Note: AVATAR IS NOT MINE.
anyway, this is my first Avatar fic. hope you enjoy it. tell me if i did something wrong or comment. lolXD
The sun rose, rays already touching and filling every fiber of her tired body. The energy surged through her, her senses more awake than before. She had always rose with the sun, a habit she'd caught from her grandfather. She took in a deep breath and sighed. She had a long night, only stopping to greet the sun as she stealthily headed home. There were dao blades and a small rucksack on her back, her hood up, hiding her face. She ducked into the sewers and made her way around the twist and turns she had memorized long ago.
Then came the secret entrance to the palace. No one knew the secret entrances better than she does after it all proved useful hiding from her tutors and others. She slid her daos and rucksack off her back and stored them at her usual hiding spot. She slipped through one of the secret entrances that led to a massive but mostly deserted corridor. After checking if the cost was clear, she stepped out of the entrance and quietly walked through the corridor.
"WHO GOES THERE?" a voice demanded from behind. She stiffened. She turned and put on a stoic face, as if walking around dressed in camouflage, smelling like sewer water and dirty was perfectly normal for the princess of the Fire Nation. When the Imperial Guard saw who he was yelling at, he dropped into a kowtow, begging.
"Forgive me, your highness. I did not know it was you. It was an error I will not do ever again." he said, his forehead glued to the floor. The guard seems to be shaking as his outmost armor quivered. She groaned inwardly. They always show fear whenever she's around.
"Had a nice night out, princess?" said a sarcastic tone behind her. She sighed, she had hoped he wouldn't check this entrance this early in the morning. She turned and saw Yu Gun's face twitch in irritation. The old man never really did anything much but be irritated around her anyway. Yu Gun turned to the Imperial Guard. "You are relieved of any offence but I would warn you to keep this meeting confidential. Back to your station."
The guard bowed low before he turned to leave. She waited until he was really out of hearing distance.
"Why bother? They talk about it anyway." she said scornfully. Yu Gun's frown of disapproval just deepened. He turned, gesturing her to follow. As they awkwardly walked down the empty corridors, she counted to ten before the scolding came.
"Princess Anzae, as the head of the royal chamberlain, I am tasked to keep the royal family out of danger and guarded at all times. As your grandfather's loyal subject, he had entrusted me with your well being personally. Are you trying to make me break my oath, your highness?" Yu Gun said.
"Grandpa Zuzu didn't just see you as a loyal subject." she muttered defiantly.
"Which is why I'm trying hard to keep you safe." he had stopped in his tracks and turned sharply at her. "You are proving this to be a real challenge when you voluntarily keep yourself in danger's path."
She bowed her head in apology but wasn't remorseful. Yu Gun knew this as well. They have been at this for over a year and yet she still hasn't given in to the guilt he'd been trying to drill into her.
He sighed, surrendering. "Nevertheless, you had caught one of the most wanted crime lords and to that I must congratulate you. But still, your stupidity and carelessness will not be tolerated. I am warning you, Princess Anzae, give up this vigilante act before it's too late."
She looked away stubbornly. Though she knew Yu Gun had always felt pride for her heroic deeds, he still was against it.
"It makes me happy, Yu Gun, and I'll do it until I see fit not to." she said.
He sighed. "Very well. As you wish. Your father had called an audience for you and your brother. Best not to appear like you've been rolling in the sewers all night in front of the Firelord and the Crown Prince." Yu Gun said as he turned and continued walking down the corridor.
"What? Why? Is he okay? Is it something official or does he just want some company for breakfast?" she asked.
"The Firelord is in satisfactory health, I assure you, your highness. As for if it's official or not, I'm afraid it's both, your highness." he said. "There are problems in the Republic City that are growing too huge to ignore. He has planned to share with you his concerns."
"Oh. I've heard about that." she muttered. They rounded a more used corridor, one with servants and guards running back and forth.
"I'm sure you've had with the people you put down." Yu Gun said quietly as he waved at the nearest Imperial Guards. "Your bath is awaiting you in the royal bathhouse. Clean out that filth under your chin. I will be back in an hour to escort you to the Firelord along with your brother."
After a long, miserable hour of combing, scrubbing and dressing, Yu Gun had finally come to get her with her brother.
"Anzae." he formally greeted, giving her a slight curt nod.
"Roku." she said back.
"Your highnesses," Yu Gun said as he gestured for them to start walking. Roku and Anzae stared straight ahead, neither saying a word. They usually were like this but Anzae remembered a time when it wasn't..
A sharp creek of the door took Anzae away from her thoughts. Their father sat behind a curtain of fire. Roku and Anzae approached and bowed before him. The curtain of fire disappeared, revealing soft gold eyes gazing at his beloved children. Firelord Ranzun made an effort to get up from his sitting position. Anzae quickly got up, ignoring formalities and helped her father up. He smiled warmly at her and together they walked down from the high throne.
"Good morning, father." Roku said. Firelord Ranzun gave him a warm smile as well.
"Son." he greeted. "Come, you two must be starving."
They proceeded into the garden, one that overlooked the famous turtle-duck pond, Anzae's grandfather's favorite spot.
"How is your training, Roku?" his father asked.
"It is going well, father. Master Shun Ra has told me in a few months time, I'd be able to create lightning and obtain mastery within a year." Roku said proudly.
"That is very good news, my son. I am proud." his father said. "And what about you, Anzae?"
Anzae looked up from her food and shrugged. "My warrior training is okay. The Kyoshi warrior leader, Jin Te, told me that I was the fastest student to learn chi blocking she'd ever had and if I wanted, I could be an honorary Kyoshi warrior."
"Well done, Anzae. But don't expect that I had not heard what you've been doing during the night." her father said. Anzae's eyes widened in shock while Roku just sighed and slight rolled his eyes.
"Yu Gun told you!" she said, glaring at the distant crowd that stood a few yards away to give them privacy.
"No, you did. Just now." her father said with a mischievous smile. "I am old, Anzae, not blind nor deaf to the rumors inside my own home."
"You should quit this act while you could. It'll put us all in danger. Don't dangle other's lives just so you can run around at night playing hero." Roku told her sharply. She winced a little.
"Roku," his father said softly and roku remained silent. Firelord Ranzun turned back to his daughter. "As I've heard correct, you have captured one of the most dangerous crime lords in our country, saved innocent children's lives from slavery and brought a symbolic example and more hope to our people as your grandfather once did." his father smiled but sighed. "But Anzae, you are the princess of our nation. Your duties may be bound to the well being of our country but you are my daughter and if you are discovered, criminals will stop at nothing to lure you in and take you for ransom. Please be wise."
"Yes, father." she sighed.
"Now, on to the reason why I'd called you here." her father said.
"The Republic City." she said. The Firelord nodded.
"The unrest is growing stronger each day. Our secret intelligence had told me that Amon, the leader of the Equalists, is threatening all benders in Republic City and the world by blocking chi to take away the ability to bend permanently. The Avatar, a teenage girl, is too young, naïve, and impulsive for her own good. There is no telling what this Amon character will do but we had decided that it has gone way out of hand." he paused. "I must ask something from you."
"Anything, father." Roku immediately said.
"You are ready. As much as it pains me to send my own children in my place, I have no choice. I am too old and weak for these sort of things. I am not qualified to field work any longer." Firelord Ranzun said and grimaced at his own state. He could barely walk from being sick most of the time. Yet he was still strong enough to rise each morning and do his Firelord duties.
"Father," Anzae said, taking her father's warm hand into her own. Her golden eyes were soft and she smiled encouragingly.
"You will do what it takes to stop this Amon from threatening the balance. Seek the Avatar and assist her in however you can. But I tell you this," Firelord Ranzun's gaze turned hard. "Whatever happens, you are not to give your life as a sacrifice in exchange for anything. Do you understand?"
Anzae and Roku both looked ready to argue but they hesitantly nodded. It was not a request. It was an order from the Firelord. From a father.
After Roku and Anzae had gotten up to prepare for their task, Yu Gun approached Firelord Ranzun.
"Forgive me, my lord, but are you sure they are ready?" he hesitantly asked.
"I know you mean well, Yu Gun, but yes, they are." the Firelord said. "They are, after all, their grandfather's blood. They will do what is right."
"Maybe it is destiny for the royal family of the Fire Nation to have their fate's intertwined with the Avatar's." Yu Gun amusedly noted.
"A tradition that I truly hope will continue through many generations to come." the Firelord said.