Responses to Reviews:

RonaldM40196867: The Earth Empire's greatest strength is probably improved technology like trains and phones allowing them to extend their power across the vast Earth Nation, making it far easier to govern everything from Ba Sing Se. Mind you, they then proceed to completely misuse that network for evil.

Thunder: Thanks to the actions of Korra and her friends, Raiko has a very real expectation that his country is about to be at war. They probably wouldn't do well to start infighting when Kuvira is at the gates, although Asami can start (and is!) disobeying him in various ways.

Zigzagdoublezee: Well, laughing in the face of fear is what they do. And the plan is just to not get caught.

As Always, Please Review!

Kuvira

Kuvira watched as the other train rumbled into the sidings at Zaofu railway station, to slide neatly in between the two already there.

The first was her own sleek command train, her home away from home, which contained her office and the offices of many of her closest advisors.

After all, Kuvira thought, after the past few days, I should probably keep an eye on them.

Men clustered around one point of the train, welding metal panels in place to cover an irregular hole that had been cut into it. Apparently that was where Bolin had made his escape from the train.

More workmen swarmed around the second train, a more functional looking freight train with many carriages that were open to the air. Onto these platforms were being loaded hundreds of strips of shiny silver metal, which were then tied down with chains.

This train was due to leave soon, bound for the coast, along with orders for some last minute additions to be made to her special project. Kuvira knew this might set her back a couple of weeks, but she was confident in the abilities of her builders and engineers. It wouldn't take too long, and then the Empire, yes, that's what it was, would have a new line of defence.

Finally, the third train hissed to a stop between them. This one was a mobile laboratory, which Kuvira had sent rumbling off through the sparse Earth Kingdom landscape while the compliment of scientists aboard conducted their potentially dangerous experiments.

Well, that wasn't the only reason why she had sent it far away.

Finally, it hissed to a stop, and the doors opened. Bataar jumped onto the platform, brushed himself off, and saw her.

A scowl crossed his face.

"Bataar!" Kuvira called. "My beloved! I am glad to see you."

"And I, you," Bataar replied stiffly. "Kuvira, can we talk?"

"You know we can always talk."

"I mean in private," Bataar specified. "It's important."

Kuvira looked around.

"How about my office on the train?"

Bataar nodded, and then followed her as she embarked on her own train and entered her cabin, the map of the Earth Kingdom now having had three pieces removed again. She picked up the Zaofu piece and slotted it back into place absentmindedly as she turned back to her fiancée, who closed the door.

"Kuvira, I-" Bataar began, and then stopped. He closed his mouth, and opened it again, and repeated that several more times before finally shrugging and jabbing a finger at her.

"You attacked my family!" He stated, anger bubbling under the surface.

"I attacked rebels," Kuvira replied smoothly.

"Is that what you're telling everyone?" Bataar demanded. "Because that's not what I heard."

"What did you hear?"

"I heard you fought my mother, and the Avatar. I heard how you hounded my father and siblings and most of the people out of the city at fear for their lives."

"Lies," Kuvira hissed.

"Then why are so many people telling me the same story?"

"Oh, that's just rumours," Kuvira waved a hand dismissively. Perhaps she should have been worried about this, after all Bataar was a Beifong, but she had seen this coming long ago and taken steps to avoid losing her love over it. Bataar, however, looked like he didn't buy what she was selling him for a single moment.

"I mean come on!" He threw his hands up angrily. "I know that I'm the support act here, I made my peace with that years ago. But don't treat me like an idiot, Kuvira!"

Kuvira stood up suddenly.

"I'm not!" She raised her voice for the first time. "I've told you the truth! It was rebels! I was saving your family, not attacking them!"

"yes, and I'm the Firelord!"

"I'm telling you, it's true!"

"Really?" Bataar asked sarcastically. "Then may I see them?"

"No," Kuvira told him.

"No?" Bataar looked incredulous. "What do you mean no? It's my family!"

"They... they were under threat from retaliation from the same group who targeted them this time!" Kuvira told him, grateful for her quick improvisation.

"Yeah, you," Bataar said, shaking his head.

"I find that comment insulting," Kuvira told him scornfully.

"Good!" Bataar shouted. "It was insulting!"

"What are you trying to say?" Kuvira made a show of looking nervous.

"You attacked my family, and lied to my face about it," Bataar moved towards the door. "I don't think I want to marry you any more. We are over."

With one last meaningful look, he turned to leave and crashed straight into someone else who had just entered. He yelped, and steadied himself on their shoulders. Only then did he get a good look at who it was.

"Mum?"

"Hello Bataar," Suyin greeted him softly. "How have you been?"

"They told me..." Bataar started, and then stopped, overcome with emotion. He brought Suyin into a crushing hug.

Over his shoulder, Suyin made eye contact with Kuvira, who held up a sign with one hand and pointed to it with the other. Bataar was so caught up in the moment that he didn't notice.

It was a good thing, the Great Uniter reflected, that her fiancée didn't know about the procedure she had administered to Suyin. That made things a lot easier.

"Kuvira was telling the truth," Suyin repeated robotically. Too robotically.That's going to have to be worked on. "It was rebels who attacked us. Kuvira saved us."

Bataar blinked uncertainly.

"Really?"

"Yes!" Suyin told him. "It looked like we were all going to die at one point, but then she came!"

Bataar hugged her again. "I'm sorry I didn't come."

"You didn't know," Suyin told him sympathetically. "I'm just glad to have such a good daughter-in-law!"

That seemed to make Bataar remember that Kuvira was there. She had to hastily cram the sign under a pile of papers on her desk as he spun on her, looking miserable.

"I'm sorry!" He told her. "I should have believed you!"

Kuvira took a moment to bask in the satisfaction of a job well done.

"I forgive you," she said grandly. Then she paused.

"So, do you still want to get married then, or are you still breaking up with me?"

"Yes!" Bataar almost sobbed, overcome with emotion.

"Yes to marriage, or...?" Kuvira played innocent to make him say it.

"Yes to marrying you!"

Bataar grabbed her hand, and she smiled at him, a mix of love and satisfaction in her expression.

"I love you, Kuvira."

"Excellent," Kuvira told him, as she gestured for Suyin to leave. "You don't know how happy it makes me to hear that. I love you too, Bataar."