I do not own Avatar the Last Airbender, Avatar the Legend of Kora, or anything that has to do with Avatar.
When Honora's father told her that she would be living in Republic City for the next two years, she nearly spit out her tea in a sudden burst of surprise.
"Excuse me?!" That would have been the proper response in her mind, but it instead came out more as a surprised squeak. The only reaction her father gave was a nod."But… Dad! We live on Ember Island, why would we move?" Honora asked, barely able to contain her overwhelming astonishment and panic. Her life was here, she just couldn't move because her father thought it would be "good for culture", an excuse that he had used much too often.
Her mother, Mai, and her father, Zuko, exchanged looks. "We aren't moving to Republic City, Honora. You will be the one moving."
A shocked silence filled the room. The servants paused nervously, and started to retreat from the dining hall, sensing the oncoming storm.
"What?" She exclaimed. "This is so unfair! So you get to stay here while I have to live among the people of Republic City? Father! They aren't of noble blood! They've performed no noble deeds! They just sit there, and I have to go live with them? They're commoners! Peasants!"
"Honora!" Her father shouted, motioning for the rest of the lingering servants to leave. This was a family matter afterall. "This is the exact thing your mother and I were discussing! You act like you're above everyone, and that everyone who does not have royal blood or was not directly involved with the Avatar is not worth your time, and that you should rule over them as they tremble beneath you. You're acting like Azu-". He cut himself off as Honora's eyes started to threaten with tears that were about to overflow.
"Like Azula?" She finished, not even asking a question but making a statement. "You think I'm acting like Azula? That I'm going to be her?" You could tell that her father was about to respond, about to apologize, but she cut him off. "You think I'm going to be like Azula? So that's why you're sending me away?"
Mai, who had been silent up until now, interjected. "It's not that we want you to go, Honora. It's because we're scared of who you'll become if you continue like this. Honora-"
"No, it's not." Honora snapped. Glancing at her mother's swollen belly she continued.
"It's because your little precious new child will be born soon, you just want a son so that he can be the proper heir to the throne. You don't want a girl on the throne, you want an all powerful male."
"Honora that's not true and you know it."
"You're right." She snapped, suddenly remembering a conversation she had tried to block out for the last few weeks.
"I overheard Aunt Katara said that she sensed a powerful aura coming from the newborn baby. You don't want me with my firebending. I knew I'm that good at it, and I'm not that strong but that can change! But no… instead you're sending me away so that I won't taint the next wonderful Firelord and his marvelous bending that he'll have? What? You just want to send me away so you can give all the care and love you want to the child that shouldn't even get the throne next?"
"This is getting ridiculous!" Her father snapped. "It's not like that at all Honora, we-" It was too late though, Honora had already gotten up. She swung the doors from the dining hall open, then shut with a mighty bang, storming pass the servants.
Zuko couldn't even imagine where she was going.
Turning towards his wife, he sighed, suddenly, all the burdens of Fire Lord had come crashing down once again. "We tried." Zuko said, trying to contain his anxiety and worry for their firstborn. Mai laid a hand on his shoulder. "Are you sure that we should still send her away? She thinks it's because we want a male heir but honestly I afraid she'll turn out like your sister did…" She trailed off, obviously embarrassed to continue any further
. "No offense." Mai added as an afterthought, trying to stay on the safe side. "I'm just saying, to send a thirteen year old girl away is a bit harsh. Zuko! Look at me." She uttered, thinking about her own childhood. "I don't want her to feel unloved, that her parents love another sibling more than another. We remember what it's like." Zuko nodded, biting his lip with frustration. He groaned, putting his hands on his head. "It's just… I want her to have a normal life, even if it isn't for that long. She's been acting anything but what would be normal, and like I told her, she thinks that the people who have more common blood or haven't done anything like saving the world are just beneath her. It's so similar to Azula, and I don't want to neglect her, but I don't want to make her continue her behavior."
They both sighed again in unison, Mai running her fingers through her hair. "I'll talk to her Zuko, I'll make her see sense. Time with your uncle would do some good for her, I've always liked him." She drifted out of the room, leaving Zuko to collapse back in his seat and stare at the remains of his unfinished breakfast.
Honora heard a knock on her door, and before she could tell the person to go away, it was her dad, she could bet on it, the door swung open. Her mother strolled in, if not with the slightest bit of awkwardness, and sat down on her bed.
"Hey." Her mother said, obviously trying to start a conversation. Honora laid on her bed, not responding. She heard her mom take a deep breath, and exhaling it, Mai started.
"Honora, we aren't trying to neglect you. We aren't saying that we aren't proud of your firebending or that we want you gone so that your sibling can take your place as a ruler of the Fire Nation. I can't even firebend, Turtleduck, but yet, I was still able to fight and to be strong. We're scared for you, honestly. We're scared that we won't be good enough parents; to say we didn't exactly have the greatest childhood ourselves is an understatement. We're trying to make it so you have a chance of leading what a normal life would be like, because once you get older, you can never have one. Your duties to your country will always come first, even if you hate it. Also It's just… with your attitude, your personality about how you're above everyone, it scares us. You know about your Aunt Azula, you know how she was, she went mad Honora, from the stress and how she thought she didn't have her mother's love. She was crazy because she thought she could rule unfairly and unjustly and it came back and hit her in the face. We love you so, so, much Honora. We want you to go to Republic City so you can lead a normal life, and realize what it's like to be someone who has authority over them. Just think about it okay?" Mai didn't even give her a chance to respond, instead, she exited the room, closing the door softly behind her and leaving Honora to stare at her ceiling.
It was a while before Honora moved from her position of looking at her ceiling. When she rolled over, about to set her feet down on the floor she gave a quick yelp. Her skin had pressed into a small, sturdy wooden box. Curiosity getting the better of her, she opened it; only to give a yelp similar to the few seconds earlier. However, it was one of surprise rather than pain.
Inside was a velvet covering, a rich red, which was only slightly dulled from age. That wasn't the best part though. The box was divided into three parts, the inside of the lid being one, and the bottom being divided into two. A set of stilettos were present in the first bottom section; a set of regular throwing knives were in the second. The inside of the lid, In Honora's opinion, contained the best item though.
A beautiful sai was fastened there, the sharp points glittering in the bright, three-dozen candles that provided light for Honora's room. Right above the handle of the sai was a gray stone, an alluring, yet simple color. Simple, yet elegant at the same time. Like her mother. Like Mai.
She didn't know when the tears started; only that they seemed to never end.
So I hope you guys enjoyed the first chapter! This story will focus mainly on "Honora", the daughter of Zuko and Mai, and the mother of Iroh from the Legend of Korra. Also, if you guys want a specific character to appear or have an idea of what you think should happen feel free to leave it in he comments!