XXVII: The Aftershocks
With the aid of the White Lotus, Iroh had retaken the city of Ba Sing Se during Sozin's Comet, Iroh stood before the palace and watched with a quiet pride as the Fire Nation banner burned away and revealed the Earth Kingdom emblem underneath it.
After securing their victory, and the comet had passed, Iroh returned to the Jasmine Dragon, he was happy to see that it was kept in good shape since he left it and it appeared that no one had gotten into it for some looting, so he checked whatever herbs he had left and found enough for a pot of tea to share with his comrades as a means to celebrate.
The night after the comet passed, Iroh busied himself by sweeping his teashop when a messenger hawk flew in through the open door and trilled its song to him. Iroh took the letter and it read:
General Iroh,
It's Mai, a friend of Zuko's and now a former friend of Azula's, you probably remember my father, Ukano. At any rate, I write to you to tell you that Zuko and Azula went into battle against each other, and it ended in Zuko's favor; unfortunately, neither of them came out unscathed. They're both alive, but Zuko is currently dealing with a couple injuries, while Azula is currently being detained at a hospital, Zuko's Water Tribe friend told me that there was something unstable about Azula when they fought her.
Zuko is recovering, but we wish for you to be here. Please come at your earliest convenience, and we'll tell you everything, and you'll get to see your nephew's coronation, I'm sure that would mean the world to him.
Iroh dropped what he was doing and made his leave for the Fire Nation.
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Zuko woke up in a daze, his vision was blurred and he felt a cold pack on his forehead as well as some bandages around his arm and shoulder. A moment later, the cold pack was removed and he turned his head to see who took it. Through his blurred vision, he saw that it was Katara tending to him, and through muffled voices he heard that she was talking to someone, and he managed to see that Mai had arrived! Somehow she had been pardoned while he was out.
Mai approached him, and he smiled lightly when his vision cleared. Her hand brushed his cheek and she looked over to Katara and told her: "He's awake."
"Oh, good… Oh, careful Mai, you're almost on his bad arm."
"A bad arm on one side and a bad scar on the other; Zuko, you really know how to get yourself into trouble, but I guess that leads to something fun." Mai replied, taking a step back and folding her arms.
"Well I did get into a big fight with Azula and most of the royal guard to put her in her place, if you count that as fun. How long was I out?" Zuko asked.
"It's been a couple of days." Katara replied.
"Katara told me what went on during Sozin's comet and I've got to say, being your girlfriend has gotten even more interesting." Mai replied.
"Katara, how much damage did we cause?" Zuko asked.
"Enough that you're going to have to rebuild some places; and I'm not too sure how you did it, but you rode on a bolt of lightning and hit the ground hard enough to make a crater in a road… Now, Zuko, when you're ready to get up, the Fire Mages will be ready to speak with you to discuss your coronation. For now, is there anything you need?"
"Has the Avatar returned?" Zuko asked.
"Yes, Aang, Sokka, Suki, and Toph got here yesterday on an airship complete with a crew, and your father as their prisoner. Aang didn't tell me too much about their battle, but he did tell me that a talking lion-turtle taught him how to take away your father's ability to bend. Ozai is completely powerless now and is awaiting trial. As for the others, they're in the palace, but I'm not sure what they're up to." Katara replied.
"What about Uncle Iroh?"
"I've sent a letter to Ba Sing Se via messenger hawk once Katara caught me up on what happened; hopefully he'll be here soon." Mai replied.
Zuko tried to sit up, but it turned out that he was too weak for such a task for the moment, especially with only one good arm.
"Why don't I have any strength?" Zuko asked.
"Well, you haven't eaten in a couple days, you were in the Dragon State for a fair amount of that battle and wielding that much power for that much time takes a mighty toll, and because you were losing control of the Dragon State at the end of the fight I had to Bloodbend you to help you get out of it and to relax you. It turns out that when used right, Bloodbending can be an effective healing tool. I've been using that technique to try and heal your arm up some, but it seems that it needs time to heal on its own accord too."
"Again, thank you Katara, but uh…"
"Right, I'll get you something to eat." Katara replied, and she left the room.
On her way to the kitchen, she met up with Sokka with a messenger hawk on his shoulder and a letter in his hand and he told her: "Iroh's going to be here by nightfall."
"Well, that was quicker than I expected, alright, and Zuko's awake now, so I'll tell him the news once I get something for him to eat. Sokka, while I'm taking care of Zuko, would you mind greeting Iroh at the city's entrance when he gets here?" Katara replied.
"Of course, maybe Aang would like to come along too."
Sokka took the liberty of showing her to the kitchen where a palace cook was able to fix something up for Zuko, but what the cook put in the bowl made Katara pull a weird face as she asked: "What is this?"
"Crab-shrimps in hot oil with rice, one of Zuko's favorites, there's also a pot of oolong tea for him and some mochi… You look a bit weary, miss, I'll fix a serving for you and Mai too to take back." The cook replied, and she served up three more servings before placing the trays on a trolley to take back to Zuko's room.
When Katara returned with the trolley and found that Mai helped Zuko to sit up in the bed, Katara poured the tea into Zuko's cup and set his tray on his lap saying: "So, Sokka received a letter that your uncle will be here by nightfall."
Zuko gave her a small smile and started eating, his strength gradually returned with each bite.
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Iroh's boat arrived just in time, and he was happy to see Sokka and Aang waiting for him, and he asked them to tell him everything that was going on. Well, Aang and Sokka elaborated about the battle with Ozai, and made it clear that Ozai was both alive and powerless at the present time, and then they went into detail about what they heard about Zuko's battle with Azula. Apparently both of them went crazy, Azula just lost her sanity, and the comet overwhelmed Zuko's powers in the Dragon State.
"Zuko has been awake for most of the day if you'd like to go see him." Aang stated.
"Thank you, Avatar Aang." Iroh replied, and the boys escorted him to the palace, but along the way, Iroh got a good look at the damage his niece and nephew had caused, there were scorch marks all over the place and burnt rooftops as well as some rubble.
Still, it was great to see Zuko again, by this time he had moved from the bed and into a chair with a robe draped over his shoulders, he was busy talking with a fire mage to go over the plans for his coronation and Ozai's trial.
"How're you doing, Fire Lord Zuko?" Iroh asked, announcing his presence. Zuko bowed his head to him and waved him over. Iroh looked over to the Fire Mage and told him: "Perhaps it would be wise to go over the rest of the plans with me, he looks as if he still needs time to recover."
"I agree with my uncle." Zuko spoke, and so the fire mage left with Iroh.
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Now it was the day of the coronation, Mai helped Zuko into his dress robes and he stood with Aang for a moment, he was also in something more ceremonial as well.
"It's kind of hard to believe that a year ago, all I ever cared about was capturing you." Zuko stated.
"I can hardly believe that a year ago I was stuck in an iceberg." Aang replied, then his face brightened up as he added: "Now we're friends."
"Yeah, friends… Well it's time to step outside into a new era." Zuko replied. He stepped into the outside to face an audience with all the nations present, friends reunited, and cheers sounded as he stepped into the sunlight, with fire mages ringing a gong to announce his arrival, and he received more cheers as he announced: "Please, the real hero is the Avatar!"
Zuko stepped to the side to allow Aang to stand beside him as he continued to announce: "I now declare that this war is officially over!"
Cheers erupted.
"I've promised my uncle, General Iroh, that I would restore the honor of the Fire Nation, and so I shall welcome an era of love and peace. The path ahead of us will be hard, the war has left the world out of balance and scarred, but I believe that through hard work and the Avatar's help we shall restore harmony between our nations."
Zuko then got down on his knees and a fire mage then placed a crown upon Zuko's head and declared him Fire Lord Zuko!
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There was a celebration and feast thrown in order to commemorate the occasion, and of course people wanted to approach Zuko and Aang with questions, but when a general stepped up, he asked: "Fire Lord Zuko, what shall your first order of business be as Fire Lord?"
"Here at home, my father must undergo trial, as for foreign affairs, I wish to discuss a matter of the Fire Nation Colonies with the Earth King, Kuei, but from what I've heard he's traveling in disguise with his pet bear, and it's just a bear. After today, I'd like for you to send out units to search for the Earth King, get him back on his throne in Ba Sing Se, and report back to me." Zuko replied.
"Yes, Fire Lord Zuko." The general replied.
"I can stick around or go search for the Earth King if you'd like." Aang told Zuko, as he was sitting at his side. Zuko looked to Aang and told him: "Actually, I'd like to come up with something special for you, and I think that you'll enjoy this idea."
"Yeah, what is it?" Aang asked in excitement.
"You see, both Katara and I are carry children of Raava, and it only make sense. I thought that it would be fun if gifted benders had a special club: Members would be made up of gifted benders that seek to better themselves as both people and as benders. They'll learn to perform techniques from other bending styles, how to open their chakras, and should they happen to fully realize their elements, we'll find out if they carry a child of Raava. Of course not every bender has that potential, but all benders are welcome. They'll also learn the teachings of your people, how to respect all life and to free their spirits."
"This sounds great, Zuko, but what do you hope will become of this club?" Aang asked.
"I would hope that this club would act as a second Avatar. You can't be in more than one place at the same time, and should you get wounded in battle or something like that, they could take your place while you recover. This club will be nomadic and pledge their allegiance to those they feel deserve their help."
"This does sound cool… and wait, Katara's a child of Raava too? When did this happen?"
"Since a couple days before the comet. She didn't tell you?" Zuko asked.
"Whoops, sorry Aang!" Katara said as she was sitting next to him.
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The next day was Ozai's trial, and the Fire Nation General set out with a unit to go and search for the Earth King and was encouraged to recruit as many people as he could to aid his search.
Before the trial began, Zuko introduced Aang and Toph to the judge, and then stated: "Judge Lao, I'll stand as a witness before this court, as well as Avatar Aang. Master Toph, here, is here to serve as a lie detector, she can feel certain vibrations to tell if someone is being dishonest. Now, I know that you're in charge of the sentencing, but despite the fact that most of the world would rather see Ozai put to death, I wish to respect Avatar Aang's efforts in sparing his life and keep him alive."
"Of course, Fire Lord Zuko, and as Fire Lord, you do have a say in how we should sentence your father."
They stepped out into the courtroom where Ozai sat and they brought up charges of treason and upsetting the balance of the world, and with Toph acting as a human lie detector, Zuko's testimony was damning for Ozai as Zuko told of the story of Ozai's confession during the Day of Black Sun. After asking for Iroh's birthright after the death of Lu Ten, Ozai found out that Zuko was to act as Iroh's heir, but since Ozai wanted the throne and Azula happened to be eavesdropping so they came up with a scheme saying that Azulon ordered Ozai to kill his own son so he'd know Iroh's pain. Ursa heard of the false plan and stepped in to protect her son. Being a talented herbalist, she concocted a poison for Ozai to whatever he pleased with it and after slipping Azulon the poison, he banished Ursa falsified Azulon's will, and took the throne for himself.
Of course Ozai was found guilty of both the charges, and after some discussion between Judge Lao and the Fire Lord they came to a decision, and Judge Lao allowed Zuko to announce the sentence: "Ozai, your life shall be spared, but Judge Lao and I have agreed that you shall be hereby stripped of all royal titles, you shall also live out your days in prison; but each day you shall be escorted out of your cell to aid in community service for a few hours. If you can somehow learn to respect the ways of a simple and modest life, perhaps you'll walk as a free man again and live out the rest of your days with a modest life."
Ozai was hauled away to the prison, and Zuko ordered that all figures of Fire Lord Ozai would be destroyed, seeing as that he was never meant to have the throne at all. His tapestry in the palace was to be burned, and any statues of him were to be melted down so the metal could be used for other purposes.
Toph and Aang followed Zuko out of the court and Aang spoke: "I like that you're giving Ozai a chance to redeem himself, but do you plan to just erase him from history?"
"No, I'll make sure that his crimes are remembered as well as his redemption if that ever happens, but his reign shall be seen as a shame to the Fire Nation." Zuko replied, he saw a distant look on Aang's face and told him: "Hey it's going to be a while before the Earth King is found, perhaps you can find Katara and get a start on that club we talked about."
"Sounds good, but what are you going to do?" Aang asked.
"I'm going to see how the city's restorations are going, there's not much I can do to help with this busted arm though. Toph, would you please come with me?"
"Sure thing." Toph replied. Zuko left Aang to go about on his own while he took Toph to the site of the crater he created.
"Whoa, what happened here?" Toph asked.
"I happened, during the fight with my sister I rode a lightning bolt to this spot and landed with this crater. Would you mind filling it?" Zuko asked. Toph just stomped her foot and filled the crater and Zuko showed her around and she aided in any stone related repairs. All in all, it was a good day for the Fire Lord and his friends.
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