Zaheer's patience was waning as he leaned against the giant tree located in the center of Xai Bau's grove. Unalaq was late for the first time, which could only spell trouble for the Red Lotus. As he and his closest comrades were locked away in varying prisons around the four nations, the task was on Unalaq's pompus shoulders to handle things with the avatar. It was not the best plan, yet the only plan as of now.
Harmonic Convergence was only a week away. Zaheer needed an update on the portals that Avatar Wan had closed 10,000 years ago. One of the portals had been opened, as he noticed more people entering into the spirit world physically. However, there was another that needed to open to completely revert the world back to its true order. Once both are open, can true chaos begin. Their former leader, Xai Bau, had expressed this goal fondly.
"We have an opportunity here". Xai Bau had stated to his small group of followers seated before him. "If we don't accomplish this mission now, we will have to wait for another 10,000 years".
"We do not have the avatar," Zaheer reminded him. "Without her, we cannot accomplish the mission".
Xai Bau nodded. "Yes, this was failure on your part".
Zaheer inclined his head. As his comrades lacked the spiritual knowledge to enter the spirit world through meditation, he was forced to be their voice.
"We could have. Unalaq conveniently missed the appointment," he spoke venomously. "He could've taken down his brother".
"When I learned that Chief Sokka and Fire Lord Zuko would be present, I could not risk an all out war for my involvement," spoke up the chief of the Northern Water Tribe. "It was a political move. I'm sure you would understand given your status in the fire nation, Prince Zaheer?"
The non-bender grit his teeth exchanging narrowed eyes towards the man. "I haven't been a prince in years, Unalaq. My uncle made sure of that".
Xai Bau held up his hand to stop their bickering. "One failure reflects us all," he said with finality. "Unalaq, you must complete the task on your own now. We do not have the man power to assist you".
The chief gave a curt nod. "Not a problem. I have an entire army of Northerners to assist me. Consider the task done," with that, he disappeared from the spirit world.
Zaheer sighed. "I don't trust him. As far as I'm concerned he's still one of them. Why would he risk his comfortable throne to throw the world into chaos?"
Xai Bau gave a nod. "You are right," at Zaheer's confused expression, he added, "Unfortunately, he is our only choice in the matter. His status gives him liberty to handle the avatar should the time come".
"His niece?" Reminded Zaheer. "She's family. What honor would he gain from killing her?"
At this Xai Bau smirked. "Ah, Prince Zaheer, although you are faithful in your following, you still think like fire royalty".
Zaheer cringed at the name. "I am NOT an oppressor. My family was responsible for countless bloodshed. I owe a debt to the world".
He's not coming. Thought Zaheer bitterly. I knew better than to trust him.
He pushed himself from the tree he was leaning on with his shoulder in frustration. There was little he could do from his prison in the physical world other than re read the teachings of Guru Laghima once more. Traveling to the spirit world at least gave him some semblance of freedom. He had hoped to find his old leader somewhere for added wisdom on what to do about the situation.
As if his prayers were answered, he glimpsed a shadowy figure in the midst. Shorter, with long, gray hair and a stocky build, Zaheer began to feel at ease to see his former leader. As his vision cleared, however, he could not be more disappointed.
"What are you doing here?" He asked the ancient man when he stood before him.
The old fool chuckled like an insane grandfather with his hands clutching his protruding belly. Zaheer wished he had some form of bending. If only he had been born a fire bender as his mother had wanted.
"Well, I didn't expect to find you here, My boy," said the former Grand White Lotus. "It seems here in the spirit world you always seem to find something you didn't know you were looking for".
Zaheer grunted, raising an eyebrow at the old man. He held some respect for the former general, yet he understood that Iroh was ultimately completely misguided along with his former clan of white lotus members.
Nothing better to do. He thought.
His choices were limited to either staying here in the spirit world and at least having someone to talk to, or return to his lowly, one occupant cell in the physical world. He chose the former, taking a seat with his legs crossed, hands on his knees.
"It's been years. So this is what you've been up to all this time," he spoke calmly. "I'm flattered you would look for me".
Iroh smiled warmly despite the animosity between them. The old general mimicked the younger man, taking a seat several feet away, though close enough to continue their conversation.
"I was actually looking for another teapot," he said. "The avatar took the last one".
The statement did not miss Zaheer's ears. He suspected the man meant to peak his interest. "You spoke with the new avatar? Still flanking her sides, huh? Didn't you have enough of that in the physical world".
Before Iroh spoke, he rummaged inside a sleeve of his robes and revealed a black tea pot with red trimming and a dragon emblem. "Ah! Here it is!" He spoke proudly, before repeating the action in his other sleeve, revealing two teacups. "Never the wrong time for tea".
Zaheer narrowed his eyes, suspiciously. "Is this your way of extending the olive branch? After all this time?"
Iroh, who was about to pour the contents of the teapot into one of the cups, paused with an inquisitive eyebrow. "Yes". He said, simply. With that, he continued pouring the tea into the cups, taking a whiff before offering it towards Zaheer with a small grin. "More tea and less fighting could solve a lot of the world's problems".
Zaheer declined with a shake of his head at which Iroh grimaced. "You are very much like your mother," he said gulping down the tea with a satisfied slurp. "Why let's good tea go to waste?"
Mother. Thought Zaheer, bitterly, on the woman. Though he had not seen the woman in many years, he often wondered what she would say to him after all this time and after all he's done. He wondered if she was still alive. Did she think of him?
"Please, Mother, don't go. Don't leave me here".
"It's for your safety. I love you".
"Don't talk about her," he warned the old general.
Iroh nodded. Zaheer gave a respectful bow signaling the end of their conversation. Despite their opposing views, the old man was still deserving of respect.
"You don't have to do this," stated Iroh.
"Yes," decided Zaheer. "I do".
Now in his new guilded cage, Zaheer watched as the guards released his chains. He had been injected with a shirshu serum before being released to disable his new airbending ability.
The white lotus guards led him out of the prison to face his judgement with President Raiko and company. He was aware that the death sentence was on the table, yet felt completely numb to the idea. He had lost everything and gained nothing. Avatar Korra had defeated Kuvira, at least, and was glad he had assisted her in that regard. There was nothing more for him to do anyway. Death was welcomed. He would finally be with his beloved forever and maybe even his mother.
Speaking of which, he was unsurprised at his judges seated on both sides of the president when he entered the Hall of the Council. Lord Zuko and the current fire lord, Izumi, were seated together at the president's right. Avatar Aang's son, Tenzin, sat to the man's left. Other representatives from the intact nations filled the rest of the seats.
Zaheer took a seat as directed before the table of the judges. The courtroom was filled to capacity. Zaheer noticed Avatar Korra seated directly next to him with an aisle separating them with her lover and the brothers next to her. She gave a curt nod to the airbender at which he ignored. He didn't want to give the avatar the false impression that they were friends or allies. The moment that they had in his prison was needed to take care of a dictator, that was all.
"We will commence judgement of Zaheer of the Fire Nation," stated the president.
Zaheer noted the small gasps of surprise around the courtroom. Most people did not know of his homeland, thanks to the fire nation's royal family.
His appointed representative, also granted to him by the royal family, stood making light steps towards the center of the courtroom to give her opening argument. The woman was barely 25, her hair mostly down with one pendant of the princess adorning her topknot. They had only met once upon her appointment.
"So, I guess you have a difficult task ahead of you. I doubt even a princess could convince the council to spare me the death sentence," Zaheer stated upon meeting her in his prison cell.
The woman gave a classic grin, reminding him of feelings he thought were buried long in the past.
"I did not have a choice in the matter," The Fire Princess turned attorney stated simply, arms wrapped about her chest. "If it were up to me, you'd be dead for how you've disgraced our nation. It is my job to protect the legacy of my family".