Chapter 23: The Grand Tour
Firelord Izumi had always been a reserved ruler, preferring isolation to large gatherings, and during her seven-year reign she made sure that the Fire Nation conducted itself accordingly. She had heard reports of the battle in Republic City and just told herself that the reports must be exaggerated. She had a hard time believing that the center of the city had been gutted by a huge blast to create a new Spirit Portal, and found the idea of this Colossus ludicrous. The only thing that had happened recently that drew her concern - apparently the Fire Nation had not been needed at Republic City, with the Avatar neutralizing the threat, as it should be - was her father's disappearance mid-day the day prior during his vacation. The citizen who told her about it stressed how urgent he looked, the way he drove Druk onwards away from outside Fire Fountain City… it appeared that something urgent was going on.
She looked out over the capital city from her office outside the inner caldera, noting with pleasure that the modernization of the Fire Nation was going full steam ahead. The only historical buildings that remained were government buildings inside the main volcano caldera and the actual Fire Nation palace, and even these buildings were outfitted with electricity, no longer generated by dirty coal. Lightning generation was much cleaner. Everything else closely resembled Republic City… despite her daughter's protests. In a symbolic move, she had chosen to get rid of the large flame backdrop behind her throne, considering it to be a reminder of the dark days of the Fire Nation, instead replacing it with a map of the world that had all four elemental symbols in their appropriate corners. While her father, Zuko, liked the map, he disapproved of her decision to remove the flame base, citing "historical value" and "cultural heritage".
Izumi snorted - what cultural heritage? That of conquest and war? In a similar vein, she had scrapped all the old war balloons as well as the outdated tanks for their metal, to be used in the construction of massive trade ships that would soon ply the waters between the Fire Nation, the Earth Kingdom, Republic City and the Water Tribes in civilized trade. This decision caused much controversy, but given the Fire Nation's island locale, if she was going to have any military, it would be on the seas. If the Northern Water Tribe decided to ever become aggressive again as they had been against their brothers in the south, and eventually the whole world, her modernized fleet would make them pay. Catapults had long ago been replaced with firebending turrets, and elite squadrons of marines skilled in close combat and advanced firebending - including lightning generation - had been trained. She had recently designed and commissioned a whole new class of ships herself after hearing of Kuvira's increasing aggression. They were inspired by her son's account of the power of the Equalist bombers during the first fight for Republic City, four years ago - "aircraft barges", based off of the huge merchant ship's design. Her engineers were already working to make her vision a reality, though they always demanded more money - typical military, always wanting more.
As she thought of military matters, a strange thought occurred to Izumi that made her laugh - surely the Earth Kingdom would never mount those horrible spirit weapons Kuvira made for the Earth "Empire" on their ships or their own war balloons? Not completely discounting the notion, she made a note to offer Varrick a large sum to outfit some special ships with spirit weaponry if the need ever arose. Though, she remembered with a smile, he had refused President Raiko's request for spirit weapons, and she doubted any spirit weapons remained, much less in the hands of Kuvira adherents. From what she had heard, the massive Colossus struck her as a one-time gambit.
She heard her telephone ring. A new addition, to a new office, far away from anything old, any legacy of the Fire Nation's past. She picked it up after two rings - she needed to appear to be busy - and answered, "Firelord Izumi speaking. How may I help you?" making sure to be polite. One thing that she strongly agreed with her father and predecessor on was the need for humility. Zuko would tell her of his sister's and father's arrogance, and with how Zuko had raised Izumi, it always chilled her to the bone. She silently mused that their arrogance and hypocrisy reminded her of President Raiko in ways – demanding help to defend Republic City with aggression and a first strike, when he hadn't lifted a finger to help the Southern Water Tribe.
The voice at the other end of the line said, "I have a message for you, Firelord Izumi. The Avatar, Korra, wishes you to come to Republic City for a tour before going to Ember Island for a conference of world leaders. She says she has things she wants to show you." Entering a whisper, the caller said, "There are rumors that past Avatar lives have been spotted near her, and of a secret mission to the Swamp - including your father, Zuko. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?" So that's what her father had been doing - helping restore the Avatar's past lives, apparently. Good - now even less need for the Fire Nation's intervention, with both Raava and Korra's past lives to draw from. She told the caller as much, but he nervously said, "I don't know about that - some of the troops we managed to get to Republic City in time said they saw the new Spirit Portal acting bizarrely the night after the main battle, and reported multiple instances of people going in and out - including the Avatar herself. Something's going on in the Spirit World, and I don't like the looks of it, so don't be surprised if Avatar Korra asks for your assistance." He paused, adding, "With all due respect, Firelord Izumi, if she asks your for assistance, you should provide it without any conditions. Plenty of people are still angry about your refusal to attack Kuvira, especially considering what she did to the city. The crater around the Spirit Portal is HUGE!" As though suddenly remembering he was talking to his sovereign, he asked nervously, "You're not gonna demote me, are you?" Izumi laughed, saying, "Of course not! For one, I never got your name, and secondly, I'm not Firelord Ozai - I want people to tell me the truth." The man said, "My name is Intelligence Officer Jeong-Jeong - my father named me after one of his heroes from the 100 Year's War." Izumi told Intelligence Officer Jeong-Jeong, "Your father has fine taste - Jeong-Jeong was a member of the White Lotus during the war and defected from the insane Fire Nation military. Tell your superior he is to consider you for promotion as a reward for your service, and most importantly, honesty. Good day." Izumi smiled as she heard some excited laughter from the other end, and hung up her receiver.
Izumi looked up and let out a startled shout - a blue image of Avatar Korra was floating in front of her! Remembering to be polite and that projection was an advanced airbending move, she told Avatar Korra's image, "My congratulations on mastering the fine art of projecting yourself, Avatar Korra. To what do I owe the honor?" Avatar Korra looked like she was going to laugh, but at the last minute she said, "Firelord Izumi, I just wanted to let you know that I am currently on my way towards the Fire Nation. I want you to get in your fastest boat and meet me half-way. Just look for the blue fire beacon." Despite herself, Izumi's mouth dropped open, and she said, "But… my father taught me that blue fire was the mark of Azula! How did you manage to produce it?" Avatar Korra said, maintaining her composure better than Izumi herself had, said, "You are partially right - blue fire is the mark of an extremely skilled firebender with intense drive and focus. Both Mako and I have managed to produce the flame. However, we used righteous anger to produce the flames instead of the cold hatred Azula must have used. Given what I have heard of Azula, every time she produced it she was probably thinking of being Firelord or hurting Zuko, while Mako and I instead thought of how we would feel if we lost a loved one. Mako thought of Bolin dying, and I…" The Avatar's image clapped her hands over her mouth, blushing slightly.
Stifling back a laugh at Avatar Korra's quip about Azula, Izumi asked, "You thought of what? If it's personal, don't worry about it - I'm not a gossip." Korra's image took a deep breath of relief and said, "Let's just say it's someone I'm in love with. And don't ask me if it's Mako, because it's not. Now, back to the matter at hand - I'm getting pretty close to the point I had in mind, so you need to get moving." The Avatar vanished, and Izumi's eyes opened wide with a start - she did need to get moving! After a quick telephone call to her daughter, Princess Ursa II, explaining why she would need to take over for an unknown length of time, remembering to tell her mother loved her, she burst out of her office - she never did like the official palace and its throne - past some confused bureaucrats. Apparently, one of them had ordered a palanquin, which she angrily refused, saying, a small part of her tempted to set it on fire, "No! How many times do I have to tell you - I don't want to be carried around like some tyrant or spoiled brat! Now get out of my way, please, so I can get to my Satomobile!" After she finally got to her land transport, she snorted in disgust at its vanity and excess, sighing in resignation as she remembered the Firelord had to maintain appearances and couldn't drive around in a beater. For once, she actually appreciated the high end model, enjoying the speed at which it was now bringing her to a private speedboat.
She had never been a talented firebender, but she thought of what she would feel if her father were killed or if either of her children died of anything except old age - just like her departed husband had, taken by a freak heart attack - as she got the boat's motor running, intending to see if this blue flame was easy to make. After carefully leaving the fortified harbor - she was no fool, and had left the fortifications of the city alone - Izumi pointed the boat towards the direction she thought Republic City lie in, and let the boat's motor do the rest. She closed her eyes, envisioning the death of her only son, her only daughter, and her father to one of Kuvira's soldiers. She opened her eyes to the sky in rage and saw a flame shoot skyward, apparently from her mouth - but it was not blue. Pleased that she had managed a firebending form that most firebenders had difficulty performing, she turned her eyes to the endless sea. She noticed that her boat motor wasn't moving her very fast, and wondered how Avatar Korra had managed to get so far so quickly. It's not as if she could have been bending while conversing with Izumi via projection.
Spotting a bizarre form in the distance, Izumi whipped out a spyglass she had remembered to bring - and she was stunned. She saw a female figure at the head of a small boat that occasionally made no contact with the sea, bending out massive jets of blue flame from her hands backwards, with seemingly glowing eyes. A male figure behind her, safely between the blue jets, was shooting a less refined but larger blue flame towards the back of the boat with both hands, providing more propulsion. Noticing the distance between what used to be a speck and her own boat was closing rapidly, Izumi put the spyglass down, realizing who the figures must be.
When Avatar Korra and Mako arrived at the side of her own boat, Avatar Korra's eyes glowed momentarily and she let out a loud groan, saying, "I hope it's Raava and not Aang! I already told him to not interrupt official business." As Avatar Korra bent some of the metal of her own ship to lock it beside Izumi's, Izumi noticed a strange, white-haired girl standing in front of her in her own boat. The girl waved, saying, "Hello, Firelord Izumi! I'm Raava, and this is my human-y form. I would have called it my avatar, but that title is already taken." What Izumi assumed to be Raava's strange "human-y" form grinned as Avatar Korra said, "Thank goodness that little rascal Aang didn't hop out. He really is a 12-year old inside." Izumi asked Avatar Korra, "So what is it you want to show me in Republic City, Avatar Korra?" Avatar Korra said, "You can stop calling me Avatar Korra - Korra will do." Before she could continue, Raava blurted out, "Can we read Firelord Izumi? We've never read a world leader before!" Clearly not pleased at this request, Avatar Korra said, "I thought I told you, no bringing up anything but the physical state of Republic City! After Firelord Izumi's reluctance to attack Kuvira, I'm not sure how much I want to share with her anyways. I'd prefer to keep things formal with her."
While Izumi shared Avatar Korra's sentiment on formality, she couldn't help but be curious about this "reading" Raava had mentioned. She turned to face the spirit in her boat, asking, "What is this reading, and what does it do, Raava?" Avatar Korra groaned slightly, saying, "I was hoping you wouldn't catch that. I guess we can give you a reading if you want - I do have to admit, I'm curious to see what a non-interventionist firebender 'feels' like. Avatar Roku was not pleased with your decision when I told him about it." Izumi had mixed feelings - somehow, Avatar Korra had talked with Avatar Roku, but the same Avatar that warned Sozin to not be aggressive found fault with her own actions? Izumi said as much to Raava, who said, "You sound less like Zuko's daughter and more like Tenzin's eldest. You're right, Korra - this will be an interesting read." Avatar Korra laughed, saying, "Let's get this over with."
Avatar Korra climbed carefully into Izumi's boat after freezing both together to provide stability and placed her palms on Izumi's large forehead, the Avatar taking care to not to crush Izumi's glasses. As soon as Raava placed her hands on Izumi's back, she felt an odd sensation - as though her soul was being weighed. While she felt no further odd sensations from Avatar Korra's palms, she felt an odd flow between herself and Raava - almost like the spirit was stealing information! After both Avatar Korra and Raava removed their hands, Raava began laughing deeply, saying, "Once you hear more of what Korra has to say, I think you're really going to regret scrapping those war balloons and tanks! I knew from Korra's interaction with you that you're a pacifist, but really?" Izumi's cheeks reddened - so the little twerp had been stealing information! Remembering that Raava was an all-powerful spirit of light and order, she ignored it, instead asking, "How did you get that out of me, Raava? And what was that little energy exchange I felt? And what did your reading tell you?" An incensed Avatar Korra appeared to be trying to meditate, but to no avail, ending up screaming, "I told you Raava, bad spirit! Now get back in here before you offend Firelord Izumi with your infobending antics!"
Izumi laughed, saying, "You are the most powerful spirit in the world right now, Raava - no hard feelings. Why don't you tell me what your reading said, then explain this 'infobending' to me." Raava said with a start, "Oh! I didn't even do my normal 'Read completed. Blablabla', did I? Anyways - while I disagree with Firelord Izumi's borderline airbender pacifism, especially given that Jinshu Kuangmai is running around who knows where, probably rallying troops to his side, she is still Zuko's daughter and exhibits what I can best describe as a mix of Zuko and Uncle Iroh's ideology. She won't be blabbing any secrets to anyone, so you can come out of the closet, Korra - and given how Firelord Izumi is tugging both our hands, she wants you to help me infobend her." Izumi stopped tugging on Avatar Korra and Raava's hands, saying, "I never was one for the excessive stuffiness of formal diplomacy, aside from acting with proper manners. Just hurry up and infobend me already!"
Avatar Korra had an oddly concerned look on her face, saying, "Keep in mind, Firelord Izumi, once we give you all this information, there's no going back. There is some information, though, that I want you to see firsthand before the conference tomorrow - the physical state of Republic City and the costs of inaction and passiveness. Are you sure?" Izumi nodded her head up and down vigorously, wanting to know the events of the past three days in more detail. After she said, "Avatar Korra, please make sure to include the battle for Republic City - I still haven't heard in great detail what happened," Avatar Korra meditated briefly, apparently drawing Raava back into her body, finally placing her hands against Izumi's brow. At first, nothing happened other than Avatar Korra's eyes glowing briefly. Avatar Korra looked over Izumi's shoulders, angrily grunting, "I withdrew you for a reason, Raava - but whatever! Let's just do this."
Izumi's mind was overwhelmed as the details of the past three days entered into her mind. She witnessed the destruction of the center portion of Republic City - apparently at Raava's behest, given Avatar Korra's angry grunt as the information was broadcast - and the entirety of the battle from Avatar Korra's point of view. As Izumi saw Avatar Korra take Asami to the new Spirit Portal, at first she was confused, but subsequent events cleared that away quickly. So that's who Korra was thinking of when she made her blue fire... The initial ordeal with Long Yumao filled her with anger and fear, and her emotions continued to swing almost untraceably as she witnessed the rest. Izumi was very happy to experience the Restoration, and she could feel her mouth open in shock at Avatar Wan and Avatar Garkan's revelations. Once Avatar Korra got to her father's confession about Azula, both Avatar Korra and Raava had to stop to let Izumi calm herself down from her hysteria. Izumi said, "While I think your relationship with Asami is beautiful, Avatar Korra, I could scarcely believe what my father was saying - Azula, hiding such a dark and dangerous secret for most of her youth! No wonder she was so twisted. I almost feel completely sorry for her now."
Avatar Korra shocked Izumi by crying slightly and hugging Izumi, saying, "You're right, Izumi - even Aang thought it was sad, and Azula technically killed him." Avatar Korra sniffed, saying, "Let's continue - there's another villain who not only earned my sympathy, but wants to come into the light much as your own father did. You should find this real interesting." Avatar Korra and Raava resumed their positions, and at first, all Izumi saw was a censored blur after her father's speech - apparently there was some secret to hide - and watched Avatar Korra's interaction with Senna and Tonraq. As soon as Avatar Korra had to stop the talk with her parents, the point of view switched to a very different person's - Kuvira! As Izumi watched Kuvira's trials, she remembered the tales Zuko had told her about his own youth, and realized this was what Avatar Korra had said Izumi would find so interesting. Izumi felt a rush of happiness to see that horrible Kuvira doppler shattered, only to sink to the depths of despair when she witnessed Koh almost steal her face, and heard Long Yumao's horrible designs. Aside from Baatar Jr.'s reasonable but nonetheless hurtful rejection of Kuvira, the rest was pure joy to watch. Given what she had heard of this odd new weapon for Avatar Korra and the tuber-vines, maybe she would get Varrick's help with the battleships after all.
Apparently, Avatar Korra and Raava had been able to read her thoughts during the process, as Raava said, removing her hands from Izumi's back, "The first gift to humanity… Those tuber-vines were intended for something exactly like that, Firelord Izumi. I hadn't explained their purpose to anyone in detail yet, but I may as well now – Varrick already saw part of it. I didn't give just one gift to humanity, in the form of Asami's pregnancy - I gave them two. The tuber-vines are inextricably linked with my own energy and a source of great power, and they have the ability to judge an individual's worth, just as Korra and I did earlier. If they sense they are trying to be used as a source of energy or a technology like the spiritwires by an evil or unworthy person, they will shut down, incinerating the individual if the tuber-vine deems them evil enough. The Great Banyan tree will now incinerate anyone unworthy who tries to harvest it as well - I'm slightly disappointed no one has tried yet." Izumi said, "That sounds great! I'll contact Varrick, or I guess, Kuvira, as soon as I can with my battleship idea."
Avatar Korra coughed slightly, saying, "The technology won't come for free, you know - nobody but the United Republic army forces will receive anything without making some sort of concession, given that the URN is the nation equivalent of the Avatar - neutral in most disputes." Avatar Korra added, giving a slightly angry Raava a stern glare, "Even if your tuber-vine failsafe works." Izumi asked, slightly stunned, "Avatar Korra, what was your concession from the Fire Nation? I may as well get used to whatever condition you want." Avatar Korra sighed, saying, "I had hoped to tell you during the conference, but you're right - you will need to get used to this idea. To help stop Jinshu Kuangmai from re-forming the Earth Empire, in the process causing more spirits to join Long Yumao's side in the Spirit Civil War and growing his already unacceptable strength, I need occupation troops from all four nations and elements to help mend what Kuvira wrought. Northern and Southern Water Tribe forces, along with any loyal Earth Kingdom troops and any airbenders the Air Nation can spare. A large chunk of this force would have to be made up of Fire Nation troops."
Izumi's mouth lay open in shock. So Avatar Korra wanted Izumi to send Fire Nation soldiers into what would likely be a bloody, protracted occupation that would claim the lives of many citizens of her isolationist nation? She was about to slap the Avatar across her face for this arrogant, extremely demanding request, but stopped, suddenly crying bitter tears. Izumi looked up at Avatar Korra and said, "I was about to slap you across the face for that request, but I stopped." The nonchalant Avatar laughed, saying, "I figured you might have that kind of reaction - hence why I told you now, so you can think it over as we tour Republic City. I know Raava snuck in an image of the huge spirit blast - AGAINST MY WISHES, I might add, Raava - but I think seeing the city firsthand should help you realize some important truths. I'm not going to come out and say them right now, as I think if you come across them yourself, they will be more powerful."
Izumi stood up, saying, "Avatar Korra, I think I know some of them already. I'll just summarize: If this occupation fails, the Earth Empire regrows and Republic City falls, this time for good, it would not be long before Jinshu Kuangmai hunted you down with a very modern military force, likely using Future Industries technologies and whatever spirit vines he has stockpiled. He would imprison you, never to see the light of day again, or possibly kill you and raise the next Avatar as a weapon for his inevitable war against the rest of the world. Should every nation fall, the world would be plunged into darkness the likes of which haven't been plotted since the days of Firelord Sozin, Firelord Azulon and Firelord Ozai. Spirit vines would be to the Earth Empire's what Sozin's Comet was to the Fire Nation." Izumi put her hands on her hips, satisfied with her answer.
Avatar Korra surprised her by sighing deeply, saying, "You are right - but also very, very wrong. The most likely outcome of the Fire Nation's refusal is much quicker and infinitely worse. You have to remember, this occupation isn't our only war - in fact, one is raging right now. The Spirit Civil War. You left that very important consideration out of your assessment. There are two doomsday scenarios. The first, which would result from the Fire Nation not helping keep Jinshu Kuangmai under check, is something we can control. Before Jinshu Kuangmai could lead his forces to take over either the Water Tribes or the Fire Nation, Long Yumao would have garnered enough support as a result of the imbalance caused by the Earth Empire 're-uniting' itself and then conquering another nation to make even my own power and Raava's irrelevant. Just as he said he wanted to do to humanity, a legion of Dark Spirits would help him usher in an age of darkness comparable to what would have happened if Vaatu had been victorious at Harmonic Convergence. This, oddly enough, is the brighter of the two scenarios - if we successfully heal the Earth Kingdom with your help and keep that very important item around Raava's neck away from Long Yumao, his support would dwindle, and I could eventually hunt him down and kill him, just as Avatar Kuruk wanted to do to Koh the Face-Stealer."
Izumi was terrified - this last part was somehow the better of two scenarios, and apparently hinged on a game of keep-away? Izumi said, "Avatar Korra, that thing around Raava's neck. What is it?" The small teapot rumbled violently, knocking one of its strange clasps wide open. A terrifying voice said, "It is I, Vaatu - rightful Grand Dark Spirit, since the beginning of time! This is just temporary housing until I grow large enough to challenge Raava again, in, oh, ten thousand years." Raava smacked the teapot, yelling, "I thought I told you to stay in there! If you come out one more time in the next three days, I'll force you to watch Korra and Asami kiss!" The teapot howled "NO! I'll be a good boy, I promise!" before the latch that had opened shut on its own. Izumi found herself laughing along with Raava and Avatar Korra, as well as Mako, who had finally come onto her boat. Mako pointed to the teapot around Raava's neck, saying, "From what I remember from earlier today, it sounds like Long Yumao getting ahold of that thing would be very, very bad. Care to explain in more detail, Korra?"
Avatar Korra sighed, saying, "Yes - the most terrifying option. I call it 'Sudden Death'. It all boils down to one simple fact. Even if we do everything perfectly and even get Jinshu Kuangmai to reconcile with his mother, if Long Yumao successfully challenges Vaatu for that weird 'Grand Dark Spirit' title, he will become unstoppable. With the ardent support of other spirits, he will be more than a match for Raava, I'm afraid. Long Yumao can become a greater threat at any time – ironically, since he is but a 'minor' spirit, Long Yumao isn't constrained by Harmonic Convergence like Vaatu is. All he needs is that little teapot, and humanity is toast." Avatar Korra took a deep breath, clearly not wanting to deal with whatever reality she was about to tell Izumi. Avatar Korra continued, "This 'Sudden Death' option is why Raava and I, along with our close allies, will be working very hard to end the Spirit Civil War - before Long Yumao gets ahold of this simple little teapot." The teapot began to rumble again, but it suddenly stopped, its occupant apparently remembering Raava's earlier threat. Avatar Korra continued with a grimace, "That little teapot's occupant is the reason why the combined conventional militaries of the four, no, five, nations will need to carry the bulk of the burden in the Earth Kingdom until Long Yumao is dealt with. Team Avatar and friends will be too busy fighting the Spirit Civil War to be of any real long-term use in the occupation effort." Avatar Korra smiled slightly, adding bitterly, "Even when he's tiny, Vaatu manages to be a menace."
Raava and Avatar Korra began laughing very hard as Mako said, "I assume you will take this more seriously, Raava - the end of the world is nothing to laugh at. The only time any spirit or human aligned with Long Yumao could possibly take away the teapot containing Vaatu is when you're in your little pet 'human-y' form." Mako pointed at a furious Raava's heaving chest, saying, "Perhaps you should just stuff Vaatu back into your heart, Raava? It's where he's been for the past ten thousand years, after all." Mako met Raava's increasingly angry glare with a calm demeanor, saying, "It's true. And I'm not afraid to say it - I have experience with talking to power. I dated Korra a long time ago, after all." Avatar Korra burst into laughter, saying, "You little liar - you were terrified of me! I still remember your little stunt, Mako. Your weak, almost fearful lie about our breakup after my memory was wiped. I may have been bi-curious at one point, but not anymore. That lie and Asami winning my heart is why I'm never touching men again."
An embarrassed Mako said, "I think it's about time Firelord Izumi saw Republic City. Come on, Korra - time to do the jets again." With this, Raava apparently vanished back into Avatar Korra's chest, as Avatar Korra's eyes began to glow. Mako quipped, "That's a much better place for that foolish spirit," and much to Izumi's surprise, Avatar Korra laughed - in her own voice! This wasn't in line with what Izumi knew about the Avatar State. Avatar Korra asked joyfully, "When is someone going to figure out how to do this without bending? Woohoo!" Izumi noticed the other boat separate from her own instantly, with the stabilizing ice also gone. She watched as Avatar Korra turned the boat towards Republic City and said, "You might want to lie down in front of me, Firelord Izumi! I don't want to roast you!" Izumi immediately hit the front deck, well aware of what Avatar Korra could do, and she heard a deafening roar of flames shortly after.
As they approached the city, Izumi could see the devastation that Kuvira had brought to it, even with her head barely peeking above the prow of her boat, her grey hair flapping wildly in the wind. Time slowed to a crawl as Avatar Korra and Mako took her on a tour of the city, Avatar Korra making sure to point out the damage caused by Kuvira's Colossus before the spirit weapon exploded, and Mako making sure to point out all the places of his youth that had been destroyed.
Izumi walked over to what she assumed was a tuber-vine and picked it up, saying, "You've convinced me. Now, to just convince my people - that's going to be hard. For seven years, I have preached the benefits of isolationism, and now I will be calling for war. This is going to be very difficult to pull off."
Avatar Korra's eyes briefly glowed, and Izumi recognized the figure in front of her - Avatar Roku! Avatar Roku said, his voice proud and strong, "I am glad you have come around, Firelord Izumi. After my thrashing of Firelord Sozin in the throne room well over 200 years ago, I never thought I would be helping lead the Fire Nation into a foreign war. When you address your people, Firelord Izumi, your father, Zuko, and your granduncle, Iroh, will be at your side, as will Avatar Korra and myself, and your daughter, should she wish. I gather she's more the reserved type, given Korra never met her. From your nodding, I can see that's the case. In any event, I can only hope the quadruple celebrity appeal will help win the Fire Nation over. You have a unique opportunity, Firelord Izumi - you have the opportunity to help an entire nation heal. A nation that the Fire Nation hurt deeply during the 100 Year's War, at that. You may want to ask your father for advice - my blood runs in his veins and yours, after all. Good luck."
As Izumi gave a sigh of contentment and anticipation, the tuber-vine in her hand hummed "HMMMMM HMMMMM" while flashing a bright white.
End part 4