Chapter Text
Going back and forth between the United Republic of Nations and the Fire Nation was barely a rarity or special cruise for the diplomats of this age trying to keep up the peace that had been brought up after the war had ended years ago.
In the wake of balance being returned to the world, Republic City, the capital of the young United Republic has become a hotspot for diplomacy and the political theaters of modern times. Not only was the Republic created in reaction to the changes that had occurred during the Hundred Year War but also had it a strategically nice central position. If one were to look at the maps of the world, Republic City did sit quite central to every other Nation – except for the Earth Kingdom, of course, with which it shared a border and had once been part of. However, to the capital of Ba Sing Se, it was not closer than to the Water Tribes in the North and in the South.
Due to its strategically central position, the idea of having the United Republic fully neutral had been re-introduced a couple of times in the past, though nothing seemed to have come out of it so far.
That at least was what the young Princess of the Fire Nation had concluded through her studies of modern politics. She too, like many diplomats, was accustomed to traveling between home and Republic City. Granted, her travels were not always of political manner, as she would often visit her friends and family’s friends in the United Republic, but that didn’t change how used she was to sitting inside an Airship that would bring her to the airship port of Republic City, while being accompanied with the luxury of traveling by the Fire Lord’s fleet throughout the journey. Like she was now.
This time, Izumi, Princess of the Fire Nation, was voyaging to Republic City to meet up with her father, who had arrived a couple of days earlier to settle with matters that needed the Fire Lord’s attention. On the night of the 5th, a special gala was held that welcomed all diplomatic relationships and nations. In other words; every person that held importance was to be present that day. It would be a glamorous event that would display all the riches and extravagancies the United Republic had to offer – a presentation of might, one might argue.
Galas were nice and all. It was a place to display all royal insignias and wear nice dresses that others would superficially compliment.
As Princess of the Fire Nation, Izumi was more than used to attending these and knew just well enough how to avoid the boring part or how to hide that she much rather wanted to be somewhere else. Now, she may not have disliked galas as much as her parents did but that still shouldn’t imply that she was a great fan of them. If it was up to her, she would as well skip the whole pretentious gala and hold the world council meeting that was scheduled for the afternoon the following day. It was the whole reason Izumi was looking forward to the trip.
Yeah, the United Republic was nice and all, but if it was for a trip to the Earth Continent, she had rather visited Ba Sing Se to visit the Jasmine Dragon and get a nice cup of tea. Or she would have come to Republic City whilst incognito to visit her friends Kya and Bumi – or maybe friends from the Academy that had to switch schools because their diplomat parents were relocated to the United Republic.
But no. This voyage was more than just a little vacation from the Fire Nation, she decided. As Princess of the Fire Nation, she had responsibilities to carry. International responsibilities of a scale that possibly no Fire Princess before her ever knew! She was prepared to fulfill her role the fullest! And as such she was surely ready to take her first step into the world of international politics.
This journey was her stage to show the world what a mature Princess she had become. That she was no more the cute little turtleduckling everyone adored so much for being able to read small books at the age of four. That she could stand on her own two feet without seeking comfort within her father’s arms. That she could present her opinion without needing the sharp glances of her mother behind her that would scare away critics. She was no more like that. She could stand up to her parents if necessary and she would show the world her determined, reliable and grown up side!
Yes, she would show the world! But first, before she could do that, there was someone she had to confront first. Staying in her own little cabinet in the airship, Izumi sat cross-legged on her bed with scrolls and books of research spread out around her. Those were the scrolls she had been studying for a while now. She almost knew them by heart now. But the scrolls were not her challenge. Reading was easy. Presenting your point of view convincingly was not.
She took a breath and closed her eyes before starting to recite and practice what she was going to say one more time. This time without the mirror. Looking at yourself making funny grimaces and controlling your facial movements was only so much fun – but now she had to work on her intonation. Not to mention that her own reflection could really distract herself too.
Just as her little practice speech came to an end, she heard the metal door to her cabinet being opened. She quickly moved her head and looked towards the open door to see her mother walking inside. With her arms crossed and her head tilted her mother commented on the situation she found: “I thought I was hearing your voice outside,” she said, “I thought to check what’s going on, but here you are, being very convincing to yourself.”
Izumi sighed in slight embarrassment to have been heard by her mother. Well, she didn’t exactly speak quietly either, since she tried to raise her tone to sound confident. Nevertheless, being found out was just a little bit… S-She was only practicing too! She surely wouldn’t be awkward when facing the real deal! She quickly shook her head to push the embarrassment away from her, “I am!” she responded in a confident and serious tone, “I won’t be speaking to all the attendees, but this is a very serious matter, Mama!”
“Really now?” her mother wondered, “Who are you aiming for then? Surely not the bison plushie behind your back?” she asked further, pointing at the very fluffy and very comfortable stuffed bison doll that was pushed against the metal wall of the cabinet – well, something had to make room for Izumi’s research…
“No,” Izumi breathed, “Yeniu is not real, you know? It’s just a plush. No, no, I am practicing for Papa, of course!” she added in a strict and determined tone. “He’s already in Republic City so I must take all the time I have to prepare facing the Fire Lord!”
“Facing the Fire Lord? You make it sound like your father is some scary kind of entity,” Her mother giggled.
“Hm,” Izumi hummed, “Some people would argue that he is.”
“But not towards you,” Mai responded. “You don’t have to go to these lengths to talk to him, you know that.”
“Even so…” Izumi muttered. It was true. No matter what people said about the Fire Lord, he never was a bad father for her. In a way, he was annoyingly loving – if one would ask his 13 year old daughter about it. He surely was to listen to whatever she had to say but… even though that is true… Izumi wants to do it properly. She wants to earn having the Fire Lord listen to her. Not only because anything else would undermine the dedication Izumi had but also because the matter she was to talk about was extremely important to her.
She wasn’t a baby anymore. She was thirteen now and wanted to take part in the political matters of her family’s life too. Yes, she had sat in some of the Fire Lord’s meetings before – when she was like five and could not join any conversations. From the stories she heard and the bits she remembered she was also not fully seen as a member of the meeting, but rather a cute little visitor to the scene that made everyone smile. For a five year old that certainly was cute but now that she was older, Izumi wanted more. She wanted to be part of the council staff. Even if that meant she only sat in with them and remained quiet.
She was the Princess. She ought to be part of important meetings, she thought.
Maybe – she had considered before – having a world conference being her first step was a bit extreme… in a way, this stage was made for fatal mistakes that could lead to a major embarrassment for her or for the Fire Lord. But she had already made up her mind, and she wondered if she backed away now… would she ever find the courage to ask again? No, this conference had to be the one. Major embarrassment or not, she was ready to face whatever it took to prove herself for the world and for herself.
“Even so…” Izumi repeated, “I have made up my mind to do it properly, so I will.” She nodded at herself and got up. She picked up the research spread out on her bed and put each of the scrolls back in the bag she had brought her to carry them all at once. It was a simple brown back with no accessories to it. If anyone had been unaware of it being her bag – which she had been gifted from her beloved “Grandpa” Iroh – they would not have guessed that it belonged to the royal fire family at all. Cleaning her bed swiftly, Izumi slightly pointed at the edge, inviting her mother to sit with her.
Mai calmly accepted the invite and sat down next to her. “Alright Honey, I followed your invitation. Now tell me, what is it you want to say properly?”
Izumi nodded once at her mother and sat down as well. She pushed the back of her dress forward to assure it wouldn’t get folded and end up untidy. Then, she let her hand run through a streak of her hair – a habit of hers she must follow whenever sitting down. “I have decided that I want to be politically active.” she then announced confidently. “I have, actually, been wanting to bring this up for a while now. But now the time has come that I can wait no more, Mama, I want to join the world conference! And that’s why I prepared myself. I don’t want him to say no, but to accept me as his support.”
Slightly, she let her head fall. “Do you…” she coughed, “Do you think that would be possible?”
“Well,” Mai breathed, “Asking this in the lights of a world conference, when all Nations and the Avatar are present is certainly a statement.” she responded calmly with her voice showing no indication of being insincere or of not taking her daughter seriously. She certainly was, hence why she pointed out how it might be potentially stupid to ask for that in that situation.
Izumi nodded. “I am aware of that, Mama. I’m not a child anymore. And I want everyone to see that I am ready to play my part as the Fire Princess.” she clenched her fists, “Even if it is just as an observer that has nothing to say, or as an assistant that sorts the Fire Lord’s notes, I wish to be a part of it. I don’t want to be on the side lines,” she huffed, “I’ll never learn to be a proper diplomatic ruler by missing out any chance of being learning.”
“I see,” her mother responded. She closed her eyes and lowered her head with a tiny, confident smile. “Your father will hate how much you’ve grown.” she lifted her head again and shared approving glances with Izumi, “But he has to live with that.”
A sigh of relief ran through Izumi’s body. Her eyes began to sparkle as she heard the approval of her mother. Sure, she never expected to crush her dreams but for a second, she was afraid of being told to not do it… since it would be too risky. But knowing that her mother had full confidence in her meant a lot to the young Princess. There was only one more person to convince!!
But first. “Thank you, Mama!” Izumi bowed and quickly lifted her upper body again, “Would you mind practicing with me a little more?” she asked.
Mai let out a hum. It did not mean anything, it was just a hum in response to having been asked by Izumi. “Why not.” she said, “Sure beats waiting for the waves to cut into land.”
“Great!” Quickly, Izumi reached for her bag. Practicing with a living human was better than with a silent mirror. Knowing that she had her mother’s support motivated Izumi even more.
She knew she could do it: she was confident. She was determined and she just knew that nothing could stop her from having the probably most important talk with the Fire Lord of her life so far!