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Borealis: A Zutara Story	By : jaded_priceless Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > AU/AR - Alternate Universe/Alternate Reality Views: 33555 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 4
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender, Avatar: The Legend of Korra, any historical figures or events, or easily recognizable persons, places or things. I make no profit from this work of fanfiction

Chapter List
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Chapter 288
Bong Cha proved to be just as brutally efficient and driven as her father Soizin. With the help of Sokka; an aged Earthbender, who was also a retired engineer by trade, and Yong there were two prototype water treatment facilities operating in the week. The water had to be carried to the facility, poured into a container attached to a pulley then lifted to the top of the tower. Within the tower there were several large stones shifting about to break up large particles of sediment. The gravitational energy from the first tower powered another pulley to lift the water into a second tower filled with smaller rocks then once again before they were slid through a final tower filled with sand. The water was not suitable for food and drink but would suffice for cleaning and laundry before being sent to the second filtration center which was designed to produce water suitable for plant watering.
All of the homes, hotel rooms, and barracks had been remodeled to include plumbing similar to that on Fire Nation ships. Every building in town now had cisterns on top to catch rain. There were paddles inside attached to weathervanes on top to move the water as the wind blew. The new sink and tub had to be filled by hand when the cisterns were empty and each had wide pipes at the bottom to empty the water. Those pipes contained several removable sections of boiled wooly pig’s wool or camelephant’s fur to filter the impurities before draining into a holding chamber. The Earthbenders were busy constructing new buildings fitted with cisterns and free standing water towers in anticipation of the upcoming rainy season.
Just as Bong Cha had predicted most of the refugees opted to stay - choosing to remain with the evil they were aware of rather than face the unknown. They knew what these soldiers would do to them and their children. They raped and sometimes beat them, a few merely tolerated their children but most of the soldiers treated their little ones with the love and affection they’d give their own offspring. Most of ones who had hurt the children had followed Shinji’s example and killed themselves before charges could be pressed; the rest were leaving with the crew of the Ursa. The ones who could not accept people of the Earth Kingdom becoming Fire Nation citizens with full rights and privileges were leaving as well.
It wasn’t the life they wanted but the survival conditions were favorable.
Two of the women had even received proposals and asked to become official wives by the men who had violated them. A third was married and expecting. The soldier who’d ripped off her clothes in the alleyway and stolen her virginity ambushed her 500 feet from the Ursa House and carried her to Bong Cha demanding they be married shortly after he learned she had missed her cycle. His father had been a tailor and his mother had been a seamstress. He had taken white sheets from the hotel and sown an elaborate wedding dress for her. It was in his arms as he lifted her. His intricate needlework and hand dyed threads embroidered into the garment convinced her to agree to his request. A true monster would not have taken the time to create such a beautiful wedding gift or matching receiving gown and blanket for their child. Katara no longer saw her in the Ursa House but often saw her at the restaurant with Ming.
Bong Cha’s vision for the city also created jobs. People were needed to carry the water back and forth from the homes to the filtration facilities, to tend to the gardens, and care for the animals. Qiaolian had gotten an early jump on the water delivery market and had chosen her first employee – a younger teenaged boy in a situation similar to hers. The soldier who’d taken a liking to him was among those being sent away with the crew of the Ursa. He had become a target for bullies since he had not been as injured or abused as the others. He wasn’t a bender so she had built a lightweight cart for him to pull.
People were also needed to assist in food preservation. Bong Cha wanted to establish a food bank. Idealistically no person would go hungry in her city but she knew such a place would not be looked kindly upon by the Earth Kingdom and many in the Fire Nation. Once New Ursa became known as a place where Fire and Earth lived in harmony they would be attacked and often. The new inhabitants of her city fully agreed and had risen to the challenge in ways none of them expected. They had come from all over the Earth Kingdom before moving to Ba Sing Se so there were several varieties of pickles, salsas, chutneys, preserves, jams, jellies, and syrups being made as well as several flavors and cuts of meats being smoked, jerked, cured and canned alongside the vegetables.
The new governor was also making good uses of the additional resources at her disposal. There were increased patrols with strike force numbers circling within one mile of the other. Each patrol included a member of the Dai Li to detect underground movements. Many of them had decided to remain in New Ursa to be closer to the families they left behind. There would be opportunities for visits once the trade route was established. It was no secret those being left behind were most likely doing so at Azula’s urging. But Katara had seen that one of those was the man who’d softened the ground for her. He’d seemed genuinely happy at the prospects of seeing his family and based on the city Bong Cha was trying to build Katara knew it wouldn’t be long before they were united under one roof again. All of the Dai Li who’d opted to stay were older men and she guessed they’d done so for the same reason. Katara could easily see them switching leaders again. It was harder to favor a distant leader over one who’d put their family together again.

True to his word Natsumon informed Zuko of any and all communications to and from the Fire Nation. Azula had sent several indecipherable letters covered in ash and received just as many in slightly better condition in return. Bong Cha’s constant communication with the palace continued although this time her co-correspondent was the Fire Lord. The prince was delighted and slightly overwhelmed that another person, an adult from the Fire Nation with no political ties and nothing financial to gain would show such loyalty to him.
In the end, Natsumon’s actions proved quite unnecessary. Bong Cha did a rather good job informing Zuko herself. She made it her mission to expound on several lessons Iroh had given him and many others the royal tutors had been unable to impress. She began with the formal draft she’d sent to Fire Lord Ozai naming her intentions. It was signed with a signet whose pattern only appeared in the original handwritten draft of the Laws of Inheritance composed by Soizin himself. Ozai sent a cordial letter welcoming her to her rightful place in their family and history. It was accompanied by several scrolls detailing taxation percentages and plans for military support.
She countered his taxation request with an offer of a higher annual percentage and a suggestion of several critical areas that would better benefit from the additional troops. She also included several strategies based upon varying levels of troops and equipment. Searching her plans for flaws would take several months and attract more followers than detractors. Bong Cha had deliberately included several gems that would be irresistible to the egos of the military council. All were cities were listed among Soizin’s key points of conquest and had the potential to become vital hubs in the Fire Nation conquest of the Earth Kingdom. Each city was also the site of a council’s members resounding defeat. She would leave it up to the fates to determine if they would take the opportunity to turn youth’s folly into old age’s glory or seize the chance to upstage a rival. There were two among Ozai’s chosen who would seek to amend their historical profiles and three most likely to go after another’s. Their bickering would buy her the time she needed to prepare for the day of the comet. Sadly it took Zuko several days to realize her counter offers were stalling tactics. Katara was a bit swifter on the uptake.
The Waterbender knew Bong Cha was playing at something but without knowing anything about the individuals being manipulated she wasn’t exactly sure of what. She also knew there was danger in Ozai’s ready agreement.
Like the two youngsters, Bong Cha wasn’t the least bit fooled by the pleasantries. She knew as sure as shit stunk Ozai would come for her like her father had gone after the Airbenders. The Air Nomads merely had the misfortune to be next in the cycle and home to the Avatar but she had embarrassed Ozai. Not only did she embarrass him, she was a threat. She knew things about Ozai and his reign that would have been lost to history had she never come forward. Now that she had revealed herself as the daughter of Soizin, sister of Azulon, living flesh of what most believed to be a creature of myth and legend she knew she would be sought by those who sought to return their nation to its former glory.
Ozai ruled by fear while Soizin, Azulon and even Iroh were loved by the people. If Iroh had been less traumatized by the death of Lu Ten he could have sparked a civil war they would still be fighting. He still could incite a war if he decided to seek his rightful place on the throne. Bong Cha knew she would need all the time she could get to win the hearts and trust of her people as well as gather her army if she hoped to withstand him. She’d already begun plans to resurrect the dead and mend the insane; tasks which were proving far easier than locating her wayward nephew.
But those plans were not for little Fire Princes and Waterbenders to know. For now she’d continue to teach them how to seek the freedom within a trap, the truth among lies, and the deceit cloaked in every honest statement. Very few people knew of Fire Lady Kokoro and even less knew how much she adored a good wager. Bong Cha was also her mother’s daughter and while she banked upon the certainties of her own strength she also knew how and when gamble. She knew she was playing a high risk game with several lives at stake but if she won, if they won, when they won, the payout would be tremendous.
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Borealis: A Zutara Story