A/N. And so, it begins…

"There have been no messages from the Eastern Archipelago. We think that means they have declared for Princess Azula. Fire Fountain City did send a reply… But it was rather insulting." Qin spoke in a thin voice, one which Zuko had come to associate these last few hours with disapproval.

Zuko had kind of forgotten which day it was… They had let him sleep… Two hours, three? Ozai had been escorted away to the royal apartments. It had been Sokka's idea to put him in the room that was supposed to hold the Avatar. That way, they could keep an eye on the former Fire Lord without revealing where he was, in case some loyalists would try and help him escape, as they had done with Azula.

They were in the throne room sitting around a long table, with whatever support he had managed to turn to his side… Qin and Hezu were there, with around twenty minor officials and just five representatives of the clans… And those clans were the ones on the capital island… So, not much to be honest.

Zuko himself had cast off the clothes that he had worn ever since leaving Ember Island, he had washed as much as possible with his wound, and had put on clean robes, but he still felt… off. He mostly felt guilty. Guilt-ridden about making his sister snap, embarrassed about letting Katara and Appa leave, knowing what his country was capable of… And guilty about not having asked about Mai or Ty Lee…

"What about the Boiling Rock?" Qin couldn't know he was interested in the prison. Zuko didn't trust the former War Minister, for whom he still had to find another job… But Hezu was all right. Uncle had said he could trust him… But that was not much of a counsel. One person who was there for his own personal gain, and a general too old to actually do any fighting… But most of the older generation of officers seemed to support him. At least, with Hezu, Zuko held command over the domestic army… That was good… Twenty thousand soldiers!

But the armies stationed in the colonies had not yet replied to the announcements. The regiments in Ba Sing Se were probably captured or dead, so he couldn't count on them. So, the colonial armies and those on campaign were the only ones that could oppose him from a military aspect…

"The Boiling Rock? Not important! Those prisoners are there for a reason, they can stay there." Qin waved a hand dismissively, as if it wasn't important…

"I already sent orders to release the people who were there for supposed crimes against the Fire Lord. The warden has already replied with a list of people." Hezu interrupted the former minister. Zuko nodded, relieved. At least one person who didn't care for the reasons behind some questions. The old general was clearly a man who was just happy that his nation was going to be a freer, more tolerant country.

Hezu pushed a scroll over the wooden table towards him, and Zuko tried to look calm as he unfurled it. Letting his eyes fly over the rather long list, he searched for the names that truly mattered to him…

Mai, Daughter of Ukano

Exhaling from pure relief, he let the scroll roll up by itself as he put the back of his head against the high chair. Mai… Mai was alive! Azula had lied! But then again, Azula always lies. But Mai was not dead… It didn't give any more information than that, but it was enough for the moment…

Would she have been tortured? Azula was more than able to do that to even her closest friends, she had done so for her whole life… But Agni, at least she was alive…

"Prince Zuko." Another voice spoke from the table, and opening his eyes, he saw it had been one of the representatives of the clans. Jerisu, or something like that…

"Yes?" He spoke as amiably as possible, but he couldn't quite hide the fact that it irritated him he was still addressed as prince, and not as the monarch…

"We have been here for two days. We were among the first to declare for you. But it seems the princess has the support of the other clans! How many other than those present have promised their support?" The man smiled coldly.

Zuko could have strangled the man if he was physically able to. Yes, their support was less than they had hoped for, but that didn't mean that it was a reason to immediately second-guess your choices!

"None. As Qin stated, the whole Eastern Archipelago seems to have declared for Azula, as has Fire Fountain and Ember Island. But we have the Capital Island, Shuhon and the Southern Isle." Zuko spoke as clearly as possible, but he heard the soft groans of several of the older men and women when he said that Ember Island had gone over to his sister.

Of course, he could understand. Most had summer houses there… But what was a stupid house? He would gladly burn down the one his family had on the island… But the people in this room probably had happy memories on the tropical island.

"And the domestic army." Hezu added, "I personally stand for their loyalty to Fire Lord Zuko."

The firebender nodded to the old man. He couldn't show weakness by thanking him out loud, but it would be an injustice to not at least acknowledge it. Hezu was the first person to swear him loyalty, without an agenda…

The gilded doors of the throne room cringed as they were pulled open by several soldiers. Looking up from the table, Zuko could not see what or who entered, but thanks to the soft murmurs from the end of the table, he supposed it was someone important.

"Agni, this place is still as dark as a tomb. Nephew, you do know there are windows behind those curtains, do you?" A kind, soft voice spoke clearly, echoing in the silence of the throne room. Zuko nearly leapt out of his chair, and as soon as he stood, the firebender saw the short figure of his uncle.

A short laugh escaped his throat. They had not heard anything from Ba Sing Se, no word of what had happened… But seeing his uncle, all that wasn't important. Zuko quickly walked to him, ignoring the pain in his chest and stomach.

"Zuko." Iroh smiled from ear to ear, opening his arms to his nephew. The firebender didn't care that the entirety of his supporters, still sitting at the table, could see him, but he fell into his uncle's arms. As the arms of the older man closed around him, Zuko let out a shaky breath. Finally… Finally, someone who knew what to do. Finally, someone who would help him purely to help him.

"Uncle…" He sighed softly, creating some space between himself and Iroh. Looking the man over, he was surprised to see no sign of battle or even the faintest trace of exhaustion. His uncle looked as if he had just come from a relaxing stroll through the gardens.

"You won? That was what the others said. Azula escaped, and Ozai… well, he is alive, if I understand correctly?" How did his uncle know all that? Agni, he didn't care… Iroh always had some information no one else had…

"Kind of… Azula broke the rules." He saw the small flinch in his uncle's eyes, "Katara defeated her. But yes, she escaped after the battle." Zuko sighed, knowing that that small moment of inattention had probably caused a lot of problems… They should have taken her with them like they had done with Ozai. But he had trusted the Fire Sages…

"Prince Iroh!" Qin suddenly stood next to them, a very fake smile plastered on his face, "Let me be the first to welcome you back." He even did a little bow.

Zuko had, once more, the very strong desire to strangle someone. Qin was truly an insect, attracted to the fire that burned the brightest. The man had, as chief minister under Azulon, not objected to Ozai's accession. He had also not uttered a word when the Fire Lord had demoted him to War Minister. And apparently, he was going to try to get in favour with whatever new regime there was going to be.

"Qin… Always a pleasure." His uncle smiled, bowing too, but Zuko heard the soft undertone. Iroh always had a small disdain in his voice when he talked to people he disliked. It was not common knowledge, however, and Zuko only knew it because he had spent so much time with his uncle. But it was clear he did not like Qin.

The door opened once more, and Suki, Toph and Sokka entered the room. They looked a lot better than the day before, even though the water tribe warrior had dark rings underneath his eyes. Zuko felt a pang of pity in his heart for his friend, for there had been no word of Katara, or a message giving them any indication…

The murmurs at the table amplified.

The savage is back.

Those Earth Eaters shouldn't be allowed inside.

Zuko watched as Sokka face grew into a mask of thinly veiled hatred, how Suki raised an eyebrow in a very slow manner, and Toph just smiled. Was that good news? Smiling was supposed to be good! Of course, they had news of Aang! They would know what was happening in the outside world!

"Your friends have some news. But dismiss the council first." Iroh whispered. It sounded… bad.

Turning to the table, he saw that some of the people were actively shaking their heads at the people who had entered the room. As much as he wanted to give them a piece of his mind for insulting his friends so casually, while they were standing in the next room… Zuko knew he couldn't. He couldn't miss any of these people. They were all he had to take over the Fire Nation and the throne… And he needed them.

And they knew it.

"We will reconvene in two hours." He said loudly. For a few moments, the nobles and the officers looked at him, then at Iroh, who didn't speak up. Zuko balled his fist in his pocket, knowing what they were doing. All the people around the table had come to his side because they supposed it would be Iroh's side. None of them had actually supported him… They had just given him his time in the sun, to quickly replace him with Iroh if the possibility arose…

His Uncle stayed silent like the grave, looking up at the ceiling, going from the balls of his feet to his toes in a swaying movement. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, one of the chairs could be heard scrapping over the marble floor.

Zuko dared to look who had stood up. It had been Hezu, taking his cane and the papers, nodding kindly at him. Him, the firebender could forgive. Not only would he need a long time to actually stand up, so perhaps it wasn't meant as an insult, but he had known Iroh for a long time.

As the old general began to walk to the door, his cane ticking softly against the floor, others followed him, and after a while, the room was empty except for him, Iroh and his friends.

"That old idiot that was standing beside you is listening at the door." Toph kicked the floor with her foot, and from far away, the prince heard a soft groan coming from far away, somewhere to the right, "I would guess he is leaving now." Still that smile.

"No one is eavesdropping now?" Iroh asked, seemingly not surprised in the slightest at the fact that the blind girl was able to sense that. But then again, they had met in the camp of the White Lotus.

"Nope."

"Good." His uncle quickly walked to the map that was painted on the floor, the one where Ozai had announced his plans to burn the Earth Kingdom, "Ba Sing Se has been taken by the White Lotus. I left Hui Li and Bumi with most of the earthbenders in the city to keep the peace while our spies are searching for King Kuei."

Zuko felt startles by the sudden energy. The advisors had been older men and women, speaking slowly and in a way that was clearly meant to take a long time, as if to show off their importance. But his uncle, full of energy, was still talking.

"I have Pakku, Piandao and some others hidden in the Lower Harbour, ready to act if needed. Tell me what has happened. Details, not only the facts."

Zuko tried to step forward, but was nearly pushed aside as Sokka, still using his crutches, hobbled to the map to stand with Iroh.

"We did as you said, we defeated the Air Fleet above Wulong." A crutch pointed to the painted peninsula on the floor, "Aang was waiting for your cunt of a brother and beat the crap out of him. Took away his bending, by some spiritual mumbo-jumbo that I wouldn't even pretend to understand. The important thing is Ozai is not eligible for Fire Lord anymore."

Suki and Toph came to stand next to Zuko, who still didn't quite follow what was happening. Maybe it was the lack of sleep, or his chest wound, but his abilities to follow the conversation and even participate in it were not optimal.

"Energybending? I heard about it… once." Iroh nodded, "Good, that would be a very symbolic gesture of the Avatar. Refusing to do what the Fire Nation has done to him. Where is he?"

"That is the bad part. My sister defeated Azula but disappeared when she went to look for us. I sent Aang to look for her at Wulong… I would have done it myself, but the broken leg doesn't help. And to be honest, I don't think I could have stopped Aang." Sokka spoke angrily, but Zuko understood why. It was so unfair that there was this uncertainty about Katara… And the water tribe warrior loved his sister.

"The Avatar isn't in the Caldera?" Iroh sounded hesitant now.

"Oh, the Avatar is. At last, that is what people think." Sokka grunted.

"Good. Ozai is safely locked up?"

"In the room supposed to be Aang's."

"Alright."

Zuko didn't understand what was good about this whole situation. How was his uncle so calm about this? Why wasn't he yelling at him for letting Azula escape? Why didn't anyone seem too bothered by the fact that the most dangerous person after Ozai was walking free?

Iroh sighed, and walked towards the dais. Just in front of it, he stopped, hands on his back.

"Years ago… I stood here, asking my father for command over soldiers. Any number would do… I was fifteen. I had the dream about conquering the Unconquerable city… Ba Sing Se… But I liberated it, something my younger elf would probably have hated to know. Now, older and wiser, I hope, I see how mistaken I was. However… my tea shop will have to wait." With that, his uncle turned and walked straight towards him. When he came to stand in front of him, the older man smiled.

"You look a lot like my brother… sorry. But you have your mother's eyes." With that, his uncle knelt down, took Zuko's hand and kissed it. The firebender felt embarrassed. Iroh didn't need to do that. Quickly grabbing his uncle's arms, he tried to pull him up. But the moment he tried, pain shot through his chest, and he groaned, staggering backwards.

"Zuko!" Iroh was on his feet and had his hands on his arm, supporting him, "What happened?"

"Well… Azula…" He coughed, sitting down on one of the abandoned chairs, "Azula broke the rules. Used lightning to attack Katara… I kind of jumped in front of it."

"And you lived?"

"Your technique… let's just say it works, even on comet powered lightning." Zuko groaned, opening the buttons of his tunic. Looking down, the bandages the physician had bound around his chest didn't look drenched in new blood. That was a positive point… yay, at least one.

The chair next to him was pulled back, and Toph fell down on it while Suki joined Sokka, who was still staring at the map, apparently not even having seen the small crisis.

"So, when are we going to get the bitch back? No offence, but as long as she is hopping freely around the country, they will hate you." Toph put her feet on the table, "Who am I kidding? They will hate you no matter what. But as long as you are the only choice, all the nobles will fall into line."

It wasn't that simple… There were around thirty clans. Five of which had sworn loyalty to him… But the others? Most would probably sit out the unrest and see who would win, and they would declare their fealty only when they knew who would win. He had the three largest islands, and the domestic army… But the Eastern Islands were clearly turning to Azula, with Fire Fountain. He had the Finance Minister on his side, who had nearly had a heart attack when he had heard that. Apparently, Fire Fountain City was one of the four places the treasury was kept… Which was bad news.

It meant Azula would have access to money to bribe and buy loyalty…

"My niece is the most intelligent person I ever met… Cruel, but a genius. She… she must be stopped as soon as possible, before she does too much damage…" Iroh took a seat next to Toph, sighing.

"Azula's mind has broken down. She was talking to people who weren't there… laughing aloud alone, even when Katara chained her up. She has lost it." Zuko felt guilty about that part. He had tried to exploit it during the Agni Kai, taking the knife and pricking it at what he thought would be her mental weak points.

Father never loved you.

Father hates you too.

He would have done the same to you as he has done to me…

It had been cruel…

"Where will she have gone, most probably?" The blind girl asked, sounding serious, something that didn't happen very often.

"Fire Fountain?" The prince suggested. It was a shot in the dark, but the best one he could come up with. It had good fortifications, enough grandeur for Azula's style, and the treasury. It had everything she needed.

"It would be my guess too. What governors have declared for you?" His uncle rubbed his hands over his face, clearly not very happy about the whole situation.

"Capital Island and the Southern Isle. Shuhon affirmed for me, but Fire Fountain's mayor has announced, in no uncertain terms, for Azula."

"The Eastern Archipelago?"

"No answer."

"So, Azula. Shuhon has no other garrisons than Fire Fountain, so effectively, the island is Azula's. It means you have the richesses of the industrial heart, but Azula the agricultural one… That is bad, because it is the harvest season. You have to act fast, what about soldiers?" Iroh stood up, rolling his shoulders as if to prepare himself for something physical.

"Hezu promised the domestic army."

"The domestic army is raw recruits and old men. What about the others?" Suddenly, Zuko realized he wasn't talking to his old Uncle Iroh, the tea-loving maniac with a penchant for shopping sprees. No… This was the general Iroh, the Dragon of the West. This was the one everyone had respected and feared…

"The colonial garrisons have not answered, and neither have those in the Earth Kingdom."

"In that case, I have some good news. I took the precaution of taking the prisoners of the battle out of Ba Sing Se, in case the population… well, you understand. I unarmed them and gave them orders to march to Yu Dao. They know they owe their lives to me, and that means they will probably fight for the one I declare for. Meaning, you." His uncle smiled at him. That was… That was great news!

"How many?" Agni, let it be a good number…

"A few thousand? They lost about half of the garrison during the fighting."

Half the garrison? That… That was horrible. A city like Ba Sing Se would need an enormous garrison, and apparently, the Order of the White Lotus had managed to kill half… How many soldiers had died in the fighting?

"How many of the Order died?" Zuko spoke softly, nearly too afraid to ask.

"A few." Iroh sighed, clearly affected by the death of those members. Zuko had not often thought about it, but those people would probably be his uncle's friends… So, losing them hurt. But still, a few? A few what? Some? Dozens? What was it?

There was a soft metal clicking, and Zuko looked up, towards the sound. It had come from the doors… What was it now? He had come to associate that sound with people bringing in messages and using the great rings on the gilded doors to as permission to enter. As he looked, Suki left Sokka's side and walked to the doors, for which he was grateful…

He wasn't too sure how he would react to another refusal for the support of some clan, or village or town…

As the Kyoshi warrior marched to the doors, Sokka joined them at the table. The crutches made the same sound as Hezu's cane, but it sounded more energetic, more relentless. As if the carrier couldn't wait to throw them out of the window.

"Up to date with what we have and don't have?" The Water Tribe pointed his chin at Iroh, who just sighed and gave one final nod, "Good. What now?"

"I have some ideas… but none that would be good." His uncle spoke in a soft voice, "And it isn't my decision. It is Zuko's, as Fire Lord." At that, Iroh smiled.

"Fuck." Toph interrupted the soft whisper suddenly with the curse and a groan. Turning to the blind girl, Zuko raised his eyebrows in question. Realizing she could probably not feel that slight change, he spoke.

"What?" But his question was answered as Suki approached. In her hand, she held a burgundy red cylindrical tube, soft leather with the golden flames of the royal family stamped right on the lid. Clearly, it was a message from one of the Royal Family, as they were the only ones that used these kinds of containers.

"Uncle?" He turned to Iroh, who shook his head, "One of the cousins?"

"I doubt it Nephew…"

Yeah, he did too. As the Kyoshi Warrior approached, he heard Toph groan once more, now sounding more anguished.

"That is not good…" The girl whispered angrily.

Oh Agni…

"It's addressed to Aang…" Suki said as she came to stand beside them, and she held the tube in her hands, knuckles white.

"Should we…" But before Zuko could finish his sentence, Sokka had already thrown his crutches on the table and ripped the tube out of his girlfriend's hands. The look in the ice blue eyes was clear. Anger and fear. As the water tribe warrior pulled out the scroll from the container, Zuko could have sworn he heard something fall back into the bottom of the tube.

Sokka unfurled the scroll.

"Avatar. Hand over the caldera and the throne."

"That's all?" Zuko nearly laughed. That was nothing! No threats, no elaborate schemes! Agni, Azula had really lost it if that was her whole strategy!

"No." Toph spoke through gritted teeth.

Sokka had apparently also realized that, as he shook the tube, and now, they all hear the soft noises inside of it. Tossing the scroll on the table, the warrior held out one hand underneath the container, and turned it upside down.

A flash of blue fabric fell out of the tube, apparently attached to something heavy, and it fell with speed in the tanned hand of Sokka. They all gaped at it for a few seconds, not understanding. Then, Sokka managed to find whatever was attached to the shock of sapphire blue silk and held it up.

Zuko had to take a step closer to see what it was… As he did, he heard the groan and the sharp intake of breath from Sokka and Suki, and the sigh from Toph. Apparently, only his uncle and he didn't understand. Shuffling closer, the firebender saw it was a necklace, quite similar to the one Katara wore, the one… well, the one he had used to track them.

This one was different, however. For one, the stone wasn't pale blue, but rather yellowish, with specks of brown and grey in it. Looking closely, Zuko managed to distinguish a pattern on one of its faces. Waves, crashing into an invisible wall, while above…

Oh no.

Above it, the symbols of the Air Nomads…

"That looks… like Katara's." He whispered, afraid of what was to come.

"It doesn't just look like Katara's." Sokka's voice had changed… Before, it had been angry and fearful… Now, it was pure rage and despair, "It is hers."

"Is that a Kudlik necklace?" His uncle asked, sounding astonished, "A…betrothal necklace?"

"Yes." Sokka answered thinly. Zuko watched as his friend's face grew red from anger.

"Does that…" Suki began, but Toph interrupted them.

"Burn her out." The blind girl sounded angry now. And Zuko felt the same. If it was Katara's, there was only one way Azula had gotten it. By capturing the waterbender. Agni… He knew what his sister had threatened to do… Aang had told him when they had gotten back from the Sun Warriors…

Oh no…

"Rip her apart." Sokka grumbled darkly, and the pale blue eyes looked more like two ice cubes, completely devoid of warmth.

"Oh… I'm planning to." Zuko felt how he balled his fists, "Call Hezu in."

A few moments later, the old general shuffled in.

"Twenty thousand soldiers you said?"

"Yes…"

"Good. My sister wants a war, and she can have it."

Answers:

Alyssa : Yeah, I wrote it and thought "huh… That's not bad lol". And of course, poor Aang is going to have yet another bad surprise… Whenever he learns about this.

Kalaong : I imagine her sitting there, just staring into the dark, like "Wait… That was the fucking Avatar? I had a crush on him…" And of course, Katara is going to have a field day making her understand how wrong the Fire Nation is.

Jjsmith103: I am going to dive deeper into the whole idea of what the Fire Nation is missing next chapter. I really enjoy writing those chapters!

Rak: Yeah, I enjoy those chapters the most, and it shows. I have had difficulty with the ones from Aang's POV, but I think the next one from his POV is going to be rather spectacular if I say so myself lol.