Second Chances

by AnumOfTheMoon

Sequel to Where We Stand..revised summary...Katara is on the road to redemption but due to the ridicule she has face several years after Ozai's defeat, Katara spirals on a downward path into oblivion while the ever changing world produces a new villian.

49. Ozai & Kya Part Four

A/N: The rest of year three and some of year four! Hope you guys enjoy!

Chapter 39: Part 4

Year Three...

Arriving in the North Pole was not the desire of either Ozai or Hakoda. They were equally as loathing of Arnook as the other. Not to mention, they had people that were present that they weren't really trying to run into that would also be in attendance.

"Remember, dad, I've got it covered. Just keep drinking from your flask, make sure it's never empty and I'll take care of everything here." Kya told her father as they stood in the hallway prepping for when they'd have to enter a room full of people that they didn't like and that didn't like them.

Ozai took another swig of his flask, "Let one of those bastards say anything to me and I'll melt this entire city into the ocean."

Sighing, Kya shook her head. Spirits help me with him. At the palace, her father was less annoyed by the people there. They all respected him enough to leave him alone but here, he had to interact with these people and they would not be so nice as to leave him be.

"Zhiar!" Ozai heard his daughter shriek and he turned his head to see her running to her twin brother. Shit, forgot I had twins. He snickered to himself as he had another sip from his flask. He had a feeling he would need to be drunk the entire trip.

The Phoenix King watched his gleeful daughter pull his son over to him. He eyed him with a certain level of scrutiny. Kya might have been his more behaved child but her twin brother was the opposite. Zhiar was worse than Zuko and Zuko overthrew and executed him. Ozai never knew what he was going to get Zhiar. He was one of those ticking time bombs.

"Hello, father." Zhiar said awkwardly.

Kya told him everything he already knew. Like how Zuko was doing a great job with Zhiar in the Fire Nation and how Zuko brought him here. Because he totally couldn't see with his own eyes that Zhiar was here...at the summit. Yeah, Kya, sweetheart, I'm going to need you to lay off whatever part of my stash you've been smoking. Ozai proceeded to have a pointless conversation with his youngest son because sometimes as a parents you had to pretend like you gave a fuck. And he did this for what felt like an hour but was probably no more than two minutes until he caught sight of Zuko. Agni, I can't stand this little fuck. Ozai drank a little more from his canteen before seeing Kya run up to Zuko and them both be over affectionate. Shit, I'm going to need more than alcohol for this shit.

Of course, Zuko had to come over and point out the obvious change to his face. Ozai rolled his eyes, biting back the need to point out that at least he could fix his face. Can't have you crying in the halls and embarrass us both. So he settled for his asshole remarks that were milder and were easily brushed off like nothing and continued another pointless conversation about shit that he didn't care about.

Eventually, Ozai couldn't take it anymore and reminded everyone that they had somewhere to be.

Entering the meeting room, Ozai had him and Kya sit across from Hakoda and Sokka. He eyed Hakoda as he noticed the man was sitting by his son. Hakoda eyed him back as if to tell him not to make things so obvious.

So you and your son make up?

Hakoda shook his head.

Then I guess we'll have to talk to him.

Hakoda's eyes widened at the 'we' part.

Before he could give any sort of response, the meeting started and Kya did very well representing the Phoenix Empire but of course, everyone here was a bunch of bastards and refused the aid he was generously offering them. Guess you all just wanna be poor. Ozai shrugged off. What could he say? Haters gonna hate. He got eyed funny when he pulled his flask out at the table. Like I give a fuck.

When his youngest son gave his report to the room, Ozai could say he was impressed by Zhiar's new mannerisms. He was quite charismatic but of course, some piece of shit from the Earth Kingdom had to point out how Zhiar was better than the rest of the family. In what way? Ozai snorted in his head. And you know whenever they talk shit about the family, they have to also brought up Katara. Yeah, she was the most famous waterbender in all the world. When Zhiar managed to calm everyone down and get things back on track, Ozai raised his flask to him. That's my boy.

When the meeting ended, Ozai watched Kya run after Zuko and scoffed. Punk ass bitch.

"Quite the drinking you're doing, your majesty." A woman's voice came from behind him.

Turning around, Ozai looked the woman over. "Princess Ami."

Grinning, "Are you free to discuss business?"

"A family matter has come up. How about we discuss this another time?"

"Then tonight."

"Sure." Ozai waved her off. "Fine. Whatever. Tonight." Time to fill his flask again.

…..

Kya rubbed her brother's shoulders as he sat down trying to get his emotions together. Her mother was a sensitive topic for him just as it was for their father. Her absence had put a dark cloud over their heads and while they tried to continue on in spite of it, it was easier said than done.

"Sorry, you're having to see me like this, Kya." Zuko said as he was finally able to douse his anger. "I know you deal with father and that's enough to drive someone nuts." He chuckled.

Smiling as she moved her hands from his shoulders to his chest as she hugged him, "It's okay, Zuko."

The two were silent as they both thought about her mother. She was here. Somewhere around here. It made them both yearn to flip this place upside down until they finally seized her.

"We should meditate." Kya told Zuko as she decided to sit on the floor. "Come."

While the two siblings tried getting themselves in a more calm and relaxed mood, Ozai was in the Southern Chieftain's guest suites to hopefully resolve a matter that concerned him.

"Don't talk to me!" Sokka hissed as his father followed behind him trying to explain everything.

"Sokka, please, hear me o-"

"I saw you get off the ship with him!" Sokka turned around and pointed his finger at Ozai. "This whole time you were in Omashu letting him fuck you like a woman!"

"Actually, we switched roles." Ozai corrected the Chieftain.

Sokka felt utterly disgusted and was about to vomit.

"Sokka, please, I didn't mean to shock you or disturb your image of me but this is who I am! I didn't ask to be this way but I am what I am." Hakoda said in a melancholy tone and shook his head. "You don't know what it's like going your whole life hiding what it is you really are."

"What about mom?! Did you even love her?!"

"Of course, I love Kya more than anything but she knew about me then. She didn't judge me like others might have. Kya accepted me and I will never love anyone the way I loved her but Sokka, this is-"

Sokka cut his father off and stepped up to Ozai, glaring at him. "So you're fucking my whole family now?! First my sister, then my grandma, now my dad! What next?! You gonna fuck me too?!"

Ozai grinned, "Maybe, if that's what you wan-"

Hakoda punched him in the side.

"Absolutely not." Ozai winced as he held his side. "I'm not going to fuck you or your other grandmother. Fuck!" His gold eyes became silver and he eyed Hakoda.

"You liking men is one issue, dad." Sokka tore his eyes from Ozai and looked to his father. "I can learn to accept you but him, I won't accept that. I won't accept the two of you being together. He's still married to Katara which makes this whole thing even more sick because he's your son-in-law."

Somehow this being pointed out dawned on the both of them and they felt a bit turned off now. They had ignored that key detail in their many nights together. It was pushed all the way to the back of their heads. And while Ozai might have felt uncomfortable, Hakoda felt ashamed that he even laid with his daughter's husband.

Seeing that his father had an understanding, "Now, I don't care about his relationship with Katara. That's different. They kind of ruined each other and that's fine. Let them be together. But you...find someone else." Sokka glanced at Ozai. "Anyone else will do."

Hakoda sighed and told his son to give them a moment to speak. As soon as Sokka was gone, Ozai told the tribesman that he knew their time together would be a fling and nothing more. He wasn't bothered by Sokka's remarks. He was right.

"I'm glad to know you're understanding of this." Hakoda said with much gratitude. While Ozai was a pain in the neck, he wasn't terrible. And besides, Hakoda was able to be more honest with himself and his family about who he really was. So it was not all bad.

"I'm sure you'll find a tribesman that does it for you the way I do. I doubt it but I wish you luck." Ozai smirked.

Hakoda hit him playfully, "Oh shut up! You're so full of yourself."

Scoffing, "You have no idea."

Once that was resolved, they all headed to Zuko's chambers to see how he was doing after the meeting. He and Kya were meditating on the floor while they all had a conversation about how Katara was violent and temperamental. Nice that they could all agree on the same thing. Ozai was glad he wasn't the only one that thought Katara had her moments where she was so angry that it made her heritage get called into question.

Zhiar entered the room and got all their attention. Ozai smirked and decided to offer some praise for his conduct back at the meeting. He was proud to see his son handle himself so well. Representing the Yong Dynasty and the Fire Nation well. However; his pride was diminished when Hakoda brought up Arnook and how Zhiar went to speak with him. Fortunately, Zuko was just as upset from hearing this as him.

"Will you just leave well enough alone? Didn't I tell you he's our enemy?" Zuko stood up and gave Zhiar a dirty look.

Now that made Ozai proud. Zuko putting his foot down. Hakoda and Kya had much to say to the same effect. Arnook was their family's enemy. Zhiar needed to understand this. Ozai was annoyed that the boy was nearly 18 and still didn't understand this fact.

Scoffing, "You've always had a soft spot for Arnook." And no one could deny that. They all knew Zhiar was closest to Arnook in a way that not even his mother was.

Just when Ozai could see his son was about to bust a fuse, when a young Fire Nation girl entered the room. The girl caught everyone's attention. She became visibly uncomfortable by their staring. So much so that she blushed. How cute. Ozai scoffed mentally. He hated her type. Seeing right through her. This was all for show. Zuko, you sad miserable fuck.

"Who's she?" Sokka asked on behalf of everyone in the room.

"Finally dating again, Zuko?"

Getting the ugly look in return, "I'm thirty-eight years old. Why would I be dating someone my siblings' ages?"

Ozai didn't see how that meant anything. Katara was only a year older than the twins when they married and he was two years older than what Zuko was. Pointing this out made the twins cringe as they finally did the math in their heads. Yeah, that's right, you little brats. Daddy likes them young. He mused in his head.

Zuko went on to introduce the girl, Jin Su, as Zhiar's girlfriend. Zhiar went on to introduce her to everyone. Kya, of course, had to be weird and blow a kiss. Ozai wanted to slap her in the back of the head. He didn't know why but she was starting to get on his nerves for some reason as of late.

"And last but not least, that is my father, Phoenix King Ozai." Ozai could see that Zhiar didn't take pleasure in introducing his girlfriend to him.

Feeling like it was the perfect time to be inappropriate, "So one of my son's is finally getting his dick wet. About time!" Ozai laughed.

And as always no one else thought he was funny. Which was fine. Ozai knew how to entertain himself. He didn't need an audience all the time but when the girl went on to tell them that that was not happening, Ozai lost it and died laughing.

"You fucking bastard, Zuko!" Ozai laughed. "You made your brother pledge to be a virgin!"

"I'm going to bed. Agni, you're annoying." Zuko spat.

Eventually, Kya had to pick him off the ground with the help of her grandfather as he had become more and more hysterical.

…..

Later that night, in their own chambers, Kya saw her father leaving. She hopped off the sofa and hurried to see if he was gone entirely. When she saw the door shut, Kya raced to the balcony where her father had a few of their guards posted. Among them was Toshi. Typically, he would be at her side but her father didn't bring a lot of men here, due to the poor relations he had to minimize his number. Which meant Toshi's role was not just her personal guard at the moment.

Toshi saw the princess walk out on the balcony and come directly to him. His fellow guards all gave him a look. Kya didn't know it but pretty much all the guards and most of the servants knew they were involved. Not that he told them. It was just that she made it pretty obvious. Plus, one of his friends caught them in the library once and suddenly all the palace staff found out. Many were not surprised while others felt the relationship was doomed. But Toshi didn't really pay any of them any mind.

"My dad's left." Kya said gleefully as she took his hands in hers and tried pulling him with her. "I require your company." She giggled.

Smiling, "He could come back at any time, your highness." Toshi tried reminding her.

"That's why we're not sticking around here." Kya pulled on him some more. "I was going to open a portal to Omashu so we can be alone."

"Kya, I don't think it's a good idea." Toshi tried to tell her. "Your father already doesn't want to be here. Do you really want to risk upsetting him more?"

Kya's glee diminished as she understood what he was telling her but didn't like it. She sighed and pulled one of his hands to her face, "But I miss you already, Hirotoshi."

Chuckling as he caressed the side of her face, "This trip will be over before you know it and we'll be back together in Omashu."

Her eyes pouted up at him as if to ask him one more time but he was clearly settled with his decision. Kya reached up on her tippy toes to kiss Toshi on the cheek before pulling away.

"Well, I'll go to bed then." Kya said disappointedly as she toyed with the ends of her ponytail before flashing him one last look with her big gold eyes. "Have a safe shift."

"Sleep well, princess." He smirked at her with that sure look of his. Kya hated how it always made her heart flutter in her chest.

When the princess went back in, one of the other guards nudged him and smirked.

"You've really got the princess wrapped around your finger." Rinji told him as the other guards around seemed to agree. "You lucky dog. Bet she's fun to ride from behind. Must take after her mother. Heard tribeswomen have fat asses and she definitely has that."

Toshi eyed Rinji, "You should try to watch what you say about the princess, Rinji."

"You're fucking the princess but want me to stop talking about her?" Rinji scoffed.

Getting upset, Toshi grabbed Rinji and threw him up against the wall. "Don't test me, Rinji. I mean it."

Rinji smirked and let his eyes roam over Toshi. "Go ahead, Toshi. Use your firebending. I know you only like the princess because she's a Fire Nation mutt like you."

"Shut up!" Toshi said through his clenched teeth.

"Or what?!" Rinji glared at him. "You do anything and I'll go let the Phoenix King know you're shoving your cock in his daughter!"

Toshi tried calming down before he did something he regretted.

"Yeah, that's right pretty boy. Maybe instead, I should go give it to the princess in your place. She seemed very disappointed just now. Maybe we should all go fuck her!" Rinji laughed until Toshi snapped and his fist flew into the man's face.

The other guards rushed to them as Toshi toppled Rinji on the ground and started beating him into the ground.

"Toshi, stop!" His fellow guards tried to stop him but Toshi was in a blind fit of rage and continued to beat Rinji.

One guard was able to pull Toshi off and others put themselves between the two men.

"Hey, you two need to stop! If the Phoenix King were here, he'd kill us all! Now stop!" The guard captain told them both and walked up to Toshi. Placing both hands on the younger man's face, the captain gave him a stern look. "Come on, Toshi. You're better than that. Don't let Rinji get to you. He's just upset that you got promoted for being a firebender."

Trying to calm down as he still felt the adrenaline, Toshi continued eyeing Rinji murderously as the captain told him to go get the princess to heal his knuckles while they dealt with Rinji. Breathing heavily as he nodded, Toshi went inside to go find Kya. When he entered her room without knocking, Toshi found she had two of her servants undressing her and her eyes looked up at him to see his hair was a bit disheveled.

"Toshi?" She looked at him with concern and saw his knuckles were bleeding. Kya immediately dismissed the servants and they bowed before quickly leaving.

When they were alone, Kya saw Toshi approach her with large strides before pulling her to him and cupping her face to kiss her.

"What happened?" Kya asked him as she could feel his heart was racing.

Toshi felt her hand go to his chest and he took her hand in his as his lips ghosted over hers. "I hate that I can't hold you like this when people are looking."

"I hate it too." Kya looked away from him and shut her eyes. "I don't want to hide this anymore. I want to introduce you to my family the way my brother did with his girlfriend. I want you to meet my mother and I want you to be seen by my side, not as my guard, but as the man I love. That's all I want, Toshi. I could care less about everything else."

Pressing his forehead to hers, "Just let me hold you like this. I don't want anything else."

Nodding her head, Kya wrapped her arms around him and listened to his heart beat.

…..

"So you've decided to show." Princess Ami grinned as she held a wine glass in her hand while staring out on her balcony. "I was beginning to think you weren't interested in my proposition."

Ozai didn't say anything as he came up beside her and leaned against the railing of the balcony with his flask in hand. He looked at the princess and sucked his teeth before bringing his flask to his lips.

"I don't trust you." Ozai didn't bother concealing this detail. "You remind me of my ex-wife."

Smirking, "Which one?"

The Phoenix King turned his callous gaze on her, "The first one."

Pretending to be hurt, "Oh, how disappointing. It would have served as a wonderful compliment to be compared to your most recent ex or is she your current wife?" Ami tapped her lips as she played coy. "But who could truly know?" She shrugged. "I'm just happy to know she put my younger sister in her place."

Narrowing his eyes, "Katara did not kill Kikyo." Ozai bit out.

Ami smirked at him, "And my husband didn't break his neck running for his life after I caught him fucking Kikyo. No, he just happened to slip on an ice cube and fall down a flight of steps."

Ozai snorted as he shook his head and looked back to the city, drinking from his flask.

"And I'm sure your first wife didn't kill your father. And your second didn't kill my sister. Oh, I'm convinced of that. But we royals can't let our name be tarnished by actions we take to claim power. Oh no, that won't do, we use everyone around us as stepping stones to get what we want, isn't that right, Phoenix King Ozai?" Ami's words were laced with an encrypted message.

Not knowing what she was playing at, Ozai answered her in the only way he could. "Despite what you might think, your highness. My hands have been clean since I became Phoenix King."

"But the blood never washes away." Ami told him as she sipped her glass and sighed, also gazing out at the city. "I get you don't trust me, it's probably safest that way, but how about I offer you one important detail that you can use against me if I stab you in the back."

Ozai scoffed as he raised his brows, "Like what?"

Ami snapped her fingers and a servant quickly rushed out and brought forth a pillow with a key placed on it.

"My sister is not dead. I had her replaced within moments of your wife arriving to see you and Kikyo in bed together." Ami chuckled. "My physician Cho was able to create skin graphs that would make someone appear to be someone else. Kikyo was replaced with a servant before her head was removed. I took my sister to an undisclosed location and locked her away there. And fun fact, Lady Katara didn't kill anyone that night."

Ozai furrowed his brows as he looked at the ket and picked it up.

"And if you agree to do business with me, allow my team and I to operate in the Phoenix Empire, I'll tell you her location and provide a hand written testimony of what I'm telling you tonight. Sound like a good trade off, your majesty?"

Honestly, Ozai was speechless. Not only did this woman know Katara had not killed the princess, who wasn't even dead to begin with, but she witnessed that 'he' was there. But Ozai had not been there that night. Seems she was one more witness that was stating he had betrayed Katara.

Staring at the key, the Phoenix King figured that this woman had the literal key to prove Katara's innocence that night. Only thing was, if he revealed it, he wouldn't be able to use her wits and knowledge to his own advantage. Ami was an even more cunning and dangerous woman than he thought. Anyone else would not dare take up her offer but he rather liked to have people like her on his side than against him. Always keep your enemies close.

Ozai placed the key in his pocket and eyed her before smirking. "I take it back. It's not my ex you remind me of."

Holding her glass to her lips as she eyed him back in a suggestive manner, "Then who?"

"Me."

Smirking as they both wore a fox-like expression, "You flatter me, your majesty."

"You and your team can begin work as fast as you all can relocate to the Phoenix Empire. I'll have one of my trusted ministers oversee your work. If there is anything you require of me, see me personally and we can negotiate."

Ami was extremely pleased with this as she raised her glass to him, "To prosperity and the future!" She said joyfully.

"To business and science." Ozai returned her sentiments. "I look forward to seeing what you have to offer, princess. I don't meet women like you."

"And you never shall." She downed her drink.

…...

After healing Toshi's hands, Kya sat on the lounge chair beside him, wrapping his fists. He told her what had happened with him and Rinji. She was concerned that he would get in trouble if anyone else reported the incident to her father so she told him they would do it together. Toshi feared that if her father got Rinji's account that they'd be discovered but Kya told him that she didn't care. They would be together either way.

When the doors of the guest chambers opened and she heard her father's footsteps, Kya didn't move from Toshi as she continued treating his injuries.

"What is this?" She heard her father ask as his footsteps stopped him in the threshold of her bedroom.

Not bothering to look at him as she brought her fingertips covered in water up to Toshi's busted lip, "One of the guards, Rinji, started a fight with Toshi. The captain thinks it's because Toshi is part Fire Nation." Kya informed her father. "We can't have that sort of racist ideology going around amongst our staff as we, ourselves, are from the Fire Nation."

Ozai studied his daughter's demeanor and saw this was the most controlled and steady he had seen his daughter in weeks. She had been overly affectionate, bubbly, and different as of late. Like there was a new glow to her. And while he didn't hate it, per say, he wasn't used to it. This side of Kya was much easier for him to deal with.

Looking to the young man his daughter was tending to, "Which of your parents was Fire Nation?"

"My mother."

"She passed away earlier this year." Ozai remembered as he stroked his beard. "Did you give the bastard a run for his money?"

Nodding his head slightly, "Yes, your majesty."

"Good." Ozai grinned as he drank from his flask. "Take the night off. I'll have this Rinji bastard transferred to one of the Earth Kingdom Ministers. I don't blame him for hating us. The two of you don't know the extent of damage the Fire Nation caused. I can be empathetic to the man. He'll be out of our hair but he'll still have a job."

"Thank you, your majesty."

Ozai left and told Kya he wasn't going to be back until morning. "I forgot to give Sumi back to her mother. She's still locked up in my closet. So I'll be back in the morning."

As soon as her father was gone, Kya got up and pulled Toshi with her to her bedroom. Giggling, the princess jumped into his arms as soon as they were alone and he carried her to the bed. She knew she'd get her alone time with Toshi.

…

Over the course of two weeks, Ozai had been increasingly annoyed and it was only becoming worse. He had been told he couldn't leave the North Pole for any reason. A rule put in place by Arnook, who caught him leaving and then returning. The meetings were annoying and even though he pointed it out several times in several meetings, no one seemed to care that Zuko wasn't even showing up. They all seemed convinced that he was unwell because rumor had it, his oldest son was so dutiful that he neglected his own needs, so for him to not show up, there had to be a good reason. Good reason my ass. He's looking for Katara.

Arriving back to their guest chambers, the Phoenix King and his daughter flopped on the sofa. Both rubbing their temples as they tried soothing themselves before the next meeting.

"I'm going to take a bubble bath." Kya told her father as she got up and headed for the bathroom.

"I'll stay here and drink some more." Ozai waved his flask around.

The hour lunches always passed by too fast. He wanted to take a nap but he couldn't.

"Kya!" He yelled for her as he fell on his side, shutting his eyes.

"Yes?!" She responded all the way from the bathroom.

"I'm gonna play hooky! Don't wake me up!"

"Okay!"

Damn it, he was lucky to have Kya. That girl didn't ask questions. Just went along with it. Fuck, why couldn't my other children be the same?

Ozai didn't wake till it was the following day. He literally slept half a day. When he got up, wiping the saliva from his mouth, Ozai saw his daughter scrambling about looking for something. Sitting up straight on the sofa, the Phoenix King fixed his hair a bit and continued watching Kya get flustered in her search.

"What are you looking for?" He asked her.

"My hairpin! I just had it yesterday! Now I can't find it!" Kya told him.

"Then just wear a different one. You have more than enough."

Kya paused and looked at him with big wide eyes, "But it's the hairpin you got me for my birthday."

Ozai sighed. "I'll have another one made for y-"

"No! I want that one! A new one won't mean anything!" Kya said as she went back to looking for it.

Sighing, Ozai manifested a black flame and sent it throughout the chambers in search of her hairpin while he sat back, still waking up. He noticed the black flame left the chambers and he decided to use another black flame to see where his current one was headed. Watching the flame travel all the way to the servant's quarters into the room of one of his guards, Ozai raised his brow as he found not only his daughter's hairpin on the nightstand of one of the guards but also her sash.

Retrieving both, Ozai got up and went to his daughter, who was still searching for her hairpin, and stopped her. Holding it out to her, he saw her panic wash away and his eyebrow rose.

"Where was it?" She asked him in relief.

"For some reason it was in that guard Toshi's room." Ozai was a bit confused himself. "Along with your sash."

Kya swallowed hard but tried not to be obvious about it. Pulling her hair behind her ear, "I must have lost them both when I was in a rush yesterday. Toshi might have picked them up for me."

It made sense so Ozai didn't ask anymore questions but a few days passed and something else happened that confused him. He overheard his guard captain speaking with Toshi.

"You've got to be careful around the princess." The captain told him. "That's how rumors get started and you don't want that for her."

Toshi nodded his head. Sneaking around with the princess was a lot more difficult here. People were always watching. Whereas back home, no one dared to look at Kya and him. He couldn't wait to go back. There, he could hold Kya in his arms longer and not worry that someone would see them.

"I just wish things didn't have to be this way." Toshi sighed.

Rustling the younger man's hair, "Give it some time. I doubt the princess will let even her father get in the way of you two."

Ozai didn't bother hearing the rest. He had heard enough and went looking for Kya, immediately. Barging into the study where she was curled up with a book, he walked right up to her and snatched her book from her.

"Tell me something, Kya, and be honest or I'll make a scene and it'll be ugly, then you won't be seeing your mother on this trip." Ozai warned her.

Kya, a bit confused, nodded her head as she moved her legs around to dangle off the lounge chair and sat up straight. "Yes?"

"What's the nature of your relationship with Toshi?" he asked her as he studied her expression.

Not allowing anything to be given away, "He's my friend. I told you that a while ago. Is there a problem?"

Ozai told her the conversation he overheard and Kya told him that she had Toshi around her a lot since arriving here. It was perhaps perceived differently around those that weren't used to seeing them and likely blown out of context.

"Agni, this is why I hate these damn summits. Everyone here is so damn nosy!" Ozai grumbled to himself as he gave Kya her book back.

Kya eyed her father for a moment before looking back to her book, "I don't see why it matters either way. Who I involve myself with is no one's business." Putting emphasis on 'no one'

Not seeming to catch onto this, Ozai pulled out his flask. "These bastards will come up with anything to make me look bad. As if I'd let my daughter fool around with some half-bred slum rat."

Furrowing her brows behind her book, "I'm also a half-breed, dad. I literally bend two different elements."

"Yes, but you're not a slum rat."

"My mother was."

"But you never lived like your mother." Ozai pointed out. "You never lived in the slums."

"Is there something wrong with being from the slums?"

Scoffing, "They're filthy and poorly educated. You think I want you to marry someone like that?" Ozai raised his brows.

Setting her book down, "You told me yourself that you won't interfere with my 'personal' life."

"And I won't. So long as you're not fooling around with filth."

"Toshi isn't filth!" Kya yelled at her father.

Ozai went quiet as he now stared at his daughter with a curious expression. "I thought you said you and Toshi are just friends."

"We are but I won't let you talk about him or people like him! You're forgetting that the Phoenix Empire is becoming a place where there are fewer and fewer slums! Where poverty is beginning to change! Besides, Toshi doesn't live in the slums!"

"And you would know this, how?"

"I'm in charge of every palace staff's payroll and I've personally visited a few staff member's homes in the city. They might not live in a mansion but they don't live in the slums. They're well off."

Ozai scoffed as he rolled his eyes. "Doesn't change where they came from."

"Is that how you looked at my mother?! Did you look down on her for her origins?!" Kya stood up with her fists clenched. "Because she didn't come from nobility or have any status, she was filth from the slums?! A slum rat?!"

Groaning as he rolled his neck, "Your mother is a different matter."

"No she's not! She was a commoner, a peasant, a slum rat like you described! But you married her and you fell in love with her! Enough to be heartbroken over her when she left!"

"Kya, there's much to the story that you do not know."

"But I know it! You had my mother kidnapped! You forced her to marry you! Forced yourself on her and drove her nuts over the span of a little over a year!" Kya yelled. "You weren't there in the beginning when she defended your name at her own expense! She defended you! And here you are calling people with the same background as MY MOTHER a filthy slum rat!" Kya shouted. "My mother might have been a filthy slum rat but you're the rich bastard that fell for her, so what does that make you?!"

Ozai glared at his daughter, feeling the urge to slap her as she had clearly lost her mind to be talking to him this way. "Watch your mouth, Kya! Again, you don't know anything!"

"I know this much, don't question me about who I see! It's not your business!" Kya said before storming out of the study.

….

Ozai was furious. After stopping Zhiar from going to attack Arnook, the Phoenix King learned a little more of the situation concerning Katara. Zuko told him everything. He knew she had been pregnant while here. Arnook wrote him about knocking up his waterbender. He wanted to rub in his face that Katara was his plaything now. However; he didn't know that Arnook took the child from her. If there was one thing he knew, Katara loved her children and for that bastard to do this to her, Arnook was a monster.

Expressing his anger towards Arnook, Ozai was met with Zuko's criticism and was forced to give Zuko the cold ugly truth about his mother since he wanted to bring Ursa up.

"Your mother doesn't give a fuck about you, Zuko! If she did, she would have come see you once you won the war. But she didn't. She gives no fucks about you whatsoever." Ozai laid it on him thick as he pulled out his pipe to smoke. This boy really stresses me the fuck out. Blowing smoke into Zuko's face. "Now, that we're done discussing your dreadful mother, let's discuss the mother of my youngest children, shall we?"

The Phoenix King and his two sons discussed the issue of what to do with this knowledge. None of them wanted Katara to endure more than she had but Ozai remembered before he and Katara split, she wanted to come here as it was discovered Lao was targeting her. She wanted to uncover what Lao and their enemies were up to. Being here might mean she'll discover more about their enemies and aid them in fighting them back.

"You can't just let my mom suffer like this over defeating our enemies! She's a person! Not a tool!" Zhiar shouted at both his father and Zuko.

Scoffing, "Oh shut up, Zhiar. Your mother and suffering are like two pees in a pot." Ozai smoked his pipe. "This is just another walk in the park for her."

Zuko agreed with him.

When both his sons left, Ozai sighed and rubbed his temples.

"So we're using my mother as bait now?" Kya entered the sitting room where her father was smoking.

Ozai glanced at his daughter and rolled his eyes, "If you came here to start some shit with me, please take your leave. I'm in no mood."

"Fine. I'll go talk to someone who'll hear me out."

"I had Toshi re-assigned. He patrols the halls outside our chambers from now on."

"Then I'll go out there."

"Do that and I promise you, Kya," Ozai shut his eyes as he blew out his smoke and shook his head. "You will get a very different me from now on."

Kya sucked her teeth and eyed him like he was wasting his breath, "Like I care."

Just as Kya was about to walk out the door, Ozai grabbed her from behind and yanked her away from the door. "I just told you not to!"

"Let go of me!" Kya yelled as she tried hitting his arm to get him to let go.

Yanking her away from the door, Ozai threw her on the floor and pressed his foot on her chest. Scowling down at her, "The boy you fell in bed with while intoxicated was him, wasn't it?!"

Kya tried getting her father to move his foot from her chest, "So what?! I love him! And he loves me!"

Immediately infuriated by this, Ozai reached down and grabbed his daughter by the neck. "You little harlot! I knew it! I should have trusted my gut that day I came in your room! I bet he leapt off the balcony! That little brat was limping the next day!"

"Toshi is good to me! That's all you should care about!"

"That boy doesn't care about you! You're just fancy tuna to him!"

Kya managed to throw her father's foot off of her and knock him over. When he tried to grab her, she kicked him in the mouth and raced back to the door. Ozai caught her ankle as he held his mouth and glared at her.

"You disappoint me, Kya!"

…..

The next day, Kya went to the meetings by herself because she had kicked her father hard enough that it messed up his face and now, Princess Ami was fixing it. She was seriously in a terrible mood. She didn't know if she wanted to cry, be angry, or have a complete meltdown. There was nothing savory about her altercation with her father last night. She didn't take pleasure in kicking him but he had crossed the line with her. After being a devoted and caring daughter, the only of all his children to care so greatly for him, he tries to interfere in her relationship as if he could stop her. Kya didn't need her father's approval to date someone. He was the last person on this earth that could ever have a say in who she was seeing.

During the meetings, the princess had to pretend like she didn't notice her older brother staring at her. Zuko always knew when something was up and their father's absence didn't really help.

When the meeting ended and Kya was packing up her notes, Zuko came up to her as she expected he would. She honestly didn't feel like talking about it. Especially not with Zuko. Zuko had a history with their father when it came to the man 'interfering' in his romantic life. No doubt, Zuko was going to try and tell her that she was in the right but that's not what she wanted to hear. Zhiar and Zuko might think it was cool and fun attacking and ridiculing their father but she didn't. She hated it. Other than her, who else did her father have?

Kya didn't feel good about poking at her older brother's wounds and telling him to go sulk over her mother. He kind of just chuckled even though she could see clearly that her remark bothered him. She really wasn't cut out to be mean. Hama always told her that her anger and her rage would be a double edged sword for her the way it was for all sirens. They didn't relish in violence. They didn't find pleasure in being cruel or callous. They only resorted to those things if they felt it was necessary or were wounded.

Going back to her guest chambers, Kya heard her father's voice accompanied by a woman's voice.

"I've seen them and I'm sure others have too." Princess Ami said as she carefully touched up the skin graft to the Phoenix King's face. "I can tell she doesn't have much experience since she's done a terrible job of concealing it. I think maybe that's why people think you've permitted it. She's been rather bold."

Scoffing, "I'm just finding out about this. I had a hunch but I had faith my daughter wouldn't be so stupid."

Snorting a chuckle, "Your daughter is a teenager, your majesty. I can attest to the many foolish things I did at her age."

Ozai still didn't think Kya would be so foolish. She even kicked him in the face. Never did he expect his daughter to behave this way. This wasn't who he had raised these last ten years.

"The worst part of it, she tried bringing her mother into the conversation as if her mother had anything to do with this. Katara wasn't street trash like most of them. She wasn't highborn but Katara was well versed and learned quickly. She was made to be an aristocrat." Ozai explained. "Besides, Katara didn't settle. I did."

"Settle is such a harsh word, your majesty. I was under the impression you loved Lady Katara."

"I do still love her but...I think Katara and I have dealt each other enough blows. When her sentence is up, I know I'll want to be with her again but I doubt it." Ozai sighed and shut his eyes. "Five years won't be enough time for me to sort out my feelings if I ever do."

Ami could see talking about the woman was not easy for him, "So, you plan to move on?"

Ozai's eyes snapped open and fell on her. "I didn't say that."

"You didn't need to. It's implied, your majesty. I suggest not going for another 'slum rat' as you call them." Ami smirked.

"You know someone in particular?" He took his eyes off of her.

"Yes but she's only just recently been widowed. So there must be enough time allotted for the mourning period but trust, she would enjoy your company in due time."

Ozai didn't reply back.

Kya stood with her hand over her mouth and pressed herself to the wall. Was her father serious? He didn't plan on getting back with her mother. But...her heart raced in her chest as she tried swallowing the pain she felt rising up her throat to become a cry. Was her family officially falling apart? Spirits, she needed to find her mother.

The princess accidentally knocked something over as she raced out of the chambers, alerting both her father and Ami.

Going to check it out, Ozai saw a vase had been nearly turned over and as he went to fix it, he saw a hairpin laying on the floor. It was Kya's. Just like her mother...He picked up the hairpin and went to look for her.

…

"You're a fucking mess! Why is it I keep seeing your face covered in bruises?" Ozai heard a servant yelling at another servant as he was searching for Kya.

"You know why." Another servant replied and he paused as he recognized that voice.

"If you stop fighting them then they wouldn't rough you up!" The head servant scoffed. "Come, let's get you fixed up before Arnook sees you like this."

And suddenly, his search for Kya was put on hold as he followed behind the servants as a flame, not wanting to be spotted. He jumped from candle to candle as he stayed fixated on one of the servants he saw. She walked with a limp and had scars along her arms and bruising to her shoulder and neck. When they reached their destination, Ozai followed them into the room and flickered as a flame on a candle.

"Don't tell me it's happened again." An elderly woman sighed as she shook her head.

The head servant folded her arms, "I've already told Arnook a dozen times that this woman needs to be put in a cell."

"They'll just get to her there." The physician replied as she came up to her patient and looked her over. "I don't care what your past is, those men shouldn't be doing this to you."

"I told her to stop fighting them. At least then, they wouldn't leave bruises on her."

The elderly woman glared at the head servant, "Last week she was bleeding unnaturally from her vaginal walls because they stuck a broomstick in her!"

Scoffing, "Well it's more action then she's getting after the Chieftain divorced her."

"Shut up and get out!" The old woman shouted.

When the servant left, the old healer looked over her patient and wore a somber expression.

"I did everything you said. I stopped bathing, ate less, lost weight, worked myself endlessly and they keep coming for me." Katara sobbed. "I just want to die already!"

Shaking her head, "You've got children to get back to, Katara. You can't give up."

"I don't even know how to face my children after this! I can't see how I'm going to look at my family and they see I've been used up like this! They don't need to see their mother like this! I'm a mess…"

The elderly woman began treating the waterbender and Ozai watched with melancholy as she had to be stitched up between her legs. He knew Arnook had been touching her but he didn't know the other men around here were having their way with her. Not only that but she looked awful. He had never seen her this way.

"Almost done." The elderly woman told her.

When Katara was cleaned up, Ozai manifested on the other side of the door and waited for her to exit. Once she limped out, thanking the elderly woman for helping her once again, he saw her suddenly look his way and her eyes widened.

"Oz-" Before she could finish his name, Katara backed away as tears flooded her eyes and she shook her head. "You're not supposed to be here!"

"Kat-"

"I told you I never want to see you again." Katara cried as Ozai approached her.

Unable to resist, Ozai forgot just how much he missed her until he was now face to face with her. All those feelings of animosity that developed over the years quickly vanished into nothing. He didn't even care that she looked at him in fear. She was his waterbender and he wanted her back.

"You're still my waterbender, Katara." He couldn't help the maddening grin that pulled at his lips as he continued trying to get closer to her. "I just want to hold you. Please, allow me that much."

Shaking her head as her eyes got even wider, "No! Stay awa-"

"Well, would you look at that?" The two of them turned around to see who was talking to them. Their eyes widened at the sight of a cloaked figure wearing a fox mask.

"Sorry, guys but I can't have this union happening so soon."

Both of them tilted their heads as they knew that voice to be Ozai's. Before either of them could react or respond, a dart flew into both of their necks. They collapsed and fell unconscious immediately.

Walking up to them, Atsou lifted up his mask and chuckled. "Arlighty, brother. You're getting in the way of my project here and I can't have you do that."

Leaving the waterbender to lay there in the halls, Atsou dragged his brother through a black flame that would open to his guest rooms. This would all just be a dream and he would forget what he saw and heard. That way, things could resume as they were supposed to. However; the next day Ozai still managed to spot Katara in the halls scrubbing the floor. Her back was to him and he was unaware of her hardships, so he only watched from afar. Atsou remained in the shadows, watching his twin brother watch the waterbender. Obviously the hate he was stirring between the two of them was compromised when the two of them were near. He'd have to keep them separate throughout the rest of the summit. Ozai was persistent and would pursue Katara even if he had mixed feelings towards her. Katara was stubborn and would likely stick to her feelings hating Ozai and it would escalate into a fight. Atsou feared his brother would give her a fight as his feelings had shifted into some dark areas and Ozai held resentments toward the waterbender. Atsou wanted Katara alive and he doubted his brother would hold back in his current state.

There were several incidents where Ozai approached Katara and Atsou had to knock them both out.

"Katara! Please!" Ozai grabbed the waterbender's fragile arm after she tried dashing away from him.

Katara tried getting out of his hold, "I can't do this, Ozai! Let me go!" She screamed at him.

Furrowing his brows, Ozai threw her up against the wall and pinned her there with his hand smack dead by her head. Looming over her, "Every time I let you go for a second I don't see you for years. Now, you're going to-"

Atsou blew darts into both their necks and the two were out.

Ozai had found Katara wrapped in a towel walking towards a servant's quarters. He followed her to her room and entered while she was getting dressed. Seeing the bruising and scars on her skinny frail body.

"What the hell happened to you?!"

Katara jumped back and saw Ozai. She immediately reached for her makeshift dagger and was about to attack him, when her wrists were caught. She was flipped on her back and pinned to her bed.

"Get off of me!" Katara screamed at him.

Before Ozai could respond, the door opened and the two were darted….again.

Getting annoyed, "Why can't you two stay away from each other?!" Atsou scoffed as he dragged his brother out of the room.

Then there was the one time that Katara spotted Ozai in the halls with Zuko and Arnook. She broke the stick of the broom and ran up behind Ozai, jumping on him and then shoving the broken end of the stick into his neck as she drove him to the ground. Arnook and Zuko backed away as they watched Katara try to murder Ozai, blood getting all over them.

"Arnook, please, manage this better. This is the sixth time I've had to break them up!" Atsou hissed as Zuko, Ozai, and Katara eyed the fox masked figure.

Sixth? Ozai was confused. He hadn't seen this crazy bitch in three years.

I'm not crazy, you mental fuck! Katara read his thoughts and was about to snap his neck when a dart flew into both their necks. Ozai fell on Katara causing her the gasp from her unconscious state. Zuko stood there gaping at the sight of his father and Katara on the ground and then to the cloaked man.

"Wait, what's going on here?!" Zuko demanded to know.

Atsou paused in front of the Fire Lord. "Arnook. Deal with him."

Zuko looked at Arnook but before he could say or do anything, Arnook blew a dart in his neck. And soon the Fire Lord was out too.

"Six times, Arnook. Six freaking times! Ozai keeps finding her and I have to keep knocking them out! Please, keep them apart." Atsou ordered.

…

With the only recollection of seeing Katara was watching her scrub the floors as a servant, Ozai rubbed his temples in annoyance. Last few nights he had been plagued with dreams of her and they all left lasting impressions on him, giving him a terrible headache as he woke. He didn't know if the dreams were trying to tell him something or if he had just been worrying over the waterbender after the conversation he and Zuko had not long ago about what Arnook had done to Katara.

Throwing the sheets off of himself, Ozai could see it was midday and today was that stupid banquet ball thingy that he did not want to attend. Sighing, the Phoenix King climbed out of bed and paced himself over to the bathroom sink. He splashed his face with water and glanced at himself in the mirror. This shit is almost over. Just a few more days.

"Your majesty, why are you getting up so late?" He heard Princess Ami's voice as he turned his head to see her standing in his bathroom doorway.

Furrowing his brows in annoyance, "Who the hell let you in here? They need to be fired."

Chuckling as she watched him walk pass her, "Oh, your majesty. I let myself in here. I was just worried about you. Heard you've been unwell lately."

Ozai rustled his hair a little as he went back to the bed, "I'm not used to being in this climate for so long."

"Ah, hot blooded. I see." Ami smirked and went on to tell him that her team of scientists were on their way to set up in a town just outside of Omashu as he had instructed. "If you don't mind, I'd like to head back with you."

Not seeing the problem in this, "Anything else you need of me, princess?" He asked begrudgingly.

"No, your majesty. You've been more than generous." Ami bowed and told him she would see him again tonight.

Rolling his eyes, Ozai was really feeling like the woman was coming onto him but somehow being very subtle about it. Honestly, he wasn't so fixated on other matters, he would be more inclined to flirt with her. However; simply entertaining that thought made him feel uncomfortable. Running his hand through his hair, Ozai tilted his head as he spaced out. He was seriously out of it. All this thought of Katara was starting to wear on him. Seeing her in so low a position really bothered him. He had never seen her in a role so low…

Despite her meager beginnings, Ozai always thought highly of the waterbender. She had been a prodigy waterbender that taught the Avatar. His wife and Fire Lady. The mother of his children. A council woman under Zuko's reign and wife of a chieftain. And while she stayed in Omashu, he saw her for the only woman he could love and even now...She's too good for that. Too good to be a lowly servant. From the commoner class or not, Katara was so much more.

Knocking on the door, Ozai waited outside of his daughter's room and waited for her to answer. When she finally came to the door and opened it, he could see she was still upset with him.

"So you decided to knock instead of barging in to search my bedroom?" Kya folded her arms as she gave him the look her mother would give him when she was fed up with him.

Sighing as he leaned in the doorway, "I just wanted to say I'm sorry...if I said anything that offended you or put our relationship in hot water. I just want you to know that I'm still your father and I only want the best for you."

Kya furrowed her brows at her father, "Does that mean you still don't approve of Toshi?"

"He's not fit for you. You need someone that is worthy of y-"

Ozai got the door slammed in his face and sighed as Kya told him to go to hell. His daughter never cursed him but now he was starting to understand what Hakoda had said before. There was a certain level of disdain he held for the boy that was causing his daughter to lash out at him. This would not do.

…..

The banquet was not her scene. Kya never liked parties like these but she had grown rather used to them in her stay in Bei Seng Sei. Those people always celebrated the strangest things as an excuse to party. It was rather unsavory in Kya's opinion.

Sticking close to the wall, Kya saw her father and Zuko talking. No doubt her father was telling him about her and Toshi. She scoffed and rolled her eyes, holding her glass to her lips. I don't see the problem. He was going to make us marry some thirty year old nobleman from the Fire Nation. What's wrong with someone our own age? Kya knew her father was being protective but it was deeper than that. He wanted her to be with someone he could tolerate. It wasn't about her happiness. It was about him.

Sucking her teeth as she saw her father take Princess Ami on his arm, Kya looked away furrowing her brows as she gazed out into the crowd of people. She hoped her father and that palace snake weren't getting too friendly. Princess Ami was a brilliant and yet dangerous woman. Everyone in Bei Seng Sei had been convinced her husband died in an accidental fall but Kya had brushed shoulders with the older woman and saw the truth. Ami had killed him.

"Princess Kya," Arnook called her name as he approached her with those wondering eyes of his.

Kya was on guard immediately and fixed her posture, "Chieftain Arnook."

"You look absolutely beautiful. Like a grown woman. I know your mother would be proud." He said as he stood at her side to accompany her.

Rolling her eyes as she sipped her wine, "Unfortunately, my mother has been unable to see me grow up. Proud would not be the only things she feels. She's missed out on a lot."

Nodding his head in agreement, "The terrible facts of life. It only gets worse the older you get and seeing as you're inhuman, you'll have far more hardships than the rest of us." Arnook told her.

"My very existence is a hardship." Kya drank the rest of her glass and placed it on a tray nearby. "Would you like to dance with me this evening?"

Arnook raised his brow, "And what would your father say?"

"My father is an asshole and he's crossed me." Looked eye to eye with the Chieftain. "Dancing with you would piss him off, would it not?"

Smirking at the young beauty, Arnook offered her his hand and took her out onto the dance floor. Kya knew the Northern Chieftain despised her father and would do anything to further piss him off. Fortunately, she was very upset with her father and knew this act of rebellion would serve as payback for him trying to dictate who she could be with. Taking her hand in his and holding her firmly against him, Kya could see that Arnook was enjoying this for more reasons than pissing off her father.

Swooning to the music, "You are very light on your feet. Your father must have had you taught by the best instructors."

"I taught myself. People dance and I mimic. Father hates dancing." Kya told Arnook.

"Then you must take after your mother. She could learn anything after being shown once. Very talented young woman in her youth. I had hoped she would be able to put those talents to good used but then…-"

"My father came in and ruined it all." Kya said begrudgingly. "Love him as I may, father's actions and words are not lost on me. I know who he is and what he was. I might be the luckiest of my siblings to be his favorite but even that comes at a cost."

Seeing that the princess seemed to hold a level of resentment in her voice as she spoke of her father, Arnook raised his brow again. "Sounds like daddy pissed off his little girl. Care to tell me what his majesty did to anger such a lovely water sprite as yourself?"

Kya scoffed and told Arnook from the top a list of things her father has done as of recent that ticked her off. She didn't know why she felt so comfortable talking about her father to one of his sworn enemies and previous rival over her mother, but she didn't have anyone else to talk to about this.

Chuckling, "My, how you've grown, Kya dear. You really have blossomed. In more ways than one. Ozai must not know how to keep up with you growing so fast. I'm sure he fears you will suffer your mother's fate."

"I'm not my mother." Kya scoffed.

"Of course not. You have advantages that she didn't have at your age and while I mean to call you a bit of a spoiled brat, I like you, Kya." Arnook told her as they continued dancing and he spun her around, pulling her back to him. Staring at her for a brief moment before smirking. "I meant what I said about a trade between you and your mother. You'd look lovely in my bed sheets."

Scoffing as she was anything but flatted, "I might be angry with my father but I am not that angry." Kya told him.

Smirking as he looked above her head, "Seems your plan has worked. Your father is practically fuming."

The two broke apart as her father approached them and snatched Kya by her wrist, being anything but discreet.

"How dare you put your hands on my daughter!" Ozai growled.

Unphased by the Phoenix King's tone, "It was a mere dance. A lovely one but a dance no less."

"Keep away from her!" Ozai bit out as he yanked his daughter along.

Pulling Kya behind a pillar as Arnook walked off, Ozai shoved her up against the pillar of ice and glared at her.

"You mean to spite me!" He bit out in a low voice, not wanting to draw attention.

Eyeing her father with indifference as she folded her arms and tilted her head up at him, "My mother didn't yield to you. My brothers don't yield to you. What makes you think I'll yield to you? Sure, I've been loving and devoted to you. You're my father and I've always seen you as nothing but. However; you've upset me with your refusal to leave my personal life alone. I'm not asking you to like it or even approve it. I'm not even asking. I'm telling you to stay out of it!" Kya hissed at him.

Seeing a whole new side to his daughter, Ozai grabbed her by her jaws and growls at her. "You watch how you speak to me, Kya! You think I'll let you do whatever because of what you do at court?! Well, guess what? I'm finding your replacement as soon as we are home!"

"Fine by me." Kya scoffed as she snatched herself from her father. "Do whatever you have to do, Ozai. I don't care anymore."

Ozai was so close to slapping the teen, it physically hurt trying to restrain himself but he would definitely deal with her later. If she thought he was going to let her act like this over some stupid boy, she had another thing coming. Pulling himself away from her as he felt he could choke her, Ozai scowled at her.

"Don't speak to me the rest of this night." He told her.

Snorting, "I won't speak to you ever again." Kya retorted as she gave him a dirty look and left.

Ozai stood there seething in anger as his daughter, the golden child, turned her back to him. Agni, there weren't any words for the amount of anger and rage he felt. She was lucky he didn't go kill that little peasant worm and end all of this. The only reason he was even allowing that damn Toshi to live was because the boy had been admirable up until this point. His palace staff really took to the boy and he worked the day and night shift. Probably how he's been sneaking around with Kya.

"Your majesty, I thought I told you that girls her age will be foolish." Princess Ami walked up to him and placed her hands on her hips as she eyed the Phoenix King.

Clenching his fists tighter, "Kya is not supposed to be foolish like normal girls her age! She's supposed to have more control! More self-respect! Hell, she's better than her brothers! I expected better from her!"

"Is she not to be her mother?" Ami raised her brows and chuckled. "I don't know much about Lady Katara but I heard her temper match that of a firebender and that she was headstrong. Imagine Kya is a lot like her."

Ozai didn't mind Kya being like her mother. Katara had traits about her that he admired and enjoyed but there were parts of that woman he couldn't stand.

Taking the Phoenix King's hand, Ami pulled him along with her back to the ball. "Come, your majesty. You need a distraction." She gave him a joyful smile. "I'll be happy to entertain you this evening."

….

Kya was so upset that she couldn't even remain at the banquet any longer. Many others that tired earlier were beginning to leave while those that could party till the crack of dawn remained. She just skulked back and forth outside the doors of the banquet hall, debating if she should go back in there and humiliate her father. She had never been so furious with the man. She even called him by his given name instead of acknowledging him as her father. Her anger towards him had grown that much.

However; as she was beginning to feel more and more upset, the princess sensed a presence nearby. Her eyes roamed around in search of that presence. It's another siren. Yes, Kya could tell but there were many sirens here in the North Pole. Suppressed by the dogmatic ways of the Northern Tribe's laws against women. She could sense those women but this siren was strong. This siren was developed and felt very familiar. Kya knew it had to be her mother. No other woman up here would have that sort of presence.

Spotting a servant from the banquet leaving, Kya's eyes looked on the woman. That's her. Her eyes widened as she quickly followed after the servant. Soon as they were far from the banquet hall, the servant stopped.

Kya felt a bit overwhelmed as she could tell for a fact that this was her mother. The same height. The same air. The same way she always stood with more weight on one leg. This was her.

"I knew it." Kya gasped into her hand as she felt an instant rush of emotions. "I knew it was you."

The servant turned around and Kya knew from the eyes, alone, that this woman was her mother as she pulled away her face veil and smiled.

"You caught me."

Kya's eyes roamed over her mother's form to see she was wearing the garb that the female servants wore at the banquet. "Why didn't you come to speak to me?" Her emotions on full display.

Her mother sighed and walked up to her. From what she told her, her mother was speechless and didn't know what to say. And Kya could understand that better than anyone. Sometimes you wanted to say something, anything but couldn't bring yourself to say it. All Kya could do at this point was embrace her mother immediately and squeeze her tight. Spirits, she wished she had gotten to hug her mother more. She wished there had been more times they had together. She wished her mother wasn't in prison and with her back in Omashu.

"I missed you a lot, mom!" Kya sobbed as she continued to hold her mother tight. "I missed you like crazy!"

Kya felt an affectionate back rub from her mother's hand and could tell her mother was also in tears.

"I missed you too, my love. I'm just glad to see you're doing well." Her mother broke away to look her over and Kya could see it was breaking her mother's heart to see how much she had grown without her. "You've gotten far more beautiful than I ever expected."

It suddenly dawned on Kya that her mother was dressed as a servant. She asked her what happened to being in a prison cell and her mother told her that she was serving the rest of her sentence as a servant. This was not something she wanted to hear. Her mother was too good for a position like this. All her mother's accomplishments were wasted to have her working as a servant. It wasn't how she liked seeing her mother. Especially not with the shit her father was going on about lately. His classist and racist remarks to people he saw beneath him only rung louder in her ears.

"Well, I need to get going. I have to get up early." Her mother told her as she pulled away. "Maybe I can try to see you before you leave."

All Kya could say was 'okay' as she watched her mother leave. Tears spilled down her cheeks as she felt nothing but longing to take her mother with her. Take her away from here.

Kya returned to her guest chambers and saw her father was there, pacing back and forth. She paused as he stared at her with a cold gaze.

"Where were you? It's past midnight." He asked her.

Shifting her gaze from him, "I found mom."

"You did?"

Kya nodded as she tried wiping the tears from her eyes and sniffled. "I'm going to bed now."

Ozai watched his daughter go to her bedroom and shut the door. He went up to the door and stood there for a moment before pressing his forehead to it.

"How was she?" he asked.

Kya, who had pressed her back to the back of the door as she sat on the floor, pulled her knees to her chest and tried to hold back her tears. "She looked awful." she replied. "She's lost a lot of weight. I hugged her and all I felt were bones."

Clenching his teeth as he shut his eyes. "Did you see how she's been all these years?" Knowing his daughter can see the past of anyone she touched.

Squeezing her eyes shut, Kya placed her hand over her mouth as she tried not to remember what she had seen in her mother's past. These people. Arnook. They did bad things to her mother. They were cruel to her. Her mother wasn't even strong enough to fight back. They had made her so weak that she couldn't fight back. Kya saw her mother distract herself with endless work and chores. Sleeping for no longer than she needed to function the next day and do it all over again. And there was…

"I have a little sister, now. Mailan. They tore her from mom's arms and they won't let her see her." Kya cried. "They won't let her see any of us. She's alone here." Gasping as she felt herself become more and more saddened by her mother's fate "And all she can do to keep going is clean like she was born a servant this whole time. She's better than all the other servants. Works from dawn to well past midnight. Distracting herself with work to forget about us."

Ozai was soon sitting with his back to the door as well with his head tilted back to the door.

"You call people like my mother slum rats and they're just people. You didn't just insult Toshi. You insulted my mother and she suffered a great deal and she's always suffered because of you." Kya became angry. "I heard what you told Ami! You said you weren't going to get back with my mother! Well that's fine! After everything you've done and how you can even blame her for thinking you betrayed her when you've turned her entire life upside down, I hope you move on and find someone else so you can leave her alone!"

The door opened and Ozai got up and turned around to see his daughter glaring at him.

"When we get home, you can denounce me all you like. I don't care. If status and power can cause this much pain in a person's life, then I don't want it. My mother might have been miserable in that time before you showed up again but at least my mother wasn't dealing with this! Zuko protected her! And he protected me and Zhiar! He was more a father to us than you had been! Even now he shows more care for us than you do." Kya cried and shook her head. "And I know you've tried to be better with me but you don't care about my feelings when you get upset about Toshi. You're afraid of what it looks like to have another 'slum rat' in your family. Because mother was one thing. She was yours. You make the exception when it's your feelings in the way but you won't make it for us."

"Ky-"

"I rather be a slum rat like my mother than be a lonely monarch like my father because he is a sad pitiful man that makes everyone else suffer with him. I hope you're happy now. Mom's life is more fucked up than before and you've done nothing to save her. You're the disappointment not me." Kya told him and then slammed the door in his face.

….

Having returned home, Kya noticed that Princess Ami had traveled with them and her father had made preparations for the woman to stay in the palace with them. Due to the fact that Kya and her father were on bad terms, she didn't ask him about it. She couldn't even really leave her chambers. The princess locked herself away from everyone and everything. Her father meant what he said back in the North Pole. He removed her from her position at court. Took her title and role away, finding a replacement immediately. But she meant what she said too. She didn't care. It was better to live without power than to have it and nothing else. Her mother suffered because of the forces in power and she didn't want to cause that for anyone else.

Toshi was forced to work mornings only and to be a guard in her father's entourage, that way her father always had eyes on him. She couldn't even get the chance to see him. And recently, her father learned a new trick. He tried it out first on a servant and then on her. He could make wards over boundaries and block anyone, even her, from getting through. Her siren ability couldn't overpower his wards. Not only that but he could have absolute command over a person with a charm he placed on them. Even if they resisted, they could still carry out his orders. He placed a charm on her causing her to fall silent and not speak.

Kya hated him more as he would come to her chambers to have dinner with her and she was forced to sit there and listen to him talk about his day as if she gave a damn. She hated how he craved normalcy between them when he had caused this shift in their relationship as father and daughter. He's the one that hurt her and yet, he wanted to be the victim. This must have been what her mother dealt with and if so, Kya only hated her father more. Not only had her mother suffered but her father made her out to be a villainous as if she had done anything but love him when he didn't even deserve for her to care about him.

Somehow, her father would still be affectionate towards her. Kissing her forehead before he'd leave and hugging her. It made her cringe and her skin to crawl. She felt disrespected at his desire to still call her his daughter when she no longer looked at him like her father. He was her tormentor. And sure, he liked to think she loathed him over Toshi but it was deeper than that. She loathed him for everything he's done and how unapologetic he was. He thought he knew pain but he didn't know the kind he was inflicting on people. It made sense all these years later why Zhiar hated him. She didn't understand him. She just wanted her family back together. But now, she understood why Zhiar didn't want their parents back together. He was right to not place his faith in their father to do right by their mother.

Spirits, she wanted to leave here. She'd go straight to the Fire Nation and stay there with Zuko. Only Zuko understood anything. He was compassionate enough all on his own. Unlike their father, Zuko had lived amongst the common folk for years and developed a respect and compassion for them. He loved her mother for everything she was and everything she became. Her brother didn't even want to be Fire Lord. He never said anything but he hated the lack of freedom that came with that position. Spirits, she wished she had gone with Zuko after the summits.

A knock came at her door and Kya didn't bother to get up or answer the door. She just laid on her lounge chair with her book over her chest as she gazed out at her balcony. There was too much melancholy that settled in her chest for her to move a muscle. Her whole body felt numb and yet felt everything all at once. She was emotionless and emotional. Her body ached and her throat tightened. She wanted to feel anything else and nothing at all. This depression she felt. This loss of energy and lack of feeling...it was unbearable.

The door opened and she didn't even flinch. Just laid there feeling hopeless and distressed.

"Kya." She heard her father's voice followed by his footsteps as they made their way to her. "We need to talk."

Kya saw her father move in her field of vision and she shut her eyes.

"I've removed the charm, you should be able to speak."

Kya refused to say anything.

"Kya-"

"I have nothing worth saying to you. I'm wasting my breath speaking to you now when I know you will demand your way whether I'm willing or not." Kya opened her eyes and stared up at him. "If that's the case, then please, do us both the favor and kill me."

Ozai furrowed his brows, "All this over some boy."

Shaking her head, "All this over you. It's you that I have a problem with. You as a person or whatever you are, I don't know. You mimic being human but I doubt you ever were."

"I'm still your father! You don't get to speak with me like this!"

Sitting up immediately, "Zuko not only took your throne from you but permanently scarred your face! Zhiar struck you down with lightning and cursed your name! You are their father too! Don't demand of me what you can't even get from your sons! Just because I'm your daughter doesn't mean you can control me! You don't get to demand respect from me when you won't even respect me!" Kya hollered at him as scowled at him.

Ozai looked away from his daughter and turned his back to her, "I always thought you took after me, Kya. Out of all your siblings. I thought I finally had a child like me but...you're your mother's daughter through and through. So much so I can't even stand to look at you." He bit out.

"Then I'm glad to hear that. You can leave so that my presence doesn't cause you to attack me again. I do not enjoy hurting you even if it's in defense. Please leave." Kya pointed to her bedroom door.

Ozai knew he wasn't going to get anywhere with his daughter and figured it was hopeless at this point. He placed the charm back on her and went up to the door.

Pausing there, "You're turning eighteen in a few weeks. I'm sending you to stay with Lord Totomi at his villa here in Omashu for a few weeks. I don't care what goes on between you two as long as it's with him and not my staff."

The door slammed behind him and Kya ran over to her vanity to tear the mirror from it, throwing it at the door. Spirits, she wanted to scream. I swear I hate you!

…..

Year Four…

The morning of her eighteenth birthday, Kya found servants in her bedroom packing a few of her things while her father sat at the edge of her bed. She didn't say anything to him. As if she could. She could speak when he allowed her to. He wished her a happy birthday and placed a small box on her nightstand before leaving. She stared it down the entire time. Even as she was in the carriage with Lord Totomi headed for his villa. Kya didn't look away from it. What was in it?

"Your highness, is everything alright?" Uhara asked her.

Finally looking away from the box, Kya looked up to the nobleman and tried not to be so glum. "My father and I have been on bad terms for a few months now. I'm sorry you got brought back into my estranged relationship with him."

Uhara could tell there was something major going on with the young princess and her father. He had just returned back from the Fire Nation to start making roots here in the Phoenix Empire only to be approached by the Phoenix King as soon as he arrived. The nobleman wasn't told much other than that Kya needed a trustworthy companion as she had been making friends with what his majesty said were 'slum rats'. He didn't exactly know what that meant but he wasn't stupid enough to refuse. Besides, he hadn't stopped thinking about Kya. Even when he tried courting a woman back in the Fire Nation, he could only think of Kya. So it wasn't a hard decision. He was actually elated to see her again.

However; he understood the princess might be feeling entirely different about this as she was once again being forced on him by her father.

"Care to tell me what happened?" He asked her.

Kya sighed, "Promise you won't think ill of me?"

"I could never, your highness."

And so she told him. Told him about what happened on Kyoshi Island and about Toshi and the summits and her mother and why she was angry with her father. Kya felt relieved to finally be talking to someone about it and Uhara didn't seem to be judging her. If anything, he looked concerned and sympathetic. Even when she told him why her father asked him to take her to his villa on her eighteenth birthday.

"I assure you, your highness, I don't plan for anything like that happening between us. Not unless that was of your choosing though I doubt it. You have someone else in mind and I respect that." He told her. "A bit heartbroken, I must admit, but we did agree to be friends after parting ways. So, allow me to be your friend. Doesn't seem like you've made many after I left, your highness."

"Thank you, Uhara, and you can just call me Kya like before." She offered him a smile.

Smiling back at her, "You're welcome, Kya."

Arriving at his villa, Uhara showed her to her chambers and she was pleased to know his chambers were on the other side of the courtyard from her like when they were in the Fire Nation. She thanked him and asked him if he had any plans for them.

"I've been cooped up for a few weeks. Father placed a ward around my rooms in the palace, so this is my first time leaving." Kya said a bit nervously as she pulled her hair behind her ear. She felt like a child asking him to do something with her but she really craved the interaction after being locked away for so long, not even being able to speak except for in her own head.

Understanding this, Uhara told her that she could name it and they would do it. And so she decided that she wanted to play a few games that had always interested her to play but couldn't because there was no one to play with. Toshi always poked fun at her because he said it was a childish game. Her father hadn't been in the mood to play this game in particular with her. Always used the fact that he was too old to get out of playing it. But she figured Uhara wouldn't mind.

"Then, we'll play." Uhara told her. "I'll round up a few servants to make this even more fun."

"Yay!" Kya cheered happily.

Once a group of servants were rounded up, Uhara decided he would start the game off first and do the counting while everyone else hid. The game was quick with him playing as the person that was 'it'. He found all the servants and Kya with ease. When it was Kya's turn, she could find everyone but him. She looked everywhere she could think, even had the servants help her and still she couldn't find him.

Oh, he's good at this game. Kya thought as she was about to cheat and use her siren ability to find him. But before she could, she was grabbed from behind and lifted off of her feet.

"Are we cheating here?" She heard Uhara and laughed.

"Maybe." She admitted as he put her down. "But only because it was taking forever to find you."

Chuckling as he brushed his hand over the princess's hair, "I guess you could say I was a pro in my days of youth."

"You say that as if you're an old man." Kya scoffed.

Scratching his head, "I kind of am."

"Really?" She looked up at him with curiosity and tilted her head.

Chuckling nervously, "You don't know how old I am, do you?"

Shaking her head.

"39. Same age as your brother." Uhara told her.

"Oh, wow, you don't look that old but then again, my brother doesn't look old either." Kya said. "But Zuko is inhuman so I guess he wouldn't age, so does that make you-" Her words turned into thoughts as she looked Uhara over a bit. "You're not human are you?"

Uhara eyed her strangely, "Of course, I'm human. Why wouldn't I be?"

Kya took his hand and held it as she shut her eyes. Something was off about Uhara. She sensed it a while ago but ignored it. Now, she was curious. Zuko and Uhara looked the same age and were the same age. But Zuko stopped aging in his mid-twenties and didn't age past that. Uhara looked the same. Mid-twenties. Maybe it was good genes. But also, she noticed at night when staying with him in the Fire Nation there was something off with his appetite. One of the signs of inhumans of Fire Nation descent was that they didn't eat much. The opposite of Water Tribe inhumans. They liked sweets and it was the only food they could eat constantly. Not only that but his heart beat was very slow. Her brothers and her father had very slow heart beats as well. Her father's was so slow that Aunt Toph said she could never tell if Ozai was around because she couldn't feel a pulse.

Letting go of his hand, "You have inhuman traits but you're not quite inhuman." Kya told him. "You're not going to age."

Uhara's eyes widened at her.

"I wonder if there was a way to make you fully inhuman. Then you wouldn't die and I'd have you as a friend forever." Kya thought out loud.

Swallowing hard, Uhara eyed the girl as she seemed now to be very interested in this detail. He knew that far down the bloodline of both his parents' sides there were inhumans of dragon lines but that was hundreds of years ago. No known individual in his family was said to be inhuman. Even with everyone keeping hush about those sort of things, it wasn't even documented in his family's archives. But he guessed that's why she said he had the traits and wasn't fully an inhuman.

"Would you mind if I found a way for you to be like me?" Kya asked.

"I doubt there is a way, Kya." He told her with a lamenting tone.

"But what if there was a way? Would you let me make you like me?" She asked again.

Uhara cracked a smile, "If I were someone you had grown to love, then I'd gladly become inhuman to be with you throughout the times. But I don't want to be your burden, Kya. How about making Toshi inhuman?"

Kya shook her head. "He doesn't have the trait. He's all human. At least with you there's a chance." She smiled somberly at him.

Seeing that she had already accepted far too soon that there would come a time that she would have to watch many people she once knew pass away, Uhara moved to wrap his arms around her and pressed his lips to her forehead.

"If it'll make you less lonely when that time comes, then I'll wait for you to find that solution, okay?"

Feeling her face flush, Kya pulled away from the nobleman and averted her eyes as soon as he looked down at her. "Okay." She said in affirmation.

….

Ozai had accompanied Ami to the site where she and her team would begin working on their scientific discoveries. It was just an hour from Omashu in the middle of the wilderness, allowing them all to work in peace and without worry. He gave her a generous budget and told her that in a year he wanted her to show him something fascinating.

Overly confident in her abilities, Ami smirked and thanked the Phoenix King. "I promise, your majesty, I plan to blow your mind with my current project."

"I hope so." He told her. "In the meantime, I will need you to report to Omashu monthly with reports of progress. This will put my mind at ease with the amount of money I'm sponsoring you."

Bowing along with her team, "You will not be disappointed, your majesty. I promise you that."

As Ozai headed back to the palace to return to his work as Phoenix King, he thought about his daughter and how today was her eighteenth birthday. He hoped when she opened her gift she'd see that he still loved her despite her being her hothead mother. He wouldn't concede and give into her desire to be with some peasant boy but he would love her in spite of that. That's what he was finding parenthood was supposed to be. Didn't mean he and his children were going to always see eye to eye or that he should let them do as they pleased. It was loving them even if they fucked up and did things wrong and correcting them.

Getting back to the palace, Ozai sat at his desk and tried to focus on his work but work eluded him. He kept thinking about Kya and what she said. Her anger towards him wasn't just over Toshi. It was over her mother as well. She blamed him for whatever her mother had been going through in the North Pole. Seeing the woman made things worse.

Maybe I should take a look and figure out what happened four years ago. Ozai knew Zuko had been heavily investigating what had happened as a means to prove Katara's innocence in killing Princess Kikyo. And from what Ami told him, Katara was setup by her, in order to make Kikyo look dead. It was nothing personal to Katara and honestly, Ozai didn't hold it against the woman. He had done the same with his father and ex-wife. However; Ami confirmed that she had saw him that night with her sister and that her sister claimed it was him she slept with. But Ozai had not been there at that time. Hakoda and Sokka attested to that. Aslo, Kya was able to see that he was nowhere near that side of the palace that whole night.

Rubbing his temple, I need to go to Zuko. I'm sure he's been digging deep into this. Bastard never gives up.

….

Later that night, Uhara treated Kya to sweets he had his kitchen staff prepare just for her birthday. He saw the princess had enjoyed it immensely and couldn't get enough. She was still very cute to him. No longer naive and inexperienced. She knew far more now than she knew before. But he still found her to be cute. She was a very cute girl. That was something he doubted would ever change.

When it started getting late, the nobleman walked her back to her chambers and made sure to wish her happy birthday.

"Thank you, Uhara." She smiled at him. "With everything I've been dealing with, you really helped make things more normal for me. I really needed this."

Smiling back at her, "Things will get better again, Kya. They always do."

Nodding her head, "Well, then, goodnight."

"Night, princess."

Retreating into her room, Kya closed the door and sat on the edge of her bed. Her eyes went to that little box her father gave her. She really was still very angry at him. But he didn't look very happy this morning. Even so, he showed up to wish her a happy birthday and gave this box to her personally when he could have sent a servant.

Sighing, Kya picked up the box and looked at it closely. "What could you have possibly gotten me that would fit in here?" She asked with her brows kneaded.

Opening the box, Kya saw a sapphire stone on a ring with her name engraved on it. She pulled it out and looked closer at the ring. It was the most beautiful jewel she had ever seen and it sparkled like the stars in the sky. Looking back at the box, she saw a small note folded in there and pulled it out.

'I only hope that you can see what I see when I look at you. Happy eighteenth birthday, sweetheart.'

~Love,

Dad.

Kya looked back to the ring and sighed as she placed it back in the box. "It's beautiful, dad. Thank you." She shut her eyes. "But I can't wear it. Not till I can forgive you. One day...I promise to wear it. But not today."

In the morning, Kya woke up and felt a little better. She was eighteen, an adult, a woman. At least in society's eyes. It made her feel like she should start planning her future. One that didn't include living with her father. One where she had her own and could have her mother stay with her. Kya wanted to create the perfect place for her mother to heal and get back to her normal self. She wanted to have a place where she could live freely and not to the commands of her father. She wanted a place where she could find her own happiness. And just the thought, just the imagination of this place, spirits it made her heart flutter. Uhara was right. Things would get better and she would make it so.

Dressing in something casual for the warm climate, Kya knocked on Uhara's door. She wanted to speak with him about her plans. He was a maturer adult. Surely, he had some advice to give her on this matter.

Answering the door, Uhara saw the princess, dressed in casual clothes, standing outside his door. He could see she was in a good mood as her demeanor was bright and she wore a pleasant expression.

"You're up quite early, Kya." He beamed at her.

Nodding her head, "That I am. Can I get your help with something?"

"Of course."

…..

An identical twin brother? Ozai found it impossible to believe. Even with Zuko's extensive amount of documents and evidence that pointed in that direction. How could he have a twin brother all these years and no one noticed that there was a commoner with the same face as the second prince? How would he have gone all these years without knowing? Something should have been made aware to him by now if he had a twin brother.

Sighing as he sat at his desk and shook his head, "Impossible." Ozai scoffed. But as he rethought over what Zuko had shared with him...it all did make sense. How else would Katara believe he betrayed her that night unless he had truly been there that night. And seeing as he hadn't been there, someone that looked like him had to have been there instead. Which makes sense if Zuko's theory was current.

Oh shit!

As pieces of what Zuko told him and his own thoughts on the matter pieced together, Ozai heard a knock on the door. He allowed the page boy to bring in whoever it was bothering him at this time. When he saw the blue attire of the person and the cold stare, he knew this person had to be a North Water Tribesman. The Southerns and him were more lax with each other. But those Northern bastards hated his guts and he hated theirs.

"Chieftain Arnook sends you a message." The tribesman holds out a scroll to him.

Ozai eyes it and then looks to his page boy, who takes the scroll in hand to open it.

Reading the scroll aloud, "I wish to inform you, Phoenix King Ozai, that I have taken your wife, Lady Katara, as my concubine. She will service me well as I know she has serviced you. I look forward to the pleasure I get from turning your woman into the very slut you managed to create out of her. Maybe this time we can try for a son. Forever grateful and loving, Northern Chieftain Arnook." The page boy swallowed hard as he saw his sovereign was fuming while the tribesman chuckled.

"Get the fuck from my office, you water tribe piece of shit!" Ozai growled.

The tribesman snorted a laugh as he left, "Your wife is the slut of the Northern Tribe now. Sucks to be you."

The page boy quickly left as the Phoenix King tore up his study and threw his desk across the room.

…

Returning home a month later from Uhara's villa, Kya hugged the nobleman tight as they stood at the top of the staircase. She had a wonderful time with him. He had been very hospitable and compassionate. Honestly, she found she liked him more now than before. Uhara was a good man indeed. She really did hope he found someone worthy of him.

Pulling apart, Uhara brushed his hand over her hair and decided to catch the girl off guard, pressing his lips to hers. Kya froze but didn't move away as he cupped both sides of her face. Her face felt hot and she could feel her entire body tingling. Was this even supposed to be happening? The princess found herself responding to the kiss with one in return and it wasn't until they heard someone clearing their throat that either of them stopped.

Breaking away, the two became immediately embarrassed as they saw the Phoenix King looking dead at them with his entourage behind them. Kya's eyes were wide as she saw Toshi staring at her with the look of betrayal in his eyes.

"Your majesty, forgive me, I-"

Ozai wasn't dissatisfied. He had hoped that sending his hot-blooded teen daughter to the man's villa that maybe she would melt in the nobleman's arms instead. As far as the details, Ozai didn't want to know. He just rather his daughter ride something better than a broken down mule.

"You two look like you enjoyed your time together. Perhaps, you two would like to go back and finish whatever it is I just saw." Ozai's eyes fell on his daughter and she was clearly looking over his shoulder. You really test my patience, sweetheart.

Feeling a bit more embarrassed, "Not necessary, your majesty. I was only meaning to steal her affection. I didn't expect her to respond." Uhara said as he turned to Kya and whispered to her apologetically.

"It's fine." She told him as she continued to stare at Toshi. "I hope to see you around, Uhara."

"And you shall." He said before kissing her cheek and leaving.

Ozai stepped towards his daughter. "Enjoy yourself?" He smirked.

"Go suck a dick." Kya spat as her eyes turned to him and she purposely bumped shoulders with him.

….

Sitting at the edge of her pool-like tub, Kya kicked her feet back and forth in the water, splashing it about. She tilted her head as she looked at the water. Why did she let Uhara kiss her and why did she kiss him back?

It's okay to like more than one person, you moron. "I know that. That's why I have a nephew that's also my brother." Kya rolled her eyes.

But we only truly love one of them or at least, we'll love one more than the other. It's only natural and we can't help it. "Obviously, Toshi and I have-" Who's more loved than the other hasn't been decided. Still have time for that. Years to be exact. "What?" Kya was now confused.

Your mother fell for your father and they are forever connected. They won't be able to astray from one another even if they desire it. Fate will always bring them back together. She was young when it happened for her. The same will not be for you. "So I'm going to be old before I can be with Toshi?" Only slightly older than you are now but that's all I can say. No point in giving it all away. Enjoy your life in mystery, princess.

Kya really hated how vague and smug her siren was. She continued to splash her foot in the water as she began to hear the door to her bathroom open. It was probably her nosy father. Welp, she wasn't covering up for him. He was just gonna get scarred at the sight his naked daughter.

"Kya."

The princess looked up immediately at that voice and saw Toshi standing in her doorway.

Standing up, "Toshi!" she said running up to him and wrapping her arms around him as she pressed herself to him.

"Why were you kissing Lord Totomi?" He asked her.

Pulling apart, Kya looked up at him with wide eyes. "He kissed me."

"But I saw you kiss him back." He eyed her.

"I'm sorry, Toshi. I was just emotional." She pulled away from him. "I confused gratitude with affection and I didn't mean to. My father hasn't been very kind to me and neither have I been to him. There's just a lot-"

Toshi brought her back into his arms, "It's alright, Kya. I'm just glad to finally get to see you alone."

"Me too." She looked up at him and reached to cup the side of his face, "How long do we have till you have to go back?"

"As long as you need." He told her before capturing her lips.

Ozai had been so furious after his daughter told him off in front of his entourage, that he dismissed all of them so that he could debate with himself on how he was going to deal with her. Maybe he should just kick her out and let her run off with that slum rat. She made it pretty clear that she didn't care about their status in the world. Perhaps if she got to see what it was like out there then she'd come back on her hands and knees begging him to take her back in. Sometimes children needed to learn the hard way.

No, fuck that. He wasn't giving her what she wanted. He was going to do what he should have done as soon as he found out his daughter was screwing around with that low bred.

"Where's Toshi?" Ozai asked the captain of his guards.

The captain swallowed hard and told him that he had seen Toshi run off in the direction of the Princess's chambers.

"That little shit!" The Phoenix King hissed as he manifested into a black flame and went spiraling down the hallways.

Holding tight to Toshi as he pressed her up against the wall of her tub, thrusting into her as her legs wrapped around his waist. Kya clawed his back as she clenched her teeth. Sex was something that came with both pain and pleasure. But she could get through the pain for Toshi. Obviously, he was enjoying this much more than her but she wanted him to. She wanted him to feel good because that's how she felt whenever he was around.

As Toshi bit into her neck, Kya moaned loudly and clung to him tighter. "Toshi!"

Kya was about to cum when suddenly a black flame suddenly formed on the other side of her bathroom and her eyes widened as her father manifested from it.

"Da-" Toshi, not realizing her father just showed up, starting to thrust hard into her causing her to gasp and cry out. "Daddy!"

"Fuck, Kya don't call me that, I'm going to-"

Kya's voice grew louder as she saw her father look at her in horror and honestly, that turned her on. It was sadistic but she rather liked knowing that her father was distraught at the sight of a 'slum rat' fucking her against the bathroom wall.

Smirking as Toshi pounded into her, "Daddy! Yes, Daddy, fuck me!"

"Fuck, Kya!" Toshi groaned against her neck as he came, panting as his release granted him satisfaction.

"You little slut!"

Toshi's eyes widened as Kya quickly threw them both into the water of the tub just as a black flame came right for their heads. When they came back up for air, Toshi realized they were somewhere else.

"Kya!" Toshi gasped. "Your father-"

"I know. He saw us." Kya said as she grabbed Toshi's hand and pulled him from the water with her.

Both of them were completely naked in the middle of nowhere. Fortunately, Kya knew there was an empty caravan somewhere around here. A nomadic dancing group resided in this part of the country. She saw some clothes they could easily swipe and put on. They quickly dressed and Kya took Toshi's hand.

"We've got to get to the Earth Kingdom border, Toshi." She told him as they ran.

"Why not teleport us over there?" He asked, a little out of breath.

Because she could only use the portal if there was a body of water large enough and close enough for them to go through. But the border was nothing but desert. Any water that was near would be in a canteen or container or something. Nothing they could appear out of.

"Is there a reason we're going into the Earth Kingdom territory?" Toshi asked her.

Kya told him how there was an ancient lore about phoenixes in the Bei Seng Sei records. They had wars hundreds of thousands of years ago with the phoenixes before they took human form to blend in. Supposedly, green crystals act as wards for phoenix. The Earth Kingdom lined their borders with green crystals to repel her father from ever entering without their sanction. It was smart if you asked her. Smart for foreign nations to have it when there was someone as godlike as her father in existence.

The two were getting closer and closer to the border, covering a ton of land in just a few short hours. However; as they could see the border. The desert plains lined in green crystals, Kya stopped as a wall of fire shot up from the ground and an entire army of her father's black armored troops appeared from the flames. A huge black bird covered in flames soared in the sky over their heads. Kya was pulled into Toshi's arms as the enormous bird swooped down to the earth and landed between them and the army.

"You idiot girl!" Her father's voice roared loud over them all as he shapeshifted to his human form. "I could kill you for what I caught you doing!"

Kya saw that her father hadn't fully shifted back to his human state. His hair was still burning with black flames, eyes blood red, and he looked ghoulish like the monster he truly was along. She hated whenever he looked like this and there were very few occasions that he was ever pissed off enough to take this shape but after what she did, she couldn't exactly blame him.

Approaching them, Ozai snatched Kya from Toshi and then punched the young man in his face, knocking him unconscious.

"Dad, no!" Kya hit him as she tried to get him to stop.

Turning on her, Ozai backhanded her hard enough to cause her cheek to bleed. "You little whore! I have the half mind to send you up north with your mother and let Arnook have you! You're no better than Hama!" he said viciously.

Kya held her face and tried not to cry as she looked at where Toshi was lying unconscious on the ground.

Ozai threw her to the ground and kicked sand in her eyes. He scowled at her as she cried trying to get the sand out. While she was distracted, he placed a charm around her neck and made it where she could not use her bending. Even cutting off her inhuman capabilities.

Signaling for one of the troops, "Come pick this harlot up and guard her in her bedroom. I don't want any eyes off of her." Ozai ordered.

While seven of the troops came and took Kya into custody, Ozai stayed behind while the rest of them went into the fiery portal and went back to Omashu. He wanted to linger around to have a word with the boy. This was going to be dealt with once and for all. No little runt was going to show up and come between him and his daughter. He had worked too hard to do right by the little ungrateful brat for this boy to mess things up.

"Get your sorry ass up, boy!" Ozai kicked Toshi in the rib causing him to wake in a painful cry.

Holding his side in agony, Toshi looked up to see the Phoenix King staring down at him. He didn't have to take a wild guess to know where Kya was. From what he could see as he sat up, she was gone with the army. So this must mean his doom.

"I said get up!"

Toshi struggled to his feet as his face and his side hurt. The Phoenix had no doubt pulled his punches but it still felt like getting a tree stump thrown at your face.

"My daughter was an obedient and devoted girl! I never had any issues out of her until you showed up! I will not tolerate my daughter being with street filth! I refuse! Your kind does not have a place in my daughter's bed or in my daughter's pool of associates! I will deal with her and eventually, you will fade into a terrible memory for us both! But I'm merciful even though I want to kill you for putting your dick in my daughter!" Ozai pulled a sack of coins from his pocket and tossed it at Toshi's feet. "There will be more sent to your father's dwelling in the city, along with a carriage ready to take you and your father far North into Earth Kingdom territory. You agree to this and I won't kill you and your father."

Toshi couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"Do we have a deal?" Ozai bit out.

What else could Toshi do when it wasn't just his life being threatened but also his father's. Spirits be damned if he said anything else. I'm sorry, Kya.

…

Back at the palace, Kya was chained up in her bedroom. Seemed her father made certain preparations before showing up in the nick of time to catch her before reaching the border. With the charm around her neck and the shackles to her ankles, the young water siren couldn't even leave her bed. Not to mention, her father ordered the guards to remain in her room to keep eyes on her. She remained in her room for the entire day not moving until her father finally decided to show up.

A black flame entered her room from her balcony and took shape in front of her. She cast her gaze away as her father's gold eyes rested on her. He snapped his fingers for everyone to leave and once they were gone, Ozai crossed the room to his daughter. He came to the side of her bed and climbed to the middle of it, taking her by her throat and forcing her down on her back.

"You disgusting little whore!" Ozai hissed as he was about to wring her neck. "You looked me dead in my eyes while you let that filth fuck you! What the hell is wrong with you?!"

Smirking as she laughed, "Enjoyed the show?"

Squeezing her neck, "What was there to enjoy when I see my own daughter being defiled by 'slum rat'?!"

"Mad because it wasn't you, daddy?" She puckered her lips at him.

Slapping the fuck out of her, Ozai glared at her dangerously and choked her harder. "Agni, you've become a fucking a whore! I knew I shouldn't have let Hama be around you!"

"I'm like this because of you. Not because of Hama or my mother or even because I want to. No, you made me this way! I have to be this way otherwise I'd just be your brainless daughter with no other desires for myself! Why can't you just let me be my own person?! Why is it my goal in life to serve you?! I never asked to be born!" Kya shouted at him.

Ozai released her and climbed off her bed. "Fine, Kya."

Later that day...

"Your majesty," Chiru entered his office with news.

"Yes?" Ozai asked in a very quiet and pained tone.

"The boy and his father were intercepted on their way to the Earth Kingdom as you requested."

"And?" He looked at Chiru with a murderous gaze.

Swallowing hard, "The boy was forced to watch his father be slain as you instructed but-"

"But what?!"

"But...the boy got away...the carriage included."

Ozai stared at Chiru and saw the man was fearful to relay this information. He honestly didn't care. The boy could keep the money and disappear for all Ozai cared. As long as that brat knew who he was dealing with. Toshi was a smart boy despite doing some really stupid shit like fucking his daughter but he wasn't a moron. He probably feared for his life and was trying to get beyond the Earth Kingdom borders.

"Leave him be. The boy is no threat to me."

…

News soon came about Zhiar getting married. Both Kya and her father were surprised to hear this. However; they both had mixed responses to the news that Jin Su was pregnant. Ozai had made Kya very aware of her and her brother's inability to have children. So it was pretty obvious to them that Jin Su was impregnated by someone else. They were curious as to who.

Sitting on a sofa on the opposite side of his daughter's sitting room, Ozai looked over the formal invitation that Zuko had sent them for Zhiar's engagement party. It was on a very expensive type of paper. The kind that was typically used to document laws or the life records of royals. Zuko was clearly trying to send a message to everyone by using this expensive paper.

"There must be opposition towards your brother's engagement." Ozai expressed out loud as he lounged on the sofa with his feet dangling off the armrest.

Kya eyed her father like he was the most annoying person in the world because he was. He was very annoying. He felt that since Toshi was out of the picture that things would go back to normal...or that he could hang around her all day having idle chatter. She refused to talk to him at first but eventually, that became too hard to do because her father was gifted in the art of getting people to talk. But she made sure to always belittle him every chance she got to remind him that she still hated him.

"Why would there be?" Kya asked as she sent him a pointed stare.

Returning it as he held the invitation up, "I did research on Jin Su after we met her. She's from the Fujioka clan. A clan that was disbanded recently with their opposition to your brother, Zuko. Seems the work with Lao. In other words, she's disgraced and nobles will fight for the chance to be married into the royal family. Many think their daughters are better suited. Perhaps Zuko wants to show that he is completely onboard with this union."

Kya rolled her eyes, "Or it could be that Zuko ACTUALLY cares about Zhiar's happiness."

Scoffing, "Happiness? The girl is pregnant but your brother is sterile."

"So, they probably arranged it."

"Doubt your brothers know. Your mother was not happy about that finding but I blame crossbreeding." Ozai shrugged as he laid his head back on the sofa and stared at the ceiling. "I assume Katara wanted grandchildren."

Getting up, Kya promptly walked out of the room without saying anything in return. Ozai raised his brow and decided to wait for her to come back. However; she was gone for quite a while and he figured he'd go check on her.

Sliding his bare feet across the floor as he went to check on his daughter, Ozai could hear she was vomiting. Was she sick? Peeking his head into the bathroom, he saw Kya was emptying her stomach into the toilet. Yeah, she had to be sick.

"Need me to get the physician?" He asked her.

Kya shook her head as she finally stopped and wiped her mouth, "I'm fine. I can treat myself."

Ozai shrugged. He wasn't going to argue with her on that. If she felt she would be able to tend to her own health, he'd leave it at that.

However, as a week or two passed, Ozai noticed his daughter was getting no better. She slept all day. Always sick. Wasn't eating much. Look paler every time he saw her. And when she fainted, Ozai finally had the palace physician take a look at her. The discovery was anything but what Ozai or Kya had expected. It was damn right impossible.

"Get out!" Ozai told the physician.

"But, your maje-"

"I SAID TO GET THE FUCK OUT!" Ozai shouted at the physician as he grabbed the old man and threw him out of Kya's bedroom, slamming the door behind him.

Kya watched her father remain where he shut the door, holding his forehead to the door as he balled his fist. She shut her eyes and breathed in and out before she said a word.

"I'm keeping it." She said.

"LIKE HELL YOU ARE!" Ozai immediately responded as he turned around and stared at her viciously. "We're getting rid of it!"

Kya's eyes widened as she held her arms around her stomach and curled up, to protect the life she just discovered was growing inside of her. "No! Please! Let me keep it!"

"How did this even happen?! You and your brother are sterile!" Ozai growled.

"Well obviously that might not be the case. Jin Su is pregnant and now, so am I. Maybe the physicians were wrong about us." Kya said.

No, something wasn't right here. The physicians wouldn't just say that and it not be true. Something was wrong here. Ozai needed to find out what had happened to cause this. Looking at his daughter, who looked at him with a frightened gaze, he clenched his teeth and willed himself to calm down. If he didn't, he might seriously do something awful here and he knew if he did, there would be no hope of saving his relationship with his daughter.

Shutting his eyes as he shook his head, "Do not leave this room. If you do, I'll tear that little bastard from out of you. Understood?"

Kya nodded her head.

And with that, Ozai stormed out of her chambers, slamming the door in his wake.That bastard is going to die.

…..

A/N: Oh shit, Kya is pregnant and Ozai is livid. Wonder what will happen?

More from year 4 coming next week!