Chapter 55

"... Azula-..." Tanya looked lost for words, and the princess of the Fire Nation bit back the urge to laugh in her face. They were at a party after all. Even so, it felt indescribably good to finally see her arch rival squirm!

"You're the best!"

...

Wait, what?

In the blink of an eye Tanya was beaming at her like some bright-eyed goofball. What on earth was she playing at? "Seriously, you're the best friend anyone could ever ask for." Tanya continued joyfully, all traces of nervousness gone.

"It's heartening to know that you've always got my back. But don't worry, I can handle this on my own."

Before Azula could get a word in, Tanya had turned around and strode over to the nearby stage, plucking a glass of wine from the tray of a passing waiter as she did and a spoon from a nearby table.

She stepped up on stage, tapping the cutlery against the glass to make a ringing sound that caught everyone's attention. All conversation fell silent as the audience waited with baited breath to hear what their hero had to say.

"My noble countrymen. I am grateful beyond words that you have all come here to honour me tonight." Tanya began, her commanding voice ringing as clear as a bell across the palace. "Yet in truth I only stand victorious here before you tonight because I stood upon the shoulders of a giant.

There is a man who should have been standing beside me. A man who deserves to be honoured more than I do. A man who sacrificed his life so that I might finish the work he started." Tanya raised her glass into the air, and the audience mimicked her action.

"By tradition, the one who leads the conquest of a city may invoke the right to rename it, signalling its rebirth as a part of our great nation.

Well I invoke that right now. Henceforth, I declare that Agna Qel'a shall be renamed in memory of the man who worked so hard, without thought for recognition, to bring the Northern Water Tribes into the light of the future. So please, ladies and gentlemen, join me in a toast to the future prosperity of the Fire Nation's newest colony: the city of Zhao!"

The audience cheered and joined her in a toast, whispering to each other about what a loyal and selfless young woman she was, and never noticing how the glass Azula held had begun to crack ever so slightly under her grip. That conniving little bitch! Nobody would believe that Tanya could be Zhao's real murderer after word of that speech got out.

The right to rename captured cities was afforded to generals as a way of recognising their achievements, and to date had only been used to rename somewhere after the general themself in a vain attempt to immortalise their own name, or after whatever wealthy lord the general was hoping to impress.

It had never been used to honour the memory of a fallen soldier before, and you could bet that the ignorant masses would lap it up when they heard.

When stories were told of Tanya's victory, Zhao would now forever be cast as the wise and kindly mentor who led her to greatness. And that same wave of goodwill would strangle the rumours of the truth in their crib.

And so once again, Azula had failed to pull ahead.

As the applause ended, a loud cough drew everyone's attention, and all eyes turned to the master of ceremonies once again. "Ladies and gentlemen, please follow me to the throne room." The man requested, and all at once a current of excitement ran through the crowd.

It was incredibly rare for The Firelord to invite so many people into his throne room at once, and for most it would be their first time standing in the room where perhaps the most political power in the entire world resided.

Azula slipped into the crowd as they bustled and shoved their way as politely as possible through the doors to where her father waited.

The throne room was as imposing a sight as ever. The veil of flames that separated The Firelord from the petty concerns of mere mortals cast long, dark shadows. Li and Lo, the two ancient advisors to the throne, sat silently before the veil.

Whether out of reverence of The Firelord's power or because the heat from the flames was uncomfortable, nobody made to stand nearly as close to the veil as they did, and so Azula snagged herself a place at the front. On the other side of the room she noticed that Tanya had done the same.

Once the room was quiet the doors closed, and a small band of drummers around the edges of the room started to play; their slow, rhythmic pounding helping to build a sense of tension.

Soon the doors swung open again, and a young woman walked in followed by four elite palace guards. She wore a low-cut red dress that was all Fire Nation style and colours, with golden bracelets and accessories that shone in the firelight.

The black choker around her neck looked suspiciously like a collar, and perched within her snow white hair was a silver headdress reminiscent of the one worn by the Firelord, but smaller and with a snowflake symbol atop.

Princess Yue may have looked beautiful, but everything about her outfit just screamed that she was property of the Fire Nation now. A slave in all but name.

The crowd parted as she passed, allowing her a direct route to the front. As she reached the front of the crowd she hesitated, until one of the guards gave her a warning nudge, and she knelt down into a low, submissive bow.

"Firelord Ozai." She began, the dead, toneless quality of her voice betraying that she was reciting a script.

"In the name of The Northern Water Tribes I, Princess Yue, do hereby surrender to the enlightened rule of The Fire Nation, and accept all responsibility for the lives lost in our conflict.

I recognise now that it was my ancestors' stubbornness and refusal to accept a peaceful union with The Fire Nation that led to so much unnecessary loss of life.

With the spirits as my witness, I solemnly swear to guide my people to redeem this mistake by working hand-in-hand with our new Fire Nation governors, and denounce all cowards who fled the battle of Agna Qel'a-…"

"Zhao." Li interjected.

"What?" Yue looked up, confused by the unexpected interruption.

"Agna Qel'a has been renamed Zhao." Lo stated.

That news produced the most notable crack in the princess' valiant attempt at keeping a cool composure. A flash of anguish, of raw shame, before she ducked her head back into a low bow to hide it. When she spoke again, her tone had the quietest undertone of a wobble to it.

"… and denounce the cowards who fled the battle of… of Zhao… as rebels and traitors, fit to be executed for their treasonous deeds.

The noble lords and ladies hollered their approval like braying farm animals, sneering and jeering at the torment of the captured princess. When there was no more humiliation to be had from her the guards stood up, nudged her to do the same, and escorted her from the room.

"Let Princess Yue's proclamation be known all across the land!" Li announced.

"One this day The Northern Water Tribe has officially declared its surrender." Lo continued. "Let it be known that the war between the Fire Nation and Northern Tribes is officially…"

"Over!" The twins declared in perfect unison.

Again the nobles broke into furious applause, those nearest to Tanya clapping her on the back and smiling at her as if she'd won the entire war single-handed. With the show over, those at the back turned to leave, but everyone froze and listened intently when out of nowhere Firelord Ozai suddenly spoke.

"Azula. Tanya. Stay."

Whispered theories as to what the Firelord wanted to talk about buzzed around the room as Li and Lo shooed the gossipy nobles out, shutting the doors behind them so that the throne room fell deathly silent. On an unspoken cue both princess and admiral walked forwards until they stood in the same spot Yue had, and knelt down into deep bows.

The silence lingered between them. Etiquette dictated that, excluding the offering of greetings, The Firelord spoke first in all conversations that took place in this room. It was a sign of respect and obedience, and sometimes father liked to test people who sought an audience with him by waiting silently for minutes on end to see if they cracked under the pressure.

But neither Azula nor Tanya were so weak-willed, and both kept their heads down and their mouths shut until, at last, Ozai deigned to speak again.

"Your victories are impressive, Admiral Tanya." Father's voice was as deep and rich as ever, his pace slow and certain; that of a man who knew he did not need to shout or speak quickly to demand attention.

"The people praise your name. Tanya the Conqueror they call you. Tanya the Sun Fairy. Tanya the Moon Slayer."

A proud grin crossed Tanya's lips. "Thank you, your majesty. I-…"

"Yet you have failed me."

...

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