on LOK

[embersandashes]

I hope you're not stupid enough to be surprised at my reaction to this "United Republic of Nations" business. The people are discontent, the government is a complete mess, and more to the point, the idea that an entire country can be run satisfactorily by delegates from four separate nations is hopelessly naive at best and vastly irresponsible at worst.



I know firsthand that there was a better plan to unite the world, once.

Comments

[abitofawildman]

I'm not sure that burning the whole place to the ground to be king of the ashes really counts as a "better plan", Auntie Azula.

[embersandashes]

... Don't call me that.

[abitofawildman]

Don't call you which part? Auntie or Azula?

[embersandashes]

Auntie.

And the burning of villages was meant to be punishment towards those who refused to surrender, not something that would be done to the entire world without rhyme or reason. But I suspect you already knew that.

[abitofawildman]

[Bumi can't help but chuckle at her displeasure. He is his father's son after all, and they didn't call him the Laughing Avatar for nothing.]

I do at that, but fear is a terrible way to control people. But, I suspect you already knew that.

[embersandashes]

Have you ever tried it?

[abitofawildman]

Of course, I'm in the Military.

[embersandashes]

And you've never seen fear be an effective tactic? Clearly you don't have much experience.

[abitofawildman]

Oh it's effective in the short-term sure, but as a long-term means of policing behavior? It's Mooselion dung, if you'll pardon my language.

I've several hundred troops under my command and every single one of them would take Comet-level fireblast for me, but it's not because they're afraid of me.

[embersandashes]

We had other strategies for the long-term.

Do you really think every Fire Nation soldier fought out nothing but fear?

[abitofawildman]

Blind loyalty is just fear of the other, so yes.

[embersandashes]

And what makes loyalty to you good, but loyalty to us blind?

[abitofawildman]

You mean aside from the fact that I'm just better?

[Pause. Grin.]

Because my troops know why we're doing what we're doing. One of the better things about the United Republic is the cultural exchange. That level of accountability makes it harder for one Nation to pull the wool over another's eyes. Like by saying the Air Nomads had a standing army...just as an example.

[embersandashes]

Don't be ridiculous. We couldn't have gotten as far as we did without knowing what we were going.

[abitofawildman]

In command sure, but I'm talking about people with their actual boots on the ground, and not those safe behind palace walls.

[embersandashes]

I fought in the war from the time I was thirteen; at fourteen, I was running special missions for my father. My cousin died in battle. My father fought for the Fire Nation army, as did my uncle before he turned traitor.

You really don't know anything about us if you think we hid in the palace the whole time.

[abitofawildman]

My Pre-Comet history isn't as great as it used to be. Your father, he was the spare kept safe while the heir laid siege to Ba Sing Se, right?

[embersandashes]

My father was serving in other ways.

[abitofawildman]

As a spare myself, I'm quite sure that he did.

[embersandashes]

You don't know anything about him.

[abitofawildman]

Not personally, no. But there was a time when he and my father were quite close.

[embersandashes]

... You called me "Auntie". Isn't your father Zuko?

[abitofawildman]

[Bumi's eyes widen with shock. Then there's a beat or two before he just starts laughing, because...seriously, what else can you do?]

It's the cut of the jacket, isn't it? No, no Princess. I am not your nephew by blood, but by chosen family. Fire Lord Zuko is my Uncle. Avatar Aang and Master Katara are my parents.

[embersandashes]

How adorable.

And you're claiming that my father and the Avatar were close. I don't believe it.

[abitofawildman]

You kind of have to be close to Energybend effectively, or so he told me once upon a time. It's not really effective at a great distance.

[embersandashes]

Physical closeness once during a fight means nothing.

[abitofawildman]

Physical closeness during that fight meant everything, and you know it.

[He keeps smiling, and then another laugh escapes him.]

Did you honestly think that I was Ursa? I've been called many things in my life, but Fire Nation's a new one.
...

Rutting badgermoles, that really would make me Iroh's father. HA! Won't he get a kick out of that.

[embersandashes]

I don't know it. I wasn't there, and in my universe, it never happened.

... Why would I think you were Ursa of all people? You called me aunt; I took it literally and assumed you were Zuko's son.

[abitofawildman]

Never happened, huh? Boy, when they say multiverse, they're really not fooling, are they?

In my world Zuko never had a son, only a daughter: Ursa. At the moment she's reigning Fire Lord because Zuko abdicated the throne. Her son, Iroh, is the youngest General in United Forces history. Which, admittedly, will be more impressive when the Forces are older themselves.

[embersandashes]

He would name his children after them. Honestly, given them the exact same names just makes things confusing. You said Ursa, and I assumed you meant his mother.

[abitofawildman]

And not your mother? Interesting. You know, I'd say you didn't have a leg to criticize from, seeing as you're named for your Grandfather...but, it's not like I do either.

...

Oh that's right, we've not yet be properly introduced. Commander Bumi, Second Division United Forces.

[embersandashes]

She's my mother by blood and nothing else. And I'm named for my grandfather, it's true. But my name is a derivative; it's not the exact same thing.

... Azula. Though you clearly already know that.

[abitofawildman]

I have known a thing or two in my time, yes.

So, tell me about home. Did Zhao kill the moon? Is the Avatar Cycle forever broken and lost to sands of time? Is up now down? Left now right? Are pygmy pumas and polarbear dogs now living together?

[embersandashes]

I'm not going to answer any questions if you're not going to be serious.

[abitofawildman]

I see no reason to be serious about world I clearly don't exist in.

[embersandashes]

Not yet, anyway. The future could hold any number of things.

[abitofawildman]

True...there iiiiis that. Well I guess hope really does spring anew, doesn't it?

Tell me of your world, Princess. I am genuinely curious.

[embersandashes]

I don't live there anymore.

[abitofawildman]

Moved out permanently, huh? I know of a few who've done just that, the circumstances that prompted their exit were always...interesting. It's a bold move. I respect bold moves.

If I may be so bold, where did you come to settle?

[embersandashes]

Two separate worlds, actually. I move between them freely.

Don't think that this means that I'm in favor of your father's misguided plans for our world, however.

[abitofawildman]

Huh. I only have just the one. One extra, I mean. Though...give it a few months and I'm sure I'll be just about everywhere. And if not me than a version of me.

As for my father's plans...well, they're hardly his plans anymore. He's been gone and buried over a decade now where I'm from. There are still those who walk his path, your brother for one, but it's really all up to the new kid at this point.

[embersandashes]

Their plans, then. I will support anyone who I believe can get things out of their control and put things right.

And for the record, he isn't my true brother any more than Ursa is my mother.

[abitofawildman]

And what's right?

[embersandashes]

What do you think?

[abitofawildman]

I try not to on the best of days, gives me indigestion.
But, if I were going to hazard a guess, it'd be domination of one element over the other three.

Though, I have to admit...I'd be curious to see how a world like that would fare against someone like Amon and his Equalists.

[embersandashes]

Wrong. It would be domination of one country over the other three. If the other nations would accept Fire Nation rule and allow us to unite the world, there would be no need to restrict their bending.

What is an Equalist?

[abitofawildman]

So basically the United Republic only instead of leaders chosen by the people, you'd have us lead by the Spare Apparent. A man who's only qualification for leadership is that he was born into the right family and outlived his father.

[Color Bumi unimpressed.]

The Equalist Movement, if their literature is to be believed, wants Non-bender equality, and they're more than willing to remove bending from the world entirely in order to achieve it.