Focused Fire (ATLA)

While the Capital City was secured in little time, it took days longer for the islands at the edges of the Fire Nation’s boundaries to reaffirm their loyalties to the new regime. In several cases, the noble houses were forced to surrender all claims to their larger island holdings as compensation for their involvement with Fire Lord Ozai’s incompetent rule. Those islands were then promptly handed over to formerly ousted families that now returned to serve Fire Lord Iroh.

It was one of the more overt and expected moves for the new Fire Lord to rectify the imbalance in his court. The less obvious actions, enacted by Azula’s loyal and diligent agents, saw many new and younger family heads presenting themselves to court. Practically all of the ardent traditionalists who constantly opposed her before were absent; either killed  in a myriad of unsubtle circumstances, or lucky enough to abdicate their positions in both family and court. 

In the same vein, a series of internal and external takeovers plagued the mercantile dynasties of the Fire Nation, while all but one of the Fire Sages were replaced, and of the returning commanders from the continent barely a third would get to retain their ranks, including High General Shinu. The others would be put through a rigorous training regime to determine their suitability.

Azula had forcibly turned the Fire Nation over a new leaf, as a parting gift before she gave up all claims and severed all ties to it.

Even from the outside, Aang understood how much of a path she had blazed through towards unobstructed reform, but he couldn’t help but taste something bitter about the ruthlessness of it all. Azula was determined to purge what she saw was utter incompetence and corruption within the Fire Nation’s court, and use its ashes to fertilize a better system. She afforded the courtiers involved no compassion, and through the reign of terror sown by her agents, the survivors were in no position to negotiate for a compromise.

It was, from a certain political view, a regime change that would bring the least amount of suffering to the populace. So long as Iroh and Zuko remain benevolent, of course. But the price of blood that had been paid for this to happen…

Aang didn’t like it, but he hated that it was the option that made the most sense right now. From his lessons from Bumi and Iroh, a smooth transition of power, even if lubricated by blood, was better than one that faced resistance and insubordination. Especially in this case, the Fire Nation needed to be united so that a definite peace can be forged and the long war could be brought to a close at last. Any resistance against it, any splinter faction seeking to continue the fight, cannot be allowed to exist, for the sake of the greater good.

Just as how Aang would soon have to deal with the divide in the Earth Kingdom before it fully blows up into a civil war of its own. King Kuei - or more accurately his regent, as Xing, Iroh and Bumi would say - was slowly but surely building up supporters to solidify his legitimacy. Bumi had been unperturbed, and Xing even more so. From the short talk Aang had with them back in Ba Sing Se, the Water Tribes would supposedly refrain from involving themselves in any civil war on the Earth Continent, but that was only their official stance.

Now that he knew how to read between the lines, it was clear that both North and South Poles were hedging their bets on Bumi. Whether that’d mean discreet support though, Aang wasn’t sure. What he was certain of though was that Xing and Bumi had an agreement between them, and the odds were not stacked in any way to King Kuei’s side. The Avatar could only hope that the ousted king (or his lackeys) would not make a move any time soon. The Fire Nation still needed some tending before Aang move onto other tasks.

Though if he was lucky, the whole internal Earth Kingdom issue would resolve itself quickly, and it’d allow Aang to skip straight to reconnecting with his people in the Village of Hidden Clouds. The older folks might be stubborn, but Aang might be able to make some headway with the younger generation there. Xing and Bumi had promised their aid in rebuilding the Northern and Eastern Air Temples respectively, so it was only a matter of figuring out which home to relocate to and rebuild the Air Nomad civilization.

Hopefully the surviving airbenders wouldn’t mind moving into the air temples. Aang didn’t like to have to constantly visit Ba Sing Se just to reconnect with his people.

He already owed Xing too many favors, and for how much he now tolerated the guy, Aang didn’t look forward to the day when the Scorpion came to collect his debts.

Speaking of favors… Aang sighed as he saw the procession approaching the Fire Nation palace. He could make out Chiefs Arnook’s and Hakoda’s parties as being a smudge of blues and whites at one edge of the assembly of greens and yellow. The Earth Kingdom representatives looked to be a small army in and of themselves, but in truth they came as individual and independent groups. Bumi and his allies took the center of the procession, a variety of small banners rallying under the larger one of Omashu. Aang wasn’t sure of the identities of the other banners, but judging from how they seemed to form separate clumps, he’d have to guess that they belonged to Earth Kingdom states from the newly liberated north and west.

And then there was the dark-green and yellow yuan of Ba Sing Se, standing a bit more alone than the others. King Kuei’s representative was marked out simply by how their peers were avoiding them. Aang felt a headache coming on as he sensed the coming debates.

As Avatar, Aang was supposed to sit in as a not-so-neutral arbiter, but with most of the deals already hashed out in Ba Sing Se, this meeting in the palace was mostly to brief those not in the know, like Zuko, the independent states, maybe the Southern Water Tribe, and Kuei. Xing had ensured that there’d be some room for compromise and improvisation, but beyond that, the general terms were all but set in stone.

Thanks to King Kuei’s faction making an appearance, now it was just a matter of how much inevitable protesting everyone could take before the hammer was dropped. Well, it was a good thing Xing, Bumi and Arnook had their attack dogs prepared for the occasion so that Aang could stay out of most of it…

The Avatar watched the procession for a bit more before descending the palace to meet them at the throne room. The Water Tribes were respectful in their greetings with Iroh, and so were Bumi and his people. The lords and ambassadors of the northern and western states looked stiff and conflicted in exchanging their courtesies, while Kuei’s delegation were clearly torn between smug triumph and annoyance at not being the main stars.

Everyone bowed deeply when Aang made his appearance, and the young airbender just swallowed the trepidation from the overwhelming attention he got and willed himself to offer a formal greeting as Zuko and Xing had coached him.

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for attending this summit. As Avatar, I seek a restoration of balance to this scarred and war-torn world of ours, and I am keen to hear all your thoughts on what the future might hold for all of us. We shall begin our meeting as soon as you are all ready.”

With his performance done, Aang watched as the delegations were sent off to their accommodations before giving Iroh a curt nod and leaving to prepare himself for the great burden that was politics.

On the next day, the representatives were gathered once more in the throne room, this time seated in curved tables that formed a vast circle with Aang inside. There was bound to be some symbolism in the whole setup, but the Avatar was too annoyed at his task to bother right now.

Iroh and Zuko sat on the ‘head’ of the circle, closest to the throne, with a gaggle of officials standing behind them with pen and scrolls ready. On either side of them were the Water Tribes, Arnook to their left and Hakoda to the right. The rest of the circle was taken up by the Earth Kingdom states. 

And Xing and Azula representing Ba Sing Se, seated directly opposite of Iroh and Zuko. Bumi was somewhere in between, with Siang, King Kuei’s official, directly opposite of him.

Again, symbolism, but Aang really just wanted to get everything done with.

Aang rapped his staff on the stone floor to catch everyone’s attention. “Now, the long war is over. That much is assured. What we do now is to find a way to restore balance and peace to the world. The Fire Nation has done much against the Earth Kingdom and Water Tribes, but we must not be unjust and oppressive in seeking reparations.”

There were nods and a murmur of assent from the assembly, which made Aang feel rather proud of being able to pull off his ‘formal authority’ voice. But then Siang had to rise up from his seat and stab a finger at Xing’s direction. “Then we can start by having those oppressors evicted from Ba Sing Se!”

The murmurs died down, replaced with a cold, anxious silence as those states more familiar with Xing shrunk into their seats with grim, fearful grimaces.  Bumi’s eyes lit up with amusement, while the chieftains of the Water Tribes were shaking their heads ruefully. Aang too wanted to join them, but alas, he was stuck out here in plain sight.

“Well, might as well go straight to it,” Xing said, giving Siang a polite nod. “I take it that King Kuei will be returning once we’re gone?”

“Of course! It is only right to restore the Earth King to his capital city!”

The smirk on Xing’s face sent a shiver up Aang’s spine. “His right?”

The representative scoffed and folded his arms with disdain. “King Kuei comes from a long line of rulers who hold the rightful claim to rule over Ba Sing Se. The Earth Kingdom will not tolerate a Fire Nation tyrant oppressing its people, especially in the very heart of its capital city!”

For all the conviction the words were delivered, only a small group of Earth Kingdom states murmured in agreement. Many others were already wincing and bracing themselves.

“Is that so?” Xing gave a glance to Azula, who nodded like a satisfied predator, and then returned his attention to Siang. “Would you like us to re-brainwash your women then?”

Siang sputtered, Bumi let out a strained but audible cackle, and not a few lords and ambassadors sighed.

“The Joo Dees, Ambassador Siang. Would you like us to return them back? After all, one of the first thing us oppressive tyrants did was to liberate the hapless brainwashed women of Ba Sing Se from the predations of the Dai Lee. The Earth King’s most trusted servants.”

“Th-That’s…I mean…his highness was not aware of such a thing…!”

Azula spoke up, wearing a dark grin all the while. “Ah, but it happened nonetheless, did it not? Hundreds of women oppressively freed from under Lake Laogai, to be tyrannically broken from their conditioning. Hundreds of women who were forced to act as spies, seductresses…gifts.” The venom in which she uttered that last word made even Aang take a few steps back.

“We only got our tyrannical hands on hundreds of women that day. But do you know how many thousands we’ve missed? How many thousands had already been kidnapped, conditioned, used and discarded during the tenure of your king’s rightful rule?”

“King Kuei had nothing to do with the Dai Li’s insidious schemes!”

“As he had nothing to do with anything in regards to Ba Sing Se, or the Earth Kingdom,” Xing retorted with an unfriendly smile. “Kuei might have claim over the city, but with the utter dereliction of his duties as king, be it of Ba Sing Se or over the Earth Kingdom, I’d say he lost any real right to rule.”

“Here, here,” Bumi said with a slow clap, before rising up to butt in. “Maybe it’s my age acting up, but I for one don’t remember a time when Ba Sing Se under young King Kuei ever sent real aid to Omashu or its neighbors.”

“Only demands for men and taxes,” one man a few seats down from Bumi, a lord of some sort, huffed. “Na Fang only ever got shipments of weapons to arm our men with…so that they may be sent to wherever the king…no, the Dai Li wished them to go.”

“The Dai Li had no involvement or control over the war effort,” Siang replied, but Xing raised a lazy hand, and a handmaiden stepped forward to present a thick and weathered tome. He picked it up, and then slid it over to the lordling next to him.

“The ledger of Joo Dees here says otherwise. The previous war minister was already…gifted three of them for his loyalty, while blackmail through seduction was used to keep a leash over several commanders. At least two had their daughters’ minds threatened. Oh, we’ve got copies, if anyone wants.”

And then more servants stepped forth, producing newer replicas for the rest of the table to peruse.

“Where was I? Right. The gist of it is, the Dai Li subverted the Earth Kingdom military to ensure that all approaches to Ba Sing Se itself would be unassailable. Men were thrown to rebuff any advances towards it. Everywhere else?” Xing finished the question with a shrug. “During my time in the Fire Nation’s military, I don’t recall the south or the north putting up much of a fight…”

“Cheeky brat,” Bumi sniped without any heat to his words. “But the point stands, the young Scorpion is right. Right enough that I agree with him without reservation about this fact. Under King Kuei’s rule, or more accurately lack of it, the Earth Kingdom not in the way between Ba Sing Se and the Fire Nation had to fend for themselves.”

Surprisingly, Chief Arnook also chimed in with his thoughts. “The Northern Water Tribe used to have treaties of cooperation with Ba Sing Se, treaties that ensured the safeties of the seas between our realms. For more than a decade already, Ba Sing Se has not fulfilled their end of the treaties, forcing Agna Qel’a to withdraw its influence and support of the Earth Kingdom.”

Many unkind eyes turned towards Siang. “K-King Kuei is aware of the many…oversights that has-”

“Failures,” Azula bluntly corrected. “The many failures that were allowed to take place during his reign, ambassador. If you can call his idleness a reign.”

Every head bar Siang a few of his people were nodding to the princess’ harsh words. It then dawned on Aang that this was the true intention of the meeting. They could’ve made the negotiations all those days ago in Ba Sing Se official, drawing in delegates from across the continent and working there and then to earn their approval.

But instead, they - Xing, Azula…maybe even Bumi and Iroh - wanted to use this moment, this event to draw in and set up Kuei as a (rightful) target of discontent, to tarnish any return of Ba Sing Se as the throne city and strengthen, even legitimizing Xing’s claim to it.

They knew Kuei’s faction would want to be involved in any post-war discussion after a victory, to regain legitimacy and prestige, and had prepared to deal the opposite instead.

“It’s a farce, that’s what it is,” an official from a northern city agreed with a heavy thump of his fist onto the table.

Aang felt a sudden wave of pity for poor Siang as ambassadors and barons and dukes began speaking over each other to lambast Kuei’s lack of rule.

“Where were reinforcements when the Fire Nation seized Omashu?”

“Our ports were open and the north coast uncontested, so where was Ba Sing Se’s aid?” 

“So we emptied our cities of men to feed the war effort - which only served to protect Ba Sing Se and nothing else - and when we had to flee, our refugees, already poorly settled in the slums, also had to become prey to the Dai Li?”

Aang mutely watched as the torrent of abuse from the Earth Kingdom states unfolded against Ambassador Siang. It was bubbling resentment that finally spilled over, he realized. It was an anger that was years in the making, and the Avatar saw then the dangers of misrule. King Kuei was barely worth calling a king after what had transpired beyond his severely blinkered attention. And because of his obliviousness, because of the Dai Li’s corruption, the Earth Kingdom as a whole suffered. It was the opposite of Ozai’s delusional tyranny, but it was just as damning in its consequences. 

Aang looked to a rather pleased Xing, who only gave him a slight nod. It was a cruel way to present the lesson, but an effective one nonetheless.

Elsewhere at the circular conference, Bumi was cackling contentedly while most of his followers either grinned along or chimed in with their own issues against Ba Sing Se. Arnook and Hakoda took in the ruckus with weary disappointment, while Iroh watched impassively and Zuko seemed appalled by the whole thing.

“That’s enough!” Deciding that he’s gotten enough of the noise, Aang slammed his staff on the floor to return the meeting into order. The sudden silence was very satisfying. “Look, I know there’s a lot of issues that need settling with Ba Sing Se, but maybe we can do that later, once everyone’s calmed down. Right now, let’s focus on easier tasks, alright?”

Heads bobbed in agreement all around Aang, especially that of the beleaguered Siang. “Great. Now, Fire Lord Iroh. Let’s go over the simplest thing first: the colonies.”

Iroh nodded gravely. “The Fire Nation is prepared to give up all claims on the Earth Continent. We only ask that our people be allowed to return to the Fire Islands, or be fairly treated as subjects if they chose to remain under Earth Kingdom rule.”

“That sounds fair,” Chief Arnook muttered, which got a lot of heads nodding.

Aang gave Siang a glare before the man could speak up. “Ba Sing Se is recognized to be a different entity, and will be dealt with later, Ambassador Siang.”

“On a related note,” the duke of Chenbao chimed in, “While we all agree that Fire Nation imperialism is on a whole detestable, I must, however begrudgingly, admit to admiring the administering practices of its last colonial minister.”

Aang didn’t even need to turn his head to feel Azula preening from the praise.

“It is sad to say this, but under her oversight, our city has seen growth and prosperity as a faux-protectorate that is…surprising.” The duke gulped as he turned to Azula and Xing, giving them a respectful bow (overly so, in Aang’s opinion). “If possible, as part of reconciliation, I’d like further insight into the methods in which Princess Azula tended to the Fire Nation’s Colonial Ministry, that Chenbao might continue its growth while remaining independent.”

“It’s good to see my work being appreciated,” Azula breezily replied, grinning a bit too widely. “I can send over some staff to advise you, if you’d like? Or would you prefer a treatise be made?”

Another man raised his hand. “Bailing too, wishes to discuss the maintenance of infrastructure set up by the former colonial minister, particularly the farming vehicles and-”

Aang sighed and cleared his throat.  “Ba Sing Se is recognized to be a different entity, and will be dealt with later,” he echoed. “Any dealing with Princess Azula and Prince Xing will be conducted later alongside the fate of the city.”

Only as he finished the sentence did Aang realized the trap he’d set off. The duke of Chenbao was not the only one looking to Azula with begrudging respect. Some of the northern officials were clearly less begrudging about it too. They had a high enough opinion of her, and Azula was, for the moment, officially part of Xing’s independent realm of Ba Sing Se. The lords and ambassadors would have to appeal to the couple and their Ba Sing Se if they wanted anything from either of them. It could very well mean they’d further reject Kuei’s claims on the city, just to get on good terms with Azula.

“Stupid politics,” Aang sighed softly, but not softly enough that Xing clearly picked it up and grinned at him.