ATLA: Azlua

In the underground grand hall of the rebel base, the air was heavy with a mix of triumph and sorrow. Rebels gathered, their faces illuminated by the flickering light of torches as they prepared to listen to Hong Li's speech. Despite the victory they had achieved, the losses weighed heavily on everyone's hearts. Hong Li stood at the front, his posture strong but his face reflecting the gravity of the moment.

He cleared his throat, the low murmurs in the hall fading as the rebels turned their attention toward him.

"Brothers and sisters," Hong Li began, his voice calm yet commanding. "Today, we mourn our comrades who have fallen. Their sacrifice was not in vain. The success of our mission has struck a significant blow to the Earth Kingdom's forces. The armory, the silos—destroyed. Two of their commanders—dead. But none of this comes without a price."

A heavy silence settled over the hall. The names of the fallen echoed through everyone's mind, their absence a reminder of the cost of war.

"Let us remember them," Hong Li continued, his tone softening, "for they fought with bravery and gave everything to this cause. But let us also remember the importance of what they achieved. We dealt the Earth Kingdom a blow they won't soon forget. And tonight, we honor that victory."

His words were met with solemn nods and the murmur of agreement, but the room didn't erupt into cheers. The weight of the dead lingered too heavily.

As Hong Li continued speaking, Mai quietly slipped away from the gathering, her mind elsewhere. The truth was, the celebration, the mourning—it wasn't what concerned her at the moment. She walked quickly, her steps echoing through the stone halls until she reached her quarters. Once inside, she shut the door behind her, the muffled sounds of the speech fading as she took a deep breath.

On her small table, a letter sat sealed with the Fire Nation's insignia. It had arrived earlier, and Mai hadn't wanted to open it in front of the others. She already knew who it was from. Her fingers trembled slightly as she broke the seal and unfolded the letter. Azula's sharp, elegant handwriting danced across the page.

"Mai,
The main Earth Kingdom army is on the move. They will reach you in one week.
From the reports you've sent, it's clear you don't have enough rebels to make the impact I need. The rebellion needs to be more than just an annoyance. I need them to destabilize the Earth Kingdom's control in a way that forces them to make concessions—the right concessions. The current course won't get us what we want.

Do what needs to be done. The rebels need to be a weapon, not a distraction.

-Azula"

The words hit Mai like a punch to the gut. Her chest tightened, the letter crumpling slightly in her grip. Azula's meaning was clear: The rebellion wasn't enough as it stood. It needed a spark—something to rally the rebels further and make them a true threat. And the only way to do that... was to martyr someone important. Someone the rebels respected and followed.

Her mind immediately shifted to Hong Li and Rangi. Both were key figures in the rebellion. Both were leaders the people trusted. If one of them were to die, the rebels would be united in their grief and their anger. They would fight harder, more recklessly. It was the kind of impact Azula wanted.

Mai swallowed hard, her heart pounding in her chest. It was something she had considered before, but now... now she was being forced to confront it.

Hong Li... or Rangi.

Both options churned in her mind, each one carrying its own weight. She could feel her throat tighten as her thoughts spiraled. Hong Li's speech played faintly in the distance, but she was too far away to hear his words. She thought about his vision for the rebellion, his passion, and how the rebels admired him. Killing him would be devastating.