Chapter Text
Zuko awoke to the sound of unusually quiet footsteps near his door. The learned kind. Likely used to not getting caught.
His own royal cruiser, the Mizuchi, had intentionally only been staffed by people who he could reasonably prove to be loyal. Carefully sliding out from underneath the covers and stalking towards the door with his hands ready to strike, Zuko was bewildered. Who could possibly be trying something like this on his ship?
He was almost used to assassins at this point. He was shaken and angry the first time one of his father's supporters had tried to kill him, but he had stopped counting after the seventh or so attempt on his life.
It had become much too familiar.
He glided across the warmed metal floor with light footsteps. He could hear the person outside make the fatal mistake of causing a ruckus, with the clang of metal on metal.
Zuko cracked his neck and felt a burst of adrenaline before he swung the door open and threw his hand forth. His chi guided from his breath to his limbs, fire forming at the edge of his outstretched fist.
A sudden, terrified yelp rang out as the "assassin" fell flat on their bottom. The burst of firebending was snuffed out as quickly as it came out and a smoldering scorch mark was left on the wall of the hallway.
Zuko's heart dropped as his eyes looked down.
One of his servants had been nice enough to bring him tea. Tea that was now rapidly spilling across the floor.
Zuko cursed himself and scrambled to help her. He threw his robe on the tea and apologized.
"I am so sorry! Are you alright?" The servant seemed stunned, the top hairs on her head had been singed. Zuko could feel her eyes tracing him as he frantically cleaned up the spilled, scorching hot tea.
Getting his bearings after a few moments and realizing he was suddenly shirtless, he stood and turned to the servant. He recognized her, though he was loath to admit he couldn't remember her name.
She had a quite nondescript face, simple brown hair and eyes, but extremely smooth skin that was free from every blemish. She stilled sat, stunned as Zuko made a short bow and apologized.
"I'm sorry. I thought that…" He trailed off. How was he supposed to say he thought she was an assassin? He cleared his throat. "I thought that perhaps someone was coming to attack me in the night, as happened a few days ago. I hope you can forgive me for this."
She looked nervous as she rose and faced Zuko. "No, your majesty. Forgive me. I just thought that-" she nervously rubbed her hands and looked around. "With how little you seem to sleep… I thought you may enjoy some tea."
That was very thoughtful of her, Zuko mused. He supposed it was an odd gesture, in the middle of the night en route to another location. But he wasn't going to turn away someone's good will and let his suspicions get the better of him.
"I absolutely would, but I best get back to rest. I hope you can do the same." He paused, realizing he still couldn't place her name. "My apologies, but I can't remember your name."
She looked shocked, as though she was surprised to hear that the Firelord wanted to know who she was. "My name is Yuka, your majesty."
The woman was very timid, he noticed. He felt she had a face and a name but ones that he couldn't quite place. Shaking his head, Zuko nevertheless gave her a small smile and wished her well before returning to his chambers. Internally, he was wanting to slam his head into a wall.
The paranoia was getting to him. Even on this ship, where Uncle Iroh had helped him handpick people.
"Uncle. I really wish you were here to give me some advice on what to do." The whispers echoed quietly in the all-metal room. He hadn't seen uncle Iroh in over a year. It was the last time Uncle Iroh visited the Fire Nation. All he'd known from his messages was that he'd been spending his days in Ba Sing Se.
Zuko didn't want to burden him with more worrying about him, though. The man had done enough of that for years.
Cold sweat flung from his fingertips as he wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. Tired didn't explain even half of how Zuko felt right now.
But he would listen to his uncle, for once. "A man needs his rest", he muttered with exhaustion as he lazily fell into his bed once more.
The sounds of metal on metal pitter-pattered across the deck of the Mizuchi. Firelord Zuko was pacing back and forth as the ship sailed through a thick fog.
He hadn't heard from anyone in nearly two weeks, and they had to be approaching the city of Jeido by now.
The Mizuchi had a relatively uneventful voyage, sailing east from the capitol, and then up north up the rivers of the Northwestern parts of the colonies. It was testy in a few areas in the western sea that separated the continents, but it was still by and large under Fire Nation control.
Zuko watched the river he'd seen for days give way to more and more bustling buildings. Stone and metal structures peaked through the morning fog. From smokestacks of the larger buildings and the markets, to the sprawling homes and factories, Jeido was a sight to behold. The city sat just across the river, west of Pohuai Stronghold. He was reminded again of his selfishly motivated rescue of Aang.
Overall, it was a well defended city, and one of the oldest Fire Nation colonies alongside Yu Dao. And, it was a place he had only been to a handful of times in his search for the Avatar.
The borders that Zuko had drawn at the meetings with Aang and King Kuei were that the Northwestern territory was Fire Nation, and a large area past the mountains in the central-west.
He had done this to maintain the Colonial borders, until the people could be moved back to the mainland. The problem was, the Fire Nation had experienced unprecedented population growth in the last century. The borders were seeming less and less of a temporary measure as of late…
Zuko rubbed his forehead tiredly as he thought to himself. How could he possibly be expected to move the hundreds of thousands of people in the colonies back to the mainland? Agni, it would probably take decades at a minimum just to create areas for them to live across the sea. And then, how was he to feed them?
His father's words about him being the Firelord and serving his people came to his mind.
He shook his head. They were to dock soon and he couldn't spend all day thinking about political issues he hadn't found the answers to yet. Not when he was already trying to tackle one.
Soon, the Mizuchi was being brought to dock, and Zuko could see the crowds of people lined up to greet him.
He had hoped his arrival would be less conspicuous and grand but he would take this over what he had been getting at court.
Much of the crowd of people wore Earth Kingdom greens and yellows, though they were noticably mostly separate from those in Fire Nation reds and golds.
Scanning the crowd, Zuko saw many people cheering the arrival of their Firelord. But he also saw many look on with blank faces and frowns. And some, though not many, he could spot as having hatred. If looks could kill, well, he supposed he'd be dead by now a few times over.
But they'd have to send some competent assassins his way if they wanted that done.
The buildings were all stacked against one another in a fashion not too dissimilar to the lower ring of Ba Sing Se. They practically moved out in waves over the hills that were past the river. On the horizon Zuko could spot open fields and deep forests illuminated by the afternoon Sun.
The ship lurched as it fully docked. The hiss of steam and the creaking of Fire Nation steel filled the air as the bow of the ship opened and lowered itself.
Firelord Zuko tuned out the crowds and took a deep breath before putting one foot in front of the other and having his men follow him.
On Zuko's immediate right was a familiar man. Though he had balded a bit more with his hairline reaching further back and his hair had become more silver in the last few years, Jee was now a Captain by Zuko's own hand. The man's topknot back on his head as well.
He was as down to earth as ever, Zuko mused. Despite the years they spent together not being able to stand one another, Jee was respectable and knew him.
And, it was a big bonus that Jee never tried to undermine him or flatter him.
"Well, your majesty, off to the city." Jee stated with a tired voice.
Zuko smirked. "What's the matter, Captain? You're not excited to score on the locals playing Pai Sho?"
Jee looked at him as they began to descend the bow, the crowds threatening to spill into the escort. "As if I could do that." An elbow jabbed into his side. "I'll be too busy guarding your sorry butt since your Uncle's not around."
Zuko raised an amused eyebrow at Jee's serious tone.
"Sorry, I meant: I'll be too busy guarding you, sir." He quickly added.
The young Firelord barked out a short laugh. It hurt to be reminded he was in this fight with so few at his side. But he knew he could count on Jee.
"Careful, Captain. Better mind your decorum when we're in the city." A dead stare met his own sarcastic tone as they reached the ground. Though Zuko could spot the small smirk that at the edges of Jee's lips
Laid before them was a haphazardly prepared welcoming party. It was clear that everyone in the city expected something of him, given the tension. They all had to know he wasn't here without reason, and the atmosphere reflected that being a mix of varying emotions.
Soldiers beat on drums rhythmically, threatening to be drowned out by a cacophony of voices. They sounded out the anthem of the Fire Nation with horns.
Zuko walked amidst the crowds of people with outstretched hands gathering either to thank and venerate him, or to drag him into an angry mob. Which idea he hated more, he wasn't sure.
Stone buildings hosted watchful eyes as the path was tread into the thickening crowd. It was as if the entire city had been put on hold in order to see what would come next.
Looking ahead, he saw a man approaching him. He looked more than a bit young to be the governor, however.
He was slender, his hair long and black as night and his angular, boxy face was marked with scars. He noticed the elegant topknot and rich red armor in perfect condition. There wasn't a single dent on the armor, despite it denoting him as a corporal.
Zuko frowned. He had hoped to ease tensions by having a public display of unity with Governor Makato.
"Welcome to Jeido, your majesty." A dry, almost sardonic voice sounded out from the slender man in front of him. An aloof smirk teased his lips as he made a respectful bow. "I am Corporal Teko."
Zuko bowed back and thanked the man. But he couldn't hide his feelings.
"Where is Governor Makato? I was told he would be here."
The man he now knew was named Teko gestured for him to follow.
With his escort keeping the people at bay, he kept pace with the man through the dock areas and towards a circular market crowded with people.
"Since the noise isn't gonna die down for a while… Governor Makato is very ill. That's why he didn't come out to meet you." The corporal said practically yelling over the cacophony of voices.
Zuko was taken aback by the information. "He's sick? What with? Why wasn't I told?"
"The nurses aren't sure what he's sick with, but he hasn't been doing well for a while." Teko sounded tired. In an exasperated sort of way. "Since you were expecting to meet him, I'm going to assume no one told you about the situation here."
Zuko nodded his head. No one had said a word about it.
"Alright then, if not the governor, then who can I speak to about the events? You know, like the attempted rebellion?"
Teko snorted at the question, slowing to turn a corner on their way through the streets of the city. The people must have expected a grand entrance like his father would have done and swarmed to the docks.
"You really are in the dark, eh your majesty?" Jee's face soured and Zuko didn't answer. Teko continued. "I'm taking you to meet his son, Keiji. To tell you the truth, this city is like a barrel of blasting jelly set to go off at any moment."
Zuko went silent, questions dying on his lips as he looked at the state of the city. It was much like Yu Dao. Towering multi-story buildings with red roofs showing businesses and estates that belonged to those of Fire Nation descent. While the lower roughshods hidden in the corners like what they made their way through were clustered together with green roofs. Marking them as others. As second-class citizens.
Captain Jee was unphased by the sight, as were many of his guards. It frustrated Zuko that people failed to see the rift in their own society that had led to the local conflict.
A fairly young woman decked in green spent her time sweeping and cleaning in front of a store with wooden doors that were splintered and broken. The small store was sandwiched between two large buildings. It was a tea shop, like he worked in with Uncle Iroh in the lower ring of Ba Sing Se.
The city wasn't just ready to blow, it was showing its cracks visibly.
The woman looked his way and met his eyes for several moments before gripping her broom and throwing it to the ground.
Captain Jee stepped forward, predicting the hostility. Before Zuko could utter a word, his escort had fire in hand ready to go at a moment.
The street was brought to a simmering silence.
"You!" An accusatory finger was pointed at Zuko. "You're just like your father! Sitting around and telling us how great it is to be in these colonies while we get treated as less than people!" Spittle flew out of her mouth as her rage was let out at him.
"Firelord Zuko, we should keep moving." Teko said in a quiet voice as Captain Jee ordered her to step back.
"Listen lady, you're gonna need to step back from the Firelord." Jee said gruffly, his fists displaying his willingness to firebend.
"Don't you tell me what to do!" She threw at Jee before turning back to Zuko. "My family has been here for 4 generations, and we still get treated like this!" She wildly gestured to her store, halfway broken down and with many of the chairs and tables inside clearly in pieces.
"Firelord Zuko…" Teko's voice went deeper as he nocked an arrow into his bowstring.
"What about us? You're the Firelord, but what about us?" Her voice was thick with raw resentment and desperation.
Zuko felt the knot that had been in his throat loosen and he spoke. "I-I'm sorry."
Her frown turned into confusion as he spoke. "I'm sorry that this happened to you. It isn't right. But I promise you, I'll help you get your shop fixed. And we'll figure out what-"
A few people shouted at the woman in the crowd that had gathered. Zuko noticed what Teko was becoming so cautious for. His escort was effectively being blocked off in the street.
"Figure out what happened? A bunch of people threw huge rocks through my windows and collapsed the back room of my shop before being chased away."
"Wait, do you mean that Earthbenders attacked your tea shop?" The woman looked at him like he was a different person entirely before snorting back a laugh.
"You really don't know how it works here, do you? We all thought that after Yu Dao you'd…" She trailed off before staring at the ground for a few quiet moments. She looked back up and choked out, "If you really care about the promises you made with Avatar Aang and the Earth King, you should have been here a long time ago."
A small rock sailed through the air and struck the woman in the head.
Wheeling on the crowd, Zuko heard the voices in the crowd get louder. His mouth opened to shout but he cut himself off as he felt the ground shift. Feeling his head pulse with a building worry and rage, he spotted two figures obscured by the mass of bodies. They were moving through the strong, rough movements of an Earthbending kata. "Captain!" Zuko barked as the whistle of a rock sailing through air was heard.
He yanked his old comrade back and a rock shot by where Jee's head was just a moment ago, crashing into the opposite end of the crowd.
There was a moment of silence before chaos erupted. Streaks of fire appeared through the air. Why were they fighting? Why wouldn't anyone just stop to listen!?
"Stop! I command you to hold your fire!" Shouting with all his might, he knew some heard his voice. But none listened.
Steam began to form on his skin when a pop sounded in the air and smoke filled the street. He looked to Teko nocking another arrow, and with a sleek motion and a whistle of the arrow, another cloud of smoke popped into existence.
"Firelord Zuko! We need to leave. Now!" Captain Jee and his men stood with fire in hand, ready to fight.
Zuko wanted to stop them from fighting. He wanted to find the right words to say. The woman who had accosted him was on the ground, blood streaking down the left side of her face. Through the spreading smoke, her eyes bore into his own with a sad look as violence erupted.
Grimacing and white knuckling his fists, Zuko did what he could do.
"All of you! With me! We're following the corporal out of here."
He just wanted words to work. But they always seemed to fail them. He always seemed to fail, when he needed to succeed the most.
Seconds later, he couldn't see the woman as they backed through an alley.
After making their way through a network of alleyways that gave way to nicer and nicer buildings, the group crested a hill and were met with a decent size polished metal wall. The soldiers atop the stout lookout towers let them in as soon as they recognized the group.
Zuko heard the violence in the distance and his stomach stayed in the pits where it had been since Mai had left him. As the doors shut, Zuko felt so much more like a coward. And all of the buildings inside? They were all Fire Nation in nature. "Of course they are." Zuko muttered bitterly.
The tiers of citizenship and the divide in the city was tearing it apart. It was tearing his nation apart. And he wasn't sure how to solve the problem.
He wished he could make everyone happy, but that was impossible. And he wished he could simply get people to listen to him.
But for the time being, hopefully one person would suffice.
The government building of Jeido was surprisingly, not a very opulent place. It was austere, and almost quaint. The room in which Firelord Zuko sat was filled by a marble table and two plain, wooden chairs. Banners bearing the Fire Nation insignia were draped over the wall of the entrance, but aside from that, the place mostly hosted artwork of landscapes and history.
It was certainly a far cry from the usual decor of someone in power.
He had been waiting for quite some time for the governor's son to arrive, but he supposed he hadn't exactly showed up in good circumstances.
He cringed to think of what may be happening beyond the walls of the little bubble he was now in.
As if on queue with that thought, Zuko heard footsteps and saw a relatively young man enter the room. He was about his own height, but with a long face. The man looked gaunt, his eyes and cheeks sunken in. If Zuko were being honest, he thought perhapsKeijiwas the sickly one.
Though maybe the man was just as sickly as he was. The stresses of ruling were not for the faint of heart.
His eyes were a bright green, and his hair was in a traditional topknot. While it was quite short for a Fire Nation citizen, it was kept well and clean. But what stood out most, was the red and marred flesh on his face, a scar not too dissimilar from Zuko's own. It trailed from below his right eye, across his cheek like a handprint, then dipped past his chin and marred part of his neck.
After a short, deep bow, Keiji spoke. "Firelord Zuko. Apologies for taking so long." Breathing deeply he sat down and rubbed his temple. "But the city is currently in chaos."
Zuko clenched his jaw, forgetting the phantom pain of his own scar and took a calming breath. He bent forward and spoke. "I'm sorry. For causing such trouble. But I wanted to help sort out this mess myself."
A small frown formed on the face of the governor's son. "Yeah, well, all you've managed to do is make it worse so far."
And, there went his hope of having a discussion that wouldn't be a massive pain in his ass.
"I know. But…" He trailed off. How was he supposed to tell a random stranger that his own advisors and ministers weren't even telling him of the affairs of the people?
"Information has been scarce. And if nothing else, it is my responsibility to embrace matters of dispute in the Fire Nation." He put it carefully and diplomatically.
Keiji seemed halfway between annoyed and bored when he finally replied. "So what was your plan? Show up to the city and put things right with a few nice words and a stamp of your approval?"
It was Zuko's turn to frown and feel annoyed at the man's blatant disrespect. "I hoped-hope, that my presence would help to add to stability if I personally oversee restoring the peace."
"Restoring the peace?" Keiji laughed out the words before becoming silent and staring at nothing. "I've been trying that for months. But the Earth Kingdom refuses to listen to reason."
The Earth Kingdom? Zuko was confused. "What exactly does the Earth Kingdom have to do with this?"
With an arched eyebrow and splayed hands Keiji said, "They refuse to obey the border agreement. They have a local garrison past Pouhai Stronghold."
"They have what?" Zuko coughed out as a servant came to bring the two of them tea.
Grabbing a cup while the servant poured, Keiji squinted at him. What was he thinking behind those green eyes. That he was a fool? Incompetent?
"You really don't understand the gravity of what has been going on, do you? Or anything at all, it seems." The words were quiet, and piercing.
Zuko shook his head as he lifted a now full teacup to his lips. Setting the frankly below average tea back to the table a moment later, Zuko chuckled. "Agni, I missed uncle Iroh."
"I'm sorry?" Zuko realized he had thought that out loud and waved his hands.
"Nothing." He cleared his throat and sat straight. "Now let's assume I'm completely uninformed. What exactly has been going on here? I thought it was just civil unrest like in Yu Dao."
Keiji rubbed his chin, freshly shaven despite how run ragged he seemed to be. "Alright… well it's really been with the last few months or so. Surprisingly, even with the," he put up air quotes mockingly, "Harmony Restoration Movement and their efforts, we haven't had that many upheavals since the end of the war."
Grimacing, he sipped more tea and ran a hand through his neat black hair, roughing it up in the process. "But, as the border agreement has been trampled on more and more by the Earth Kingdom, many in the city angry with the Fire Nation have taken the opportunity to begin attacks on local businesses. Critical infrastructure, city watch patrols, and military barracks have all been assailed in raids by separatists."
A scowl split Keiji's forehead. "General Fong denies his soldiers' involvement time and time again, but it's clear these people have support from the Earth Kingdom military."
General Fong? That was the crazy general Aang told him was obsessed with trying to control the Avatar State. Kuei put him in charge of overseeing this section of the border?
"We've found Earth Kingdom armor and weapons in places we've raided. They had to get it from somewhere. And I suppose it's just a coincidence that several would-be rebels we've captured are soldiers, isn't it?"
Zuko gripped the wood of the chair and breathed his anger down. "How exactly are they getting away with this? You have evidence!"
Keiji coldly met his eyes. "You ordered that any actions taken militarily across the border would be a violation of the peace treaty. As long as that is in place, the Earth Kingdom can poke and prod all they want. After all, who will the Earth King believe more? His own general? Or local Fire Nation people in land he considers his?"
Zuko swallowed and sunk into his chair. He just wanted for there to be peace. And it seemed his father's words kept being beaten into his skull.
"The border is supposed to be temporary anyway…" Zuko said tiredly.
"That's exactly the problem, your majesty." Keiji said simply, drinking his tea. "The longer it takes to move people, the more they'll push for this land and those west of it. You really ought to have figured that out sooner."
Zuko's eyes flashed angrily. He was getting tired of the attitude from others. "I'm sorry, was I too busy trying to hold together an empire that hasn't known how to function without being at war for a hundred years? I should have thought of that sooner."
Keiji went to bite back, but Corporal Teko entered the room. "Keiji, your majesty. I…" The archer looked between the two. "Did I miss something?"
Keiji sighed. "Not at all. Now what's the matter?"
Zuko saw Teko hesitate. The earlier aloof attitude was replaced with a grim one. "Your father's breathing is worse. He's not waking up as of right now."
Keiji was silent, his mouth not able to form words well. "Is he…?"
"He's alive. Just not conscious right now. The nurses are trying all they can. Your mother just thought you should know." The man said with all the awkwardness of someone who was helping someone else suffering. Not knowing the experience, but trying their best to uphold their friend.
After a few moments of silence, Teko excused himself. Keiji looked down at the ground before clearing his throat. "If you want to help restore the peace, then you need to try speaking with General Fong. I doubt he'd try hurting the Firelord himself."
"I'm sorry, about your father. I didn't know that he was in such bad shape." Zuko said apologetically. The man ignored him and stood up. He followed.
"If you can't resolve this problem by speaking to the General, then there may be only one way." With his hands pointing to a painting on the wall. It depicted the city of Taku on fire. It was one of the first battles of the 100 Year War.
"I want to avoid war. I just want us to have peace." Zuko said evenly, turning to meet Keiji's eyes again.
"You may want peace, but a lot of other people don't." There were Ozai's words again. He felt he could practically feel his father's smirk an ocean away.
"Then help me. You're from here. Help me to find a way to reach the people if need be." Zuko asked, holding out a hand.
Keiji kept his arms linked behind his back and turned away. "I have family business to attend to. Apologies for this being so short. Good luck, your majesty." With a curt bow, Keiji left the room.
Zuko looked back at the painting. Where was Aang when you needed him? He thought wearily.
Was this how his great grandfather, Avatar Roku felt? When it seemed no matter what he did, Sozin was going to go to war?
"And look how that turned out." Zuko said bitterly as he left the quaint room to find a messenger hawk.
Him and the general would be having a little chat. And hopefully not before he took care of some other business.