Here is the thirty-fifth chapter in Book 4 released on schedule as promised. This is another one of the handful of chapters that shows what James is up to and how he sees things, especially after recent events, to give a fuller picture as to his character. This is a one off chapter that bridges the Xidi arc and the upcoming arc that I won't mention the nature of to avoid spoilers. Lastly, with this chapter, Family officially becomes the second longest in terms of chapter length in the Avatar Harry series. Anyway, that is all for this part so just sit back and enjoy the 35th chapter in the fourth installment of Avatar: The Tale of Harry. Book 4: Family.

Disclaimer: As always I own nothing related to these two great works of fiction.

Chapter 35

James stood on his balcony looking out over as the Capital of the Principate spread out beneath him. All he was wearing was a pair of sleeping pants and an unbuttoned sleeping shirt that was fluttering in the cool night breeze. The door to his bedroom was open and the curtains fluttered as well cooling down his bedchamber.

It was nearing winter and the night was cold, but James didn't feel it as he stood on the balcony deep in thought. His arms were behind his back, the stump where his left hand had once been in the palm of his right hand as he took in the sight. He only ever removed his prosthetic hand to sleep these days, but it was good to get it off from time to time and remember what he had sacrificed to get here.

It had been a week since the Spirit weapon had been destroyed. A week since 5 of his Uniques, a full half of his highest ranking, most loyal, and powerful followers had been killed in the span of 3 days. A full week since he had been forced to kill his own brother.

James felt remorse for that. He felt remorse for all the lives that he had taken on his path to uniting the world, but he knew that it was the right thing to do to ensure a better future for everyone. Death, pain, blood, suffering, they were all parts of war and growth and the generations to come would thank his generation for their sacrifices.

He had accepted that and knew that he could live with it. James had sacrificed his soul for humanity and one day they would understand that what he had done had been necessary for the greater good. It didn't make it any easier to do what he did, however. It certainly didn't help him sleep well at night.

"James, baby, come back to bed." A voice called out from behind him.

James grimaced, he had not wanted to wake his wife with his brooding and thinking but he should have guessed that she'd wake once she felt the cold breeze. Still, her presence soothed his ravaged soul, it always did.

"In time may dear." James called back to Sylvia. "I couldn't sleep so I decided to get some air."

Their marriage was still a secret even the Uniques and highest-ranking members of the Principate, but once they won they would begin to reveal their relationship to people. They had been apart for 7 years and they still couldn't be public, which hurt but both of them knew that it was for the best.

Still, that didn't mean that up here, in his official palace, they couldn't be together the way they craved to be. Sylvia was the deputy Princeps, she was based in the Capital, it was perfectly natural for her to be nearby when the Princeps was in town so that they could smoothly run the Principate.

James hated the ostentatious palace that had been built for him in the mountains that overlooked the city. He had grown up in luxury thanks to his father, but he'd rejected it when he joined the military. He had been in the Imperial Army for almost a decade, living in barracks or sleeping rough while on maneuvers or missions. Then he had spent 7 years in prison where all he had was a mat on a wooden floor. He was no longer used to this kind of opulence, but it was expected of him, so James embraced it.

"What are you thinking of my love." Sylvia purred in his ear bringing his attention back to her.

She had gotten out of bed and had wrapped herself around him from behind, her head against the back of his shoulder and her arms around his waist. She was still naked from their lovemaking earlier and James could feel her large breasts and hard nipples poking him in the pack as she held him close. His love was from the Southern Water Tribe originally, the cold did not affect her at all. James didn't move, he just enjoyed her embrace and the strength and comfort he drew from it.

"Everything." James admitted. "This palace, what happened with Albus, the recent deaths of our friends, and my plans for the future. So much has happened recently and we still have so much more to do to united the world under the banner of the Principate as it should be."

He knew he could tell Sylvia anything that was on his mind. She was his rock, his love, and his confidant. She was the only person he could truly trust in the world. She had been a damaged, abused, addict when he had met her. Between the abuse she had suffered almost all her life and her growing bloodbending abilities James knew that if he hadn't had found her Sylvia would have gone insane and down a dark path.

Fortunately, he had saved her just before she reached her breaking point, helped heal her mentally, and in time their love had blossomed. She had been what he had missed the most while in prison. James knew that with her by his side he could accomplish anything.

"Then unburden yourself on me before we go back to bed." Sylvia said softly and sweetly to him. "You know I am here for you my love."

"I know." James said with a smile that she could see but he made sure that she could hear it in his voice. "There is a lot going on, most of it in the past week, but to an extent I was expecting it."

"You are talking about our losses." Sylvia said sadly and James nodded. "James, we knew the dangers of what we were trying to do, we knew what we faced when we joined your righteous cause. I for one didn't expect all of the Uniques to survive, not against the enemy we are facing. We are at war. War is bloody, it is mess, and people, even good people like the Uniques, die in it."

"I know, I was expecting as much as well." James agreed. "Fighting my father meant that not all of us would live to see our victory and the era of peace we created. I just didn't expect 5 to die within days of each other and none of them in a proper battle."

"Are we sure that they are all dead?" Sylvia asked. "Only Alixan and Gupta's bodies were found so perhaps Darius, Oakham and Arncliffe are alive. Those we know are dead have been laid in state and will be buried in mausoleums to their sacrifices soon. They will be remembered for generations as the heroes of the Principate that they are."

"We may have only found 2 but the other 3 are dead." James confirmed. "We just won't find their bodies but I either saw their death or their dead bodies with my seismic sense. That is why they are having a memorial right now and the tombs to them will be built even if their bodies will never be housed there."

"What happened to them?" Sylvia asked. "I trust you when you say that they are dead, and that their bodies were destroyed but do we know more?"

"Yes, because the LFTM has been broadcasting the news as they flee to the North like the fucking cowards that they are." James growled. "Fortunately, Pocklington is a master of propaganda and spin and has helped us but what they are saying are the only reports we have."

"Can we believe them though?" Sylvia asked. "We know that they will lie and slander us to win, it is why Pocklington is countering them as we speak."

"I can only confirm the full truth of one of their statements, though another is partially true." James said hating that his enemies spoke the truth. "I know that Lily stabbed Arncliffe in the heart. Arncliffe was talking to me at the time of her death and Lily spoke through her, I know my sister, I know it was her. Rose claims to be the one who impaled Oakham, which is true, but I don't know if it was really her who did it. Darius definitely died in the same carriage but the nature of his death, Spirit Healing at Hugo's hands, sounds unlikely."

"I see." Sylvia said sadly. "They will be missed deeply. It is a shame that we won't find their bodies to give them the proper burial they deserve."

"Hard to find what doesn't exist anymore." James said agreeing with his wife. "Arncliffe's body was consumed by lava, I saw that when I went to confirm Arncliffe's death, while the others were vaporized in the explosion that destroyed Albus's body as well as our weapon. They are gone and will be hard to replace, something we almost certainly can't do during the war."

"I understand and our testers are already out in the Principate, searching it to find their potential replacements." Sylvia said reassuringly. "They are seeking children so that we can ensure that they are loyal to you and the Principate."

"Good." James said pleased at the news. "When the war is over, we will replace the Uniques but until then I have appointed replacements from amongst my old officers who I know I can trust. They will sit in my cabinet but not on my council. That is still reserved for Uniques and Uniques alone."

"As it should be." Sylvia said before she paused, and James knew she what she was going to ask and prepared himself for it. "Are you sure that you are ok my love, you know after what happened with your brother?"

James inhaled slowly, enjoying the cold air in his lungs. He knew his wife would ask him and he would have to talk about it this one time. He could be true with her about his feelings on the matter.

"Depends on what you mean by ok." James began thoughtfully. "Am I sorry that Albus is dead, yes, yes I am. But at the same time my brother didn't embrace the glorious future we have envisioned, so he ceased to be my brother at that point. He was trying to stop us, and he succeeded in destroying our weapon in such a way that we can't use it due to the public outcry at a Spirit weapon."

"We've spun that and made sure that the rebels to the north are the ones who took the blame for the weapon." Sylvia said. "That will help us demonize them and ensure that the public is on our side."

"As it should be, they may have destroyed it, but we played it our advantaged." James said pleased with how quickly Pocklington had blamed his father for the Spirit weapon so that they salvaged something from losing it. "Albus deserved his fate, and I will not regret that. Still, I do wish he hadn't chosen the path he did. If he hadn't, he might still be alive today. It has been a challenging time for us, that's for sure."

"Well, you had to face both of your siblings in battle so I can understand that." Sylvia said sympathetically. "It must not have been easy, but you did it and led from the front just like the Princeps should."

"I know." James said with a smile. "And Lily gave me a good fight, as I expected her to, though had we been in better circumstances she wouldn't have lived."

"What do you think they are going to do now?" Sylvia asked.

"Head back North where they are safe." James said simply. "We don't know exactly who was with them other than Lily, Albus, Scorpius, Rose, Hugo, Lorcan and Lysander but we can assume that there was at least one more in their incursion force."

"Who?" Sylvia asked.

" Dominique." James said trying to hide his mixture of sadness and anger at his former best friend's actions against him. "She is the natural choice for leader given her age, experience, and position. Plus, reports seem to point towards her being present. Besides them I am not sure though I doubt it is many more than the ones I have named. Regardless, all are terrorists and criminals in the eyes of the Principate and will be executed should they be captured alive."

"As they should be for their treason towards the Global Principate." Sylvia agreed. "That at least explains 4 of the Uniques but what about Gupta? His body was found in Xidi, far from the Great Divide. He was rooting out traitors down there and somehow died for it. Who killed him?"

"I have a feeling I know who was responsible." James said darkly. "The battle there, the reports we got, and the wounds on Gupta all point to one prime suspect. My father."

"The Avatar is here?" Sylvia said and for the first time James felt fear in his beloved as she trembled against his back. "In the Principate?"

The only person any of them truly feared was the Avatar. Harry's powers were the only thing that could rival James's and as a result they feared him because the Avatar could end James. Even James feared his father as he had defeated him once before and taken his hand in the process. Still, James knew that, in the end, this war would not be won by strength of arms or armies.

No, it would be won when he and his father faced each other in single combat. The winner would control the world, the loser would die, and his forces would crumble with his death. It was what James knew was in his future and something he shared with no one so as to not worry his Uniques. This was a burden and a fight that he alone would endure.

It was a shame that the Avatar had already faced and killed one of his Uniques but that couldn't be avoided. James always knew that one of his loyal supporters would fall to his father, it was a given if any of them challenged him, he just hadn't expected it to Gupta given where Gupta was based. It was not a good sign that the Avatar had been in that backwater shithole.

"I am not sure if he is still in the Principate and even if he was, we wouldn't find him." James said after a moment's thought. "My father has been behind enemy lines before; he knows how to operate without detection. He is powerful, skilled, and smart. He also knows the Earth Provence and can blend in without a problem. Plus, he hasn't been seen publicly in at least 5 years, he is barely recognizable these days. I was surprised when he I saw him at Azkaban, he didn't look like my father at first glance."

"I know, we tried to keep tabs on him while you were locked up, but we couldn't." Sylvia admitted. "It was too risky to do so given his skills and the traveling he did in the poorer parts of the Earth Provence. How did he get to Xidi though? And for that matter, why was he there?"

"How is simple, he snuck in sometime after I saw him at Azkaban and traveled there." James said. "Dad knows the Provence like the back of his hand and he has access to Pyrites's many stashes that likely still exist. Once he was in, he would get what he needed and then head to where he needed to go."

"Ok, I can see that." Sylvia said. "But why Xidi? It's not a place many go willingly and given their history, it's the kinda place the Avatar would usually go to do it duty, not for a social call."

"War and wrong views can make strange bedfellows." James said as he thought on why his father had gone to Xidi but there was only one reason for him to be there. "He chose Xidi for the same reason that I have focused a lot of internal security on that backwards, inbred shithole. It is vitally important to the textile industry due to the raw materials grown there and they are one of the strongest militias with a deep sense of independence and hatred for outsiders. No doubt dad saw them as a potential ally to cause havoc, which they have."

"Yes, I saw the report from the burning of the largest Principate controlled farm there." Sylvia said darkly referring to the report of sedition in Xidi that they had gotten yesterday that had caused serious damage to their textile production. "They are using guerilla tactics, hard to combat given the terrain down there, and our resources aren't focused internally."

"The Principate Police Force has the resources to counter a bunch of redneck yokels hiding the woods." James said confidently. "They can maintain the militias there temporary; I have given executive authority to the new commander of the PPF to ensure it as I have classified the militias down there as terrorists and not deserving of rights."

"Good." Sylvia said. "Wipe them out I say. Make an example of them to show the rest of the Principate that we will not tolerate insurrection against your benevolent and peaceful rule."

"Oh, I will, don't worry about that." James said with conviction in his voice. "Any militiaman caught is to be executed on sight. They are nothing compared to my might and will be maintained while we focus on the next stage of the actual war. Once we have won, I will personally go down to Xidi and crush it beneath my boot. We will break them and ensure that they are no longer a problem."

"That's what I love to hear, really gets the juices flowing when you get all authoritative." Sylvia purred and James smiled, he always turned her on when he was showing the extent of his power. "So, what is the next stage of the war? You were tight lipped at the last meeting about that."

"There were only 3 of you present as Tate and Rohit are still in the Fire Provence preparing the next stage so there was no point telling y'all just yet, not without them present." James said. "And besides, we had to honor our fallen Uniques who gave their loves for the Principate. They were more important. Tate knows the plan and it will be executed soon."

"And that is?" Sylvia said eagerly. "I understand the delay, but you can tell me now my love. I want to know what is coming for our enemies."

"I can and will." James said as a smile touched his lips at the thought. "In 48 hours, at midnight when they are at their weakest, we official launch Operation Beatle when they least expect it. Both pincers will close, and the second fleet will move in. By noon, the Fire Provence will be ours. The exception will be the Caldera and its harbor as it is too well defended."

"Why not there?" Sylvia asked curiously. "Can we not take them?"

"No, we can't, and I don't intend to, not yet anyway." James said shaking his head. "The Caldera has only ever been invaded once, during the Invasion on the Day of the Black Sun towards the end of the 100-year war. The Battle of the Caldera wasn't an invasion, and the defeat of Hermione doesn't count as it wasn't an invasion due to a lack of resistance. We cannot realistically invade it without massive casualties, both civilian and military. No, I have a different plan that will ensure our victory."

"You always do." Sylvia said seductively. "Tell me my love, what is it?"

"That is true." James said with a chuckle. "Instead, we will launch the pincer and take the northern part of the nation to unite as much as possible. Already we know that they are pulling back towards the Capital so it will be easy. We have the forces, and we will win. Only the Capital will remain, and we will leave their port untouched."

"What do you plan on doing with that?" Sylvia asked.

"Why blockade it." James said simply. "We will cut it off from the rest of the nation and lay siege it. It will be similar to how the Fire Nation laid siege to Ba Sing Se after Iroh's failed 600-day campaign. We will starve them out while also spreading propaganda to the Caldera blaming the Firelord for their plight."

"That's brilliant." Sylvia said. "Turn the citizens on him and speed up the siege to force his surrender."

"Precisely and I may even let Druzok live if he does that." James said. "I know that they are well stocked, and have closed up any tunnels in, but we can outlast them. The Fire Province will be all but united by this time next week."

"And then we can turn our attentions north." Sylvia said realizing the rest of the plan. "And take the Northern Air Temple with our greater numbers."

"Exactly." James said. "At the same time as we launch the invasion of the rest of the Fire Provence, I will take our troops that are mobilizing behind our northern border and bring them towards the Temple. We will have an overwhelming advantage in the air and our ground troops are better than there's. They have defended the Temple well, but they will be too distracted by the attack in the Fire Nation to prepare for us and can only defend it with a finite number that we will exceed twofold at least. That battle will begin in a fortnight."

"And soon that will fall as well." Sylvia said gleefully. "And we will have all but the Northern Water Tribe united beneath your banner. Soon there will be only one remaining holdout."

"Yes, we will." James confirmed. "But that will be the hardest to defeat."

"But you have a plan for that as well." Sylvia pointed out.

"Of course I do, but it requires the nation be left till last." James said. "There is a reason why no one has ever conquered it, it is too heavily defended. Even during the 100-year war the North never fell, it was the only place that didn't. My father has closed the Spirit Portal there so we cannot take it from there so we will have to lay siege to it for several months as well."

"That will take a while though." Sylvia said. "Could cause moral problems."

"I know which is why at first we will just consolidate our forces in the northern waters and airs." James said. "Once the Northern Air Temple falls, we can use that as out staging ground for the air force and bring the majority of the fleet up to increase our numbers. Then, so long as everything is in place, we will strike on the Summer Solstice, the one-year anniversary of the Principate, and finally unite all of the Principate."

"Except for the Caldera." Sylvia said with irritation in her voice. "That might still be left."

"If it hasn't fallen by then except for that." James agreed. "But if the North falls, we can bring our forces to bear on the Caldera. With everything else under our control, Druzok will have no choice but to surrender or risk his people dying from starvation or an all-out invasion, which at that point will be on the table. He is a man of honor, not a coward like Hermione, he will accept surrender to save his people."

"I see." Sylvia said excitedly. "And then we will win."

"Yes, yes we will." James said grinning at the thought of victory. "We are doing the right thing; fate and the Spirits are on our side, I know it. The only way to truly balance the world is to unite it under the leadership of one nation, one leader, one people. Without nations or borders we will finally be united, and the Global Principate will bring that unity to the people. When that has finally happened, we will at last have peace."

"I love it when you get like this." Sylvia moaned grinding into James's back. "Makes me so wet just thinking about it."

"Soon my love." James said toying with Sylvia, she always liked that as it drove her made to have to wait for him to be ready. "I have much to make up for but not just yet."

"You want me frothing for you, don't you?" Sylvia pouted. "Keep this up and I might climax before I get you in me."

"It will be the first of many in the hours to come." James said seductively. "All that time in prison just increased my stamina and recharge time."

"You know just how to toy with me." Sylvia said giving into the wait, but James could feel her still grinding into him. "Very well, who shall join you in the North to attack the Temple. Tate and Rohit are in the Fire Provence, so who are you using in the North?"

"Pocklington and Dhillon." James said. "They are all that is left after all, so it has to be them. I need you to stay here and run my Principate from the Capital, as well as the other things you need to do here. I will take the other 2 Uniques with me to liberate the Temple and add it to the Principate."

"They do make the most sense." Sylvia admitted though James could tell that she wanted to join him, but she knew her place and it was here for the moment. "Dhillon is a flyer so he is the best for an attack on an Air Temple. Pocklington is skilled with earth, so she too makes sense as those Temples are almost all earth."

"Yes, that is how has to be." James said. "Pocklington will lead the Temple strike force. She is the best for that and is fully healed from the injuries she suffered in the Battle of Caerdydd. Plus, it is reported that my uncle Ron, who Pocklington hates and has sworn to kill, is at the Northern Air Temple coordinating the defense there so she'd go regardless of orders."

"Will she be able to beat him this time?" Sylvia asked. "She failed last time."

"That is true she did fail but that has only motivated her to be better." James said remembering how they had found a badly wounded Pocklington after her duel with Ron when James liberated Cymru and added it to the Principate. "And she should have an advantage in the Temple, plus she is bringing plenty of glass with her to aid in the assault. She is an exceptional bender and will be in her element. The last time there was rain so Ron could counter her. Not this time."

"That is good." Sylvia said. "And what about Dhillon?"

"He will lead the air." James said. "While I supervise everything from my airship and only engage if need be. Do not worry my love, when we attack the Northern Water Tribe you will be there for that. I need you to command the navy then."

"You know I will." Sylvia said with dedication. "I will always be by your side. Forever and always."

"I know." James said smiling. "You are my most devoted, most faithful follower Sylvia. I need you by my side when we win."

"I will but that is enough talk." Sylvia said and James knew that she wasn't able to contain it anymore. "Take me back to the very fancy bed and fuck my brains out, I need it after all that talk. I need your controlling, dominating hand on me. Chain me up and take me rough just as we both like it."

"In time I will though I still do not like this palace." James said. "It's too fancy for my tastes."

While he enjoyed the sex and their roles in it, James only did the more extreme bondage and sadomasochism for Sylvia's sake as she was the one really into it. It was odd that someone who was a bloodbender was so into being a sexual submissive, but it was one of the ways that Sylvia coped with everything that had happened early in her life and James was more than willing to help her out. She was the love of his life after all so he would do what he could to help her.

"I know you don't, but it is a necessary evil." Sylvia said softly. "All great leaders need a large palace to overlook their people, something the people can look up to and see their leader as above them, just as it should be. It is intimidating, aspirational, and a sign of authority and respect. That is why we had it built up here for you. The Presidential Palace in the city is good for administrative shit but this is the seat of you power. Embrace it."

"For the sake of the Principate I will." James said knowing that what Sylvia had said was true. "But only that. I have lived this life before and it gave me no joy, only an emptiness that was not fulfilled. Not until I found my true purpose in the world thanks to my father, even if he cannot accept his own words, did I find that fulfillment. I am a soldier, give me a cot or the earth and I am perfectly happy, though not wood, I can't sleep on wood. After all those years in prison I can never sleep on wood again."

"That is understandable my dear." Sylvia said sweetly. "After what happened to you, you should never have to endure that injustice again. I know you prefer the simple life of the soldier, but you were never meant for that. You were always meant for greatness. You were meant to be the Princeps, to lead the world into unity and balance such that it has never seen in all of human history. You are so much more than that and there are expectations that come with it."

"I understand and I will embrace them no matter how much I dislike them." James agreed. "I know that I am the only person with the power, the skills, and the history to pull this off. It was why I undertook this burden for the sake of the world, my soul is but a small price to achieve our goals. It took many years and many sacrifices, including my own freedom for a while, to reach this point but once we win it will be worth it."

"You know what needs to be done, no matter how unpleasant or wrong." Sylvia said. "Only a man who understood the necessity of what is needed to be done and did it with his own hands, who sacrificed his very humanity for the sake of the world can truly lead the Principate through its creation and into the new golden age of mankind. Only a man like yourself who does not seek power for the sake of power can truly hold power. It is why many support you and why we will win this war."

"Thank you, my love." James said with love for his wife in his voice. "You truly understand me more than anyone else and allow me these moments so that I can be the Princeps when the time comes."

"That is one of my many talents." Sylvia said seductively. "Just remember that we are all here for you and we all support you in this endeavor. We all knew that some of us Uniques might not survive and we all made the decision to join knowing that we might have to lay down our lives so that the Principate and future generations can thrive under the leadership of the Princeps and his successors. We will do whatever it takes to ensure that."

"And that is why all those who fall in this war, especially the Uniques, will be honored as the heroes that they are." James said. "We will win, we will unite the world and we will restore balance at last. We will crush all in our way so that those who come after us may never know war or suffering again."

"Yes, we will." Sylvia purred grinding even harder into him. "But now I am practically climaxing. Take me my Princeps. Take me as you see fit. I am yours to do as you please. Take me the way you will soon take the world."

James didn't need to say anything more, he was ready and at peace with his thoughts. Sylvia had helped soothe his soul and prepare him for what was to come. Now it was her turn for a reward that only he could give her.

With an animalistic growl, James turned and swept his naked wife up into his arms, his lack of a left hand not hindering him at all as he kissed her passionately while carrying her into the bedroom. With a mental nudge, James used the metal in the balcony door to close and lock it so that they could have privacy.

With the room secure, James threw his wife off him and onto the bed. She bounced slightly before she sprawled there, a naked goddess waiting to be ravished by him. With his one hand, James ripped his sleeping clothes off. He was rock hard and ready for Sylvia. He didn't wait. He fell on her and their passion began knowing that soon all that she had said would be true.

By the end of the month all that would be left would be the Northern Water Tribe but that was a battle for another day. Right now, he had to enjoy the pleasures of his wife, pleasures that had been denied him for 7 years.

Tonight, he and Sylvia would redefine what pleasure meant. That was the last thing that went through James's mind as he slipped into the bliss and embrace of his wife and their lovemaking.

A little look at how James sees the recent events and rationalizes what he had to do and what must still be done in the coming chapters as the Principate War begins to ramp up and the plans are in place for the final battle. There is still much more to tell before then so stay tuned for the next arc of the story. However, that is all for now so as always, please follow and favorite both this and myself so that you can stay up to date with new releases (chapters and stories) and please keep the reviews coming as I do love to hear from y'all regarding my work, it means a lot to me. Until next time.

Stringdog