Embers: Chapter Twenty-One

[masterghandalf]

This is a repost from Das_Sporking2; previous installments of this sporking may be found here.

Warning: This chapter contains some violence and discussion of mind-control and incest.



MG: Well, everyone, it’s time to continue our journey through Vathara’s Embers! Last time, Zuko and Toph rescued Appa (and the Freedom Fighters), the Gaang made fools of themselves and got chewed out by all the adults Vathara likes, Katara randomly wished “Lee” dead, while knowing nothing about him, purely for being from the Fire Nation, and Long Feng got overthrown off-page, for some reason. Wheee. Today, Azula arrives in Ba Sing Se (in a manner of speaking…) and things start kicking into overdrive as we hurtle towards what in the original show was the climax of Book II. Joining us today will be Azula herself and Rangi!

Chapter 21

And my brother chased these fools for months? Azula thought contemptuously, lounging at her ease in their Upper Ring guest quarters as Ty Lee and Mai surreptitiously checked their rooms for spy-holes and listening posts.

Azula: *take aback* Excuse me!? I’m already in Ba Sing Se, seemingly without my presence having been established or foreshadowed at all, or any explanation for how Mai, Ty Lee and I pulled it off? How… incredibly disappointing.

MG: Not to mention, like with Long Feng last time, completely incoherent if you’re reading the fic without keeping the original show in mind as you go along… Because if you’re just reading the fic, then it’s just like “Azula’s here now!” with any explanation whatsoever for why or how.

Stations of the Canon: 35

They were sure to be here, just as they were in the ambassadorial rooms put at their disposal in the palace. The trick was to locate the most likely spots, and shape their conversations accordingly.

Sokka of the Southern Water Tribe, Azula recalled, committing the name to her mental files of useful idiots. It was good to know exactly who among your enemies was fool enough to let in those he assumed were allies without ever checking for himself.

Rangi: Technically, wasn’t Sokka specifically told who you were supposed to be, and had no reason to assume you weren’t who you were supposed to be? And was already riding high after having just defeated Long Feng, and was both excited and nervous at the prospect of seeing his father again for the first time in years? I mean, Sokka made a mistake here, not going to defend that, but it was in a specific situation, not something he did normally!

Simple Rubes from the Water Tribes: 39 (okay, it’s Azula, thinking of other people as idiots she can manipulate as she sees fit is entirely in-character, but considering the overall portrayal of the Water Tribes in this fic, I’m still giving a point)

Zuzu chased you across the world and couldn't catch you. But I don't have to chase you anymore. All I have to do is wait… and gather the forces I need to take out the Avatar once and for all.

MG: …okay, I could actually hear that in Grey DeLisle’s voice, so props to Vathara there.

And thanks to the Earth King, she knew precisely where to find them. What a naïve, useful young man. Perhaps she'd leave him as a puppet. He was so good at it.

Azula: *muttering* Maybe I would have if someone hadn’t stolen him from me…

Sitting in front of her mirror, Mai signaled a subtle, currently clear.

Azula smiled. "We have been presented with an extraordinary opportunity, girls…."

An opportunity her brother would never have seized.

Rangi: …admittedly, not really sure he’d have fit in Suki’s uniform, so there’s one problem.

Poor Zuzu. Bent on removing a threat to the Fire Nation, and never seeing that threat mobilized their people to make all their conquests possible.

Azula: Oh, come now. I know full well Zuzu was single-mindedly fixated on redeeming himself and restoring his honor and making Father love him again… I don’t think the concerns of the wider war really entered into his thoughts at all.

My brother never did have vision. Even before Dad took half of it away.

A pity Fire Lord Ozai hadn't finished the job. But that was all right. As soon as Ba Sing Se was on its knees, she'd find dear Zuzu….

And finally indulge in being an only child.

MG: …I’ve said before, but I really always got the impression that Azula actively fixating on killing Zuko as a goal in itself and gloating about being an only child in the cold open of “The Southern Raiders” was meant to mark a noticeable shift in her characterization – this was her first appearance after “The Boiling Rock,” after all, when she’d just suffered her biggest defeat in the series to date (the defeat that cost her Mai and Ty Lee, even!) and that it was a sign she was starting to come unraveled (and Grey DeLisle’s delivery of the “only child” line is noticeably more… feral… than Azula usually is, which I think supports that interpretation). But Vathara’s Azula… isn’t so much more evil than canon Azula than she is differently evil than canon Azula. A criticism I’ve seen of the fic is that Vathara basically writes Azula as a walking DSM entry more than a complete person and, well… I can see it.

Azula: …what’s a DSM?

MG: …something you really don’t need to know about.

-

Well, the good news is the Avatar took his bison and left, Shirong reflected, stalking down one of the palace's little-used corridors as if he had every right to be there. The bad news is, the Avatar's little band raised more havoc than a chest full of ninety-nine-year spirits, Long Feng's been arrested, the generals are making some kind of massive plans….

And I'm being watched.

Rangi: Because clearly that’s more important than the entire political order of Ba Sing Se being overthrown? Seriously, Shirong’s worked for Long Feng for years, right? Probably most of his life, if the Dai Li really do start training as kids. You’d think he’d have a little bit more emotion about him being overthrown?

MG: And of course, we have to phrase this in a way to make Aang sound bad. Obviously.

He Has Much to Learn: 62

Off and on, not at all times… but even so, it made no sense. If Lee had left some sign of his identity breaking the bison free, then they should both be in interrogation rooms even now. If Lee hadn't - why the watching eyes?

Azula: Because you’re a traitor who’s been shirking his duty for whole chapters now, and Long Feng had more than enough to go on to guess the general shape of it, if not the specifics?

Whatever it is, it can't be good.

Which was why he'd moved to intercept Lee here, before the healer stood a chance of encountering any new faces in the palace, rather than waiting in the garden. He had an excuse, if anyone asked. It was even true.

Rangi: …I guess sneaking out of the palace to meet Zuko somewhere away from all those prying eyes was too much for Shirong to figure out? Sure he’s sick and injured, but… he’s Dai Li, I’m sure he could put something together.

And there's my young break-in artist.

"You'd better get well soon," Lee said, smile crooked. "I'm missing my uncle's grand opening-"

"You might want to watch your step today," Shirong said, carefully casual.

"Why?" the healer asked warily.

Azula: *Shirong* Because I’ve taken leave of my senses and invited you into danger, obviously.

"It's better if I just show you. That way, you'll know what parts of the palace to avoid." And hopefully, that will give my watchers time to relax.

Rangi: I’m still boggling that you decide to warn Zuko that he’s being watched and there are parts of the palace to avoid… by bringing him into the palace, where the watchers are, and showing him all the places he needs to avoid. What?

Not that his fellow agents would allow themselves to be bored. But complacent... yes, that was possible. If the Dai Li knew where their targets were heading, and so relaxed - it might give them breathing room. Particularly since these young women were definitely in the Earth King's favor.

Azula: *distasteful* Shirong, you have a remarkably low opinion of your comrades’ competence. I’ll choose to be generous and assume you’re still sick from fighting the spirit and that is what is prompting… this.

Lee kept his questions to himself, only pausing near the outskirts of the section in question to murmur, "Ambassadorial quarters?"

"I suppose they were, once," Shirong said, startled. "How did you know?"

"Color scheme."

Which made no sense whatsoever-

Shirong blinked, and looked at decorative friezes and tapestries with fresh eyes. The dominant colors were greens and browns, as befitted a palace of the Earth Kingdom. But there were also touches of blue, and yellow, and even hints of red and black.

The elements, Shirong realized. I've walked these halls for twenty years and never saw it. "

MG: …and of course, Zuko instantly figures out something about the palace that Shirong, despite having been a Dai Li agent for twenty years (which would indeed put him in his mid-thirties now, assuming he started training as a teenager like Min) has never even noticed or considered. Right.

Prince Stuko: 101

Are you certain you won't change your mind?" he said wistfully, stopping for a moment in the shadow of a pillar. "We could use you. Now more than ever."

"It wouldn't be honorable," Lee started.

Rangi: *snorts* Please, if you really cared about honor, you’d have been opposing the Dai Li with every fiber of your being. Because that’s what I’d be doing in your place. *shakes her head* What was Kyoshi even thinking creating them… maybe I can persuade her it’s a bad idea…

And vanished.

No stranger to taking the high ground, Shirong joined the young waterbender up near the ceiling. I'll be. He got the ice gloves to work.

Azula: And apparently “creating ice-gloves, then using them to literally climb up the walls” is the same as “vanishing.” I’m learning so many fascinating new things about the Dai Li’s vocabulary today…

Though they were more lumps than gloves, frozen to stone. Still, it was working; panic could do wonders for any focused bender. And Lee was definitely half a breath from panic.

White as he is? I'd give fifty-fifty on just fainting.

Azula: *smirks* As he should be, if he’s figured out just who is here…

Shirong shook his head minutely, and moved so he could catch Lee if things went wrong. He'd heard those armored young ladies were good, but Lee's meeting must have really left a mark-

MG: Nothing really to comment on here, just noting that it’s interesting that Shirong focuses on the Kyoshi Warriors’ armor as being the most notable aspect of their appearance; one might think the makeup or war fans might stand out a bit more. But it does make me think – both the Dai Li and the Kyoshi Warriors were founded by Kyoshi. It makes me wonder what the history between the two orders is like. Are they even aware of the connection at all, and if so, what do they make of each other? Unfortunately, our POV character here is Shirong, who doesn’’ seem that interested in it.

"Will we be able to speak to General How?" the black-haired leader said to a palace guard, marching with precise and graceful steps as her two subordinates trailed in her wake. "Much as the Earth King has honored us with his welcome, we would be most grateful for the chance to address a leader skilled and ingenious enough to come up with such a plan."

"The general's very busy, ma'am, but I'm sure something can be arranged…."

Shirong waited until they were out of earshot to murmur, "Sorry about the shock. I thought it would be better to show you where the Kyoshi Warriors are-"

"They're not Kyoshi Warriors."

MG: Hmmm; not giving a point because Zuko discovers the true identities of the three “Kyoshi Warriors” basically by accident, but I still can’t help but notice that whereas canon!Zuko fell into Azula’s trap, Vathara has gone out of her way to make certain that her Zuko spots it.

Grim. Angry. And desperately afraid. Shirong heard it all in Lee's voice, and tried not to shiver. "What?"

"Outside," Lee whispered, face gray. "We have to- I can't- air."

Shirong led them both to their usual garden, all too aware they were likely to be watched. But it was one of the few places they shouldn't have guests stumbling on them. And the way Lee's face had just shut down, like a soldier cut off and about to be swarmed….

MG: Which, to be fair, is a pretty appropriate reaction to suddenly having Azula sprung on you.

If it's that bad, we might want the rest of the Dai Li to know. "What do you mean, they're not Kyoshi Warriors?"

"They're Fire Nation."

The world seemed to tilt sideways. Shirong forced himself to catch his breath, and silently cursed himself for using his rock gloves so casually earlier. His chi still wasn't up to bending. "Those outfits, that makeup - how can you possibly-?"

"I know, all right?" Lee drew a breath, deliberately unclenching his fists. "I know them."

Rangi: *shrugs* Fair enough. Better than having people just recognize who is and isn’t Fire Nation… somehow.

"How convenient."

Shirong whipped his head around, taking in Quan's grim look, a pale Min Wen in a trainee's outfit-

We're dead.

Azula: *glances ahead* We’ve got approximately seventy chapters of this left to go, Zuzu’s the main character and I’m told Shirong is a major player as well… so somehow, I think you’ll be fine.

But he wasn't about to go down without a fight, weak chi or not. "Why?" Shirong asked, trying not to let his heartbreak show in his voice. And wondering why it cut so very keenly. He was Dai Li, he knew the score; it didn't matter if you were loyal, if Ba Sing Se would be more stable without you. "I've always acted to protect this city."

Rangi: Which is why, upon discovering that your new best friends were making plans that would, if successful, undermine your boss’s control of the city… you sat on your hands and did absolutely nothing about it. But sure, you’re real loyal.

"By concealing the presence of Fire Nation colonials, and allowing them to make contact with a firebender infiltrated inside?" Quan's gaze was hard as he eyed Lee. "It'll go easier with you if you give the firebender up."

Rangi: …honestly, he has a point. Whether you think that’s a good thing or a bad thing, it’s something Shirong has definitely been doing.

"No," Lee said dryly, stance ready and calm as he glanced at Min. "I don't think it will." He looked back at Quan, unshakable as granite. "You don't want to do this. You've got bigger problems than me. You don't know who they are-"

"Yes. They do."

Azula: Wait a minute. I was literally just talking about my plans with Mai and Ty Lee, and now I’ve literally already subverted the Dai Li? Off-page? Why, why is Vathara determined to rob me of one of my proudest achievements?

MG: *looks carefully at the ceiling, says nothing*

Gleaming steel flew, and Lee dodged by a hair, rolling to come up in a classic firebending stance.

Rangi: …as opposed to a firebending stance he invented last weekend because he was bored?

Why? He has his waterskin - why firebending?

One of the Warriors stood, ready to throw more of the razor edges glinting between her fingers. Her voice was cold, with a studied disinterest that chilled Shirong to the core; she might look like a teenage girl, but she was undoubtedly lethal.

Azula: *confused* Because if you’re undoubtedly lethal, then you only look like a teenage girl? I can assure you, teenage girls can be incredibly lethal. From personal experience.

Rangi: *points at Azula* For once, Her Highness here and I are on the same page.

"Well. Looks like there's going to be a family reunion."

Fire Nation. Lee was right.

"Mai," Lee breathed, not moving from stance. "Don't do it."

"Why?" Gold eyes narrowed. "You never wrote me back."

Rangi: *groans* Oh, great. We’ve walked right into the middle of a lovers’ quarrel, haven’t we? I’ll be standing… way over there. At a safe distance. If nobody minds.

Lee glared. "She almost killed Uncle, and you're upset about a letter?"

Azula: *rolls her eyes* In Mai’s defense, she wasn’t actually there when I did that.

"Your uncle's a traitor. You know what that means." A black brow flicked slightly upward. "And what do you mean, a letter?"

I had questions about you, Lee, Shirong thought, dryly amused, focused on steel, but this wasn't how I thought I'd get my answers.

Azula: It certainly is convenient when people start monologuing about their pasts when you’re standing right there, I have to admit…

Wait. Just wait. Someone's going to twitch-

"Are you two talking or killing each other?" Min wondered, held back by Quan's hand from bending. At either side.

Rangi: Talking, obviously. And fighting. Killing may or may not come later.

"Shut up," both Fire Nation teens snapped.

Either's still possible, then, Shirong thought wryly. But if they were talking, they weren't killing each other. And given Quan seemed just as coolly interested in hearing more…. Keep them talking. Long enough to get your strength back. "Let me guess. You're related?"

"No." Mai's lip curled.

"Yes," Lee sighed.

"What?"

Azula: …Mai comes from a very important noble family. We’re all related, if you go back far enough.

MG: Well, that’s probably true, but it’s not what Vathara is getting at here. You know how I’ve mentioned she sinks a lot of the major canon or fanon ships, including Maiko? Well, strap yourselves in, because that’s what’s coming up here…

"Uncle looked it up when you kept getting serious! He couldn't figure out why your parents thought they had a chance with my father when there aren't any benders in your-"

Rangi: …bending isn’t strictly hereditary? Sure it tends to run in families, but you can’t just match a bender to a bender and be sure you’ll get more benders. Even twins aren’t always both benders. It just doesn’t work that way.

MG: Well, this is just the tip of the iceberg compared to what we’re getting…

"There are!" Mai's voice finally betrayed a hint of anger. "Momiji was adopted out because she wasn't, I know that, but her parents were-"

"Her mother was Ta Min, I know," Lee said impatiently. "She was Ilah's mother, too!"

Dead silence.

Azula: …no, she wasn’t. Ta Min, as I have… eventually learned… was Avatar Roku’s wife, and Mother’s grandmother. She wasn’t related to Father’s side of the family at all.

MG: Oh, I think I also mentioned that Vathara completely rewrites the Fire royal family tree in really weird and tangled ways? We’re getting that now, too!

Azula: *utterly chilly* What?

Ilah, Shirong thought furiously. I've heard that name before, somewhere- oh. Damn, Lee had no luck at all, did he? Who'd named their daughter after Fire Lord Ozai's mother?

Rangi: *facepalm* For a spy, you’re not very bright, are you, Shirong?

MG: And, I mean, clearly the name isn’t unique or Shirong actually would have caught on to the implications, so I wouldn’t be surprised if there weren’t girls in the Fire Nation named for Azulon’s wife… or who just had the name because it was a traditional name that predated her. Admittedly, we don’t know any of this for sure, but I think it makes more sense than assuming that this Ilah must have been named for the Fire Lady and that it would be an embarrassment for her and her descendants.

"So you are related."

"Second-third cousins," Lee said impatiently. "Maybe a little closer, given some of the families… never mind. I told you this, Mai! In the last letter, after - after. It wasn't going to happen, it didn't matter who your father greased at court - you didn't need my kind of trouble!"

Mai's stance didn't waver, but gold eyes were wide. "…I think I'm going to be sick."

Azula: …oh, please. Royalty marries that close all the time; it’s no big deal.

MG: Well, based on my quick research, for much of Chinese history marriage between patrilineal first cousins (ie, the children of two brothers) was forbidden, as they were seen as being so closely related as to be essentially siblings; marrying more distant cousins was generally allowed, and sometimes encouraged among royalty. Per the revised family tree the fic offers, Zuko and Mai’s grandmothers were sisters, making them second cousins (at least in Embers; there’s no indication they’re this closely related in canon, and certainly not that Ilah and Mai’s grandmother were both Roku and Ta Min’s daughters) and if I understand Vathara’s Fire Nation’s social structures correctly, not part of the same clan. By historical standards, I think this would be perfectly acceptable. Vathara will eventually establish why, in her version, this relationship would be extra-bad, but on the face of it, I’m not really seeing the fuss.

Shirong added up what he'd heard, and blinked. "Old girlfriend?" he asked Lee dryly.

Rangi: *equally drily* Wasn’t it obvious?

"I was thirteen!" Lee said defensively. "It's hard to find records on children adopted out, even when it's recent. This was a hundred and twenty-one years ago!" He actually took his eyes off Mai, just long enough to give Shirong an aggravated look. "Like Uncle says, I've done a lot of foolish things in my life. But this? This one, is not my fault!"

Rangi: Hey, Kyoshi once mistook Fire Lord Zoryu’s illegitimate half-brother for the Fire Lord, and addressed him as such, at a big formal gala, while the Fire Nation was in the middle of a succession crisis between the brothers, and nearly caused a major diplomatic incident in the process. I think when it comes to not realizing who’s who, we’ve still got you beat. So don’t feel too bad.

"It has to be." Mai's voice was flat, and bitter as wormwood. "She promised me."

"She lies, Mai." Lee's fists were clenched, but his eyes were sad. "Azula always lies."

Azula: *scoffs* One, I lie when I get something out of it. Though sometimes the thing I get out of it is just the pleasure of seeing the look on Zuzu’s face… Two, I didn’t arrange for Mai and my brother to fall for each other, and while I did encourage it, it was just because it gave me another lever to control them with, if I needed it. Which didn’t actually work out very well for me, admittedly… but in any case, I certainly never “promised” Zuzu to Mai.

Shirong felt his heart speed up, and hoped to hell his bending could match it. "Princess Azula is in the palace?" Seeing Quan's studiously neutral expression, Shirong blanched. "And you knew. Oma and Shu, why haven't you-?"

"We are loyal to Long Feng, Shirong," Quan said bluntly. "It's a shame you forgot that."

Rangi: Also, it sounds like we skipped a bunch of important stuff. Sorry, Shirong, but I’m as lost as you are.

Lee let out a bitter laugh. "I never thought I'd feel sorry for Long Feng." He narrowed fire-green eyes at Quan. "She'll chew him up and spit him out. He'll just see a little girl, playing with plots she can't really understand. She'll smile at him, and tell him how smart he is - and when she's done, he'll be dead. Or wish he was."

MG: Admittedly, that’s a fairly accurate summation… though I still can’t help but feel like Vathara is trying to make Zuko look smart just by looking ahead in the show and then having him tell Quan and Shirong just what’s literally going to happen.

He flicked a glance at Min. "You should run. As far and fast as you can. If Azula gets her hands on you, your family's dead."

Azula: *confused* Why would I kill the Wens? What, exactly, makes them worth the effort? Oh, is it just because they’re Zuzu’s friends? Because in that case, I’d keep them alive, so I could use them against him later.

"I did this to save my family!" Min said fiercely. "This is your fault! You're nothing but trouble!"

Rangi: Saving your family by working with people who we’ve been told are also likely to try and kill your family – yes, that always ends so well!

"From the night I was born," Lee agreed, a bitter smile ghosting over his face. "Funny thing is? I understand. I do. You do… horrible things, when you're trying to keep your family together. You try not to see that your sister's a monster… and your father's a bloodthirsty murderer."

MG: …ugh. Why does Vathara still keep sometimes managing to pull out genuinely good Zuko moments in the middle of… everything else?

"Don't say things like that!" Mai took a step forward, alarmed. "You're not a traitor!"

"That's not what Azula said, when she tried to take us in chains," Lee bit out. "Did she mention that? Or trying to kill me with a lightning bolt?"

"She wouldn't!"

Azula: *nonchalant* In my defense, I was very angry at the time.

"You know damn well she would, Mai!" Lee snarled. "Azula always gets what she wants. Always! There's just one thing left she hasn't got. One thing the Fire Sages won't give her as long as I'm alive! You know that!"

Azula: …is he forgetting the example of Uncle? Disinheriting an elder sibling in favor of a younger sibling isn’t common, but that doesn’t mean it’s never done. And come now, Zuzu. Did you really think there was the slightest chance father would let you have the throne if he had the slightest say in the matter?

I have the pieces, Shirong thought, stunned. It just doesn't make sense….

Rangi: He’s getting there… slowly, but he’s getting there…

Mai shook her head, black bangs barely stirring. "She's your sister, Zuko."

Azula: Yes, and Father and Uncle were brothers, and do you really think Father wouldn’t have shot Uncle in the back in a heartbeat if he thought it would get him closer to the throne?

Oh. My. Spirits….

Well. Now he knew why Agni had graced his altar with a sign, after that desperate prayer.

One of your children, indeed.

Divine Right to Rule: 52 (you heard it here, folks – the spirits care more about royalty than they do about ordinary people!)

"That's never stopped her before." Lee - Prince Zuko - deepened his stance, obviously seeing opponent, not ex-girlfriend. "If she takes me, I'm dead. Uncle is dead-"

Uncle? Shirong's eyes bugged, and he saw Quan blink, making the connection. Oma and Shu! General Iroh is here?

Azula: *sighs* We only have the one “Uncle,” yes. Do try to keep up, Agent. Ugh, I can practically see the gears turning in this man’s mind right now, and he’s still somehow several steps behind the rest of us. It’s embarrassing, really.

"-And if you don't give a damn about us, there's an hono'o shoshinsha who doesn't deserve what's going to happen!"

One of those words is flame, Shirong thought. What's the other?

MG: “Beginner,” roughly. Vathara gives the translation in the AN. In other words, a novice firebender. Why we need a Japanese term for novice firebender I’m less sure on, other than to emphasize the whole Fire Nation=special angle.

The Superior Element: 57

Whatever it was, it stopped Mai in her tracks. Her glance flicked to the palace, then back. "You know I'm loyal to her."

"I know," Zuko said plainly. "But you know I've never lied to you." He didn't even glance at the earthbenders. "Don't do it, Quan. I'd hate to hurt you. But there are people counting on me. People Azula will kill, if she catches them." He swallowed. "And she'll make it hurt a long, long time."

Rangi: …why exactly would you hate to hurt Quan? Do you have any relationship with him at all? You know he’s Long Feng’s number two and that Long Feng is evil, right? Right?

The utter surety in his voice must have reached Quan. The senior agent stepped back, hands down.

"You can't be," Min said in disbelief. "Not a- you have-"

"I showed disrespect to the Fire Lord." Zuko's voice was cold and sharp as ice-shattered flint. "Ask Quan. Every noble in the whole damn world laughs about it. I'd be surprised if the Dai Li don't have all the juicy details."

Azula: *sighs heavily* Zuzu, Zuzu. As much as it may pain you to realize this, the world does not actually revolve around you.

MG: Except this is Embers, so this version of the world kind of does actually revolve around Zuko.

Azula: *stares silently for a long moment, then facepalms*

Prince Stuko: 102

Exiled forever, Shirong recalled, forcing his stunned brain to work. Unless he can return with the Avatar-

I sent him after the Avatar's bison. To save Ba Sing Se. And he let it go.

MG: And cost us one of the pivotal moments in Zuko’s character arc between him and Iroh after he reached Appa in the process! Good job, Shirong!

Heart in his throat, he stepped to Zuko's side.

"What are you doing?" Quan said in disbelief.

"Avatar Kyoshi created us to serve the city, not one man." Shirong tried not to let his voice shake. Spirits, what's wrong with me?

Rangi: *angrily* Keep Kyoshi’s name out of your mouth. Whatever she created you people for – and I’m all the more certain it was a mistake every time we do this – it sure as the spirits isn’t what you’ve become. Kyoshi can be hard, sometimes, but she believes in protecting people, not enslaving them. Maybe take a moment to reflect on that before you invoke her name, Dai Li.

Protectors of our Cultural Heritage: 45

"Quan, what if he's right? Call me a rogue; set a hunt for me if you have to! But the plan I told you about - it's good. It could work. And what have you lost? Minor resources, easily replaced. Troublemakers Ba Sing Se doesn't need. What does it cost the Dai Li to let us try? The Dai Li, not Long Feng!"

Quan considered that a long moment. Sighed, and inclined his head.

Mai's stance coiled. Ready to throw. Zuko tensed-

"Fifteen minutes," she said coldly. "Then I scream."

MG: …am I the only one having a very hard time imagining what Mai screaming would even sound like? It’s just so… not very her, you know?

Nodding, Zuko fled.

Scrambling to catch up - damn, he was fast! - Shirong hit the garden wall beside the exiled prince. "Do you believe her?"

"Climb."

Steel sang and clattered off stone, a hair's breadth from their feet. "She said-"

"Fifteen until she screams." Zuko went up like a wasp-spider, fingers clinging to cracks as surely as if he were in rock gloves. "If it doesn't look right - you don't want to know what Azula will do."

Azula: *smirks in satisfaction*

"No wonder you're paranoid."

MG: I mentioned it during the PKH sporking, actually, but I once read a one-shot AU – which I sadly don’t remember how to find – where Azula and Ty Lee had their roles swapped, so Ty Lee was the princess and Azula had six identical sisters. It’s really not paranoia when six identical Azulas actually are out to get you, let me tell you.

Breasting the wall, Shirong dropped, bending as his feet hit so the ground yielded instead of his ankles. I'm in no shape for this. "She's really your-"

"Yes." Uncoiling from the impact, Zuko raced onward, heading for the outer wall of the palace and the closest gate.

Shirong kept pace, relieved when the guards took one look at them and started opening the portal. Running waterbender with running Dai Li - that was a symptom of the kind of trouble no sane guard wanted to deal with. "And she's really tried to-"

"I stopped counting when I was eleven." They bolted out the gate, and Zuko sucked in a breath. "She didn't try so often after Uncle came home. The one good thing about exile was it was away from her!"

Azula: *sniffs* Please, those barely counted. It’s not my fault my brother has a weak constitution, poor thing.

Rangi: *through clenched teeth* If you don’t shut up, I’m may find myself breaking some of those prohibitions against hitting royalty. Just so you know.

Azula: *smirks*

Through crowds, down streets; they finally fetched up behind a sweets shop, as lights were flashing in Shirong's vision. "Breathe," Zuko ordered, propping him up from one side. "I need to think."

"We're doomed," Shirong croaked, fighting for air. I should leave. I'm slowing him down. Too injured to run, too weak to fight-

"I need you to warn the Wens."

"Min bargained for their safety," Shirong gasped. Quan might be a fool for dealing with the demon-princess, but he wasn't that stupid.

Azula: Min is a trainee, one of a number – what possible leverage did he have to bargain with Long Feng over? And why didn’t we get to see it happen?

"If Azula gets near Jinhai, no one's safe." Zuko weighed him a second longer, and breathed out sharply. "Firebenders can feel each other."

Rangi: …no we can’t. Or at least, nobody told me that. And if we could, it sure would’ve saved everyone a lot of trouble, since we’d have all been able to tell right away that Kyoshi was the Avatar and Yun wasn’t.

The Superior Element: 58

Jinhai bends with hot water. A weird, off-the-wall comment he'd let slide, in the wake of trying to do something about the spirit that had nearly eaten… his waterbending recruit.

Prince Zuko. A firebender. How in the world can he-? "I've seen you make ice," Shirong protested.

"Azula hasn't." Zuko's smirk was shadowed, but real. "If Quan tells her, I'm dead. If he doesn't… I might actually survive." He nodded. "Go to Meixiang Wen. They've got plans. I think they can hide you. I'll warn Uncle."

The Dragon of the West is in my city. Has been, for over a month. "Why do you trust me?" Shirong demanded.

Azula: Because you’ve been such a lovely useful idiot so far that even Zuzu is bright enough to not want to throw you away?

"You promised you'd kill me rather than let the haima-jiao use me," Zuko said simply. "You do what's right.

Rangi: He tortures and brainwashes people and makes them disappear – or at least he’s a friend and enabler to the people who do that, which is just as bad. So, you can kindly shut up about him “doing what’s right.”

Protectors of our Cultural Heritage: 46

And letting a six-year-old fall into Azula's hands…." He shook his head. "You have honor. Being Earth Kingdom doesn't change that."

Rangi: What, implying it normally would? And again, see previous comment!

Protectors of our Cultural Heritage: 47

Shirong regarded the exiled prince through narrowed eyes. "Don't you dare get killed. We need to have a long talk."

"Later," Zuko agreed dryly. And faded into the crowd.

-

One ex-boyfriend, escaped, Mai calculated coldly. His rogue Dai Li agent, likewise. Quan seemed willing to keep silent, and rein in his trainee. And as for the princess who would soon wonder where she was-

She lied to me. Azula lied. To me.

Azula: Yes, I do that. Not about this, of course – if Mai’s grandmother was related to my grandmother, that’s news to me – but I always felt that Mai was very much aware of what I am and how I work. If she’s really this shocked, I may have to respect her less for it. A pity.

Azula lied to Zuko; everyone knew that. Prince Zuko and political maneuvering mixed about as well as oil and sparks, with much the same results. It just wasn't prudent to tell Zuko the truth about which nobles were really in the Fire Lord's favor, or what new maneuvers the army was using, or… anything.

MG: Also, Zuko was thirteen when he was banished, and already pretty obviously his father’s un-favorite. That’s kind of an important detail…

But she told me the Fire Lord would approve our engagement. Just as soon as - as he changed his mind about Zuko's exile….

MG: And I mean, in canon whether Ozai would have approved an engagement isn’t something we see, but Zuko was pretty openly dating Mai for the brief time he was back in his father’s favor in early Book Three and Ozai never seemed to have a problem with it, so… I really don’t see the point of this subplot, other than Vathara not being a fan of the Maiko ship and going out of her way to sink it. Which I think this chapter’s AN indicates is the truth.

And when had Fire Lord Ozai ever changed his mind? About anything?

Azula: When it suits his purposes. And never for any other reason.

"The best way to lie to someone," Azula had laughed, during one late-night planning session, "is to tell them the truth."

MG: …except this actually was a lie, so… not really?

Mai glanced at the sky. She wasn't a firebender, to feel the sun's trek toward the west… but close enough. Deep breath.

Mai raised her head to the sun, and loosed phoenix-eagle screams to the sky.

She ignored stunned eyes on her in the sudden silence. "It is Mai," she said levelly. "Daughter of Niji, and of Governor Tsumami.

MG: Mai’s parents are unnamed in the show, but the comics would eventually name them Ukano and Michi. These names are Vathara’s inventions.

I pray to be allowed to address Agni."

Rangi: Because praying to an ostensibly Fire Nation spirit in the middle of the Earth King’s palace, while you’re undercover, in view of other people, after having just done something to draw attention to yourself… is smart?

Perhaps the sunlight strengthened. Perhaps.

"When loyalty rests with one unworthy of it, honor requires that it not remain."

Rangi: Can these people have any interpersonal drama and not make it about loyalty? *she sighs* Now I know what Kirima felt like when she complained how I never shut up about honor…

A cloud passed over the sun. And what more needed to be said?

"Mai!" Ty Lee bounded in, Azula treading deliberately after her. "What happened?"

"A Fire Nation infiltrator was in the palace," Quan said smoothly. "If you warrior ladies will excuse us, we need to inform the guards." Keeping a firm grip on Min's shoulder, the Dai Li steered his pale recruit inside.

"An infiltrator?" Azula's gaze took in the knives gleaming in stone, and Mai's disinterested expression.

"Your brother's in town," Mai said coolly.

Azula's eyes widened, and she drew in a sharp breath. "Is he."

MG: Hmmm; Zuko and Azula learn of each others’ presence basically by chance, because Shirong just happened to feel like giving Zuko the tour at the very worst time. As opposed to either of them having to actually figure it out on their own or something…

"Zuko's here?" Ty Lee bounced, smiling brightly. "Is he still cute? Did you get to kiss him-?"

Azula: Not now, Ty Lee…

"Why isn't he here?" Azula interrupted coolly.

Brow arched, Mai started pulling her knives from rock.

"Zuzu's a fool, not a coward." Azula tapped a sharp nail against heavy skirts. "If he knows you're here, he knows I'm here… and he's not smart enough to run from me. Not when I stand between him and his precious honor." Golden eyes were cold. "Who is he protecting?"

Min, Mai realized, recalling how Quan had gotten the boy away. One of Min's family is the firebender! "There was an injured Dai Li agent with him. Someone called him a rogue." She met Azula's gaze squarely. "I don't know why the agent didn't mention it."

"Dirty laundry in the Dai Li," Azula murmured, eyes gleaming. "How convenient." She smiled. "And how like Zuzu. Picking up strays."

Mai recalled the fate of some stray animals near the palace, and tried not to think.

Azula: I’ll have you know, Mother’s turtleducks were not strays.

Rangi: *muttering* Is that really the part you take offense at?

"Should we pursue them?"

"Run off, when we're guests of his majesty?" Azula's smile turned almost playful. "That would be rude." She tilted her head back, looking to the great walls in the distance. "Why waste the effort? Once Long Feng and I have had our chat… we'll have Zuko brought to us."

Azula: Wait, Long Feng and I haven’t actually allied yet? But the Dai Li still know I’m Fire Nation and are actively working with me? I… just… what is even going on here?

-

This was a good idea, Katara thought, heading for her table with a happy lemur on her shoulder.

MG: …am I the only one who thinks The Happy Lemur sounds like a bar? Or, in the Avatarverse, possibly a teahouse?

The Earth King seemed to be a nice young man,

MG: …huh. Kuei’s official age hasn’t been given in canon, to my knowledge, though he is clearly on the younger side. But even if we assume he’s in his mid-twenties, which seems the youngest he plausibly is, that still makes him ten years or so older than Katara, quite possibly more. Something about her thinking of him as a “nice young man” just feels kind of weird.

but - well, she wasn't Aang. It made her knees a little shaky to talk to a king. Tea was just what she-

"I'm brewing as fast as I can!"

Her jaw dropped. The old man behind the counter was - was-

If he's here - where's Zuko?

Stations of the Canon: 36

The waterbender didn't stick around to find out, fleeing down the steps. Need help, need - no, Toph's not here, but - Suki! That's it, I'll-

A dark-haired boy in green moved out of the crowd like lightning, poised and angry and striking hard as Toph's rocks.

Can't breathe…. Katara fumbled for her waterskin, got the cap loose-

MG: …hard to blame Katara for that when it sounds like it was Zuko who just attacked her completely out of the blue…

Momo leapt into the air with a screech, as Zuko followed the blow to her solar plexus with a bladed hand to her wrist, numbing her fingers before she could call her water. The exiled prince yanked her arm out straight, whirling her around to crash knees-first into the stone steps.

Ow! Bastard. Why? Aang's not even here- wait, he's only got one hand on me-

Something cool touched her head, and the world went out.

Prince Stuko: 103 (I think “Zuko curbstomps Katara with zero effort when they were pretty evenly matched in canon” gets a point)

-

"Excuse me, she fainted, let me through…."

Zuko? Iroh looked up from his latest brew. This early? He took in the scolding lemur strafing Zuko's hair, the familiar young face over the blue dress in Zuko's arms, and braced for the worst. "Nephew, when I said you could bring home a nice girl, this wasn't what I had in mind." Reaching under the counter, he offered Momo a slice of candied peach.

Rangi: …yeah, when it looks like your nephew’s just kidnapped a girl, that’s probably not behavior you should be encouraging!

The lemur snatched it and landed, still scolding.

Servers laughed, and Zuko reddened.

Rangi: …because the boss’s nephew carting around an unconscious girl is just so funny? *is confused*

"She fainted," he gritted out, shoulders hunched like any abashed teen. "I thought - maybe some ice water?"

"Of course, how very thoughtful of you," Iroh chuckled. "Lu, if you could see to the pots…."

The matronly woman who helped with the brewing smiled at him, then turned a stern glance on his nephew. "Mind your uncle, and do don't anything improper with that young lady, Lee!"

MG: To echo what Rangi’s saying, as far as anyone can tell Zuko just brought in a random, unconscious girl and won’t say anything other than she “fainted,” and this is what people are worried about? Am I the only one who can’t help but side-eye this and think it feels kind of… weird?

"Thought never crossed my mind," Zuko said sourly, hefting the young waterbender through the gap in the counter and into the back of the kitchen.

Azula: *applauds sarcastically* Behold Zuzu heroically refraining from molesting his unconscious enemy – truly, my brother is a gentleman for the ages!

"She doesn't look hurt." Iroh kept his voice low, despite the noise of boiling water. Momo sailed in after them, still miffed.

"I put her out." Zuko laid her gently down. "Master Amaya's not a strong healer.

MG: You know, people keep saying that but it’s not stopping Vathara from showing her as the bestest ever, at least as she sees it…

Yugoda taught her how to make people sleep long enough to work on them. You can't use it too long, people start having trouble breathing - but I can keep her under a little longer. I have to,

MG: Okay, am I the only one who thinks that sounds suspiciously like it’s in the same family of techniques as bloodbending? And I’ll note that the one thing we know can throw off a bloodbender’s grip (other than the Avatar State) is a stronger waterbender who also knows the technique. Katara is a very strong waterbender, and she’s a healer. Once again, I find myself side-eyeing that Zuko, who’s still a newbie at this, could’ve taken down Katara like that so readily.

Prince Stuko: 104

she was running from here, which means she saw you, and if she was running from you she'd be running to help, and it isn't, and she doesn't know, why is she even here-"

"Nephew!" Iroh ordered. "Start from the beginning."

Zuko shuddered, and took a breath. "Azula's in the palace."

"…I believe I will sit down," Iroh mused, claiming a stool.

MG: Okay, I snorted a bit at that, I’ll admit it.

Zuko waved another away, pacing between counter and stove as if he would otherwise fly apart. "Azula, Mai, Ty Lee - they're dressed as Kyoshi Warriors. The Dai Li know they aren't, but- Min turned Lee in to the Dai Li for having a firebender contact.

Azula: Something Shirong should’ve done ages ago.

Quan and Min ambushed me and Shirong, only Mai caught up to all of us. She gave us fifteen minutes. And Quan - Shirong told him the plan could still work - he didn't try to stop us. I sent Shirong to warn the Wens. I hope they can hide him, he shouldn't be running. Much less running from her." A gulp of air. "I sent him, I came here, I saw her - I stopped her. I haven't gotten much farther. I've got to warn Amaya-"

"No," Iroh said firmly. "I will send a messenger." Lu had far more qualifications than just brewing. Including a very good game of Pai Sho.

MG: If the implications here are what I think they are, wow, the Dai Li kind of missed a trick by letting the Order of the White Lotus operate inside Ba Sing Se, didn’t they?

"You acted well, and swiftly. But Azula will be looking for you, even if the Dai Li are not." He nodded toward Katara. "And given that scroll, she will be missed soon enough."

"She's been talking to the generals," Zuko groaned, heel of his hand against his forehead. "I don't believe this… are they insane?"

MG: *sighs* No, they had important information about the war and a plan to invade the Fire Nation that they needed the Earth Kingdom’s armies to help with. We’ve been over this. Seriously, Vathara, I know you’re trying to make the Gaang look foolish and naïve for their role in the Ba Sing Se arc, but this is one point in the story where they, very explicitly, did have a plan!

"No, simply young," Iroh sighed. "Come. I believe I have not shown you the cellars. Very interesting cellars, this shop has…."

He Has Much to Learn: 64

-

"Zuko is where?" Sokka asked again as they soared up and away from Chameleon Bay, still not sure he'd heard right. Wind in my ears. Could be, maybe, has to be… right?

"Ba Sing Se!" Aang urged Appa onward into the night, leaving the Water Tribe fleet behind. "At least, he's got to be there. I saw him hit Katara, and then… and then he did something, like Ty Lee, and she just stayed down!"

MG: …and here’s more of the story skipping over important canon scenes, in this case Aang’s entire meeting with Guru Pathik, even though we know some of it (his vision, in this case) was different. And, of course, in canon, Aang’s vision was, in fact, accurate – he saw Katara chained up in the palace, and she was. This version is… also accurate, technically, in that Zuko really did attack Katara and take her down, but in this case Vathara still sets it up in such a way as to make Aang think that Zuko, rather than Azula, is the villain here, so he can be wrong about it later. Maybe in any other fic it wouldn’t bother me, but when you consider Vathara’s overall patterns of behavior… yeah, it bugs me.

He Has Much to Learn: 65

Stations of the Canon: 37

Like Ty Lee. And it was Zuko, again, hurting his sister, again. Like he had with the pirates, and the bounty hunter. Like he had at the North Pole.

MG: And all of that is, in fact, true. But still, you have the vision and Sokka’s thought process and how it’s all presented to make the Gaang look like the bad guys for judging Zuko unfairly and, well… it’s the sort of thing that in the context of the fic as a whole I find I have a really hard time letting go.

"They've been playing us," Sokka said, feeling sick. "It must have been an act… spirits, I didn't know Zuko had that kind of lying in him…."

Aang glanced back at him from Appa's head, frustrated and puzzled. "What are you talking about?"

"Zuko and Azula," Sokka shot back, starting to get angry. "They've been working together all along!"

Azula: *sniffs disdainfully, clearly feeling no need to dignify that with an actual response*

"But - we saw her burn Zuko's uncle-"

"When she knew Katara was right there!" Sokka said impatiently. "Katara heals at the drop of a hat! Everybody knows that."

Rangi: Why are you making it sound like Katara has some sort of healing… compulsion, I guess?

"But Toph said Zuko wasn't lying!"

"He didn't have to!" Sokka yelled back. "Sure, she's evil and crazy and wants to kill us. She's Fire Nation! And she's Zuko's sister. They have to be working together."

MG: *groans loudly* See what I mean? We have to make the Gaang’s suspicions look as unreasonable as possible!

"But Toph said Azula wants to be-"

"Toph's an only child," Sokka waved that feeble protest off. "She doesn't know what it's like to have a little sister. Or a big brother. Believe me, if I got kicked out of the Water Tribe? Katara would do anything to get me back. That's what sisters do."

MG: …and here it’s hard to get past “Sokka’s just a simple rube who doesn’t grasp the complexities of Fire Nation court politics and thinks every society is like the Water Tribes” as the intended read, which… eesh.

Simple Rubes from the Water Tribes: 40

At Aang's doubtful look, he scowled, leaning forward. "Look, you're the one with the crazy spirit visions! You saw Zuko hit her. Like Ty Lee! And we know Azula and the rest of them were outside Ba Sing Se a few weeks back. They must have found Zuko, and he must have snuck in! It's obvious!"

"But… I didn't think he'd hurt Iroh that way," Aang said reluctantly. "He seemed to really… care."

"Yeah, well, remember what happened to the North Pole, and Yue," Sokka said harshly. "He cares more about his honor than anybody."

Katara. Hang on. We're coming.

MG: Yeah, I don’t really have a lot to add here other than to repeat that this whole scene feels like it’s framed to make Sokka and Aang’s entirely natural suspicions of Zuko feel unreasonable (and also kind of weird, because generally Vathara seems to like Sokka a lot more than Aang, but here Aang is the one willing to give Zuko the benefit of the doubt and Sokka isn’t). And again, in the context of this fic specifically and Vathara’s overall… proclivities, that can’t help but bug me in a way it might not in another story by another author.

-

This isn't real. Hidden in one of the many catacombs under Ba Sing Se, Suyin cradled her head in her hands and tried not to cry. Please, make this not be real….

MG: I mean, the Dai Li not only know about the Crystal Catacombs, they actively use them to stash prisoners in sometimes as we see in “Crossroads of Destiny,” so as places to hide from them go… this might not be a great one!

But the bent stone she was sitting on was real. The Dai Li agent, Shirong, talking things over quietly with her parents, was real. Jinhai helping a lemur build a fort with wooden blocks, trying to be brave, was real.

MG: Okay, Vathara, I’ll give you this one, too. Jinhai and Momo interacting is pretty dang cute.

And the teenage waterbender in blue leggings and dress, out cold on a ledge with one of their mother's quilted jackets to keep her warm… she was far too real.

MG: …and why does Vathara somehow make Katara’s presence sound like it’s the worst part of all of this?

Beware the Sugar Queen: 25

Min betrayed Lee. Betrayed us. I don't understand…

I don't want to understand! How could he do that? How?

Rangi: Okay, as someone who’s experienced my share of betrayal, I don’t want to sound too unsympathetic here, but… he was trying to join the Dai Li. You knew he wanted to join the Dai Li. Why is this in any way shocking?

"I know it doesn't help, but your brother was trying to do the right thing."

Wide-eyed, Suyin looked up at the agent, and at her father behind him. Tingzhe looked concerned, but he hadn't pulled out the "Professor Dad" scowl. So Dad thinks he's okay. Even if he is Dai Li. "How could turning Lee in be the right thing!"

Protectors of our Cultural Heritage: 48 (you know what? Giving a point for the implication that there’s a version of events where joining the Dai Li would be the right thing)

"I said he was trying to, not that he did," Shirong said wryly. "I'm sure the Joo Dees have been managing things so the Avatar hasn't realized how many people he's talked to have been interrogated afterwards. And at least a third of those have disappeared.

MG: And just last chapter Zuko was going out of his way to not harm the people doing the disappearing because I guess he likes or respects them, so… mixed messages much, Vathara?

Given your father already has a record of teaching seditious students?

Azula: If Professor Wen already has a record of teaching seditious students, then how exactly is he still breathing and un-brainwashed? Why would the Dai Li let him live after that, much less still teach? Long Feng, you disappoint me.

MG: Just a friendly reminder that one of the charges Socrates was executed for in real life was “corrupting the youth”; I kind of figure Ba Sing Se would have a similar charge, considering what sort of place it is.

Min probably thought we were within hours of pouncing on all of you." The Dai Li's face was sad, and cold as deep winter. "And then Jinhai would have thrown sparks, and you'd all be dead."

Suyin shivered.

"As it was... well, he did what I might have done, if I'd been sixteen and desperate," Shirong said honestly. "He turned you in - properly horrified, I'm sure - for knowing Lee. And turned in Lee as a colonial with a firebender contact. Lee's already listed in our records as a waterbender, like Jinhai. It would have worked. You would have been safe." He grimaced. "Unless someone actually caught Lee, and mindbent him enough to put him in an interrogation trance. Min must have been just hoping that wouldn't happen-"

"From what I understand, Amaya's methods provide a certain measure of protection against that," Tingzhe observed.

Azula: *rolls her eyes* Oh, of course, we can’t resist the chance to sing Amaya’s praises. Because apparently her tampering prevents further tampering. And this is apparently a good thing? And people say my moral compass doesn’t work properly…

"Methods? What-" Shirong stopped himself. "Lee's eyes are green. But he's..." The Dai Li let out a slow breath. "Spirits. The perfect disguise. How?"

Rangi: *rolls her eyes* I mean, we know it’s not really what’s going on, but I guess the concept of a mixed-race person is just completely outside of Shirong’s ability to imagine, huh? *shakes her head* If Kyoshi could see them now…

"I was careful never to ask for details," Meixiang said calmly. "It's delicate. And terrifying. But it works."

MG: …Meixiang at least admits Amaya’s methods are terrifying? More than I’d expect from Vathara, at least? Not that it’ll stop her from continuing to portray Amaya as the “loving” mentor and team mom, of course…

"So I see," Shirong said, impressed. "So it really would have worked, if Mai hadn't walked in on us. Oma and Shu, when Lee said things went wrong around him, he didn't say the half of it. This is a mess. I've seen ambushed ambushes that weren't so f-" He glanced at her, and swallowed whatever he'd been about to say. "…I mean, it's a very bad situation."

Suyin put together what he had said with some of the nastier words she'd heard from Min, and gave him her best version of Mom's disapproving look.

Meixiang herself shrugged, as if the near profanity was no more important than a dropped scarf.

Rangi: I mean, in context, it really isn’t?

"He was ordered by the Fire Lord to pit himself against the bridge between our world and the spirits. The bad luck must spread like ink in water."

MG: That’s actually not Vathara’s explanation for Zuko’s bad luck (and yes, she does feel the need to give an actual explanation for Zuko’s bad luck, and yes, we’ll be getting it eventually), as it happens. Though I suppose it’s not a bad guess? Though even now I’m already starting to feel like Vathara took what was just a pretty straightforward trait of Zuko’s in the show – his tendency to attract misfortunes of various sorts – and run it into the ground by how much she keeps lampshading it.

Shirong started. "You know?"

"We've known who they are for weeks," Tingzhe stated. Glanced aside into memory, and smiled wryly. "They weren't at all what I expected."

"You know who Lee really is?" Jinhai looked up from the lemur tumbling through his blocks. "Who?"

Azula: …and of course the six-year-old cares so much about my brother’s true identity. Has he ever even heard of Prince Zuko?

Shirong winced. "That's complicated to explain…."

The waterbender gasped, and Meixiang waved Shirong back into the shadows. "You might want to stay out of sight." She put a hand on the groaning girl's shoulder. "Katara? Are you all right?"

"Zuko!" Katara shot up, grabbing for her waterskin. Winced, touched her head; grimaced, and looked up again. "Madame Meixiang? Professor? We need to tell the Guard; we need to tell the Earth King! Zuko's in Ba Sing Se! He hit me; he's going to be after Aang, but Aang's not here…." She looked around. "Why are we underground?"

MG: Again, it feels like Vathara is trying to make Katara come across as irrational and reflexively blaming Zuko for things he’s not involved in… but she’s also right here? Her last memory is, in fact, of Zuko attacking her unprovoked and knocking her out? So it’s entirely reasonable of her to assume he’s the bad guy here?

"That would be because we are hiding, young lady," Tingzhe said gravely.

"From Zuko?" Katara nodded seriously. "But he's a fugitive. If we just tell somebody-"

"No wonder he knocked you out," Shirong muttered.

Rangi: Because clearly, Katara is stupid and/or evil for assuming the person who attacked her might not have her best interests at heart? What?

Beware the Sugar Queen: 26

"You're Dai Li!" Katara flicked the top off her waterskin, liquid coursing down her hands with deadly intent.

Azula: That he is. And let me guess, Katara is also going to be in the wrong for assuming the man wearing the uniform of her enemy is in fact her enemy?

Beware the Sugar Queen: 27

"Wait!" Suyin burst out. "Please! Agent Shirong came to help us!"

"Surprising as that may seem, he did," her father said firmly. "He's just as much a fugitive as the rest of us." Tingzhe sighed. "We knew we might have to go into hiding. We just never dreamed it would be so soon."

"You're fugitives?" Katara stood, puzzled, water easing back into her skin. Momo sailed back to her shoulder with a happy chirrup. "But the Dai Li are working for the Earth King now. Why are you still in trouble for trying to help Aang?"

Shirong smacked himself in the forehead. Jinhai huddled on himself. Suyin set her jaw, and stepped between her brother and the waterbender, even as Meixiang swooped in to pick Jinhai up and murmur soft reassurances.

MG: And now we’re back to “a member of the Gaang is acting so stupid everyone has to treat them like they’re five, including the actual little kid.” Because we all missed that part so much…

Beware the Sugar Queen: 28

"Believe it or not, young lady," Tingzhe said levelly, "not everything in this world revolves around the Avatar."

Azula: No, it all revolves around dear Zuzu instead! *disgusted noise*

He shook his head. "And the Dai Li are not loyal to the Earth King. Which is why Shirong is a fugitive."

MG: And, come to think of it, I don’t think anyone in canon ever assumed the Dai Li would suddenly become loyal to the Earth King and completely harmless (except maybe the Earth King himself). At least, it’s pretty clear none of them were being kept around when everyone was making plans together after Long Feng’s arrest, and nobody seemed that surprised when it turned out they were plotting a coup.

"You're not making sense," Katara objected. "We stopped Long Feng!"

Rangi: Stopped him off-page, you mean. I still can’t believe that…

"No, you convinced the Earth King to imprison him," Shirong corrected her. "And I wish I knew how. He may be my king, but Kuei's always been, well, flighty…." He shrugged.

MG: No, speaking of people who are naïve, Kuei is naïve, because your boss raised him to be very sheltered so he could keep control of him. “Flighty” isn’t exactly how I’d describe him.

"At the moment, Long Feng seems to be working on a plan to persuade the Earth King that was a terrible mistake. An innocent mistake on your part, of course; but still a mistake."

"He's in jail," Katara said impatiently. "Nobody can bend their way past steel bars."

MG: Ironic, because Toph is literally just about to invent metalbending, if she hasn’t done so already…

"As long as he can get messages out, he doesn't have to," Shirong said bleakly. "All he needs is a sufficiently suspicious person to set up to take the blame. And I'm afraid I, and someone else I know, just happen to fit those requirements."

Katara studied him narrowly. "Okay. Say I believe you, even a little. Long Feng's a horrible person; I could see him trying to come up with a plot even when he knows he's finished. Why would he luck out and frame the one Dai Li who might be a good guy?"

"Because I made the mistake of believing we're supposed to protect the city, not Long Feng," Shirong answered. "I was lucky. A friend helped me escape from the palace. And if you'd made it back there, as I'm informed you intended, you would have walked right into a trap. So would you please put that down and listen?" He drew a deep breath, and winced, hand over his ribs. "I couldn't threaten a drowned kitten-owlet right now. Much less the Avatar's waterbending master."

"You're hurt." Some of the suspicion eased out of Katara's face. "Amaya said there was an evil spirit…."

"There was. Thank the spirits Lake Laogai is about as far from your house as you can get and still be in the city," Shirong sighed, sitting down on another stone bench. "We kept round-the-clock watches on all of you, praying the haima-jiao couldn't suck the Avatar in the way the Ocean Spirit did… you have no idea how relieved I was to see that bison fly away. I'd hoped you all went with it."

Azula: Ah, yes. The Dai Li kept the Avatar ignorant of the spirit’s presence, and so of course we blame the Avatar for not being aware of the spirit, or at least Amaya did! How very… convenient for you.

"Suck him in?" Katara sputtered. "The spirits needed Aang's help! He's the Avatar; he's supposed to-"

"He's supposed to protect us from the spirits, not help them slaughter us!" Shirong erupted. "You're Water Tribe. I can only imagine what you've suffered. But the Earth Kingdom has lost plenty of its own. I hate the Fire Nation. I've hated them for decades! But what happened to the Fire Navy-" He stopped, and grimaced. "I've seen spirits kill. It's a horrible way to die. So I'm only going to ask you one thing. The Ocean Spirit killed your enemies. What would you have done if it decided that wasn't enough?"

MG: *groans and facepalms* Koizilla. We’re back to freaking Koizilla. Which, I will remind you in canon, seemed to be entirely capable of telling friend from foe, knew exactly who it was going after and why, and returned to the Oasis after grabbing Zhao and when the moon returned. It was neither a mindless beast, nor a natural disaster, nor an amoral superweapon, so why are we keeping acting like it was any of those things? Zhao was the one who called down the wrath of the spirits, and it was Zhao and his side that got burned for it. This. Is. Not. Hard! Gah!

The Real Victims: 41

"You're more hurt than I thought," Katara muttered, moving in with hands gloved with water. "Professor? How long has he been delirious?"

Shirong snarled. "I'm not-"

Rangi: Ah, so I see – Amaya can operate on people without their informed consent all she wants, but when Katara does it, she’s the bad guy! Ah, double standards!

Beware the Sugar Queen: 29

"Easy, Agent," Tingzhe said firmly. "I know this must have been preying on your mind for some time. But the haima-jiao is dead, and we have more pressing matters breathing down our necks."

"No kidding," Katara agreed, glowing water moving over Shirong's side. "Huh… has Amaya been looking after you? This seems like it's healing pretty well." She frowned, and blew out a breath. "Did you see who got me away from Zuko? He's going to be back. He never gives up, and he's used me to get to Aang before…." She looked at the grownups, light fading from her water as she bent it back into her waterskin. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Azula: Because you’re making an entirely reasonable assumption about who the enemy is, which your captors – and that is what they are, as far as I can see – have not done anything to correct, but because it involves casting aspersions on my brother, who the author is inexplicably fond of, you must be presented as an idiot for doing so.

Beware the Sugar Queen: 30

Suyin added her parents' looks, and silence, and who she'd seen carry Katara in. And gulped. "Who's Zuko?"

"You don't know?" Katara said in disbelief.

"There is no war in Ba Sing Se." Meixiang set Jinhai back down. "Those of us who know something about the current rulers of the Fire Nation are usually wiser than to say so in public." She met Suyin's gaze. "Prince Zuko, son of Ursa, and Fire Lord Ozai. Once heir to the Dragon Throne, before he was scarred and banished; a great name, and one… rumored… to take more after his uncle, General Iroh, than his father."

Rangi: *boggles* How on earth would you know that much? I mean, obviously you know Zuko personally, but that sounds like this is what you’ve gathered about his real identity just from rumor. As far as I know, the only thing Zuko actually did that he might have been known for was arguing against the generals’ plans to sacrifice raw recruits as a diversion… and I don’t think people generally knew that happened? And isn’t Iroh probably best known as the man who nearly conquered the Earth Kingdom? I don’t think they look too fondly on him over there!

Divine Right to Rule: 53 (more great name shilling)

Prince Stuko: 105

A great name. Scarred and banished. Suyin paled. Lee?

Lee was a noble, sure. But a prince?

And Uncle Mushi is… oh, boy.

Divine Right to Rule: 54

"I know it's scary to think about," Katara said kindly. "But he's not as tough as he likes to think. I've taken him down before. This time, he just didn't fight fair." She smiled confidently, one fist at her hip. "So which way did he go?"

MG: *groans and facepalms* Nice to see the “make Katara look like an idiot for being perfectly reasonable in her circumstances” tour is continuing…

Beware the Sugar Queen: 31

Suyin saw her parents glance at each other, and at Shirong, with the unhappy creases around their eyes that meant they'd decided to stay silent.

No one's going to tell her she's wrong.

Azula: Because this scene is so much fun we just have to drag it out all the more, I take it?

And that was just wrong. Lee - Zuko didn't deserve that. "He went to save my sister," Suyin said angrily. "Jia's out at class, she doesn't know what Min did yet. Zuko brought you down here so you'd be safe, and then he went to get her! He could get hurt; he could get killed! But the Dai Li are looking for all of us, and Jia won't trust just anybody, and he's the only one who knows how to fight if they catch him…." She swiped at angry tears, and swallowed. "Why didn't you teach me to fight, Dad? I want to be out there! I want to do something!"

"I'm sorry, Suyin," her father said heavily. "We've had peace inside these walls so long… I hoped you'd never need to know."

Rangi: …does Tingzhe even know much about how to fight without earthbending? And he did give his blessing for Zuko to teach Suyin to fight…

"That's partly the anger talking, love," Meixiang said plainly, gathering Suyin into a hug. "Try not to take it too much to heart." She held her daughter close, a few breaths longer. "Waiting is always the hardest part of a fight."

"And jumping into a fight with Zuko is a good way to get hurt," Katara said fiercely. "He told you he was going to help your sister? And you believed him?"

That? That was just- oooh! "He said he would!" Suyin sputtered. "Zuko doesn't lie!"

Rangi: Aaand, now we’re back to “everyone piles on Katara for being wrong,” aren’t we?

"He doesn't lie? You didn't even know his name." Katara looked at her with pity.

MG: It’s more work than I want to do right at this minute, but now I want to go back through the fic and see if Zuko ever actually outright said “my name is Lee” to anyone, or if he always hedged with phrasings in the line of “you can call me Lee” or the like that might, somehow, technically not count as lying? Because there is a point to the “Zuko never lies” thing that Vathara is building towards…

"He said he was going to capture the Avatar, too. You know, the last hope for the whole world? Zuko wants to capture him and bring him to the Fire Lord. The Fire Lord! The most horrible, evil person in the world! And you think someone like that is going to help your sister?"

The Fire Lord. Suyin felt ill. The Fire Lord is Lee's… Zuko's father. His father burned him and cast him out.

Azula: Why am I not surprised that all that Suyin took from that was to feel sorry for Zuzu and not to stop and process just what his mission actually is?

Prince Stuko: 106

He made a promise. And Mom tried to help him not have to keep it. "Yes," Suyin said, voice shaking. "Yes, he will." Her fists clenched. "I just wish I was good enough to help him."

MG: *sighs* You know, moments like this really could be good, in the hands of another writer. Katara and Suyin, who both know very different sides of Zuko, both thinking they’re in the right and trying to help each other but ending up just talking past each other because of their wildly different perspectives – it could be powerful stuff, and frustrating in a narratively satisfying way that made sense with the characters! Unforuntatey, this is one place where the author’s biases being what they are really drag the story down, because Vathara is stacking the deck in the favor of Team-Zuko-is-a-good-guy too hard, so instead of two characters failing to communicate, it just looks like she’s writing Katara as a stubborn dummy who can’t see what’s in front of her face.

Prince Stuko: 107

"Could we go, Mom?" Jinhai tugged hopefully on Meixiang's sleeve. "If he's in trouble, shouldn't we be in trouble too?"

"Er, well…."

Shirong snickered under his breath. "Spirits, you've raised a whole clan of them."

"So it seems," Tingzhe agreed, bemused. "Do you think they'll execute me for treason, or sedition?"

Azula: Well, you’ve arguably worked to undermine Long Feng’s authority, but haven’t really sold out the Earth Kingdom to an enemy nation or faction, so… sedition it is!

"Neither, if Azula kills you first," Shirong said wryly.

"Azula?" Katara's hand went back to her waterskin. "Azula and Zuko? Where? We've got to warn people, this is bad-"

"The princess is in the palace," Meixiang said bluntly. "And if the Dai Li haven't taken her prisoner by now, it's already too late. She is of the blood of Sozin, she is Fire… and if other Dai Li are as driven by their loyalty as you have been, Agent Shirong, they've walked straight into a steel-jawed dragon trap."

Azula: *confused* Speaking of traitors, what utter nonsense is this one on about?

MG: *grimly* Oh, you’ll see…

Divine Right to Rule: 55

The Superior Element: 59

Shirong tensed. "She may be of the royal family, but she's only one bender."

"I never thought I'd say this, but I have to agree with him," Katara said firmly. "Even if she is in the palace, even if she's got Mai and Ty Lee with her, they're just three people. Sure, Toph got Appa past the Dai Li, but she's Toph. Azula's really scary, but if enough earthbenders box her in? They can take her."

"No, they can't," Meixiang said quietly. "Shirong. You didn't stay with the Dai Li. You went with Prince Zuko. And he wasn't even trying."

MG: So, yes. This is confirmation of something that I’ve alluded to before, but now we have spelled out explicitly. Particularly strong firebenders can snare you with their loyalty unintentionally. And it can affect people who aren’t even firebenders if they just have a firebender-like attitude (you know, in canon, when Azula described the Dai Li as having a firebender-like killer instinct, she was pretty clearly making a rather dark joke, but Vathara builds a whole subplot around it), which apparently includes things like “being very loyal in the mundane way.” Just… yikes. That’s terrifying (and the certain other series I’ve compared Vathara’s Frie Nation to, and which I promise I’ll end up explaining sooner rather than later, has something similar going on with its nobles, and does portray it as terrifying – both for people who might get caught up in it, and for characters who don’t want to accidentally ensnare every random person they meet and have to exercise tremendous caution in basically every social interaction). Isn’t this concept just so much fun?

Divine Right to Rule: 56

The Superior Element: 60

She looked grim. "Princess Azula would have been taught to use her inner fire, especially on those whose loyalties are vulnerable. If they waver at all, if Long Feng isn't strong enough… she'll have them. All of them."

MG: …and speaking of things being spelled out, there you have it. Remember Azula’s finest hour in the show? When she managed to win over the Dai Li’s loyalty by organizing and executing the coup against the Earth King while Long Feng sat tight and safe in his cell, then stared him down when he tried to turn the tables on her, gave him a blistering “reason you suck” speech (from which I get the title of my Divine Right counter, in fact!) and forced him to bend the knee instead, all without lifting a finger in violence herself? Yeah, no, oops, it was all because she just had magic mind control powers all along and the Dai Li are susceptible. As someone for whom Azula has always been my favorite villain from the show, and that moment playing a big part in cementing it… I’m sorry, but I hate it. Somehow, in trying to make Azula more impressive, Vathara made her infinitely less impressive and interesting. And all in the service of one of my least favorite ideas from a fic full of both bad ideas, and good ideas poorly executed… goddamned loyalty, bane of my existence. *shakes their head sadly*

The Superior Element: 61

Tingzhe closed his eyes, pained. "Even Min?"

"He's been near the prince. He's still young. I don't know." She bowed her head, and hugged Jinhai close. "I just don't know."

MG: Good news, Min’s arc is actually fairly interesting over the rest of the fic, at least before the Wens get demoted to extra in the back half. Bad news… he’s going to be in Azula’s power for a while, and that is not going to be fun for him at all – he was a bully and an ass, sure, but he didn’t deserve that.

-

"…And so bright petals fall," Jia concluded.

Madame Macmu-Ling frowned at her.

Jia counted syllables, and flushed, as other students tittered around her. Darn it, she knew better! She was just - distracted. And who wouldn't be? Fire Nation strangers her parents seemed to like, the Avatar showing up on her doorstep, the Dai Li watching them….

Rangi: …honestly, she’s having a pretty normal reaction to all this, especially for a civilian. Poor girl.

And she'd left home this morning knowing her parents were packing essentials like her father's notes, and tough clothing, and the hidden stash of coin they didn't know she knew about. Things were going wrong. Who could concentrate on poetry?

You have to. You know that.

Her mother was a refugee, and her little brother was a firebender. If she didn't look like a perfect professor's daughter, people would look at the Wen family even harder than they were already. But if she had the right clothes, the right makeup, the right manners… then maybe, just maybe, people would think everything was all right.

Besides. She was good at looking perfect. Most of the time.

Rangi: Honestly… yeah. In the middle of chaos, grab hold of whatever sense of normalcy you’ve got left, and stick with it. And I mean, it’s not like an Earth Kingdom poetry class is my kind of thing, but in a general sense… I’ve been there.

The giggles finally died down, into a murmur of interest. Jia dared to glance toward the door-

Oh no.

Lee. Dressed… well, reasonably decent. There were plenty of university students who looked scruffier. But they didn't come near Madame Macmu-Ling's classes. They didn't dare. And that scar, and he couldn't possibly know how to behave, coming as a refugee from the Lower Ring-

MG: Hmmm; now I’m just reminded of the City of Echoes novel, which has a scene between Jin and Madam Macmu-Ling, where Jin is extremely self-conscious of her commoner origins and somewhat scruffy appearance (though she ends up impressing her anyway). *sighs* I didn’t like that one as much as the Kyoshi books, but I’d still rather be reading it right now compared to this. Much preferred its take on showing the Ba Sing Se arc from a different point of view.

Lee bowed, properly, before crossing the threshold. Walked precisely along the edge of the classroom, stopped a few feet away from the stage, and bowed directly to Madame Macmu-Ling. And knelt there.

Respect to the place of learning, respect to the instructor… how did he…?

Azula: *sighs* Because he’s royalty. Obviously.

Divine Right to Rule: 57

Prince Stuko: 108

"My apologies," Lee stated deliberately. "Jia must come with me now. Tingzhe bids her home."

Jia tried not to drop her jaw.

"Five, seven, then five, syllables make a haiku," Madame Macmu-Ling said coolly. "Unkempt intruder."

MG: *groans heavily* Oh, gods… I’d forgotten this part… it can’t help but feel like Vathara remembered the scene of Sokka crashing the poetry class in canon, and now she has to have Zuko come along and do it better, because of course he would.

Prince Stuko: 109

Lee inclined his head again. "Are dandelions, unkempt in zephyr's laughter? So I, too, will fly."

Jia stared. The first haiku he could have figured out on the way here, sure. But the second? Referring to himself as a common flower, and Madame Macmu-Ling as the wind, a known symbol of superior nobles? And further stating he depended only on her grace to be here?

She hadn't heard anybody flatter her instructor so gracefully in weeks.

Azula: Please. My brother is many things, but a graceful flatterer is not one of them. Now, Uncle, on the other hand… perhaps this should have been him instead?

Prince Stuko: 110

Madame Macmu-Ling smiled. "Jia lacks focus." She looked at Jia. "Perhaps her father's learning, could aid her better."

Jia forced a smile, and bowed her head. Slid a subtle glance Lee's way-

And if that wasn't the subtle gesture her mother had taught her meant, get over here so I can rescue you, she'd eat her headdress.

*all sporkers facepalm*

She rose as Lee did, and stepped gracefully over to him so they could bow together.

"Madame Macmu-Ling," Lee said formally, "We, with your understanding, will surely depart."

Another bow, and they made their escape.

MG: And without Zuko messing up a haiku and getting ejected from the premises. This scene really was about him on-upping Sokka, wasn’t it?

Prince Stuko: 111

"You never said you knew poetry!" Jia accused him as they made their way through darkening streets. Scarred, scruffy, a refugee - and he'd spent all this time with Suyin and Jinhai and never said he could help with haiku?

"You never asked," Lee said wryly. Shrugged, sheepish. "Uncle insisted. He said one of the best ways to defeat your opponent was to make sure they never got to the battlefield in the first place."

Azula: Also, poetry has been a pastime of cultured nobles for literally centuries, but of course, credit Uncle alone for it.

He waved a hand at her carefully-chosen presentation of self; makeup, clothing, ornaments. "Like you. The best camouflage is when nobody even realizes there's anything to hide."

Jia swallowed. "I - I thought you didn't like me…."

MG: Honestly, Jia’s not been in the fic or interacted with Zuko enough for me to really feel like they had any kind of relationship at all.

"Because of what you said?" Lee snorted, eyes dark. "Everybody looks at the scar first. That's why he did it." Another shrug, only slightly bitter. "You were being an upper-class daughter. Being friendly with a Lower Ring healer's refugee apprentice would have hurt your family's standing. And that's important. That's how you were protecting them." He smiled at her; faint and wry, but there. "There are all kinds of ways to fight."

She'd never thought of it that way. At least her makeup blunted her blush. "This isn't the way back..."

"It's the way to where your family is," Lee said quietly. "Do you trust me?"

She nodded, and offered her arm.

Aw. He blushes!

MG: *Zuko* I can show you the world / shining, shimmering, splendid! *as themselves* Ahem. And no, Vathara isn’t shipping Zuko with Jia, if you’re worried, but the whole scene, including the “do you trust me?” bit… I just couldn’t resist the setup!

He was also watching. Everywhere. Which meant- She blanched, and tried not to look up.

"It's okay." Lee's voice was low, but sure. "I don't think they'll be looking for us. Yet. Someone else is looking for me, but Ba Sing Se's a big place... Smile. Like everything's normal. I know you can do this."

Damn right I can. Jia held her head high, despite her fear, and stepped with a lady's grace.

They wove through crowds and out of sight, slipping into a brush-maker's shop Jia had visited a few times for fine calligraphy supplies. Not often, nothing here was less than expensive - but she didn't stint on her classwork. Not when it was important.

Rangi: …you know what, I actually kind of like Jia. She feels like a real person, not like… whatever Zuko is turning into, or whatever Vathara is writing the Avatar and his companions as.

"Ah, Healer Lee!" Brush-maker Tu traded bows with them both, before ushering them into the back. "Your uncle sent word you'd be by. Come, come..."

"I don't think we were watched coming in," Lee started.

"Then I'm sure you were not. You are Mushi's nephew, after all." The elderly brush-maker smiled briefly. "Don't worry. Your uncle's friends can handle a little danger."

"If it were just a little, I wouldn't be worried..."

One concealed door and a goodbye later, Lee was leading the pair of them through a labyrinth lit with green crystals. "You've been down here before?" Jia asked, curious.

"No. Someone just gave me directions."

"Directions?" Jia eyed him, suddenly uneasy. "You don't even have a map?"

"A tunnel map? With earthbenders around?" Lee said dryly. "You might as well ask the badger-moles."

Azula: Also, maps can be stolen. Stealing information right out of someone’s head is… not beyond the capabilities of the Dai Li, admittedly, but takes a lot more work.

He shrugged. "If we get lost, I know which way's up, and you can get us out. We'll be okay."

Apparently so; after some time, and a few warnings about the odd people she was going to meet, she heard a murmur of familiar voices. Swallowing, she all but flung herself around the next corner. "Mom! Dad!"

...Okay, not genteel, but it wasn't like there was anybody she had to impress. Not this time.

Rangi: Awwww.

"You're Jia?" A Water Tribe-accented voice;

MG: I’ve mentioned this before, but in the show we never really hear any noticeable regional accents, because the VAs for different characters have a variety of different accents and don’t really standardize them, though I suppose it’s just translation convention and you could argue that the characters “really” do have distinct accents we’re just not hearing. Here, though, it can’t help but feel like Vathara is emphasizing Katara’s foreignness in a way that’s kind of uncomfortable. We certainly never hear about Zuko having an audible Fire Nation accent…

Jia could still hear the surprise in it, as Mom hugged her. A girl, dark as Sokka, features definitely close enough to be his sister; though it was hard to tell her clothes were really blue, given the crystals' glow.

And now surprise was fading into anger, as the young waterbender rested a hand near her waterskin. "Well. Look who slunk in."

Lee looked at Katara askance, and sighed. "Let me guess. I'm not going to get a thank you."

"Thank you? You hit me, you-"

Rangi: She’s got a point. Even if it technically was for her own good, expecting her to thank you for it – or even believe it, really – is probably a bit much.

"Probably not," Agent Shirong said wryly, sitting on a stone bench as if he'd rather not move again today, thanks. "She doesn't really believe your sister's in the palace-"

"How could Azula get into Ba Sing Se?" Katara burst out. "She couldn't beat the Kyoshi Warriors." She jabbed a finger toward Lee. "You couldn't beat them!"

Azula: Funny, because Katara did seem to believe I was in the city not long ago, and in fact thought Zuko and I were working together. My, my, it’s almost like she just says whatever Vathara thinks will make her look worst in a given moment!

Beware the Sugar Queen: 32

"I never tried," Lee snarled back. "They were an obstacle. When they weren't anymore, I didn't have any reason to fight them!"

Rangi: Yeah. Sure. “I totally could’ve won if I wanted to, I just didn’t want to!” is always such a convincing defense!

...I'm getting over here, Jia thought, easing out from between angry firebender and angrier waterbender. She could see Suyin keeping Jinhai out of the line of fire behind their parents, her little brother petting a lemur so its fur went sideways. But no sign of Min. Oh, no.

"Go ahead, tell yourself that," Katara said sarcastically. "It doesn't change what happened. You failed. And you're always going to fail when you go after Aang. You know why? Because we're going to stop you!"

MG: She has a point. That’s pretty much what Zuko’s whole life has been since he started chasing Aang, a fact canon!Zuko was very much aware of.

Lee gave her a hard, flat look, deliberately ignoring how close her hand was to her waterskin. "Are you even listening? Azula. Is in. The palace."

"Quan could have come to his senses and ordered her captured," Shirong offered.

Azula: I’d say the odds of that happening are in the single digits, but if it makes you feel better, feel free to tell yourself that. It will make defeating you later much easier.

"I doubt it," Lee said dryly. "We haven't heard any explosions."

"Explosions?" Tingzhe asked, startled.

"The royal line of Sozin," Meixiang said quietly. "They often have a gift for lightning-bending."

MG: No, they often have training in lightning-bending. It’s not the same thing. Now, none of the later works in the franchise were out yet at the time, but in Korra we see that knowledge of lightning-bending has become common enough that the Republic City power plants literally use lightning benders to power some of their machinery. So, in less than a century, this supposedly royal skill becomes something used in a difficult and messy blue-collar job. Vathara claims she never watched Korra, but I wonder what she’d have thought of that. And in the Kyoshi novels, spoilers for a major twist from Rise of Kyoshi, but when the firebender warlord Xu Ping An was defeated, he was kept alive and imprisoned in part because he was the only known lightningbender in the world at that point – the royal family in Kyoshi’s time had lost the art and Xu was kept alive in the hopes that he could eventually be made to give up the secret. And Xu, as far as we know, wasn’t any sort of nobleman (albeit arrogant enough to be one). But no, in Embers it’s just something the royals are naturally gifted in.

Divine Right to Rule: 58

"Lightning?" Shirong swallowed dryly. "I know - someone said that, but..."

"She doesn't use lightning," Katara said dismissively. "She bends this crazy blue fire-"

"She's never used lightning on you," Lee said flatly. "Believe me, she can do it."

MG: Pretty sure Azula actually uses lightning in “The Chase” to blast through a barrier Toph raised. But of course, we’ve got to make Katara look dumb.

Beware the Sugar Queen: 33

"You attacked me in broad daylight, and you expect me to believe you?" Contempt twisted Katara's face as she jabbed a finger toward Suyin. "I'm not like your little fan over there. I know what you are!"

MG: Again, from Katara’s perspective this is entirely reasonable. But she’s still got to be the bad guy here.

"I didn't have time to explain! I had to keep you from running into a trap-"

Rangi: And what, grabbing her arm and hauling her over behind the tea shop to explain wasn’t an option why?

"Oh, of course it's a trap!" Katara shot back. "So when Aang shows up to rescue me, you can finally have him in your little Fire Nation clutches!" She clawed her hands, eyes narrowed and furious.

MG: *sighs* And here we have Katara launching into her dialogue from the show, despite the completely different context. In the show when she said this she and Zuko were locked up together alone, with no audience and, more importantly, Katara actually had been captured by the Dai Li and Azula and legitimately thought Zuko was working with them. Changing the context but keeping the dialogue just feels like, again, it’s supposed to make Katara look bad and Zuko look reasonable.

Beware the Sugar Queen: 34

Stations of the Canon: 38

Definitely staying over here, Jia thought, seeing the careful coldness of Lee's face. And she'd guess that was probably all Katara saw. But she'd practiced reading hints of emotion under the careful society facades, and under the surface...

Hurt. Exhaustion. Resignation.

She's not going to listen, Jia realized. And he knows she's not.

Beware the Sugar Queen: 35

Spirits, it was like watching a carriage wreck. She just couldn't look away.

MG: No, it would’ve been more like that if both Zuko and Katara were presented as justified but too angry and close to things to communicate effectively. As it is, it’s too obvious that Vathara’s on Zuko’s side over Katara’s, so it all rings follow.

"You're a terrible person, you know that?" Katara steamed on. "Always following us, hunting the Avatar, trying to capture the world's last hope for peace! But what do you care? You're the Fire Lord's son. Spreading war and violence and hatred is in your blood!"

Jia's jaw dropped as Lee's fists clenched. The Fire Lord's-?

Azula: *rolls her eyes* Oh, yes, how many times this chapter have we had people be impressed by Zuzu’s true heritage?

Divine Right to Rule: 59

Amaya's scruffy little scarred apprentice, who knew poetry and manners and could barely hold a dinner conversation even if his life depended on it... was a prince?

The girls in class would never believe this.

MG: Yes, a prince. A prince of the country that’s trying to conquer yours, son of the evil dictator who rules it and nephew of the general who nearly conquered your city (and Jia’s old enough to remember Iroh’s siege). But no, she doesn’t see that – all she sees is “wow, royalty so awesome.” *sighs* Anyway, that brings an end to our chapter. Thank you for your help today, ladies. For the rest of us, we still have an AN to get through, so… onwards!

Divine Right to Rule: 60

A/N: My apologies to Maiko fans. I love Mai. She is Really Cool. But that relationship has always left me with a deep and abiding, "huh?" Zuko was banished at 13, left chasing rumors and then the Avatar for 3 years - and he picks right back up with a girl he knows is loyal to the sister that tried to kill him? Does not compute. But Azula being sneaky, sadistic and squicky enough to set up a "kissing cousins" relationship to hold over them later at the worst possible moment? Oh, yeah.

MG: Okay, I have significant problems with this. One, I know I’m ace and not really the best judge of such things, but I know that love isn’t always logical, and based on the flashbacks we see Zuko and Mai have been crushing on each other pretty hard since they were kids. For another, Azula is clever, she’s ruthless, and she’s cruel, and based on the flashbacks she’s also been like that ever since she was a little kid… but the idea of seven-year-old Azula painstakingly going through genealogical records to dig up a several-generations-back connection so she could manipulate Zuko and Mai into a relationship so she could blackmail them with it at some unspecified future point… strains credibility. And from what we see, it’s pretty feeble blackmail material, anyway. Zuko and Mai, upon finding out, are mildly embarrassed and squicked, then mutually agree to break things off, and that’s it. Mai’s a lot madder that Azula lied to her than she is that she nearly ended up engaged to her cousin. And, again, it’s not like they’re even that closely related… though I think Vathara might have realized she made them distant enough to not be a big deal, since she’s going introduce a reason for relationships with close matrilineal relatives to be especially taboo in a few chapters.

About Roku, Sozin, and bloodlines… a couple of things jumped out at me. 1) We have no idea how many kids Roku might have had.

MG: True.

2) Sozin seems the type to think "friends close, enemies closer" is excellent advice.

MG: Maybe? He seemed to me to be genuinely trying to get his old friend on his side, and then tried to kill him when that ship sailed. Not really “keeping your enemies close,” is it?

3) There's a consistent Cain and Abel theme running through the Fire Nation. Sozin and Roku; Ozai and Iroh; Azula and Zuko. The only odd man out is Azulon. So… why not Ilah as the "good firebender" of that pairing? Iroh's definitely powerful enough to justify a heritage from Roku, in my opinion. (And it handles that whole "if Zuko has to choose between good and evil, how do we explain Iroh?" plothole. Also... the mind-twists Azulon would have put his kids through knowing whose grandsons they are, ouch.) And no, Zuko has no idea who Ta Min's husband was. Someone (I'm looking at a certain Dragon of the West) conveniently neglected to mention it.

MG: It’s only a plot-hole if you assume that Fire Nation biological determinism is actually destiny, and not a metaphor Iroh was using for Zuko’s sake (the more obvious reading, IMO). And I’m not really sure the “good-bad firebender pairs” was something that actually means anything, either (and if Ilah was the “good firebender” and Azulon, obviously, was the evil one… that has really horrific implications for their marriage that I don’t think Vathara stopped to consider). And yes, Zuko is still descended from Roku in this version, just not through Ursa’s side of the family. He is going to find out eventually. It’s, uh, going to be special.

Also, I've been asked about the Sun Warriors. This, unfortunately, is a case where the writer Knows Too Much. While I did love that episode (dragons! Indiana Jones problem-solving!), the fact that the canon Sun Warriors are supposed to be some variant on Aztec, when the Fire Nation today looks like a cross between Early Modern Japan and Imperial China, hurts my brain. On top of that - read up on the Aztecs, and exactly how they worshiped the sun and fire. If you can, without tossing your cookies. Let's just say, they have a lot less in common with The Emperor's New Groove and a lot more in common with Aliens vs. Predator. You don't want me to go there. Trust me.

MG: Vathara, if you know the Fire Nation is a mix of Japanese and Chinese elements, why are you writing it as All Japan All the Time?

And, okay. I really take issue with this paragraph, for various reasons. One, Vathara acting like she’s so smart for knowing the Aztecs practiced human sacrifice, when it’s the one thing basically anyone who’s heard of the Aztecs probably does know about them (or at least a close third after “they lived in Mexico” and “they built some really neat pyramids”). And honestly, the role of sacrifice in Mesoamerican religion and why the Aztecs in particular did so much of it (it wasn’t because they were being evil for the hell of it!) is actually really interesting, albeit also rather beyond the scope of this sporking, so to see Vathara just randomly bringing it up for shock value irks me. And finally… Emperor’s New Groove? Really? Emperor’s New Groove is based on the Inca Empire (very loosely and full of anachronisms, because Emperor’s New Groove runs on Rule of Funny). The Incas are not the Aztecs. Completely different people, completely different empire, completely different religion, completely different continents, going by how they’re defined in the Anglosphere (the Aztecs were based in what is today Mexico, in North America; the Incas in what is today Peru, thousands of miles to the south in South America). The Incas practiced human sacrifice too, but IIRC via different methods and for different reasons. Because they weren’t the same people, and didn’t have the same religion.

Also, just because a fantasy culture is based on a real culture, doesn’t mean it shares all the same practices. The Fire Nation, in both canon and Embers, doesn’t seem to have any tradition of seppuku, for example, despite that being something feudal Japan was stereotypically know for; nor does either the show or the fic include anything like the emperor/shogun divide. So maybe Vathara shouldn’t throw stones (though the Sun Warriors are implied to feed outsiders who are judged unworthy to the dragons, so if you count that as sacrifice…)

And I am sincerely trying not to bash Katara. Just to write her as the show portrayed her - stubborn, thinking with her heart, and stuck on "Water Tribe ways are the best".

MG: That’s not really how I’d sum up Katara, no. And “I’m just trying to write her as the show portrayed her” rings increasingly hollow the further we get into the next couple of arcs, and the worse Katara’s portrayal gets. In fact, if Vathara really thinks this is what Katara’s like… I don’t usually add to counters for the ANs, but I’ll go ahead and give one here, just because it deserves it.

Beware the Sugar Queen: 36

Much thanks to Laryna6, for comments on Min that helped me get the poor guy's motivations out in the open!

MG: Not been following the fic’s reviews, no idea who this is.

Anyway, there was a lot going on in this one. My two biggest takeaways were the sinking of the Maiko ship and the treatment of Katara. For the former, the Mai/Zuko relationship has barely been hinted at so far, so it feels kind of out of left field to me, in addition to the reasons I outlined in the response to the AN above. And really, if Vathara wanted to sink the ship, I’m not sure why she hit on such a roundabout way to do it, especially when she already provided herself two outs in the AN that would make much more sense – that it’s been years since Zuko’s seen Mai, and she’s always hanging out with Azula. Either of those would make more sense for why they broke it off than “they’re actually second cousins and that’s a problem and also Azula totally set them up for unclear reasons.” As for the latter, well… I think it pretty much speaks for itself, but again, it can’t help but feel like Vathara is stacking the deck way too hard, making Katara look stupid, irrational and judgmental while Zuko and all his supporters are in the right, and they’re all surrounding her and basically refusing to treat her like anything she says has merit or might make sense from her perspective, and it’s enormously frustrating to read. Beyond that, we’ve got Min formally joining the Dai Li, Shirong formally breaking from the Dai Li, and Azula taking control of the Dai Li… and I’ve already been over why I hate what Vathara does with the last part. At least some of the stuff from Jia’s point of view is good, even if it does end up devolving into another Zuko love-fest before long.

That’s all for today (I do apologize for the length of this one; it’s about as long a chapter as I’ll ever do without splitting)! Next time, more backstory, more Ba Sing Se, and Vathara really starts letting loose on Katara. We’ll see you then! Our counts stand at:

Beware the Sugar Queen: 36

The Blind Bandit Wins Again: 30

The Deadly Depths: 29

Detached from Reality: 12

Divine Right to Rule: 60

Elemental Determinism: 52

He Has Much to Learn: 65

Prince Stuko: 111

Protectors of our Cultural Heritage: 49 (giving another point for how the Dai Li apparently didn’t sell out Ba Sing Se to Azula willingly, she just… loyalty’d them into it somehow)

The Real Victims: 41

Roads to Nowhere: 1

Simple Rubes from the Water Tribes: 40

Stations of the Canon: 38

The Superior Element: 61

True Guardians of Balance: 1

The Ultimate Firebenders: 23

Comments

[kalaong]

Theory i came up with a while back-where Katara was just annoyed with His Highness while healing Iroh, Zuko water whammying her to drag her down here severely screwed up her head. We will see something similar after Zuko heals Aang.

[masterghandalf]

That might explain a lot, actually...

[kalaong]

Vathara actually proposes that in-universe... well not EXACTLY that; when a Yaoren from Kyoshi Island comes to Zuko hat-in-hand begging for help in keeping his new dual bending from killing him... Zuko initially says it's not possible because any friction between them could kill him anyway.

The "big sister" who escorted him there says something like, 'I'm sure he's sorry for charging in and burning our homes' and Zuko twists the knife - he outright states that he is NOT sorry; he had his orders(loyalty) and besides, if Ozai was in some backwater, wouldn't anyone not Fire Best Nation have charged in and leveled the place to get him?

Because of course there is no difference at all between a sadistic conqueror who leads a 100-year war and is probably there to use civilians as human shields - and a (1)12-year-old pacifist who wants to die because he lured the fire to innocent people's homes.

Because "Zuko best" and she wants her brother to live, she kneels. Fuck.