Chapter 171 Far From It

“How should the colonies be arranged?”

“Why are we talking about this during our vacation? Can’t we discuss it after we defeat Ozai?”

Everyone had settled into a quiet corner by the second-floor window of a teahouse.

No one else was around. Sokka, leaning on the windowsill and looking down at the bustling street, spoke with little enthusiasm.

First, he was right — it was vacation, and talking about political issues was definitely a mood killer.

Second, after they defeated Ozai, Sokka would most likely return to the Southern Water Tribe to help his father rebuild their homeland, so the matter of the colonies didn’t feel especially connected to him.

“We’re just idle. Let’s talk,” Kahn said with a smile, turning to Aang and Zuko. This question was aimed at the two of them.

Aang and Zuko, however, felt the topic was worth discussing. Aang thought for a moment before saying:

“All the colonies were originally Earth Kingdom land, so naturally they should be returned to the Earth Kingdom.”

Zuko nodded in agreement.

“That’s right. This is a mistake my ancestors made, and my duty is to set things right. It won’t be easy, but I’ll see it through.”

Kahn didn’t object. Instead, he continued.

“Then here’s the problem — what do we do with the people living in those cities?”

Sokka’s eyes wandered over the beautiful women in the street below, their clothing a clear mix of Fire Nation red and Earth Kingdom green. He shrugged.

“What kind of problem is that? Earth Kingdom people stay, Fire Nation people return home.”

Aang and Zuko didn’t see anything wrong with that statement. But Kahn chuckled.

“Congratulations, Sokka. That decision just tore apart countless families, enraged the colonists, and ultimately sparked multiple wars of independence.”

“Huh?”

Everyone froze.

“It seems you all don’t really understand what’s happening inside the colonies.”

Kahn sighed and began explaining.

“Any colony that’s existed for a long time has large numbers of Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom people who formed families together. Take this city, for example. The Governor of Yu Dao’s wife is an Earth Kingdom citizen — and an Earthbender.”

“And in even older colonies, many people can’t be simplified into ‘Fire Nation’ or ‘Earth Kingdom.’ Using Yu Dao again, the governor’s daughter is an Earthbender. But can you call her an Earth Kingdom citizen?”

Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom families…

The governor’s daughter… an Earthbender?

The information stunned everyone.

Even though the Four Nations never explicitly banned intermarriage, it was an unspoken rule — something most people simply never considered. Cross-nation marriages were rare over thousands of years.

But in the colonies, those invisible boundaries had long been erased. The revelation shocked them deeply.

After a moment, Katara and Aang exchanged a quick, bashful glance before instantly turning away.

Me and Katara.

Me and Aang.

Aang scratched his head awkwardly and said.

“Actually, I think this is a good thing… People from different nations shouldn’t be blocked from being together.”

Katara quickly agreed.

“I think so too. Race shouldn’t get in the way of two people who love each other.”

Kahn watched the two with amusement. Their relationship was one tiny step away from becoming official.

He glanced at Sokka. Sokka — who constantly forgot his sister was, in fact, a girl — didn’t notice a thing.

Kahn was already looking forward to Sokka’s reaction when he eventually found out.

“But this does make the situation much more complicated,” Zuko muttered. Still thinking about the colonies, he added after a moment:

“We can’t forcibly break up families. Since this is the situation, we should let people choose. If they identify as Fire Nation, I’ll take them back with me.”

“Well said!” Aang gave him a thumbs-up.

Zuko blushed and rubbed the back of his neck.

Kahn nodded and asked again:

“What if they don’t want to leave?”

Everyone frowned. Toph snorted.

“Why wouldn’t they? This land belongs to the Earth Kingdom! They wouldn’t dare defy the Earth King’s orders!”

“That’s true,” Kahn admitted. “But when I think about you becoming Fire Lord soon, I get uneasy. You’re kind… but too soft. Too easily caught up in your own thoughts. Sometimes I worry you’ll get overthrown.”

Zuko’s expression hardened. His voice went cold.

“Do you think you know me that well?”

The sudden hostility chilled the air. Everyone stared, stunned.

Kahn blinked, then laughed softly. He bowed.

“My apologies. I spoke out of turn.”

He had almost forgotten — this Zuko wasn’t the one he’d spent years with, fighting side by side.

They were only recent teammates, not lifelong brothers. He had made the mistake of assuming too much familiarity.

Zuko’s anger softened. He bowed back.

“I’m sorry too. I was impulsive. It’s just—”

He didn’t finish, but Kahn understood: Zuko simply didn’t agree with his earlier judgment.

Kahn smiled.

“Let’s return to the topic — why people wouldn’t want to leave.”

“Imagine this.”

“Suppose I am a Fire Nation resident of Yu Dao. From my perspective, the Fire Nation took this island over a hundred years ago — in my great-grandfather’s generation. It’s ancient history.”

“All I know is that my grandfather and father built this city with their own hands, turning a village into the most prosperous settlement in the colonies. I feel pride and belonging. I’m proud to be Fire Nation.”

“Since I was born, I’ve lived peacefully. No war. No suffering. Just a stable, prosperous life.”

“But one day the Fire Lord is overthrown, a new Fire Lord rises, and he suddenly tells us we lost the war and have to give away the city we built, destroying our peaceful lives.”

“So I confront the Fire Lord and say—”

Kahn straightened, adopting a stern, angry tone:

‘You only think about the balance of the Four Nations, but you ignore the people of the Fire Nation! What kind of Fire Lord are you?! Have you even considered your people?!’

Kahn stopped and looked directly at Zuko.

“At that moment, what would you do?”

“I—”

Zuko couldn’t answer.

Because suddenly… the fictional citizen didn’t sound wrong.

He was the Fire Lord. He should think of his people.

“I’ll just tell you the answer.”

Seeing Zuko’s conflicted expression, Kahn sighed. This Zuko was clearly far from truly ready to rule.

He looked Zuko in the eye and spoke firmly:

“If your ideals haven’t changed, you should dismiss his words as nonsense, scold him for spreading dangerous rhetoric, throw him into prison, execute him publicly, and then continue your original plan.”

Zuko was too easily shaken. And his handling of Yu Dao in The Promise comic was indeed ridiculous.

But damn — Katara looked so good in that comic.

…

The full completed version of Avatar: Rebirth of the Strongest Firebender —