Author's Note: Hey everyone, this story has been prompted a few years ago, when I was writing for a small tournament. It was suggested in the reviews to expand that one-shot into a full story. So, after years of waiting, here's finally the first chapter. To the story, the basic idea is to take Ozai out of the picture and look what would happen. So, Lu Ten still dies, and Azulon dies too, but there is no Ozai to take advantage, and by extension, no Zuko to take care of. I thought, this would be an interesting experiment. I hope you enjoy it.
Caldera, 93 AC
The crown felt foreign on his head, like it did not belong there. But he knew, he had to wear it anyway. Some would argue that one would hardly notice wearing the crown at all, since it was light-weighted, and in theory, just an elaborate headdress. But the Dragon of the West felt like a mountain weight down on him.
Deep in thought, he wandered through his palace. His palace. Everything was known, he had lived here his whole life, but now, everything seemed new and foreign. Every floor, every curtain seemed unfamiliar, let alone the gazes from the servants. He had always had a pleasant relationship with the most of them, but now, a new fear had settled into their eyes, and it would take time to get it out again.
A heavy sigh rattled through his broad chest, over the last weeks he found himself in a daze, everything happening too fast to even react. A few weeks ago, he was besieging Ba Sing Se. Then, this terrible morning. He had known something was wrong from the moment he raised with the sun. It was this sixth sense that told you something horrible has happened. He could see it in the eyes of his subordinates, long before someone found the courage to tell him. His son, his only child, had died on the battlefield. Under heavy casualties, they had managed to bring back his body. For hours upon hours, he had sat by the corpse, crying, begging for Lu Ten to wake up. But at some time, he had to acknowledge that his child was gone. He needed a scribe to send word back home, his own hand shook too much to write.
He had ended the siege at once, and as the soldiers packed their things, he wanted to go a different route, grieve for himself, far from anyone else. But he was not allowed too. Death doesn't come alone, they say. Just as he had packed everything, took off the armor and wanted to go off into the blue, a messenger came. His father had died. Maybe the news of his grandson's demise was too much for the almost hundred-years-old man.
He had to return. Now there was no one left. There was no alternative as for him to take the throne, alas utter chaos and probably, civil war. So, he did his duty. Lu Ten had wanted that, he thought to himself. Duty to his country had been one of his son's great themes in life.
Iroh shoved the thoughts of his dead son, his dead father and the funerals away as he saw a figure approaching. It was a slim man, a little hunched over at all times and with a face only a mother could love. He seemed sly and cunning, and that was what he was. Chung was of a similar age to the Fire Lord and over the years, the man's sharp intellect had earned him the position of Iroh's most trusted advisor and right hand.
As he saw Chung's apologetic expression, he knew what he was about to say and cut him off with a simple hand gesture. The new Fire Lord spoke instead, "It's time to move on, isn't it?", it had a sorrowful tone to it, almost a sigh.
Chung nodded ever so slightly, calmly he said, "As much as I'd prefer it to be different, but the world doesn't wait for us. We have to take the initiative on a few matters."
Iroh nodded and gestured for Chung to follow him. They sat down in his study, a diligent servant bringing in a pot of jasmine tea. Only as the aroma filled the room, Chung began to speak, "The war still has utmost priority."
"I told you my views on it have changed. We shouldn't continue with it. Too many have already lost their lives.", the Fire Lord grimaced.
"I would suggest a more differentiated approach, your Highness.", the title still stung him, but he only raised an eyebrow. "If we want peace, we cannot just retreat unconditionally. If you do that, you could, frankly, chop of your head yourself, instead of waiting for someone to tare you to pieces. It would be quicker, and the result would be the same. No, if we do that, it will lead to massive civil protest. Everyone has suffered, but that is why we need to end on a victory. Or at least something we can sell as such."
"And what is your suggestion? How should we do that? We just lost terribly at Ba Sing Se…", Iroh's voice faded out as a picture of his son started to appear before his eyes.
Chung's voice snapped him out of it and back into reality, "We lost because of a personal tragedy, not because they had the upper hand."
"Your silver tongue is shining today, my friend.", he raised his cup, acknowledging the remark as correct, and accepting that it was his personal tragedy that led to the abolishment of the siege, his failure to continue.
Chung grimaced, "At the moment, we have declared war on all fronts. The air nomads are not something to consider anymore, but the Water Tribes do bother us still. I would suggest we try to come to peace with them. No one of us has a serious interest in their lands anyway. The north will be easy to talk to. We haven't fought in decades, so a truce should be little more than acknowledging what is the status quo. To the south, we could offer to release the prisoners we still hold, maybe even help them rebuild, for a truce."
"So, we win the war with diplomats, not the army?", a smile crept upon the Fire Lord's face, "I like that approach."
Chung nodded shortly at the compliment, face as stern as ever, "Once that is achieved, we can focus on the Earth Kingdom, or rather, its remains. As far as we've already come, it would be a shame to retreat now."
"The people of the Earth Kingdom are stubborn and hard against anyone. Even if we conquer the land, if we fail to conquer the hearts of the people, we will never achieve true peace.", Iroh weighed in.
"Then I suggest we follow a double strategy here, your Highness. Once the army has conquered the land, we send in other specialists to win over the hearts.", Chung shrugged his shoulders.
Iroh nodded thoughtfully, "We need to build them schools first and foremost. On my travels, I've seen how many villages don't have one. Winning over the children, it'll be easier to win over the parents. A lot of people in the Earth Kingdom are impoverished. Let us raise their living standards."
A smirk had formed on his advisor's face, "That way, we don't need to tare down the walls of Ba Sing Se, they will lay them down out of free will, of desire to become Fire Nation."
The Dragon of the West smiled, "Yes, the people should be happy under my rule. All of them. Let peace be our goal, and prosperity the means to do so."
Chung nodded, then his expression turned serious again, "My lord, there is still another matter."
Iroh frowned, "Don't say…"
"I'm sorry, but I have to, my friend. You are now on the throne, but you are the last of your family. And you're not exactly youthful anymore. I know, you still mourn about your son, but we have to think of the future. If you die now, everything will turn to chaos. You need to secure the Dynasty.", not once did Chung look directly at him.
Iroh sighed heavily. "I've lost my wife so many years ago. I don't think I make a good husband anymore. Let alone a good father."
"Again, I'm sorry, but if you think yourself fit or not is not much of a matter. It is of utmost necessity that you keep us all from falling into chaos. And for that, we need an heir, and by extension, a queen.", Chung reasoned.
"You already have someone in mind, don't you?", Iroh eyed his old friend suspiciously.
"Of course. I had anticipated that you would ask.", a slight grin appeared on Chung's face for a second. "Here's a small list.", he pulled a small scroll from his sleeve and handed it to Iroh.
Iroh read it, "All clanswomen…"
"As they should be. Your decision is which family you want to favor.", Chung shrugged his shoulders.
Iroh eyed the list for a while, then he mumbled, "The Hatori's have a daughter? I wasn't aware of that."
A tight-lipped smile appeared on Chung's face, "An excellent choice, my friend. Hatori Shufen is quite an elegant young woman. Twenty-one years of age, tall but not too much, skin as white as porcelain, black hair, and those bewitching bright turquoise eyes that her family is known for. From what I could tell, a quiet personality, very aware of rules and traditions, but imbued with a sharp and quick mind. Although, she might've inherited her family's tendency to take care and liking of her subordinates. Strong firebender, but not necessarily supporting the war, as usual with her family. Lost both of her parents at a very young age, raised by her grandparents, not very much into society events."
"Invite her over, for a game of Pai Sho."