Drabble Two: Politics
A Peace Treaty needed to be reached. Hakoda understood this. Despite his long lasting hatred for Fire Lord Ozai and the Fire Nation, he understood that peace was the best option. The Southern Water Tribe had been damaged enough by the Fire Nation, and the Tribe is what mattered most.
Once the letter from the Fire Nation had been received, Hakoda could finally breathe. They needed to go to the Fire Nation capital and come to an agreement. The fastest ship in the Southern Water Tribe was taken, with furs and jewels to appease the Fire Lord.
The children had to come. Gran Gran couldn't look after them forever, and they really wanted to see the world. Hakoda could not allow his children to be cooped up on a giant block of ice for their whole lives.
Lady Ursa was the one who greeted them. She was surrounded by guards and her son and daughter were on either side of her. The son looked to be about ten, and the daughter was slightly younger. Prince Zuko and Princess Azula were both by their mother's side, but a definite difference was apparent.
Azula was standing in front of her mother, giving a somewhat sinister half smile to the Water Tribe 'savages'. Zuko was right beside his mother, his hand tightly holding on to her red robe.
"Welcome," Ursa greeted, bringing them into the palace.
--
"What can you offer me for peace?" Ozai seethed.
"We have the finest furs in the entire world at our disposal, and beautiful gems-" Hakoda said.
"Peace cannot be bought with stones and skins. It needs to be bargained with blood, Hakoda. My brother was unfit to rule, which is why I was made Fire Lord. My heir is Prince Zuko. He shall be Fire Lord once I die. Something tells me that he is not fit to rule. General Iroh made sure of that," the Fire Lord's golden eyes darted to the empty seat in the throne room.
"What are you suggesting, My Lord?" Hakoda asked.
"I see you have a daughter. I hear she is the only waterbender from your tribe. Blood, pardon my trivial sense of humour, is thicker than water. I suggest an arranged marriage," Ozai stated plainly.
There was silence.
"She's only eight years old," Hakoda whispered to himself in disbelief.
"If my grandchild is to be a bender, and a suitable heir, my son must marry a bender. You want peace, and I am offering it to you on a silver platter. We will come for her when she is of age," Ozai said indefinitely.
"When is she going to be of age?" asked Hakoda.
"Fourteen."
"That's a little young, My Lord," Hakoda growled.
"Do not question me, Water Peasant. I am giving you an agreement, and I can just as easily rip it away from you!"
There was a pause.
"Fourteen. I shall see you then, Lord Ozai," Hakoda agreed, finally.
--
"I wonder what they're talking about in there," Sokka grumbled, throwing a hunk of bread to the turtleducks.
"It's all about politics. It's so boring," Mai sighed, leaning against a tree behind them.
"I like politics," Katara grinned.
"Politics is stupid. All it's about is the war," Zuko crumbled a few crumbs into the pond.
"Zuzu, lighten up," Azula smacked him in the back of the head.
"Zuzu?" Katara giggled from beside the prince, and she gently swirled the water in the pond.
"Hey, shut up," he glared at her.
--
"Thank you for agreeing to our proposition," Ursa smiled warmly at the Water Tribe officials who had come with Chief Hakoda.
"What proposition?" Azula asked rudely.
"I'll tell you later, Azula," Ursa tugged on her daughter's hand and led them in.
--
"Hey Zuzu," Azula entered the prince's chambers.
"Don't call me that," Zuko replied in a very un-princely manner.
"Guess what the peace agreement was?" Azula grinned.
Zuko paused before asking, "What?"
"You have to marry the water tribe girl when you turn sixteen," Azula sneered.
"You're lying!" Zuko blushed furiously.
"I am not," Azula left the room, cackling softly like a miniature witch, "Imagine how heartbroken Mai is going to be."
Zuko smiled a little bit to himself as Azula left the room. Six years? He could wait.
--
This drabble sucks hairy Jesus balls. I just wanted to do a pre-ATLA chapter.
X
Alice
