Fire Nation colonies

"fire"

- I've been thinking, we should share this prosperity with the rest of the world. In our hands is the most successful empire in history. It's time we expanded it.

The Fire Nation colonies were an assemblage of Earth Kingdom territories populated and governed by Fire Nation citizens during the Hundred Year War. Following the War's conclusion, some colonies were returned to the Earth Kingdom in accordance with the Harmony Restoration Movement, while older colonies formed into the United Republic of Nations.

History
More than a century prior to the discovery of Avatar Aang at the South Pole, the ambitious leader of the Fire Nation, Fire Lord Sozin, began to dream of a global empire, in which he would unite all of the nations under Fire Nation domination. It was intended to be a prosperous unity that would "share" the wealth and success the Fire Nation was enjoying during Sozin's rule. As time went on, Sozin's desire for world domination grew drastically, and his rule became increasingly dictatorial. Avatar Roku, Sozin's long-time friend, warned the Fire Lord to not expand the Fire Nation, as the four nations were meant to be just four. However, Sozin disregarded Roku's warning and put his plans into motion by invading and successfully occupying Earth Kingdom territory. This first assault was short-lived; when Roku discovered the existence of the numerous Fire Nation colonies in foreign lands, he confronted Sozin about the latter's course of action. The Avatar defeated the Fire Lord, let him go in the name of their past friendship, and issued a final warning to end Sozin's life if he continued his invasion plans. However, these first colonies, especially Yu Dao, remained in the Earth Kingdom, growing and prospering during the following decades.

For twenty-five years, the world was at peace again. However, when a volcanic eruption brought an end to Avatar Roku's life, Sozin realized his visions for the future were suddenly possible again. Sozin waited twelve years after Roku's death for the return of the Great Comet, later renamed Sozin's Comet, to commence his invasion of the other nations. He launched an attack on the Air Nomads, the native nation of the next Avatar, causing their extermination and instigating the century-long war.



After the Air Nomad Genocide, Sozin focused his attention on the Earth Kingdom. Many new colonies were established across the continent, and their population steadily increased due to aggressive efforts in forcing citizens to leave for the Earth Kingdom. As Fire Nation forces encroached the country's numerous territories, these colonies grew into prosperous settlements and supported the Fire Nation's war effort through the supplement of food and war supplies.

Dozens of these colonies were established across the Earth Kingdom continent. Like most of the population back home, these Fire Nation citizens supported the war effort, and were fed with the various forms of propaganda needed to instill support with the front line troops. They often took advantage of living in the prosperous Earth Kingdom by depriving the indigenous of their resources and making them work on their behalf.

Eventually, the Hundred Year War ended when the Order of the White Lotus liberated the Earth Kingdom capital of Ba Sing Se and the Avatar overthrew Phoenix King Ozai while Zuko and Katara defeated Princess Azula. The newly crowned Fire Lord, Zuko, announced an era of peace to begin, in which he would strive to restore the honor of the Fire Nation.



In order to restore the peace in the world and redeem the Fire Nation, the Harmony Restoration Movement was launched with the aim of transferring the Fire Nation colonials back to their home nation. However, a year after the Hundred Year War's official end, new disputes arose over the existence of the colonies on Earth Kingdom territory and ignited fresh tensions with the Fire Nation, threatening to devolve into not only war between the two countries, but into civil war within the Fire Nation itself. The resulting outcry necessitated the intervention of Team Avatar on behalf of Fire Lord Zuko. Eventually, Avatar Aang and Fire Lord Zuko transformed the colonies into the United Republic of Nations.

Culture and society


The culture of the Fire Nation colonies was very much like that of the homeland. Its inhabitants celebrated various cultural festivals, supported the war effort, were indoctrinated with government propaganda, and consumed traditional Fire Nation cuisine. Regardless of their ties to the homeland, these colonials were often belittled with disdain by citizens from the Fire Nation archipelago, which commonly resulted in unequal treatment. However, the culture was less tightly regulated than in the Fire Nation proper and as a result, colonists had slightly greater freedom of expression, and were permitted to dance. Despite these liberties, they were often unhappy with the state of their lives.

In many colonies, namely Yu Dao, social discrepancies between Fire Nation citizens and Earth Kingdom natives were widespread. Usually, Earth Kingdom citizens would occupy a second-class position in the city's society, while the higher positions were generally reserved for the Fire Nation residents. This social division led in many cases to an inequality in wealth among the citizens, leaving some people at the mercy and submission of the nobility's power.

In older colonies, the union between the settlers and locals became natural, giving rise to a new race of mixed Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom origin. People from different races often worked together in hopes of being more productive. The formation of families among people of different origins thus became one of the causes of the Harmony Restoration Movement's intermission to assess these situations in the colonies.

Notable colonies

 * Yu Dao
 * Hu Xin Provinces
 * Fire Days Festival town
 * Village resort

Notable figures

 * Mayor Morishita
 * Mayor Nishi
 * Kori Morishita
 * Malu
 * Mrs. Morishita
 * Guard captain