Book 5: Humanity

by Freedom0153

Korra wanted peace after defeating Kuvira. Then life happened. During her Spirit World vacation, an unlikely gift from an old friend caused a great rift between many spirits and humans. Even conflict with the Earth Empire wasn't over, Kuvira's surrender opening a vacuum. To restore balance, Korra needs any allies she can get, finding her growing love for Asami giving Korra peace.

51. Chapter 51: Shame, Service and Secrets

Chapter 51: Shame, Service and Secrets

Heeding Raava's request to leave what was apparently Pema's "inner dream world", Izumi focused on where she had "been" before Avatar Korra indirectly interrupted, to tell Izumi things she was still having some trouble making complete sense of…

Finding herself with her deceased husband Kuzon once again, noticing that her daughter was not present. Just like earlier, for reasons Izumi didn't understand, especially considering how hard her little Princess had taken her father's tragic death. Looking at Kuzon, part of her wanted to do much as they had done before, making up together for the decade of lost time since his heart attack, and not just in the physical way. Not leave him again…

A piece of wisdom that Avatar Korra had seen crossed "planes" crossed through Izumi's mind: "The living need to busy themselves with the living." Realizing she'd likely not get the chance to ask her better half for any advice for quite some time, she gave her husband a hug, laughing a little when he said before she could speak, "You were 'gone' for an awfully long time – you've already told me a lot about what happened after my passing, in passing. And I get the sense there's more 'now'. Just give me the quick and dirty version," blushing when he said, "Then maybe we can do one last something quick and dirty ourselves."

The temptation to stay again returned, but Izumi simply sighed, saying as she admired his face, strong features and shimmering ember eyes, "No, honey – I'm afraid I won't have time for that, as much as I'd love to. But I do want any other advice you have for me." Remembering a certain crotchety water spirit's habit of reminding people to busy themselves with the living, half wondering why she hadn't gotten a visit from Sharktar earlier tonight given how much she had already talked with Kuzon, Izumi explained to Kuzon what she had learned since they were last "together", finishing after explaining what the Avatar thought was going to happen with these mysterious Elemental Spirits. Kuzon smiled, saying, "Who knows. Maybe with these weird spirit's help, there will be a 'reverse colonization' of the Fire Nation – I know even from the time I was courting you, 'just' Princess Izumi, there were plenty of people of Earth Kingdom descent that came to the Fire Nation from colonies that fell outside the United Republic's borders. And not all of them were benders." Izumi's expression soured when he continued, "From what you've told me about the Earth Queen's continued tyranny, they made the right call back then… much less if they had stayed until now, and still did anything other than hate the Fire Nation. This 'Kuvira' and her successor… What you just told me about now. The prison camp. And, under her successor, plans for a reverse genocide…"

Looking serious, ember eyes watering, her departed husband said, "And given what you said about these new weapons - spirit weapons- and their power, that crater in the middle of Republic City… Honey, I know you've been a non-interventionist for a long time - you certainly mentioned your aunt Azula's and grandfather Ozai's depravations enough while we were dating, even if our little accident cut 'just' dating short – and I'm proud of you for taking that leap of faith – committing to this new, complicated war. But at some point, this war could go from…" Kuzon gulped, continuing, "Could go from helping others, keeping the peace, to a war of survival, a war to subdue at all costs. No - given the power both sides possess – maybe even wiping out this 'Earth Empire' before they try to wipe out the Fire Nation, as evil as it sounds, a lethal preemptive strike. Hatred runs deep – and this Jinshu Kuangmai fellow sound like he has plenty of it, even if he admires your accursed aunt. Someone definitely Fire Nation – but the old Fire Nation." Izumi recoiled, finding this concept of… preemptive annihilation the path to madness, saying, "Avatar Korra saw something in him – and she was right about Kuvira! He doesn't want to see the world destroyed!" Izumi thought, hoping she was right, "That's what I got from his yelling at Vaatu…"

For a brief moment, she remembered something the man in question had told the Avatar himself, and wept slightly: "The Fire Nation could be a source for volcanic glass for all I care!"

Kuzon sighed, reinforcing the unpleasant, even though she had never told him that exact quote, sending chills down Izumi's spine when he said, "For now. Your grandfather didn't think to raze the Earth Kingdom to the ground until your aunt Azula suggested it – and even if this spirit you told me about isn't actually Azula, the very fact that it thought assuming Azula's form would please Toph's wayward brat disturbs me greatly. Not to mention they don't need a comet to destroy on a grand scale. The 'Spirit Civil War' you told me about earlier doesn't help any either." Izumi sighed, saying, "No, it doesn't," not having included the gory details of Avatar Korra's… promise to "Tonga Beifong", and how breaking that promise might affect the other conflict.

Putting her hand to Kuzon's shoulder, she noticed it was shimmering slightly – from what she had heard, she probably didn't have much time before waking up. Asking, "It looks like I'm about to wake up – do you have any last advice for me, my undying flame?" Kuzon smiled, saying, "Hatred isn't the only thing that runs deep. I know I sound like your granduncle Iroh saying this, but so does love – and sometimes, love can manifest itself in unexpected ways. I wouldn't be surprised if…" Izumi could see his lips moving, but no words came out, finding her hand dissolving into thin air rapidly.

Never having caught the last part of her deceased husband's advice, she opened her eyes, seeing her aged father standing over her. Suppressing a frown, failing slightly when Zuko said, "Wake up, sleepyhead," as if she were still a little girl, Izumi sat up in her bed immediately. She didn't need to worry about modesty - she had slept in clothes for weeks in case of emergency. All she had to do was put on the Firelord's more… unwieldy vestments. Izumi rubbed her back, a dull random pain in her back reminding her she wasn't exactly a spring komodo chicken herself. Her father laughed, saying, "I got up as soon as I could to wake you up, but old bodies don't always play nice. Had to get rid of a bad cramp with a little self-heating, and the Royal Palace isn't exactly small…" Agreeing, she then adjusted herself and stood up, a random bone in her 55-year old body cracking as if to underscore the point. Remembering Mai and Ty Lee's impressively intact bodies, she stretched, wondering aloud, "Well, if I'm going to be leading my nation to war, maybe I should get in better shape. I'm good for my age – but nothing compared to Lin Beifong. Just in case I ever need to fight… I never expected your old flame Mai to look so good." Judging by her father's blush and exasperated look, he hadn't either, Zuko simply saying, "Yeah – me neither… Heh," averting her gaze. Asking him about the blush as she reached for her golden crown, he blushed again, saying, "You probably don't want to know. I want to talk to Uncle first about that. Some other time." Prying a little further, he admitted, "I already told you I saw your mother before seeing mine, and… Let's just say your mother Attakari told me something I'm having a little trouble dealing with – and it's not what you think."

Not sure what was so serious about Mai that her father wanted to talk to her granduncle Iroh about it, or why her father would have a problem with something her deceased mother had said, Izumi wondered if she'd ever figure out men. She had understood Kuzon…

Now fully dressed in the regalia of a Firelord, Izumi protested indignantly, "All right, dad, I'm not your little girl anymore!" when Zuko made to adjust the crown, even if it did need fixing - she didn't have a mirror, after all. Zuko sniffed, averting his eyes as he said, "Sorry – you mentioning Mai made me remember happier days, and… your own childhood, and your mother." Memory of her own mother's passing brought tears to her eyes – though not mainly for her mother's passing. Ten years ago, Attakai had passed away peacefully in her sleep at the ripe old age of 82, but it was her husband's freak heart attack only a few months later that had really devastated Izumi – and her daughter, who was only 12 at the time! Apparently, she had been talking out loud on her grief, given the big hug Zuko gave her, starting to sob when he said, "It's about Kuzon, isn't it, and not your mother. It was her time – it wasn't his. But, like my Uncle might say… It's okay – love never truly dies, even if he did pass too early. Far too early – I still remember your poor little girl's tears…" Izumi forgot all about being a world leader, returning her father's hug as she said emotionally, "Daddy's girl… just like your sister, but in a good way. I… I've always wondered if her double loss knocked her out of balance slightly, or something else. She's recovered… but slower than Korra did. My daughter wasn't terribly disturbed by her grandmother's death. But she still has a hard time talking about her father's passing."

Remember what her young, wise daughter had said at the time Izumi's mother had passed on to the next life, Izumi said out loud as much a part of the conversation as to comfort herself, " 'Death is a natural part of life – you can't delay it forever. If people lived forever, it wouldn't make life precious.' I tried telling her the same thing when her father died, but half-heartedly. She knew I was just as upset, bitter and angry as she was…" Thoughts of death bringing to mind what Kuzon had told her earlier, she made to change the subject abruptly, not liking the uncertainty her little Princess brought to mind. She never would know – was she just naturally shy and reclusive, was it her father's death that "broke" her, or a little bit of both? Her father must have seen her steeling her face, given how Zuko said, "Getting to Republic City in force will take days. Thirty minutes 'late' to something that will hopefully never happen won't matter. If you need to talk, let's talk."

Izumi sighed, asking her father the biggest question on her mind – one she had been asking for years: "You have 'experience' with Mai, with someone who's hurt. Reserved. I love my Princess with all my heart, but sometimes, I find myself worrying myself sick – wondering if she's 'supposed to' be so reclusive, or… if it's all trauma from her father's death? If I did something wrong, or –"

Her father's deep hug and authoritive yet tender "No" took Izumi by surprise, her father saying with a slight smile, "It's no one's fault, and certainly not yours. I traveled a lot in my youth, even if it wasn't always for the… best of reasons, or willingly. Do you remember the archer named 'Longshot' who seemed to have a thing with the androgynous girl 'Smellerbee'? I can see from your nodding that you do. I helped those two and Jet on the way to Ba Sing Se on that ferry, a lifetime ago, before they turned up again. Much less friendly..." Izumi could tell what her father was referring to – Yu Dao. The battle outside Yu Dao, where her father had almost fallen to his death, the hatred the Earth Kingdom commoners held for the Fire Nation… Vowing to bring the subject up later, Izumi noticed her father had stopped, saying before she could apologize for drifting off, "No reason to say sorry – you looked like you were remembering something else important. Back to Longshot… From what I saw of him, Longshot never struck me as different in a bad way – he was just himself. A very… quiet self. Just because someone's different doesn't mean they need to be 'cured'." Recalling tales of her father's childhood, Izumi remembered how often, or rather, how infrequently the archer had spoken, finally smiling and saying, "You're right – Asami Sato was never 'cured' of being who she was. Given how much 'trouble' my little Princess was growing up, getting her to speak, I'm glad she talks as much as she does – when she feels comfortable…"

Now feeling comfortable herself, Izumi gave her father a succinct version of her conversation with Kuzon, glad to see the prospect of "having" to wipe out the enemy before they did the same to you disturbed Zuko as well. Finally realizing no one but Azula or Ozai could ever truly be behind such a thing, she was surprised to hear Zuko say, "Your husband always struck me as a level-headed, wise man. He may have a point. No, he does - we both 'heard' what Jinshu Kuangmai thinks our home is good for. Volcanic glass…" Izumi wasn't used to seeing her father looking genuinely disturbed or angry - she had figured he got all that out in his youth. Scowling, he said, "I hate sounding like my father, but maybe Korra's wrong, deciding to not hit Zaofu with everything we've got while they are still weak. I once counseled her predecessor to not be an idiot and just kill my father, after all. There is something to striking first and hard before any real harm can be done… Though after seeing what Korra showed us of 'Hiroshima' and 'Berlin', those weapons are not an option. We still need to be more humane than the enemy…" Coughing, he continued, Izumi seeing he looked uncomfortable having even mentioned those horrible weapons, ones that kept killing for years after, "After all, if Avatar Roku had killed my great grandf- I mean, my good great grandfather killed my bad great grandfather, Aang would have never been the last airbender. In some ways, people and nations aren't that different – though I doubt even Raava has a clue how to take out just the Earth Empire's military equipment and take no lives. Disarming a nation without loss of life is a lot harder than just disarming one person."

Sighing as she realized even Varrick's infamous electromagnetic pulses wouldn't stop the modernized Earth Empire army, Izumi said, "There was something I wanted you to tell me more about – something that happened during your reign as Firelord. Remembering how you met my mother, probably the same time. Whatever happened to the colonies outside the United Republic of Nations? I know only what my husband told me – and that's about as much as you've ever told me." Izumi listened as her father said, "As you mentioned, I met your mother Attakari when I was helping resolve the 'issue' of the remaining outlier self-governing former colonies when I was about Korra's age, when provisional government proved ineffective with the possibility of becoming part of a new nation. She was from the largest former colony after Yu Dao – Garzai, one of the southernmost colonies. North of Omashu on a peninsula, now that I think about it - hope that won't be a problem for the evacuation. Anyways, Garzai… a colony that ultimately didn't get included in the new nation Aang and I helped found due to political reasons." Zuko sighed, continuing, "As much as I would have loved to, for the citizen's sake more than anything else, Earth King Kuei wouldn't budge on certain areas becoming part of the United Republic of Nations, claiming he might have a popular revolt on his hands if he gave away another inch of ground to our experiment. In retrospect, he was probably right, given what both his daughter and Kuvira claimed about the whole Republic and what happened outside Yu Dao."

Getting a furtive look Izumi wasn't quite sure what to make of, when her father admitted in English, as though afraid some Royal Guard outside her room might hear, "Aside from nasty rumors, we never really managed to find out exactly what happened in Garzai or the other colonies outside the United Republic. Given some of them lie inside the Earth Empire, just like Garzai, we may never know for sure. I do know after the announcement of the new nation's borders were made, a LOT of people left the colonies that weren't included in the new nation. Not just people of Fire Nation descent either. As everyone at home knows, a good portion of them preferred the familiar, coming to the Fire Nation instead of the new untried nation – one where they might run into bitter waterbenders." Sighing, he continued normally, "I wish more people remembered this, or were willing to talk about it, but… The first years for the new United Republic of Nations were rough. Korra thought Amon and his Equalists were bad, but at least they didn't kill anyone. Well before their time, some waterbenders and out-of-town earthbenders decided to take 'justice' into their own hands, for wrongs committed to their mother, fathers, grandmothers, grandfathers… so sad, and stupid. It took over twenty years for the 'hate crimes' to go away completely, and quite a lot of effort on Aang's part… though no one dared call them what they were," adding bitterly, "They were still an issue when Tenzin was born… The last official recorded one occurred only one year before Yakone's trial, and by then, they weren't publicized at all. The hatred affected Aang more deeply than any of Yakone's antics… Might have been part of the reason he wasn't there for his kids as much as Katara wanted, and relished his vacations with Tenzin so much. He rarely talked about it even to me… The Fire Nation isn't the only nation that engaged in whitewashing the history books – though I'm afraid the United Republic may still be doing so."

The only part of this that was news to Izumi was the fate of the old, unincorporated colonies being hazy at best – she had always assumed everything turned out amicably, or at the very least, everyone not welcome by the mob had been run out of town. Zuko connecting it to the old hate crime issues in Republic City made her think the real resolution wasn't nearly so optimistic…

Wanting to see something that would make her happy, Izumi said, "Enough depressing stuff for now – let's go see if my daughter is sleeping soundly, or finally awake," feeling proud when her father said, "Yes – knowing her knack for technology and building, she's probably still with Korra and the… braintrust members? I like that phrasing a lot better than 'War Minister', that's for sure." Finding herself agreeing, Izumi led the way to her daughter's quarters, telling the respectfully silent Royal Guards gathered outside her door to gather her ministers for a very impromptu meeting later. They rounded a bend, Izumi looking at the flameless throne room in… regret?

Remembering how she had a million things to keep track of, the fast pace of recent events not helping any, Izumi found herself asking her father, "We both managed to forget that we already had metalbenders in our employ at the conference. Hah – you looked half surprised to see the mixed Royal Guard greeting us yesterday, the people I just told to do something important, and we got so caught up in the new events, we forgot to tell the Avatar, of all people! I can't remember this early – did I order the flame base removed, or just the flames turned off?" Izumi added, looking at her father's scar, thinking about how he got it, "Maybe Mako was right about the flames… and us. The Fire Nation… it's been over seventy years since the monster who gave you that scar was in power. I look forward to seeing the first Fire Nation citizen waterbenders and airbenders, if that's how it works out…"

Zuko smiled, saying, "I forgave my father, and I think most of the world has forgiven us. That sounds lovely to me too. Maybe every nation can be more like the United Republic, and in many ways, us. About the flames - why don't I just show you?" Walking towards the throne, seeing the map of the five nations behind it, Izumi found herself smiling to see muted flames pop up behind the throne after her father said, bending up flames with quick jabs of a solitary finger as he spoke, "Our legacy is what we make it – not what our forefathers left us," Izumi not smiling anymore when he continued, "Just look at the Earth Kingdom – once, it was a bastion of hope against the tyranny of my father's Fire Nation, and now, over half of it is an Earth Empire, and I get the bad feeling the Earth Empire is nowhere near done throwing away its people's legacy just yet. Especially not with someone like my sister running it..."

Izumi groaned, vaguely remembering her father being somewhat of a killjoy in his youth. He must have noticed, turning around and frowning as he said, stroking his white beard, "No, no – that came out wrong. Well, not entirely. Not everyone in the Earth Empire is evil – just look at Jasmine and, well, Kuvira. I just forgot to add something." Smiling slightly, he said, walking back towards Izumi, "I forgot to add that even Toph's wayward son hates our other biggest threat – Long Yumao. He may be evil, but at least he's human – just like my sister," Izumi not entirely sure if he was joking when he said, "Let's hope he stays sane long enough to help end the Spirit Civil War," for multiple reasons…

Looking at the throne, then at her father, Izumi felt like she was beginning to make peace with her nation's past - even Firelord Sozin had a little bit of good motive initially, wanting to share "wealth and prosperity"… even if it did come at a ridiculous, overbearing price. Before the Fire Nation touched Yu Dao over 200 years ago, the first colony, active even during Avatar Roku's time, it had been a backwater; Fire Nation rule transformed it into one of the most famous cities in the world, drawing strength from its mixed heritage. Even now, it was one of the largest cities in the United Republic. Simply telling her father, "I was wrong - we do have a cultural heritage worth preserving. One of stepping out from darkness, into light, and even more than that," Izumi felt that peace increase when he said, his own thoughts paralleling her own, "Even in darkness, there is light - this sounds… weird, and I bet my father would be laughing hysterically if he heard me admit this, but even my evil great grandfather had a good impact in one place, in the end - Yu Dao."

All this talk of Yu Dao reminding Izumi of what they were supposed to be doing - getting ready to head for Republic City - she realized she had a request to make of her father that he probably wasn't going to like. Pointing at him, then the throne, his mouth dropped open in shock much as Izumi had predicted it would when she said, "When I was gone to Republic City a few days ago, I temporarily put my daughter in charge of our nation. While she did a fine job, this might be a much longer 'visit', and if she decides she wants to come with me, I would appreciate it if you acted as temporary Firelord while I'm away." Zuko stroked his beard, saying, "While I did put my dear Uncle in charge while I was searching for my mother, I don't know. I'm a lot older than he was." Looking slightly disturbed, he said, "My biggest reservation? Let's say the worst comes to pass - Dark Spirits pour forth from that portal. If both you and my granddaughter are present…" Not liking the implication, Izumi barely avoided joining her father in crying lightly after he said, "If both of you joined my mother at Long Yumao's hands, I… would never be able to forgive myself. And we both know that it wouldn't be just personal - our nation might descend into chaos as well, even without any Dark Spirits' help."

Feeling old shame return when she remembered exactly why Iroh II wasn't qualified to become Firelord, even though he was still her and Kuzon's legitimate son, Izumi asked, "What do you suggest - I stay here at home? Or I tell my daughter she can't go where she wants after a lifetime of isolation?" Zuko frowned, saying as he walked closer, "I don't want to tell you what to do, Firelord - but I will say this, even if it sounds like something my actual father might have said to me." Pointing to the Fire Nation on the map behind him, flames flickering higher, he said, "Sometimes the needs of the many… outweigh the needs or desires of the few." His finger now pointing directly at her, Izumi said bitterly, "Fine. I'll stay at home like a good mother, watch over the children, while my troops put themselves in danger half a world away."

"You want to go to Republic City personally because of what happened with Kuvira. Because you didn't want to attack pre-emptively, and… well, what happened, happened, to Republic City. I think I understand now."

Her father's bluntness took Izumi by surprise, Izumi admitting, "Yes. Not only is it a good political move, but when I saw what Kuvira's superweapon did to Republic City up close and personal, all those scalped skyscrapers, and the big crater… it took me a while to admit it, but I felt ashamed." Holding up a hand, her father interrupted, sighing before saying, "Wait, no, stop. Don't tell me - I know what you're going to say. 'I need to restore my honor.' I've definitely been there - 'hell', even my best friend Aang felt like that at one point from what he told me after the war. You did what you thought was best - maintaining the new Fire Nation's legacy in your own way. Like a lingering sickness after removing the poison that caused it, shame is a useless emotion to keep around - and you've already decided to act on it by committing our forces to the cluster…turlteduck we face right now." Chuckling, Izumi finding the odd mix of an English euphemism and their own creatures amusing, he finished, "Aside from your architectural taste and the minor detail of scrapping most of our land army and the war balloons, I think you've done a very good job. We never know everything, and given what we knew about Kuvira and the Fire Nation's past, I think you made the right decision to not attack. Who knows - if Republic City had fallen and we had attacked unprovoked, Kuvira may have decided it was time for a true Empire. Even if you hadn't scrapped equipment, there's not much even war balloons and tundra tanks could have done to stop a metalbending master and her Colossus..."

Even though her father had been wrong about her motives, she felt better nonetheless, saying with a bow, "Thank you. I never even thought of that… admittedly disturbing possibility, especially given how close Republic City did come to falling. I didn't feel the need to restore my honor - I wanted to be there for our soldiers, show them I'm willing to do anything they do. But maybe that's not necessary. Now let's go see what my daughter thinks before making any official announcement about the reinforcing of Republic City, or decide who stays and who goes." Her father laughed, saying as they exited the throne room, one Izumi now intended to begin using when things calmed down, "Looks like someone's taking a page from someone else's book. I do have to admit, I like that attitude a lot better than the one my father had, never going to the front lines until he thought victory was assured and 'godlike' powers given to him by the comet... Neither one of us are young like Kuvira though - I was beyond pathetic against Ghazan, and you've never shown a great natural skill in bending like my sister did."

An odd thought occurred to Izumi - what if she had some kind of block like her father had when he joined the now-defunct Gaang, the last Team Avatar? Instead of lack of drive, what if not accepting her heritage fully held her back? Halting both herself and her father, she said "I am not ashamed of my heritage, or to call myself a firebender or Firelord" a few times out loud, feeling a fire building within herself with each repeat, and a deep-seated shame begin to burn to a crisp. A shame Izumi knew was all her own - she couldn't count how many times her father had tried to convince her to "come around" and embrace who she was fully instead of holding back. Feeling unjustifiably uncomfortable in her own skin, not from anything she had done - but because of what her ancestors had.

Turning around when she felt this inner fire burning intense as her desire to keep the Fire Nation on the right track, make sure past mistakes weren't repeated, and prevent both Long Yumao and Jinshu Kuangmai from doing anything worse, Izumi pushed forward with her right palm confidently, wanting to see what she could really do.

Though the fireball and her bending was not blue - not that she had expected it to be - it was powerful enough to raise the flames in front of the throne by a few feet, Izumi bursting into bitter laughter when she saw what part of the map her admittedly impressive fireball had struck. Stopping the creeping edges of flames consuming the Earth Empire immediately, not even wanting to symbolically ravage land, Izumi felt proud when her father said, "Wow. Even when you were a little girl, you never controlled fire that well - but that's not what makes me the happiest. Finally accepting who, and what, you are…" Pausing for a moment, he pointed to the map, saying, "And look - you didn't compromise your old principles entirely either. The only city you burned was Zaofu - if you can even call it a city now..."

Wondering if this sparing of everything aside from Zaofu was something subconscious or symbolic, Izumi decided it could wait until she saw Avatar Korra again. After a polite exchange, they finally made their way towards her daughter's room, Izumi trying to think of what to say to her daughter. She had raised her to be an isolationist, after all, and her influence was especially strong given almost half her life Izumi was her only parent. Princess Ursa II even had similar issues with her own bending as Izumi… had.

Seeing the Royal Guard outside her daughter's room, she noticed with a pit in her stomach that the leader of Izumi's own personal security detail was there, along with the five Royal Guard metalbenders and five Royal Guard firebenders that were assigned to her own protection she had dismissed earlier. Coughing, ember eyes looking slightly concerned, Commander of the Guard Jiazin said, "Your daughter is fine, Firelord Izumi. The reason we are here now is one of my men, Ming, detected War Minister Jet breathing erratically when we relayed your request – especially after telling him we would need the High Admiral and High General present."

Wanting to exhaust all possibilities, Izumi asked, "Royal Guard Ming – did he seem nervous, from nerves, excitement, or like he might have been hiding something?" Izumi frowned when he responded, "I'm sorry to say, Firelord Izumi, I could not tell – everything was 'fuzzy', given I still had my shoes on, even if they have metal soles." Holding up a green and red metal boot, the metal sole bending back, Izumi made her best effort to not react to the guard's odd birthmark on the sole of his foot as he said, "That won't be a problem anymore! Still wish there was a way to seismic sense properly with shoes on – I don't care what Toph told my grandfather about shoes!" Getting a slight glare from Commander of the Guard Jiazin, Royal Guard Ming put his foot back down, grinning sheepishly when the commander reprimanded him, "This isn't funny – forget your little gift; my intuition tells me something's up! Firelord Izumi, I suggest making this visit with your daughter as quick as possible – and not just because you have a meeting to attend soon."

Finally going inside her daughter's room – Azula's old room, Izumi remembered with a whopping dose of irony – Izumi saw her daughter was still asleep. Checking her watch and seeing it was "only" 7:00 AM, Izumi realized everything had taken a shorter time than she thought it had, or that the Avatar must have "woken" her a lot earlier than she thought. Her daughter's body shifted suddenly – as though she were having a bad dream. Given how her little Princess was smiling now, however, it was definitely not a nightmare.

Able to hear a few of the Royal Guards outside grumbling after five minutes of waiting, her father looked ready to wake Princess Ursa II up, but Izumi stopped him, shushing the Royal Guards at the same time. Shortly after, her daughter finally woke up, rubbing her eyes, asking, "Wh-what's going on? Mom, why are you here? You… didn't have to wait on me." Izumi shook her head, saying, "No – we did. Your grandfather and I were discussing who should stay behind and watch over the Fire Nation, who should go to Republic City." Princess Ursa II frowned, saying, "But… I already told Desna I'd be there; he told his sister he was going because I was, and his sister Eska really wanted to go!" Hearing a low comment from outside Izumi didn't understand, she laughed when she heard a loud bump followed by someone cursing, hearing Royal Guard Ming say in a hushed tone, "Not cool, man! How'd you like it if I harassed you over that?"

Izumi had never figured her daughter for the socially adept type, but given how she was blushing, she must have caught on to what the mystery rude Royal Guard had "said". Shrugging, her daughter said, only a hint of anger in her voice, "I've never really cared what people thought of me in a big way; I'm just awkward, not overly sensitive," contradicting what she had just said by stating with a frown, "Although Meelo was getting on my nerves earlier when I was with the other braintrust members…"

Izumi smiled - good, her daughter had gotten over enough of her misplaced humility to consider herself a part of the braintrust. Having no idea what she had likely contributed beyond her long-range indirect fire weapon a Royal Guard metalbender had helped her form a test model of, Izumi began to ask, interrupted when her daughter asked her in a hushed voice in English, "What are these extra Royal Guards doing here, mom? Is… something going on?" Not knowing the answer to that question herself, she shrugged, asking Commander of the Guard Jiazin, "Do you think you could radio the War Minister, High Admiral and High General and tell them to enact the old plans for reinforcing Republic City against Kuvira fully? After that, gather the rest of the Royal Guard - we have an expedition to make. There is a possible issue there, near the new Spirit Portal, and the Avatar has asked me to send troops to the city. I will explain on the way." Commander of the Guard Jiazin saluted, saying strongly, "Yes ma'am, Firelord Izumi! No explanation needed - unless you wish to give one." Izumi nodded, saying, "Yes - you'll get one, and so will everyone else in the Fire Nation. I hope we aren't needed in Republic City, but if we are, I want the world to know the Fire nation is back from isolation, and willing to put our gold where our mouth is. Dismissed."

After the polite bow to her bodyguard's commander, all the Royal Guards left their presence. Apparently, her daughter had been waiting for this, Izumi half wondering if she were dreaming when she heard the question: "Mom, can you teach me to be more 'human-y'? Desna said he was trying to learn, and, uh, I wanted to help him." Izumi felt torn between prematurely congratulating her daughter on finally finding someone she was even passingly interested in, her little Princess having made her wonder if she were homosexual or even asexual at times given her lack of pursuit of boys, or simply telling her she was fine as is. Izumi's indecision let Zuko speak first, her father saying, "I'm afraid life itself is the best teacher, Princess - and you're fine how you are. You're you. You had two loving parents, and still have one - while Desna had Unalaq for a father, and by all account, a passive mother. He sounds like he still has issues to work through, things to learn. Other people can't teach you how to be you better anyways - even Raava seems to be… discovering herself, to put it charitably."

Her daughter nodded, saying with a smile, "That… sounds about right, from the little while I spent alone with Desna after getting booted out." Golden eyes widening as though remembering something, her daughter said, "Oh! I forgot - Avatar Korra gave me all the locations of the rest of the tuber-vines, and they're probably fighting some big sea monster she mentioned earlier by now." Izumi nodded, saying, "Yes - the slumbering Dark Spirit underneath that monstrous gunship she was sleeping in. I know you like to draw more than speak - mind showing us the scale of everything?" Zuko chimed in, saying, "Yes, please - I saw what everything looked like, sure, but never really got a sense of scale. We might even want to ask Korra to make another one, if she can - to get to Republic City faster."

Princess Ursa II shook her head, saying, "I don't think so. Here - let me show you, and all the other new stuff I worked on with the braintrust, while I talk. Granddad, do you know where Peaceblossom is?" Seeing her father nod in the affirmative, Izumi realized her daughter's tuber-vine could be a great asset if Commander of the Guard Jiazin was right and there was dirty work afoot, being able to judge people. Her father now out of the room, Izumi watched as her daughter confidently gathered three sheets of blueprint from her room, wondering why she needed so much paper for something that flew, why she had such a spring in her step. Izumi asked politely, "Princess - you seem awfully happy. Mind telling me what you were up to between Raava asking me to leave, and now?"

Her daughter froze, saying indignantly, "Wha - mom, don't nag me to date people! I'm already-" Izumi laughed lightly, saying as her daughter turned around, hand over her mouth, "I never did - at least, not just now. Looks like you just had a 'Sokka-ian' slip - knowing you, you wouldn't be this happy or defensive about war talk." Idly tugging on jet black hair that Izumi wished she still had, Princess Ursa II said, "You're right - it's not about war talk," observing, "You seem… different somehow, mother. I'll answer your question fully when you tell me what you were up to. And you never did tell me much about my dad at the table before the others showed up."

Izumi adjusted her glasses for no reason other than to hide her frustration, wondering if telling her daughter everything would ruin… whatever mood this was. Thinking, Izumi realized her daughter had a small sparkle in her eyes - one she hadn't seen in ten years.

Her daughter had originally intended to talk while she drew, but she ended up listening instead, Izumi only looking at her, ignoring the drawing completely. Not batting an eye when her daughter reached for a fourth piece of blueprint paper, when Izumi got to the part where her husband basically had advocated pre-emptive annihilation, her daughter froze again, crying, "That's… really what this could end up being, isn't it. Unless… unless Tonga Beifong is stronger than Jinshu Kuangmai, so to speak," adding with Izumi swore was a smirk, "Plus, Jinshu Kuangmai doesn't sound stupid - if I were him, I'd take Korra's threat on his life very seriously."

Realizing with a certain unsettling feeling that militaries the world over had a certain habit of sometimes thwarting even a dictator like Jinshu Kuangmai's will, Izumi suggested, feeling a little better herself, "I remember something about odd energy outside Omashu, underground, the thing Raava thought might be weaponization of 'Korranium' - maybe whatever it is was made by a loose cannon." Lifting the pencil from the paper, her daughter drew a skull and crossbones, saying, "I don't like that name - 'Korranium'. It's like renaming Sozin's Comet Aang's Comet. How about… death metal instead?" Izumi nodded, saying, "Sounds like a good idea to me," thinking, "Yep, she's still herself all right, even if she is more perky - how is that relevant?"

Looking to the side of the skull and crossbones, Izumi saw a small figure next to a massive bizarre aircraft, pointing at it and joking, "Who's that - Rohan?" Looking at the figure again and seeing it had a slightly feminine form, stocky limbs, and what looked like a treetrunk for a right arm, her mouth fell open in shock when her daughter said, laughing, "Nope. That's Zhu Li's Thing, all 12 feet of it - and the plane next to it is the Raging Shark Whale. And likely not the truly final version either - the only thing I got to contribute was re-positioning the gun pods underneath these forward 'wings' for a better line of fire." Unable to believe what was happening for many reasons, Izumi said with disbelief, "I… guess you finally took granddad's advice to heart, huh."

Seeing more familiar figures off to the side, that of Kuvira's Colossus, both the original and "new" design, Izumi stammered, "Wha - how is that possible? That thing's longer than the original Colossus was by… 150 feet? Almost nine stories tall?" Princess Ursa II smiled, nodding as she said, "Yes - and if I remember my studies correctly, even with over a million people in Omashu, it should only take a day to evacuate with it if everything else is stripped, the only cargo Omashu residents!" Izumi frowned, saying, "I don't meant to rain on your parade, sweetie, but Meelo gave that thing guns for a reason - it's going to be doing two jobs at once." Remembering a particularly bad biplane ride of her own when she was given a tour of the aircraft fleet completed two years ago for mail and postal duties and how the pilot jerked side to side, sending her slamming against her seat, Izumi added, "Since it's a 'gunship', it's going to need to move side to side. How're the passengers going to withstand moving side to side rapidly like what I 'heard' Meelo intended? Even if it has magic tuber-vine whatevers for power, two of them, 'empowered' somehow, you can't just negate the laws of physics."

Her daughter frowned, saying, "Uh - metalbending? I'm not sure. Asami Sato and Korra can figure that out. Anyways - the fourth piece of paper was for smaller things I helped refine." Izumi got a glimpse of why her daughter might have been so changed, Princess Ursa II smiling broadly as Avatar Korra might have before saying, "You were right, all these years. Working on a team wasn't so bad, and my talk with Desna after was even better. I can't wait for tonight - I can see my dad again, and not be too sad to enjoy it. Before I tell you about Desna, here - this is more pressing." Pointing at what looked like a truncated sword with a wooden base and a forward-facing metallic grooved banana sticking out of its bottom, her daughter said, "Varrick tried and failed to come up with a rapid-fire gun design even non-earthbenders could use easily - his original design's firing mechanism exploded!" Izumi nodded her head, everything technical being "Greek" to her, infobending or not as her daughter continued, "We wanted a design that was cheap, easy to make, rugged - this is what I came up with. After each round is fired, gas pushes a…"

Drifting off when the technical details got too complicated, rather remembering her job as politician and leader than exactly how this handheld so-called "Agni Kai" or "AK" worked, Izumi interrupted her daughter, saying, "Uhuh, got it. What about this other one over here, the squat one on a tripod? The one that has 'airplane mountable' written next to it?" Princess Ursa II nodded, saying, "Yes - the Agni Kai Two. The one we might not want to leave home without, if those aircraft barges really are nearing completion," feeling relieved to get a much simpler explanation of, "This one needs two people on the ground, but Meelo suggested it could be put on a mechasuit, or an aircraft on the wingtips - more primitive ones, like those mail carriers I'm pretty sure the military will want now." Her daughter having laughed at the last part, part of Izumi felt ecstatic, not having seen her this happy in a long time - even when they were alone together, like they were now.

Another part of her found this… bonding over war repugnant. No matter how much she reminded herself that this was probably the one and only justifiable war in Fire Nation history that she knew of, the thoughts persisted. Remembering other's recent trials, Izumi sighed. Noticing that her father was back, Izumi explained her feelings and thoughts, totally ignoring the tuber-vine he was carrying. Finally giving it attention after a particularly loud "HMMM HMMM" and the odd spirit flashing multiple colors, Izumi didn't protest when her father handed the sentient plant off to her.

Watching in curiosity as one of Peacebloom's vines and the large, solitary and beautiful flower it was named for approached her forehead, Izumi saw the vine flash white strongly. Following its movement as it rested its vine tip and flower over her chest, she saw it was glowing white again. Even though she had personally found the tuber-vine and it had taken such a liking to her daughter, as best as she could "understand" something that only spoke in "HMMM HMMM"s, Izumi still didn't feel satisfied completely. Sighing deeply, she was surprised to see the tuber-vine try to reach for something else – her daughter.

Princess Ursa II apparently knowing what this meant, she brought her mute friend a piece of paper and pencil, Izumi watching in disbelief as it managed to scrawl out "Not all thoughts and feelings are what they seem" in crudely rendered English "letters". The tuber-vine finally drewing a crude picture of Izumi herself, bumbling as it tried to convey some deeper meaning without opposable thumbs, barely recognizing the yin yang symbol when it was completed. Wondering out loud if this was on purpose, she felt confused when Peacebloom's large white and pink flower bobbed, as though saying "Yes". Izumi's eyes widened when her father said, "It looks like Peacebloom was trying to draw a distorted yin yang symbol… When I was young, I once did something that was completely counter to everything I had believed and done up to that point in my life – freeing Aang's bison. I can see the shock, maybe a little bit of fear in your eyes, both of you – my experience was an unpleasant one, but I have a hard time imagining you would have one, Izumi, much less one as serious as mine or Kuvira's. You haven't ever been bad!"

Izumi knew from what Raava had shown her that tuber-vines weren't stupid plants, but she was still surprised when it drew a ranking scale of sorts using "Arabic" numerals next to the English words "Difficulty". Even her daughter looking on in curiosity now, when the plant was finished scrawling names in English characters, proper characters apparently too difficult to write without an opposable… well, anything, Izumi saw her own name at the bottom of the list, smiling to see that even Kai's name and for some reason, Avatar Aang's, ranked higher than her own. Wondering aloud what this had to do with her thoughts and feelings, Izumi laughed when the plant drew an… exaggerated depiction of Varrick pointing at thin air, adding a small speech bubble next to him that said, "Some head voices are liars!"

Izumi didn't have much time to look at the spirit's drawing, barely noticing that it had managed proper script when she heard a loud panting behind her. Turning around, she saw Intelligence Officer First Class Jeong-Jeong stooped over in the doorway, looking completely exhausted – and given the shadows under his eyes, he had been up for quite some time. Patting Peacebloom on the head, remembering at the last minute to say "Thank you" instead of "Who's a pretty, helpful plant," Izumi listened incredulously as Intelligence Officer First Class Jeong-Jeong said, weakly holding up a piece of paper, "Firelord… Izumi, you have to… see this! We could all be… in grave danger!"

Seeing the wild look in his brown eyes, Izumi said, "Whatever it is can wait – you need rest. I've already sent the Royal Guard to get organized – we have a very impromptu operation to put together." In a lapse of his normal polite self, or at least what Izumi had seen of him, he said, "The longer… we talk, the greater… the danger. Here – look at this, now." Finally taking the sheet of paper from Intelligence Officer First Class Jeong-Jeong, Izumi scoffed, saying as she gave what appeared at first glance to be an old Fire Nation war balloon, "You barge in on your sovereign during a private family moment, and more importantly, deprive yourself of sleep and push yourself to the brink of collapse to bring me the plans for an old war balloon? Officer, I suggest you get some rest – you're going to be very busy in a few hours, helping me organize the military on an expedition to Republic City." The man clearly either insane or short on sleep, he asked fearfully, "Wait – Firelord, did they get to you too?" No longer looking quite the sleep-deprived wild man he was, Intelligence Officer First Class Jeong-Jeong said, pointing to the sheet of paper Izumi had in her hands, "Sorry. Firelord Izumi, I do not bother you with trivialities, and you likely know a lot that I do not. Unfortunately, given your reaction to that unauthorized new model of war balloon, the reverse is true as well."

The implications of unauthorized weapons development beginning to crawl through her mind, remembering something about War Minister Jet being uneasy, Izumi asked, masking the fear in her voice, "Can you show me everything you've found?" Intelligence Officer First Class Jeong-Jeong nodded, saying, "Yes – but only after you call the Royal Guard here. All of them. If my hunch is right, we may have a fight on our hands."

Not wanting to give Commander of the Royal Guard Jiazin any more reason to be paranoid, Izumi decided to be cautious, stating, "I would prefer it if you said your piece before sending the Royal Guard into a tizzy with just pieces of paper as evidence." Turning to her daughter, she said, "You know a lot about the Fire Nation, every nation – both present, and past. You even got inspiration for your new artillery from old Fire Nation equipment. Want to take a look at what Intelligence Officer First Class Jeong-Jeong has for us?" Her daughter nodded, Izumi surprised when she didn't break from her earlier behavior and remain mute. Instead, she said, "Sure thing, mother. Let me see what Jeong-Jeong finds so… alarming about this 'new' airship, and anything else."

Handing over the blueprints to her daughter, slightly unnerved by how many there were, Izumi thought, "She's even not using people's titles anymore!" idly wondering to herself, "Not saying titles. Is that a sign of impoliteness and disrespect, or… closeness and friendship?" Apparently, she had done so out loud, feeling foolish when Zuko said, "Probably a little bit of both, given 'Intelligence Officer First Class' Jeong-Jeong was acting like a first-class lunatic earlier." Intelligence Officer First Class Jeong-Jeong laughed, saying, "You can call me whatever you want, Firelord Izumi. My opinion? The new titles around here need shortening – about the only thing the old Fire Nation had right was keeping things to the point."

Having seen her daughter hug herself many times before when faced with the uncomfortable or change, Izumi half felt like doing it herself, instead crossing her arms and saying with a small smile, "Very well – but I'm still calling you Intelligence Officer First Class Jeong-Jeong, and 'Korra', Avatar Korra." Intelligence Officer First Class Jeong-Jeong rolled his eyes, saying, "Enough. No disrespect, Firelord Izumi, but we have more important things to talk about than tiles and – Princess, what are you doing?! Are you… modifying the blueprints I risked so much to snatch from under both official wing's of the military's noses, and the third one I uncovered? Princess… Wait – are you in on this too?"

Now it was Izumi's turn, saying with more than a little disrespect for the good officer, disgusted at his idea her daughter was a traitor in whatever paranoid conspiracy Intelligence Officer First Class Jeong-Jeong believed in, "ENOUGH! My daughter would rather build for peace than war, she's no traitor, and if you're worth your salt as an Intelligence Officer First Class, you'd also know the exact words her grandfather used to convince her to even consider making that cannon prototype!" Intelligence Officer First Class Jeong-Jeong shook his head, saying, "No, I do not – on account I was so busy after the final speech following a lead everyone thought I was crazy for pursuing. I've got everything – the blueprints, secret factory and base locations on the northern side of the main island, even baffling accounting sheets with huge gold inputs from seemingly nowhere."

Izumi had to admit – now he had her attention. Intelligence Officer First Class Jeong-Jeong sensing this, he whipped out a few maps and something far more familiar to Izumi – accounting indexes. Finally deciding his conspiracy might be real, Izumi called for the Royal Guard over the radio, merely stating a code, wondering if the person mentioned really had returned: "Princess Azula has bread for turtle-ducks." Even though her father knew full well what the order meant, he still snickered saying, "Yeah – for their heads!" After a brief glare, he looked away, saying, "Sorry. I wanted to try and inject some humor – I always had to watch my back as Firelord, but I never figured you'd ever have to say that."

Hearing Intelligence Officer First Class Jeong-Jeong cough, she gave him her full attention as he explained, "After your speech - and Mako's impromptu speech - I found something – or rather, a someone. All he had for me at the time were these accounting indexes and some other ledgers that say the same thing, and he wanted my help. Between keeping up with my official duties and this, I was completely consumed. In retrospect, perhaps I should have asked for your help – we could have uncovered this yesterday, given how I spent a whole day trying to make sense of the ledgers."

Pushing aside the maps she had only glanced at, the scale of whatever operation this was readily apparent based on the fact there were four compounds out of sight, out of mind in the north of the main island, Izumi looked at these accounting ledgers and indexes. Able to see why Intelligence Officer First Class Jeong-Jeong had so much trouble, she said, "Wait – this makes no sense. These things span two years, roughly the time since I had to put my foot down and insist disarmament of land forces continued, asserting our navy would protect us. Given how there are constant scribbles about yuan to gold and Earth Kingdom 'gold' to Fire Nation 'gold' exchange rates, there must have been some foreign involvement." The most obvious answer was that Kuvira had been trying to plot a military coup to overthrow her, but the other piece of the puzzle made no sense – why would yuans need to be converted to gold? That was a friendly nation's currency! Who "in" the United Republic would possibly have interest, back then, in seeing the Fire Nation replaced by a friendly puppet military dictatorship?

At first, she wanted to point the finger at Varrick, just as Intelligence Officer First Class Jeong-Jeong had done, given his little note next to a particularly large transaction and conversion. Looking at it again, she dismissed the possibility, about to test an old trick her father had once told her about - one Asami Sato knew of as well, if what Raava had shown her about the envelope was correct.

Before she could see if there was a hidden message in fireink on the paper, she was interrupted, her daughter shoved a blueprint in front of her, saying, "Mom, look! Oh - sorry. I don't know what you found on the ledger, but look at this." Pointing to four cylinders behind a propeller sitting at the front of a plane that looked much more modern than anything aside from Meelo's designs, the plane even having a single wing like the little airbender's plans, her daughter said, "Those things look familiar to either of you? They do to me - and I don't like it at all."

While they did look vaguely familiar to Izumi, Intelligence Officer First Class Jeong-Jeong responded, "Yes - they do. Izumi, surely you saw that large transaction between two unknown parties. My best guess is what I think is a military coup stemming from your… military policies over your reign is not only funded by the Earth Empire and former Kuvira supporters, they even provided technology. Those cylinders are electrical generators of the style Varrick used to power his mechasuits for Kuvira - and without a metalbender to spin the metal components and charge the batteries, they're useless. You'll also notice this plane has room for two pilots, what looks like a place for someone to bend lightning in, and no conventional fuel supply - as though firebender and earthbender were to work together, or not at all." Looking a little wild again, he added, "I know who's almost perfectly split between firebender and earthbender, and skilled to boot. The Royal Guard might even be in on it. They haven't exactly responded to your distress call quickly…"

Forgetting all about fireink, Izumi said, "I doubt that - but from everything I see, I think you're right about this military coup after all. Even my pet project, the navy and the new aircraft barges, seemed to be asking for more money and materials than was warranted."

A million possibilities running through her mind, Izumi heard the sounds of many marching metal-clad boots in the distance. Wondering if the Royal Guard was here to help her or depose her, the gravity of the situation finally struck home. Expected to help protect the Republic City Spirit Portal, when she couldn't even protect herself…

After what seemed like an eternity but was only a few seconds, Izumi smiled to see Commander of the Guard Jiazin come in so fast she almost knocked over Intelligence Officer First Class Jeong-Jeong, saluting as she said, "Firelord Izumi, we have reason to believe there may be a plot against you, by military hardliners who want to go back to the old ways! We'll fight to the death to prevent it, and -"

Izumi cut her off, saying, "Thank you for your loyalty - it is greatly appreciated. I'm afraid we don't have any time for formalities if we're about to come under attack." Intelligence Officer First Class Jeong-Jeong nodded, saying, "They've been planning for years, given how they not only modernized all the old equipment, but added new things as well, such as that plane," adding, "Though, I did find that one and a bizarre plane with tubes under its wings in the 'Prototype' section - maybe we have a chance after all." Princess Ursa II began rifling through the blueprints wildly, saying, "Oh, no - tubes under the wings? How old was that one, and where is it? From what I know, that's spirit engines - and Jinshu Kuangmai didn't know about those until last night!"

Adrenaline taking hold, Izumi realizing this conspiracy had gone on even without Kuvira she said, "Find that paper, quick! Jiazin, take the rest of the Royal Guard and make sure our route to the tram system is secure - we may need to…" Izumi gulped, finishing, "Ask our citizens to help fight this military coup!"

Shaking slightly, Izumi felt confident again when her father patted her on the back, saying, "Hey - don't lose your cool. We've got this. When Kori Morishita came for me, it was all reflexes and adrenaline - I didn't have time to, couldn't afford to, panic." Izumi nodded, feeling someone poking her in the back. Turning around, she listened to her daughter as she said strongly, "Mom - look at these engines. See all the blades… what look like fuel lines leading to it, this bit about 'blasting jelly derivative', this weird little chamber at the back of it - that's not a spirit engine! Maybe we're looking at this all wrong! Maybe… this isn't a coup after all!" Looking at the engine, feeling adrenaline's effects, Izumi found herself believing Jeong-Jeong when he said, "That's one of the most incriminating ones, spirit fuel or not - see the little note up at the top? No? Here, let me show you - there. Fireink that reveals the characters 'Top Secret - Project Start Date 165 AG." Giving him a dirty look, forgetting his exhaustion, Izumi said, "You dolt - they were working on that when my father was Firelord! Why didn't you tell us that first, before, well, anything else?" Looking woozy, Jeong-Jeong responded, "I haven't slept… in over a day. Please forgive me the… memory lapse. There's something else you… need to know. One of their leaders has… a secret. Your father already mentioned… the last…"

Apparently, Jeong-Jeong had been running on fumes, passing out into Izumi's arms before he could say who had something to hide, Princess Ursa II barely managing to catch him before he hit the floor. Crying, she said, "Maybe… you're right, Officer. I'll… go with Jiazin, to the secret base. Mom… please come with me."

Looking in her daughter's eyes, Izumi felt rage well up inside her, seeing they were missing something they had for years. Something she got back, until Jeong-Jeong pretty much confirmed it was a coup, given they had even been working under her father's nose.

The little spark she had, ever since she had waken back up. Shaking her head, Izumi remembering her father's speech about koala-sheep and lion-turtles, "No. No one is too valuable - Jiazin, we're not going anywhere." Hearing a strong distant, alien sound unlike she had ever heard, not even recognizing the continuous whooshing roar from what Raava had shown her, Izumi grabbed her daughter, saying with tears in her eyes, "I guess they're coming. Come on - show me that spark you had earlier! You want the Fire Nation to be ruled by someone like my aunt?"

While Izumi had hoped for a strong reaction, she certainly hadn't expected her daughter to take a deep breath and breathe out fire, saying strongly, "No, I don't. You're right. This world had one human tyrant too many as is - let's go." Not saying anything, noticing even her father looked energized by now despite pushing 91, Izumi felt the flame within her growing stronger, brighter as she and her family - even including Peacebloom, carried by her daughter - went out into the light of day to see what they were up against, an exhausted Jeong-Jeong sent to the safety of the platinum-sealed volcano base in the trolley before leaving.

Stepping out of the Royal Palace, Izumi saw aircraft that closely resembled those on the tube-engine plane's blueprints, their green camoflauge painted tops, royal-fire blue and white bellies clearly visible. Even if they were there to kill her, Izumi couldn't help but finding herself admiring the speed with which they were flying. Seeing three of the strange aircraft peel off and aim their noses in their general direction, remembering where Meelo had mounted weapons, Izumi shouted, noticing the aircraft had small holes in their noses just as she had feared as they got closer, "Somebody, bend us up a shield! They're coming in!"

Covered by a metal shield by the time she had finished her command, expecting to hear the sounds of flames or "fire-earth" weapons in the hands of the traitors soon, Izumi listened to the three aircraft's engines with fascination, swearing she could hear some kind of faint whirring mixed in. Completely baffled when no fire came, even more so when one of the aircraft peeled off and displayed clearly it did have fire-earth weaponry into the sky, Izumi nearly jumped out of her skin when she saw one of the pilots… saluting them?

The metal shield lowered again, Izumi saw the pilots were no longer alone, finding herself staring at a large war balloon advancing towards them from the north. Whipping out her spyglass, she saw it had engines similar to the ones on the mystery planes propelling it forward, wondering if she was hallucinating to see… someone waving from the front deck.

Before she had time to order radio communication initiated, she heard a quick rumbling near her. Watching a lone rock fly towards the war balloon in horror, Izumi saw it strike one of the engines as surely as if Avatar Korra had made the shot. A large fireball erupting after a slight delay, the airship listing to the side but not fatally, Izumi ordered, "Enemies don't wave to you, or salute you! That one pilot looked like he was showing off for me! Give me a radio, quick! And who shot that rock?" Getting angry when no answer came, she said hotly, "Tell me - because if we can't explain that shot, they might make a coup for real!"

Glad to hear a Royal Guard meekly admit from beside her, "It was me - I didn't think, it was all nerves, I'm sorry!" it was small consolation, given a few fireballs left the airship, along with something Izumi could only hear. Hearing something around her Izumi had only "heard" from Raava secondhand, Izumi barked into the radio set handed to her, "Stop shooting at us!" She got an immediate answer, hearing someone wail, "Your little earthbender guard pet blew up our starboard flamejet engine - and more than a few good men with it! You never did respect the military!"

Some of the projectiles now a little too close for comfort, Izumi said into the radio set, "We didn't mean to hurt anyone! I thought this was a coup, and so did that jumpy Royal Guard, but I was wrong. This is all a big misunderstanding - one I'll want to hold everyone involved with accountable for, but a misunderstanding nonetheless!" Izumi frowned to hear the sounds of a verbal squabble erupt over the radio, horror creeping into her when someone yelled, seemingly to many others, "Accountable how? Like you held all our old equipment 'accountable' for your grandfather's crimes? I'm not taking any chances. Forget that - I don't know about everyone else, but I'm taking your little coup 'suggestion'! I don't wanna die today!"

Eerily reminded of Jasmine's experience harassing Jinshu Kuangmai except being on the receiving end, what seemed to be her own soldiers squabbling, Izumi half considered shooting at the war balloon herself after the dust from a bullet impact actually hit her leg, the bullet having passed through the shifted metal shield. Wishing that Avatar Korra were here to stop the tragedy of errors from unfolding any more, Izumi grasped at a straw, yelling into the radio, "War Minister Jet, High Admiral Kiyi II, High General Rongyu, commander of whatever this secret third branch is called whose soldiers are currently FIRING AT ME - if you have an ounce of loyalty to me, to a peaceful Fire Nation above that, get everyone back under control!"

Listening over the radio, Izumi heard some electrical shocks and zaps, relieved to hear what she recognized as War Minister Jet's voice say over the radio, "High 'Wing Commander' Shinu has gotten his war balloon and other aircraft back under control, and told me the men injured should pull through. We have the situation back under control, and we deeply regret how we chose to handle our reveal," slightly irritated when he continued, "Though none of us, not even your distant relation Admiral Kiyi II, are sorry for what we have done." Frowning, Izumi responded with a little input from her daughter, turning off the radio afterwards, "Fine - that's better than a coup, but you better have one damn good explanation - especially to my father, given your little… 'flamejet' engine project is older than my rule. And my daughter insists those planes looked more advanced than the 'top secret' blueprints Intelligence Officer First Class Jeong-Jeong snuck to me. I want all four of you at the Royal Palace, alone, no soldiers, ten minutes. And go ahead and bring ALL of your blueprints, if you can on such short notice - I have something to tell you as well."

Putting the radio down, she found herself immediately hugged by both her daughter and father, swearing she felt someone or something else join in the hug. Moving her head backward slightly when a white and pink flower appeared in front of her face, Izumi realized Peacebloom really was as smart or emotionally advanced as a human. Hearing a low distressed "HMMMPH!" when she hugged Princess Ursa II and Zuko back, Izumi said, "I'm so glad you were right, Princess - peace is always better than war," snickering slightly when her father said, "Though, technically, this is peace before a war, instead of war before a war. Wonder what my Uncle would think of whatever we find."

Remembering there was one person who had been involved who wasn't present, Izumi broke the hug reluctantly, radioing an order to bring Intelligence Officer First Class Jeong-Jeong to the Royal Palace's steps as well. Even if he had been wrong about their intentions, he had certainly proved himself capable, managing to uncover and infiltrate a conspiracy she now realized probably dated back to the day after she ordered new and old military equipment scrapped as one of her first moves as Firelord. In retrospect, playing favorites with the Navy probably hadn't helped anything, especially given who the High Admiral was - her partial cousin, Kiyi II, 14 years her junior.

Thinking of 14 bringing back both good and embarrassing memories, Izumi finally addressed the stoic Commander of the Guard Jiazin, who had been standing at attention for a long time. Before speaking, she sized her up, remembering what she had asked about the endless use of title earlier, saying, "Intelligence Officer First Class Jeong-Jeong shared his distaste for long titles earlier. What do you think? Do you prefer formal, or informal?" Looking like she had been asked a vile question, Commander of the Guard Jiazin said, "Formal, Firelord Izumi! We need to maintain order! You saw yourself what disorder did earlier!" Butting in without being asked, Zuko said, "I vaguely remember Korra complaining about how many different fancy-title people she had to deal with in her life, and definitely remember a lot of Zaheer's ideology. I guess what Amon had to say applies as well, in a way…" Wondering what Zaheer and Amon had to do with titles, Izumi got her answer when he continued, "I remember Korra telling me later that the Red Lotus' founder made the organization because he believed the world, and specifically the White Lotus, had lost its way. I'm no anarchist, and believe the world still needs Firelords, Presidents, Avatars, the whole gamut. And the kind of equality Amon wanted was madness. But maybe we're a little too attached to titles."

Wondering if her father was finished, Izumi felt like he was speaking directly to her even though he was looking at a slightly disturbed-looking Jiazin when he said earnestly, "Korra found out she was the Avatar when she was four years old, and she's said and realized herself she lived a lot of her life as Avatar first, Korra second. Only recently did she accept this about herself, and she's happier, a better person for it, especially after acting on it. G- I mean, Raava knows I tried to live as Prince Zuko, and not Prince Zuko for too long." Pausing for breath, he continued, Izumi noticing the normally steely Commander of the Guard was crying slightly, "Leaders of men, powerful people - we think our titles give us power, authority, control, the final say. Some think they are nothing but that title, like Korra did for part of her life, and Aang struggled with being the Avatar as well, while others get lost in the title, like my father, or my sister likely would have. Really, if we let the title define us, who we are, what we want and strive for - we're weaker. Made less human, by having to play a part, when really, what we want deep inside, is to be ourselves. And order doesn't come from a title or formality - it comes from having people's love or loyalty."

By the time her father had finished, Izumi had joined Jiazin in crying, surprised to hear her head guard admit, "I… had a bad childhood; I had a dominating father. A petty bureaucrat who abused what power he had. I thought if I could… rise up the ranks, become better than him, and be a better person than he was in spite outranking him, serve my nation and sovereign fanatically while commanding others, it would fill some hole inside… but it didn't. But I think I know what might… Thank you, Zuko." Smiling, Jiazin gave a surprised then pleased looking male Royal Guard a hug, saying, "Forget being the boss - I've wanted to ask you this for a long time, even if it costs me my job. Moku, want to go out for tea sometime?"

The guard in question looked conflicted, Izumi pushing her own slightly different trouble with her own title to the back of her mind when he shook his head, saying, "Maybe - I've noticed you looking at me sometimes. Maybe you've seen me doing the same. But… I don't want you to throw your career away - head of the Royal Guard is nothing to sneeze at, and your job's important! If this really had been a coup and not a misunderstanding… I wouldn't have wanted to follow anyone else!" Some other Royal Guards agreeing, Izumi thought over what she could do - technically under Fire Nation law since before the time of even Sozin's great grandfather, they should both be fired on the spot if they dated.

Remembering it was one of those same inflexible ancient laws that had prevented her firstborn from becoming Prince Iroh II, forcing his much younger timid sibling who came along almost 20 years later under "proper" circumstances to take up the responsibility, Izumi said, "Laws can be changed - though if this is really what you want, Jiazin, your position might have to change slightly anyways." Seeing Jiazin nod her head and look slightly distressed, Izumi tried to assuage her discomfort by saying, "I don't want any woman to throw her career away by following her heart," saying nothing of her aunt Azula's secret. Jiazin now smiling broadly and a certain softness there that hadn't been there before, Izumi finished, "Judging by the color of your eyes, you're an earthbender, Moku. Maybe it's time there were two 'Head Royal Guards' - one firebender, one earthbender. Though if it's coworkers, boyfriend and girlfriend, or husband and wife is up to you both in the end."

Having known Jiazin for many years, Izumi still found it incongruous how happy and giddy she was, the strong-willed and loyal woman having always been so… formal. Wondering what Ursa II's reaction to all this was, she turned to look at her daughter, surprised to see her giving Izumi an expectant look, one hand on her right hip with her head cocked, smiling slightly. Wanting to test the waters, she asked, "Ursa II, what's on your mind?"

Not sure if the 22-year old in front of her was her daughter or not, given how Ursa II didn't react to the change in how she was addressed, Izumi silently wished she hadn't asked such an open-ended question when her daughter responded, straightening up, "Just wondering what someone as nice and caring as you could have had to cry about earlier." Izumi sighed, speaking plainly, "I'm not entirely sure myself - but I think it has something to do with how I've conducted my rule as Firelord. With what I knew at the time and our nation's past, I still don't regret declining to attack Kuvira preemptively - in fact, under the old plan, we would have left first thing this morning for Republic City with the military I knew about to help defend Republic City."

Knowing she would likely be repeating herself to her three, not two, high commanders and War Minister, Izumi continued anyways, saying, "I was crying because I realized that in many ways, I was trying to re-define, master, change what 'Firelord' meant through my unjustified actions - change what the Fire Nation itself was out of lingering shame. My little Princess - ignoring your good, Fire Nation style architectural designs for the modernization of the Fire Nation, I instead went with nondescript Republic City style skyscrapers instead… thinking the Fire Nation slightly inferior to the United Republic, all because of one century of shame, reprehensible and evil acts. Father - ignoring your strong suggestions to not go ahead with the scrapping and gutting of our land and air forces. Ignoring your own pleading to not erase centuries of good and distinctly Fire Nation heritage by changing the very look of our nation and snuffing out flames that had burnt near the throne for generations before Sozin committed his heinous crimes against the Air Nomads, and humanity. Instead, I covered over the past while jeopardizing our future to make a largely symbolic political and cultural statement by destroying much of the Fire Nation's land and air equipment, thinking naval might alone would be enough to defend ourselves."

Swearing she heard a tinny cheering, she ignored the noise, finishing, "I let personal zeal to continue my father's legacy of peace, change and prosperity cloud my judgment - and, I think, even tried to get rid of some shame I felt for even being related to the likes of Sozin, Ozai and Azula, even for being a firebender, through my actions… trying to un-fire the Fire Nation." Pretty sure she heard tinny applause now, Izumi realized someone had the presence of mind to broadcast her little speech. Realizing she had an audience, she continued, "I did not know I had an audience until just now - but it does not matter. The things I have to say can be heard by everyone. Early this morning, I had a personal epiphany - for a long time, I let the Fire Nation's abominable past and the shame associated with it twist me, sap my inner flame, fire, drive. I realize now that just like my daughter Princess Ursa II is different from most people, the Fire Nation isn't 'bad' because most of its citizens bend fire, or had some truly atrocious leaders in relatively recent history - it's different! A nation that stepped out from darkness and into light - and a nation that shouldn't mope about its sordid past like I have, much less try to change or cover up who we are!"

Hearing applause from both the radio and around her, Izumi heard an older woman's voice from nearby say, "I heard ever'thin'! Aboot tim' ya quit yer mopin' and be a real firbender, FIRlerd!" Feeling a weird mixture of smallness from having been yelled at by a little old lady and the other, more positive emotions like pride and relief that had been with her ever since starting her cathartic speech, Izumi burst out laughing before she could think when she heard her father ask with baited breath, "Wait - could it be you? Azula? After all these years?"

Hearing her daughter join her, knowing full well where Azula was right now, keeping an older, more sinister Admiral company, Izumi was surprised to hear the woman say, "What? No - yer crazy, 'Zuzu'! I did grew up in… Hira'a, was it, though? Can barely remember me own name these days, being th' big hunnerd todahy! But I do remember seein' me one craaazy woman, a twenny somethin at least givin 'er 'endowmen' th' last I saw 'er. Weren't no teenager by then, that fer sure. Though, th' first time I saw 'er, didn't get nearl' as good a … look I did th' last time. Only saw 'er and 'er blue fire when I went to the woods my boyfrien' ran into and never came back outta." After radioing an order to War Minister Jet their meeting could wait, Izumi joined her father near the ancient woman, Ursa II asking, "Old woman, can you remember the last time you saw this woman? My father's been looking for her, expecting her to come back for years!"

The old woman laughed, saying, "That's one thing I ceeertainly DO remember veeery well, on account of the first time I saw 'er was the first time when I was searchin' for my boyfrien', right after 'e ran off, I were only what, twentee-eight. Looked close t' ten yers younger than me age then, but w' looks that could kill. Which she almos' did - shot lightnin' at me in tattered Fire Nayshun royal get-up, yellin' obscentities about 'er father and 'ow she now 'ated 'me'. Don't look confused now, young Princiss - not good fer yer face! Look what confused did to mine! Apparently she were hallucinatin' I was 'im, given 'ow she stopped, askin' where he went and when I said no, started callin' me homely, sayin she wouldn't screw me if I was th' last woman alive for some reason. Made me cry, givin' that what m' dang no-good boyfriend said, on both counts. Th' last time I saw 'er she was buck nekkid, wavin' hi to me with a biiiig smile, askin' if I knew where ''is Royal Kookiness' was and if 'er father was nice yet, wantin' this Kooky-ness-es' 'elp! When I said no, she ran back off int' the woods, something 'bout getting' spirit's 'elp." Looking sad, the old woman finished, "Maybe if I had 'er form I woulda never had t' go there in the first place. She was somethin'. That was on th' last day I ever went lookin' for my boyfrien' - heard stories about a big 'ol spirit in those woods that'll change yer face if ya ask before anyone else do. Figure 'e must 'ave wanted to get away from me an me plain looks, done got a face lift. Didn't deserve me none anyways. Stopped lookin' for him about… what, fer yers later?" Sniffing, she finished, "Gave up on men after that. Though I didn't stop lookin' for 'er for another two yers - wondered if she'd changed 'er mind from the first time I saw 'er. Given 'ow frequently sh' popped up befer that, maybe ever' other month towarss what must 'ave been the 'nd for 'er, when sh' didn't show fer that long, I didn't bather nah mer. Eventuahly moved on, found somebohdy. Passed away two yers ager, two yers too late fer yer little decree thingy, Firlerd. Don' reall' matter – that just symbolic. An' I wish I could join 'er already ever' day- though I did 'ave this weeeeird dream last night with 'er. Almoss seem'd real, it did!"

Even though Izumi knew this old woman had just given them vital information, some quick head math putting the last sighting of Azula just six years after vanishing into the Forgetful Woods, also finding this woman's tale of woe sad, Izumi couldn't help but laugh when the woman squinted, asking as she looked at Zuko, "What was I sayin'? Waitaminit. Say, old fella - you an 'er looked awfully 'like. I can tell even though yer a lot older than she were last time I saw 'er - 'amily resemblance! She 'ouldn't 'appen t' be yer long-lost sister Azula, eh, 'Zuzu'? Sh' mention that lad a lot. Th' one who caus' such a ruckus in my home town after th' war, with you and yer friends, lookin' fer yer mom?" Eyes widening, the old woman said, "I rember better nah! Yes! It was 'er! 'Ust wonderin' - you lookin' to find 'er bones or summat fer a proper burial, or closurr? 'Cause there's no way she coulda' survived in those wood that long. She were lucky to survive the… six yers in ther she did. Or were it seben? Me math's all old like me. No way she coulda survived till now. Tha be… almost seben decaydes in that wood. Impossiblur."

Izumi could see her father looked crushed, her daughter looking depressed as well even though she had never known Azula as Zuko said, a tear welling up in his good eye, "So she… got to a point where she was friendly, happy, even wanted to see 'His Royal Kookiness' for help and advice on… we know what most likely, wondered if her deadbeat father had turned around, then she just… vanished for good, after looking for some spirit to help her find my dear uncle. How depressing. And I know the Mother of Faces can be cranky, even with the Avatar, but she doesn't strike me as the type of spirit who would just… disappear someone." Izumi nodded, wondering why her daughter was making to press her tuber-vine against the old woman's forehead, her curiosity only deepening when she didn't react to the vine flashing a bright white and the flower even unfurling further. The old woman giggled, saying, "What's that plant doin'? Feel like it is judgin' me! 'Ey – quit yer thought stealin', plant thingy!"

Izumi saw the tuber-vine's reputation for hating being called plants was correct when Peacebloom let out a loud "HMMMPH!", withdrawing the strange flower immediately after. Finally getting an explanation for her antics, Izumi listened as her daughter said, "I heard these beings have primitive 'infobending' powers and wanted to see if I could contact Korra about this lead, including this woman's actual sightings of Azula, but no such luck. Peacebloom says even though she managed to get the encounters 'stored', the only other tuber-vines she could reach were on Ember Factory Island - we really do need to get that communication system up and running."

Remembering they had another, more "human-y" way of communicating with one another, Izumi sighed, saying, "Radio sound good to you? We can even talk in 'code' over it." Ursa II nodded, about to say something when a deafening foghorn rang out from the direction of the capitol's defenses near the ocean.

Izumi realizing the military would not like being put off for family issues when they had so much to show, apparently, Izumi simply said, bowing to the old woman, "Thank you for your help. I may have need of you later – feel free to stop by the Royal Palace; tell the Royal Guard the Firelord sent you. I have another matter to attend to, and the Avatar is probably busy herself. One last question before you go wherever - do you remember any landmarks that Azula consistently appeared next to?" The old woman shook her head, saying, "Nope. Nothin' but the wood, as far as the eye could see… wait. Comin' in from the town of Hira'a directl' from Old Man Lee's cottage, goin' south - near some warnin' sign." Chuckling, she added, "I definitely heeded th' warnin' not to go in th' wood - not sure if Azula bein' mean an' hallucinatin', or buck nekkid and smilin' was weirder. Firlerd, Aveter or not, I'd rekemmend you do th' same - somethin' weren't right in those woods since I was yer daughter's age. Bye."

With that, the woman shuffled off, Izumi hoping the Spirit Civil War hadn't come to the Fire Nation, suddenly remembering that even if it was a weaker link, the Forgetful Valley was still connected to the Spirit World - and a possible place for Dark Spirits to pour out of! Shaking her head, remembering Korra had not put a seal there, Izumi realized that if it were going to happen, it would have by now.

The foghorn sounding again, Izumi reluctantly picked up the radio, looking at what must have been a completed … and modified aircraft barge anchored inside the Great Gates of Peace - she had no qualms renaming them from "Azulon", not when she made the decree or now - near the inner harbor defenses. Figuring her "pet" military wing would be the easiest to start with, she said, "Hello, High Admiral Kiyi II." Another fog horn blast… Izumi sighed, remembering her distant relation's playful nature, saying, "Yes, I can see you're enjoying the toy I commissioned - though I would still like an explanation as to why it's completed almost two weeks ahead of schedule, why it's changed in design since I last saw it a month ago, and what your part in the 'conspiracy' was." A high-pitched voice Izumi found most incongruous with a High anything replied, though she knew the Admiral to be more than competent, "Firelord, with all respect, I want to wait on the other military people," sounding for all the world like Ty Lee when she added, "It was fun, working together with everybody - you missed out!" Apparently, her father had the same impression, Izumi laughing to hear a low growl from the radio when he said, "I'm sorry - I didn't know Ty Lee's secret grandchild was in the navy. Sweetie, can you put an adult on the line, please? Or MAYBE we can treat this situation as still being serious, cousin!"

It took quite a bit longer than Izumi would have liked for all the military leaders to appear, calling up the Royal Guard again just in case when she noticed they had again disrespected her authority by bringing up quite a lot of equipment to show off, the fact that the soldiers who brought the equipment allowed themselves to be taken into hopefully temporary custody easing her nerves slightly. War Minister Jet even handed over his hook swords, and considering he was a nonbender, that was a pretty big display of faith on his part.

Looking at everything arrayed in the defensive corridor, Izumi felt a multitude of things - relief that they would not be going to Republic City poorly armed and armored, some of the designs looking like they warranted display to the braintrust, especially what looked to be a vastly superior version of Sokka's "ancient" submarines beached on the same place the originals had once docked. Remembering how there had been two more of the flamejet aircraft in the initial display than the solitary one now circling overhead alongside two slower propeller-driven aircraft of different models, Izumi's nerves died down as well - if they had wanted her dead earlier, they could have easily finished the job.

However, seeing multiple pieces of equipment making use of what appeared to be stolen Earth Empire technology - mechasuit components slapped onto things where they didn't "belong", even what looked like a Fire Nation mechasuit present, Izumi remained slightly suspicious. Especially concerning was they had displayed "fire-earth" weapons earlier - something that hadn't even been thought of until recently by the braintrust, though she had no idea how long ago this "Chin" had thought of the technology.

Above all, though, she felt like a fool - it was plain as day and the morning sun that this conspiracy was widespread and long-term, and only an admittedly intelligent and resourceful Intelligence Officer getting an accounting index from a mysterious stranger had uncovered it. With every piece of military equipment she looked at, knowing that there were plenty more where that came from most likely given how two flamejet engine aircraft were missing, Izumi felt small. Clearly visible to everyone in the capital, her inability to control something which had inflicted so much devastation in the past - the Fire Nation military.

Realizing she was psyching herself out, Izumi sighed, admitting, "I am no technical genius - and apparently, I can't even keep a proper eye on my own military. That is why I would like to deal with the personal details of this grand deception - given changed circumstances, an admittedly, oddly welcome deception, War Minister Jet - first. After I found out the who, the what, the when, the why, the how behind this massive conspiracy, given my daughter was already doodling on the blueprints High Intelligence Officer Jeong-Jeong stole from under your noses, I'll let her deal with the technical details after while I go address our nation. One which I know you all serve, given you didn't simply have your aircraft riddle me with holes."

About to start her "polite" interrogation of the friendliest of the conspirators, one who was distantly related to her in part thanks due to spirit shenanigans letting her grandmother have two lives, Izumi stopped, yelling, "Princess Ursa II, get back here right now with your friend - what are you doing?!" Her daughter did a slight pirouette, laughing as she said, "Saving you the better part of an hour. Peacebloom's got this."

Izumi made to go grab her daughter, still slightly paranoid from earlier. She felt an old yet strong hand grab her wrist, Zuko saying strongly, "Don't. For one, remember those tuber-vines can actually attack by themselves - remember Varrick's first encounter, the little spirit blasts?" Izumi nodded, saying, "I do now. And I can guess two - sometimes, you have to let go. Which is why I'm willing to stay here now," joking, "My daughter's got more aptitude with this military stuff than I do anyways." Hearing her father say, "Mmm-mm," he continued, "Close, but not quite what I had in mind for 'two'," continuing in hushed English, "From what I understand of this whole 'grant Vaazula dual bending to undermine Jinshu Kuangmai's evilness with a conflicted girlfriend' plan, there's one big, giant gaping hole - a firebender connected to Azula in any way, shape or fashion. Mako's certainly not connected, and given what the Earth Empire did to his home, there's no way he'd be in on it. We can't just go back on our word - at least not until Wu helps evacuate the prison camp from below." Pointing to himself, Zuko continued, still in English, Izumi ignoring Admiral Kiyi II's high pitched squealing over Peacebloom and the exasperated sighs of the other military men, "So either I go to Omashu and assist in this process - one I hope works in turning both its targets, knowing both Azula and Toph's… unique parenting style, dropping a kid off on the roadside for some hapless couple to raise just because he's 'difficult'. Or we go to Hira'a on a lark and go looking for my sister to see if she's still alive."

Izumi was quite confused, saying in English, to keep the secrecy, "Buh- what? Zuko, I know you love her, hope everything turned out okay - but her soul's stuck in the Fog of Lost Souls! Raava stressed that part to me, and given the tears in your eyes, she stressed it to you, too. And we both know your sister - her name a byword for tragedy AND villainy! She shot lightning at that poor old woman and then insulted her, two years after running away. What makes you think she's not as locked into that place by fear, hatred, no, both, just as your father, Yakone, or Unalaq is?" Zuko smiled slightly, saying, "When Aang said it at the time, I thought he was crazy - but you remember that letter that ended up being nothing, even though we thought it proved I wasn't qualified to be Firelord?" Izumi nodded, saying, "Yes - though for me, that letter brings back some of my own, more… complicated memories, given how it dealt with birthrights in a way. Can you explain?"

Zuko nodded, taking a quick look towards the "traitors" and turning back, laughing, "I think your daughter has them occupied for now - Peacebloom's quite the hit, and all I can overhear them talking about is ethical spirit weaponry 'in the flesh' – though you might be happy to know it's not all military talk. Overheard something about adjusting their designs for peace eventually." Looking serious again, Zuko explained, "In that letter, my mother wrote to her former lover Ikem, saying with some pretty ambiguous language that I was their son. I can see you remember that much. What you must not remember is that at one point, the last day until anyone but that old woman ever saw Azula, Azula had that letter in her possession, threatening to kill her mother - who wasn't 'back' to herself yet, though Azula knew who she was - and then actually going in for the kill. I obviously stopped her in time, and eventually, she broke down, running through a wall and dropping the precious letter. At the time, I thought it was simply a mistake, while Aang thought she did it on purpose - like she was actually starting to change." Her father continued through a strained voice, "Now I think he was right. This is the first solid lead - don't forget we 'read' that old woman too - I have heard of ever since she disappeared. Given how she described Azula, even when she was aggressive, my sister sounded hurt -but on the mend, if she was hallucinating and hating my father instead of my mother, much less telling a total stranger anything related to her biggest secret."

Part of Izumi still remained skeptical, especially considering how often her father had told her "Don't do that; that's what Azula would have done!" in her youth when she had misbehaved badly, but listened with an open mind as he continued, "Even if that old woman was somehow lying through her virtually non-existent teeth for her second description, even though hating anyone is bad, the very idea of my sister shifting her hatred and anguish from her mother, who loved her, to her father, who would have killed her is he ever found out her dark secret… And she said she wanted to go get a spirit's help. Maybe she remembered enough to go to the Mother of Faces and ask for a new identity, and she's still alive! With a new face!"

In a moment of insight, Izumi asked as gently as she could, "Dad, I know the idea of finding your sister means a lot to you, even after all these years… but… what does it really have to do with the evacuation? With protecting Republic City? I would love to help you, and I support your desire to find her - but I just don't think now is the right time," adding, "Maybe Korra or Raava can just explain the whole 'no dual bending unless we find the actual Azula' thing - because I'm certainly not behind you putting yourself at risk. And now that I think about it - if Azula is still alive and changed, would she really be behind the deal in the first place?"

Her father sighed, saying, "Maybe you're right - but when we talk to Korra, I want to bring this up to her. I'm sure Aang will be adamant in trying to find her, even if for only a little while - and given Asami's own history with discrimination and repression, she might feel strongly about it as well." Knowing they would have a lot to say, all in English over the radiowaves anyways, Izumi said, "That, I can get behind. Who knows - Jinshu Kuangmai might threaten to turn OMASHU to rubble if his 'lady' friend doesn't get dual bending - then we'd be right back to needing you or Azula, if she's still alive. All the generals look done with Peacebloom, so I'm going to go talk to them while my daughter examines their work."

Deciding to start with High Admiral Kiyi II, Izumi asked her, the three other standing at attention, "What was your role in this conspiracy? I did not expect the navy of all military branches to be dissatisfied with my decisions on how to protect the Fire Nation. Explain - and start with how you got that improved aircraft barge done two weeks ahead of schedule, and that submarine." High Admiral Kiyi II nodded, saying, "Dunno why this is necessary if your daughter's 'Raava' friend thinks we're all okay, but I'll tell you anyways. The 'conspiracy' is older than your reign - from what I was told when I was keyed in on it two years ago when everyone else saw Kuvira as a threat to world peace and the Fire Nation, it started simply enough. Some smart people sitting together at a table, coming up with wild and crazy ideas." Grinning, she said, "There were some pretty stupid ones that got cut! High General Rongyu wanted a flying tank - they didn't even bother with a blueprint before rejecting that idea!" Izumi could see the High Admiral wanted to continue, covering her face and growling lowly out of frustration when Ursa II interjected, "A flying tank - Bumi already made one that can hover, you know!"

Maintaining her composure, Izumi asked her daughter, "While that is relevant in a way, would you please let me do my job first?" adding in English, "Though I do want to see their faces when you show them the Raging Shark Whale." Her daughter nodding, High Admiral Kiyi II continued, "You gonna teach us that speech anytime soon? I can't understand a thing. It'd be great for code! Okay, okay - should probably prove we're totally trustworthy first, don't give me that look please. Anyways, people were brainstorming even during your father's reign - it would be a waste of both our time and yours if we told you about every idea." Izumi found herself interrupting, saying, "That sounds like a good idea to me - the way it should be for the most part, aside from major issues - which, by the way, you should direct to my daughter, not me. That system sounds a lot better than the Avatar's 'braintrust' from what I was 'shown' by the Avatar about her braintrust's… unorthodox working methods. More like controlled chaos, really, even Raava acting like a moron at times, endless revisions - I told you about the conference already, but that was nothing compared to what they were doing yesterday and early this morning."

Glad to see the military men nodding, High Admiral Kiyi II laughing even though she couldn't possibly have gotten the joke fully, the navy commander continued, composed again, "From what I was told, even the flamejet propulsion project was initially intended for use with old equipment, initially pitched for civilian use on big shipping balloons. Like the war balloon one of your Royal Guard dorks knocked the flamejet engine out on today. It wasn't a conspiracy, really - just skunk-bear works that the military didn't feel the need to bother Zuko with." Izumi stayed her tongue, listening as her distant cousin continued, "I wasn't in on it until two years ago when Kuvira began acting more and more aggressively in her re-unification efforts, and we started to hear nasty rumors from all over that nobody else believed. Rumors and, later, direct confirmations that made me believe War Minister Jet when he said the Fire Nation might find itself at risk from her one day." Asking what these rumors were, High Admiral Kiyi II politely responded, "I'll let the War Minister and High General talk about those - everyone else decided I should explain the conspiracy's basics to you first, given you're my distant cousin, and I hope what they have to say convinces you we were only trying to serve our nation."

Izumi not feeling like she had much other choice if she wanted to get anywhere, she said, "Okay - finish your part, cousin. Just remember - I was the one who appointed you High Admiral precisely because I thought I could trust you, as well as your scores at the Royal Fire Nation Academy for Girls." Her cousin bowed, saying, "Thank you," before continuing, "The conspiracy itself started the day after you ordered most of our land and air equipment scrapped as one of your first acts as Firelord, the way the War Minister and High Admiral told me. As you'll hear, they both have personal reasons for their… unorthodox way of showing loyalty to their nation. If I remember correctly, at first it was just a small operation, both of them and the people under them working on ideas and small-scale prototypes like the artillery piece your own daughter made yesterday. They worked during a time of peace when Avatar Korra was still young and secluded in the South Pole, the Water Tribes, Earth Kingdom, Fire Nation and United Republic peacefully trading with one another. War Minister Jet and High General Rongyu did make preparations to make their visions a reality, but had no plans for large-scale production of military equipment." Frowning, she continued, "But, that all changed when the Equalists attacked and took over Republic Cit - why is Peacebloom laughing, Princess? Is there some sort of a joke I don't get?"

The odd squeaky laughter stopping immediately, Izumi's cousin continued, beginning to see where she was going by now, the High General and War Minister's logic becoming clearer to Izumi, "When Amon and his Equalist army used modern technology to take over what was thought to be one of the most powerful and well-defended cities in the world, capital of the nation your father worked so hard to found and smooth out the bumps on, the War Minister and High general decided that they not only needed to start working on their project in earnest, but that they needed a whole new wing of the military - an airforce. You yourself saw the power of the Equalist airplanes, what they did to your son's fleet," adding with a grating smile, "Probably shoulda commissioned those aircraft barges, oh, four years ago, in my professional opinion. No hard feelings though, cousin."

Doing her best to remind herself that she was Firelord Izumi and not Firelord Ozai, Izumi gave a weak laugh, saying, "Ha. Ha. Very funny. Continue - I can't wait to hear what happened two years ago that was more earth-shattering than Republic City falling." Izumi noticed High General Rongyu shifting uncomfortably as her cousin said, "He'll tell you about that. I'll spare you the details, but at that point War Minister Jet and High General Rongyu started using most of their own pay and some very carefully solicited funds from volunteer noblemen and noblewomen who took issue with your original decision to start constructing the secret bases 'High Intelligence Officer' Jeong-Jeong no doubt showed you earlier on the map. Your original decision put a lot of soldiers and war balloon crewmen out of work, and they found eager volunteers - both firebenders and earthbenders." Pausing for breath, she continued, "The way they tell it, until that stupid hasty airman on High Wing Commander Shinu's airship suggested it, a coup was never even considered. Everything was to be kept secret until some time of need. Originally, they had wanted to 'come out' around Harmonic Convergence, but their work wasn't near ready yet, and the situation was… difficult. That was the first time War Minister Jet asked me anything, wanting to know how it might look if the Fire Nation intervened in the Water Tribe Civil War. Given President Raiko had already refused to help by that point, and knowing your non-interventionist stance, I asked him a few… pointed questions about his loyalty, told him my personal opinion that it sounded like a shortsighted action to take given what we knew and didn't know about Unalaq's plans at that point, and respectfully asked him to leave. By the time anyone found out the details of Unalaq's plan in the Fire Nation, everything was already 'over'. Earth Queen Hou-Ting's death did concern them; however, they didn't think that already politically chaotic time would have been then best time to come out about their conspiracy, and the Royal Guard were and are a lot stronger than those pitiful excuses the Earth Queen employed for her personal protection had become."

Pointing at a nearby piece of equipment her daughter was inspecting, Izumi asked, "Speaking of coming out - when DID you plan to tell me about all of this? What, was all this going to be a big present for me when we set out to reinforce Republic City today under the old, pre-Colossus plan?" Izumi laughed lightly when the blood drained from War Minister Jet's face, the man admitting, "Uh…. Yes, as a matter of fact. Then, when Kuvira was defeated anyways and we thought everything was going to be fine, we were torn between making the reveal as planned anyways, or just mothballing almost everything underground behind closed doors in case of future need. We were part ways through preparing everything for storage when we heard about Jinshu Kuangmai, and decided to go ahead with the reveal as planned, including the date. The only reason you saw what you did earlier was we were already prepared for a little 'show' today- probably should have talked to Zuko about it first, but hindsight's 20/20. In any case… your daughter told us something about needing to help protect the Republic City Spirit Portal?"

Izumi nodded, the color draining from her face as well when her daughter interjected, "Wait - maybe not… All this stuff looks like it uses 'regular' power, aside from whatever fuels the flamejet engine. I remember reports about Dark Spirits being able to incapacitate regular technology, and the only thing that might be resistant is spirit energy powered technology. And I doubt even Korra could retrofit so much stuff with spirit vine power on such short notice. While all this stuff is wonderful… it might be just as useless as an Equalist against a Dark Spirit. Maybe we should re-think our plans…" All the high military commanders looking confused and her father horrified, Izumi originally having assumed she'd be bringing just flesh and blood to Republic City on navy ships, she let out a deep sigh, disappointment turning to frustration as she said, kicking a pebble, "Damn! Maybe you're right - good catch; I just wish somebody would kill that stupid Long Yumao already! He makes everything so much more complicated!"

Tapping her foot on the ground, adjusting her golden glasses, Izumi said, "Okay - why don't you finish quickly if you can, High Admiral, then I want to hear what my War Minister and high General have to say." Her cousin nodded, saying, "Sure. The first thing War Minister Jet 'bought' - one of the first of many purchases - was the services of an old retired Republic City metalbender cop to come and train as many people as he could. He was pretty pricy, until he decided to just retire here and work for free - claimed he had spent a lot of time around Toph Beifong herself, even had an out-of-wedlock daughter with her." Izumi's eyes widened, everything she could do to keep quiet as her cousin continued, Kiyi II now crying, "I actually talked to him a while ago. He confessed that … he figured out how to truthsense when he had a hand over Toph Beifong's arm when he asked her if she cared about him the last time she ever saw him. She said yes and goodbye, but… he said her body gave her away. I always wondered how he figured out the people who hired him weren't actually working directly for you."

Knowing she'd want to talk to Korra about yet another sensitive family matter, even if it wasn't her own, Izumi said, "That sounds really sad - always wondered if one of her two lovers wanted something more. Have no idea who he is, though. You get his name?" Her cousin looked ready to answer, but Izumi heard a familiar voice ask from behind her, "Firelord, forgive the question, but… why are you lying?"

Turning around and seeing the truth-sensing Royal Guard from earlier, Izumi shook her head, saying, "That's something for another time, Royal Guard Ming. Just… forget it," wishing she had been born with Azula and Jasmine's shared talent. Getting a hostile look from both Head Royal Guards, Jiazin and Moku looking curious at the same time angry, Izumi said, "Drop it - and that's FINAL. Got that, everyone?" Glad to see even her father nodding for some reason, Izumi turned back around, saying, "Just forget him for now - and you don't need to tell me every purchase you made with… wherever you got all these 'slush-funds'." Kiyi II nodded, confirming Izumi's suspicion that both Suyin Beifong and Tonga Beifong's father was present in the Fire Nation, "Okay - anyways. They hired Tong after he decided Amon defeated or not, he wanted out of Republic City. After Chief Unalaq's antics with Vaatu and a fleet threatening of its own right, they felt comfortable soliciting more people for funding. They even got some people in the United Republic from places like Yu Dao to contribute - though only after being vetted by two very special people." Curious as to why Kiyi II was looking directly at War Minister Jet and knowing where the yuan to gold conversions from earlier had come from, her cousin continued, "When Kuvira was growing more and more aggressive, everyone else finally keyed me into the conspiracy. My first contribution on the material front was the submarine you see here – capable of 'landing', just like the ones Sokka used! Money, material, even people went back and forth beneath the waves undetected; War Minister Jet and the others say my subs made a huge difference. I also thought up the biggest, and by far most rewarding venture - a deal with Varrick for an 'iconic' piece of Earth Empire technology."

Izumi saw Kiyi II pointing at the "Fire Nation" mechasuit and the accompanying advanced battery and magnetic metalbending driven generator, stammering, "Y-you managed to buy… the mechasuit designs and power source? How?" Kiyi II laughed, saying, "Varrick designed them - and he always did love money. At first, we had this big, elaborate scheme set up where we had a skilled metalbender pretend to be a Kuvira loyalist from Republic City who wanted to purchase the plans and a few mechasuits to start his own little conspiracy, but… Varrick just shut the operative halfway through his spiel, saying… what was it? Oh: 'Bla, bla, bla bla, BLA. Shut up and give me the money! It's what's making me loyal to Kuvira, for now - and you appear to have a lot of it, whoever you are! Wanting three mechasuits and the plans… Say - you got more money where that came from? I'm always… flexible.' Given we were using almost everything for the purchase, at the time, the answer was 'very little', so…" Izumi slapped her forehead, saying, "If we had actually bribed him over, no spirit weapon… it doesn't matter; knowing Varrick back then, I probably would have had to raise taxes to a level as unbearable as his old personality to keep him employed."

Not sure if those around her were laughing lightly out of politeness or if they thought her joke was genuinely funny, Izumi listened as Kiyi II made to finish her piece, saying, "I've told you the when - not the why, and not the details of the who. And it looks like your little Princess is still obsessed with the what, and how, from the technical standpoint. Hey - don't touch that. It's a very delicate prototype!" Izumi's daughter still messing with an unassuming chunk of metal, she drew High Wing Commander Shinu's ire, the man saying delicately, "Stop what you're doing. That is a very delicate piece of equipment - a shrunken version of the 'airsense' array meant to detect metal objects at a distance, but portable on even a small aircraft." While her daughter brought it over to the Wing Commander, asking if it was like Shidar and Izumi pretty sure it was, figuring her daughter wanted to "talk shop", Kiyi II coughed, saying, "My part is done. Jet, Rongyu - who wants to go first?"

War Minister Jet coughed, saying, "I'll go," doing something unexpected afterwards. Izumi had always thought her War Minister was a non-bender, given he had amber eyes just as one of Izumi's least favorite Admirals had yet had never produced flame as Zhao had, and even carried weapons in the style the Jet from her own father's childhood had … though he was currently disarmed by his own volunteering. Despite his relatively young age, having been 36 at the start of her reign seven years ago and a holdover from her father's days, she held neither against him. Having until "now" proved loyal, and even with his conspiracy, he had still shown himself highly competent at his job. No – highly competent because of the conspiracy, Izumi realized dryly.

But she certainly didn't expect him to assume an earthbending stance and create a chair to sit in, cracking his knuckles before removing something without touch from his eyes, of all places. Izumi watched in curiosity as two strange concave clear glass circles came closer - realizing with a start that they were not quite clear everywhere.

Where a person's irises should have been, there were artificial, amber irises. The same ones Izumi had seen for seven years, and her father for years before that.

Before she could examine them closer, never having seen such a thing, the glass shattered before War Minister Jet said, "My name - Jet. The hook swords. My name and the way I have shown you how I fight up until now isn't just coincidence. You only know one of my names. My real name is Jet Morishita, son of Zuko Morishita, son of Kori Morishita. You might be wondering why I didn't tell you who I am, aside from the minor detail that my grandmother tried to kill the man she later named her firstborn after, Firelord. It's because I am technically not originally a Fire Nation citizen - my parents and grandmother still live in Yu Dao, and I am a United Republic citizen by birth."

Figuring Jet Morishita's story had to be interesting, Izumi found herself listening for the story's own sake as he explained, "My grandmother once tried to kill your father, considering his initial compliance with the foolish and divisive Harmony Restoration Movement tantamount to treason. Which I believe it was – forcing people to relocate from their home when they'd rather stay is a lesser evil, but evil nonetheless, especially considering what happened in the colonies that weren't included in the United Republic. Including the second largest behind Yu Dao – Garzai." Izumi heard her father gasp, Jet Morishita saying, "But that's High General Rongyu's story mainly – not mine. All I can tell you about is what my father endured growing up in Yu Dao as the son of two 'traitors' with the name of a Firelord. With his 20-year old mother's mixed ancestry, he was even a firebender himself – something many people saw as a sign of infidelity. As much as it pains me to say it, in some of the immigrant's eyes no firebender was good, much less my grandmother – an earthbender who had 'betrayed' her Kingdom by following her conscience." Sniffing, Jet Morishita continued, "When my dad was growing up, both my grandmother and grandfather had to defend their 'Zuko', named in honor of your father, against bullies. Mainly nonbenders, waterbenders and earthbenders who had moved into Yu Dao for a new chance, though they blew it just like my namesake did by holding on to old hatreds and grudges... They were rarely punished for their crimes due to circumstance, and people wanting to sweep problems under the rug after a hundred years of war. But my dad was one of the fortunate ones – he was the son of two influential and eventually very rich people, even in their own right, my grandmother Kori Morishita becoming a master metalworker and starting her own business, which runs to this day – and helped us in our project to ensure the Fire Nation stayed protected."

Crying a little more and stopping to collect himself, clearly disturbed, Jet Morishita continued, "He was protected – others weren't. Other kids, whose parents had lived in Yu Dao for generations, firebender and earthbender alike… it wasn't until my father met the love of his life when he was in his mid twenties that people stopped disappearing. He lost quite a few friends – friends who didn't have the… protection he did." Taking a deep breath, he said, "I'm sorry – this is difficult for me to talk about, AND a big reason why I started the conspiracy in the first place. I'll never know why, but even today, hatred against the Fire Nations and firebenders still burn at a low level – just waiting for someone like Kuvira or Jinshu Kuangmai to stir it up again!" Figuring this was as good a time as any, Izumi said, feeling like crying herself, "You're right – as I'm sure you know Kuvira had all non earthbenders in the Earth Empire rounded up and sent to camps. What you may not know is that her successor actually planned to have the firebenders either killed outright or worked to death until his 'Chief Containment Officer' Jasmine, since defected, convinced him they were needed for work. But there's something we can do about it. There's a large prison camp outside Omashu that revolted last night that's probably fighting off Earth Empire soldiers right now – a lot of waterbenders, firebenders and 'undesireable' earthbenders are in the camp. Spirit allies of the Avatar are there as well; spirits that can bend, each element represented."

Seeing the look on Jet Morishita's face, Izumi thought that if he were a firebender he would be producing blue fire as he roared, "WHAT? That MONSTER! Ugh – maybe I should have just spoken my mind to you seven years ago more fully, threatened to resign over the military scrapping… if we had been strong, maybe we could have stopped Kuvira all by ourselves." Doing a double-take, he said, "I'm sorry – I just don't like to see the weak preyed upon. It's the biggest reason I chose to come to the Fire Nation after a close call when I was younger." Sighing, he continued, Izumi not even sure if she wanted to hear what her High General had to say after this, "My father's childhood was still good overall, but rough. He had me with my mother, Jin Morishita, when he was 27, and everything looked bright – and it was. My grandmother's business had expanded with the help of my father, the hate crimes had stopped, and the capital Republic City began calling my name when I was 16. Taking most of my possessions, money, and my passport, I set out for the big city to make a name for myself and see how I could help the United Republic be everything my parents and grandparents wanted it to be."

Looking sad again, he continued, "I had quite a lot of money, and the price of the boat ticket to Republic City didn't sting. However, I got delayed and missed the boat, the next one not due for another week. I was discouraged, but wanted to try again – I still had my passport and a lot of money, after all. While waiting on the next boat…" Looking disgusted, he continued, "While waiting on the next boat, I read a story in the paper about a passenger ship that had been hijacked in Yue Bay, the passengers taken hostage by gangsters. Most of the passengers made it out alive… but not the ones from poor origins. Cut down, just because their families couldn't afford the ransom. I was disgusted – I knew my own home had a checkered past, having grown up with stories from my grandparents about the battle, and their struggle raising Zuko. But I hadn't heard Republic City had problems – much less gangsters who would kill people in cold blood." Looking foolish, he said, "I went to talk to my grandmother about it, suggesting I had found my purpose – ride the boats armed with my hookswords and a bit of metal and earth, preventing future atrocities. She told me while she admired my courage and selflessness, that I would just be throwing my life away, probably able to help once and then find myself dead in my new Republic City home in a fortnight, assassinated."

Getting off his chair and kneeling, he said, "That's when I decided to come to the Fire Nation instead – I knew it was a place of peace, prosperity, and order. Even a place where earthbenders like myself and firebenders lived together nicely, even if there were a lot more people like you than me. Knowing my last name would possibly get me different treatment, though not entirely sure what kind, my dad recommended I dropped my last name. It took some convincing, but I did it, finally leaving for the Fire Nation when I turned 18, fashioning contacts like you saw earlier before leaving to complete the 'transformation'. Remembering how a lot of my heartbreak stemmed from people not being able to defend themselves, I applied for military school. Next thing I knew, I had Firelord Zuko's eyes after graduating and my eyes on a woman from school. I didn't have to choose between her and career – and until the conspiracy, she was the only one who knew my real backstory." Izumi's eyes widened, musing, "So I guess all those times you couldn't see me because you were busy with family or your wife Supaku weren't the truth." Jet Morishita nodded, saying, "Pretty much. It sounds like we have some sort of a time limit, so I will just finish with this: I did what I did because I didn't want to see the Fire Nation helpless as the passengers on that ferry, or the disappeared from my father's youth. And given what I have heard about Jinshu Kuangmai and what you just said about a narrowly avoided reverse genocide, I made the right decision. Don't let pride or old notions get in the way of doing what is right, like your father did with Yu Dao at first."

Deliberately deciding to ignore the small, mewling voice of pride in her head, Izumi told Jet Morishita to be at ease after saying, "I'm not firing you – I'm changing the law. You can still serve the country of your choosing," asking High General Rongyu, "Do you have a similar story? Or is there something more?"

Seeing how uncomfortable he looked, Izumi wished it was "just" another story like Jet Morishita's.

The High General was to the point, saying, "While I am not secretly an earthbender like the War Minister, I do share something in common with him: my ancestors also came from a former Fire Nation colony," Izumi feeling chills run down her spine when he said mournfully, "My grandparents were not as lucky as War Minister Jet Morishita's, however – their 'crime' was being from one of the newer and largest Fire Nation colonies, Garzai, Fire Nation rule there 'only' dating back to the time of Firelord Azulon. What you were just told about Yu Dao after the war is child's play compared to what happened in Garzai. When the borders of the new United Republic were drawn, Garzai was not included, the city reverting back to Earth King Kuei's rule. Even though he tried hard to ensure that the firebender and Fire Nation loyal residents of the city were unharmed, there was only so much he could do all the way from Ba Sing Se to enforce order." Sighing, he continued, "At first, people like my grandparents and likeminded earthbenders were able to keep the peace through an elaborate vigilante justice system based on a mix of Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom rules. Everything changed when my grandparents began to get older, but the situation was no better or worse than Yu Dao or even Republic City at the time. Not that hate crime is anything to gloss over…"

Apparently, the High General and War Minister had rehearsed beforehand, Jet Morishita standing up and creating an effigy of Earth-Queen Hou Ting in mid-air, High General Rongyu setting it on fire briefly as he said, "Then everything really changed when that tyrant came to power, and having heard rumors of her childhood disposition and opinions about what lands belonged to who, the first wave of refugees including my grandparents fled Garzai and all the other former colonies under her rule. She saw Garzai as a disgrace and awful reminder of the 100 Year's War, as much a 'blight' as the United Republic, even attempting to send Dai Li agents in and crush the 'rebellion' that was currently keeping order. When that was unsuccessful, the Dai Li already beginning to weaken from rumors I heard about the first 'battle', she simply raised the taxes to extremely high levels in all the former colonies. She began using their refusal to pay as an excuse to march her troops in under cover of darkness and 'get them back in line'. Eventually she expanded the high tax rates to everywhere else, but she made clear 'our' position by singling out former colonies at first – though she never did get her 'fair' share from Garzai."

The effigy of the Earth Queen crumbling, he continued as an effigy of Kuvira took her place, "From what my grandparents heard from Garzai after that, things were deteriorating, but still somewhat under control, even if hate crimes were an ongoing problem. The other former colonies were ghost-towns, buildings in rubble or charred husks from the fighting that happened. It was this tyrant, Kuvira, who struck the real death blow to Garzai, her and elite metalbenders breaking down its walls in the dead of night completely two years ago and thus annexing the whole province. From accounts, they still had a fight on their hands, still eventually purging the city of and imprisoning even waterbenders who had taken refuge from the Earth Queen's taxation. After their victory, she encouraged 'loyal' citizens to turn in any dissenters who hadn't fought– which all too many did…" Taking a breath, Izumi able to see what happened still disturbed Rongyu greatly, he continued, "Some crafty earthbenders pretended to be loyal and promptly fled to the Fire Nation as soon as Kuvira withdrew her troops shortly after, Garzai then a husk of its former self, much like the other colonies. But not all had left before one heard an interesting conversation between her and Baatar Jr. Kuvira was musing about the past of Garzai, half joking to suggest doing the same to the Fire Nation one day, and according to the witness' account, almost all of her troops were behind the idea, even Kuvira surprised. It was Baatar Jr. who spoke out against the idea, reminding Kuvira that their original intent was to bring order to the Earth Kingdom, and possibly re-unite the entire old Earth Kingdom if the United Republic proved weak enough – but nothing more. She didn't exactly commit herself in the end outright, merely stating, 'I was originally joking. However, I will keep my mind open to different possibilities – may the best idea win; if they are as weak as these little states are, maybe even pursue both. You can remember our losses here. Garzai is the first time anyone put up a respectable resistance – and I expect the Fire Nation Capital or Republic City would be even worse.' This account came to us only a few short weeks after Garzai's fall, and we did not know if it was credible at the time, but decided we couldn't take any chances."

Bowing to her, High General Rongyu said, "Given the reports of what happened at Republic City up to Kuvira's defeat, it looks to me like both ideas may have won in the end, had Kuvira been victorious. I can see you obviously have something to say as well, so I will finish with this: two years ago, we believed the Fire Nation to be under direct military threat for the first time since the Day of Black Sun, and acted accordingly – even if no one else believed this man's story, preferring to pretend Kuvira was righteous."

Kuvira's nightmares culminating in world domination, a part of the former foe liking what she saw even after her dramatic transformation, knowing what the Fire Nation was good for in Jinshu Kuangmai's eyes, Izumi took everyone assembled off guard by talking in a stream of consciousness, spilling everything relevant but Jinshu Kuangmai's real identity, saying at the end emotionally, "I called you here to answer for your 'crimes' and treasonous behavior – and given everything you have told me about your motivations, and everything I just told you, now I feel like the one who should be put on trial, even though logically I know it's ridiculous. If Korra's hadn't won in Republic City, and if you hadn't gone behind my back… we might be a province in Kuvira's Earth Empire right now. Earth not in the sense of the element, or the nation – but the world." Izumi smiled slightly when Kiyi II laughed, saying, "Don't even say that! We're all on the same side; you did what you thought was right, and so did we. Plus, it didn't turn out that way – it turned out this way instead. Now why don't you go make your speech and contact the Avatar," Izumi not grumbling when her cousin added, "But not before a group hug! You look drained – and given the look on everyone else's face, they do too."

Initially expecting just her family and the high commanders to join in, Izumi was surprised when she heard many boots striking the ground as well, finding herself sandwiched between her father and Ursa II as Kiyi II said, "I like this… hug! Even if it is a bit… tight! Maybe we should… do this more often!" Thinking about the two enemies they were all united against, Izumi said, "There's not a spirit weapon or spirit in the world that can crush this."

Hearing an odd harmonious whirring sound, almost as though a waterbender were healing somebody of physical and mental wounds, Izumi noticed her daughter smiling broadly, holding Peacebloom up slightly, saying, "Something's happening to her. But what?"

Someone very unexpected spoke, a voice that for all the world sounded like what Izumi remembered her grandmother Ursa sounding like saying from Peacebloom's body saying one word: "Love."

The rest of the time between then and contacting Korra passed in a blur, her daughter busying herself with the military seemingly without a single reservation. All her officers had proved to be more like the original Jeong-Jeong, and less like the still-trapped Admiral Zhao. They understood what fire could do if uncontrolled – but also what would happen to fire if it didn't burn strongly enough.

Izumi managed to give a speech that was actually better than the one her father had given when they returned home. The Fire Nation – a home she wondered how she could have ever thought needing of endless atonement. Izumi realized that what her father had said about lingering shame being useless didn't apply just to her – it applied to every person, spirit, and nation.

Remembering one spirit that seemed to slightly regret recent decisions it had made, Izumi decided she wanted to give Korra a message more personal than even the one about Azula.