Chapter 3:
Realizations
It has been three days since Iroh escaped the capital. Three days since the invasion failed and the Avatar went missing. Three days since he last left Zuko in the capital. It has been three consecutive days of landing an airship, hiding, and moving. Three days of this will make any man tired and irritable. Add to that the poor quality he has been drinking! The last time he drank good tea was in Ba Sing Se and that feels like a lifetime ago.
Breathe Iroh, you are Grandmaster of the White Lotus Order. You will be an example of calm, peace, and harmony...
Iroh and his cohorts from the White Lotus are currently in one of their hideouts still in Fire Nation soil. He can thank Piandao for preparing these safehouses throughout the islands. They are currently located in the island of Numata just past the the Black Cliffs and the Gates of Azulon. They would have went farther, but they are currently hiding from the patrolling airships, waiting for them to die down. In the meantime, they've been trying to collect any news at all of the aftermath of the invasion.
"Grandmaster Iroh, I have news from the capital" Fina;;y, one of their spies enter the room where Iroh, Piandao, and Jeong-Jeong have gathered.
"What is it young one? Come tell us." Iroh's tired voice greets their spy. Iroh has been tired for the past three days. Breaking out of prison and hiding and moving for three consecutive days would tire anybody.
"Sirs, leaders of the Invasion Hakoda and Bato from the Southern Water Tribe, as well as military officers of the Earth Kingdomwere reported to be captured. They are currently staying in the capital and are set to be scheduled to go to the Boiling Rock."
"This is bad, without the leaders, the surviving forces would be hard pressed to regroup and consolidate considering they all came from different groups. It would be hard to preserve the army without at least one of the men who held it together to be there. They are more likely to scatter and go their separate ways to lick their wounds." Piandao says gravely.
"That is, if there is an army left. A competent Fire Nation commander would not have let the chance go to destroy everyone of the invaders." Jeong-Jeong adds, further worsening the mood.
"But what about the Avatar? Is there news about him?" Iroh asks the spy, he feels sad for the Invasion forces, but in the big picture it is the Avatar the truly matters.
"Forgive me sirs, but we have found no news of the Avatar other than him being seen fleeing the battle three days ago on top of his sky bison."
"Good... If there is no news, then that means he has not been found and hunted down. My brother would have announced to the world if he has captured the Avatar. As long as the Avatar is alive, he can learn the elements and defeat Ozai before Sozin's comet arrives" Iroh responds, trying to concentrate on a piece of good news.
"Sir... There is more... It has been announced that Firelord Ozai has died."
"""WHAT?!""" All three elders shout in surprise.
"I thought the Avatar failed in finding Ozai?" Jeong-Jeong asks, assuming that only the Avatar could have defeated the former Firelord.
"More than that, I did not think the Avatar capable of killing when I met him. I expected him to incapacitate Ozai, not kill him. I do not believe it is in his nature." Piandao notes, remembering the time he met the Avatar and trained their friend, Warrior Sokka.
Iroh can only stay speechless, shocked that his brother died so suddenly. He may have wanted to defeat Ozai to save the world, but Ozai was still his younger brother. He did not expect this, he thought they would have needed the Avatar and the might of all nations defeat him, and now... they don't even need to do a thing about Ozai. But that begs the question, if Ozai is gone then who has replaced him? Azula? Has she started a coup in the middle of the invasion and killed her own father?
Has she killed Zuko as well?! NO! We do not know what has happened yet. I need to know!
"...How?... How did he die and who has replaced him?...What about my nephew?" Iroh asks slowly, fearing for his nephew's fate.
"...Grandmaster...The official announcement was signed by Firelord...Zuko."
All brows raise with that news. Iroh's mind blanks out at he most unexpected news.
Firelord...Zuko?!
That seems to shock all of the elders because no one interrupts the spy on his report.
"Official sources say that an Agni Kai was initiated between Firelord Ozai and Prince Zuko at the end of the invasion three days ago."
AGNI KAI?! ZUKO?!
Iroh takes the news with shock. He knows Zuko is a talented firebender, he just doesn't know it yet. But with his self-doubts and insecurities weighing him down, Iroh does not think Zuko would have stood against Ozai! Ozai! Who was one of the best firebender of their generation.
"Eyewitnesses say that Ozai launched the first strike, attacking the Prince with a furious barrage and keeping the momentum for most of the fight. The tables turned when Prince Zuko was borne down to one knee, and Firelord Ozai moved to finish him with lightning."
Iroh's eyes widen at that. To think his own brother was willing to kill his own son. Oh how low had he fallen.
"Prince Zuko caught the lightning and redirected towards Firelord Ozai's feet, unbalancing him and giving Prince Zuko the opportunity to finish the fight. Both official reports and rumors say that Prince Zuko spared Firelord Ozai in the Agni Kai."
"..Then how did my brother die?" Iroh says slowly, afraid of what the answer could be.
"It is unclear what happened next since there are multiple versions of the account. The official announcement only said Ozai acted in dishonor and died of fatal injuries. But rumors from the servants and spies in the capital say that while Prince Zuko was proclaiming his victory, Ozai attacked him from behind. Some say that Ozai was captured and detained before being executed personally by Zuko later in the day, while others say that Prince Zuko swung a sword and decapitated his father mid-strike which made Princess Azula proclaim his Firelord after being bathed in the blood of his father. Regardless, it is fact that Prince Zuko, now Firelord Zuko personally decapitated his own father." The spy finishes shakily.
He cannot blame the spy for being shaky, because even Iroh himself feels his heart quake in horror. Horror in what has become of his nephew. His nephew, who he thought inherited Lady Ursa's kindness. His nephew, who he has treated as his own son whom he tried to teach the wisdom of the world and horror's of the war. His nephew, who has killed his own father and ascended the Dragon Throne. Iroh thinks to himself, where did he go wrong? Is his family destined to be monsters? Even Iroh himself was a monster when was still The Dragon of the West. Is there no hope for goodness in his family? Iroh mourns the kind man Zuko could have been, he mourns the boy whose innocent he used to delight in, he mourns the lost of that boy, his second son.
Zuko, what have you done? Iroh thinks to himself. Wondering what else his nephew has done.
ZUKO! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?! Mai thinks to herself as she watches Zuko fight his own father.
Mai does not usually let her feelings rule her actions. But really, she thinks she cannot be blamed for her reaction. She finds a letter in her room from Zuko telling her that their breaking up to keep her safe because he is leaving to join the Avatar and beat his father, only to suddenly see him fighting his father in an Agni Kai? Really, what else would you expect from a girl who just saw her boyfriend maybe ex fight a duel to the death? It would have been better if he left because then she only has to be angry at him. Now she's both worried, afraid, and angry.
Watching him fall to his knees almost gives her a heart attack. She almost runs towards Zuko to interrupt the fight, she doesn't get the chance because Firelord Ozai has already launched the lightning. She feels like she's having a heart attack when she sees Zuko catch the lightning. She didn't even know you could catch lightning! Next thing she knows Zuko launches the lightning back, follows up with a fireball, and suddenly he is pushing his father down with a flaming fist aimed towards his face. She breathes a sigh of relief at that. Only for it to get caught on her throat again when Ozai tries to attack Zuko from behind, oh look, another heart attack. The moment Zuko decapitates his father, Mai finally manages to relax. Look at her, 17 years old and already almost dead to a heart attack.
Walking towards the palace, Mai tries to calm her heart. She knows she's been uncharacteristically emotional today. But can you blame her, she went from being heartbroken, angry, worried, scared, and just now she is crashing into mind-numbing disbelief. So as Zuko leads them through the palace, Mai tries to regain her calm. Zuko doesn't lead them to the throne room or the Firelord's office, he leads them to a familiar place, a place that she just knows he would visit when troubled. And what is right now, if not troubling times. Signaling the Royal Guards to stay and give them some privacy, Zuko leads them to his mother's gardens.
None of them speak for a moment. Each taking the time to process the events of the day. She doubts any of them expected for something like this happen. Mai usually leaves the speaking to Azula and Ty Lee, but when Zuko finally turns around to face them. She moves before she even knows what she's doing. She slaps him. Hard.
"WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!" She screams at him.
Then kisses him. Hard. Zuko kisses back, wrapping her in a hug.
Is that dried blood? Ewww.
"I'm glad you're alive." She breathes breaking their kiss.
"I'm sorry... This wasn't the plan." Zuko says quietly with a sigh.
"And? What was the plan dear brother?" Azula coughs from behind Mai.
Oh. Mai forgot them for a second there.
Ty Lee generally loves surprises. A lot of good things come from surprises after all. Surprise birthday parties, surprise celebrations, surprise gifts. You get the idea.
But today was a mixed bag of surprises. She wasn't surprised by the invasion, it was expected after all. She was surprised when she saw Zuko fighting his father in an Agni Kai. That was scary, not the good kind of surprise. She was surprised when Zuko won. She'll be honest and say she didn't think Zuko would win, she hoped he would be okay, injured but okay. But when he won, well that was the great kind of surprise she wanted. She liked Zuko, he was always been awkward as a kid, but at least he was kind. He remembered Ty Lee when even her own parents had trouble remembering her. That means a lot in her book.
And he's Azula's big brother. She'll be the first to say that their relationship is weird. She can see aura after all. An aura of a person can tell her a lot of things, certain colors would mean different emotions. And what she saw when Azula and Zuko used to play together was strange. She'd see Azula act differently from what her aura is telling Ty Lee. For example, she'd see Azula's aura turn bright when she wants Zuko's attention, so she does something to get his attention. Her aura turns dark when that something hurts Zuko but she just smiles like it made her happy. Sometimes it feels like she knows Azula better than Azula knows herself. Which is really useful when trying to understand what she really means like right now.
As Zuko explains his plan to leave the Fire Nation, break out their uncle, train the Avatar, and defeat their father, Ty Lee manages to see so many colors from Azula's aura. It's a good thing she's had plenty of practice reading Azula. Azula is silent for a while before finally replying.
"Well, that's one of the stupidest plans I've heard. Did you really expect the Avatar and his friends to just let you join them? They'd probably attack you before you even manage to say a word. Trust me your better here with us."
In Azula Speak, that means
"I'm glad you didn't leave me here again."
That's so cute Azula!
"What? I could have made it work...probably...maybe.." Zuko replies.
That gets him a pinch from Mai.
"Don't ever think about thinking of leaving us a note and running away to them." Mai says to him while giving him a deadpan look
"Ow! It was for your own safety!"
"I didn't need you to worry about my safety. If you told me, I would have went with you." Mai responds, surprising all of them with that confession.
"Really? You would leave Azula and Ty Lee?" Zuko asks the big questions.
"No. I would have taken them with us." Mai says straight with a deadpan stare.
"Excuse me, you think I would let you drag me with you?" Azula asks haughtily, looking Mai straight in the face.
A spark of competition bloom between the two women.
"I have a way with words." Mai, quiet Mai says without hesitation.
Zuko freezes
Azula freezes
Ty Lee freezes
Is she serious? Is she making a joke? Everyone knows she's the quiet one.
"Are you serious? Are you joking right now?" Azula says, looks like they're all on the same page on this.
"No, I would have told you that Zuko's an idiot and he needs a genius to keep him alive."
"Hey!" Zuko interrupts
"Shut up Zuzu, she's right. You're an idiot, you probably don't even know how to talk to them do you? You would have needed someone with the genius diplomatic skills to teach you how to talk."
Azula Speak says "I would have come with you."
Is she serious? Did she really just imply she has diplomatic skills?
"Oh you have diplomatic skills? I still remember you trying to flirt with a guy back at Ember Island." Zuko fires back.
Azula blushes at that, but before it can escalate Ty Lee interrupts them.
"Heyyyyy! Don't worry about it guys. Zuko didn't leave and we're all here together." Ty Lee says while she tries get everyone in a group hug.
"Hmm, Ty Lee is right, we are here, we are together, no point in discussing what ifs when we have a situation right now." Azula says as she lets herself be pulled into the hug before pulling back to maintain proper distance.
Azula Speak for "I'm glad we're all here"
"What situation?" Zuko dumbly asks
The three ladies look at him at that. Which eventually made him realize how dumb he sounded at that moment.
"Ohhhh... Sorry. It's.. just starting to sink in right now, you know? I just killed Dad, and with that said give me a moment." Zuko says while turning green. With that all the girls take a step back, as Zuko heads to big tree in the garden and pukes on its base.
"Well. I'm glad I'm not the one who's gonna kiss that mouth." Ty Lee jokes hoping to break the tension.
She gets a dark look from Mai at that, and a smirk from Azula. Ty Lee will count that as a win in her book.
"So what's the plan Zuzu? Surely you thought of something if you challenged dear old dad to an Agni Kai." Azula starts after Zuko has recovered from his puking episode.
"Just like that? You're not mad that I killed him? Or sad that he's dead?" Zuko looks at her incredulously.
"Unlike you Zuzu, I can compartmentalize my emotions and think logically. Am I mad? No, I'm furious, we never should have been in this situation in the first place. You were already the heir dumdum, if you kept your mouth shut you would have eventually been Firelord after the war. But no, you had to challenge him in Agni Kai and ascend the throne in the middle of the war right after an invasion. We could have just let dad and the ministers do the hard work but now we have to do it ourselves." Azula rants at Zuko with a dark look
"Ah. I'm sorry Azula. But the war needs to stop." Zuko replies, surprised at Azula's reasoning but resolves himself to do the right thing.
"I couldn't care less to be honest, we've already conquered Ba Sing Se and Omashu, what is there left to conquer anyway? The Water Tribes nothing but ice. So again, what's your plan?" Azula replies, irritated that she has to repeat her question.
"I...haven't really thought of it yet. I didn't think I'd get this far." Zuko confesses shyly
Azula's jaw tenses in frustration, while Mai facepalms, and Ty Lee just giggles at Zuko's awkwardness.
"So... you fought father without thinking didn't you?"
"I...guess so? It just kinda happened to be honest."
"Ha..ha..hahahaha. It just kinda happened he says. Dumdum do you even know what you've done?!" Reaching the limits of her patience, Azula can only laugh hysterically.
"Uhhh... become Firelord?" Zuko asks perplexed why Azula is acting the way she is.
"YES! You Dumdum! You became Firelord not through succession, but through murdering our father after Agni Kai! Do you see how that looks like?! Patricide in the middle of the war! The nobles would be wary of supporting you. Most of the military high command are warmongers and father's supporters already, they already hated you for speaking out 4 years ago, they hate you more now that you've killed father. You have no support from the nobles, you have no loyal followers in the military, you have no power base. The only reason we are here speaking to each other and not running for our lives is because you defeated father in Agni Kai, and killed him after he tried to attack you from behind. So now Zuko, what do you want to do?" Azula explains, frustrated that she even has to outline their problems to Zuko.
Finally realizing the depth of the situation, Zuko's eyes widen in surprise. Skin suddenly turning pale at the situation he has landed them in, he turns Mai, also seeing her concerned expression still willing to stand by him. He takes inspiration on her confidence in him, and turns to face Azula again.
"..It needed to be done Azula, father needed to be stopped."
"Yes we've been over that. Now for the final time, what do you want to happen Zuko?" Azula reiterates, it is in her best interest to keep her head attached to her body by making sure Zuko's brain is working completely in solving this situation.
She could take the throne, challenge Zuko to Agni Kai, it would be easy. But that would just destabilize their nation more, leading to possible civil wars and crisis if every firebender thinks they just have to challenge her to Agni Kai to get the throne. If that happens they would need to run, and with the other nations sensing weakness it would be a bloodbath and a hard life. Azula has no intention of that being her life, so she resolves to keep the Fire Nation together, and to do that, she needs Zuko's mind in the game.
"...I want the war to stop."
"How?"
"You've said it yourself, there's nothing left worth it to conquer. We've already won."
"Hmmm, phrase it like that and you could build a faction with the military. See, you sound more like a Firelord now. What else?"
Galvanized by Azula's compliment, Zuko starts listing things he wants to happen. As he thinks on his desires for the Fire Nation, Azula's the one who thinks of the way to get to the desired outcome with some inputs from Mai and Ty Lee. If Zuko didn't know any better, he's already attending to his first council meeting, but he knows that this is just the prelude. His real first battle as Firelord will happen in the council later in less than two hours. And so Zuko and Azula brainstorm how to prevent a civil war, keep Zuko as Firelord, and keep their heads attached to their bodies.
When General Liu of the Home Guard heard the news of the Fated Agni Kai, as some people call it, he was shocked. Never did he think that in his 65 years of living would he see the day that a Royal would kill another Royal in broad daylight. Details of the event are muddled, yet regardless of whether Firelord Ozai died during or after the Agni Kai itself, it is confirmed that Prince Zuko, now Firelord Zuko killed his own father. General Liu does not know what to make of that.
General Liu was one of the generals sitting on the fated council meeting 4 years ago which led to the Father and Son's first Agni Kai. He saw Prince Zuko then as still a child, while General Bujing's strategy to sacrifice the 41st Division was horrible, there were other ways to challenge that strategy without rejecting outright. Still, the Prince was a child and did not yet learn that sometimes the best way to reject a proposal is to suggest a better, therefore nullifying the previous proposal. He saw then that the Prince had a kind heart, a heart that is not suited for war. He would surrender the objective if it meant saving his people. Liu wants to praise that trait, but sadly he knows the horrors of war. It's why he was assigned to the Home Guard. A general that does not want to sacrifice his men for meager gains, yet still respected enough in the ranks? Ozai cannot have someone like that on the frontlines. It was either the Home Guard or retirement.
Still, that was in the past. Now that the Prince has killed his father, has he become someone like his father? Or is he now someone more monstrous? General Liu will have to find out first hand now that he has been summoned on their new Firelord's first council.
Entering the throne room which doubles as a council room sometimes, he sees the Firelord not on the Dragon Throne atop the stairs, but seated on the head of the council table with the flames along the wall lighting the whole room. He sees the scar first. Angry red, a mark of his supposed shame given to him by his father four years ago. And now it seems that he repaid his father with interest. Other than that mark, Liu takes note of the fact that the Firelord has not changed into his Royal Robes. He is still wearing his garments from before the Agni Kai, he sees dried blood on his neck and arms.
The blood of his father...
Paling at the implications that the new Firelord apparently bathes in the blood of his enemies, Liu's blood freezes when he notices the Princess Azula standing beside her seated brother, smirking at her. As the last participant to arrive, Liu takes note of the other attendees, he sees sages, scribes, and other military commanders such as General Ryuu of the new Airforce, Admiral Takumi of the Home Fleet, as well as other officers who returned from the frontlines. General Liu takes his seat near his fellow soldiers.
There is a general silence. No one knows how to start their first council meeting with their new Firelord. With Firelord Ozai, they knew they had to start with the good news first and hope someone else announces the bad news. It became a song and dance to them, now they have to learn the new rules lest they incur Firelord Zuko's wrath. The meeting begins with the Firelord's first words to them.
"Gentlemen, Ladies, Sages, Officials, and Officers of the Fire Nation. You are gathered here today to ascertain the current global situation, and determine the Fire Nation's future." With those heavy words coming from Firelord Zuko's mouth, the first council meeting heralding the beginning of a new age begins.
A/N
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