Book II, Act I: Dark Crescendo, Chapter I

Edited by: Bieverdog AO3: GalavantingGoose

Book II, Flow

Act I: Dark Crescendo

Music: Zuko on the mount - ATLA OST Zuko on the Mount - Avatar: The Last Airbender Soundtrack

Yu Yen - ATLA OST

​​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bKQ8ykTwsc&list=PL042xjKnvXB2gQwCEkT0SvI3b14

2n4pVi&index=8

Path to Oryx – Destiny 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4fbxCJ_obQ

Chapter I

Zuko looked out the simple, wooden-framed window to see the central streets of Yu Dao. Rickshaw carts, carriages, and people alike ambled down and up the cobblestone streets. The mayoral mansion was situated in one of the busiest districts of the city. He had already forgotten the noisy disturbances of city life.

Secluded behind the palace walls, he had gotten used to the silence and tranquility, not that it impeded him from seeing the beauty the place had to offer. Beyond the arid plateau on which the city was set, there lay lush green forests, mountains home to the city's water supply, farms, and factories. He supposed they had chosen the plain simply due to its convenience for building. Nevertheless, gales of fresh air rushed down the mountains into the plains. All in all, it made it a pleasing place to live.

Though charmed by its beauty, it took some time for the Fire Lord to get attuned with the reality the colonists were facing. Even then, he had seen enough to know that the treaty he had signed with the Earth Kingdom wasn't at all fair, nor had it taken these people into consideration. He listened to the mayor, who now more calmly explained the story of the city, and how many generations his family had been serving as mayors. From all the history lessons he was forced to learn, he couldn't once recall a detailed description of how the colonies came to be, for most of the Fire Nation they weren't deemed as important. It was all the Fire Lord this and the Fire Lord that; our armies conquered this and crushed that. It seemed to him that they had largely disregarded the people that bore the brunt of the conflict.

For most of the war, due to logistical reasons, the colonies had remained an integral part in the war effort, supplying material, food, and even manpower for their armies. Not that the mainland didn't provide, but stricter laws in the colonies and their second-class status in the eyes of the nobility led to them being exploited for it. Or at least, that's how Zuko saw it. The mayor, on the other hand, spoke with an air of diehard patriotism and, with a proud look on his face, told the Fire Lord about the 'sacrifices' they would gladly endure for the Fire Nation; how they felt betrayed by the Fire Lord's decision; how they weren't even consulted with after all they had done.

After learning more about it, it felt natural that they would be displeased about his decision. He thought about all the other colonies that had been forcefully emptied. His heart was filled with guilt and regret. If only he had known earlier…

He couldn't undo the damage done, but he could stop it from getting any bigger. The day he had arrived, he tried to inform Kuei about his decision. Usually, the replies came quickly; instead, he was met with no reply at all. So, he sent another one… and another one, each day the contents changing more and more. Finally, he informed the king about his decision to halt the Harmony Restoration Movement until a change of terms had been arranged. But this time, instead of a direct reply, what he got was a massive protest from Earth Kingdom citizens at Yu Dao's gates. No matter how much time he spent trying to arrive at a solution, he just couldn't think of any, caught up trying to decipher who and if even Kuei had anything to do with it.

He had to try again, so he turned to his repurposed desk, a writing table swamped with all the papers concerning the colony's activity and citizens. Scrounging around the mess, he found a brush and a blank sheet of paper–

The mayor opened the door softly. He had a grim look on his face, his dark brown eyes aimed at the floor. "There's no use, Your Majesty."

"I just don't get it… Why wouldn't he answer my letters…"

The mayor approached, placing yet more papers atop the towers that had formed around the table. "They simply aren't people that can be reasoned with, Fire Lord."

"There has to be a way."

The man shook his head and neared the window. "Have you seen outside the walls? That's their way; they come to force us out!"

"Those are just civilians. We don't know if the King sent them."

"Pardon me, but you are too trusting of them. This trust is what cost you that treaty."

He stopped and put down the brush. The mayor was right. He had to find another way, but he wouldn't find it there alone. "...I need to get back to the Fire Nation; it's been four days already. Surely, my ministers must have thought of something."

"Whatever you do, Your Majesty, just make it quick… These soldiers you've brought won't be enough to hold them forev–"

A soldier broke into the room, out of breath and barely managing to stand straight in his presence. "Fire Lord, two protesters broke in; they demanded to see you. We told them to step outside; but they just wouldn't listen, and a fight broke out."

"What?! Did you manage to apprehend them?"

The man dropped to his knees, pleading. "We tried, sir, I swear… but they incapacitated a full squadron. A kid and a waterbender, sir. They took us completely by surprise."

He raised his brow. A kid and a waterbender? He lifted him up. "Take me to them. Bring reinforcements just in case."

They ran outside towards the gates, the soldiers taking the rear. The people were gathered, watching the fight ensue, but they cleared the way as they saw the soldiers. He could now see some of them pinned to the walls with ice. Another one was stuck halfway in the ground. The attackers–

Aang and Katara! His guide, seeing his fallen comrades, charged towards them in a fit of rage with a flaming fist. He ran after him as Katara sprouted icicles from the water on the ground. The soldier stopped on his tracks.

She screamed, "Can't you people give it a rest?! He just wants to talk!"

Before she could attack, Zuko held her hands. "Katara, stop!"

She struggled to get free, but Zuko gripped her hands tighter. "Let go, Zuko! You're hurting me! Don't make me hurt you back!"

He frowned. "I'm hurting you?! What are you doing to my soldiers?! My people?!"

Aang stood firm. "Let go of her, Zuko! She said you're hurting her!"

"First, she has to agree to stop attacking my people!"

The Avatar pointed at him. "Your soldiers attacked first! Let her go now!"

"I am the Fire Lord! I have to protect the citizens of the Fire Nation!"

Without bothering to reply, Aang took a deep breath and released a burst of wind so strong that it knocked him down. Zuko replied by shooting flames at him.

Aang quickly absorbed them with a water shield. "I came here to talk to you, Zuko! As a friend! But you've changed! You've forgotten what we fought for!"

Aang's eyes and tattoos began to glow, and his voice became a chorus. "Maybe Avatar Roku is right. Maybe a promise is a promise."

Zuko covered his face, stricken with a panicked grimace as the air all around them began to engulf around Aang.

Struggling to fight against the air currents, Katara walked towards the Avatar, extending her hands. "Aang, stop! If you enter the Avatar State in such an emotional way, you won't be able to control yourself!" She managed to get close enough to hold his cheeks. "You have to calm down. Please, sweetie, for me."

The winds died, and Zuko supported himself on his knees as he stood up. Soldiers had formed around the perimeter; they were afraid. He held his hand out to call them off. As Aang reached the ground, he braced himself on Katara's shoulder.

Aang looked down, then at Zuko, with guilt written all over his face. "I can't believe it. I might've done something terrible without even thinking it through. Zuko, I'm so–"

Zuko extended his hands. "Katara's right. We both need to calm down. And talk."

The Avatar stared at him dumbfounded. "Are you kidding me?!" Katara held him back. "That's what I wanted in the first place!"

"Aang, just calm down okay? Let's just hear what Zuko has to say…"

"Right… Sorry."

"Follow me." He led Aang and Katara through the streets as the soldiers eyed them both furtively. Aang returned a few hostile stares. Perhaps they would understand if they knew the city better. He had told them about the history of the colony and showed them how both nations coexisted in the same place and even worked with each other to create better things.

After all, Yu Dao hadn't become one of the world's richest cities by coincidence. Its location and the differences that characterized its inhabitants were its beating heart. To an outsider, it would have been outlandish that these people managed to get along whilst their nations were at war, building the city from scratch. Aang watched curiously, but the peoples' stares weren't as kind.

Katara in turn pointed out the inequality in the city. It seemed to have been a common factor that those of Fire Nation heritage lived a more comfortable life than those of mixed or Earth Kingdom ancestry. Even so, a better life wasn't restricted to one's origin. They all identified as citizens of the Fire Nation and saw Yu Dao as their home.

He tried to explain to his friends the kindness he was shown by the people, the things that he saw, what he had learned. It was the reason why he had decided to take away his support from the Harmony Restoration Movement. It had all made him arrive at the conclusion that it was wrong; the colonists hadn't been given a chance to speak; a decision had been forced upon them. In his mindless and hastened insistence to find peace, he had ruined the life of countless families, innocents that had nothing to do with the war his forefather had started.

Aang crossed his arms as Zuko spoke, clearly displeased by his answer. As Katara listened closely, her gaze alternated between him and the citizens around them.

"So, I stayed. I saw what my people created here. I saw what the Harmony Restoration Movement would destroy. I changed my mind. Ever since my coronation, I've been having trouble finding peace. Now, I think I've finally figured out why. I'd forgotten about my people. I know you defeated the Fire Nation, Aang, but my people still deserve respect!"

Aang scoffed. "I defeated the Fire Nation?! You mean we defeated the Fire Lord!"

"It'd be disrespectful to take from them a life they spent generations building! I won't let you do it!"

His friend seemed offended. "Harmony requires four separate nations to balance each other out! You can't have balance if one nation occupies another!"

Whilst they argued Katara looked back to see Mayor Morishita, Kori, and her mother, they were watching them.

Katara tapped Aang's shoulder lightly and whispered to him, but he could hear. "Maybe Yu Dao can be an exception."

"What?!" Aang widened his eyes in shock.

"It's just a thought."

Zuko needed to make his point clear; they needed to see. "Exceptions should be made for all the remaining colonies! Most of them have been around for well over a century. They're older than you, Aang!"

"You have got to be joking. That would make peace impossible!"

Katara held her hands out, trying to mediate between the two. "Well, regardless, the Earth King needs to be a part of whatever happens next. If Aang and I can arrange a meeting, will you be there, Zuko?"

He nodded. "I'll be there."

"Talking's good, I guess." The Avatar crossed his arms then shook his head. "You know this isn't right, Zuko. If you don't change your mind about this–"

"Listen, Aang, for a long time I thought I was doing the right thing. But we've been seeing things as black and white. Turns out it's not like that. There's thousands being affected by this. They've lost their homes, everything they've built–"

"You think I don't know that? Unlike you, I've been down here doing the work that needed to be done. It hurts me as much as you, but you know what I also think about? I think about the people that lost this land to the Fire Nation a hundred years ago; all the people that had to flee their homes because of the war; all the people that died so that they could live here." Aang pointed to the ground.

Katara held him back. "Aang, stop. Let's go. We should see what the Earth King thinks about this. Maybe we can reach a compromise."

"Get your people back home, Zuko. It is the only fair thing… the only thing that is right." Aang unfolded his glider, and Katara held on to him as he took off, heading outside the city.

The mayor cautiously approached, with his daughter still watching them nearby. "Is everything alright, Fire Lord?"

Zuko sighed. "I cannot delay any longer. I'll be leaving Captain Sato in charge of the forces here."

"What are we supposed to do?" The mayor stared at him; he seemed desperate.

"Avoid any confrontation. Just keep them out of the walls."

"We cannot hold them outside forever; we only have so many supplies. The farms are beyond the walls."

He paused for a moment. "...Then we will fly any needed supplies inside the city. But do not fight them. Either they will disperse on their own or the King will ask them to leave."

"What if they don't?"

"Let's hope they do." He parted ways with the mayor and left all the forces he had arrived with in Yu Dao, boarding the airship in Yu Dao's square. The ship barely managed to fit amongst the houses, amassing curious crowds for days. He was now returning with a skeleton crew that could barely man the airship. As they passed Yu Dao's walls, he noticed the mob outside the city was dispersing on its own; it felt like nothing short of a miracle. It made him feel confident that there was still a chance for peace; a chance that the Earth Kingdom could listen and understand.

As he arrived in the Fire Nation, a small committee had been formed to receive him. Fang stood at the palace gates along with Mak to greet his arrival. He wanted none of it. He had dwelt on the problem for hours, barely even getting any sleep. And they would probably want to hear the news about it.

Instead, they all bowed, barely even saying a word. Perhaps they expected him to ask for a meeting. Better to get this done now.

"Fang, get all my ministers to the throne room; we have things to discuss." Fang nodded and went on his way.

"Is there something you'd like to say, Mak?"

"There's– It's nothing of importance, Your Majesty." The general stuttered then looked down.

"Fine, I'd like to see you at the meeting too."

"I'll be there, sir."

He headed to the throne room. It would surely take at least thirty minutes to get everyone gathered, so maybe he could rest a while whilst he waited.

"So, the Fire Lord has returned." Mai's voice came from behind him.

He turned around to see Mai leaning against a pillar. "Mai! The mob outside Yu Dao is gone. For now at least, the Fire Nation citizens there are safe."

"You left without saying anything to me! I had to find out where you were from official edicts your soldiers posted around the capital!" Zuko stood in silence. "You're doing it again, Zuko. If you're having problems, you're supposed to talk to me. I'm your girlfriend."

He sighed. "You're right. I'm sorry. It won't happen again."

She placed a hand on his cheek and looked into his eyes with worry. "You've been having trouble sleeping."

"How..." He placed his hand on hers.

"Have you looked in the mirror lately? Your bodyguards are a bunch of incompetent idiots. You're the Fire Lord now; you need real security." She gestured for him to follow. "So, I asked some friends to come help." Five Kyoshi warriors stood at attention with Suki in front of them. Ty Lee stood to her left, smiling at them as she waved her fan. "Hi Zuko! Long time no see!"

Suki elbowed her, and she rubbed her arm. "Ty Lee, behave! We shall pledge our loyalty to you, Your Majesty." They knelt, waiting for his response; but he didn't speak, too dumbfounded to even think.

"Uh… Don't think he's okay." Mai squeezed his hand.

Zuko cleared his throat. "I-it's good to see some friendly faces around here." Ty Lee practically jumped from the ground and squeezed them both tightly in her arms.

Suki glared at her, trying to get her to stop hugging them, but her subordinate took the opportunity to grab her as well. "Ty Lee!"

"I missed you guys so much! I love these group hugs."

Annoyed, Mai shoved her away. "Okay, that's more than enough."

Zuko straightened his clothes as he looked at Suki. "So, how did you guys even get here?"

"Well, when Mai told us, we volunteered to help. She paid for our trip here."

"Please make yourselves at home. Ty Lee, you're familiar with the palace; I'm sure you will find spare rooms. Suki, I'll need you to stay. If I am to officially name the Kyoshi Warriors as my personal bodyguard, I have to announce it."

Mai brushed her hand against his. "I'll see you later, Zuko. I'll help them."

Zuko muttered, "Thank you, Mai."

"Don't mention it." She smiled.

Ty Lee jumped excitedly in place. "It makes me so happy to see you two together, really, even–"

Her friend groaned, grabbing her arm and pulling her away. "Let's go, Ty Lee." The other Kyoshi warriors followed after them.

Suki crossed her arms, smiling confidently. "So… Fire Lord Zuko, how's that working out for you?"

"Well, I'm not planning on burning down any villages in Kyoshi Island anytime soon, so don't worry too much about it."

She gave him a huffed laugh. "I'm glad to hear that… But seriously, though."

Zuko sighed. "...Can't say it has been easy. I'm sure Mai must have told you something."

"She did, but I wanted to hear it from you. Are things that bad around here?" Her tone fell to a whisper. "Unfortunately, yes. I'm trying to do my best from here, but it isn't always that easy… Not everyone likes the changes I've proposed, or forced them to adapt to. I– We'll find a way…"

"I really hope so too…"

The doors for the throne room opened, and he took his place on the throne as the ministers walked down and bowed in front of him in unison. Fang spoke for them. "We are glad that His Majesty has arrived safely from the colonies. Whilst you have been away, we were aware of some troubling developments abroad."

"I'm sure you all have heard… But first, I wanted to announce a change for my personal bodyguard." He gestured to Suki to stand in front. The ministers looked at her puzzled, some even angered. He had learnt to pick up the slight changes in their faces. Even by their silence, he could tell most weren't pleased.

"As the leader and representative of the Kyoshi Warriors, she will today pledge their allegiance to the Crown. Secretary Fang, you may recite the oath."

Fang promptly stepped before her. "Do you vow to shield the Royal Family and the Fire Lord from any harm with your life?"

"I do. We will do everything in our power to protect them." Suki smiled and turned her neck to look at him.

"With that settled… Minister Renhao, could you please escort the leader of the Kyoshi Warriors to her subordinates? Please make sure their accommodations in the palace are met."

Surprised by the request, she stood silent for a moment, but she nodded. "Gladly, Your Majesty."

They all stood in silence as Renhao left along with Suki; and once the doors were closed again, Zuko cleared his throat. "You know the reason why I summoned you here. I've talked to Avatar Aang. He agreed to settle a meeting between the Earth King and me. He'd act as a moderator. Have you thought of any solutions for our proposal?"

Fang stood forward with a document in hand. "I have, Your Majesty, but… should we wait until Minister Renhao is back?"

"There's no need; her expertise won't be required for this matter." He gestured for him to begin.

"Very well… I've found three probable solutions. The only colonies that remain are the ones over a century old. Most have evolved their own political structures under our tutelage and are fairly developed. His Majesty's claim that they are an exception is exceptionally well founded. However, we cannot be foolish to think our 'friends' from the Earth Kingdom will see it as we do."

"The first solution would be to pay reparations for the land lost to the Earth Kingdom so they cede the land legally. I have enough information to know that some in the high echelons of power would agree to said deal, but it won't settle well with their military or their people. And the Earth Kingdom has enough problems on that front as it is. It also suffices to say that nowadays, the military holds a tighter grip on power there. I find this solution unlikely to be accepted, but it is the one which would benefit our citizens the most."

At Zuko's silence, he continued. "The second one would also incur reparations. We will propose, though, that both sides maintain oversight over the colonies. Or the oversight could be varied based on the demographics of the population. Those with a high amount of Earth Kingdom citizens would fall under the Earth Kingdom jurisdiction; and likewise for those with a high amount of Fire Nation citizens. Or, simply, a hybrid vassal state could be created, with a council appointed by both nations."

"You find that likely to work?"

"They won't shy away from the reparations; and although we will gain little benefit, we will keep some semblance of control over the colonies. The problem would fall again on the lap of their military. It will be up to them to determine whether they accept a joint rule. It won't guarantee, though, that the Earth Kingdom won't mistreat our citizens or force deportation from their controlled areas. But they are more likely to agree if they have a say in border disputes."

After the protests he witnessed, he found it hard to believe both could coexist peacefully if the Earth Kingdom tried to push their agenda. It would only work if both sides decided to not interfere as much as possible; if not, it could quickly become unstable. "How about the third option?"

"It would also include a generous payment, as with any negotiation involving the Earth Kingdom, but it won't come from our treasuries. The colonists would pay for it but would become self-governing. They would also act as buffer states between us and the Earth Kingdom. We would lose direct control over them, but our influence is too great to lose our grip completely. They would fall under our direct sphere of influence, appearing as independent partners. Of course, they would also need to have treaties with the Earth Kingdom, but we would be able to sway them if the need arises. After all is said and done, both our nations could pledge to uphold the colonies independence in exchange for reparations and a peaceful solution."

He raised an eyebrow; he had never thought about it that way. The colonies already had some sort of self governance, so that would only be making it official. "And you think they'd accept that?"

"It is difficult to know for certain, but it would be a sensible decision. It would eliminate the direct threat they think the Fire Nation poses and reduce any possible friction between our states. The independent colonies would act as intermediaries and a neutral arbiter–an Avatar, so to speak."

"It's an interesting proposal…"

Minister Qin walked up to stand by the secretary. "If I may speak, Your Majesty, even though Secretary Fang seems committed to resolve this matter diplomatically, it would be in the best interest of our citizens to try to protect our claims and the legitimacy of our colonies. They have pushed us around because they think we won't react, when a year ago they had lost the war. I think a show of force would suffice for them to find our conditions more… endearing."

It was a risky move, one he wasn't sure he'd be prepared to make. "...Are you sure that is a good strategy? We just finished a century of war."

"Your Majesty, their forces are exhausted. We all know they aren't completely at peace; we heard of the rumors about the rebellions. No matter how hard they try to cover it up, it was inevitable that it would reach us. For all we know, their armies are still engaged in fighting rebels. They have no real way to respond to us. They would be mad to start a two front war, even less so with an open rebellion going on. It is clear they are bluffing about their strength."

Zuko scoffed. "It took the Avatar nine months to defeat my father. Do you think he'd be on our side this time?"

Qin shook his head. "I'm not saying we threaten them directly; we merely have to create an excuse for our forces to be back on our colonies' shores. Then you would arrive at the summit and lay down our proposal. Of course, they will know of our move, but they won't have any argument to counter it since we would have made an excuse. There are some Yanshi prisoners still in our custody… If we were to stage a false flag attack, it could be justification enough."

"I see… But I have no intention of tarnishing our reputation. They won't be so easily fooled. We worked on hunting them down together."

The secretary stood pensive, stroking his beard. "Minister Qin has a good point, Your Majesty; but under all circumstances, we cannot appear to be the aggressors. There's a high chance that they will reject our proposal. I think we must be ready for anything that might occur. If we remain the offended party, the Avatar will have to stay neutral. "

"Have the proposals drafted and in my room by today; I'll go over them again… As for the army… I want ten divisions ready to sail, just as a cautionary measure. We cannot assume how the Earth Kingdom will react to this meeting… I believe they still have great interest in… keeping the peace. You are dismissed, except for General Mak..."

The ministers bowed and left; and when the room was empty, Mak stepped forward. The General stood firmly with guilt etched in his face. "I hope you're not angry about the surprise, Fire Lord. Lady Mai insisted that we don't tell you…"

"Huh? No, it's nothing about that…" And the General relaxed. "From your time in the Earth Kingdom… Do you have anyone we can rely on?"

"Yes, sir. We had informants. I also built some friendships with some of their commanders."

"I need eyes on the meeting between the Avatar and Kuei. I want to know what they are up to… We need to know what to expect. You think you can do it?"

He saluted him. "Without a doubt. I won't fail you, Your Majesty."

"Be discreet, General; we wouldn't want them to find out… This is to be kept secret, understand?" Mak nodded. "Good. See if you can contact the embassy, then."

Zuko spent the rest of the day secluded in his 'secure room', with his eyes fixed on the dent in the wooden floor from the attack. His mind was stuck trying to find an answer. There wasn't room for mistakes. His decision could very well start a war, but what if he backed down? He would be betraying his people's trust. He hoped–he begged–that Kuei would see reason. He had already dealt with him… Aang would make him see reason, maybe Katara… He doubted if he made the right choice attempting to spy on them… It was wrong, but he had to know for certain…

The arrival of the documents made no difference to him; for he was still stuck on it, didn't know if they'd even accept either one of them or none at all… He read them over and over again, trying to spot anything that would be a deal breaker to them.

Without him even realizing it, the night came. Having barely slept the night before, he tossed himself to bed. But even in his dreams, he was haunted by his choices. In the back of his mind, he could hear the voice of his father.

"Do you think being Fire Lord is easy?! The throne comes with many pressures, and those pressures will change you! But if you can stand the heat, you'll become something more. Of all the people in the world, I have the wisdom you need: the wisdom of experience! Be honest with yourself, Zuko–do you really believe you can handle it all on your own?

He awoke startled in the middle of the night. Perhaps if he finally listened, he would rid himself of his voice for good. He left with the excuse of a night walk, leaving Suki and Ty Lee posted outside his room. He decided to talk to him alone in secret, not expecting a straight answer nor a solution to his problems. Maybe he would find guidance and affirmation that what he did was right for his nation. But he knew for certain, by facing him, he'd finally rid himself of his voice.

He notified Warden Ming, and she cleared the hallway of guards. He took a tray with tea, barely realizing he was shaking in anticipation. It had been a year since he had seen him–

Zuko stopped and closed his eyes. I can do this…He pushed the door to his cell, and there he was, sitting with a wide grin on his face, his greasy long hair covering his eyes. He placed the tray in front of him without saying a word and served the tea. His father promptly took the cup, whose smile appeared etched on his face. He couldn't look into his eyes…

"I need your advice… Father."