I don't own Legend of Korra
Ch 1
It was hot. Well, the Fire Nation was always hot, but Jin Lian felt hotter than normal. Sweat beaded and rolled down her face and back under the layers upon layers of silk robes that she wore as she waited to be announced into the throne room. She only prayed that her makeup would withstand the perspiration so she would not appear as a mess before everyone, especially to the Fire Lord on his birthday celebration. She closed her dark, bronze colored eyes in an attempt to calm herself and took a deep breath. A firm hand clasped her shoulder, catching her as she swayed lightly.
"Can't have you fainting on us before you actually perform," the man joked, his yellow eyes mixed with concern and amusement. "Sit down, it looks like it'll be a while."
"Thank you," Jin Lian replied softly. She spread her arms out and gracefully kneeled on the ground, sighing at the brief respite as the flapping robes fanned her as they descended. "And now, we wait," she mumbled to herself, fiddling with her fingers.
*meanwhile, in the throne room*
Iroh II, Crown Prince of the Fire Nation, and General of the United Forces at the age of 30, was generally not fearful of much. However, as he sat next to his mother and grandfather, he couldn't help but feel like a mouse being watched by a hungry cat owl. He looked out over the throne room, anywhere to avoid the gazes of conniving and scheming courtiers. The large flames that once shielded the Fire Lord from view were gone by order of Fire Lord Zuko. Curtains were drawn back, allowing the sunlight to stream between the large columns holding the high, vaulted, decorated ceiling up. His eyes flicked to the elaborate gifts that were presented before his family, placed at the side to make room for more extravagancies. Iroh cleared his throat as he played with the cuffs of his red suit, seemingly interested in the mural on the far wall.
"Iroh, relax," Fire Lord Izumi said, eyeing her fidgeting son. "It's your grandfather's birthday, show some decorum."
"I would if the court officials and their daughters would stop looking at me like a piece of meat," Iroh grumbled, his posture stiffening. "This is why I prefer being on the ship."
Izumi sighed, "They wouldn't look at you that way if you got married already; you're 30 for Agni's sake." She pushed her glasses higher on her nose with her thin, delicate fingers.
Iroh turned to his mother with an annoyed look, to which his mother countered with her own. Her sharp, golden eyes bore into his like a hawk, proud and regal even in her middle age. Graying hair and lines on her face, while showing signs of her age, made her more dignified as compared to her fierce beauty in her youth. A disapproving frown set upon her sharp features as her son grit his square jaw stubbornly.
A rasping chuckle broke the tension between mother and son, their gazes being drawn to an elderly man dressed in resplendent red, gold, and black robes. A small smile broke out on his face, "Izumi, if I recall, you were the same way," Fire Lord Zuko joked lightly as he stroked his white beard. His eyes crinkled in amusement as his daughter huffed, belying the stern façade that his tell-tale scar provided to him.
"Thank you, grandfather," Iroh replied gratefully. He could always count on his grandfather to defend him against the prospect of marriage. Iroh was in no rush to start a family, not when there was a whole world to explore. There was no way he could maintain a relationship anyway, what with his long term tours with his soldiers and all.
His thoughts were interrupted by the creaking of the large doors to the throne room. A man dressed in a court official's robes entered, yet Iroh did not recognize the man from the council meetings. Zuko, on the other hand, seemed to know the man very well. The old Fire Lord smiled, "Lord Yang, how do our international relations fare?"
"Ah," Iroh thought. "He's the foreign affairs minister. He must have been on a diplomatic mission overseas." Iroh examined the middle aged man with interest. He was built like an old war general, large and muscular with the traditional Fire Nation side burns and beard, yet had a tanned, amiable face with a wide smile. His hair was still brown with large streaks of gray scattered through, all tied up in a traditional topknot. "Fire Lord Zuko, Fire Lord Izumi, Crown Prince Iroh," the man greeted, bowing low. "I am humbled to be invited on this joyful day. I am also proud to report that our relations are as strong as ever, as shown by our expanded trade with the Earth Kingdom."
"Your constant travels and hard work are what brings prosperity to our nation," Fire Lord Izumi said, praising the older man.
Lord Lee Yang bowed again, "I am flattered, and I hope that I can continue serving the Fire Nation." He straightened his back and looked directly at Zuko, his yellow eyes glimmering in anticipation. "My lord, for your birthday present, I am afraid I have no gifts or trinkets that can match the finery presented today." Quiet mutterings and snickers resounded insidiously through the court room. Iroh glared around the room, hoping to find the instigators. Lord Yang blatantly ignored them, continuing his speech. "Instead, I present my daughter, who has accompanied me throughout my travels."
From the large doors of the throne room entered a young woman. Iroh leaned forward a bit, his interest further piqued, inspecting the newcomer. She appeared thin and willowy, with long, black hair tied loosely near the ends. She moved slowly and stately, seemingly encumbered by the strange costume she wore. Unlike the other women in the room, who wore formal, elegant Fire Nation style dresses, this woman wore a loose, dark red robe with a bright yellow-orange sash, much like the Air Acolytes. Upon her face, she wore a mask of the late Avatar Aang, the bright, painted blue arrow standing out in a sea of red and gold. In her hand she held a staff that resembled the previous Avatar's glider.
Musicians filed up behind her as she faced the throne. Iroh could feel her eyes focus on him for the briefest of moments through the mask, shivering as he felt their intensity. She brought her hands up, making a fist in her right hand and clasping it with her left, kneeling low before Fire Lord Zuko. "My lord, it is my highest honor to perform for you," she said in a clear, sweet voice. Iroh wondered briefly if her face was as pretty as she sounded. Zuko smiled, "I look forward to this gift, Lady Yang."
Rising up again, she nodded imperceptibly to the musicians. Iroh sat straighter, his eyes drawn to the strange woman in front of him. She took an air bending stance as the music began, the sounds of the erhu peacefully accompanying her as she flowed through the stances. The robes billowed behind her with each swing of her arms and quick movement of her legs as she traced a circular pattern around the floor. Iroh watched intently, half expecting gusts of wind to burst from her hands with each punch and swing of the staff.
Suddenly, the song changed, a flute and zither joining the erhu, the pace of the music increasing slightly. With a spin, the woman dropped the staff and stripped off the Acolyte robes, revealing a blue and white dress in the style of the Northern Water Tribe with long sleeves which covered her hands and reached the floor. The dress was loose and flowing, but was cinched around her waist to reveal the curve of her body. She had also somehow magically switched the mask of Aang with a mask with a painted black and white koi without anyone noticing. The fish were arranged in a Yin-Yang pattern, so skilled was the artwork that they appeared to swim, however, Iroh was not paying attention to that. Rather, he watched, entranced, as the blue silk sleeves shimmered and rippled like water as the woman danced. She had switched to water bending techniques, her feet no longer making quick, light steps, but rather smooth motions, constantly shifting her weight from one to the other as her body swayed. Her arms made large, circular movements, dragging the sleeves as they made blue arcs in the air as she spun around gracefully.
Drums were added to the melody, reverberating through the hall, the beat becoming faster and more powerful. She spun faster, adding small jumps and kicks until Iroh noticed that she had quickly removed the water sleeves, leaving her forearms bare. She had also tugged on some ties of her costume, green fabric spilling over the blue in what looked like a modified Kiyoshi warrior's outfit. She removed the koi mask, switching it quickly for a painted Kiyoshi warrior mask, the smooth wood white with bold red eyelids and sharp black lines defining the eyebrows. The small woman pulled out a pair of yellow fans from behind her back and snapped them open sharply.
The drums beat louder, the other instruments fading out and letting the rhythmic beats reverberate through the onlookers' ears and chests. Despite her delicate frame, Iroh noticed her stance was strong and firm as she slid into earth bending movements. Unlike her water bending display, where she swayed freely, her feet were planted into the ground, her back rigid as she blocked and punched an invisible foe, snapping the fans open and closed for each respective movement. She leapt into the air and slammed into the floor with a bang, her decisive movements defining the spirit of earth.
"Air, water, earth…" Iroh thought. "… the cycle of the elements." A truly simple, yet ingenious idea. The Crown Prince's eyes flicked over to the pile of gifts, all decorated with flames and red jewels. Purely Fire Nation. However, being that she was the daughter of the foreign affairs minister, it only made sense for her to present what she learned from all the nations.
The music changed again, a tsungi horn and cymbals joining the strong drumbeat, pulling Iroh out of his thoughts. "Fire," he thought, eager to see what the lithe dancer in front of him would do. "Was she a fire bender?" he wondered, secretly hoping that she was. Iroh watched carefully as she pulled more ties on her outfit, shedding the green fabric and kicking it off with a flourish as she danced and spun in a large circle.
She made a complete round and stopped to face the throne. What she now wore was shocking to say the least, if not scandalous. The woman now wore a cropped shirt, revealing her toned midriff. Red sleeves covered her shoulders and upper arms. Wrapped around her forearms was a sheer red and yellow cloak. A red skirt hung at her hips, a slit running up the sides to reveal her smooth, white legs underneath with a beige sash to hold it all together. Upon her face the final mask rested, a phoenix with a protruding beak with feathers painted red, gold, blue, and green. The mask only covered half her face, leaving only her full, pink lips below visible to the crowd.
She began her last dance. Cocking her head to the side, almost bird-like, the woman flew into fire bending forms. The cloak billowed out behind her like wings, flapping as she flipped in the air and landed in a low tiger's stance, one leg outstretched with the other flexed beneath her. Iroh prepared himself for the light and heat of her fire, but none came. "So she's a non-bender," he thought, slight disappointment settling into his chest. Nevertheless, her display was breathtaking as she planted her feet and burst into more and more elaborate styles of fire bending moves. He could see her lips parted and pulled into a small smile as she spun and kicked.
He recalled a time when his grandfather taught him the true meaning of fire bending. He had been taken to the tribe of the Sun Warriors where he met the original fire bending masters, Ran and Shao. Where the Fire Nation's fire bending styles were forceful, yet controlled, the Sun Warriors' bending followed a natural flow which mimicked a dragon's flight. Iroh looked back at his grandfather, who was equally intrigued by the performance.
Iroh gazed back at the willowy figure leaping, kicking, and punching in front of him. She seemed so free and liberated, like wildfire burning across the high plains of the Fire Nation. Her movements were precise, yet her strikes were soft. The phoenix mask enhanced her bird like routine, cocking it sideways as a sparrow would as it flits from branch to branch. The cloak fluttered gently like feathers as she spun and kicked. She curled her legs below her, kneeling and striking, then rose again in a graceful, yet forceful rotation. As she finished her routine, she stood in a crane stance, standing on one leg while her other knee was bent above her hip. With hands and fingers extended, she raised one arm up and the other across her body, the sheer material of her cloak floating down gently as she held the position.
A brief silence filled the room, the crowd still in awe of the woman's performance, before exploding into applause. "Impressive," Fire Lord Izumi praised. "A beautiful display." She glanced at her son, whose mouth was slightly agape. He quickly caught her eye and snapped his mouth shut, straightening his back.
"Child," Fire Lord Zuko said, leaning forward in his seat. "Remove your mask, so we can match the talent to the face." A small, kind smile twitched at the corner of his mouth.
"Yes, my lord," the young woman replied, and obeyed. She returned both feet to the ground and knelt before the royal family. Long, slim fingers reached up and grasped the edges of the phoenix mask, pulling it off slowly.
Iroh's interested gaze was met with bright, bronze eyes set into a face like a porcelain doll. The woman's rounded face was pale and without blemish. Scarlet eyeshadow and black eyeliner accented her large, almond shaped orbs while pink lipstick painted the full petals of her mouth.
"What is your name, child?" Lord Zuko asked.
"Jin Lian of the Yang family," she answered, bowing low. Her long, black hair swept over her shoulder and covered half her face as she bent over.
Fire Lord Izumi shared a surprised, yet secretive look with her father at the sound of her name. Iroh had not noticed, as he was entranced by the vast difference between Jin Lian and her father. He could hardly believe they were related at all. Where he was dark and muscular, she was pale and petite. Lord Yang was a robust man, whereas Jin Lian was demure.
"We look forward to seeing you at the banquet afterwards, Lady Yang," Izumi spoke. "In another dress, of course." She raised an eyebrow, bemused at the younger woman's attire.
Jin Lian smiled gracefully, "Without a doubt, Fire Lord Izumi." The young woman bowed respectfully as she was dismissed, exiting out the side doors of the throne room with the musicians.
~at the banquet~
Jin Lian strode through the banquet hall with an air of confidence, her arm linked through her father's. In reality, though, she was struggling to match his wide stride with small, quick steps, her long skirt hiding the speed at which her feet pattered across the floor.
"At this rate, I'll break an ankle," she thought to herself. Everything about her outfit was guaranteed to make her fall over. Her ensemble was made of light pink silk, the skirt tightly wrapped around her hips and flowed straight down until it hovered just above the floor. It was cinched into a single pleat down the middle, below her navel, and secured with a gold belt. Tucked into the skirt was a silk, sleeveless top with a large white bolt of silk with golden embroidery wrapped around her torso and slung over her left shoulder. It trailed down her exposed back and onto the floor, forcing her to carry the remaining fabric over her free arm while she walked. Jin Lian silently thanked the small safety pin that secured the silk to her top, otherwise she would have been constantly preoccupied with readjusting the fabric.
She could feel eyes being drawn to her father and herself. What an interesting pair they must have made! Her petite frame was completely dwarfed in comparison to her father's large, sturdy, figure, dressed in intimidating Fire Nation armor. They stopped before the head table where the royal family sat and bowed respectfully. Her gold jewelry jingled lightly as she moved her arms and bowed as far as her dress allowed. She could hear the plates of her father's armor creak softly as he rose, and so followed his example, her head still bowed. Jin Lian cast a shy gaze towards the royal family up through her eyelashes, seeing them nod back in return. She noticed that the Crown Prince stared a bit too intently at her though, making her uncomfortable at the individualized attention. A short word was shared between her father and Lord Zuko before they left to the banquet area.
"It's been a while since you've been back in court, Jin," Lord Yang commented as he grabbed some wine from a passing waiter. "What do you think?" He handed one glass to his daughter and kept one for himself, taking a gulp. "I was a child back then, father," she said, taking a small sip of wine. "But I suppose the atmosphere is far less oppressive than the Inner Ring of Ba Sing Se."
Her lips twitched up as her father let out a booming laugh. "I couldn't agree more, my little lotus."
"Excuse me," a young nobleman said, approaching Jin Lian. "My name is Han, Lady Yang, I just wanted to say how ravishing you looked earlier today and tonight."
Jin Lian blushed and looked down, "Sir you are too kind." She sputtered as the young man took her hand and stared into her eyes.
"I was wondering if you were interested in…." The poor man could barely finish before a large hand took him by the shoulder and pulled him back.
Lord Yang growled dangerously, "If you are interested in wooing my daughter, I suggest asking my permission first."
The man yelped and took off swiftly, bidding Jin Lian a good night. She shot a look at her father, "I'll never get married if you keep doing that."
"I only want the best for my little lotus," Lord Yang protested, crossing his arms petulantly.
"But you didn't have to set his shirt on fire," Jin Lian commented, looking at the man who was now batting at the flames scorching his sleeves.
I'm trying out a Legend of Korra story here. I love the Avatar universe, and I felt that the writers never really covered the Fire Nation as much as the other nations. Let me know what you think! Constructive criticism please, I only do this as a hobby.