Aang, Amala, and Toph had managed to work their way through their schedules and complete them before the mid day horn. They had chosen a random Home Room to stay in and spent the rest of the hour discussing what sort of event the Academy was going to host for them first.
"You think it is going to be a competition? That would be great!"
"Maybe, but I doubt it. The last thing they want to do is make a bunch of people from the different nations compete against each other. Who ever wins, the others will hate. What do you think, Twinkle Toes?"
"I dunno, but, I'm really looking forward to seeing the animals they have in this place! I couldn't believe they actually had a Conservation class! And Sokka and Katara are going to be there!"
"Speaking of them, have you seen them since this morning?"
Aang shrugged half-heartedly. He had been trying to avoid them all day. Toph understood his silence and continued on.
"Well, since Peace Queen here is new, I figured it would be a good gesture to introduce her to our other friends."
Aang and Amala nodded while Toph crossed her arms and reclined in her chair. They talked up until the dismissal horn sounded and decided to look around the Academy one last time, Aang determined to see the animals.
The trio made their way to the western side of the Academy where a large lake and a few big stall houses stood.
"Yea! There's bound to be something good in there! Come on!"
Toph was a little apprehensive, feeling the vibrations of something large inside.
"I don't know...we probably shouldn't startle it, especially if it doesn't know us."
Amala was feeling tentative about it as well, holding up her hands submissively, "Toph's right, Aang. We don't know if the animal listens to only one handler. What we frighten it and it hurts itself in that stall, or breaks out?"
Despite the good advice, Aang creeped closer to the front of the stable. He looked back at his friends with a smile, "It's ok. I'm really good with animals. I promise, I won't fri...yaaah!"
As he had turned to talk to them, he kept walking up towards to entrance. When he looked back to peer inside, he was confronted by the large sharp snout-horn and two down curving eye horns of an adult Komodo Rhino. The big reptilian beast snorted, blasting Aang with a hot wave of air. His sudden exclamation affronted the animal, causing it to strike the metal bars of the stall. The air bender jumped back as the Komodo Rhino moved around in aggravation.
"Twinkle Toes! We told you! Now look what you've done, how are you going to settle it down now!"
Aang's face went pale at the raging animal as it thrashed about in the square area. Any moment now, it could break through those bars and charge him, or seriously hurt itself. He looked around hoping to catch sight of a handler to calm the big beast, but no one was in immediate sight. He looked back at Toph, getting a quick idea.
"Toph! Bend a wall of earth around it, try to close in in further, maybe it will settle down!"
The blind earth bender nodded and stomped the ground, then raised up both her hands, lifting four walls around the angry beast. It only settled momentarily before bursting through the walls with it's horn and long tail. It reared up and stomped the ground, rattling the metal bars. They shook wildly, Aang's eyes opening wide as he noticed the latch holding the pen together begin to jiggle free. He had no other option than to turn away.
"RUN!"
He dashed off towards Amala and Toph, who likewise began to run. They heard a loud clattering of steel on steel, and then the door swung open, releasing the big beast. Aang looked back to see the Komodo Rhino tear out of it's stall and run in his immediate direction. The ground shook at it's four heavy clawed feet stomped into the earth.
Aang caught up with Toph and Amala, who had to slow down to stick with the blind bender. The young nun suddenly halted and sent a blast of air at the big animal, but it did little to halt it's charge. Aang stopped with Toph and rushed up to stand by her, deep confusion and fear etched on his face, "Amala! Come on! We can't fight it!"
"I'm not trying to fight it! If we keep running, we'll just end of leading it into the school buildings! It could trample everything!"
Toph stomped the ground again and sent up a thick wall of rock to block the Rhino's path, but bulldozed right through it. The Trio stood their ground as the Rhino leered down on them, closing the distance in rapid time. Aang looked over to Amala who had Toph's sleeve clutched in her left hand, "When it gets close, we'll break up in different directions and try to lead it back to the stall!"
She nodded and held her ground. The Komodo Rhino was mere yards away. They tensed up, ready to dash when a huge wall of blue fire erupted in front of them. Aang and Amala yelled out and jumped in different directions as the blaze ignited high into the air. The Rhino skidded to a stop, sending up a shower of rocks as it turned around in fear. Before it could charge again, another wall of fire blocked it's path, encircling the beast and stalling it's movement.
The big beast roared in fear as the flames began to creep closer, making movement near impossible. Amala rushed up to try to put out the flames but a tall boy dressed in blue stepped in the way and held her back.
"Wait! It's going to be alright! Azula knows what she is doing!"
The young air bender looked behind him, finally noticing a girl dressed in black and gold armour walking casually up the the frightened beast. It's eyes were rolling around wildly and it reared up at her. The girl raised her right hand and the wall of blue flames circling the animal leapt up in a whip shape. She lashed it at the creature's feet, making it set all four claws down. The big Rhino's head swayed back and forth as it started back away from the advancing girl.
Amala raised a hand to her mouth as the Komodo Rhino nudged it's nose into the air a few times and then settled down. The girl extinguished the fire and walked up to the animal, grabbing the large horn protruding from it's snout. It nudged again, but she held firm, telling it a few commands that Amala couldn't understand.
She looked back at the boy who had stopped her and set her hands up in a bow, thanking him.
"Oh it was nothing. I save people all the time. But it's Azula you should be thanking, if she hadn't known about Komodo Rhino's, you guys would be pulverized to mush by now!"
Aang walked up to the group at the same time Azula did. She was leading the now docile Komodo Rhino as if it were some long lost pet. The Air monk looked at her and smiled.
"Wow. Thanks, Azula. How did you figure out how to tame those things?"
The Fire Princess looked up from examining her nails in boredom, "Well, once you tame one big dumb animal, you tame them all. But even this beast knows to fear fire, so it wasn't that difficult. It IS the most powerful element after all."
Toph and Aang were both about to protest when Amala stepped forward and bowed respectfully at the fire bender, "Yes! We all tried to use our bending, but fire proved to be the most effective. Thank you so much!"
Azula looked down at the air nun, her attitude remaining smug, but she gave her the slightest of smiles, "Hm. Well it's good to see some people know their place. You're Welcome."
Sokka beamed at the new young air bender. Anyone who could please Azula was a friend of his, "Nice. Hi, I'm Sokka of the Southern Water Tribe, the beautiful woman in front of you is my gorgeous girlfriend, Azula of the Fire Nation."
Azula shot him a sinister glare, though she held a smile in her eye that was missed by all but Sokka, who gave her a wink. Amala closed her eyes and nodded.
"I am Amala of the Western Air a Temple. It is a pleasure to meet you. Toph and Aang have been telling me so much about you. I look forward to seeing your sister, Katara, and your brother, Zuko."
She, again, bowed at the two then stepped back to stand beside Aang, who in turn, stepped forward to get a better look at the Komodo Rhino.
"So, have you ever ridden one of these things, Azula?"
The fire bender turned a bored expression at him, crossing her arms and the pulling up her right hand for emphasis, "No, genius, I simply just pulled that trick out of your arse. Of course I have ridden one! Do you think I would CARE enough to go out of MY way and face a beast I know nothing about, simply just to save all of you?!"
She tugged the Rhino's horn down, pushing it forcefully then let go. The animal pushed back in irritation, shaking it's horn at Aang, who jumped back fearfully.
"Woah! Ok, ok! Sorry, I didn't know." He lowered his gaze to the ground, missing the pompous smirk Azula threw at him. Sokka flinched at the tension beginning to rise and decided to cut in at the most opportune moment.
"Well, anyways, we should probably get this animal back to it's stall. Azula and I have a prior engagement to attend."
Aang's eyes turned wide with excitement as he pointed a finger back and forth at the two elder teens, "Sokka! You guys are already engaged!? Wow! You really don't believe in waiting around, ay?"
Sokka's face took on a pale coloration as he sputtered out word fragments, lost for a reply, "Whaa? I...She...bu...ah...we..."
Azula raised a sour eyebrow at the monk, then grinned evilly at him, "Why, yes. We are. We of the Fire Nation believe in prompt diplomacy. We have no time for petty...dickery as you could put it. Strike now at what you want...you never know what, or who, will be trying to play against you."
She noted the confused look Aang had suddenly taken on and smirked, answering his questioning gaze, "My brother understands this well. I wouldn't be surprised if he has already taken his opportunity with Katara..."
The young monk's face fell, all color draining from him. Azula knew she had struck him while he was on his last limb, but she wasn't going to wait to watch the structure demolish. She chuckled inwardly then turned to Sokka, who seemed nearly in the same state as Aang. She threw a semi-sweet look at him and grabbed his hand, then turned to give Aang a cute wink, "Come on, Sokka. We have a Family Dinner to attend." She pursed her lips in thought, then smiled maliciously, "You and your friends are more than welcomed to attend as well. Tonight at sunset. Don't be late."
The warrior could only nod in answer, completely dumbfounded.
.
.
He sat in the tall throne, looking out past the fires to no one standing there. He finally had a moment's peace to meditate on the flames. He closed his eyes and breathed in slowly, the recent tension he had been suffering slowly ebbing away. Quite. Peace. Quiet.
Quiet.
The Fire Lord's eyes sprang open in fury, looking around for the insolent fool who had disturbed him. But only the silent dancing of the flames greeted him. His eyes darted around again, scanning the room to make sure he was actually alone. He closed his eyes and breathed in slowly again, trying to regain his meditative state.
You'll fail!
The man jumped up, eyes wild and fist drawn. He struck out all around, sending flames billowing in every direction, "Show yourself! Who dares interrupt MY time!"
He dismissed the fires, throwing up enough light to see around the entire room. Every door was closed and every shadow empty. He was again alone. He got up and stormed down the aisle way, ready to find the tormentor. But his search came up fruitless. He could easily call his guard in and pondered the decision.
Weak. You're weak! The Fire Lord who calls his guards because he is afraid of shadows. Pathetic!
The man turned, eyes wide and blazing hatred. The fire surrounding his throne erupted high in with his anger. He started his way back to the throne when a single dancing flame caught his eye. It stood away from the others, flickering slower. He drew up to it, noticing something beginning to materialize in it. His eyes bulged out of his head and his nostrils flared as he sucked in air rapidly.
Within the flames, two horrific images appeared, one of his father, the other of his grandfather. Their eyes were black pools, misshapen in the wriggling flame. They spoke put to him in unison.
You. Will. Fail! Your weak and pathetic rule on this nation will be lost to you and everything we have worked hard for will be taken! All the blood and sweat we gave to ensure our right as Lords and Leaders, all Gone because of YOU! You forsake the Traditions we imposed and now your rule will fall. The Fire Nation will collapse because of you, Ozai!
As they spoke, the flame flared up to an enormous level, emphasizing the words of the dark spirits. Fire Lord Ozai's face cringed in fear of his sires, causing him to fall to his knees. He looked on as his grandfather, Sozin, pointed a gnarled finger at him.
We are coming to save our land from the foolish decisions you have granted, and if you do not snuff the threat before it begins, we will take you back to the Death World with us!
The flame blared white for an instant, then extinguished, taking the rest of the fires with it. Fire Lord Ozai was left on his knees in a room of darkness. His face was still creased in a mad gaze, heaving in gulps of fresh air as he grasped around on the stone floor.
A quick rapping sounded at his door, breaking him from his catatonia. He shuffled to his feet, re-lighting his fires with a wave of his hand. The Fire Lord readjusted his clothes before throwing out a quick bark, allowing whoever was at the door to come in. A page promptly hurried in, bowing before him.
"Fire Lord Ozai, the General and Lieutenants are here to discuss possible colonization on Earth Kingdom shores."
Ozai dismissed the boy with a wave then went back to thought, mulling over the images in the flame and their threatening premonition.
.
.
Zuko awoke an hour later, stirring in the darkening light. He looked to his left side where a delicate hand was resting on his stomach, blushing at the contact. A slight rustling in the room caused him to look up. He peered through the shadows, his eyesight adapting to the darkness as well as any night time predator. He didn't have to look long, as two golden glowing eyes lit up the table he had been sitting at earlier.
You have mated with the female.
Zuko's eyes grew wide and his brow came down at the bold statement made by Altjira. He gulped as his face grew hot, whispering back to the dragon.
"You don't have to broadcast it..." He smirked as a thrumming sound echoed through the room.
Young Zuko, you're Mated for Life now. She will be your mate from now on and will bear your offspring. Such a wondrous time for a young male!
The bender gulped again as the words resonated in his head, Altjira's dual voices prominent in his thoughts, "Well...I...we...," he paused before exhaling slowly, knowing all too well his bond with the dragon was far too strong for him to try to persuade it otherwise.
"Our offspring are still a long ways from now but, maybe I could get her something that will show her how much I care for her."
A human engagement? You did promise to get her something to wear for the dinner tonight, perhaps you could find her something while in market? It's still a few hours away.
Zuko nodded in agreement, then shot his eyes to Altjira and hissed.
"You...next time, maybe you could stay out of my head during my private time!"
He got the distinct feeling the dragon was rolling it's eyes at him. He slowly moved Katara's arm out of the way and slid off the bed, trying not to jostle her too much. He found some pants, a robe and shoes and put them on. searching through a drawer near the bed and finding what he was looking for, he then walked over to the window and opened it. Altjira quietly leapt from the table and landed on Zuko's shoulder, clasping his arm and back with it's toes, careful to keep it's hooked talons retracted. With a curving sweep of Zuko's hand, they both vanished out the window, streams of smoke flowing over the land.
.
They materialized in the woods just outside of the market, out of sight of any passing people. Altjira stayed on Zuko's shoulder, wrapping it's long flexible tail around him as he walked in amongst the stalls. He went up to one that had some dress items on display but didn't find anything that particularly interested him. Looking at the vendor he caught his attention, away from the dragon, and asked if he knew where he could find a formal blue dress. The man thought for a moment before giving him the directions to a tailor a few blocks down. Zuko thanked him and set off for the Shoppe.
The building was nice and well maintained, decorated with different cloths and silks from all around the nations. Inside, a squat, elderly woman stood at a desk, measuring a length of fabric. Zuko walked in and greeted her, but she immediately eye'd Altjira with contempt. Before she could say anything negative, he pulled out a bag of gold coins from his robe pocket and set them in front of her. The women's previous scorn was replaced with a well knowing smile. She beckoned him to follow her into the back room, where numerous dress suits for men and women hung up.
"Will it be a formal Uniform, young Master?"
The bender shook his head and looked at the dragon clinging to his shoulder. The woman slightly curled her lip, trying to hide the repulsion seeping from her pores. Zuko looked back at the clerk and crossed him arms.
"I'm looking for a nice blue dress, nothing too over the top. It has to be tasteful, and appropriate for a Dinner Gathering, but still able to hold a youthful look."
The woman smiled and gestured along the dress lines. She lead him to the far right wall where a silk one piece dress was displayed on a medium sized mannequin, roughly the same size as Katara.
"It would sound like you are looking for this nice cheongsam dress. It is tight fitting for a young woman and will show good posture. The dress is simple, beautiful and impressive without having to be too flashy. It will be a good evening piece to wear."
Zuko looked over the silk velvet dress, a glint hinting in his eye. It was moderate in length, foor level with splits going up the sides to the knee. The base colour was a dark blue and had a curving swirl pattern of red mottling it, stylized in a similar fashion as the Fire Nation flame symbol. The shoulder length sleeves, leg slits and mandarin collar that traveled down to the right of the chest were trimmed with red.
With a mental nod from Altjira he agreed to the purchase. The clerk bowed and immediately began to remove the dress from the display. She showed him the fastened back that had ties along the center which could be be tightened or loosened for fitting, then proceeded in folding the dress and wrapping it in soft cloth. Zuko looked around the rest of the room, wondering if the old woman knew of any jewelers.
"Excuse me. You wouldn't happen to know of any good places to buy a girl a gift, say, maybe a necklace or armband, would you?"
She looked at him incredulously and put her hands on her hips, "Young man! What kind of Tailor would I be if I didn't have the ENTIRE OUTFIT complete with Jewelry in my store! Come now! And I'll show you a magnificent collection."
She boxed the dress and they left the room for the front of the store. She placed the package on a counter and walked over to a large display cabinet. Pulling a key from her pocket, she unlocked the door and showed him an array of different pieces.
Zuko scanned the decorative jewelry, trying to decide on which to choose. Katara wore her hair in a braid much of the time and she usually had blue beads in her hair. But did she ever wear necklaces or armbands?
He wanted something that would proclaim his affection to her, something no other girl could easily come by. Hair pins...everyone had them...necklaces...you could find anyway...armbands...even bits of fabric could suffice as one of those.
"Do you have anything a little...well...unique? Any girl could be seen with one of these pieces...I'm sorry. I mean, these are very beautiful, but they are all things just anyone with enough gold could come in and buy. I'm looking for something that not everyone attending an Aristocrat Ball would be wearing."
"Boy! She must be some girl to send you on such an errand! It's really starting to sound less of a Dinner party and more of a Proposal! Are you sure you aren't going to be asking for her hand!"
Zuko's eyes shot wider and his lips parted as realization donned on him. She was right, the specifics he was asking, it did sound quite like he was going to propose to Katara!
"I...just want it to be a nice gesture. Maybe I DO want to ask for her hand...but I'll do it when the time is right. I just want to give her a gift, something that no one else has."
The plump women raised a hand to her chin in though before eyeing him over.
"Well...maybe I might have something that you're looking for. It's a one-of-a-kind rarity, one which has given me much difficulty. You see, I'm very partial to it, and yet, I am also a business woman. But what makes you so special that I could be willing to come up with a price to sell it to you?"
Zuko rose to his full height, towering over the old woman. He crossed his arms again and looked her in the eye, "Why don't you show me what it is first, and I'll give you a good reason to sell it to me."
He looked imposing but she didn't back down. She nodded her head and pulled out a drawer from the cabinet that contained a small steel box. She pulled out another key, smaller than the first and unlocked it, opening the lid to reveal a ring box.
Before she opened the case, she looked Zuko in the eye and began explaining.
"I found this a long time ago while traveling with my husband and our colleagues through the Fire Nation, which, at the time was a difficult task, as the current Fire Lord rarely allowed other's from the different nations into his country. We were both aspiring jewelers and wanted to start a business with the gems and precious metals we could find in the mountains. We found our way into a large cave in an inactive volcano and traveled it's pathways into the heart of the mountain. We saw so many gems and metals that we filled up our satchels long before the day was done. I was eager to leave and head back home but my husband and the crew wanted to continue further on. I tried to persuade him otherwise but it was no use. We traveled on deeper and deeper down."
She paused for a moment and Zuko noticed her eyes starting to gleam with tears.
"Somehow we ended up in a giant crystal cave that had diamonds in the walls. My husband began to mine out the jewels but I pleaded for him to stop, saying that something felt very wrong, like the crystals were vibrating. When he broke away a bit of the diamond and held it up for inspection, the earth began to shake. I feared that the mountain was going to collapse on us, but something just as bad happened instead. A dragon broke into the cave and discovered us. It was furious and began breathing fire all over the place. I tried to grab my husband but was knocked out by shattered crystals. I woke up hours later under two slabs of rock that shielded me from the blasts, only to find everyone was dead and so was my husband. Most of the crystals and diamonds were destroyed by the dragon and the fires, but I did manage to find my bag under some debris. Luckily the opening to the cave was only partially damaged. As I worked my way to it, I saw what appeared to be embers burning around the entrance. But when I got closer and examined them, they were actually the diamonds that were in the walls. It was as if they had absorbed the dragon fire."
She picked up the box and held it out to him. Zuko gingerly took it and opened the box to reveal a large flaming diamond set in a silver ring. The colours danced inside the diamond as if it really was on fire. He looked at it, mesmerized by it's image.
"You see now. Not only is it rare, but it is all I have left of my husband. Though it isn't a happy memory. It is because of this diamond that he is gone now. I'm sure you understand now why I wasn't quite pleased with your...friend there."
Altjira dropped it's eyes from the lady to Zuko, who had turned his head to look at the dragon.
"I have never seen a dragon like that one, but it is easy to see that it IS a dragon. Once you have felt the presence and fire of those beasts, and the death they can create... you never forget it. And dragon magic is quite distinguished. Look, even you know that, I can see it in your eyes."
She took the ring back from Zuko and placed it in the box, closing it.
"So. Now tell me. Why should I sell it to you?"
Zuko took out another bag of coins and opened it, taking out one of the gold pieces and handing it to her. He gestured to the creature on his shoulder and then to himself.
"This is my dragon, Altjira. I am Zuko, son of Lady Ursa and Fire Lord Ozai. Crown Prince of the Fire Nation, heir to the throne...and I am in love with a girl from the Southern Water Tribe."
The clerk took the coin in her hand and opened her mouth in a quiet gasp before smiling and looking back up at him.
.
.
Sokka searched his thoughts for the right thing to say, but the awkwardness of the situation was all that he could bare. Was she really being serious? No..she was just joking. Or was she? Azula hardly seemed like the kind to joke around. But they had already spent intimate time together, it didn't seem right to say that their relationship wasn't serious.
The warrior put his hands in his pockets as he walked along, taking quick glances between the ground and Azula. She didn't miss a thing and rolled her eyes and huffed out in annoyance.
"Oh settle down, Sokka. I'm sure Zuzu is being more than chivalrous with your sister."
Sokka looked up at her with a sickened face, grimacing through clenched teeth. He shook his head and blinked a few times, looking around to distract himself from that new, horrible thought. It was evident the girl had no idea how to cheer someone up. Even though it wasn't cheering up he needed.
Azula's aggression was starting to prickle at the tribesman's change in mood. She hated self-loathing and pity in people, finding it a weak perspective. She walked a little faster, but Sokka could already feel the air around them heating up. He looked at her with some concern and saw a few things that reminded him of Katara when she was starting to get in a mood. He cleared his throat and hurried to catch up.
"Hey! Hold on. I er...I was just thinking. That's all." He caught up to her and grabbed her right arm, "I was just thinking about what you said to Aang back there. It just took me off guard."
She gave him a quizzical look, then scoffed and rolled her eyes, "Oh what, about us being engaged? I find it fun to manipulate people and your little air friend seemed like the perfect target. He fell to pieces when my brother and your sister got together. Some people just don't know when they are defeated and he is one of those. So if he wants to put himself through some suffering, well, then I figured I would just go ahead and help him along."
She set a mean smile on her face and looked at Sokka. Though he was at first nervous about whether or not she was joking, he now seemed disappointed to find out she was.
"You don't look at all pleased. Why?"
Sokka raised his right hand to the back of his neck and rubbed it sheepishly, holding the other palm-up.
"Well...we come from two different cultures. You have your standards and ways of doing things, and I have my standards and ways of doing things...I don't know at all how the Fire Nation treats their relationships, but the water tribe takes them very seriously. I..."
He seemed to deflate a bit and dropped his arms to his sides. Azula raised an eyebrow and held her right arm over her chest, her left hand coming up to rest in a fist under her chin.
"So, what you're saying is, we need to take our relationship more seriously? I agree. Come, we must get you some new clothes."
She grabbed onto the warrior's arm, half dragging him along until he got control of his feet.
"Shopping! I LOVE shopping!"