Summary: Two years after the war, Fire Lord Zuko has consolidated his hold of the Dragon Throne, having purged the court and earned the tentative support and respect of his people. But the more united the Nation becomes, the more wary the other kingdoms grow, and the fragile peace is threatened by an incendiary rumour that has spread through the colonies; a rumour which could light the spark of another war. Together, Team Avatar must piece together a broken world.
A group of teenagers competently ruling the most powerful nation in the world and striving for world peace while simultaneously being idiots. Team Avatar in a nutshell.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
Chapter 1: The Rulers of Fire
The Caldera during a late summer evening was pleasantly cool as the sun gave way to the moon in the darkening sky. The palace was resplendent and grand, the gardens peaceful and sparsely populated as courtiers left the centre of governance for their homes as the day drew to a close. A few lingered behind to chat with their fellow ministers.
“-can't believe our great nation has come to this.” A man partially hidden behind a tree was saying to a fellow governor, one who didn't look enthusiastic to be part of the conversation. “A foreign witch traipses around the homeland, mudslingers root loyal nobles from their homes, and schoolgirls in face paint swagger about the palace halls!” The old, ranting man released a puff of steam from his nostrils. “The Fire Lord fills the positions of most importance with foreign harlots!”
The minister he was talking to looked positively alarmed at his words. “Watch what you’re saying Chen! You sound like Ozai’s supporters,” he hissed warningly.
“Don’t mix me in with them,” Chen sneered. “If they haven’t been rooted out by the Beifong bitch, they’ve gone so deep into hiding they won’t crawl out for years.” Reluctant admiration crept into his voice. “Even if she’s a little girl, the Fire Lord knew what he was doing when he hired her. But the rest of them!”
“Lady Mai is Fire Nation.”
“A sixteen-year-old,” Chen scoffed. “The Fire Nation is being ruled by a group of teenage girls!”
Standing behind the gossiping nobles with his arms crossed, Fire Lord Zuko was scowling.
“I didn’t realise I was a girl, much less a group of them. But you know what they say, you learn something new every day.”
Zuko’s sarcastic interjection made Minister Chen jolt upright like he’d been shot with lightning. Despite the lightness of Zuko’s words, the ambient temperature rose several degrees as the fire in his chest burned at the insult to his friends. The man’s colleague paled, stepped a large step away from Chen and bowed.
“My Lord!” The guilty courtier spun around with fearful eyes and dropped to his knees. “I meant you no offence!”
“No,” Zuko agreed, not asking him to rise. “You meant offence to my honoured guests. Those teenage girls are bending masters, ambassadors, and experienced warriors who fought in the war, who now contribute to the stability of our great nation. They are more than worthy of your respect and admiration. The next time you say such will be the last time you speak before me at all.”
“Yes, my Lord. Thank you for your mercy my Lord!” He kowtowed in the traditional Fire Nation supplication, face pasty white, holding the position until Zuko swept by. The clatter of the courtier’s feet and the patter of the Kiyoshi warriors followed in his wake.
Minister Chen would be useful as bait in case Ozai’s supporters contacted him, and if he didn’t change his ways then he would lose his voice in court forever. Zuko had dismissed minsters from his court for insulting his friends before. If the insult was vile enough, he had outright banished them in the age-old, favourite tradition of the Fire Lords. Being permanently barred from politics had crushed the dreams and aspirations of more than a handful of them before the rest wised up.
They entered Zuko’s study after a short walk through the palace halls, and Zuko sat behind his desk, Suki and one of her warriors taking positions at his back.
“You were saying, Minister Qin?”
The older man cleared his throat. “The last of our factories that were causing negative effects on the environment have been closed. We are temporarily employing their workers to clean the pollution, but that is only a temporary solution. The lost jobs from the factory closures will have to be replaced.”
The former War Minister Qin now served as Zuko’s Technology Minister, no longer stealing from the mechanic of the Northern Air Temple but maintaining and improvising upon what they had for purposes other than war. To say Qin had been against this turn of events was an understatement.
Zuko nodded in acknowledgement then turned to the other minster who was as far from Qin’s image as possible. Not only was the Minister of Justice a woman, she was also as least three decades younger.
“Lady Beifong and the Dai Li have apprehended the late Admiral Zhao’s family and are transporting them to the Caldera pending their trial.”
He knew that already. Zuko raised a brow, wondering where she was going with this.
“Admiral Zhao committed great crimes against the spirits, and there are many who believe a harsher punishment may appease them.” Zuko noted that Minister Ran avoided saying whether she agreed with this sentiment.
“The Fire Lord ended the practice of familial exterminations,” Minister Qin interjected, to Zuko’s great surprise. The man was as recalcitrant as he was unfortunately competent and had never supported Zuko in anything, especially if it went against tradition. Suddenly speaking up now was entirely out of character.
“Yes,” Zuko said a beat late. “So long as the Zhaos are not found guilty of criminal acts, they will be released with compensation for the rough handling.” He turned to Minister Qin. “I want that plan for adapting our existing technologies for agricultural use by next week at the latest.”
“Yes my Lord.” The man bowed, and Zuko was surprised again. Where was the dragging of feet, the excuses for the delays, the recalcitrant attitude and veiled disrespect? After another brief pause he turned back to the Justice Minister.
“Minster Ran, prepare for the Zhaos’ trial. Speak with Lady Mai and make sure they are not mistreated in the meantime. Dismissed.”
His ministers made the flame with their hands and bowed, backing from the room. Zuko let out a dragging sigh, beyond relieved the day’s work was coming to an end.
“I thought I would be happy the day Minister Qin agreed with me,” Zuko grumbled, slipping out the sharp cadences of fire nobility to the common earth kingdom vernacular, slumping in his chair. “But his sudden change of heart doesn’t bode well.”
Suki nodded thoughtfully, her scrutinising gaze lingering on the door. She had learnt to speak the common fire nation tongue in prison but was still working on the dialect the nobility used.
“It is odd,” the Kiyoshi warrior agreed. I feel he’s had a change of heart about you. But at the same time Qin’s too stuck in his ways and I don’t think he’s changed his ideals at all.”
“That’s what worries me. Why does it seem like he’s having a huge misunderstanding about my intentions?” Zuko’s question was directed to Suki but another voice answered him.
Perched on the windowsill was a familiar figure in yellow and orange robes.
The Avatar hopped off the balcony railing and landed lightly on his feet, grinning.
“You shouldn’t be sneaking in, it’s bad for security,” Suki scolded, though she didn’t sound too upset.
“It’s good to see you Aang,” Zuko greeted, “but I thought we were going to meet at the Summit?”
“Hehe sorry Suki. And that was the plan,” Aang agreed, “but I have a lot to tell you so we decided to drop by first.”
The door to Zuko’s study slammed open before he could ask what the airbender meant, and in stalked Toph, Mai close on her heels.
“I thought I felt your toes, Twinkletoes,” Toph greeted him with a playful punch before laying down on the couch and rudely putting her feet up on the arm rest.
Aang complained about the nickname while rubbing his shoulder and Suki smiled at her fellow Kiyoshi warrior. “Take the night off, Ying. The Fire Lord will be safe with us here.”
“You got it captain.” The young woman saluted cheerfully, bumping into someone as she was leaving. “Oh, hello Katara, Sokka.”
“Hi Ying,” Katara’s voice sounded as she rounded the corner. “Look who I found stealing fire flakes from your kitchen.”
“I’ve been flying all day and Zuko doesn’t mind,” Sokka protested, entering the study just behind his sister.
“Sokka!” Suki beamed, rushing to greet her boyfriend. “You flew in with Aang?”
The water tribesman smiled dopily back at her, dropping a kiss on her painted lips. “Yep, I was in Gaoling organising trade deals when I bumped into him coming down from Omashu.”
“Yeah.” Sokka grimaced. “The trades are actually with your family. They didn't mind dealing with our tribe, but they also haven’t changed their stance on… uh, other stuff.”
Toph sneered, crossing her arms. “No surprise there.”
“Yeah.” Sokka coughed awkwardly. “They, um, also ascribe to some of the weirder rumours that’s been going around the Earth Kingdom.”
“More rumours?” Katara asked, rolling her eyes.
“Yeah, that’s what we came to talk to you about, Zuko,” Aang said awkwardly.
He scoffed. “What now? Are they saying I eat babies for breakfast or something?”
“No, no,” Toph said, her voice full of laughter. “Zuko only eats raw meat because he’s actually a dragon pretending to be human, except he’s really bad at it. That’s why he’s so awkward all the time.”
“Uh no. Nothing about food preferences this time. They kinda think you’re an evil mastermind who’s planning to take over the world via diplomacy?” the monk’s voice lilted upwards apologetically.
Zuko snorted humorously and Toph outright laughed. “Sparky? A mastermind? Zuko couldn’t mastermind his way out of a paper bag!”
The girls all joined in the laughter, even Mai smiled.
“Hey!” he protested, though it was half-hearted at best. “I could totally be a mastermind!”
They laughed harder, all except for Aang and Sokka.
Katara’s eyes widened. “You’re not joking?”
The airbender winced. “No, they really think Zuko’s trying to take over the Earth Kingdom, only using diplomacy and scheming instead of force.”
“That’s why Ozai’s old supporters that we couldn’t get rid suddenly became helpful!” Suki burst out. “Do they also believe that nonsense?”
It had been seriously getting to them, thinking Zuko’s more treacherous ministers were planning something sinister. If it was them just tricking themselves by listening to nonsense rumours then that would be great, but problems rarely ever resolved themselves so easily for Zuko. And by rarely he meant never.
Zuko shook his head. “No way, I’m never that lucky. They’re definitely planning something.”
“No,” Sokka shook his head, “I think they might actually believe the rumours.”
“But they’ve met me. They know I’m not some evil mastermind!”
Becoming Fire Lord had not improved Zuko’s people skills.
“I'm not sure they do,” Aang said apologetically. “And it’s not just the Fire Nation, the rumour started in the Earth Kingdom. It’s spread pretty far, I’ve heard a lot of people believe it, like General Fong and Colonel Wen, as well as the Pangs and the Yan Su Hongs.”
Zuko eventually broke the silence. “Shit. You’re serious.”
“I know, I couldn’t believe Zuko would ever have to defend himself from being accused of being an evil genius either,” Sokka shook his head disbelievingly, “but those guys don’t know you. They only see your actions through the lens of their own suspicion, and it makes them see what they expect to see.”
“Yeah, it doesn’t help that a lot of your armies are still in the Earth Kingdom,” Aang added.
“I can't just pull them all out!” Zuko exclaimed, revisiting the old argument. “Chaos would descend upon the lands and it would leave all the Fire Nation citizens who live there unguarded!”
“I know!” Aang raised his hands defensively. “But that’s not how they see it.”
The firebender got to his feet angrily. “I pulled out all our forces from Ba Sing Se! I’ve spent the last year withdrawing them from the eastern front. Uncle may be an ‘honoured guest’ and is free to run his tea shop, but we all know the Earth Kingdom considers him a hostage to keep me in line!”
The firebender stalked the length of his study, candles flaring with his emotions. His fists clenched. Zuko hadn’t seen his uncle since the last time he visited the Earth Kingdom capital a year ago. What if someone assassinated him in hopes of restarting the war? Zuko knew his uncle could take care of himself, but what if they poisoned his tea? It only took one person like Jet, and then the nations would be up at arms again.
He furiously wore holes through his carpets until Katara tugged at his robe to stop him.
“How is Uncle doing?” Toph asked, sitting up. “It can't be easy for the Dragon of the West to live in the middle of Ba Sing Se.”
Zuko started pacing again. “You know what Uncle’s like, he’s having fun pretending to be harmless old geezer. He doesn’t say anything when he writes, but yeah, he’s probably been chasing off assassins by the dozen as well.”
“Is that still happening?” Aang frowned, worriedly fiddling with his staff. “I thought they’d stopped by now.”
‘We haven’t had an incident in four months,” Suki said, “not since the last time someone tried to poison Zuko’s food. It’s a good thing Mai pushed for a taste tester. Otherwise, and I hate to say this, but we might have missed it,” she finished unhappily.
“Hey, don’t be so hard on yourselves, you guys are warriors, not poison experts,” Katara consoled, though she also shot Zuko a concerned look.
“Most of the nobles are too scared to act right now,” Mai added, “or they just don’t see the point when security is so high. Now that they’ve tried all sorts of methods and none of them have worked, they won’t try again for a while. But I doubt we’ve seen the last of them.”
Sokka shook his head. “Right. As disturbing as Zuko’s regular schedule of attempted assassinations is, that’s not our main worry right now.” His face contorted and he tried to backtrack. “I mean, it’s probably Zuko’s main worry, and it’s not like I’m not worried too, I’m super worried! Not that I don't trust you guys to handle it, I only meant-”
“We get it Sokka.” Suki rolled her eyes.
Aang took over. “People no longer think that you’ll restart the war. Only it’s not because you’re a believer of peace and equality, but because they think you can accomplish a takeover better by selling yourself as a good guy.”
Katara’s voice rose dangerously. “Selling himself as a good guy? Haven’t they considered it’s because Zuko is a good person?”
Zuko was touched by her words and tried to suppress the usual sensation of warm gooiness in his chest that always arose whenever one of his friends stuck up for him. Mai rolled her eyes at him, so he probably wasn’t successful at keeping it off his face.
“You’ve been doing a great thing Zuko,” Aang said. “Even the Earth Kingdom people in the colonies are glad you’re keeping the peace! But outside of the colonies things are deteriorating.” He shook his head sadly. “Ba Sing Se was never meant to grow so large. The Earth Kingdom used to have a hundred kings and city-states, with the kings having a lot of local power and only the over-arching issues being decided by a council under the High King. Without the war, without a foreign aggressor, they’re splintering again and jockeying for political power. Banditry is running rampant in the east, and the northern districts are pushing for complete independence from the crown.”
Zuko saw where this was going. “They’re blaming me for their internal issues,” he said, heart sinking and voice certain.
“What? That’s ridiculous!” Katara exclaimed.
Aang’s face was sad as he nodded. “They think it’s all a grand scheme of yours to destabilase the Earth Kingdom. And to make things worse, there’s a drought.”
Zuko’s eyes furrowed as he thought back to the latest reports from his governors in the colonies. “I haven’t heard this.”
The Avatar’s grey eyes were solemn and he looked far older than his fourteen years. “That’s because it’s only been in the south-eastern region, not in the western colonies. The summer was a hot one and there’s still no sign of rainfall, and the hardest place hit is Shenzhen. They’re the Kingdom’s breadbasket.”
Zuko’s lips thinned. “There’s going to be a famine.”
“A bad one,” Sokka agreed grimly. “People in Ba Sing Se are scared and some are leaving to return to their homes now that the Fire Nation is no longer attacking. Kuei is, well. Not the most inspiring ruler, and they believe it’s safer to live under your rule since the banditry in the east has gotten so bad. The upper-class think you’re poaching their citizens and converting them to Nation. There are even rumours…
“What?” Zuko asked flatly.
“There are even rumours that you’re behind the drought.”
He threw his hands up in utter exasperation. “So now I can control the weather!?” Zuko tried to run a hand through his hair, made a noise of frustration and plucked his crown out and tossed it onto his desk. Then he flopped onto the sofa next to Toph. “People actually believe this?”
“Well, everyone knows that the Fire Nation consider the Fire Lord as Agni’s will on earth. Now the sun is scorching the territories that aren’t under your protection… and people are dumb.” Sokka, ever the sceptic of superstitions, rolled his eyes.
“It doesn’t help that some people think I’m too biased towards the Fire Nation,” Aang said, his tone shaded with tired gloom.
“What? You’re the Avatar!” Katara said angrily while Toph made an indignant noise.
“How could they say that?” Zuko exclaimed the same time Suki scoffed.
Aang had done his best for the people of every nation, always. He’d spent two years flying from place to place, listening to old men argue and shout at each other, mediating with more patience and wisdom than all of them had shown combined. How dare they insinuate he was lacking as the Avatar!
“They think me rebuilding the Western Air Temple with Fire Nation resources is a bribe or a ploy to make me favour your country. They also don’t like how much time I spend here.”
“Those are war reparations, not a bribe!” Zuko said indignantly. “I literally only returned the Air nomad artefacts that we stole in the first place and lent you some architects. It wasn’t nearly enough to make up for our crimes, and even then it didn’t cost a fraction of a percent of what the Earth Kingdom are demanding.”
“It’s not only that,” Sokka spoke up. “It’s also that we’re all here. Suki leads your personal security team, Katara tours the country as a healer and the Water Tribe Representative, I visit often as the Southern Ambassador, and Toph is well known for being your hand of justice.”
Toph looked inordinately pleased at that. The young earthbender had gained a terrifying reputation for being able to sniff out lies, and the shocking speed and effectiveness with which Zuko carried out his purges had shaken the confidence of the Fire Nation nobility. Corrupt officials and commanders were imprisoned, and the worst of Ozai’s supporters were gone.
Hanging in the air but left unspoken was the fact that, at the end of the war, they had all returned home to find nothing fit properly. It took some time, but they realised home hadn’t changed; it was them. What Zuko had experienced upon his first return to the Fire Nation, the others came to understand.
At first, it was wonderful. Sokka and Katara reunited with their family, Toph made up with hers, and Suki had gone back with her girls to their island. Aang, like a true nomad, flew between them all while meeting leaders of the kingdoms.
But then the polar winter set in and Sokka and Katara grew restless while Toph’s parents made noises about betrothing her. Suki’s family were her fellow warriors and a warrior without purpose was a lost one, and Aang was lonely travelling alone.
Suki came first, Zuko contracting her warriors to guard him. The turmoil in the Fire Nation had yet to bubble over at that point, but it had been very concerning. Zuko then sent a messenger discreetly requesting Toph’s lie-detecting services and she leapt at the chance. Katara and Sokka left their home again to negotiate the war reparations and trade deals in person, even though only one of them was truly needed. Aang ended up dropping by more and more, complaining about everything and nothing and always ecstatic to see everyone.
The all migrated back to the Fire Nation, back to Zuko who was the only one bound to a physical location, and together, they had rebuilt the Fire Nation. Zuko didn’t think he would have been able to hold his country together without them and was often awestruck that this incredible group of people were his friends.
“People don’t like that you’re bear-hogging the Heroes of the Hundred Year War.” Sokka made quotations in the air.
“The Earth Kingdom aren’t helping to feed our people through winter. They never offered our tribe help before, even when we were fighting the Fire Nation together,” Katara huffed irately. “They also weren’t fed a hundred years of lies about the Water Tribes! Zuko’s people were told that everyone not Nation are savages and lesser. I’m living, breathing proof that this isn’t true, but I need to be here to prove that.
“And what would they even expect us to do if we went to the Earth kingdom?” It was Katara’s turn to pace. “My healing can help people, yes, but in terms of numbers I barely make an impact. The best help I can give is speaking with them and bringing their concerns straight to Zuko or the local authorities. And that’s only possible because of the Fire Nation’s strict social hierarchy and because I happen to know the man the top. If I tried that in the Earth Kingdom, most places would laugh me away!"
Katara had started her tours of the islands as a favour, going to heal a small village who were devastated by illness. She discovered the cause was a poorly maintained well and told Zuko, who told the local mayor to fix it. Then she did it again, and again.
It ended up with Katara acting as Zuko’s eyes and ears while representing her tribe. His citizens knew they could take their concerns to her and the Fire Lord would investigate fairly. Zuko would have loved to go himself but was stuck in the palace governing and had yet to tour his country since the end of the war. He sent Katara instead, guarded by several Kiyoshi warriors, as representatives of the other nations and what they could accomplish working together.
“I’m doing so much good here!” Katara finished, impassioned. “For both the Fire Nation and our Tribe.”
She also frequently returned to the South Pole along with shipments from the Fire Nation. Immense amounts of resources were being invested into the Tribe as reparations, and in return the South sent their unique goods to Fire Nation markets. Whalebone ornaments, rare fish, southern pearls, and luxurious furs were commodities that couldn’t be obtained anywhere else.
Aang raised his hands defensively. “Hey, I agree with you. But it doesn’t change the fact that the Earth Kingdom are getting snippy about it. Also,” he turned to Zuko, “the Beifongs are still angry at you for keeping their daughter captive-”
Everyone let out a collective snort.
“Yeah,” Aang grinned, “not that anyone who’s actually met Toph believe them. But they have a lot of money and power and are being encouraged by other warmongers.”
“Well they can set foot in the Fire Nation over my dead body.” Zuko gestured rudely in the direction of the earth kingdom.
“What, and start another war?” Toph rolled her eyes.
Toph punched Zuko so hard he yelped, but they all saw her smile. The conversation died naturally as they all got lost in their own thoughts.
“It’s not so bad,” Katara eventually voiced.
“Not so bad?” Zuko repeated incredulously. “It’s a disaster!” he yelled. “I thought the Fire Nation was actually starting to see that conquering the world was a terrible idea. Now it turns out they’re only supporting me because they think I’m doing just that, but in a sneakier way! How am I supposed to convince people to respect the other nations if they think I’m only doing all this as some sort of cunning ploy?”
“That’s not true Zuko, they do respect you!” Katara exclaimed. “I’ve been out there speaking to them and they know all the good you’re doing.”
“But they still want to conquer the world!” He deflated when he realised he was shouting at her. “Sorry,” Zuko muttered. “I just thought we were making progress.”
“We are,” Katara said emphatically. “The Fire Nation is seeing that violence isn’t the way to do things.”
The earthbender snorted. “Yeah, because they see the value in a cunning takeover via friendship and cooperation instead.”
“Zuko. This is all because you’re too nice,” Suki said seriously.
“Maybe I should burn down a few villages to reassure them of my innate evil,” he returned sarcastically.
“One step forward, two steps back,” Sokka said sagely, then paused. “Wait no. I meant two steps forward, one step back. Oh whatever, you know what I mean. The Fire Nation is adapting to non-violence and even the nobility are coming around. This is just a minor setback.”
“But it will still cause trouble at this year’s summit,” Zuko stated.
“Right. That’s why we came to warn you,” Aang said.
“So just because Zuko’s a good Fire Lord, the Earth Kingdom can blame him for all of their issues?” Katara asked indignantly.
Zuko felt that calling him a good Fire Lord was a stretch. He felt like he was treading water, sometimes overwhelmed with the enormity of the task before him. The only reason he hadn’t exploded due to the stress was because everyone was there to help.
“Zuko you’re a good ruler, no, a great ruler. Everyone can see that.” Sokka said, solemn in a way he only was when things were serious. “But people don’t know how to deal with a benevolent and just Fire Lord. They’re seeing a good man at the helm of the world’s most powerful country, and it scares them.”
Zuko barely refrained from groaning. This year’s Four Nations Summit would be fun.
That night, they somehow all ended up in Zuko’s room.
Aang turned up on the balcony again for a cup of tea and firebending advice and just never left. Toph tunnelled her way through the wall bringing a plate of snacks, and at midnight, Ty Lee – who was supposed to be guarding his room – let Katara, Sokka, and Suki walk straight in through the door.
They all piled onto Zuko’s enormous, ridiculously decadent bed, fought over the best spots, and kneed and elbowed each other trying to get comfortable. Sokka ate half the cakes himself and sprayed crumbs all over Zuko’s sheets while laughing at his own jokes. Toph and Katara fought viciously over the comfiest pillow while Aang tried to calm them down, only to lose it to Suki who snatched it out from under their noses.
They ended up chatting about everything and nothing until the night turned to early morning and they were all yawning. Just as they were about to drift off, Sokka began snickering to himself. Everyone was too tired, so they all ignored him hoping it would go away.
“Hehehehe.” The dumb sniggering continued.
Toph groaned. “Go to sleep, Snoozles.”
“I was just thinking – if the other nations found out the Fire Lord was sleeping with the Avatar, then they’d really accuse Aang of being biased.”
There was a moment of silence while their tired brains processed that outrageous comment. Then Aang yelped and flushed all the way to his arrow, falling out of bed with a loud thud.
“Sokka!” Katara shrieked, whipping around and snatching the one pillow Zuko had managed to keep for himself out from under his head, then began to beat her brother with it. Suki joined in just for fun. Toph hooted with laughter and nudged Zuko slyly with her pointy elbow.
Zuko buried his face in his hands and hid beneath his covers. The racket could probably be heard all over the palace, and no doubt tomorrow everyone would know that the Avatar, the children of the Southern Chief, the leader of the Kiyoshi Warriors, and the world’s greatest earthbender had all spent the night in the Fire Lord’s bedroom.
Zuko really was going to be accused of seducing them, wasn’t he?
