Shinichi tried to open his eyes, his vision was blurry as his eyes searched the room. He tried to sit up, but immediately found it difficult as a hand pressed against his chest and pushed him down.

"Rest," a voice ordered him and he obeyed. "You had some trouble. Could you tell me what happened?"

He wanted to reply, but found that his jaw hurt when he tried to talk.

"Can you move your head?" the voice said, but it had a softer tone to it and felt his hands being clasped by another. "Here, squeeze my hands. And flex your toes."

He obeyed and did what he was told.

"Squeeze my hands if this hurts. Move his head side to side. Now, up and down. Now roll it."

He could feel someone grab the back of his gently and moved his head.

"Squeeze my hands, if you feel any pain on your back."

He felt a hand reach under him and started to poke and prod, from his upper back, all the way down to his hip. It felt awkward, but he did not complain since whoever they were, they were helping him.

"Okay, good. Squeeze my hands if you feel pain anywhere on your head."

He squeezed extra hard, to emphasize what he felt was the obvious.

"Okay, good. We have your face wrapped up. It looks like you're really banged up. The doctor will be here shortly. So just stay where you are and sleep if you can."

When Yatsuha was done she left the room and joined Jet who sat sprawled at the windowsill, looking out onto the street. His back against the wall, with his arms folded in front of his chest, one leg folded towards him, the other hung freely from his perch. Both of them had just arrived to the coal mining town, and what they have found so far appalled them.

"Think we should go the keepers of the peace?" asked Jet.

"We're supposed to keep a low profile. Remember? If we go to the police we'll have to answer some questions to the authorities. Something like this is bound to attract attention," replied Yatsuha.

"I know, I know. Don't do anything that would draw attention. Just observe and notify your handler," replied Jet exasperated, lightly bumping the back of his head against the wall. "I heard that things were bad in the Earth Kingdom. But this is rotten."

The pair were staying at the local inn, ran by an Earth Kingdom businessman. At first when they showed up in their Air Nomad attire, the innkeeper was unwilling to give them lodging. But when he peeked at their coin purses as they paid for their meals and were asking for references. The innkeeper was singing a different tune to get their business. It is like their uncle had told them, 'Money talks. Bullshit walks.'

Jet looked out the window to see the buildings greyed by the coal dust that seems to permeate the air. They were in the higher end of town. But you could tell right away who lived near the coal mines, because their clothes were noticeably dirtier and greyer, than their more affluent peers who live farther away from the mines. The women of the coal mines would wear old and worn woven blouses and dresses that had stains under the armpits. They would spit or cough periodically to clear their throats, while the men would cough almost uncontrollably. Even when the men washed, they would still have traces of black coal dust on them, their clothes were old and worn.

"Poor devils," said a street vendor aloud as a coal mining couple walked past his stall. The couple were coughing uncontrollably and had just bought a bag of rice to make their gruel for the week.

"Why are you feeling sorry for them?" said one of the vendor's patrons. "Their nomads. They're always like that."

"How do you feel about working in the mines?" the vendor shot back.

"Yeah, in fact I do," the patron puffed up his chest. "I'm an Earthbender see? And if I had it my way, we wouldn't need no stinking nomad down there taking away jobs from people who truly deserve it."

"What makes you say that?" the vendor replied calmly, lowering his tone.

"'Cuz they work for ten coppers an hour, and take away jobs from us who work for twenty five. And none of them can Earthbend. Hell, they can't even Airbend," the patron shouted. "We should run them all of town I'd say!"

"Yeah he's right!" a few random people said nearby them.

Jet felt his temper flare up and furrowed his brow.

"Think that we should at least notify the Uesugi?" asked Yatsuha.

"That we found one their own. Sure. By the way. We should inform our handler what we've found so far."

Within a week, news of Shinichi's assault and battery made against him spread throughout the town. A week later, a whistleblower emerged at the courthouse, which reported the gross injustice made against the money lender. Later on, more pamphlets were distributed, reporting from the most mundane things, to national and international news, as well as more grievances that the Air Nomads have against the Earth Kingdom. The message was clear, the Harmony Restoration Movement was simply a new wave of imperialism against the Air Nomads, and served to deepen the marginalization in society. This time by the Earth Kingdom. These series of news was immediately causing rifts within the community, with the Air Nomads outraged and demanding justice.

"Damning," growled the town magistrate. "Completely damning." The magistrate tossed the news pamphlet onto his desk.

"They're lying," Judge Gao Gan replied darkly. "They have no proof."

"But this looks bad. They have names, dates, figures, testimonials."

"They're lying. All these are slanderous lies."

"Perhaps. But what they are writing is true. The only fault is that they may not be telling the whole story."

"They are lying!" Gao Gan half shouted. "Whoever is writing these, are doing so in malicious retaliation of my fair and swift justice that have been brought upon them. And I think that it must be a big group of them to write so many. They're all over town. And I think I have an idea who is leading them. Here, their names are on here, we just need to arrest them and make an example of them!"

"...But to arrest them for making a slight at best is over kill. And all of what they have written is true, and it also raises quite a few questions about you, your honor."

"Ask away, I have nothing to hide."

"How do you feel about Air Nomads? Are you...anti-Air Nomad?"

"W-well...so what if I am. What about it?" The judge started to shift awkwardly in his seat.

"Did you call them..." the magistrate paused as he picked the pamphlet, "...blood sucking parasites who make a living off the labor of others. They should learn to serve the Earth Kingdom by not earning a profit from lending money that they stole from others, instead they should give their money freely. They should be re-educated, and made to learn from their kind who work in the coal mines, who sacrifice their health for the sake of the Empire."

"Yes. It's true, I did say all that when I was passing judgement on one of those blood sucking nomads. And in fact, what I said was true. The Air Nomads are parasites that sooner or later are going to have to toe the line, and not be so conceited about themselves. They should earn their place in the Empire, only then they can be accepted as one of the Earth People."

An awkward silence fell between the magistrate and the judge.

"Your honor, how did you get your post as a law judge?"

Gao Gan felt his seat began to feel extra ordinarily warmer.

A few hours later, Judge Gao Gan walked out of the magistrate's office a smaller man than he once was, being escorted out by the keepers of the peace.

"Magistrate sir," the secretary poked his head into the office. "You sent for me?"

"Yes, please take a seat. I want you spread the word that the Honorable Judge Gao Gan has taken a sabbatical, indefinitely, as we begin internal investigations of allegations of corruptions in the town's government. I also want your opinion on a certain matter."

The secretary took a seat in front of the desk as he began to write his notes.

"Have you seen this before?" The magistrate showed the news pamphlet to the secretary as he looked up from his notes.

"Yes, I have. This morning. Someone has been putting them in front of all of the shops and the town square. And on the town bulletin."

"Including at my doorstep and the elders of the town...How do you feel about what was written?"

"Well, the Air Nomads were just people to me, just like another random person walking down the street opposite of me. But now, knowing a little of what they go through. It makes a man think."

The magistrate nodded.

"I have also," the secretary continued, "heard that similar news pamphlets have shown up in the other neighboring villages and towns."

The magistrate furrowed his brow and re-examined the pamphlet.

"Does this look like this was handwritten to you?"

"Whoever does it, was really skilled to make it look like this. It's almost unnatural. And to able to make so many, it had to be the work of a big group of artists."

"Is that so..."

In the Fire Nation colonies, more pamphlets were circulating in the streets, retelling the injustices being committed against the Air Nomads in the Earth Kingdom settlements. In the tea houses, markets, the governor's mansion and in the homes. The stories were recounted again and again, building up people's anxieties about the Harmony Restoration Movement, as it became a firestorm that rocked the colonies.

"Is this going to happen to us?"

"Should we move back to the homeland while we have the chance?"

"I have relatives living in Kanto, they don't mind Fire Nation folk over there."

"I heard that Kanto is beautiful this time of year."

"I heard that the nomads got shafted just like us during the peace accords. There's truly no justice in this world."

"The Fire Lord has apologized to the nomads and have made peace with them. He even made trade agreements with them."

"I heard that they're building like crazy over there in Kanto, and there are lots of jobs. I mean they're copying the Fire Nation, building factories, mills, farms..."

In the Fire Nation, the citizens there also talked about the news pamphlets that made their way there. On one hand they liked the idea that the Earth Kingdom and the Air Nomads, their former enemies, were going to be at each other's throats for a change. On the other hand, the pamphlets appealed to their sense of pride, that the Earth Kingdom is the real belligerent in the world; as it was drummed in their heads in the past under Ozai and Azulon. The latest gossip varied from lukewarm support for the Air Nomads to outright declarations of giving them aid. Everyone likes to root for the little guy.

Zuko himself was reading the pamphlet, as he laid across the couch, his back to his bed chamber.

"Zuko? It's late come to bed," said Mai who was in night gown and a silk robe layered over it, in case they are intruded by an unwanted visitor.

"In a minute," Zuko turned back to continue reading the pamphlet.

"What are you reading?" Mai snatched the pamphlet away from him and began to scan it. Her face fell. "You can't solve the world's problems Zuko. There is nothing that you can do. It's outside your authority."

"I know, that's the same mistake that my great-grandfather Sozin made when he started the war. He thought he make the world a better place."

"You can make the world a better place in your own country," Mai placed her reassuring hands on Zuko's shoulders.

"But should I keep my word and empty the colonies? What would happen to the people that I leave behind? What about the nomads who are being treated like..."

"You're not alone in shouldering the world's burdens. You're not alone..." Mai trailed off her lips touching his.

In the North Pole and South Pole, traders and peddlers selling their wares were spreading the latest news about the world. They were also commissioned by Kanto and the other Air Nomad countries to spread leaflets and pamphlets wherever they traded. Sometimes they would carry dispatches to deliver to the consulates, as well as the news pamphlets, which the consulate would later have circulating through the whole community.

One night, the Kanto diplomats were invited to dine with Chief Arnook, along with members of the Southern Tribe, Chief Hokada and Sokka. So at dinner, Sir Nagayasu was in a foul mood throughout the evening.

"What seems to be the matter?" asked Arnook's wife. "Is there something wrong with the food?"

"No, my lady," Nagayasu gave a reassuring smile. "As usual, the Water Tribe serves nothing but the best. I am just upset over what has been happening in the Earth Kingdom."

"Yes," Chief Arnook said, "it's indeed regrettable. The Earth Kingdom should not be acting this way towards their own citizens."

"They are treated as second-class citizen sir. What is even more troubling is that things are going to get much worse for the Air Nomads, what with the Harmony Movement."

"The Harmony, RESTORATION, Movement," Sokka corrected.

"Yes. The movement. In which the sovereignty of the Air Nomads are completely ignored. And if allowed to be carried out, we will become strangers in our own countries. But if the Water Tribes were to speak with one voice and lend their voice to our legitimate concerns about the movement. I think that the Earth Kingdom will be more reasonable."

"You mean, you want the Water Tribes to side with Kanto against the Earth Kingdom?" Hokada interjected.

"In a matter of speaking. Yes, because, my government and the other Air Nomad countries never endorsed the Earth Kingdom's claim over us, or the, Harmony Restoration Movement. I mean, how would you like if the Fire Nation were to make a claim that you are under their dominion?"

An awkward silence fell for the rest of dinner that night. As Arnook and Hokada began to talk late in the night, as to what to do. But it was clear that neither want to get their country directly involved. But there was still none the less murmuring in the home and hearth, about the possibility of the Earth Kingdom spreading their borders to their countries one day. And what they should do when that day comes.

In Ba Sing Se, the news spread like wildfire without the Dai Li there to suppress it. But the Ten Attendants did not hesitate to order that the city guard collect and burn the pamphlets. But for every one pamphlet that they burn, three more would take its place.

"General Fong, haven't you been able to find whoever been writing these yet?!" demanded the weasel faced attendant.

"We've tried. They must be operating underground. And the speed that they are writing them and with such precision is unnatural. It's almost as if they are using magic."

"At this rate, there won't be any paper left in Ba Sing Se," said the young attendant.

"Good, then they won't be able to write anymore of their slander," replied the weasel faced attendant.

"...Perhaps. But the people are now growing worried about the success of the movement. They are becoming divided over the lands that we have slated to be under our administration," said the handsome attendant.

"This changes nothing," said Fong. "My spies have reported no changes in the Fire Nation. That whelp on the throne there is still going to through with it. And the Water Tribes don't want to get involved either."

"Then we have nothing to fear then," replied Li Su.

"Not quite," Fong interjected. "Has the Avatar or his council heard about the pamphlets?"

"No," replied Li Su, "we placed a ban on the pamphlets throughout Ba Sing Se. But they are more strictly enforced on the palace grounds, the upper ring, and middle ring."

"Good. So long as we control what the king, the Avatar, and the nobles read or hear. We can better control Ba Sing Se."

"But that may not be enough," interjected the young attendant.

"Leave that to me." The handsome attendant smirked. "I have read about the nomad's culture and it seems that lately the Avatar has been courting his sweetheart as of late. With a little push and a week or two, I will have them tying the knot, and they will never want to leave Ba Sing Se."

In Kanto, Mao was reading the news pamphlet as the first Parliamentary session was taking place. It took quite a few strings, arm twisting and backroom deals - but the politicians were able to pull it off and transition the interim government into a democratic republic. The first of its kind in the world.

The speaker was in the process of recounting the pamphlet's vivid description, of the unsafe and unfair working conditions in the Earth Kingdom's coal mines. Which is a wakeup call for Kanto's own labor practices.

A bespeckled man walked up and sat next to him.

"Ah professor, it's been awhile," Mao said hurriedly, for the life of him he forgot the man's name, despite giving him the commission to find Won Shi Tong Library. Later that professor helped him and Aang keep the library open for Mao to send people there to become the Won Shi Tong's pupils. Currently, the professor is working as the Dean of Students in Kanto's King's University.

"Yes, it's been awhile LORD Mao," the professor said excitedly.

"So how are things at the university?"

"It's great. The students from Won Shi Tong Library are sharing their knowledge with the students at the university. But it's never the same as learning from that great and wise spirit."

"But it's good though that we have the university open for more people to use here in Kanto."

"Yes. It's also great to see that knowledge is being put to good use here." The professor waved his hand as though he was showing the parliamentary floor for the first time. "Democracy..."

"Well, we still need a king," Mao replied.

"But, we're a republic, the people vote for their leaders."

"...hmm. We still need a king. The clans are still divided, we need a king to unite us."

The professor sat back and thought for a few moments.

"Yes, you're right, we need the khan to come back and assume the throne."

"By the way. Thanks for the plans for the new printing presses."

"Did they come in handy?"

"Immensely. With those it's cheaper to make books, since we don't have to write everything by hand. And it will be easier to open up schools and teach people how to read and write."

"Was this made by one of the printing presses?"

"Yes." Mao handed the pamphlet to the professor who carefully handled it as to avoid making any creases on it.

"Is this from a book?"

"No, it's a pamphlet. We've managed to attract investors to help make more presses. We have enough now to print and spread these pamphlets in every major city in the world. One day, I would like to have it so that we can print everything there is to know on paper. So that everyone can read and talk about it."

"...Mao. I know that you're a spy. And I don't ask you about your work. But what is so important that you wanted these printing presses? It doesn't really do anything to help your cause. It can't stop an army or win battles."

"...Three reasons. Propaganda. Indoctrination. And winning hearts and minds." Mao flexed his fingers as he listed off his three reasons.

"I don't quite follow."

"By mass producing books and pamphlets, it makes propaganda easier to control, and makes us more efficient in spreading our ideas or our version of the truth."

"Isn't that lying?"

"No. Lying is poor propaganda, because you're making something up that would simply discredit you. Good propaganda, as with any knowledge or information, is authentic, timely and relevant. And should be aimed at influencing people's their attitudes towards a cause or purpose."

"With information that you manipulate," the professor said pointedly.

"With information that they want to hear, that they need to hear, or that they are waiting to hear," Mao retorted. "The printing press is just another instrument of propaganda."

"What if they can't read?"

"Then we compose songs that people would like and pass it onto others. Or just idiot proof it anyway we can so that we can to get the message across. Which naturally leads to the next step; indoctrination."

The professor nodding and said, "Yes, to instruct or teach in the basics or rudiments. Or for more malign purposes, to imbue with a usually partisan or sectarian opinion, point of view, or principle. Which usually involves teaching a narrow point of view."

"That's right. But through indoctrination, we build loyalty in more ways than one."

"Like what?"

"Loyalty to one's country: nationalism."

"Nationalism?"

"Yes. It is through nationalism that we build a country. It is not enough to make a legal claim over the physical boundaries of a region. We must be able to earn, and influence the political support of the people, to endorse their citizenship in Kanto."

"Hmmm. But what do you mean by hearts and minds?"

"Winning hearts and minds, is a term to describe a war doctrine, which is an extension of psychological warfare, especially when implementing a counter-insurgency. For our purposes, we need to win the hearts and minds in Kanto in order to build popular support for our new government. Otherwise, all this..." Mao waved his hand dismissively at the near empty room except for a handful of politicians and government officials. "Would be nothing more than a glorified gentlemen's club where highly educated people discuss politics, and once in awhile vote on a rule that people have to follow. To command more authority they need to have people who are willing to follow their laws. As well as empower those who are willing to enforce them. Thus the need to win the hearts and minds of the people."

"I see. But you're manipulating the media. Doesn't that mean that it involves ulterior motives?"

"Perhaps. But we have a proposed law now that insists on the preservation of individual political rights. Such as the freedom of expression. But it is through propaganda and indoctrination, not purely individual volition, that predisposes people to accept the rule of another. But there are other factors that must influence nationalism, such as the greater the responsibility that government has, the greater authority it should have. Or the due process of creating new laws, like we see here. Another factor is the authority and the means of creating an environment for markets to expand and develop. Such as the recent deal that was made to expand our railway system."

"Courtesy of foreign investors of the Fire Nation, that we have been at war for the last hundred years. But it's not common knowledge that the Kanto government owns over half of the railway company, that runs all of the railways in Kanto. Just the idea of the Fire Nation having their hands in Kanto is damning enough...I can see how your ideas can be useful." The professor conceded. "But I was surprised that you haven't made any attempt to gather any knowledge to get an edge militarily. While I was in the Library, you didn't send any spies. Don't you need that knowledge?"

"Well it would make sense, if I tried. BUT. For one, I would be violating Aang's agreement with Wan Shi Tong to use the knowledge for peaceful purposes. I would not be violating the agreement if I were to find out more about converting iron into steel. Or transporting nickel in its raw powder form without it expanding when crossing an open ocean."

"Nickel expands?"

"Yes. If it makes contact with water, it would liquefy making very dangerous when a ship is transporting it in mass quantities. We have also been looking into better farming techniques, vaccinations against some of the world's most deadliest diseases, and inoculating the population."

"Ah..." the professor said in realization of the fact. "It would have given us a leg up in the short run. But it would not be sustainable given we don't have the expertise to build on that knowledge. After all the Fire Nation is the most technologically advanced country, and has been able to keep up a hundred year armed conflict for a reason. It is because of their innovation, their continuous improvement, their management skills, their institutions that have kept every running; without having to run around like chickens with their heads cut off."

" Yes that's right. That's my second reason for not reneging on my agreement. The Fire Nation was able to build on the knowledge that Zhao had uncovered in the library - which greatly contributed to his country's long history of sustainable economic development - something that I wish to emulate here in Kanto."

"But how would that keep the Earth Kingdom from invading?"

"It won't." Mao shrugged his shoulders. "But by industrializing, we can produce the goods and services for the war effort. We will have new sources of tax revenues for our government to function and to spend on the military. In fact we have local industries here in Kanto making business arrangements to produce what they make in the Fire Nation over here."

"Wait, doesn't that mean you're doing is not for peaceful purposes?"

"It is peaceful in nature. But it also builds wealth for our country. The wealth of a country naturally creates more power. With that power, we will have greater ability to build even more wealth to create even more power. Thus economics creates political clout, which gives us strength for our voice to be heard in the world. But in order for us to build the institutions to help build our country, we need a sort of 'shot of knowledge' that would give us the know-how to make it all happen. That's the third reason why I won't renege on my agreement. Because we need that wellspring of knowledge, in order for us to lead the world in innovation, education, science, industrial knowledge and economics. We do not necessarily need a big and powerful military to get what we want. We also need what I call, 'soft power.'"

"I get it. It is not necessarily for war that you send people to Wan Shi Tong. But to acquire knowledge that would still make Kanto a world leader. You may have the weapons to fight, but if you do not have the food to feed your armies, or the clothes to clothe them, or competent leaders to effectively fight a war, then the war is a lost cause...More importantly you need a strong country to make a strong military."

"Yes. The fourth reason, is that eventually the Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom will overcome our temporary cleverness through their bigger population. And their economic of scale; theirs is much bigger than ours. To help avoid this, we need more knowledge to help sustain our economic development, and maintain our niche as a world leader in innovation."

"Because anyone can simply copy us when we come up with a new idea..." the professor thought aloud. "Even now, the Fire Nation is already doing it. Just a month ago I had written up some plans of a new design on an improved version of a sewing machine. But yesterday, an unscrupulous businessman stole the designs and patented it. And he accuses me for stealing it from him. Now I cannot sell my idea or make the machines myself without him suing me. I would have to get permission from him since by law he now owns the designs."

"Inventors, engineers and scientists are the architects of innovation. Which why I have also recruited the machinist Yi Xing, from the Northern Air Temple to move to Kanto."

"Yes, I've seen him around. He's the head of the engineering department. His son is proving to be just like his father."

"I'm glad to hear it, we need more people like them. Which brings up my fifth reason; which is because our education system is very new and very limited in scope. I heard that your university is packed wall to wall with new students. Most of whom never seen a book before. We need more teachers."

"Indeed. We have a long way to go. But what are you going to do if someone else find Wan Shi Tong? Like the Fire Nation or the Earth Kingdom?"

"...I already have that taken care of..."

"How?"

"Last time I checked, the latest expedition party sent by the Earth Kingdom is trying to attain a visa to enter the Fire Nation. While all of Zhao's personal notes and journals have been, confiscated, since his disappearance at the Battle of the North Pole. Which just leaves you, Aang, Sokka, and Katara who knows the secret location of the library; outside of my associates and the pupils of Won Shi Tong."

An awkward silence fell over them as Mao gazed into the professor's eyes which unsettled him.

"I trust you though professor, because like you I want Won Shi Tong to stay as long as we can. Aang won't blab because he promised me that he won't reveal its location to anyone. Sokka might want to go back, but his name is blacklisted and will get kicked out as soon as he sets foot in there. While Katara, is a bit a wild card. Just to be safe she's also been blacklisted."

"You're not worried about Toph?"

"I hardly doubt that Toph could remember the precise location of the library, even she does tries to retrace her steps."

"What about the Sandbenders?"

"They're desert people, they value water. Not books or gold. Besides I already have them in my pocket."

The professor studied Mao's profile. He did not like the idea of being used by Mao when he found out that he was a spy, and that he wanted to use Won Shi Tong Library for ulterior motives. So when after Mao had left, he returned to Ba Sing Se University to report his discovery despite Mao's wishes. But no one at the university believed him. After the education board found that he was an Air Nomad, he was stripped of his doctorate and was discredited; since Air Nomads were not allowed to attend Ba Sing Se University. There was even a sign at the school buildings that said 'No Littering, No Pets, And No Nomads.' So there was no love lost when he decided to pack up and leave the Earth Kingdom. Besides, Kanto needs the library more. Breaking out of his reverie the professor turned away, to pay attention to the next speaker's speech.