Pledging loyalty

After their breakfast, Ursa had her own business to attend to, not to mention her third child.

Suki didn't understand why the woman was acting as if she was the mother of the emperor.

Surely even the people of the fire nation, now turned empire, would have better standards of civility than what she had witnessed.

However, Suki was beginning to not underestimate Zuko, for better or worse, she simply couldn't get a read on him.

As Zuko was getting ready to conduct his duties as supreme ruler, there was a knock on the door.

'Who the hell was visiting so early in the morning?' Though Suki.

At least she was spared from the embarrassment of having to interrupt her master's fun with Ursa.

"Be a darling and go answer the door for me. It must be important for the guards to allow it." Zuko ordered with a smile that made Suki feel a little weird.

With a tired sigh Suki raised from her seat, as Zuko had just finished covering himself with his casual robes.

Suki didn't even make it to the door before it opened by itself and Azula came walking.

"Excuse me, but you can't jus...." Suki spoke, but Azula didn't pay her much mind, instead she walked right past her.

"Forgive me for disturbing you brother, but I needed to speak with you." Azula spoke as her amber eyes locked unto Zuko.

"Azula, my dear sister." Zuko greeted her with his usual smirk, making Azula a little unsure if she should have waited to receive proper permission to enter. "You've come to ask… no, demand for following me on my next missions."

"You know, it's really hard to hide matters from you brother." She gave him her best smile, trying to take the focus from the part where he pointed out that she was demanding. "But anyway, I've come to request that you allow me to go with you. My training has come a long way, as your next successor until you have children, I believe nothing better than to have by your side learning how to rule."

Zuko simply smiled at his sister's long sentences.

He noticed something resembling expectation in her tone, very much like Toph usually had around him. "My dear sister, I would be honored to have you come with me. I haven't offered it before because I thought you weren't having fun during our visit to Gaoling."

"I've changed my mind." She just gave him a subtle smile.

"It seems Toph did make you notice that you still have much to grow." Zuko deduced. "That's very fortunate."

Azula didn't know how to properly answer that.

So instead, she changed the subject by turning to the other person in the room. "So... this is your newest toy?"

Suki looked down on the ground as Azula walked around her, she threw a quick glimpse towards Zuko for help, but he simply sat in a chair with an apple in his hands while looking out the window, watching the passing clouds in the sky.

"She doesn't look all that special brother. Why did you make this thing your first concubine? I'm much prettier than her." Azula asked while Suki just stood still and accepted being called a thing, well at least she was Zuko's slave and not this girl's.

"I didn't. She practically begged to be my concubine." He laughed. "She challenged me to an Agni kai, if she lost she was willing to accept becoming mine." He spoke and Azula threw one quick last look at Suki.

"So she is an idiot." Azula stated before she went over to Zuko and placed a hand over his shoulder and began caressing his hair with the other.

"Can't argue with the idiot part, but I must defend her appearance." Zuko laughed ignoring the mind tricks Azula was attempting to pull on him. "Look at those beautiful eyes! Not common for people from the Earth Kingdom. And she is also well fit… I have no complaints regarding her beauty sister." Zuko spoke with a small smile on his lips.

He knew that Azula might look cool and collected on the outside, but was actually furious on the inside.

"Very well, it's you she must please anyway." Azula was just about to leave, but threw one last look over her shoulder. "I still find it hard to believe that you would let one of those savages sleep in your bed, she should be more than happy with the floor." Azula spoke.

"I did share a bed with you back at Gaoling." Zuko finished his apple. "If your poison hasn't harmed me, dear sister, then I'm pretty confident that I won't suffer from my concubine's barbaric embrace."

Azula didn't dare show signs of anger in his presence, so she just left the room, already having the answer she had come for.

"Suki." Zuko spoke and gained her attention.

"Y-yes…m-master." Suki had been on her guard the entire moment Azula had been in the room and as soon as she had left Zuko had spoken her name catching her off guard.

"Aren't you happy that you are my slave now?" He asked with a smile and Suki realized what he meant, she wasn't happy about being a slave, but she was happy that at least she wasn't the property of someone like Azula.

Suki answered with a simple nod after gulping.

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In the distance, smoke rose from a prison standing on stilts in the middle of the ocean.

Machinery whirring could be heard from a great distance.

As they docked and were about to leave the warship, Zuko turned to Suki.

"Sorry my dear, but you will be remaining here." He spoke, shocking her.

She wanted to come along.

"What? Why?" She questioned.

"I've already explained to you. You aren't a warrior anymore, you will only be fighting after receiving my permission. I don't want nothing to ruin you pretty face." Zuko spoke before he continued off the boat alongside Azula and Toph, leaving a lonely Suki behind.

"Don't worry! We can still have our fun!" Ty Lee approached Suki. "Tell me, what do you do in your spare time?"

"I usually have combat training with my group." Pondered Suki, hopeful that the cheerful and energetic girl in front of her would have enough authority around the ship.

"Hmmm, I don't think Zuko would appreciate having you hurt…" Ty Lee seemed conflicted. "But perhaps we can spar…"

"Weren't you paying attention?" Mai interrupted their conversation. "Zuko had just stated that his pet is not allowed to fight nor risk harming her stupid face."

Suki noticed the clear irritation on the raven haired girl's tone was directed at her.

"So… how about we take a look at Zuko's animals! I'm sure with all that security our safety will be guaranteed. Besides, I've heard that Zuko has requested to assemble some interesting species!" Ty Lee suggested.

"Contrary to you, I wish to spend my time being useful." Mai said before turning to leave. "Good luck taking care of Zuko's pet."

After that, Ty Lee shrugged her shoulders and smiled for Suki. "C'mon! I'm sure we'll have lots of fun! Hey do you lik..."

...

Meanwhile, now aboard the prison rig, a long haired man approached quickly before bowing for Zuko and his followers.

"My emperor! You honor me by your presence." He raised his head from the metal floor. "I hope you are satisfied with the way I've been handling this modest shipyard."

"At ease, warden. Your daily reports were good enough." Zuko answered. "Have you completed the task I've requested?"

"Of course your majesty." The warden gestured for his soldier to step forward and handle a scroll to Zuko. "The yuyan archers had also arrived. As we speak, they are aiding my soldiers to gather every single earth bender in the main courtyard."

"Excellent." Zuko replied with a smirk.

"Oh, I've never seen so many earth benders in the same place." Mused Toph as she felt the vibrations painting a clear image of their numbers.

"I believe you." Said Azula with her condescending tone, mocking the fact that Toph couldn't actually see.

"What did you just say?" Toph got annoyed.

"Is it possible that you are deaf as well?" Azula mused, continuing to tease the young earth bender.

Zuko only had to clear his throat to make both girls silent again.

After that, they were guided through the massive structure, now much more grim than usual thanks to the absence of the prisoners.

From the wall, Zuko noticed that the population of earth benders in front of him already surpassed a hundred.

Three hundred and thirty eight, if the scroll he had received regarding the profiles of the inmates was accurate.

Turning his head to inspect the wall he was standing on, Zuko noticed the legendary elite group of marksmans making sure that order was kept by having their bow at ready.

Their short jackets and poofy pants, alongside their facial paint and head bands were just as Zuko remembered from his previous life while watching the cartoon.

They mean business.

The warden proceeded to speak loudly, announcing Zuko's presence to his prisoners. "Earth Benders! Bow to our imperial majesty that has graced us with his presence!"

As it appears, their spirit has already been broken, not a single prisoner seemed to defy the warden's order.

Which in a way would benefit Zuko's plans for them.

Zuko stepped forward with the same grace he carried during his coronation. "People of the earth kingdom! I've come to personally announce that under my rule things won't be the same as they were with my predecessor." His words seemed to not have much effect over his captive audience until he continued. "As of now, I'm liberating you from this prison." Finally the depressed people began responding with confused expressions and whispers. Even the warden was a little shaken by this decision, but he wouldn't dare defy nor interrupt the emperor. "I'm aware that some of you are just wishing to survive until this war is over and hopefully move on with your lives. But I've come to suggest a different alternative." He turned his head to Toph, who immediately knew what was expected of her.

The nine years old girl rushed towards the edge of the wall, bending a large segment of it as she came crashing down onto the metal floor down below.

The earth benders were initially worried that someone had been thrown from the wall to die, but seeing a bulky figure of metal resisting the impact and standing up as if nothing had just happened, they understood it was made on purpose.

The warden wasn't capable of hiding his surprise. "I-impossible! The little girl… has bended metal?!"

But instead of confirming the obvious, Zuko continued his speech. "Contrary to the beliefs of the obsolete fire nation, my Blaze empire will have a place with dignity for people from all around the world to live. I believe that technology and innovation is what should drive my empire forward. What you are seeing is the next step for your bending evolution." Zuko announced while Toph continued to bend the metal to display her skills and show off how far she had reached. "As I've said earlier, you are free to return to your houses and try to forget that time has passed. But I can give you a very important and rewarding job, a better home for your families and a brand new form of bending for those with aptitude."

Some of the earth benders began questioning if what Zuko was proposing wasn't too good to be true while a very few minority were still not okay with siding with their captors, even if under a different ruler.

"To those unwilling to accept to join me and desire to return to the Earth Kingdom, there is a ship ready to take you back home. But let me warn you, once you refuse my proposal, there will be no second chances." Zuko made sure to make that point clear. "I do believe you deserve to know how your nation has fared since you arrived here. Due to the pathetic rule of your kings, the Earth Kingdom has descended into unbelievable chaos. The soldiers and militia forces of your nation have been competing with criminals in regards to who could extort and opress your own people more."

Azula had been watching her brother with attention, finally understanding a little of what his plans were.

"So I will make this offer only once…" Zuko decided to conclude his speech. "Those that kneel and pledge their loyalty to me, will be accepted alongside their families as full citizens of the Blaze Empire."

Not surprisingly, literally every single one of the earth benders bend the knee.

Having information regarding the profile of each and every single one of these benders.

Zuko noticed that despite it not being realistic, it seems that the fire nation had somehow managed to bring most of the honest and honorable prisoners into this metal rig.

But that wouldn't make Zuko fully trust them, Toph would surely have to help him find if someone was being dishonest during their pledge of loyalty.

If some of these traitors managed to slip by unnoticed and managed to learn metal bending, Zuko could easily eliminate them with a single lightning strike or melt whatever metal armor they might be wearing.

Regardless, with the benders and archers joining him, he had what he came for.

And he also had a different purpose for the prison rig in mind, but that will take some time though.

He now had to send his imperial warship back to the capital city as he made his way to his next stop.

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Tyro, a balding long haired tall and bulky man with a beard couldn't believe what he had just witnessed and heard.

All this time, he led the prisoners saying that their best option was to wait for things to get solved by themselves. Never truly believing in it himself.

He had abandoned hope for years now.

But this young kid, barely older than his own son, had actually come to liberate them.

The cruel warden had announced him as their nation's current ruler. Back when he was younger, Tyro knew he wouldn't be able to stop laughing at such absurdity.

But seeing a four foot girl bending and ripping metal as if it was nothing, he now was extremely glad that his time in prison had managed to dull his sense of humor.

The young ruler spoke in a neutral tone, not really showing what type of man he really was.

Although he stressed that joining him was a one time offer, he did seem open to letting those not willing to join him free to decline.

How much of that was true, no one knew, nor wished to test it.

Unfortunately, the old man couldn't stop himself from having hope that things were about to improve.

No more terrible stinky food, no more sleeping without blankets during harsh winters, and no more of having to care for everything.

He was aware that it might be wish fulfillment on his part, but he was really hoping to see his wife and son, and find out that his woman had waited for him while his son had grown to become a strong lad.

But Tyro's thoughts were interrupted when his time to pledge loyalty to the kid had arrived.

"Do you swear your loyalty to the Blaze Empire, its people and most importantly to its emperor?" A high rank official asked him as he bowed.

"I do." Tyro answered.

"Then we welcome you as a full citizen of our empire. Any family you have will also be welcomed as long as they swear fealty to our empire." The man replied.

"Thank you." Replied Tyro before bowing again to leave. "My emperor."

The young ruler who had been silent until now spoke. "It's my pleasure, I know it might not seem much compared to what my predecessors had made you go through. But if you honor your vows and show yourself as a productive member of my empire, you can be sure that you won't regret it."

Zuko's words only served to solidify even further the image of a wise ruler in Tyro's mind.

"That's all I ask, your majesty." He replied before being allowed to leave.

The next in line to swear loyalty had just received permission to approach the emperor when Tyro noticed that he was being escorted to a massive ship that easily compared to the entire prison rig.

Hopefully it's not just a fancier prison.

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On the outskirts of the capital city of the Blaze Empire, there was a small village named Yuyan.

The people there were few, but one thing about this town that made it very different was that men and women there were marvelous archers.

The hobby-turned-profession had been passed from generation to generation. Beginning as a way of survival, to hunt for food for their families, was now a great military asset.

Han'i was silent as one could be, being born mute. But from what people have learned, she has been gifted by the spirits with incredible aim and strength.

Although she wasn't dexterous in the way to properly throw a knife, she was strong enough to effortlessly use a warbow with deadly precision and fluidity in long distances.

When she reached her tenth birthday, her father, who was the leader of the village, crafted for her an unusual heavy bow. He swore that he would make her the finest marksman the world had ever seen.

And her mother had gifted her with a flute that had been crafted in the capital. In some way hoping to give her the voice she wasn't able to biologically provide.

Whenever Han'i wasn't with her bow in hands, she had her precious instrument.

And vice versa.

Now having served as a professional archer for the fire nation for at least a decade, she wasn't sure what to think of the sudden change of rulership.

Not to mention having to share a space with earth benders without having them locked in chains.

She had lost countless companions in the battlefield to those savages. And now seeing that they can also bend metal, she simply didn't know how on Agni's name would they be capable of fighting them.

Han'i was confident that with her bow and arrows she could one shot a platoon of them from a safe distance before they dug themselves into the ground, even if they had heavy armor protecting them.

Any small unprotected region between armor segments was fair game for her.

But now realizing that they now had a way of not only blocking her shots, but also shooting them back at her…

Han'i only hoped her emperor knew what he was doing.

Especially by inviting them into his personal warship.

She had heard stories of how powerful Zuko really was, but frankly, she couldn't bring herself to believe in everything the rumors were saying.

Making lightning fall from the sky? Immunity to fire? Make stone turn into magma?

Even if he were the avatar that would be a hard sell.

The weirdest part was hearing that he could bend black and white flames and soar through the skies like a dragon of old tales.

Regardless of her opinions, she now had a job to do. Her mission was to serve the emperor, even at the cost of her own life.

—————————————————————

Zuko had returned to his warship.

"Have you seen me back there Zuko?" Toph asked with a big smile. "I've crashed into that prison courtyard like a freaking meteor!"

"Yeah yeah, great evolution. Instead of throwing rocks at each other, your people will now be able to throw pieces of junk at each other." Azula remarked.

"Well listen crazy queen." Toph pointed her finger at Azula. "Try blasting me with fire, you will see that your puny flames won't even tickle me!"

"As if I wanted to waste my time melting you into an even more useless statue." Azula chuckled. "It would only take me to zap you with lightning to have your sorry ass down on its knees."

"She's lying is she?" Toph questioned Zuko. "I thought you were the only one capable of that."

All the way back here, and he had to put up with Toph and Azula's dick measuring contest.

…

Now that was an image he will have a hard time forgetting.

"I'm afraid she got you beaten in that regard." Zuko replied while noticing Azula's smug face.

"Since you can't see, I should tell you, I'm smirking." Azula continued to provoked.

"But don't worry, just make it a close combat experience." Zuko smiled seeing his sister's annoyed expression. "She does take her time to generate enough electricity, and if you manage to get a grip on her, she won't risk electrocuting herself."

"Ha! Great!" Toph cheered. "Well crazy queen, if we end up fighting, I won't give you room to breath. So hold your butt when the time comes."

Before Azula could properly respond to that, Zuko interrupted her by saying. "Well girls, as much as I enjoy our time together, it's time to part ways."

"Well then, where will we be heading next?" Azula questioned.

"You two will be returning to the capital. I want you Toph, to see who among these earth benders are capable of bending metal. Those that aren't, will be trained by the boulder." Zuko ordered. "Make sure to pay attention if they really are someone to be trusted."

"Okay, got it." She replied. "You haven't told me that the big guy was with you."

"I've forgotten you weren't awake when I made a deal with him. Go look for a good place to build an arena similar to the one you were fighting." He explained. "As for you dear sister, you will be taking my place until I return. Go ask Lo and Li for advice regarding politics." Zuko told her, completely catching her by surprise. "I want you to have those girls from Kyoshi island being trained as maids and servants of my palace."

"Me? Taking your place?" She asked the obvious.

"And you said I was deaf." Toph mocked her.

"Yes Azula, don't let me down. Take care of our dear mother and sister for me." He smiled. "And don't worry, it won't take much before my return."

Without waiting for an answer, Zuko left both girls and went to pick up Suki.

His warship was unfortunately too big to make the quickest shortcut to the northern air temple, and too slow to take the long path.

Less than an hour later, he was sailing in a much smaller ship with Suki, Mei and Ty Lee. All the other Yuyan archers guarding them.

War minister Qin was already on his way ahead to meet the machinist as well.

Zuko couldn't forget to question him about the progress of the drill.

Despite having his own method to deal with Ba Sing Se's walls, he still had some utility for the massive machine.

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(15/12/2020)

*Hope this chapter is of your liking. Anything you wish to ask, feel free to do so.

Thanks as always for your attention and please be safe.

Any problems with my writing, just point them out and I will correct them as soon as possible.

** Please don't hesitate to tell me if the quality is dropping. I really wish to continue trying to update daily, but I don't want to make it reflect badly on my writing.