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badgermolebender · 5 months

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I so desperately want a massive political history of The Earth Kingdom. If I could have any other thing from the world of ATLA/LOK — book, show, comic, game — it would be that. Bc I am so interested in it.

🚨 Spoilers for every thing — Yangchen and Kyoshi books, ATLA, LOK, Comics, etc. 🚨

The earliest we hear about an actual Earth Kingdom and Earth Royal family is in F.C. Yee’s Yangchen books. At this point, the Earth Kingdom has just gone through a civil war, wherein the White Lotus manipulated the Water Tribes and Fire Nation to sponsor a challenger to the throne, which is wild. The challenger was defeated and the Earth Kingdom entered a period of intense isolationism. There are a handful of port cities where foreign trade is allowed, with incredibly powerful governors who actively manipulate the system to build their wealth at the expense of the citizens. The Earth King is paranoid af, to the point that he is donning disguises and sneaking around to catch plots against him. And some of these governors are actively plotting against him and inventing new weapons of mass destruction (combustion benders) in order to usurp him.

The next we see of the Earth Kingdom is in the Kyoshi novels were it’s a devolved mess of warlordism. Various daofei groups had taken over parts of the inner provinces and the Earth Monarch was incredibly weak. There’s also the whole Wars of Secrets and Daggers scramble for the throne, which is only mentioned.

According to the Wiki, in the online comic Escape from the Spirit World, Kyoshi pressured the ineffective 46th Earth King to adopt a constitutional monarchy in order to prevent further oppression. This occurred in the aftermath of a peasant revolt that occurred after the death of Chin the Conquerer.

Avatar Legends then gives us a King Jialun, who reversed many of the progressive changes of this constitution and murdered the sages who agreed with Kyoshi in “The Night of the Silenced Sages.” The government was recorrupted, but no other successor had the same power as Jialun. So the Earth Kingdom monarchy was corrupt but weak.

Then we next see the Earth Kingdom with King Kuei (the 52nd Earth King). According to the old website, he ascended to the throne at the age of 4, which is why Long Feng — who served as regent — was able to essentially takeover.

But based on what we see in the show, the Earth Kingdom has completely splintered. The Earth King only has power in Ba Sing Se, and that power is only ceremonial. He is unaware of the 100 year war and completely inept to rule. Then it’s Azula and the fire nation takeover.

In the comics that come between ATLA and LOK, King Kuei, without the influence of Long Feng, takes an active role in the governance of the Kingdom. He is willing to go to war over the colonies in “The Rift,” but is also willing to be shown wrong. He was instrumental in the peace after the war and fully restored the monarchy as the full power of the Earth Kingdom government.

Then we get to LOK. Hou Ting is a fairly powerful, incredibly corrupt monarch. She tried to exert more control over the people, especially the outer provinces. She’s then killed by Zaheer. The power vacuum is ultimately filled by Kuvira, a non-dynastic dictator who rules by force and sponsors brain washing and the forced removal of Fire and Water nation descendants. The next dynastic ruler is Wu (whom Kuvira had usurped). He is Hou Ting’s great-nephew, and at least third in line from her. He is the only surviving member of the dynasty and seems unprepared to rule at his coronation, after three years of living in Republic City.

After the whole Kuvira thing is taken care of (Book 4 of LOK), Wu then decides to abdicate and democratize the Earth Kingdom. The post-canon comics (Ruins of Empire) show the struggles and setbacks of this, but ultimately reaffirm this path.

And I am so obsessed with this whole history. There are, according to the Wiki, at least 2 dynasties, the Hao and the Hou Ting. It resembles Chinese history, but doesn’t just follow it. There’s dynastic decline and really interesting incidents that I wish were more fully fleshed out. Not to mention as the centralized monarchy weakens, you see the rise of local powers, like the King of Omashu. I just find the whole thing so fascinating and I wish I had a comprehensive book.

#avatar legend of korra #avatar the last airbender #king wu #prince wu #avatar #avatar last airbender #my theories #my thoughts #earth kingdom #king kuei #queen hou ting #earth royal family #earth monarch

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leantailean · 11 months

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Toph and Zuko in the palace greenhose. Toph trusts him so much she is keeping her feet off the ground.

____________________

See more of my art here: leantailean_art

Follow me on Twitter: @Alesha_Dima

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woahkana · 1 year

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[Harry & Meghan] the world was watching us but when we were actually at the altar as far as i was concerned it was just the two of us. H and I are really really good at finding each other in the chaos when we find each other and we reconnect to like oh it’s you. it’s you.

#harry and meghan #the royal family #mine; gifset #meghan markle x prince harry #i love their love so much they really do find solace in each other #the way that they are looking at each other almost bashful and shy #the way harry is just looking and admiring meghan like he's the luckiest man on earth #their wedding was beautiful #never even noticed will looking meghan up and down it's completely unnerving an uncomfortable to like that's your to be sister in law???#i guess married into the family doesn't really bother william #the way meghan moves close to harry is just so cute #marry

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take-that-you-rock · 8 months

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One Scene from Every Episode

2.18 The Earth King

38/61

#avatar: the last airbender #the earth king #azula #princess azula #fire nation #fire nation royal family #atla #a:tla #avatar #avatar the last airbender #one scene from every episode #my art

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ettelenethelien · 10 days

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I really like to think there is some debate among scholars on whether Tol Fuin is part of the Reunited Kingdom on a technicality, since its Kings are straight-line descendants of the last Lords of Dorthonion.

...

The opinion of His Highness King Elessar on the subject: It would, you know, make about as much sense for me to say we're still the Lords of Andunie.

The opinion of Her Highness the King's youngest daughter: That would actually be immeasurably cool and dad is a spoilsport.

The opinion of any given random inhabitant of Middle-Earth: I mean Gondor-and-Arnor is welcome to it; no one lives there for a reason, but if they want a barren wasteland with a feel altogether too similar to Mordor on sentimental grounds, who am I to stop them?

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nighttimepatrons · 4 months

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>be Gil-Galad

>your husband does something Suuuuuuper illegal

>now you have to go talk to Prince Finrod

>(who is your uncle in law)

>HideThePainHarold.png

Don't Worry, the group Elrond was with only very illegally kidnapped an elf. For once it was not feanorians doing the taking.

#my art #Gil is very happy not getting involved with the royal family #and yet here he is #gil-galad #omegaverse au #the silmarillion #middle earth #ereinion gil galad #elves #sketch #silm #elrond x gil galad

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the-lightning-strikes-again · 9 months

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Lotura Week 2023 Day 2 - Earth Culture Exploration

A Puzzling Game

(Rated T)

Lotor sipped his herbal tea from a Sleeping Beauty Disney Princess mug—courtesy of the Holt household—as he sat at the kitchen barstool, peering over a curious collection of cardboard pieces. Then, he glanced back at the box from which all the pieces derived. “Most fascinating,” he said. “And this is a standard…familial procedure?”

Allura sat beside him, giggling as she snapped a puzzle piece into another. “Yes, it is a standard pursuit among many humans, both friends and strangers alike. Pidge’s family invites all the paladins over at least once a month for such games and a campfire in the backyard.”

The Galra man hummed and turned various pieces right-side-up, glancing back at the main puzzle picture. It was a painting of an idyllic landscape, complete with a warm sunset over sprawling mountains and a log cabin with a fire. The fire was reminiscent of the bonfire that raged outside, carrying with it the laughter of Samuel Holt and Shiro as Lance lost his s’more to the fire and Pidge and Hunk playfully sparred with their roasting sticks. The rowdiness left a tired Lotor amused and content to watch from afar.

“And you,” he asked, “would rather stay indoors with me and teach me puzzles than enjoy the Earth nighttime with your fellow paladins?”

Allura’s eyes crinkled in delight, and she dared to bump her leg against his under the table. “It’s rather cold out tonight, and you radiate heat.”

“Ah, so you seek to use me for my body.” His voice turned with a wry deadpan as she stole his mug of mint tea and sipped from it. “And for my drinks.”

“You just have such good taste,” she whined, lowering the Disney Princess mug. “I never know what Earth drinks will be tasty by sight.”

Lotor’s face softened, and he bumped his nose against hers. “I shall gladly offer my senses and my heat to you, then.”

She bumped noses with him back, giggling before she snapped another puzzle piece into place.

Lotor glanced back at the mess of pieces on the table, and he ran his clawed finger over her pieces in awe, their knuckles brushing together.

He connected another piece to hers. “I do like this game of puzzles,” he murmured. For the first time, the line of stress between his eyes had disappeared in simple delight. “It challenges the mind while inviting a simple sense that the world has an objective order.”

“An order that can be built together,” Allura said, reaching over his arm to grab another puzzle piece that looked to be part of the log cabin’s window. “Hence, its great popularity among families and friends to encourage connection.”

“And am I now family or friend to these humans?” Lotor asked.

Allura’s chin tilted up, and a beautiful grin split her face. “You are both friend and family to not only me, but to all the paladins.”

He glanced back down and awkwardly grabbed onto another puzzle piece, looking at the box to determine its placement. “It is curious how Earth places such value on friends and family—and how easily they allow strangers to join their ranks.”

The princess fell quiet at that, inspecting him. “After all the hard things we’ve been through together,” she said, voice soft, “even Commander Holt was glad to host you. I suppose that’s why I enjoy Earth so much. On Earth, families expand through not only bloodlines, but also through bonds, and the houses here feel warm with welcome.”

Lotor swallowed hard. His slit pupils slid to her. “I have never known family,” he admitted, “or warm houses.”

“I’m relearning the concept,” she said, managing a small, sad smile. She glanced down, grabbing for another puzzle piece. “The Holt family has glued and then framed every puzzle we have completed, as part of celebrating our togetherness. Once the fire dies out, the group will likely come in to play their games of the video and to help us complete this great quest in a single night.”

His white eyebrows flew up. “This is a 1,000-piece puzzle. We’ve managed to connect perhaps 50 pieces thus far—and you say these puzzles are typically tackled by morning?”

A mischief worked through her. “Do be prepared to switch out the tea of mint for a drink with a substance known as caffeine. And on occasion, Commander Holt will offer us adults something called wine, which is like a Nunvill. You might like it.”

Lotor leaned against the table, somewhat bewildered. “However then does this family find time to sleep, when their nights are this full of festivity?”

“Well,” she said, “it’s not rare for us all to fall asleep throughout the house by daybreak, and to be happily confused about time until the following evening, in which we all gather for a large dinner before we break for the Garrison or our lions.”

“And do you fall asleep over the puzzle?”

“Oh, ancients, no. The Holts have a collection of the most wondrous inventions, called sleeping bags.” Allura looked pleased with herself. “If you’re not adverse to a display of affection, we can share one for warmth.”

A puzzle piece slipped from his fingers in surprise. “You suggest sleeping together on a family night.”

Allura made a happy noise, humming in innocence. “It’s called a sleepover, Lotor, not that we would do anything terribly inappropriate.”

The alien man sputtered. But then he reset his jaw and resolutely clicked one of his puzzle pieces into place against hers, the edges and dips fitting perfectly together. “I should like to prove to our human hosts that I am a respectable ally. Therefore, I shall sleep beside you in one of these…sleeping bags, but will not sleep with you in accordance with the human meaning of that phrase.”

She turned to him, searching his heated gaze. “This is deeply unfortunate for the both of us,” she accused.

He gave her a merry look, stealing back his mug of mint tea with Sleeping Beauty upon it. “What? You brought me here for Family Night. If you wanted a date night—what do the humans call it?”

“Netflix and Chill,” Allura reminded him.

“Right, yes. If you wanted a night of Netflix and Chill, then you will have to name the night accordingly.”

Allura nudged him with her elbow and then leaned in and murmured, “Very well. I’ll write it into your schedule, and our advisors will be none the wiser about Earth culture and colloquialisms.”

A sly mischief overcame him. “Perfect.”

@loturaweek2023

#Voltron #Lotura #Lotor #Allura #LoturaWeek2023 #Day 2: Earth Culture Exploration #VLD #The space royals meet relaxed family evenings on a cool night

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sharlmbracta · 4 months

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i've seen a couple of fics where azula and zuko has a third op sibling but i could find none, zero(0) fics where ozai has a sister over him-

i'm saying this because i want his ass pummeled and headwrapped by his (not too much) older sister. i want him to be raised by an older sister

iroh, being like a decade or two older than them both, would neglect them both serving war on propaganda during his prime and takes his leave after his loss not unlike canon

the sister would have a couple (or more?) years with her mother so she picks up some actual parental love and how it's supposed to be before ozai is born

(or not and they end up like zuko and azula except they have just a little more agegap then them, ozai is more ill-tempered than zuko, and the sister pummels him more than azula does zuko but not brutally (or not) and they have a lot of sibling fighting and bonding and normal sibling shenanigans minus the parental love so probably some angst as well)

and if it still somehow ends up like canon where ozai takes over the throne due to either by his plotting or some fucked up misogyny by azulon or sozin's law or whatever she will be fucking furious and she will show it

(if so ozai could team up with her for her support but betraying her when the idea of power gets to his head)

(or or ozai would keen to her after iroh's loss and she would be like "no you little shit i knew all of your antics even better than our elderly dad and ever since you were baby" but if somehow he manages to convince her to her that he'd "do well" on the throne with his personal method of pleading to his sister (you choose) and then betrays her-)

-boy would she be fucking livid. ozai is absolutely afraid of her but pretends he absolutely isn't. she is definitely going to pummel his ass for good

zuko and azula would be mostly clueless at first thanks to ozai's efforts. azula would be a bit more keen though. she may not completely understand what really transpired between them when she suddenly left, but when she finally finds her again bidding for her time she would find the whole situation so fucking hilarious once she got over the initial shock of reunion - the sheer idea of how her imposing father was so afraid of his own sister (who technically didn't actually even do anything to him) that he yeeted her out of the fire nation.

azula would fucking love her.

#ozai #azula #zuko #sister #ozai's sister #seriously disappointed in y'alls lack of creativity /j #fandom you did literally literally everything except giving ozai a sister #starting from zuko adoption/ozai adoption/waterbender zuko/waterbender ozai/time travel/body swap/erasing ozai out of fucking existence #+ good dad ozai/letting other nations take turns for imperialism/reviving dead key characters/premature killing off living key characters #+ phoenix/dragon/modern/don't get me even *started* on abo/littles/mpreg/that one fic where ozai breaks his fucking*rib*sucking himself off #+ timespace ripping just so*you*could beat up his mfing ass/a regretful ozai dying in prison to be reborn as a concubine for the earth king #yet not a single one of you didn't even think of giving ozai a third sibling #you gave zuko and azula a third sibling!! you gave katara and sokka a third sibling!! yet you couldn't give one(1) for ozai #not even for a oneshot comedic purposes??#sacriligious i say #sacriligious #atla #fire nation #royal family

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royalchildreneurope · 1 year

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Princess Eugenie shared these pictures on her Instagram page of her son, August Brooksbank, her niece, Sienna Mapelli Mozzi and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, on the occasion of World Earth Day 2023 -April 22nd 2023.

📷 : Princess Eugenie on Instagram.

#august brooksbank #jack brooksbank #sienna mapelli mozzi #british royal family #england #2023 #april 2023 #world earth day #world earth day 2023 #royal children #my edit

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world-of-wales · 1 year

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Catherine's Royal Closet (27/∞) ♚

↬ 'Tilda' Wool Coat

This staple Hobbs London Coat in its Fushia Pink Colourway was first debuted by Catherine in 2021 for her visit to Nower Hill Highh School and again wore it to visit to Windsor Foodshare along with William in 2023.

The coat features long sleeves, a single-breasted fastening, a Melton undercollar and a handy internal pocket.

It’s made from naturally warm and biodegradable brushed wool—a fabric that’s kinder on the planet. The lining is crafted from recycled polyester, which helps reduce landfill.

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stafftodoaboutnothing · 10 months

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#abolish the monarchy #anti monarchy #british monarchy #uk royal family #uk royalty #kill the king #fuck the monarchy #not my king #british republic #australian republic #the blood of kings will water the earth

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teatimeatwinterpalace · 1 year

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The Crown depicting how George V turned his back on Nicholas *niiice*

few minutes later

The Crown messing up the timeline showing the IF already in Ekaterinburg when the English withdrew their offer and implying that Mary is to blame for the murders *enough, you've gone too far*

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leantailean · 10 months

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I can see you

Zuko and Toph

____________________

See more of my art here: leantailean_art

Follow me on Twitter: @Alesha_Dima

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arcxnumvitae · 26 days

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The sensation that started was an odd one in his chest, one that had his brows furrowing. Until it bowled over him like a wave, sending the prince to a knee in the water, much to the shock and concern of his nearby guards. A hand clutched at his chest, the other pressed to the sand beneath. Plants dying, but not in the usual manner. A large amount of energy was being siphoned from them all at once. "What..."

----

"What the hell?" From where she was at in Brecaea's party, Tara's knees threatened to buckle at the wave of power sapping from the land-- somewhere in the distance? Not close, certainly. She braced herself against a nearby stand, refusing to let any see Seelie's princess on her knees. She waved off her concerned guards' approach with a forced smile, ignoring the looks from the onlookers, and grit her teeth. She'd seek out her father, she supposed.

----

The king glanced off into the distance, Seòras' words now only a distant hum in his ears. He sensed a disturbance somewhere. His knowledge of the geography of this world was still fuzzy, but it seemed to be in the direction of the other land, where the other half of this party was being held. A being was stealing away a great deal of power from the land. At Seòras' concerned words, for his advisor had now noticed his king's state of distraction, Oisean waved the other man's concern off and turned to a nearby guard. "Go find my children, and bring them here." He could weather this sudden instability just fine, but the children were younger and may be more sensitive to it.

#{Dash Commentary #{Aur Drabble #{Tara Drabble #{Royal AU #since Seelie was split from the land of this earth the Seelie royal family have the same connection they do outside of it #the same way they do with the mortal plane in the main verse #but Aur and Tara are younger and not as familiar with being outside of Seelie #or feeling any funkiness going on #they're lucky #the reaction would've been stronger if they were actually in Meriburn #{Festival of the Blue Moon}

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justanotherthrowaway1950 · 2 years

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Why It Made Sense for the Dai LI to Follow Azula

One of the major complaints that fans often have about ATLA is the fact that the Dai Li decided to follow Azula, a 14 year old girl whose only allies at the time where her two non-bending friends, when logically they should have either continued to stay loyal to Long Feng or try to ingrain themselves with Kuei while also staying loyal to their country.

But I think if we look past the surface facts and omniscient third person viewpoint that we, the viewers, have, the Dai Li definitely made the right decision to betray their country, their king, and Long Feng in favor of Azula.

For what probably happened was that the Dai Li had long realized that it was a matter of time before the Fire Nation took over Ba Sing Se considering it got breached three times in less than five years: Iroh’s siege, The Drill, and the Dangerous Ladies pretending to be the Kyoshi Warriors.

Not to mention Sozin’s Comet was coming, and so it was likely Ozai, who is just as cruel and evil as Sozin, would have used it to burn down the largest remaining resisting nation.

And combined with the fact that Kuei, with the support of the Gaang, had just started to take back power, they had five options: (1) continue to support Long Feng and attempt to put him on the throne; (2) support the Gaang’s invasion plan before either getting stripped of their power or facing jail time for their crimes; (3) support the Gaang’s invasion plan, and, in the event that the Gaang’s plan fails, watch the Earth Kingdom get burned to the ground by the Fire Nation while they probably get tortured for going against the Fire Princess at a key moment; (4) attempt to jail the Dangerous Ladies and use them as hostages or brainwash them and have them infiltrate the Fire Nation; (5) or join Azula and get to keep power by virtue of being her right-hand goons.

In regards to option 1, even if they manage to eliminate Kuei and the Gaang, or at least make them accept Long Feng as ruler, which is a tall task considering the Gaang’s revulsion towards the Dai Li’s mass mind rape campaign, their combat prowess, and the fact that Long Feng murdered Jet in front of them, Long Feng has no legitimacy, nor will he ever be able to gain it.

For Long Feng is heavily implied to have come from a commoner’s bloodline, and thus can’t appeal to tradition, or the mandate of heaven/the divine right to rule, like Kuei and Azula can, no one outside of the Dai Li or Ba Sing Se’s insular elite knows him, and he lacks popular support due to his relative anonymity, something that will get compounded once his crimes become public knowledge thanks to the Gaang if the Dai Li don’t manage to kill all of them quickly.

Thus, the Earth Kingdom is liable to break out into civil war, and thus become easy pickings for the Fire Nation, with all of them getting tortured for going against the Fire Princess in a key moment.

For even though the circumstances were different, the moment the Earth Queen Hou-Ting was assassinated by the Red Lotus, the Earth Kingdom devolved into a state of anarchy that only ended when Kuvira and her men forcibly brought the warlords and roving bands violently to heel while also using their advanced technology and wealth of resources to provide aid to struggling Earth Kingdomers, thereby gaining their support.

And clearly, Long Feng and Dai Li are incapable of replicating Kuvira’s cult of personality and don’t have access to advanced technology or the resources necessary to bring everyone in the Earth Kingdom under their heel, peacefully or violently.

For if they could, wouldn’t they have already installed Long Feng on the throne and won the Hundred Year War already?

In regards to option 2, even if they rejected both Long Feng and Azula and helped the Gaang successful implement Sokka’s invasion plan, therefore bringing the Hundred Year War to a relatively peaceful end, do you really think that they thought that they would have been able to keep operating as the nigh-all-powerful spy network that they had become under Long Feng and/or that they would have not faced punishment for their myriad of vile crimes?

Or do you think they thought that even if they helped the invasion plan go through smoothly they would have been stripped of their power and/or severely punished?

Especially since Kuei had expressed anger for essentially being lied to his entire life by the Dai Li, and the fact that the Gaang has a reputation of being literal social justice warriors?

(Any spy network worth their salt would have found out about the Gaang’s adventures and good deeds.)

In regards to option 3, even though Sokka’s plan seemed fool-proof, there was always the chance that it could fail.

For even if they managed to get to the palace unimpeded, what is not to say that Ozai wouldn’t have used one of his numerous hidden tunnels/rooms/passages to hide until his firebending returned, or that one of guards in Caldera City after seeing the invasion force wouldn’t have been able to send a messenger hawk to Ozai that would reach him well before the invasion force did (did you see how fast those guards who saw Aang and his arrows during The Beach were able to send a messenger hawk, and how fast said hawk was traveling?), and thus prompt him to hide till his bending returned?

(Any component spy network would realize that any well designed palace would have numerous, quickly accessible hiding spots only known to the royals living in it in the case that the royals needed to hide from any domestic or foreign attackers.)

For I know this is years later, but despite having fully realized Aang and Toph at various times at the palace, there are still numerous hidden tunnels, rooms, and passages that Zuko and his guards are not aware of, with the only real plausible explanations, in my opinion, being that they didn’t think to use their seismic senses to map out the passages and tunnels because they forgot, or because they are unable to.

Therefore, if Aang and Toph behave like the older canon counterparts do, and the Dai Li have no evidence to support the idea that Aang and Toph would not make mistakes in the heat of battle when they have to choose who to follow, it is very easy to see the invasion force not being able to find Ozai before the eclipse ends, and thus they all get slaughtered unless Aang has mastered the Avatar State by that point.

For Ozai is likely able to kill Aang before his reflexive Avatar State kicks in thanks to his quick charge lightning.

Not to mention the Dai Li, at the moment they had to choose between Long Feng, Azula, and Kuei, had no idea that Aang could master the Avatar State like that.

And before someone tries to argue that the invasion force in this timeline would be a lot bigger, and thus it would be impossible for the force to lose once they get inside the palace, I don’t think that would be the case considering the Earth Kingdom has such poor logistics that, despite their larger amount of resources and people, they were losing to an increasingly overspread invading force.

Also, if the invasion force was large enough, the Fire Nation would have seen the suspect naval movements, and therefore would have likely beefed up their security to the point that it would have been hard to send in large amounts of troops to Caldera City, even with their secret weapon, the submarines, being unknown to the Fire Nation.

Not to mention they would not have enough waterbenders to pilot enough submarines to carry all the troops considering the small size of the Foggy Swamp Tribe, and the fact that Sokka did not think his father would be able to convince the Northern Water Tribe to help in the canon timeline, despite Sokka’s invasion plan being the best shot pre-Sozin’s Comet at ending the war .

(The above has to be the explanation of why Sokka didn’t ask for any Northern Water Tribe waterbenders to help the invasion, or else why would Sokka half-ass what is the most important thing he will ever do in his life as far as he knows?)

Thus, either they die in the failed invasion, or, if they live and/or where back home, they can do nothing as the Fire Nation probably uses Sozin Comet to end the war while also retaliating against the Earth Kingdom for supporting the invasion.

And in the very small likelihood they survive all of that, they probably end up getting tortured (ex. being sent to the Boiling Rock) for daring to go against the Fire Nation when they, in the form of its Princess, offered the Dai Li a chance to peacefully join them and their goal of spreading “propensity”.

And before anyone says torture is not Ozai or Azula’s style, Ozai disfigured his own son and had a policy of putting enemy POWs in Fire Nation armor while having them fight in the front lines.

Meanwhile, while this does take place after the coup, Azula made it a point in Suki Alone to taunt Suki about the conditions she would face in the Boiling Rock in an effort to break her. And it would not be crazy to assume that Suki was not the first person Azula personally sent to prison to break considering the active and trusted role Azula had in her father’s regime.

(I personally don’t think Azula's mission to capture Zuko and Iroh was the first time her father trusted her with an important task related to ruling, but that is not the focus of this post).

So the Dai Li would not be wrong in assuming that Ozai and/or Azula would be willing to torture them if they defied the Fire Nation and got their hands on the Dai Li afterwards.

In regards to option 4, while it would be more politically expedient to take down the Dangerous Ladies and use them, especially Princess Azula, as a bargaining chip to sue for peace against the Fire Nation, or brainwash them and turn them into sleeper agents, that only works if you can capture them in the first place.

And that is not really possible considering how Mai and Ty Lee are platoon busters (ex. how easily they took out Terra Team) and Azula is implied to be vastly above the two in terms of combat prowess, meaning that any attempt to capture the Dangerous Ladies would end poorly for the Dai Li.

Also, even in the very unlikely event that they managed to capture the Dangerous Ladies, what would make the Dai Li think that Ozai would care, or, if they brainwashed them and sent them to Fire Nation, he would not kill them all for failing him?

For any component spy network would have found out that Ozai burned and disinherited his loyal son because of Zuko’s “weakness”, or that Ozai has a history of banishing those who fail him (ex. Vachir), so why would Ozai act any differently towards the Dangerous Ladies considering in this timeline they failed to capture Zuko, Iroh, or any Gaang member on top of their failure to protect The Drill, and then ghosting him for a long time due to being mind raped by the Dai Li?

“But what about the Gaang? Or Zuko? Weren’t they able to fight the Dangerous Ladies to a standstill at various times during Season 2?”

Yeah, but doesn’t change my conclusion because Season 2 Gaang are casual platoon busters as well considering how easily they fought through the Earth Kingdom Royal Palace’s defenses, and how Aang was able to take out at least a dozen Fire Nation ships filled with soldiers despite only knowing air and waterbending during The Siege of The North. And in regards to Zuko, he was able to take on a group of professional soldiers almost entirely with just his swords despite starving during Zuko Alone, and yet he is vastly below Azula for most of S2.

And before someone tries to say that the Gaang or the Dangerous Ladies are not meant to be platoon busters, consider the facts that: Rebound!Mai was able to solo a New Ozai hideout with Tom Tom strapped on her back without getting any massive power increases or undergoing heavy training; Azula most likely killed or knocked out everyone in her asylum when she broke the Fire Warriors out; and the fact that Azula fodderized Mai in Smoke & Shadow despite Azula noticing that Mai’s knife throwing skills have gotten better.

So it seems pretty clear that the Dai Li would never been able to take the Dangerous Ladies, and even when Azula finds herself alone with the Dai Li, like when Long Feng tried to have her arrested, it is clear that Azula could have killed them all if came down it, something that must been painfully clear to the Dai Li.

“But Iroh surrendered during the climax of The Crossroads of Destiny.”

He clearly wasn’t exerting himself and probably did not want to kill Zuko, or even Azula (Iroh could have killed Azula several times beforehand but didn’t), since they would have probably fought him to the death as far as he knew. Hence, why he only fought to ensure that Katara got away with Aang’s body so Azula couldn’t double tap, and why he surrendered once that objective was achieved.

Besides, if he really wanted to fight, how come he didn’t use his advanced techniques like breathing fire or shooting quick charge lightning, both of which he used earlier during the day when he and Zuko were escaping from the Dai Li?

So that leaves us with option 5 being the only acceptable option to the Dai Li considering the circumstances and their knowledge at the time.

For the Dai Li is first and foremost a spy bureaucracy with no sense of honor, no fucks about their nation or fellow citizens, and a laser minded focus on keeping their privileges and power. And just before Azula’s coup, it looked like they were going to lose everything that mattered to them.

For a giant ass drill shows up a few days ago and almost penetrates their once thought to be impenetrable walls for the second time in five years; Omashu, one of the last remaining strongholds, is taken like less than a month ago with barely any resistance; and the Avatar not only exposed their mass mind raping campaign, but also is empowering their puppet ruler to actively cut off the strings for good.

Yet, when everything seems lost, not only is the Fire Princess out and about in their city, but also generously offers them to join her with no requirements other than helping her take over Ba Sing Se, and thus end the Hundred Year War with as little bloodshed as possible.

And while Azula’s offer might seem too good to be true, you have to put yourself in the Dai Li’s shoes and remember that the Dai Li are in on the big lie.

For they know about the war, about how the Fire Nation has taken over huge sections of the Earth Kingdom, and how it is only a matter of time before the Fire Nation takes over Ba Sing Se if they don’t use Sozin’s Comet to burn it to the ground in a show of force.

Thus, if the predominant, genocidal superpower of world says that they can avoid getting the shit kicked out of them like literally everyone else in their country, you can see why the Dai Li think it is a no brainer to take the offer.

Especially when by swearing allegiance to the heir, or future puppet master depending if Zuko ever “redeemed” himself, of the most powerful royal family on the planet with an established cult legitimizing their rule (ex. Azula’s “divine right to rule” comment, or how the Fire Nation indoctrinates it citizens, especially young kids, to view the Fire Lord as an infallible figure), they not only get more power over Ba Sing Se due to becoming Princess Azula’s right-hand henchmen, which becomes true since while Azula appoints a Joo Dee to be Supreme Bureaucratic Administrator of Ba Sing Se, the Dai Li control the Joo Dees, but also don’t have to deal with any pesky legitimacy issues that would arise if they tried to assert power directly, or by backing Long Feng.

Thus, the Dai Li made the best decision in regards to their self interest that they could have.

In fact, the only reason why it didn’t completely work out in their favor in the long run was because they probably didn’t expect there to be such strong resistance even after Ba Sing Se fell and Aang was presumed to be dead, or that Azula and Ozai would be so cracked as to genocide their own lands despite the massive loss of life and environmental damage that would ensure.

And of course, no one could have predicted Azula’s Sozin’s Comet meltdown, or the events leading up to it, that ended with them being banished from the Fire Nation.

For example, could anyone other than Iroh predict Zuko turning traitor, or that Mai and Ty Lee would commit high treason in such a fashion that it triggered the onset of Azula’s childhood schizo-??? disorder?

So to sum up, if we take a moment to analyze the situation from the Dai Li’s POV when Long Feng commanded them to arrest Azula, it is easy to understand why they chose Azula since it was the only way they could remain in control of Ba Sing Se.

For if you think about it, the only thing the Dai Li care about is control and power.

And who better to give it to them than Princess Azula, the personification of the Dai Li’s ideals as far as they know?

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