manzai
Toph
Everybody have fun tonight! Everybody Wang Fire tonight!
Posts: 152
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Post by manzai on Dec 19, 2008 17:08:36 GMT -5
I like the last little part in the previous chapter. "Admit I'm superior to you" That's so Azula. funny and good characteriztion.
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historyman12
Fugitive Iroh
IS IT JULY 14TH YET?
Posts: 4,822
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Post by historyman12 on Mar 16, 2009 20:35:46 GMT -5
This is c. 5 years after the end of the series. The situation at Ba Sing Se was, needless to say, quite different from that in Azula's prison cell. Aang, Bumi, and several Earth Kingdom leaders and nobles sat around a table, discussing the future of the Earth Kingdom.
Kuei had been found, but had refused to take back the kingship, believing that it would remain simply a figurehead post, as another man controlled the real affairs of the kingdom. This left a clear void in the Earth Kingdom government, as there was no one in the post of Grand Secretariat, and the king did not want to return to his rightful place. The meeting was called therefore, and the first and foremost among nobles and governors were invited, and the Avatar was brought along, as he was the harbinger of peace, and it should certainly make sense to have the harbinger of peace at a meeting hoping for a peaceful transition!
Aang, now a robust man of 17, stood first to speak.
"Gentlemen, we are here to appoint a king. Therefore, it only makes sense that we appoint the eldest and most distinguished king among us. That is to say, Bumi, I wish for you to be our king."
The idea was received decently by those gathered, some nodding their heads in thoughtful agreement, some thrown slightly off by the suggestion. Bumi now rose to speak, his manner much more official in this address.
"Aang, Aang, I thank you so much for the honor, but I am not the one. I'm 117, and my days are numbered. My hands tremble, and I forget where I am. I wish only to spend my days letting Omashu run itself, and having too much fun in my palace. Further, my children are unfit for this. They have been reared for Omashu, and what's a king without his lineage? So Aang, I would say yes were I not this old, but I thank you much, I really do."
Keong, a duke, formerly 10th in line for the throne, rose to speak. "If not him, then who? If not the governor of our finest province, who has served a whole century at his post, then who can be qualified enough? Long Feng is jailed, and the princes are fools, reared as their father."
This understandably angered the princes, and the Heir Apparent rose. "I was reared to believe there is no war, and there is none now! Have I not been trained in diplomacy?"
"But a war is soon, and I have the tactical experience. I alone preserved the south of our kingdom!" said Keong
"Perhaps if you were smarter, you'd have come north, to help our capital," spoke the second in line, as the table began to laugh.
"Perhaps if our governors were more competent, I could have." retorted Keong.
"What of Harisha?" asked another lord. "Was he not secretariat before Long Feng? Was he not Tusket's adviser, when we pushed back the Fire Nation?"
"But what of our generals! Surely they deserve credit for our military successes!" spoke another Lord. "Let's put it to a vote!" shouted Aang and Bumi at once. "Let this decide who our king is!"
Yay for updates.
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historyman12
Fugitive Iroh
IS IT JULY 14TH YET?
Posts: 4,822
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Post by historyman12 on Jun 7, 2009 16:41:34 GMT -5
JESUS. It's been a long time.
Let us continue:
Those in attendance nodded their heads in agreement. One noble there asked if this would be a secret ballot, another asked if anyone had paper on which to write the votes.
The votes, it was decided, would be secret, and the paper was provided very shortly.
The dukes, princes, generals and other nobles thought over the ballots for varying lengths, some voting within seconds, the last taking several minutes to arrive at his decision.
Aang left the room, and returned after several minutes. He read the results, starting at those nobles who had received no votes, and all the way up to the new king.
"Second is Duke Keong, with 24 votes, and the king is," Aang paused now for a second before proclaiming the new king. "Harisha is the new king over the land."
At this news, thunderous applause broke out at the table where they were seated. Some got out of their seats to congratulate Harisha, who rose as the applause died down to speak.
"My old friends and partners, today is truly a great day for me, even the greatest of my life. Do not think that I will forget you, for you shall remain always in my life, both by necessity, and by choice. Let us announce this at once, then we shall rejoice, then, we must begin the arduous task of governing this great Kingdom. To the Earth Kingdom, now and forever!"
Cut off again, will be continued.
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historyman12
Fugitive Iroh
IS IT JULY 14TH YET?
Posts: 4,822
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Post by historyman12 on Jul 15, 2009 16:14:16 GMT -5
Fire Lord Zuko stood in his palace early in the morning. A messenger had come running to the door, claiming to have an urgent message. He was let in, after being found to have the proper paperwork and granted an audience before the Fire Lord. He stood now in the Fire Lord's bedroom, surrounded by guards of all kinds.
"Your grace, I bring you urgent news," he began.
"So I'd heard," replied Zuko.
"There is a new Earth King, your highness," he said quickly.
"That's it?"
"Yes your grace."
"That's all you woke me up for? Couldn't this have waited?" he asked. "Couldn't you have asked him what it was?" he asked the guards.
"Uh...It seemed urgent enough to us, your highness," one guard said.
"You're all dismissed."
An hour later, Zuko had a guard fetch the secretary, Ajit, to make a record of this event, and began to plan a visit to the new Earth King.
Weeks later, as he stood talking to Ajit and some personal advisers another messenger came running to the palace. He too was brought before Zuko quickly.
"Yes, what news do you bring us?" Ajit said.
"The new Earth King, Harisha, has requested a meeting with you," the messenger responded.
"And the details?" asked Zuko.
“Let me see,” the messenger said quickly. “Here, he requests that it be in the Earth Kingdom or the colonies, that we bring only our closest advisers and guards, he also states here that he wishes to discuss areas such as foreign policy, specifically the ownership of the colonies, and ideas on demilitarization and trade agreements.”
“Anything else?” said Zuko.
“Only formalities, your highness.”
“Good. You’re dismissed. Leave the letter with Ajit.”
“Who?”
“Ajit, the secretary.”
“Yes, your highness.”
With that, the messenger left the missive on the table where Ajit was sitting and departed.
Zuko sat at table with Harisha, surrounded by guards and both leaders’ closest advisers. Zuko had never seen Harisha before; he looked at him closely now. He was in his sixties, with gray hair, neatly tied. Zuko could tell while examining him that Harisha was examining him just as he was examining Harisha. They remained like this for a while, until Harisha broke the silence.
“Fire Lord Zuko, it is an honor to meet with you today,” he began, as Zuko nodded. “But let us begin the serious discussion,” to this too, Zuko nodded. “I with the nobles through all the Earth Kingdom demand that you give back the colonies, which you took from us unfairly in Sozin’s first war.”
“I don’t have that power any more. It was agreed in the treaty that we would only make restitution for offenses commited in the war.”
“And why not give us the colonies now?”
“I changed the Parliament into a governing body.”
“How does that affect the colonies?”
“I gave it the power to approve or reject motions involving foreign policy.”
“Why do that so soon? There was, and is still a powerful pro-Ozai faction in the Fire Nation, and even if there weren’t that faction, many in the Fire Nation who don’t want to give up the colonies. They are a profitable venture for the Fire Nation.”
“I did it as a safeguard, so that my descendants wouldn’t take control of the Fire Nation, and be like Sozin, Azulon, and Ozai were.”
“Fair enough, but still, why so soon?”
“In case of my early death.”
“You’ve made a valid point, but know still that I will not waver, the colonies are a horrid stain on both of our and our countries’ honors.”
“Is there anything else?” “The surrender of the colonies is first and foremost. Without that we cannot succeed.”
“As you wish.”
“Know this though, Fire Lord. If you do not surrender the colonies, there will be consequences,” with this he stood and departed, even as Zuko began to challenge him. Zuko too then left.
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historyman12
Fugitive Iroh
IS IT JULY 14TH YET?
Posts: 4,822
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Post by historyman12 on Oct 19, 2009 20:04:17 GMT -5
Zosimos's ship steamed toward the Earth Kingdom. It was now making good time through the sea that separated the Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom, making its way to the central Earth Kingdom. He sat in the quarters, cramped between countless numbers of his comrades. In time, one turned his head and spoke to him.
"Hi," he said, and Zosimos looked at him, acknowledging his existence. "What's your name?"
"Zosimos," he replied.
"I'm Haneul. Ready to see some action?"
"I guess. You?" "I'm ready. They outfitted me with a non-com weapon, though."
"What do you mean?"
"In basic, when we do the training with other weapons-"
"Yeah," Zosimos interrupted.
"An officer came while I was training with the scissor, and now it's my full time weapon," continued Haneul.
"Sounds cool."
"I don't really care. I'm just a bit nervous about the killing part."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, I don't know if I'll be able to do it. It's kind of frightening."
"I see what you mean. With any luck, the war will be finished by the time we've done anything big."
"I hope you're right."
"Me too."
Thus Haneul turned away, and the conversation ended. In time all the men went to their beds, awaiting the arrival on shore that was soon to come, and the beginning of the fighting, a wish that would be reversed after a moment spent in the fray.
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historyman12
Fugitive Iroh
IS IT JULY 14TH YET?
Posts: 4,822
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Post by historyman12 on Nov 16, 2009 20:03:46 GMT -5
Zosimos's ship now neared the shore of the Earth Kingdom. The ship picked up speed now, hoping to reach the shore before any action could be taken by soldiers of the Earth Kingdom. At that moment Haneul turned to him, saying
"Think we're getting to shore soon?"
"I hope so. I'm tired of sitting cramped in this ship. I'm looking forward to some fresh air, and being able to move around every once in a while," Zosimos replied.
"The feeling's mutual," said Haneul. "Did you ever wonder how we got sent here?"
"What do you mean?" asked Zosimos.
"I mean, why'd the war start in the first place? We just got over one."
"I don't know; I've heard all kinds of stuff. One guy I know said it was a conspiracy, and that Ozai'll be coming back soon."
"Yeah, right," Haneul interrupted.
"Somebody else said it was a preemptive strike, that Harisha was going to attack first, that he said something at the meeting. I don't believe that one either."
"What meeting?"
"The one between the Fire Lord and the Earth King a few months back."
"Oh yeah, I'd forgotten about that. Speaking of the causes, I'd heard there was some attack on the colonies, and that the Fire Lord prevented any knowledge of it back home."
"I'll believe that when I see a dragon attack my house."
"I know what you mean."
"Hang on a second, here comes Capt. Adilet."
"Okay, men, we'll be arriving on shore in a few minutes. Reports say there won't be too heavy resistance at first, but it'll pick up," began the captain. "What we'll have to do is set up a base at first, right after we arrive. We have to get that set up straight away, or we'll get pushed right back into the water. Any questions? Hang on, I missed something. Oh, yes, that's right. Preliminary intelligence suggests that one of the first sites of resistance should be in a certain hilly area a few miles inland. Any questions, men? Very good. I'll see you on the beach." With that, he returned upstairs.
"Sounds exciting," Haneul said.
"I know, nothing like setting up camp," replied Zosimos.
"Very funny."
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