Happy Diwali to all who celebrate it!

Responses to Reviews:

RonaldM40196867: The episodes where they were there did feel quite... stuffy.

Zigzagdoublezee: Yes, it is a nice name, I think. She's named after Sun Ren, or Lady Sun, a noblewoman from the Chinese Three Kingdoms period.

As Always, Please Review!

The throne room glowed in the light of the braziers as Azula and Lu Ten walked in, clearly wondering what Ozai had planned. He looked down at them from behind his sheet of flame, imperious atop his throne.

"Your majesty," Azula made a show of throwing herself down to her knees in front of the throne. Lu Ten shot her an irritated glance, and then followed.

"You may rise," Ozai rumbled, and they did.

"I suppose you've both heard the news from the South Pole."

"Yes, I did hear," Lu Ten said, slowly. "A terrible tragedy."

"Indeed," Ozai nodded. "A total strategic failure. Dozens of ships lost, thousands of men too. One admiral dead, the other a traitor. Not only is the South still free, but they have their Chief back. Oh, and the Avatar's probably found a waterbending master for good measure. Just a total, unmitigated, absolute disaster."

"Indeed," Azula simpered. "But it's not the end, is it? We can still take our revenge."

Ozai pondered that for a moment.

"I've already spoken to the directors of our shipyards," he said. "Replacing that fleet will take time."

"Fine," Azula shrugged. "They're not going anywhere. Once that's done we must descend on them with fury, and teach them not to defy us."

Lu Ten coughed.

"Perhaps letting emotion guide us would be unwise," he said, causing Azula to glare at him. "The war will not be won in the South Pole, the entire Southern Sea is a sideshow anyway. The South do not have enough men to challenge us, and as a naval power they cannot really interfere with our operations in the Earth Kingdom. We already have the North. Once we have Ba Sing Se too, our victory will be assured."

"What about the supply lines?" Azula asked, in a triumphant tone. "They can still interfere with the sea-lanes between here and the Earth Kingdom."

"They could," Lu Ten conceded. "But I don't think they will, not seriously. Our fleets in the region are still strong, and they may not have the numbers to mount a serious expedition so far north."

"I don't think we should leave anything to chance."

"We're not. And the men can live off the land if necessary."

Lu Ten turned back to Ozai.

"Uncle, the point is, we have the luxury of time when it comes to the southerners. We can build up our forces until we have a fleet so overwhelmingly powerful resisting us will be pointless. And then we can return to the Southern Sea."

The Firelord nodded. He knew that the Fire Nation's resources were not unlimited, and so waiting to finish the South Pole later seemed the best choice.

"I agree," he said. "Wars are won by morale as much as by firepower, and theirs will be high after their... fluke. So we wait. Make progress elsewhere. Show them how hopeless their position is. And once that has sunk in, then we return with our men riding high on victory."

Beaten, Azula scowled at her cousin. But she was not done quite yet.

"perhaps you'd be interested in knowing who gave the order to send the Snow Savage Chief back in the first place?" She asked, innocently.

Ozai's attention was piqued.

"What?" He asked.

"Oh yes," Azula smirked. "He'd still be in prison if Uncle Iroh hadn't given the order to send him south."

Ozai felt his rage boil as the flames licked higher.

"I see," he growled. "I'll deal with him later. But that's not why you're here."

He left a moment of silence and then stood up.

"I have been pondering the succession," he said. Azula very noticeably perked up.

"I find myself in a conundrum," he said. "My son is still missing. The Lady Mai has so far failed to report back, and so I have to assume that she has been unsuccessful. Which means I have to turn my thoughts to finding a new heir."

He looked between them.

"On the one hand, I have my daughter," he said, "and on the other, my nephew, the son of my older brother."

"Yes?" Azula asked, eagerly.

"Now, that makes the matter of the succession very complicated. So I want to make it simple. I don't care who's older, or who's male, or who's my own child. I only care that the heir is competent enough to bring our Empire to the heights of grandeur it deserves. Which is why I am going to solve this problem with a test."

"A test? What is it?" Lu Ten didn't sound thrilled.

"Well, it's simple. The Avatar."

A smile crept across Ozai's face, never quite reaching his eyes.

"My commanders have had several opportunities to take her out, and they have all failed. Wherever my armies have suffered setbacks throughout this war, there you will find her. Avatar Yue."

He said the name with a great deal of disdain.

"She will only get stronger if we let her. The plan was to take her out while she was still weak. That will no longer be possible. But I have seen both of you train, and I know that you are up to the task. So here is the test. Bring me the Avatar. Preferably alive, so we don't just have this same problem in 16 years' time, but I won't complain too much if not. The one who does that returns a national hero- and, the new heir presumptive to the Fire Empire."

"And what about the other one?"

"Who knows? Maybe they won't be allowed back at all," Ozai smirked. "Or maybe just in disgrace. I haven't decided that part yet."

Ozai had decided that they needed all the encouragement they could get.

"Take who you want, use whatever you see fit. The elimination of the Avatar is an urgent national priority, and so the resources of the state are at your disposal. Give me the Avatar, and I will give you my crown."

Both of them fell to their knees in front of him, bowing deeply.

"It will be done, father," Azula told him. "I will not fail you."

"Neither will I," Lu Ten added, which just fell a bit flat.

"Go, then," Ozai gestured to the door. "Win me my war."