Avatar: The Book Of The Phoenix

Vanished

The air in the throne room hung heavy, thick with the scent of expensive incense and unspoken worry. Earth King Xuo, a man whose face usually bore a jovial mask, now sat hunched, his brow furrowed in a deep frown. His gaze swept across the opulent room, his eyes lingering on the intricate jade carvings and the shimmering silk tapestries, finding no solace in their beauty.

"Has there been any word from General Fong?" he finally rasped, his voice rough with disuse.

The courtier, a man whose carefully manicured mustache seemed to tremble slightly, bowed his head. "Your Majesty," he began, his voice low and hesitant, "there has been... no word."

The King's frown deepened. "No word? Not a single pigeon? Not a single messenger? What could possibly be delaying him?"

The courtier shuffled his feet, his eyes darting nervously around the room. "General Fong is a seasoned warrior, Your Majesty. He would never... he would never fail to report."

"But he has," the King countered, his voice rising. "And that, my friend, is a grave concern." He ran a hand through his thinning hair, the worry lines on his forehead deepening. "The Fire Nomads... they are growing bolder. They have taken more territory since Bin Er....If General Fong has encountered trouble..."

The King paused, a chilling thought taking root in his mind. "Perhaps the Fire Nation is involved. Perhaps they are behind this."
The courtier paled. "Your Majesty, I... I do not believe..."

"Doubt is a luxury we cannot afford," the King interrupted, his voice firm. "Prepare a letter for Fire Lord Zuko. In it, I will express my grave concern over the disappearance of General Fong and request immediate military assistance. Inform him that an alliance, however uneasy, is our only hope against a common enemy."

The courtier, visibly shaken, bowed his head. "As you command, Your Majesty." He scurried from the room, leaving the King alone with his anxieties. The silence in the throne room now seemed deafening, filled only by the King's heavy breathing and the distant rumble of the city below. He knew that this was a risky move, a desperate gamble. But with General Fong missing and the threat of the Fire Nation looming larger than ever, he had no choice. He could only hope that Fire Lord Zuko, despite the lingering bitterness of past conflicts, would see the wisdom in this alliance.