Sato Mansion, Republic City
160AG
Sokka massaged his temples doing his best to look engaged as the Earth Queen's ambassador rattled on about more demands his queen had sent by radio that morning. Ambassador Udai, a man none of them had met before the summit began, was hurting the negotiations more than helping. Everyday the Earth Queen relayed some new ultimatum to him. Which to be fair wasn't the young man's fault. However, most of the queen's demands seemed unreasonable to everyone present, but they still had to give him equal time to speak, as per the rules of the summit. Sokka glanced over a Zuko. His demeanor never seemed to change. He sat opposite President Sato, his face stoic, listening to every word.
President Sato, on the other hand, wasn't even trying to look attentive anymore. He looked extremely bored, as did the other representatives. His elbow was propped up on the table and he held his chin up with a clenched fist. Finally, Ambassador Udai sat down. Sato looked at Zuko, a glint of annoyance in his eyes, and Zuko cleared his throat. "Thank you Ambassador Udai, we'll see what we can do about including reparations to the Earth Kingdom in our agreement. Now-"
"Hold on for just a moment," Sato cut him off, and added, "if I may?"
"Of course, President Sato, the floor is yours."
"We've heard many, if I dare say, ridiculous requests from the the Earth Queen. And we have been able to accommodate many of them, but reparations? I know just as well as all of you that many people, benders and non-benders alike, were harmed in those unfortunate riots three months ago. No other country has had the gall to make demands for the kind of monetary reparations the Earth Queen asks for now. I'm sorry, but I outright refuse to pay any sum to the Earth Queen, or any other nation for that matter."
"These are the Earth Queen's terms. She will not accept anything but complete agreement to them." Ambassador Udai looked Sato directly in the eyes. It was clearly a challenge to his authority. Sato leaned back and sighed.
"Then as far as I'm concerned the Earth Kingdom is not welcome at these negotiations." He looked from Udai to Zuko. Zuko's calm expression had changed to one of pensiveness.
"Let's not be rash here, President Sato-" Zuko started only to be cut off by Sato again.
"I don't believe I'm being rash. Lord Zuko, we have been able to make progress on many fronts, the Northern and Southern water tribes and the Fire Nation have been very reasonable, and I can see us coming to come kind of long term agreement for peace, but the Earth Nation and the Air Nomads," he said shooting a look at Acolyte Lee, "have done nothing but disagree and slow these talks down. We've been at this for two weeks now, and I am tried of going around in circles." He turned his glance back to the fire lord, "You, Cheif Sokka, Cheif Unalaq, and your traveling parties are welcome to stay and continue negotiations, but the Earth Nation and Air Nomad representatives are no longer welcome here." Zuko looked as if he was about to speak up, but Sato continued. "Ambassador Udai, I know you have a long journey back to Ba Sing Se, so you may stay one more night, please rest and prepare for your travels. Acolyte Lee, please return to Air Temple Island now, you presence is no longer required." He stood, "Let's adjourn for the day."
"This is preposterous!" Ambassador Udai flew to his feet in a rage. "You would dare exclude the Earth Kingdom from this summit of nations?"
"Yes." Sato looked at him and said bluntly and coldly.
"Ambassador Udai," Zuko chastised the younger man, "please control yourself." Zuko looked around the table, "that concludes today's meeting." Sokka, Unalaq, and Lee joined the other in standing. "We'll resume tomorrow at nine in the morning. Everyone get some rest." Everyone bowed, except for Ambassador Udai and his party. He stalked out quickly. Sokka turned to go and heard the others following behind him. "I'd like a word with you in private, President Sato," he head Zuko say as he walked out the door.
Sokka, Unalaq and Acolyte Lee walked in silence for a moment through the hallways of the Sato Mansion with their guards close behind. Before long Lee gave heavy sigh. Sokka placed a hand on his shoulder and all three men stopped.
"I failed Master Tenzin."
"No, you didn't. I think you made the same choices he would have made. I guarantee that he's proud of the work you did here."
"Thank you Cheif Sokka, but I can't agree. I think he would be happiest knowing that I was playing some part in the process to bring peace and balance to the world. Now that I've been expelled from these talks, I can't even do that..."
"Don't worry," Sokka said tightening his grip a bit, "we'll fight for peace in your stead."
"That's right," Unalaq spoke up, "you're way of bringing balance to the world is by maintaining the Air Nomad traditions and way of life. We'll handle this."
"Cheif Sokka, Cheif Unalaq," he bowed, "thank you for your kind words. I'll continue to do my part. The rest here, I leave to you." They bowed back and Acolyte Lee turned his back to them, walking quickly toward the entrance with the two other acolytes who had accompanied him here. It seemed he wanted to get back to the temple and do his part there as soon as possible.
Sokka chuckled a bit. "He's a good man, but not the best politician."
"True," said Unalaq, "but the Air Nomads being removed from the talks was an inevitability from the beginning. President Sato really wanted Tenzin here. Same goes for the Earth Kingdom. When the queen herself didn't show up, the president seemed quite offended."
Sokka nodded in agreement and felt his stomach drop in worry, "The Earth Queen is rash. I fear she will mobilize against Republic City now."
"Perhaps that is what the Fire Lord wished to speak with President Sato about?"
"Perhaps."
"Well," Unalaq said and bowed, "We must be prepared for anything. With that in mind, I'll be retiring for the night. I suggest you do the same Sokka." Sokka bowed back.
"I'll do that." Cheif Unalaq walk off with his guards and around the corner to his quarters, leaving only Kya and him standing in the hallway. He headed toward his room. Kya walked up next to him her stride matching his, "well, that could have gone better."
"Indeed." Sokka shook his head and sighed, "but there is still hope. We have to work harder."
"Of course, Uncle." Kya agreed wholeheartedly. "I have faith that you, Chief Unalaq, and Zuko will find some compromise."
"I'll think on it." They walked the rest of the way to his room in silence. When they reached his door he turned to her, "goodnight Kya."
"Goodnight, Uncle. See you in the morning."
...
Sokka shot out of bed and tumbled over his own feet in the darkness. He looked around frantically and found the source of what had woken him. His eyes had not fully adjusted to the darkness, so he couldn't see the identity of the person yet. They moved closer to him and he rolled between them and the bed, heading toward the table where his sword lay. He reached up to the table and drew, his sword poised at the stranger. They had retreated a few steps.
They flipped the light switch on and Sokka was blinded by the sudden light. "Uncle," Kya whispered frantically, "it's me." Sokka lowered his sword and sighed.
"Thank the spirits, Kya. You scared me half to death." He vision was still blurred by the intensity of light that had filled the room, but he saw her extend a hand to him. She pulled him from the ground in one fluid motion. That's when he heard it. The sounds of battle. He rushed to the door and and closed it securing the lock. "What's happening?"
"I'm not sure, but Sato's men are attacking us...I was lucky I was awake when they struck..."
"We need to find Zuko, maybe he knows what's happening..."
"It sounds like the fiercest fighting is upstairs. We should head to the President's quarters. Maybe someone is targeting him?"
"Ok," said Sokka. He agreed that Kya's idea was likely the most probably. Especially after the events at the summit today. He would not have been surprised if the foolish Earth Queen had ordered a strike. She still considered Republic City a part of her territory. She would not have take kindly to President Sato kicking her ambassador out of the summit.
"I need to get some water first," Kya ran to the bathroom and turned both the faucets for the sink and the bathtub and began bending water into two long tentacles around her arms. In the meantime he placed his sword in his sash, grabbed his boomerang, and tied on his strapped on his boots. When she was ready she turned back to him. "Follow me."
Sokka unlocked the door and placed his hand on the handle, "We don't know what's going on yet, so try not to kill anyone. We might still be able to salvage these talks." Kya gave him a disbelieving look.
"Alright."
"Good," he opened the door. Kya ran out. He drew his sword and followed. They made there way to the master staircase. There had been fighting here, but had moved upstairs as Kya had intuited. Sokka examined the scene briefly as he kept in stride with Kya. There had been earth and waterbenders fighting here, and the equalists, as well. There were several bodies and blood strewn about on the ground. None of the downed fighters were moving. The people that had attacked here were brutal. It was looking like the Earth Queen was behind this attack. He wondered if the Dai Li were here, but that didn't explain the water and ice shards.
They kept running up. They didn't know exactly where the president's room was, but continuing to follow the sounds of fighting was their best bet. On the fourth floor they finally found an active battle. Dai Li agents were fighting the equalists, and they needed help. It was four on three. Sokka was ready to even the odds. "Forget what I said earlier," he said charging, "get the Dai Li!" They heard him charging in from behind. Two of them turned to face the water tribe chief and his waterbending niece. They threw their stone fists simultaneously, all four hurtling at them. Kya's water whips surrounded Sokka, intercepting three of them. She spun in a circles, letting the stone hands gain more speed and sent them flying back. The stones were moving too quick for the Dai Li to stop them and they crashed into the agesnts, shattering into pieces and stunning the them. Sokka had dogged the last fist and seeing the two agents dazed he moved in to finish them off. Even in his advancing years he was still fast. With one quick horizontal slice to the throat one of the agents fell, gurgling his last breath as he went. Without losing a beat he pulled his weapon back for a stabbing attack. He went straight for the other agent's heart. He felt the weapon push through the flesh of the man's front and back and then quickly drew out the sword. He looked at the two men he had just killed. There had been a time when he would have tried anything to save his opponents, but life had taught him that sometimes quick decisive actions like this were the only way to survive. A point he and Aang could never agree on.
He pushed those thoughts out of his mind and looked at the three equalists in front of him. They looked very confused.
"What's going on here?" Sokka asked.
"Stay back!" One of them yelled and the three of them took fighting stances again.
"Wait! We want to help."
"You sympathize with the benders, and you've even got one with you..."
"We saved you from the Dai Li," Kya said sounding agitated. The equalists exchanged glances. Though it was hard to say what they were feeling behind those masks.
"Please," Sokka begged, "we can help."
"Fine..." One of them said warily, "but one wrong move and..." He let the threat hang in the air.
"Alright!" Sokka said back forcefully, "I understand, but the longer we stand here the greater the chance that the president gets harmed." The three equalists ran off beckoning Sokka and Kya to follow. They passed more equalists and Dai Li fighting, but this time they didn't help. Getting to Sato was the priority.
A flash of light came in from the windows followed by a defining thunderclap. They were close. The next corner they rounded they saw two huge double doors hanging by their hinges. Zuko and Sato must be in that room. The rushed in behind the equalists and took in the chaos before them. Sato was slumped on the ground a strange glove that appeared to be a weapon on his right hand. There was blood on his vest, but he was still conscious, he looked like he would survive. At his feet lay Ambassador Udai. He was dead. His hair shoot out in every direction and blood was trickling out of his mouth agape in a frozen death wail. Amon, the man who had threatened him on the balcony stood in front of Sato, fists clenched and in a fighting stance. Zuko was on the other end of the room. Glass was shattered at his feet from the now broken window on the wall next to him. Then Sokka's eyes fell to Unalaq and his heart sank.
"Let her go!" Sokka yelled pushing past the equalists who had lead them there, Kya one step behind him. Unalaq held Asami Sato in water bindings. The child looked his way, fear and pain in her tear-filled eyes.
"Sokka," he said not taking his eyes off of Amon, "this is the only way. These negotiations were going nowhere and we all know it! By taking her we can keep the world safe for benders. Think about the Avatar! She wouldn't be safe in a world where a man like Sato has so much power! This girl gives us the leverage we need!"
"You're wrong..." Sokka said clenching his fists. Zuko made eye contact with him and it was as if he could understand what he was thinking. In an instant Zuko rushed forward cutting his water binding with a circular fire kick. Asami screamed at the close proximity of the fire as she feel from the air. Sokka dropped his sword and rushed forward to catch her. He cradled the child in his arms and rolled out of the way and into a corner of the room. Zuko, Amon, and Kya were assaulting Unalaq, but he was holding his own. Fire and ice were flying in every direction and Sokka saw that Amon was bending water in the battle, as well. Sokka hugged the walls as he made his way over to where President Sato was lying. He placed his child in his arms.
"Thank you," he said looking away.
Asami grabbed him by the sleave, "thanks, Sokka."
"No problem, kiddo." He turned back around the face the battle. He knew he couldn't help. In a battle between four expert benders he would just get in the way, and most likely get himself killed. Unalaq was looking desperate. He was finished. There was no way he could stand up against Zuko, Amon, and Kya at once. A loud screech filled the air. It was Druk. As imposable as things were a moment ago for Unalaq, they'd just gotten worse. The dragon clawed at the window widening the opening so he could get his head and neck in the room. Now he had Druk's fire and teeth to contend with, too.
Unalaq cursed and pulled all off the water in the room toward him creating a dome of thick ice around him. His eyes looked wild like a mad man and he yelled at the top of his lungs, so that everyone could hear him through the thick ice. "There's one more way to finish this!" The ice dome suddenly morphed into hundreds of ice spikes. They exploded outward with tremendous force. Sokka saw Kya, Zuko, and Amon struggle just to defend themselves from the spikes. Without thinking Sokka jumped in front of Sato and his daughter arms outstretched to take the blow for them. He felt the sting of the sharp objects entering his body. His knees bucked and he started to fall.
"Uncle!" He heard Kya yell. Two strong arms caught him before he hit the ground. It was Zuko. Through his blurry vision he saw Unalaq run out of the room with Amon and the equlists they had saved hot on his heels.
"Go after Unalaq, I'm-" He broke into a fit of coughing. He tasted the blood in his mouth and could feel Kya tying to heal him. He looked down at his body and saw no fewer than a dozen ice spikes protruding from him, some of them in very vital spots. He realized he wasn't fine. "It's too late for me. Unalaq needs to be brought to justice." He words were hardly above a whisper. The only reason he was still able to talk was because Kya wasn't giving up in her healing efforts even though they all knew it was futile. He looked up at Zuko and tears were streaming down his face. He kneeled down and put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed.
"Goodbye, my friend."
"Goodbye," Sokka managed as more blood spattered from his mouth. "Tell Katara, I love her, and I'm sorry." Zuko nodded at him and stood up, seemingly too overcome with emotion to even speak. Dying was more peaceful than he thought it would be, but he thought Kya's healing hands might be sending him off in my more comfort than most. "It's okay, Kya." His hand twitched in an effort to reach for her, but his body failed him. She saw it and took his hand. "Let me go." Tears streamed down her cheeks, too. And he could even hear Asami bawling behind him. He hopped that he had been able to plant the seeds of love and understanding in that one. He was sad he woudn't live to find out if they had sprouted.
Kya stopped her healing, knowing that Sokka's words were right. "Goodbye, Uncle," she managed through the tears. Sokka managed one last smile at her, and then was consumed by darkness. Gone.
Author's Note: Hi Everyone! I hope you enjoyed the latest chapter. Thanks everyone for your continued likes/favorites/reviews/etc. The set up is done! Next chapter Bolin and Mako will make their first appearance, so yay!
I want to give an extra big thank you to Puffie and aamoon13 who have been giving me advice on how to improve my writing and who gave me very helpful reviews. So thanks guys! If you haven't check out their stories, "The Saga of Avatar Korra" and "Revelations" (respectively), you should, as they are really great!
One last thing, I started a community here. It's called "Best of Legend of Korra AUs" I love reading stories on here just as much as I enjoy writing. And I love AUs. So I wanted to gather all the best in one place. So if you also like AUs check it out and follow if you feel so inclined.
Until the next chapter! Thanks everyone :)