's folly, and warned against it. We are a chosen people, and the islands of our lands are holy. The gifts of fire are ours alone. They're not to be shared with the inferior races of the Earth Kingdom or Water Tribes. Now, we've lost three generations of firebenders on a futile conflict intended to 'share' our gifts with the world. Foreigners now walk freely in our holy lands, and our once pure people mix and pollute their blood with inferiors in the foreign enclaves we once called colonies. I have foreseen that a child born of the lines Roku and R'Kyu, the true Son of Fire, will ascend the Dragon Throne, and rule the people of fire in a new golden age."

"You're crazier than R'Kyu if you think you can get away with this," scoffed Mai. "Zuko will bring every resource he commands to bear to find me. If any harm comes to me or our child, not even the Avatar in the Avatar State will compare to the fury he'll bring down on you."

Dismissively, the Shaman said, "It is destiny, I have foreseen it. Already my apostles are in every corner of the Fire Nation, rallying the people to repentance and preparing the way of our restoration. The so-called Firelord's efforts will prove futile. I will leave you to your rest, now. A steward will be by soon with food and to attend your needs."

…...

The Royal Barge's wardroom was dark, save the spotlight pointed at figure sitting at the head of the table. The dark haired man's posture was erect, his hands folded neatly on the table in front of him, befitting his status as an officer of the Fire Navy. His gray eyes betrayed no emotion when the rest of the lights came on and the Fire Princess and the ship's captain entered the room.

Azula addressed the man, "You are Senior Lieutenant Rin Xu, communications officer. Do you know who I am?"

Staring at the back wall, he answered, "Of course. You are High General Azula, Princess of the Fire Nation, sister of the Firelord."

Azula's voice was like ice, "Good. Then you are aware of my... reputation."

The officer looked her in the eye, "Your cunning and fury are well known, Your Highness. Legendary, some would even say."

"Good," Azula smiled. "Then you already know that I am going to ask you some questions, and any attempt at deceit on your part will result in some most... unpleasant... consequences."

The man swallowed hard, and briefly looked at his hands.

"Excellent, we understand each other," Azula cheerily began. "I've looked at your service record. You have no connections to nobility, and your firebending is poor. That's somewhat rare for an officer."

"Field promotion, Your Highness. I was a Navigator's Mate, 2nd Class when I was one of the few survivors of the Massacre of the North. I was able to rescue several others, including a Captain, and navigate the emergency raft back to friendly waters. My reward was an officer's commission," he explained.

Azula quirked her eyebrow. "I already know this. As I've said, I've seen your service record. I also know that you have done precious little with the opportunity given you with that commission. In eight years you still have not managed to rise beyond the rank of Senior Lieutenant, while almost any Ensign fresh out of the Royal Navy Academy can rise to command of at least a destroyer in that time. Yet here you are, not even a mediocre officer, with a prestige assignment on the Royal Barge. Please enlighten me as to how that happens."

Rin Xu chuckled mirthlessly. "Prestige assignment? More like dead end. This tub hasn't been out of port, other than for maintenance cruises, since your family started using airships to get around in. I guess I was just never cut out to be an officer. Hell, I was a conscript to begin with. I stay in the service because there's nothing better. I'll probably get mustered out soon enough anyway, without a pension. The prestige assignment is the Admiral's flagship. The barge is where the Navy sends screw-ups like me: where we can do the least damage."

"Is that bitterness I detect in your voice, Lieutenant?" Azula asked rhetorically. "Understandable, I suppose. It is a failing of human nature to blame others for circumstances for which we alone are responsible. No doubt you blame perceived prejudices against your weak bending and you commoner's birth for your lack of upward mobility. It might cause a man in your position to question his loyalties, perhaps seek opportunities elsewhere."

"I... I... don't get your meaning, Highness," the man stammered. "I've always been loyal to the Fire Nation!"

"Then why would a loyal officer such as yourself keep subversive material like this in his quarters?" Azula asked as she produced a pamphlet entitled "Rise Up, Sons of Fire" and slammed it down on the table.

"I... I... got that when I was on liberty in the Capital. A preacher was handing them out. I forgot I had it is all..."

Azula grabbed Rin Xu by the collar with her right hand and lit a blue flame in her left and brought it next to his face, "You lie. I warned you what the consequences of deception would be. I will give you just one more chance to be truthful. If you continue to lie then you will soon be begging for the sweet release of death. I know you are part of this cult. What did this preacher promise your reward would be for betrayal? Who else is part of this cult? What part did you play in the Fire Lady's disappearance?"

The officer swallowed hard, "All I was promised was the opportunity see the Fire Nation reborn. The only person I ever talked to was the Preacher. He gave me a special messenger hawk and told me I'd know the right time to use it. When I received the order from the palace to prepare to transport a VIP to Ember Island, I knew the time was right. I sent the hawk, and then passed our orders to the captain. I know of no one else other than the Preacher."

Satisfied, Azula released him. She turned to the captain and said, "This man is guilty of high treason. We'll dispense with the formality of a court-martial. Strip him of his rank, and take him to Caldera Tower. The Firelord will pass final sentence." She turned to Rin Xu, "You should be grateful: my brother has capacity for mercy. I do not."