Happy Independence Day to Indonesian readers!

Responses to Reviews:

RonaldM40196867: Bloodbending probably could be used medicinally, I suppose, but ordinary waterbending can be used in a similar way anyway.

Zigzagdoublezee: It's been very interesting, all through this story, to think about the implications for the Avatar world if the war had simply never happened (although while making sure all the characters still exist, so as not to make things too complicated.) Hama's life taking a very different path, a happier path, is one part of that. And Kya has been having difficulty ruling, because of her gender. She has been managing well enough though.

As Always, Please Review!

Sokka's door burst open and he came charging out, pulling on his robes as he almost bowled a surprised looking clan leader out of the way.

"Katara!" He called. "Where's Katara?"

He had overslept, he knew it, and he kicked himself for it as he reached the front of the palace. But before he could get to the doors, his mother stepped in front of him.

"Sokka?" She greeted him. "Where are you going?"

"Katara needs my help," Sokka told her. "She's going to see Pakku."

"Gran-gran is going with her already," Kya nodded. "Can I have a word with you?"

Sokka stopped.

"What about?" He asked.

His mother looked around.

"Something private," she said. "Something urgent."

"Has something happened?" Sokka asked, just as Yue emerged from the corridor he had just come from, saw them, and quickly made her way towards them.

"Come on," Kya gestured to a side-door. Confused, Sokka followed her in and Yue darted through the door just before it closed.

"I've just had a visit from a delegation of important nobles," Kya told them quietly.

"What did they want?" Sokka asked, remembering the clan leader he had nearly collided with.

Kya took a breath.

"They wanted strong leadership, and expressed doubts that I would be able to provide it with the Fire Nation coming," she said.

"What?" Sokka got angry. "You're the Regent!"

"They wanted me to step down from that position," his mother told him. "They wanted to install you as Chief instead."

Sokka suddenly found he had no words, struck dumb by the enormity of the request. Yue, on the other hand...

"But he can't! Not yet!" She said fiercely. "I need him!"

"I'm sure that they would say his country needs him more," Kya pointed out. "I wouldn't say I enjoy the job, so I'll step aside if you want me to. This was only ever meant to be temporary while you went to the North anyway. The nobles were perfectly prepared to accept me as Regent under those terms."

"Hold on," Sokka held his hands up. "What was wrong with your leadership anyway?"

His mother looked at him strangely.

"They've been looking for an excuse ever since news came in about the North Pole," she said. "And you are their excuse."

"Why?"

But Sokka was beginning to get an idea of why.

"Because, apparently, this city needs strong leadership. Strong, male, leadership," Kya said bitterly. "And now you're here, they're of the opinion that the regency is no longer necessary."

"But you know what you're doing!" Sokka said. "Besides, I can't be Chief yet. I need to go with Yue."

His mother just snorted.

"I try my best," she said.

"And what about dad?" Sokka demanded. "In order for me to become Chief, he'd have to be- he'd-"

He couldn't finish the sentence.

"I know," Yue told him soothingly.

"He's still out there," Kya said. "I'm certain of it."

"So there you have it," Sokka nodded. "I can't be Chief yet then."

"Unfortunately, I do not think everyone feels the same way we do."

"So what do you think I should do?" Sokka asked.

Nobody said anything for a few seconds.

"It's a lot of responsibility," his mother said eventually. "And you don't have a lot of experience."

"Plus," Yue added, "It would keep you here full-time."

"So I should turn them down."

"It's not quite that simple," Kya said. "If you categorically refuse, when the time actually does come you could be bypassed in the line of succession. I don't want that for you."

"What if Yue spoke to them, and said I was needed as part of her Team Avatar?" Sokka asked hopefully.

"It's an idea," his mother said. "A good idea, even. I don't know if it would work though."

"Why not?"

"I don't know," Kya shrugged. "They may truly be desperate enough to ignore the word of the Avatar."

"Then you have to keep them busy," Yue reasoned. "Don't give them a chance to ask."

There was a knock on the door, and their conversation was abruptly cut off.

"Come in!" Kya called, suddenly the model of Royal dignity once again.

The man who entered was small, with a thin face. He bowed when he saw the group. Something thin was tucked under his arm.

"Your Majesty," he said. "My Prince. I've got the report you asked for."

Sokka looked at his mother as she nodded and extended a hand expectantly. The man handed over the object under his arm, which turned out to be a folder. She flicked through it quickly, and then nodded, satisfied.

"Everything seems in order," She said. "Thank you. Keep doing what you're doing."

"What is it that you are doing?" Sokka asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.

The man seemed unsure at first, but Kya put his mind at ease.

"He's my son, and she's the Avatar," she said. "You can tell them."

The man quickly nodded.

"Oh, I- we've been working on a secret weapon," he said. "My name is Aguta, by the way."

This was news to Sokka, which he supposed was the entire point of a secret weapon.

"What sort of weapon?" He asked.

Aguta seemed to brighten up, as he was given a chance to explain.

"Armoured ice," he said. "That's the best name we can come up with, really. I wanted 'Miracle-Sno' but got overruled."

"That is a great name," Sokka sympathised. "But how can ice be armoured?"

"Very easily!" Aguta told him. "The secret is to mix it with sawdust. Apparently diplomats from the other nations were confused by how much of the stuff we were buying before the war. Put the right amount in and it makes the ice much tougher. And if you can then build a ship out of the stuff..."

"That's your plan? A ship?"

"Not just one!" Aguta told him. "That would never work."

"How many then?"

The engineer shifted on his feet.

"Six."

"Six? Do you know how many the Fire Nation have?"

Aguta just smirked.

"My Prince, you haven't seen the ships."

Sokka frowned.

"Fine," he said. "Can I see them?"

"With pleasure," Aguta nodded.

"That could work," Yue added. "To keep you out of the way of the nobles as well."

"Just think on what we've been talking about," Kya told him as he and Yue began to follow Aguta out of the room.

"I will," Sokka nodded. Then he was gone, his mind on these mysterious ships that were apparently the key to his nation's survival.

Author's Note: The secret weapon described in this chapter does really exist, but under a different name. Considering the actual name derives from the name of the Englishman who invented it, it wouldn't make much sense to call it Pykrete, would it?