The Spirit Day Song

Chapter 1

Hi everybody! I know some of you are probably wondering why I haven't been working on Dream Benders. I have, but this story was swimming around in my head and I had to write it down. And I thought now would be the perfect time for it! Can you guess where I got the idea for this story from? The first person who reviews and knows where the idea came from will get… something. I don't know what yet. Probably just a virtual high-five!

This story is set about a year and a half after the end of the war. It is an Ozai story and is mostly from his point of view, but Zuko and his friends will be included.

The former Fire Lord sat alone on the floor of his cell. He couldn't believe how cold it was tonight. It was never this cold in the Fire Nation, even in the depths of winter. Of course, the cold wouldn't have bothered him if that little bald brat hadn't taken away his firebending. Ozai would have rather had the Avatar kill him than do this. Sure, it would have been just as humiliating. Being beaten and killed by a child was just as bad as having the child beat you and take away your bending, but at least then he wouldn't have to live with the humiliation. Or the cold. Ozai hated the cold.

The prisoner's thoughts were interrupted when the door to the room that held his cell opened. A tall, broad shouldered man wearing a blue and white fur parka stepped into the room and closed the door. It took Ozai a moment to figure out who the man was, and when he did he wasn't sure whether to laugh or be sick.

"Honestly, what sort of Fire Lord would be caught dead wearing the clothing of a filthy Water Tribe peasant?" Ozai's voice was hoarse from lack of use, but still as condescending as ever towards the young man he now commonly referred to as The Traitor.

"A cold one," was Zuko's only response as he lit a flame in his hand and glanced around the room. There was about ten feet between the outer door and the cell bars. On the outside of the cell was a chair and small table for visitors, though the only visitor Ozai had ever had was Zuko, and the boy never sat down.

"Very well, but why blue? You couldn't find any black furs? Or red ones?"

"This was an early Spirits Day gift from a friend, and I like it the way it is. The animals in the South Pole only have white, blue or light gray fur. It's the warmest fur in the world and this parka was made by three of the Southern Tribe's most talented women."

"Wonderful. The Fire Lord is now wearing the latest in Southern Peasant style." Ozai's voice was dripping with sarcasm and he rolled his eyes as he spoke. "I'm sure my citizens are delighted with their current leader's treasonous choice of outerwear."

"Actually, mycitizens love these furs so much that we have negotiated a trade agreement with the Southern Tribe. We import the pelts so that they can me made into parkas and coats by the people who made our military uniforms during the war. I was given a few of the first fur coats made in the Fire Nation so I could inspect them and give my approval. I could get you one if you'd like." Zuko knew his father would never wear anything that wasn't red and black and made during his own reign. He only offered because he was in a miserable mood and knew it would push Ozai's buttons, which might be a little entertaining.

"I would sooner die of hypothermia then wear that peasant-trash clothing. And if the people of this nation are wearing it, then you can go right ahead and have them. They disgust me almost as much as you do." Ozai watched as Zuko lit the table lamp before leaning back against the wall and crossing his arms over his chest. The boy never really spoke to him like this, why was he doing it now? "Why are you really here today? This isn't one of your scheduled 'where's my mom?' visits, what do you want?"

"I just wanted to wish you a Merry Spirits Eve." Zuko stood away from the wall and walked towards the cell, stopping a few feet away. When his father didn't respond, he took a package out of his parka and stepped forward to put it on the floor inside the cell. He didn't step back when he spoke again. "I brought you a present. It's a blanket. I found it at the palace and thought you might need it since it's so cold this evening. And don't worry, it's not blue."

Ozai looked from Zuko to the package and back again. Was the boy really that stupid? Did Zuko think he could bribe his father into telling him where Ursa was? With a blanket? The poor kid was really scraping the bottom of the interrogation-technique barrel now. He ignored the gift and resumed his sarcastic tone.

"How nice of you. And now I suppose you'dlike a gift also? Well sadly, I haven't really had a chance to get out and do much shopping this holiday season. I've had so much housecleaning to do, I'm expecting a lot of company tomorrow. Why don't you stop by for dinner? I'm making roast turducken, and soup dumplings and fish with coconut rice, dragon heart salad, and of course my favorite, leopard-shark tar-tar. Oh, and fruit tarts and caramelized custards for dessert."

"That's OK," Zuko said as he went back to leaning against the wall. "There's really only one thing I want from you and I doubt I'll ever get it, even on a holiday that's supposed to be about love and family and togetherness." The young man watched his father, waiting for him to open his present, though he didn't expect him to. The two men regarded each other for a moment before the older one spoke.

"Speaking of family, where's yours? I mean, where is the ridiculous group of pathetic misfits that you call a family? It's Spirits Eve, why are you here with the man who hates you the most in this world when you can be at the palace celebrating the holiday with those who love you?"

Zuko didn't rise to his father's dig, he knew the man thought love was a worthless emotion. He simply answered the question in a board tone as he pushed himself off the wall and walked towards the door. "My friends aren't here this year, and Uncle's boat hasn't arrived yet. I'll leave you now. I have a lot to do still to prepare for the Spirits Day celebration tomorrow. Merry Spirits Day, enjoy your gift."

With that the young Fire Lord left the cell, closing the door quietly behind him.

I know this is kind of short, but I wanted to get this started. In case anyone was wondering, Spirits Day is kind of like the Avatarverse's big holiday. It's meant to be kind of like Christmas. I hope I made that part obvious. I don't know if I'm going to get into detail about what the holiday really is, because I'm not sure myself. It's a celebration of the birth of the first avatar, nota celebration of Aang. In fact, it really has nothing to do with Aang. He'll show up in the story, but just briefly.

I would really like to know what you all think about this story. I'm going to complete it even if no one likes it, but I would love some input. I have seen a lot of Fan Art depicting the gAang during the holidays, but haven't read many stories, so I made one up. Please don't disregard this just because it's about Ozai. The other characters will all show up, and I promise there will be some Zutara thrown in too!

I also wanted to mention that a lot of the dishes Ozai mentioned are from Fandomme's story, Stormbenders. Except for the Turducken. Can anyone guess what it is? I'm not sure if it's real or not. I'm from Upstate New York and when I lived in North Carolina a few years ago, some of the people I worked with told me that they had Turducken for Thanksgiving. They might have been cranking my chain, but it sounded like a great Avatarverse food!