Mai
Mai decided that her father was insane or he was more of an idiot than she thought possible. Perhaps she was being unfair, despite what many thought the Fire Nation welcomed defectors with open arms as long as they proved their loyalty of course…or if they had money, which was the reason she was in a city she reasonably shouldn't be with not with it's closeness to Omashu which was preparing for a siege and would no doubt try to leverage her life if they caught wind of her.
If that happened she would die, being a friend of Azula or the lover of Zuko would deter most people but the invasion of Omashu from what she heard was already on the way and they wouldn't be stopping this time, not when the Fire Lord himself demanded victory in his presence. Mai's life would be a heroic sacrifice to spread the flame of the Fire Nation, she snorted at that grim thought.
At least there were some perks to her new situation, the palanquin and the many luxuries she could enjoy on a daily basis for one, sure she had always been rich but there were levels and now Mai was living the life of a royal something that hopefully would continue from this day onwards.
The locals stared at her as she passed, gossiping as if they didn't have anything better to do but this was perhaps the most exciting event in this place since the announcement of the war, not that the people here cared. While a great place for trading and with a good climate for crops Gaoling didn't exactly have any military importance and it was cheaper to just buy things normally instead of conquering this place.
Mai remembered from her teachers that the people here tried to withhold trade at the beginning of the war but stopped as it did more damage to them than to the Fire Nation. She snorted at that, it was something only an idiot would try.
As Mai got closer to the Beifong State she realized just how wealthy the family was and that perhaps the daughter of these people was as bored as she was, from what her father told her the parents of the girl were extremely overprotective which sure sucked for her. At least Mai had parents that cared about her happiness even if they were dumb about it.
The guards at the entrance didn't stop her and soon she was making her way inside, Mai looked out of the palanquin and watched as the soldiers continue to move as if their new work wasn't degrading, and technically it wasn't. Her father had convinced them to do this with the excuse that they could better infiltrate the place without worries and it worked, the people of the Gaoling didn't realize that counting the man her father brought and the men that were carrying Mai they had sneaked in twenty-four firebenders into their borders, more than enough to turn this place into a burnt-out ruin.
One of the disguised soldiers helped her get down and soon Mai was making her way to where her father was, the servants here were not that different from those of the Fire Nation, they scurried and scampered about as she passed all while pretending they weren't going to gossip about this meeting.
Mai was ushered into the dining room where her father was probably asking inane questions as always.
"Tell me something" by Agni! Her father was drunk and so was Lao Beifong "is it true that your grandfather the legendary earthbending master Lu Beifong stood up to Avatar Kyoshi while was an elderly man?"
That wasn't something that you hear every day, Mai decided to listen to the man's answer before interrupting their talk.
"It's true! My grandfather was a very prideful man and was weary of the influence that the Avatar carried more so after he was involved in a plot to put someone else as the Avatar! He realized that while owed respect for past deeds that blind subservience to the Avatar would be a detriment to the Beifong family and the Earth Kingdom as a whole, he was a very wise man"
"I didn't know that someone had tried to pass off someone as the Avatar! I'm surprised they haven't tried again" her father said before taking a long gulp of his drink.
"It's understandable," Lu said as he himself downed everything that was in his cup "the fake Avatar of that era went around killing everyone that was tangentially involved in the affair, my grandfather was killed in his sleep after being poisoned since the fake Avatar wasn't brave enough to face him"
It surprised her to see some genuine anger on the face of a man whom her father had described as jolly, but he had also warned her of his stubbornness, perhaps that's why they were drinking.
Mai knew she had a part to act so she politely coughed softly to get their attention.
"Mai! How good to see you, Lu this is my daughter"
Mai approached the Beifong patriarch and bowed deeply in a sing of respect that garnered her the approval of the man "She looks as delicate as a flower, I'm sure she will make fine company for my Toph"
"Your words honor me" they didn't, this would be for the best.
"So polite! I wasn't so sure about this meeting but I'm starting to think it was the right decision and your proposal isn't without merit either my friend" Lu Beifong was looking even drunker now with the way his face had started turning red not that her father was looking any better.
As she looked at her father Mai only hoped he hadn't many stupid plans with her in mind beyond the playdate.
"Then let us drink some more in honor of this great day!"
"That's a splendid idea! Mai you can find my wife and daughter along with your mother in the garden…somewhere but I'm sure one of the guards can help you to find them" Lu then started pouring another drink for himself and her father.
"I will see you at dinner" Mai's father called out as she was leaving the room.
Ozai
As he stared down at the earth below him the Fire Lord sneered, it infuriated him that it was necessary for him to be here but once he heard that Azula was coming along with the invasion he had no other choice. Despite his strength and popularity, Ozai had no great accomplishments or victories to his name even Zuko had some glory on account of Agni and his display of martial skill in the tournament Ozai made also gave him some renown.
It had been a terrible idea but Ozai thought that Zuko would be as unskilled as he was before, he couldn't have expected him to move just like a veteran, Ozai had tracked down and personally killed all of his son's previous teachers as they had been clearly incompetent if they hadn't seen the potential of his blood and because of them he had treated Zuko as badly as he did which gained him a powerful enemy.
Ozai shook his head as he looked at the horizon in the distance he could make out the canyon in which Omashu was built and he couldn't help but feel some excitement. As per his father's orders, Ozai had been held back from the war when he was younger, and ever since he became Fire Lord the administrative duties of his position had left him unable to participate but he had made some time to finally put his prowess to the test and what better challenge that the oldest king in the world, the most powerful earthbender ever born that wasn't an Avatar.
King Bumi 'The Mad Tyrant' known far and wide across the lands for being able to repel any invasion of the Earth Kingdom and the Fire Nation, known for leading the most brutal soldiers of the war and also famed as being the last free king in the world.
Ozai would take down a legend to build his own and the freedom of Omashu, along with its reputation will belong to the Fire Lord. For the first time in many years, Ozai smiled a true complete smile and felt content with his choices.
"Father" Ozai would forever deny that he was startled by his daughter and he was thankful to Agni that she had been looking at the ground or he might have to kill her prematurely "our approach will soon be evident to the soldiers of Omashu and the possibility of them throwing projectiles at us is high even when accounting for our altitude, caution has been advised"
"There is no need for caution Azula even if they could throw rocks at us at this distance I could easily destroy them before they hit me or the airship" calling it an airship was a bit too much though it was an elongated balloon with a metal carrier, they were prototypes so it was to be expected.
Ozai's personal airship was being built at the moment and it would be a vehicle worthy of being called an airship.
"The other ships don't enjoy your protection though and we could take loses that were otherwise avoidable" Azula was still talking respectfully but there was a hint of derision in her tone.
Perhaps it was stress or maybe Ozai was hearing something that wasn't there but the anger that came over him was all too real.
"I understand but regardless of their caution we still need to approach the ground once the time to attack comes, the ships need to be close to give of any support and not many soldiers will survive a fall from the ships"
Azula bowed her head in acknowledgment of Ozai's wisdom satisfying his pride but before he could continue to enlighten his daughter the ship trembled and from one of the voice boxes came the captain's warning.
"I advise everyone to hold onto something, there are some soldiers on the mountains to our right they have decided to start the battle now! Everyone to their positions, drop some bombs on them but don't go overboard the true fight will be in the city"
As soon as the message ended the shadow of a rock came directly in the direction of Ozai who didn't waste any more time and in a swift movement that was born out of pure talent threw a lightning bolt at it shattering the rock while the lighting continued its way down.
"Azula I heard you've been practicing your accuracy but still have some improvements to make, why not use this opportunity for target practice" Ozai ended his words with another bolt of lightning directed at some soldiers on the ground.
"That is an excellent idea father"
Author note: so i have good news! thanks to the way things are worded on i was able to keep this story there because there is no incest in it! not yet at least, it was ery funny to discover this, so you can check out my if you want. Now onto the story, this is merely a set up chapter for what comes next also a good way for me to add some lore like the fake Avatar that is totally canon by the way (look it up) giving a good reason as to why no one has tried to fake being the Avatar and also a good way to show just how arrogant Ozai is.
As always i hope you're having a great day and that you're all in good health, see you next time.
