Book I, Act VI: Lost and Found, Chapter II

Edited by: Bieverdog AO3: GalavantingGoose

Book I, Imbalance

Act VI: Lost and Found

Music:

Aria Math - Minecraft C418

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atgjKEgSqSU

Chapter II

Zuko paced around the throne room. The palace had been on high alert for the past few days. It didn't help that they had needed to confront a traitor and a mercenary assassin. He had not had time to digest it all before the news of his sister's escape reached him. He summoned the director of the institution to explain the situation while sending search parties to rake the area for her. But after days of tense anticipation, no news had emerged. Her instability was deeply concerning. It could lead to violence against him and, more importantly, against his friends and acquaintances, for she had always known his weaknesses.

As a precaution, Zuko refused to meet Mai, demanding she be kept under strict surveillance at least until she recuperated from her wounds. He had also sent word to his friends to remain alert, for although he doubted Azula knew where they were, he couldn't take any chances. To further worsen the situation, he was beginning to notice his unpopularity amongst the Fire Nation elite; so, if things didn't deescalate soon, Azula could be the spark they would need for an all-out revolt. Fortunately, the news of her escape had so far remained a closely guarded secret, but he knew it would only be a matter of time before careless lips let it slip–

The curtains opened to reveal Renhao walking towards him with Mak in tow. The Fire Lord marched to them jitterishly. "Any news yet?"

They stopped to bow. "No, Your Majesty, nothing."

Zuko snapped, already on edge, and the flames in the room fanned higher. "How hard can it be?!"

Mak grit his teeth nervously. "We are doing our best. It's–"

Zuko held up a hand but stopped to sigh away his nerves. "Where is Tsume anyway?"

Renhao smiled lightly, keeping a reassuring tone. "He assured us he would come at once."

Zuko frowned flatly. "Shouldn't he be here already?"

"There was a terrible storm two days ago, Your Majesty, I'm sure he is just delayed."

His eyes shifted to Mak. "Has the prison already been reinforced?"

"Again, yes… I've sent more soldiers to guard the entrances. Warden Ming already has her guards on high alert."

A salt-and-pepper haired man with a leather bag marched into the room. He stopped a few yards from them and bowed profusely.

"Your Majesty, it is an honor to finally meet you in person. I'm Dr. Tsume. I apologize for my tardiness."

The Fire Lord approached the man, and Mak stood close by. "Dr. Tsume, I imagine you have a good explanation for the message I received."

He stood up, flashing a slight smile. "Indeed, I would have sent another message, but I wanted to reassure you in person."

"Oh?" He looked at the man, confused.

"Fire Lord, I'm afraid this is all one big misunderstanding."

Zuko squinted. "What do you mean?"

"There was a small accident at the asylum. You know how people get during Fire Days: some careless worker set off fireworks, and there was a small fire. We successfully contained it. However, there was some structural damage, and some of the patients had to be relocated; a very unstable patient hid from us for some time; and some guard mistook her for your sister. It was all one big false alarm I'm afraid." The man smiled charmingly.

Zuko felt as if a weight had disappeared from his neck, but he still had to process it all. "I… see. How is she?"

"Her condition is stable, though she has had to undergo minor interventions occasionally. She looks to be on her way to a full recovery in about a few more years. I believe I've been sending you my monthly reports." He spoke of it as a trifling matter.

"That's good… I haven't seen them yet… Is she comfortable there?"

He clapped his hands together. "Very; she's even been socializing more."

His worries mixed with his formal tone. "I'd like to visit her one of these days."

"Oh, yes, in due time; visits can be taxing on our staff and patients. Some patients are overwhelmed by novel stimuli." The man smiled reassuringly.

He nodded. "I understand, but I'd like you to arrange it. It's been enough time now."

"I'll be sure to keep a close eye on her progress so as to inform His Majesty about the most opportune time to visit." Zuko smiled back, but he was put off by the man's behavior. There was nothing out of the ordinary about him, but his words were not quite satisfying, like a soup missing that last seasoning.

"Thank you, Dr. Tsume. You may take your leave now."

He bowed. "A pleasure to serve you, Your Majesty. I'll be looking forward to your visit."

"Mak, please accompany the doctor with some of your men back to Kokuyoseki Province." The doctor smiled once more, bowing his thanks, and he was led back by Renhao.

"I want you to report back on my sister. Check that this man is telling the truth." Mak nodded, following after the doctor. Zuko eased his way back to the throne, and he sighed. It had been some time since he last thought of her. The Azula he had last seen was a shadow of her former self. He had never imagined he'd ever see her like that… Even after all the pain he had endured from her, he cared; she still was his little sister. He wondered if he cared for the person she once was, or who she had become, or if the first was still inside the latter, or if it mattered. Wondered how things could have gone differently if they hadn't grown apart. If things could ever change…

He sighed as he strolled back to his room. Passing through the halls, he remembered the reports the doctor mentioned. He never had the time to read them. Sometimes, Mai did, telling him when they had downtime. But… Maybe she sent a letter. He looked through the mountain of paper on his desk. Skimming, dumping, tossing, and skimming again, he finally found them: four monthly reports and two letters.

Report #1 on patient A149

Summary

First year and month of the reign of Fire Lord Zuko. The patient is a female, fourteen years of age, of optimal weight. Presents no current bodily illness nor condition. Patient's affliction appears to be mental. A149 was understandably confused by her new surroundings, reacting to them hostilely. The patient conversed to herself, sometimes in erratic patterns, resulting in a failure to conduct a normal initial analysis, A149 possesses an irrational fear of mirrors.

Treatment will be administered during the first weeks to improve her current condition. The patient has shown positive signs after the first session. Irrational speech reduced. Eye movement normalized.

Report #2

First year and second month of the reign of Fire Lord Zuko. Patient shows signs of further improvement, though appetite has diminished. A149's weight is slowly falling below optimal levels. Further treatment will be administered to mitigate the issue. Able to hold prolonged rational talks. Short moments of relapse and loss of sense of time. Signs of aggression diminished satisfactorily. Now eligible to leave isolation. Close monitoring will commence for the next stage of her treatment.

Report #3

First year and third month…Patient has been successfully paired with patient N010 and took well to her new surroundings. Mood has improved. A149 is now able to socialize with other patients without aid. Treatment so far appears to be most successful. Further testing required for confirmation. Non-confrontational behavior. Appetite has not increased despite additional treatment. Alternative methods proposed.

Report #4

…fourth month…Patient had a relapse inadvertently caused by patient N010. Nevertheless, A149's condition normalized on its own without any need for treatment. Alternative methods have been successful, and appetite has returned to normal, though weight still remains an issue. Appears now able to create attachments. Has begun socializing with different patients as well. Further mood stabilization.

With more questions than before, he set the reports aside and unrolled one of the letters. It was scribbly and disorganized, and he needed to stare and squint for a moment to understand it.

Hello, Zuko.

Now that the doctors here have said my health has improved enough, they have been pestering me to try to communicate more, much to my displeasure. I feel better. I still have a long way to go for my treatment to be finished, but I suppose they'll let you know by then–

He heard a knock on his door and stopped. "Your Majesty, the council is waiting for you." He gathered the papers, placing them back on his desk before leaving. As he neared the throne room, he could already hear the grumble of arguing from the other side. But it all stopped as he crossed the door, and they all waited silently until he sat on the throne. Renhao took the stand.

"Avatar Aang has reported that Langshizi has been successfully decolonized." She handed him a document detailing the movement of all registered citizens in the city. It was zero.

"Good news at least. What is next?"

"A few minor settlements along the coast." Zuko raised an eyebrow.

"How about the larger colonies?" Yu Dao and Hong Sha seemed much more palatable for Aang in his mind.

"The Avatar reported the populace was more troublesome than usual in Langshizi; hence, we should prioritize less populated areas first."

"I don't know if it's a good idea. To have him deal with the settlements… near the Western Air Temple?"

"Yes… But they are nowhere near that place, just on the same island. Even then, it would only be a few thousand colonists. They tried over the years to enlarge them, but that region doesn't have enough arable land to support much more than that."

Undecided, Zuko's silence spoke for himself.

Renhao looked at him confidently. "They shouldn't take as long with those."

He put a hand to his chin. "Let me think about it for now… What's next?"

She hesitated. "There has been a… request from the Earth Kingdom."

"And why am I hearing of this now?"

"Our diplomats heard of it only recently. It was just a rumor; it took us a while to confirm its veracity. You should be receiving the official message soon. They demand your father stand trial for his crimes in Ba Sing Se."

Zuko narrowed his eyes. "Why? He's already serving a life sentence."

"Apparently, they think we are being too lenient on him. If you ask me, I think they're just trying to find a means to distract the rabble. The Earth Kingdom has been slowly recovering from the war–perhaps too slowly."

Qin shot up from his seat, gathering many murmurs in support. "This is an insult to our nation! How dare they demand royal blood stand trial in their lands!"

The man continued, gazing around at his peers. "Their audacity has been inflamed by our leniency with them. They are testing the waters, seeing what more they can take without us batting an eye." There arose a chaos of discussions amongst the other ministers.

Having had enough of it, Zuko rose from the throne. "Order!" The flames rose around him as he pounded his arm rest. "Now… I will see what their diplomat has to say, and I will come to a decision over the next few days."

As if on cue, an envoy from the Earth Kingdom presented himself to the court, carrying an adorned scroll. Bowing before Zuko, the envoy asked for permission to read the message, and the Fire Lord granted it. "His Majesty, Earth King Kuei, requests that his friend, Fire Lord Zuko, extradite his predecessor, Ozai, to Ba Sing Se to stand trial for his crimes in the Hundred Years' War. He stands accused of imprisoning civilian earthbenders without trial, enslavement of prisoners of war, ordering the use of Earth Kingdom flags and uniforms as a form of deception, and attempting to destroy our lands in their entirety with no regard whatsoever for unarmed citizens who stood in harm's way.

"The unnamable crimes visited on our people by this tyrant shall be answered by the swift hand of justice. That is our will. What say you, Fire Lord Zuko?" The room fell into a tense silence.

"Is His Majesty aware that Ozai is currently paying for his crimes?"

"King Kuei doesn't believe it's just punishment. And there are rumors that there are those who still wish Ozai were on the throne. We believe he may be getting off lightly. I'm sure we could both agree that his punishment will be administered justly where he caused the most suffering."

"Interesting of him to assume that, as far as I am concerned, his punishment is being 'administered.' If you'd like to see for yourself, you're welcome."

"If you're speaking of a jail cell, we believe that any cell is a comfort for the likes of him."

"What you are suggesting I will not allow. He doesn't pose a threat to anyone now."

"So, the next time someone wants to turn the world to ash, all you'll do is chain them in a dark hole?"

Zuko grimaced, but hardened his expression. "...Do you know what it feels like to lose your bending? To feel powerless and cold? Lifeless? I felt like that after he set my face on fire. Now he feels the same. I think that's punishment enough. Go now while I'm still diplomatic."

The messenger turned around, clearly displeased by his answer. Some ministers' smug smirks made doubt bloom within him, but that was a hazard of the job.

"Anything else for today?" The room stood silent once more. "You are all dismissed then, except for Minister Hiyori and Renhao."

The ministers approached and bowed to Zuko. "What do you need, Your Majesty?" They almost spoke over each other.

"I've been thinking about some things. With the war gone, I believe the nation is due for the reintroduction of our core values and traditions."

Hiyori appeared perplexed. "From before the reign of Sozin? But… those are archaic…"

"Does it matter when something was done if we should do it again? Those were our traditions passed down for centuries before he warped our nation to his designs of world conquest. If we are to move on from a century of destruction, we need to return to what "Our Greatness" actually was: our culture, our ingenuity, and our relentless fortitude."

Hiyori massaged her chin for a moment. "I suppose it can be done, it may take me some time to research them, I'm afraid. You must be well aware that such things have remained prohibited for a century now. Finding the documentation here might be an unsolvable problem."

Renhao put a hand on her shoulder, smiling. "Perhaps the minister will have better luck consulting one of our remaining colonies. I hear their laws have been more lax with certain traditions." Hiyori nodded and took her leave.

Zuko smiled politely at her. "Thank you."

"What for? It is my job, is it not?"

The Fire Lord nodded. "Yes. Ever since the day Jing was arrested, you have helped immensely. I wanted to speak to you about that position. Would you be interested in taking it?"

"You do me a great honor, Your Majesty, but I'm not suited for such a task. You'll find better luck in her department. I could suggest some suitable candidates for the position."

He nodded lightly, and she continued. "Several upright people in her department have provided us with ample evidence to condemn her. They have spent years working under her, acquiring skills highly suited for a secretary. Appointing a distinguished magistrate from within will best serve the interests of our nation. How about we discuss it over a friendly game of Pai Sho?"

Zuko smiled and followed Renhao to one of the many rooms in the palace. He didn't know they had such a room; but apparently, his minister often spent time there. She sat at one of the many gaming tables. She set a red and gold bag on the table and handed another to him. Reaching into his bag, Zuko pulled out two Boat Tiles, a Wheel Tile, and a Rock Tile. Renhao did the same but substituted a White Lotus Tile for a Boat. She set a Rose Tile in her home gate, and he placed a White Jade in his.

"The guest gets the first move." She gestured, placing her palms on her lap.

"Very well, I warn you I don't play often." Zuko placed a Rose in the East gate.

"Oh, I thought you and your uncle played together. He adores this game, and he still owes me a rematch." Renhao set a Chrysanthemum in the West Gate. In response, Zuko moved his White Jade forward out of its gate. As the game unfolded, they positioned their pieces, attacking and counter attacking their harmonies.

Staring at the board, Renhao broke the silence. "I see that you favor the Dragon's Gambit."

"Why yes. A pretty neat trick my uncle taught me."

"Hmm. Still, I see he didn't teach you to wait for your opponent before holding on to a move." She moved her Rhododendron Tile into harmony with her Jasmine and placed her White Lotus Tile in the center, finishing her harmony ring and the game.

"As the nephew of the Grand Lotus… I'll be blunt, Your Majesty–I've seen children better than you at this."

Zuko was taken aback by the revelation. "You're part of the order?"

"Yes, but Iroh thought it would be better to wait before introducing myself." She smirked. "Three years at sea, and this is what his teaching has to show for it?"

"Well… I would usually play, so he would stop nagging me. Then I would throw the games."

"Then we should come here in the future, so you can throw them for me too." She smiled. "Has your uncle made you an initiate yet?"

"I thought the White Lotus stayed out of politics."

"We have for a long time already, but desperate times call for desperate measures. I've never been one to agree with our non-interventionist policy. I couldn't stand idle and see the Fire Nation turn to… It– It wasn't right."

"My uncle never offered me to join…"

"It would be typical of him; he believes we shouldn't meddle with these affairs." Her eyes glimmered as she recounted the days of glory. "In times past, we advised all nations on matters of statecraft; we settled disputes, ended conflicts before they arose…"

"Why did you stop?"

"Chaotic times gave rise to ruthless leaders; fear drove people to trust them. It started here first; the Earth Kingdom didn't fall behind. We were shunned, exiled, sometimes imprisoned without cause on charges of conspiracy… The organization barely survived… The Grand Lotus of that time, Zuanshi, decided that we should only focus on the purpose for what we were created: merely to advise and protect the avatar, for they would be the one who would bring balance to the world. Otherwise, we risked it all. With our influence slowly fading away, we became powerless to stop the likes of Chin the Conqueror, Earth King Jialun, and Fire Lord Sozin..." She sighed deeply. "What is done is done. We can only look forward now. Having you as Fire Lord has given me hope that things can finally change for the better."

"At least, I'm glad that someone approves of my decisions, but I cannot say the others bask in any newfound hope."

"I see what you mean. It was to be expected; after all, you are shattering their privileges to pieces, if not their patriotic feelings. They have spent their lives under Ozai and Azulon's regimes; so, they won't accept your vision. You are bound to make many enemies, Fire Lord."

"What would you propose?"

"Well… Simply, you wait–appease them if you must–and hold your reforms, even if they are more costly. Eventually, the old guard will retire, giving rise to the new. They will be far more accepting of your policies. It is a pity you cannot count on Jing for that now. She had a way with words, made odd parties come together." She looked away in thought and sighed.

"But I digress." She gave him a polite smile as she ordered her tiles. "Regarding the candidates for the position, I am close friends with Advisor Fang. He has a spotless reputation and often managed colonial affairs on behalf of Jing. She usually sent him overseas to manage our networks there. He is a very connected man who will be able to give valuable insights regarding our foreign policy."

"Thank you again."

"It was my pleasure to help, now, care for a rematch?" Zuko smiled and nodded.