[open] Intro

[emulative]

I;

What happened to Republic City? The last thing Iroh remembers was hearing that Amon had been unbasked as a bender and had disappeared, then he had suddenly woken up in a very strange place (the Spirit World, he's almost positive it was the Spirit World - though how did he manage to get there?) and found his way here, back to Republic City. The only problem was that Republic City had changed immensely overnight - the vines everywhere are the first indication, but he's seen spirits milling around and the general feeling of the city is off somehow, though Iroh hasn't been able to pinpoint exactly why.

He was making his way toward City Hall to try to get some idea of what was going on, but Iroh has stopped to pick up a newspaper and is currently reading it, looking troubled.

The first section is troubling, but more confusing than anything else. It's the section regarding his grandfather that's causing his eyebrows to knit as he scans it. "There is supposedly a time-displaced younger Lord Zuko now installed as interim Fire Lord following Fire Lord Izumi's disappearance. Whether or not the 'young' Zuko is actually Lord Zuko's past self or a very convincing child actor, this means that Lord Zuko now has direct control of two nations. Is it possible our 'interim' President plans on having his rule be not so temporary? It is awfully convenient that his own daughter has disappeared in the same manner of President Raiko - and as we've now learned, the other world leaders of the nations and prominent cities within them - and this has allowed him to not only be voted in as the interim President of the United Republic, but to set a hand-picked puppet where his daughter used to sit."

"President Raiko...?" The name doesn't sound familiar. Since when did Republic City have a president, and why would his grandfather take over if said president had disappeared? What about Fire Lord Izumi? What had happened to her? What's going on here?

Iroh can be found puzzling over the newspaper on the side of the street. He's wearing the usual United Forces uniform (this one isn't missing a sleeve, thankfully). He looks more concerned than confused and he won't be looking up from that paper unless he's directly addressed.

II;

Once he's done with the newspaper, Iroh decides that the best thing to do is continue to City Hall. If his grandfather really is in charge right now, he can surely answer Iroh's questions. If Lord Zuko isn't in charge (or isn't in), he can at least find a phone to get in contact with the United Forces to figure out what happened.

Iroh stops dead in the street when City Hall comes into view. It certainly isn't the normal City Hall and the vines growing from it are quite impressive. Hopefully the place is still in good shape inside, because the last thing he wants is to find out that this isn't where he needs to be.

Comments

[restoredhonour]

Zuko nods. "That's right. The Equalist revolution was put down by Avatar Korra. Yet there was still discontent with the way nonbenders' concerns had gone ignored for a long time, to which Republic City's council was abolished and replaced with an elected official: the President of the United Republic. Unfortunately, President Raiko is missing... and Republic City's citizens asked that I fill in during his absence. I'm retired, of course, so this is only a temporary measure.

"As for the vines and the spiritual activity you can see around the city, that is also Avatar Korra's work. During a battle with the spirit of chaos and darkness, Vaatu, the gateways between the human world and the spirit world were opened... and once the battle was over, Korra decided it was best to leave them open, and let spirits and humans learn to live together in peace. Unfortunately, the spiritual activity here recently has changed, however: people are being pulled to and from Republic City, from all manner of times and places, as you have been."

He pauses, to let him take all that information in. There have been enormous changes in the world as of late, now more than ever, but hopefully Iroh could follow that explanation so far.

[emulative]

It's a good thing Zuko asked him to sit down because Iroh isn't sure what to do with all the information he's been given. He folds his hands and stares intently at the floor while he tries to process all of this.

A President was elected by the people after the council was dissolved. That President is currently missing and his grandfather is currently serving as a stand-in leader. The Avatar opened the spirit portals permanently, allowing spirits to live alongside humans, which explains the vines everywhere. People are going missing and showing up in Republic City.

As he ticks off each item on a mental checklist, Iroh finally looks up again. "I see," The reply isn't exactly a good one, but he doesn't look as troubled as he did when he first arrived. "What can I do to help? What are the United Forces doing right now?" He'd rather not have to chose between his job and his grandfather, but he's assuming Zuko knows what to do better than any of his colleagues.

[restoredhonour]

Iroh seemed to be taking it all in his stride, as he always did, at least. Zuko was grateful for that; it made his explanation far easier. To his questions, Zuko replied, "The Forces have still been operational without you, remaining on standby should any more spiritual threats attack the city again. If you wish to resume your post, I and the Forces would be glad to have you. But... there is another problem."

A worried frown passed across his face. He had bad news to give his grandson. "Your mother is amongst those missing," he said quietly. "We're doing everything we can to find her, but it seems she's vanished, just as you did. I'm sorry, Iroh."

He'd hoped never to have to give Iroh news like this, that his mother was gone. It struck painfully close to what he himself had been through as a boy, and that broke his heart.