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Volcano day: part 1.
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So this morning there were shenanigans with getting everybody up and awake and breakfasted and ready to go, just like I thought there would be. This is the problem with planning on doing something all together, because all of us are on slightly different wake/sleep patterns. Look not everybody wants to get up at the crack of dawn okay, some of us like/need this thing called sleep and without it, we get a little cranky. Leaving just after the crack of dawn was always a bit of an over optimistic plan in my opinion. Zuko wanted to 'beat the hordes of tourists', but I am happy to be one of the merry tourist horde who have gotten to have a sleep in – thank you very much.
Aang was the most excited out of all of us and was ready first and giving everyone else the hurry up. I know Aang gets excited by new places. Maybe it's something to do with being an air nomad. Me and Sokka and Suki somehow managed to drag ourselves to the breakfast table. Zuko had already made a huge pot of tea for everybody, so we all partook of the tea and felt a little more awake. Toph was the least enthusiastic and stayed abed all through breakfast in protest over having to get up at an ungodly hour. When Aang went to shake her awake for the 6th time in 20 minutes, she threw her pillow at him most irately. Aang then went and made her a giant sandwich, filled with 5 different jams and took it too her so she could have breakfast in bed and skip out the whole 'getting up for breakfast' step of the morning. Aang had forgotten which jam was her favourite (it is raspberry) and so he used every jam we have, (except for Sokka secret sauce, which fills everyone except Sokka and Zuko, with the deepest revulsion). Toph was touched by her five jam sandwich. But as soon as she'd finished her last bite, Aang was all, okay you've had breakfast now lets goooooo!
-?-
We trekked into Port Ember together. To get to Mount Ember, we had to travel to Equinox Bay, the next biggest town on the island. Equinox bay is 30 minutes away by train, or an hour by ferry. We chose train. I thought it would be like the trains in Ba Sing Se and wondered how they would go without earthbenders to push them. Zuko said it was steam powered and then Sokka piped up with a long/lengthy blathering explanation about steam engines and how they worked and how he'd read a book on them and steam was really quiet powerful and blah blah blah. I'll admit I tuned out at some point. Sokka's big long, precise and scientific explanations can be a bit much sometimes. As long as the train will get us there, that's all that matters.
The front of the train looked a little like that thing Azula chased us with, all those months ago when Toph first joined us. But it was less menancing somehow. Probably because is looked clunkier and had heaps of passenger carriages attached to it. Not nearly enough though, by the looks of things. The platform was literally swarming with people. I didn't think I'd ever seen this many people clustered into one area in my life. Zuko said it was 'peak hour' and that was why it was so crowded and this was why he had wanted to go early so we could avoid the hordes of people. The queue for tickets was immense and Aang was already getting impatient. A queue that size could kill him. Zuko and I found some benches and decided that I would wait there with everybody while he went to get the tickets. Only one of us needed to wait in line after all.
-?-
Another group of kids bagged the bench next to us. Well just one kid really, a boy who reminded me remarkable of Aang, yelled out I bags the bench! and a slightly taller girl sighed and drawled out that he didn't have to bags every single seat he came across. There were three of them and they all looked rather similar. Olive skin, brown hair and brown eyes. They must all be related. This suspicion was confirmed when the tallest girl, who was rather bossy looking, told them both to stay there while she got tickets and strode off in such an older sisterly manner. I know that long suffering tone of voice, I know that purposeful stride. I'd bet a million gold pieces she was the older sister and in charge of their little group. The younger girl took out a book and started reading while the boy pestered her. I turned away from the two of them. I had my own older sister duties to attend to.
Zuko said there might be a few longish waits during the day so Suki and Sokka had both grabbed a book before we left. Suki had taken Kyoshi's autobiography, Sokka had taken Avatar Yangchen's book of days and as soon as we gathered near the bench, they both sat down and started reading. I had never, until that moment, seen quite how similar Sokka and Suki were. They sat in identical poses and at one point they turned their pages exactly in unison.
My task was the thankless one of trying to keep Toph and Aang entertained while we waited, without bending. We'd all decided not to bend today (after Sokka's suggested it) on the walk down to town. We were still living in hiding and to bust out some earthbending/waterbending/airbending in the middle of the firenation would be a dead give away (emphasis on the dead). Firebending was okay, but the rest of us were just pretending to be simple colonial tourists.
Very bored simple colonial tourists from the looks of Aang and Toph.
What is taking so long! I thought the firenation was supposed to be efficient and always punctual and all that stuff! Toph expostulated loudly. From her left, the boy leaned in and said I know right? My sisters and I have been here three weeks and we've had to wait everywhere. This nation colonised half the earth kingdom and they can't figure out proper train timetables! Toph looked momentarily startled at being addressed so directly by a stranger and said who are you? quite bluntly. I'm Rozin, the kid answered cheerfully and that's my sister Rei, he said and gestured to the girl next to him, who much like Sokka and Suki, was reading intently. She lowered her book and inclined her head towards us in way of greeting and then resumed reading. She was reading a beginner's guide to firebending and looked to be halfway along it. Rozin saw me notice and whispered She's a firebender, only we're not supposed to talk about it conspiratorially at me and Toph and Aang. Rei, who was sitting next to him, casually gave him a whack with her book and resumed reading.
Toph said I'm Toph and that's Katara and she said and pointed at me, she gestured at Aang and paused for a second. Aang's name was really rare and recognisable after all. ...I'm Kuzon, Aang cut across her and smiled at Rozin. Are you lot colonials too? Rozin asked with some excitement, We said yes we were (we are just simple colonial tourists after all). Oh Fabbo! We've been hoping to meet some more colonial kids, Mam said there should be a few here on the island. Are you lot new to old smokey? Because let me tell you we've had crazy delays everywhere!
Old smokey?
Rozin explained it was what they called the firenation in Oyster Bay. Rena, that's my other sister, she's in the queue right now (he waved his arm vaguely at the queue), and Rei and I are all from Oyster Bay Colony. What colony are you guys from?
Bollocks! Obviously I always knew there is more than one colony. We've always called them the colonies, which is the plural form, after all. But normally just saying you were from the colonies sufficed as an explanation for all our unusual colouring/not quite perfect manners in the firenation. Normal firenation citizens don't seem to differentiate between the different colonies after all. But this was a colony kid and he was obviously asking for a more specific place of origin. I didn't know the names of any individual colonies after all. What colony? Hmmm? Toph and Aang looked at me and I had a moment of blankness. I looked over at Zuko in the queue. Would I look weird if I ran over and asked him where we could possibly be from and then came back. Suddenly I had a moment of cleverness (I am so wily). I remembered the name of that village near Jet's forest. That little harmless firenation town.
Gaipan! I practically shouted at Rozin, like he'd give me a prize if I got the right answer. We're from Gaipan! Toph and Aang looked relieved next to me. Rozin looked nonplussed and said 'oh the logging town. Right? We said yes, it was the logging town. Toph asked what Oyster Bay produced (all the colonies and towns normally produce something) and Rozin smiled cheekily at her, and said it was the wine colony. Best of all colonies. His mum and dad had a big winery on the river and when they'd come to the firenation, they'd bought an arseload of wine for all his mum's firenation relatives.
Did you guys get a really random letter from random firenation relatives too? Rozin asked innocently. He didn't seem to actually need an answer from us and kept talking anyway. I have never met anyone who talked quite as much as Rozin, except for Aang. He said that when his mum decided to marry his dad, her father -who was some big general in the firenation and you know how they are - stopped speaking to her and Rozin and his sisters had never met their grandpa until a few weeks ago. At the start of summer, suddenly, out of the blue, they get two really urgent messenger hawks, one from her father (the general), one from her brother (not a general – but a wine merchant and so he was mega rich). Both letters pretty much saying that she needed to come back to the firenation and to bring the whole family and they had both sent enough money for the sea passage for everyone. Like a whole thirty gold pieces. Rozin said with some awe. Anyway, now they were on Ember Island and staying in their uncle's family home and trying to make friends with their poffy cousins. But their cousins were such poffs! And Rena and Rei and Rozin were sick of them and had escaped for the day.
What's a poff?
Wow, you lot must use really different slang in Gaipan. A Poff is what we call kids from the main island, because they're all poxy, snotty, poffs. Poff sounded like an insult and I don't know, I felt vaguely defensive over Zuko. He was from the main island and he was neither poxy or snotty.I said as much to Rozin. Rozin was really surprised that we'd been able to make friends with a poff because poffs aren't normally very friendly and said that maybe our friend was a rare breed of nice poff. He'd heard they'd existed, but had assumed they were like flying bison or bears or unicorns or other such mystical creatures.
Most of the poff kids they'd met had been a bit snotty and aloof with Rozin and his sisters. As soon as they find out you're from the colonies they make this face Rozin said and made a very comical disdainful face. Both Aang and I laughed (because it was a really funny face) but Toph didn't even blink. Rozin gave her a little poke and said hey Toph, didn't you see. He may as well have been saying pay attention to me. Toph lifted her fringe and let Rozin see her milky eyes and said no, she didn't see. Rozin looked a little shamefaced and looked about to say something else (unsurprisingly) when a taller girl came up behind him and said Rozin, stop bothering these nice people, to him and sorry, my brother talks a lot to us.
Rozin said it was okay and we were colonials too. The girl, I assume his older sister Rena, instantly smiled more widely at us. I said it was true, we were colonials and we hadn't minded Rozin talking and it had been nice for us to meet other colonials. Rena smiled again and said she knew what we meant. The ember islander kids were okay, but poffs were so standoffish, weren't they? It was nice to meet people you can have a friendly chat with. She'd just gotten in this argument with a poff in the queue because she'd pushed in (but she was in a rush) and he'd got a bit cranky (as poffs do) and there had been bickering all through her long long wait for tickets, until one of the guards sent him to the back of the queue (he had been persuaded by Rena's claims of innocence as well as her rather remarkable cleavage). It hadn't been worth all the pushing in and arguing because there was still an big wait for the next train. Gosh, the transports a joke at the moment isn't it. Rena said lightly. It's been like this ever since we got here! Efficiently disorganised. Who would've thought a few random water tribe warriors and earthbenders could cause this much chaos!
What? Sokka said, dropping his book and entering the conversation for the first time. Wow, you guys must be fresh of the boat. Didn't you hear about the watertribe invasion on the day of black sun. It's what's screwed up the transport royally. Sokka looked immensely curious and said no, we hadn't heard, what are people saying about it?eagerly.
Rena said that she didn't know all the details. All she knew was that on the eclipse day a small force of water tribe warriors and earthbenders had invaded the capital. What's was all that about really? Did one of them have too much ice wine as say 'Ve must invade the Ze firenation at ze veakest spot! Ze giant 'eavily fortified capital! (I wanted to correct her and say that water tribe people didn't speak like that but I was meant to be from Gaipan and she wasn't being mean or anything, she really just seemed to think that water tribe people spoke like that) Like seriously. I mean back home in Oyster Bay, people get drunk and talk about splitting from old smokey and getting independence, but nobody actually tries it. Anyway I think we've all learned a valuable lesson from the eclipse invasion. Don't mess with firenation people. Because they don't take kindly to it. And they mess with you right back. Sokka was watching her with a strange look on his face. I could tell he didn't like hearing his invasion plans (which I thought had been quite clever) being so roundly dismissed as foolish. Suki next to him had also dropped her book and subtly taken his hand.
Rena said that after the invasion, harbour city, which was a big transport hub, had been completely locked down. It had been the first time the poffs had ever been invaded and they were all freaking out – which for a poff meant keeping a little less calm and carrying on a lot more. And a rumour had gone around that Ozai knew of the invasion but hadn't done anything to stop it and the poffs were unhappy about that. Another rumour had gone around that Ozai hadn't done anything to stop it because he'd been busy killing his son, prince whats-his-face, and his brother, general whats-his-face, because they had both just disappeared during the eclipse, and according to Rena's uncle, the firelord makes people disappear on a regular basis and a lot of people had disappeared recently and when someone disappeared they were usually dead. (I felt a stab of anxiety for Zuko. His mum had disappeared. Was she really dead then?) The poffs were very unhappy about all the disappearances and each disappearance had sprung up its own batch of rumours. And another rumour had gone round that the avatar had lead the invasion and he'd nearly succeeded and the firelord had hidden from him like a coward, the poffs were exceptionally unhappy about that. And then another rumour had gone around that Ozai was going to throw into jail anyone caught spreading rumours, and so the rumours had stopped.
Because of all the invasion shenanigans, they had to wait for a week before they could dock in harbour city and then their transport ship was cancelled and so they had to travel the long way. (Train across capital island to Lightning Ridge- which was the nearest port to Ember island). The funniest thing about all the transport chaos and something that told Rena all she needed to know about poffs was what happened the day they had to go to the train station on capital island.
The big train station was just at the base of the volcano and there was normally a rhino bus (a giant cart pulled by kimodo rhinos- gosh we really were new weren't we- all the big firenation cities have them). After the invasion, all the kimodorhinos has been recalled for cleaning up the city. So they'd all crashed at their mam's friends house for a few extra days and waited for the bus service to start running again. And there was so much disorganisation and disruption and everyone was being all poffy and keeping calm and carrying on etc.
Anyway the driver came, without a rhino, and said they wont be getting the rhinos again til tomorrow. You could tell who the colonials were on this bus because all the Poffs were sitting still in an orderly fashion and all of us were like blaaaaah what are we going to do?The driver said he lived at the other end of the bus route and so he was going to walk home because it was the only way to get anywhere, what with all the chaos on the roads. Keep in mind they'd only been invaded by like 12 drunken water tribe people and four earthbenders- mam couldn't wait another day to see her brother so we decided to leave our big bags with her friend and take our small packs and walk with them.
And the funniest thing was that the poffs formed an orderly little bunch behind the bus driver and we actually looked like some imaginary bus. We would actually stop at the bus stops and poffs would 'get off' and then walk in the opposite way – the way we had just walked from! And the best bit is that when I looked around, we saw the next imaginary bus coming along – but this one was all poffs and so they marched quickly and orderly and soon they were almost over-taking us – because poffs are competitive about everything, even imaginary buses! And our driver turns to the second driver and says – what the hell are you doing? And the second driver says – what am I doing? I'm WINNING!
We all laughed over her imaginary bus story. I told her what I had told Rozin, that not all poffs are so bad and our friend in the ticket queue was a poff and he was quiet nice. Rena just shrugged and said well stranger things have happened I guess. She asked us all where we were heading off too today. Aang eagerly told her we were going to the volcano so he could learn some new firebending. Rena smiled and said that's where they were going as well because Rei was a firebender, and she really needed some training and then Rena was sure she was going to be wonderful. Rei, who had stayed out of our whole conversation, buried her face deeper into her book and blushed brightly.
Rena said that she'd read in that book of hers that all firebenders are meant to go and meditate on volcanoes or some such nonsense like that. They were meant to hike up some perilous path to earn the experience and then toss fire about and play with lava or whatever. It sounded like a lot of marlarky to Rena -excuse her omashuian- but she had heard that there was a lovely restaurant at the top of the volcano which had a fabulous view over all the island, so she and Rozin were going to look at that, and to support Rei, of course. Rei blushed again and said she would have been fine on her own but Rena gave her a small pat on the shoulder and said wasn't it more fun with all of them going. Rei rolled her eyes melodramatically.
Rena turned to me and said Tell ya what, why don't we all go together? We're all heading to the volcano and it's great to met other colonials, may as well spend the arvo together. Arvo? Afternoon, Rena explained. I agreed because it seemed rude not to and we'd probably keep running into them anyway, seeing as though we were all going to the same place.
Just at that moment, Zuko rejoined us and started handing out tickets to everyone in our group. I introduced him to our new colonial friends. When he bowed at Rozin, he openly stared at Zuko's left side and forgot to bow back. Rei looked at his scar and visibly gasped and recoiled. Zuko, to anyone who didn't know him well, showed no reaction. I, however, didn't miss that tiny, almost imperceptible look of hurt that passed over his face. I gave his shoulder a little squeeze and introduced him to Rena. She didn't gasp and recoil. She had already met him, apparently. Zuko saw Rena and his eyes narrowed in dislike. The feeling was obviously mutual. He said I know you! I got sent to the back of the queue because of you! Rena shrugged breezily and said if he had just let her push in, there wouldn't have been an issue. Zuko made a frustrated noise and was about to argue some more but I grabbed his arm and said in a calming tone that it had been nice for us to meet other colonials, because we hadn't met any other's since we left Gaipan (and I glanced at everybody else and tried to say remember we are just being ordinary colonial tourists today with my eyes) and Rena and Rei and Rozin were going to accompany us because they were going to the volcano too. Zuko seemed to say oh hell no with his eyes. We had another conversation with our eyes (which I won) and eventually Zuko rolled his and said fine with some disgruntlement.
-?-
When the train came it was a mad scramble to get on. Firenation people have the uncanny ability to let people off a train while, at all times, pushing forward impatiently. Rozin found us some seats, quicker than a flash and waved us over. I looked apologetically at Zuko who was still a bit grumpy and muttering about undignified colonials and about being sent to the back of the queue. I said that they'd only be with us for today and at least one of our new friends was good for finding seats on a crowded train. It was too crowded for all of us to have a seat to ourselves as there were only four seats in the booth.
Some surreptitious lap-sitting that went on.
Rozin sat on Rena and Suki sat on Sokka's lap and Zuko and I sat next to each other and had Aang and Toph. I will admit that I was going to try and use this opportunity to sit on Zuko's lap, but unfortunately, being a bigger kid, it somehow made more sense for Aang to sit in mine. Boo. And also Toph had bagsed Zuko's and Aang bagsed mine before I got a word in edgewise. Double boo!
The quiet firebender, Rei, opted to stand up and hold on to one of the bars. Zuko had also opted to stand and tried to give up his seat for her, but he was overruled by Toph, who said that if he stood, she would have to stand as well and right now she was engaged into some slappy-clappy-game that Rozin had taught her. Aang squirmed in my lap and wanted to play slappy-clappy as well, but it was more of a two player game. Aang grumbled and looked darkly at Toph and her new friend.
Rena pulled some a packet of wine gummies from her bag and shared them round. She asked us about what we were doing in the firenation and how long we'd been here etc. There was much umming and ahhing because we hadn't really thought we'd need a story now would we. Aang piped up that we had only just got to ember island and we were all cousins and staying with Zuko, who was also our cousin. (We must be very distantly related cousins in Aang's story. I mean really now, we all look so different, I mean there is no resemblance what so ever. Rena raised an eyebrow but didn't seem to question it.) Aang seemed to borrow from their story a little bit and said that our mum, like their mum, had got a message from her relatives in the firenation to come and visit and now we were here.
He said it all so self assuredly and confidently and Rena nodded along when he mentioned getting a surprise letter. Aang can lie so smoothly sometimes. I remember how, with such easy grace and aplomb, he told that story to those two warring tribes in the great divide. It is a handy skill to have. I am not as expert at lying as Aang and I always seem to give myself away somehow.
Rena thought for a second and said it was a bit weird wasn't it. They'd met so many colonials in the firenation this summer and it was always the same story. Suddenly firenation relatives that hadn't been heard from in years, would send urgent messages and pots of money and demands for everyone else to pack up and visit. But wasn't that just like poffs, They didn't invite you for a holiday- they demanded your presence. Zuko rolled his eyes (as he had done every time Rena had criticised poffs) and Rei spoke up grumpily and said leave off about the poffs will ya. Uncle Azan's not so bad is he, and neither is Auntie Ming. Rena looked indignant and said I'm just looking out for you! What those poffs said to you back in the capital is not on! Rei snapped back sharply lets not get into that again! And there was a brief and awkward silence. There is a story there, but I don't know what it is and we were all too polite to ask.
Rozin however, seemed perplexed and ask – so if you're all cousins, how come these two were kissing earlier! He said with some bafflement as he pointed at Suki and Sokka. Then his eyes widened and he said unless cousins can do that in Gaipan and then that's okay...I guess. I stifled a chuckle at his confusion. Suki reassured him that she wasn't a cousin, she was actually Sokka's girlfriend and Aang just called her a cousin for simplicity's sake. Cousins didn't do that in Gaipan. Rozin looked relieved.
Rena looked up at Rei and said what does you guide book say about the volcano? in a placating tone as if she was trying to get past their earlier awkward moment. I know that tone well. Rei pulled out her beginner's guide again and said that the Mount Ember Temple was the most popular in the firenation and that firebenders normally did the rice-paddy-way-hike to get to the top of the mountain, but due to the temple's increase in popularity, and the newly built restaurant, a cable car had been installed to help those less mobile up to the top. She put her book back in her bag and said with a sigh, I'm going to do the hike, you guys can take the cable car and I'll meet you at the top. Rena cut across her and said, no we are coming with you! Rei rolled her eyes and said you guys will hate it, you both hate hiking and you'll complain and embarrass me in front of other firebenders! Zuko muttered too late under his breath. Aang looked at Zuko and said with some resignation. We're doing the hike too aren't we. Zuko said Oh yes we are. Aang looked a touch sad before he brightened and said Can we get the cable car on the way back? I've never gotten a cable car before, can we, can we? Zuko said this would be okay. Sokka said cable cars weren't so great, just so Aang knew. Rena asked if Rei knew the way they had to hike, She did not, but the guide book said the path was easily marked out. Zuko offered that he'd done the hike as a kid and he knew the way.
Rei looked at them curiously and seemed about to ask them a question but she decided against it. I gave her a big encouraging smile. She seemed so shy and she rarely spoke and I guess I just thought she needed some more encouragement. She smiled very faintly back and then turned to Aang and Zuko and asked them if they'd been firebending long? Aang said he'd only been learning for a couple of months, but Zuko was his Sifu hotman and had been doing it since he was a kid. Zuko groaned audibly at being called Sifu Hotman in front of other people.
Rei asked Aang shyly, if he'd learned all the blocks yet, because she'd been trying to teach herself for a couple of months but hadn't gotten anywhere. Zuko looked alarmed but Aang breezily said, in what he obviously thought was a reassuring tone, that blocks were super easy and he had picked them up in a couple of days. Rei's face fell tragically and I gave Aang a light smack on the back of the head. The poor girl had just said she's been trying for months to no avail! She didn't need to hear how everything came so easily to Aang. Aang looked a little abashed and said that he had a really good teacher and he gave Zuko a little smile. Zuko offered to show her some blocks before they went into the temple. Rei looked a little aprehensive and shy, but said that she'd like that, she hadn't ever had a teacher before. Zuko said he'd show her what he could, enough so she could get in. Rena smiled at him and Rei nodded and said she'd read that they didn't allow in benders who couldn't at least do basic blocks and she'd been a bit worried. Aang cut across the two of them and said Don't worry! We'll help you out! And Rei smiled a slight little smile, that oddly reminded me of Zuko when he first came to the Western Air Temple. Shy and hopeful at the same time.
-?-
We got off the train and walked away from the giant crowd gathering at the cable car and followed some signs (and Zuko) around. The path lead slowly up the hill and the ground was rocky and uneven. Rozin became absolutely fascinated by Toph's progress and how she just walked forward and never hesitated. A couple of times he reached out to help her but she just brushed him off.
Rozin was a little taller than Toph and a little shorter than Aang. But like Toph, what he lacked in height, he made up for in attitude. He asked, with the blunt curiosity of male youth, So you're blind? But you don't have one of those sticks or dogs, how can you tell where you're going. Toph paused for a second. She couldn't use earthbending sight as an explanation (because we were all just simple colonials after all). A decidedly cheeky grin spread over her face and she said I see with a sonic wave I release from my mouth.
And then she turned to Rozin and went AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH and released an ungodly scream.
All of us except Rozin (who appeared delighted) cringed away from the dreadful sound. After what felt like an age, Toph stopped making that spirits-awful noise and said nonchalantly There, I got a pretty good look at you. Rozin looked completely entranced and delighted and said Awesome! Do it again!
Me and Rena said at the exact same moment no, that's not necessary.
Toph did it again anyway.
-?-
When we got to the edge of the rice paddies, we all eyed the path apprehensively. This seemed like a bad idea. There was nobody else here, did people still do this? There was a perfectly serviceable cable car just a short walk away. Was Zuko sure about this? Was Rei sure about this? Was this really necessary. Apparently it was. According to Zuko. It was a short cut and we'd be up the top in half the time that it would take to wait in the queue and it would be good for Aang to earn the experience and put hard work in for it. Toph piped up at the back that while it would be good for Aang to earn the experience, did everyone else- those of us who were not firebenders- really have to? Zuko said she could get the gondola up if she wanted but he thought it would be a good idea to stick together, because the temple was really crowded and it would be hard to find each other. Toph mumbled in agreement.
We started along the thin paddy terraces. We had to go single file and edge our way slowly along the boggy strip of land. As the oldest and boys in our group (or as manly men as they liked to call it) Zuko was in the lead and Sokka was brining up the rear (ostensibly to collect those who have fallen into the rice paddies – I actually think it will be Suki who ends up picking Sokka out of a rice paddy- her balance is far superior). I was behind Zuko and then it was Rena. Aang and Rei were together and Aang was excitedly talking to her about learning firebending while she nodded shyly. Behind them were Rozin and Toph. Rozin had taken a real shine to her and when we started out on the rice paddy trek of doom, he'd grabbed Toph's arm and declared I'm going with sonic wave girl. Toph loves her new nickname. after a final moment of indecision, we started the long hike.
-?-
So it had come to this, trudging precariously on very thin rice paddies terraces to the steady sound of both Toph and Rozin's complaints, unable to bend on account of our new friends and not being able to give ourselves away, feeling muddy and sticky and occasionally shrieking with fright. These rice terrace ledges were so thin and boggy that it was a question of when, not if, some of us would fallen into a rice paddy. I was either going to fall slightly sideways into the one on my right, or slightly downwards into the one on my left. Everyone was in much the same boat, except Aang who seemed to be gliding along (I think he was using his airbending to cheat, but not in a obvious way, so at least he wasn't giving us away.) Sokka was muttering angrily. Suki made a lame pun about having a sinking feeling about this (at a point where her feet were actually sinking into the bog). I tripped into Zuko and grabbed his shoulders to steady myself, but instead he made a noise like errgh and we swayed alarmingingly. After much arm flailing and ado, we righted ourselves and didn't fallen in. this time. This was actually the third time I'd grabbed Zuko to stop myself falling and he suggested we switch places so he could go behind me and randomly grab me in an alarming fashion. (this was actually impossible. You cannot switch places on a rice paddy terrace, you have to keep edging along in the order you came) We had a small good natured bicker about this. I ended up saying that I blamed him for this whole ridiculous rice paddy predicament. It's a short cut is it? Oh it seems like a good idea huh? We'll be up the top in half the time, will we?
I said that as soon as we got home, he was getting a good walloping with the commonsense stick. (I actually haven't used the stick in ages, I must be getting out of practise) Zuko said he'd find the stick first and set it on fire and then what would I do. I gasped in indignation. He wouldn't! Behind me, Rena asked with some confusion what's this commonsense stick? I told her it was a stick with commonsense written on the side and I used it whack commonsense into people. Rena said oh fabbo! I'm getting one! I said fabbo? She shrugged and said fabulous. Oh, okay, I think I'm getting oyster bay speaking. They just shorten everything and add O.
Somewhere from the back Toph piped up with this is the lamest vacation day ever! And Rozin joined her saying I'm not even a firebender, why do I have to get all sweaty and muddy and tired and thirsty. Rena shot back grumpily Because we are supporting our sister, you drongo! I could sense this was an argument they've had before. Rei, the sister in question, had been quiet through out most of the morning piped up with I didn't ask you lot to come with me anyway! You're both drongos for coming! What is this word drongo, what was that short for? I couldn't even fathom. Rena behind me said it was a word for an annoying idiot. And Rozin was an idiot and so was Rei if she thought she could have done this hike all on her own. Rozin piped up that he wasn't an idiot, he was in fact the sensible one because he hadn't even wanted to hike up a volcano in the first place. Rena said we were already halfway up and he couldn't go back now, so he should just get out of the kitchen and quit his bitching.
Get out of the kitchen and quit his bitching?
Rena said it meant stop complaining. Toph loves the phrase Get out of the kitchen and quit your bitching. I have a feeling next time one of us complains, we are going to hear that phrase. Zuko expostulated loudly that we were nearly there and everybody needed to calm down. Rena said Typical Poff, always trying to be in charge and boss everyone around. Zuko got a bit indignant and said he wasn't trying to boss everyone around. Rena said that he had been like everybody follow me, even though I have no idea where I'm going! Zuko said he knew where he was going, sort of! The sort of is what gave Rena cause for concern. Gave a lot of us cause for concern actually.
Rena asked if he's ever worked in rice paddy before and Zuko said no, that was peasant work. Rena tutted and said honestly, you poffs, you think anyone who wasn't born in that capital volcano crater (The Caldera City- Zuko corrected). Fine, you think anyone who wasn't born in the Caldera City (she said that bit with a lot of sarcasm) is a peasant. Zuko protested that he did not think everyone was a peasant. Sokka piped up that Zuko used to call me and Sokka peasants all the time. Zuko shot me an apologetic glance. And you called me an oaf! Sokka added cheekily. That was ages ago! Zuko shot back in Sokka's direction. Yeah but it really hurt my feelings Sokka said with great melodrama and he wiped away an imaginary tear. Zuko shot Sokka a look that said -when we get off these paddies, I will smack you!- but then out loud he said Sorry I hurt you tender, flower-petal-delicate feelings. Behind me, Rena said Poffs, even your apologies are pompous!
-?-
In the end it was (unsurprisingly, in hindsight) Toph and Rozin who fell into the paddies first. They had been playing this game which I will dub 'what am I doing now'. it seems Rozin had invented it to test the limits of Toph's sonic waves. In front of her he'd start walking funny/carrying on and would ask Hey Toph, what am I doing now? Toph would always grin and be able to answer and he would usually remark wow, sonic waves are awesome! ….Okay what am I doing now?
Eventually these shenanigans got everyone else's attention. Aang started playing 'what am I doing now' too and Rozin and Aang kept trying to out do each other for Toph's illustrious attention. I wanted to tell Aang that it wasn't as cute when he did it, because he already knew how Toph actually saw! But anyway. I think he just didn't like the amount of attention Toph was paying to Rozin, because he seemed a little well, jealous...just quietly. Part of me was a bit hopeful that this small display of jealousy over Toph might mean that he was moving on from his little crush on me. Fingers crossed this is the case.
Rena from behind me started up a steady litany of scolding, in the long suffering older sister tone. I know that tone of voice so well. Oh Rozin, stop acting like a drongo. Stop bothering Toph will you (Toph piped up that she didn't mind- it was good to practise her sonic wave) It will only end in tears. Do you know how stupid you look right now? If you fall into a rice paddy, I'm not fishing you out. You know that's the only way this will end right, someone is going to fall into a rice paddy and it's probably going to be you and I will laugh when that happens.
It was as if the universe was testing her right at that second because Rozin had been trying to..skip..I think...anyway he'd been trying to do something very acrobatic and ill-advised on a rice paddy and had just been saying hey Toph what am I do...aaaaah when he tumbled in with a tumultuous crash and pulled Toph in with him. He'd windmilled his arms for a second and reached for her because she was the nearest person and then they both went arse-over into the paddy. Aang yelled out Toph really loudly. Rozin and Toph broke the surface instantly and Toph gasped and shrieked, because she still can't swim and the rice paddy was mostly water. And soon as she cried out that she couldn't swim, it looked like Rozin tried to grab a hold of her and push her out, but Aang was already there. Aang knocked Rei out of the way (and unfortunately into the paddy down hill) and grasped Toph's hands and pulled her out in a heartbeat and gave her a big hug, which she she tried to struggle out of saying, twinkletoes, I'm fine!
Rei was most indignant at being pushed into a paddy was was calling out some not so affectionate insults at Aang. Rena looked quickly at both her wet, soppy siblings. Rena went and grabbed Rei and helped her while Rei grumbled this is why I didn't want you guys to come. you're both such drongos! you ruin everything! Rozin was trying to pull himself out and Suki was helping him and tutting silently.
Well that was eventful.
-?-
During the course of the trek, Toph proceeded to make everyone about her wet from rice paddyness – she gave Suki and Sokka what she called a 'wet person hug' – it's not really a hug, she just wanted to make them wet too. Rei had 'accidentally' pushed Aang into a rice paddy and Suki had to help him out again. As I predicted, it is Suki who does the most fishing people out of rice paddies, not Sokka who was bringing up the rear for this purpose. Sokka is struggling and (swearing frequently) and holding onto Suki most of the time for balance. Out of all of us, Suki is probably the best at this whole rice paddy terrace thing. There are a few rice paddies on Kyoshi island and she's had to walk over them once or twice. So I guess she's had practice. There was some more bickering between Rena and Zuko.
This is what happens when you follow a poff! no good can come of it -
Well it isn't my ideal situation either, being followed by a bunch of complaining, rambunctious colonials ! -
Was it really hard?-
What?-
To leave peasants off the end of that sentence?-
WHAT –
Come on, admit it, you wanted to say complaining, rambunctious, colonial peasants, didn't ya? Come on, you can tell me! Go on! Say it! You know you want to, go on!
Will you just be quiet! -
Ooh spoken like a true poff! "will you just be quiet!" Very posh way of telling someone to shut up- are you mimicking me? -
just trying to learn to speak like a poff-
Well Stop it!-
Well Stop it-
I mean it –
I mean it –
Really now!-
Really now!-
Zuko got really frustrated after a while and asked her why she wanted to copy him/drive him insane so very badly. Rena piped up with this theory that it was the poff 'voice' that helped them colonise so many place. The Poff voice is all business-like and commanding. According to her, in Oyster Bay, you could tell the colonial born from firenation born people by how they ordered a wine. Colonials would say ooh, I'm not sure...hhhh...can I have a white wine please? While firenation people would say I WILL HAVE A WHITE WINE! According to Rena, it was Sozin's voice that made Oyster Bay colony in the first place. He turned up and spoke to the local lord at the time, (called Lord Shushu by the populace, but rather patronisingly 'Shuey' by Sozin.) According to Oyster Bay history, Sozin rocked up with an arseload of warships and tanks and then very politely went to see Lord Shushu first and said:
Hello, hello, what's you're name. Shushu? Shuey? Well, I'm firelord Sozin Shuey. Listen Shuey, I'd like to have from where you're standing... to the horizon, if you don't mind. Oh you do mind... well I've also brought all these tanks and badass firebenders to back that up... so yes... this is all mine now.
According to Rena, because his voice was so commanding and he had all the tanks and everything, every one was like – okay, fair enough, have our land! Zuko said that he didn't think that colonisation happened like that. Rena said of course a poff would think that, but she was a colonial, half firenation and half earth kingdom, and she knew how it had really happened. Zuko retaliated and said that if poffs were so awful, why did she want to learn to speak like him. Did she plan on going around and colonising places. Oyster bay dwellers would never colonise anywhere! That's what I'm telling you. Instead of saying ALL THIS IS MINE, we would say I'm just popping round to my sisters for a quick drink.
-?-
Eventually, by some wonderful miracle we made it to the top without a) anyone else falling in, b) Zuko's head exploding from frustration and c) giving ourselves away. I consider this an extraordinary achievement.
When we got to the top, I was taken aback by how beautiful the place really was. The view was absolutely spectacular. You could see the entire island from here. Where the lush green foliage met the sea was the immense expanse of the crystal blue ocean. The sun hit it just so and it was sparkling beautifully. I stared for ages. I could see why some many firenation nobles chose to have summer houses here. I'd have one here too, if I could. This place was lovely.
At the top of the volcano there was a huge elaborate temple with dragons carved all over it and big red marble stairs leading up to it. And next to it was a big sprawling restaurant with chairs and tables spilling out into the garden. We all chose to eat in the garden and enjoy the sun. the sun would also help those of us who had fallen into a paddy dry off a little bit. There was a clearing where some other benders were practising in front of the temple. Zuko took Rei and Aang there so they could start practising the blocks, after the three of them had a quick glance at the menu and told us what they wanted.
There were tourist milling about everywhere and lots of dudes with their arms laden full of trinkets, trying to sell them things. I could see many haggling exchanges going on from my seat, but my eyes kept being drawn to Zuko as he was patiently demonstrating firebendery stuff for Rei and she smiled at him in a way I didn't like. Rena was watching as well, looking thoughtful.
We looked at the menus and there was a moment of confusion. Everything, literally everything, on the menu came with a chilli rating. Meaning there was nothing on here that wouldn't come out covered in chilli.
1 chilli was colonial mild
2 chillies was colonial spicy
3 chillies was firnation mild
4 chillies was firenation spicy
5 chillies was eat at your own risk.
Rena said you want to know what the worst thing about the firenation is: the food. They take a perfectly good meal and then completely cover it with chillies, unnecessarily! It's like food warfare! This steak has insulted us! Quick- we must bomb it with spices until it tastes like no semblance of its former self. Sokka said that he had actually gotten used to the spicyness of everything and asked what Zuko was getting. Zuko's asked me to get him a category five meal (eat at your own risk) and Sokka said he'd have that too. I have a feeling he is going to regret this decision, but that is just me. Everyone else chose a 1 chilli dish (because we are clever and will not end up downing milk and milk before the day is through.)
Rena looked at Aang and Zuko and Rei again and said, trying for a casual tone so …you know your cousin's alright... for a poff. I agreed that he was. Rena continued diffidently...does he like, have a girlfriend or anything? She asked. I was scandalised! I knew exactly what that tone, what that question was asking! I think I gaped at her, astonished, because she quickly added not for me mind, but Rei seems to be crushing on him something fierce. She said and nodded in her sisters direction. Rei was smiling at Zuko the way that she had been earlier and I felt a flash on (unjustified , I know I was being ridiculous) anger towards her. I said YES! Yes! He does! very quickly (and not at all casually I must say) in response to Rena's question and she raised an eyebrow at me and shrugged and said mmmhhh, what a pity.
I was a bit surprised. She'd been complaining about poffs, and to a certain extent Zuko, all day (causing me to have a few bossy/cranky moments in his defence). Why would she want him going out with her sister. She shrugged and said I thought a firebender boyfriend would be good for her. You're cousin's probably the nicest poff we've met...truth be told, he's the only poff we've met who kept talking to us after finding out we were colonials. It was hard for her back home without any other benders around.
She told us that back home, all the other kids teased Rei something fierce about her bending and it made Rena really mad. Rozin piped up that she'd kicked Scooty Vines in his gonads for calling Rei a freaky jerkbender. I don't know who Scooty Vines is, but from the way Rozin said this, kicking him in the gonads was a very big deal. Rena smiled proudly and said he'd cried like a baby and hadn't bothered Rei again for months.
The problem was really that the firenation and the colonies didn't know what do with colonial benders, especially benders from mixed parents. They were a rarity and so there was no bending school in Oyster Bay. The firenation guards there refused to teach Rei, because she wasn't full firenation. Their Mam tried, but she wasn't a bender (her brother and father were) and she only knew what she had picked up from watching them bend. Rei was nervous about her bending and she had constantly set things on fire accidentally and she'd become really sad and withdrawn. Rena thought that a firebender boyfriend would help Rei feel like less of a big weirdo. Look she's smiling now. Rena said happily and we watched the training for a second. Zuko corrected Rei's stance and Aang fired a small blast at her and she successfully blocked it and smiled widely.
And besides she added with a decidedly cheeky glint in her eye, who wouldn't want a firebender boy friend. I hear firebenders are meant to be the best lovers. They are apparently complete volcanoes in the sack! My friend Malin went out with this firebender and he did all this crazy stuff with his bending while they were...you know... apparently he always used to heat his hands before he... (shamefully) I was immensely curious about where this story was going but Suki coughed meaningfully and glanced at Toph and Rozin who were looking at Rena with wide (horrified and curious) eyes. Rena paused for a sec and then said this is probably a story for another time. She mouthed at me and Suki we'll talk later.
Just then our food came and with the arrival of food, Zuko, Aang and Rei returned from their little training session. I have grabbed Zuko (just a little possessively) and sat next to him. Rena poured us all a drink and lifted her glass and said To our new friends. We joined her in toasting new friendships and started eating.
-?-
Just as I predicted, Sokka had one mouthful of his eat at your own risk lunch and then his eyes went wide, his face went red and he ordered several large glasses of milk.
-?-
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Authors note: long and rambly.
Lovely wonderful readers! You have reached the end of Volcano day: part 1. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed it. This chapter actually ended up being freakishly and crazily long, so I have chopped it into a few parts. Not sure how many it will end up taking up. It turns out I have a lot of ideas about colonials. It took me ages to get my thoughts sorted and and I had some real life shenanigans (two of my friends got married and there was much rejoicing and emletish had a bit too much Osyter Bay sav blanc) so this chapter took a little longer than usual! sorry about the wait! I hope to get the next one up in a more timely fashion!
Anyway there's a few things going on in this chapter. We've met the three R's. (Rena, Rei and Rozin) who in my imagination are delightfully dysfunctional, like the modern family kids. I wanted to start to flesh out the firenation/colony social system and I thought the best way to do that would be to introduce new characters. Each sibling acts like a foil for one of the Gaang and to help illustrate some of the dynamics going on, as well as attitudes to and from colonials as a whole.
I know people can be a bit meh on new characters, but I hope you will tolerate the three R's for the brief duration they are with us. They will be important and will lead us to some discoveries and revelations. They are also from Oyster Bay which is the name of my favourite NZ wine! Delicious sav blanc! I actually am modelling oyster bay slang/manner of speaking on aussie slang. Things I didn't even know I did, like abbreviate everything (arvo for afternoon, ambo for ambulance etc) get pointed out to me when I speak to people from other countries and so that was a fun discovery for me. Except more slang in the coming chapters.
So being from australia (colony of dear old blighty, england for those of you who don't call it old blighty) I ended up having thoughts of how the colonials see the firenation which started out being based on the australia-england relationship, but then evolved because I think relations between the firenation and its colonies would be much more complex. In england I got a lot of good natured teasing about being from australia (which is full for criminals bwhaha, terrible at the cricket bwahaha etc) I teased back in much the same friendly manner about the English stiff upper lip and terribleness at rugby etc. so it's all very friendly now. Every now and then there's a bit of shenanigans about becoming a republic and separating officially from england but we never seem to get around to it in aus.
However historically, there have been a few times were we have been quite unhappy with our mother england and wanted to cut all ties (but didn't end up doing so due to various reasons). First time was after WWI when we realised how badly the aussies got treated by the british commanders, aussies were seen as expendable cannon fodder, and all that dreadful Shot-At-Dawn stuff. And the second time was during the great depression when a few english govt representatives came over and took an arseload of taxes to prop up the english economy and let the aussie one also fall into depression. So from what I gather there is the most resentment towards a colonising power by its colony when it either 1) gets dragged into a war and has it's citizens treated poorly by said coloniser, 2) gets treated poorly fincially with unfair taxes etc by said coloniser. On the whole relations have been harmonious with australia and england because england is lovely, we share a sense of humour and on the whole it only did thing 1 and thing 2 once. but I imagine the firenation does thing 1 and thing 2 to its colonies all the time and holds on to them by force rather than goodwill.
All colonies end up developing their own culture and identity separate to that of their colonising power, especially after a few years have passed. Most of the colonies are atleast around 80ish years old, (if the time line in correct and Sozin did go on a massive colonies spree after the air nomand genocide). 80 years is enough time to have a few generations born in the actual colony (which would be a mix of earth kingdom and firenation) and for the colony to develop a culture and identity a little separate from the firenation. I think at the start Sozin would have been brutal in his colonisation attempts and the first few places he conquered would have been dealt with severely. But after a while, word would spread, and it would be enough just to show up – like he did at oyster bay- with an arseload of ships and tanks and just let his reputation speak for him. It would have been an almost bloodless conquest, but that does not mean it was without resentment.
All the colonies exist entirely for the war effort. They were colonised because they had something, or produced something the firenation needed. They are expected to pay money and wares/produce and goods as well as man-power and soldiers to the war effort constantly. This is both dragging the colonies into war and treating the citizens poorly and causing financial hardship. I imagine the colonies wouldn't mind splitting from the firenation under such a system and being independent. But because they were colonised by force and there would be the ever present threat of that force returning to wreak havoc and punishment, colony people are probably a little to scared to voice this feeling of rebellion too loudly – and I imagine if they did, all the subsequent firelords would have dealt with them harshly.
Ooh just so you know, the word poff is not meant to be a terrible insult. More like a mostly affectionate insult. It is a combination of Pom (aussie/nz slang for british people, stands for prisoner of his majesty) and Toff (slang for a snotty rich person – because the firenation seems rather elitist and snotty). I think colonials use poff to refer to everyone who was born in the firenation in an affectionately insulting manner, and maybe in a plain old insulting insulting manner for rude/snotty firenation people, especially those from the calderra – who I imagine would be the snottiest of the lot. Poff probably stands for prisoner of his firelordy-ness or something like that, because to me, the firenation seems a lot like a dictatorship and so essentially, all the citizens are prisoners in some way or another. Colonials, who I imagine are kept on a looser leash, coming to the firenation for the first time, would find the society quite rigid and unfriendly.
Two of our new friendly colonials stare/ gasp recoil when they see Zuko's scar for the first time. The non-reaction of everybody in the actual show puzzles me a bit, because though I love zuko – that scar is huge! It is noticeable! It is normal for people to have some reaction when they see it for the very first time. It would be a reflex, not done deliberately to hurt, but just out of surprise. I think starring and or gasping and recoiling would be common reactions when people met Zuko for the first time. Zuko is sensitive and I think this would not have helped his self esteem and helped him push people away for all those years he was at sea. But Rozin and Rei aren't trying to be mean or anything, they are just showing what I think would be common responses in real life to a big facial burn scar like that. For Rei there is the added horror of being an untrained firebender, she is worried she could injure herself or someone else in that way (yes later she looks past the scar and develops a little crush on him, but her first reaction is to recoil). Zuko is used to people reacting like this to his scar and has learned not to react to it/show his hurt overtly. But it still will hurt his feelings a little bit. He's gotten so used to being around the Gaang who don't see it anymore and meeting the three R's is a jarring reminder.
Rozin, the youngest, is much like Aang, but without the Avatar responsibilities. The lovely ignorant sparrow asked me for a pinch of Taang and I hope you aren't disappointed. I actually think Aang and Toph are a bit to young for anything romantic between the two of them just yet. (see my many rants regarding this), but realistically I can see Aang, as he is in the show, getting jealous of any other boy paying serious attention to her. I can also see Toph, as she is in the show, secretly being thrilled with some of that sort of attention. Not in an obvious external way, but knowing someone is crushing on you does warm the cockles of the heart. And Rozin thinks Toph is just awesome. He is fun and carefree and quite demonstrative of his affections (always wanting her to pay attention to him etc- he's sort of like the way Aang is with Katara. Actually Rozin comes with the added bonus of not crushing on Katara and so he is much more accessible to Toph). Basically I think Toph deserves a bit of affectionate crushing/romance and it was a bit of a shame she never got any love in the show. I think Toph is fabulous and will break a few hearts when she's older and I wanted her to have a admirer.
So anyway, Rozin's obviously into her and is lavishing her with attentions and Aang gets a bit cross/jealous and tries to get Toph's attention back. Aang loves attention and I think he feels quite secure in Toph's affections. They are friends and she frequently HAS to pay attention to him as a result of being his earth bending teacher. But this is the first time that attention has been seriously challenged by an outsider and Aang doesn't like it. He's still got his old troublesome crush on Katara (he does want to sit in her lap on the train after all) but still, he doesn't like that Rozin or the thought of some other guy getting Toph's attention. She was his Toph first after all. Perhaps this jealousy could later blossom into a crush.
Rei is the middle child and she is a shy and nervous bender. She's never had a master before and she's trying to teach herself but it's all a bit daunting. She is much like Katara in the very first season, quite talented but with no one to teacher her. Her mother tries, but can't really help and the local firebending authorities refuse to teach her (they probably have orders not to and are a bit wary of teaching someone who is half earth kingdom). I imagine things get set on fire accidentally a lot around Rei and she would get teased by the other kids. Rei more than her siblings feels like she doesn't belong anywhere and in that respect she's a little like Zuko, who knows what it is like to feel really out of place.
The three R's are mixed race kids, which, theoretically should have happened frequently after the initial push for colonisation. Historically speaking, people do tend to mix together despite differences and initial warfare. Eg for a random example, the red haired trait of the scottish and the irish is actually from the many waves of viking invasion and all the viking/irish kids born – it is now considered part of their natural identity, but there was a time when being red haired was a symbol of being a descendant of the invading army.
I think that the colonies have been there for years and were probably mostly stable under Sozin and probably Azulon. Some towns really seem to flourish and seem quite firenation and were probably left mostly to their own devices and to periodically pay taxes/tribute/contribute their goods and produce to the war effort. But other towns, like, and I'm just assuming here, Jet's original town, might have rebelled against the firenation and then had that rebellion brutally subdued. I think the firenation would have to periodically subdue rebellions and these brutal acts would help keep the other colonies in line (rebel and we will burn your town to the ground too – sort of thing). I imagine there would be a lot of propaganda, to try and maintain firenation loyalty in a mixed race place. I think the colonies would end up being half and half.
According to Avatar wiki, The colonies are all situated on original towns and are never attacked by the earth kingdom army. If the earth kingdom wants to get rid of the firenation from its lands, attacking the colonies makes sense, but they do not. This leads me to believe that there are still a large number of earth kingdom people living in their original towns, despite being colonised. The earth kingdom are (the dai lee and the village bullies excepted) steadfast and loyal and would not wish to attack their fellow earth kingdomers. Also in the episode where Aang goes to school it was made clear that the firenation do not expect as much rigid adherence to the rules from colonials. Colonials are almost expected to be a little rougher and a little ruder. All Aang has to do is say he is from the colonies and all his missteps are explained. If it was 100% firenation, I would expect more adherence to rules would be a must, but if it is more half and half, I think allowances would be made, especially if the colony was producing something valuable.
So there a firenation soliders and colonisers living along side earth kingdom villagers in what appears to be an uneasy peace. There's probably much simmering but unspoken ill feeling towards the firenation from the earth kingdom people and must mistrust and disdain for the earth kingdom people from their firenation conquerors (see the prison guy calling earth bending a brutish savagery). But firenation and earth kingdom mostly mix with little outright disharmony. I think that as more generations are born into this strange duopoly, intermarriages would become more common. They might perhaps be frowned upon, but they would happen. I believe that love can grow despite differences in culture and childhood (obviously as I am writing a Zutara fic).
I also think that something like republic city would be necessary just because of the sheer existence of the colonies. The people who live there are neither completely firenation or earth kingdom and it is their home, where else are they going to go. A city that is not aligned with any nation was necessary to make a place for people who don't identify completely with one nation.
Anyway I think that the mother of the three R's was sent to the colonies during her mandatory service and during her tenure in Oyster Bay, she met and fell in love with a dashing wine maker from the earth kingdom. Her family (staunchly loyal firenation, father quite high up in the military) would not have approved, but she would have married him anyway and then not heard from her dad in years. Her brother kept in contact and their connection has now help him grow rich as a wine merchant. (I just get the feeling that there would be a lot of subtle alcoholism among the firenation nobility. If I had to sit a banquet table with Ozai, I'd be hitting the sav blanc pretty hard aswell.)
But then the dad hears about Ozai's crazy plan to BURN THE ENTIRE EARTH KINGDOM! And despite the years of estrangement, he does not want his daughter hurt by the crazy plan and reaches out to her. I think that, at least in my version of the ATLA world, this would not have been an unusual occurrence that summer. Because there are many colonies in the earth kingdom that are at least half full of firenation people and if you burn the entire earth kingdom to the ground, you are going to burn those people as well. This is just one of many problems I have with the crazy plan. It literally is cutting off your nose to spite your face. I have Rena say offhandedly that every earth kingdom family they run into have a similar story, suddenly the firenation relatives really want to see them. I do not think firenation people are all evil and would let their extended families suffer as casualties of war, if they could prevent it. I think that if someone with relatives in the colonies heard about the crazy plan, they would be pretty snappy about trying to get their relatives out before sozin's comet.
So the firenation is a bit of a dictatorship. Avatar wiki says it is an absolute monarchy which is pretty much the same thing. Ozai is a supreme ruler. In my mind, he's a bit like Caesar just before everybody stabs him. He is getting way to big for his boots but everybody has to go along with what he is saying, even if it's nuts - because otherwise he will make you disappear. But I reckon aside from the toadying yes-people he's elevated (Like Zhao – I bet Zhao did a lot of Ozai arse-kissing to get his admiralship) there would be a bit of uneasiness and disgruntlement among the firenation elite re: The crazy plan. Because the crazy plan is crazy.
I think that the crazy plan is meant to be a secret, but it is not a very well kept one. I think many people in the upper eschelons of firenation society and the army/ airship fleet, know about the crazy plan. You aren't meant to talk about the crazy plan or you risk disappearance. But these people would use some of their bravery and try and save their relatives anyway. But swear them to absolute secrecy. The three R's don't know about the crazy plan (though their mum does and she hadn't told them) and the fact that they might not be able to go home because it is about to be burned to the ground, but they know something is up, in that uncanny way that kids have.
I have included a few vague references to the simmering uneasiness that I think would have accompanied Ozai's various actions in the last season, especially after the invasion (during which their firelord hid from a 12 year old child). Even though the invasion failed, the firenation were attacked in the capital, on their home turf and that always makes people uneasy. Also they lost Omashu in a rather calamitous defeat (a whole army defeated by one earthbender). So there is uneasiness and well as transport delays, shenanigans, rumours and general disquiet amongst the capital and Ozai would be trying to reassert control. Avatar Wiki tells me that the capital city is divided into a few large sections. One of these is the caldera city in the crater of a volcano and the other is the harbour city, which is unsurprising , on the harbour. The harbour suffered a lot of damage and would be made up of people from many different classes, rather than just the upper class, and as such it would be a little harder to regain control of, in my imagination at least.
I also vaguely mentioned that there is a rumour going around that Zuko and Iroh have been murdered by Ozai. Both of them just disappear during the eclipse and in general, relatives have a knack for disappearing around Ozai – what do fire nation people THINK happens to them? This will be expanded upon in the next few chapters, but I just thought I'd mention it here.
So anyway, All of this is another long and rambly way of explaining how exactly the gang fit so easily into the fire nation without anyone raising an eyebrow. Because lets face it, Sokka and Katara at least, would stick out like sore thumbs. They are water tribe through and through. So I think it is so easy for them because there must be an arseload of other colonials, enough colonials with unusual skin tone/ eye colour combinations to make the Ganng not seem unusual and help them fit in.
I also don't think colonial kids and poff kids would play well together like the headband episode would have us believe. I think Aang gets along with the kids at his school because there is only one of him and he is Aang – he gets along with everyone. But elsewhere, there are colony kids streaming in to the firenation is large numbers. The firenation is a highly elitist society and there seemed to be a great deal of disdain for the colonies. I think the colonies are almost interchangable for the firenation nobles and they don't know much about them. And I reckon the firenation noble children, especially in the capital, where it would be the most snobby, would be quite rude to the colony kids and would probably exclude them to some extent. That's why Rena is a bit more vehement about her dislike of poffs.
The poffs have been quite rude to her younger siblings and I think, for all her faults, she is a very protective and good older sister. They would have picked on Rei terribly when she tried to learn bending and made her feel like more of a freak and for this Rena will always have a large dollop of resentment for them. Rena is probably frustrated from weeks of putting up with poffs being rude to them and so she is a little abrasive with Zuko. In many ways Rena is a foil for Sokka, she is older and despite not being a bender she is protective on her younger siblings and she is also quite clever and very opinionated/sarcastic. She knows how colonisation and the social structures within the firenation work to classify her and her family as second class citizens and she doesn't like it one bit.
I think that someone had to give Zuko a hard time about calling the others peasants back in season 1. and at this stage in the fic, that someone wasn't going to be Katara (because she luurrves him). I think that Zuko has moved on along way from season 1 and grown out of his elitist world view, but it is clear for the other firenation kids (Azula, Mai and even Ty lee to some extent, seem to look down most of the people around them) that the elitist world view is alive and well in the firenation. Even when she's going nuts in the final agni Kai, Azula still makes time to call Katara a peasant. What does that tell us?
Zuko being fond of his dignity, is trying not to totally lose his temper with the three R's (he's trying to be better at keeping his temper etc on the whole, but it is really going to be tested in the next few chapters). Rozin is like another Aang to deal with and Rena is worse. He feels a little sorry for Rei and her trouble with bending – which is something else he'd have empathy for – but he is completely oblivious to her crush on him (I think Zuko is often in a state of obliviousness when it comes to girls – bless his cotton socks). He does genuinely want to help her out, even though she gasped and recoiled. For Rei, he is the first person to validate her and her bending and so naturally she develops a little crush. Rena notices this and by this time in the day, she thinks that Zuko is alright...for a poff. Really, Zuko is the first poff they've talked to for an extended period of time who hasn't been horribly rude to them. She thinks that being around other benders and learning to control her bending is a good thing for Rei (who has become quite shy and withdrawn) and if this poff boy can teach her bending and make her smile, then he is okay by Rena. All this is not okay by Katara, who gets a little possessive, because even though nothing's been said, he is her Zuko after all.
So I wrote most of this chapter to endless summer, which is the new song from aussie band the jezabels, as well as foster the people's I would do anything for you. Go listen. Trust me. To anyone who knows how to make those music video things, I think endless summer would be a good zutara song (here I am giving you a not so subtle wink and nudge). The day of volcano fun with friendly colonials will continue next chapter. The Gaang will be invited to a party and will have a few manners lessons. Sokka will be in full on planning mode, Suki will win at life some, Katara will be fabulously sexy and Zuko will be stunned.
Til then my lovely readers!