(Dragonstone: 10/2/298 AC) Margaery III

The sound of twenty pairs of feet, her own included, rose and fell in unison. The thundering sound reverberated within her bones, as the platoon drew in shallow, quick, breaths during their morning run. The cool ocean breeze swept over them, bringing some relief, during their laps around the walls lining the Academy grounds. The sun had begun to rise, casting long shadows across the green field surrounding the path. Her hair was damp with sweat, and dirt coated her face. Several droplets slid down her neck and arms, tickling her as they did, giving her goosebumps, and causing a slight shiver. Lieutenant Chi-Ha led the senior group, clad in the same training uniforms as they were, running stiffly and with nary a bead of sweat marring the scarred features of her exposed back.

"I hear troubled breath within the ranks! Do you grow weary!?" the Lieutenant shouted.

"Ma'am! No ma'am!" they replied, between labored gasps. Their group rounded the west side wall of the Academy, passing the guard tower, and nearing the western wall of the recess field. A wooden archway lined with the banners of the Burning Stag indicated the western entrance to the recess field and the rest of the Academy. A stone path led down from the western gate to the castle of Dragonstone.

"Do you require rest?! A warm bed to ease your pain!?"

"Ma'am! No ma'am!" they answered, passing by the wooden archway and the fluttering banners of the Burning Stag. Within the concrete courtyard of the Academy, Margaery caught sight of the other classes forming up to begin their day of school, standing at attention beneath the twin shadows cast by the large bronze statues of the Lord and Fire Lord of Dragonstone.

The Fire Lord's bronze form stood, facing east, right arm stretched skyward with flame in hand, while the other wielded a sword bearing the likeness of 'Scarred Brother.' Its point faced downward to the dark stone platform on which both statues stood. The Fire Lord's gaze focused upon the forever burning flame within its extended hand, while Lord Stannis' statue was rigid, broad-shouldered, and stern. Like the Fire Lord's own, his statue wielded the large bronze replica of his Valyrian sword, 'Nameless,' as it pointed towards the sky, straight and true. The statue stared forward casting its withering gaze upon those who entered from the west, judging those who entered just as it judged the setting sun. 'Of all the interactions Steffon and Ursa had had within the Academy before their paths diverged,' Margaery remembered, 'sitting side by side before those statues had been the only place where both could be seen at peace with one another.' She had spied them once, in silent contemplation, during the early mornings before classes had begun.

"Good! Pain is in your mind!" Chi-Ha replied, with even breath. "Since we are being talkative! Recite the oath, cadets!"

Margaery felt them all breathe in as one. "My life I give to my country! With my hands, I fight for Fire Lord Azula, Lord Stannis, King Robert, and our forefathers before them! With my mind, I seek ways to better my country! And with my feet may our March of Civilization continue!"

"Beautifully said, cadets! You should all be singers! Almost made me cry!"

'Pfft,' she thought, as their group rounded to the northern wall of the courtyard. Several Flameguard stood watch, while several more escorted Overseer Mai, Instructor Chang, and the Red Priestess Cyvia down the stone path to the nearby Administration grounds.

As they passed by the northern entrance of the recess field, Margaery chanced another look, searching for little Ty Lee. Unfortunately, she caught a glimpse of Takkar strutting around the grounds with his thugs.

"Ugh, that preening little shit," she heard Kai whisper to her side. Evidently, he had been curious too.

"Cut the chatter, cadet!" Chi-Ha chastised, somehow overhearing their hushed words.

Margaery could not help but agree with Kai's unflattering words. 'Takkar thought himself better than them all, yet he hid it under the insidious guise of politeness, and generosity.' Chang's son had first taken advantage of Ursa's absence, three years ago, to assert his position as the new leader of Ursa's former followers. Then, once the heir of Dragonstone had begun his tour of the Stormlands, Takkar had wasted no time in claiming portions of Steffon's own followers. Steffon, accompanied by Theon, had returned several months ago to speak with the Fire Lord before she had set sail for King's Landing. Once his business with the Fire Lord had concluded, he had gathered the four of them together, past midday, to come down to the cave and celebrate his birthday, before departing yet again for the Stormlands.


Dragonstone (12/30/297 AC: Dance Cave)

"Why are you allowing this travesty, Steffon? Return to the Academy, and put that fool in his place!" Kai questioned, slamming his fist into his palm. Several seagulls squawked in the distance, mixing with the soothing sound of the beating waves.

"Takkar is not my concern. The title of Fire Lord grants one leadership and jurisdiction over the citizens of the Fire Nation. A group of which Takkar can count himself amongst, I might add. That title is not mine to claim nor are the responsibilities associated with it mine to enforce unless my mother has given me permission to do so in her stead. And once the Fire Lord passes, that mantle of responsibility will fall upon Ursa. Not me. However, in the here and now, after we depart those duties will fall upon Overseer Mai. Therefore, she will be the only one who has the right to reprimand Takkar, in my mother's absence," Steffon replied calmly, as he sat on his stone seat, and sipped at his tea. "Besides," he smiled, "I don't want to embarrass him. All of his work at undermining Ursa, and I, within the Academy has not gone unnoticed. Not by me, not by my mother. If we so cared to, he could suddenly find all of his work turned into shame and foolishness."

'Not to mention what would happen if Ursa returned to Dragonstone prematurely,' Margaery thought, she held no doubt on who would be raked over the coals upon Ursa's return.

"Braaahgt!" All within snapped their attentions towards Theon, who sat by the large table lined with meats, cheeses, and various fruits. He held a cup, of what was decidedly not tea, firmly in his grasp. "Pardon me," he pounded his chest, then reached for another piece of goat cheese. "If Steffon says there is nothing to concern ourselves about with that woman-footed pissant, then I believe him. Especially if the Fire Lord is also aware of Takkar and his little games. Fire Lord Azula has fought and defeated far more dangerous enemies, and even now she heads into King's Landing to do gods know what. Hopefully, she'll have King Robert cleanse the court of all those perfumed ass-kissing shits."

"And perhaps fix the drains and cisterns," Steffon added. "We still reek of shit from our time there when we were knighted."

"No Steffon, I think that's just Greyjoy. He left Dragonstone smelling like shit."

"Ha. Ha. Aren't you a funny one?" Theon replied to Kai's, not wholly untrue, jest.

"Are you not worried the Fire Lord will be too distracted by King's Landing to pay the Academy mind?" she stated, rubbing her hands together. The ocean breeze had grown much cooler with the nearby storm.

Steffon rose, and walked towards her, unlatching his cloak. "No. We are not worried," he swung the thick cloth around her, securing it to her shoulders.

She looked at him as he fiddled with the cloak, and felt herself shiver. "Thank you," she nodded.

"You are welcome," Steffon smiled before he continued his previous line of thought. "The Fire Lord trusts the Lady Mai above all others, and I will admit that she is certainly worthy of the trust my mother affords her. This would only be cause for worry if the Fire Lord were to perish, and I find that unlikely. My father's assessment of my mother's impending presence within King's Landing was astute."

"Which was?" she asked, snuggling up underneath Steffon's borrowed cloak.

"He likened her to an Essosi fang-rat sneaking into a sleeping viper's nest," Steffon replied, stalking the table near Theon to pick at a loose cut of braised beef.

"Ha! Now that is entirely accurate!" Theon laughed, having procured a small knife to cut slices out of an apple he had snatched from the table.

"What?" she asked, slowly nearing the banquet table they all seemed to be gravitating towards. "I do not follow."

"An Essosi fang-rat is no bigger than an alley cat. It is not an intimidating creature, but it has the habit of killing all forms of serpents it encounters. It does not do this to eat them. Most of the time," Kai shrugged. "It just does it because it can."

"Perhaps not that accurate," Theon amended his previous statement. "The Fire Lord is most assuredly intimidating. Seven-hells so is her heir for that matter. Like it or not, Ursa will be the next Fire Lord, and I just hope being in the north has not caused her to lose her…edge."

"I do not think we have to worry about that. Even before she was sent north, when she was only nine, the Academy and all the students therein feared her," Kai stated.

'Except for two,' the thought flashed in Margaery's head.

"Regardless, we have to do something Steffon," she pleaded, her words echoing within the cave. "We can't just let Takkar do what he wants. What about Ty Lee?"

"Ha! Takkar may be ambitious, but he's not stupid. If my sister so much as catches a fever from him, mother will have him drawn and quartered that same day."

"And what of the rest of our friends?" she asked.

"She is right, Steffon. Look around you." Kai added. "Stone seats which once held our closest friends, now lie empty and cold. Why does the Fire Lord allow the future of her Fire Nation to be slaved to that pompous twit?" Kai began to pace around the cave, clenching his fist and causing the flames of their torch stands to rise in anger.

"Do not worry," Steffon stated, reinforcing his earlier declaration. "I appreciate your loyalty. Truly, I do. I know all of you only wish to see me safe, and secure, and to have all of our friends close," Steffon glanced towards Theon. "Well, him, not so much."

Theon, who had been busy chewing a bit of apple, smiled and waved his hand in acknowledgment. "It's true. He owes me coin. I want him dead."

"I do not owe you coin, Greyjoy," Steffon replied, looking back towards them all. "But my mother has bidden nothing be done, or at the very least, not by us. If she has plans, they are for her alone to implement. I will not interfere, nor will I question them. It is not my place. Nor is it yours."

The flames flickered in anger, "Urgh!" Kai grunted in frustration. He stalked towards the mouth of the cave and set his gaze out, looking towards the horizon. The crashing waves provided a break from the awkward silence. After several moments, she saw Kai's shoulders drop, and heard a deep intake of breath. The intensity of the flames lowered, signaling his calmed state. Kai turned to them, "Apologies," he stated simply.

"No apologies necessary, old friend," Steffon walked up towards Kai, and both clasped their hands around each other's forearms. They patted each other shoulders for a moment before Kai broke into a smile.

"Fine then! Let's eat, and put aside this worrisome nonsense," Kai proclaimed, as he rubbed his hands, eager to get at the banquet before them.


(Dragonstone: 10/2/298 AC) Margaery III

Even after the cave, she and Kai had still at least attempted to maintain the loyalty of the others. Out of sheer stubbornness and devotion, if nothing else, to Steffon. They had even gone so far as to be inducted into the Academy's Officer training program, in an effort to stem their friend's hemorrhaging of allies. However, as time wore on, they both began to notice more and more of their own slipping through their fingers. Those she would have once called their closest friends had abandoned them, for little reason other than because Steffon had been absent.

She felt eyes on her and looked to her left, spying Overseer Mai and her small entourage looking over the passing group. For the briefest of instants, she locked eyes with the Overseer, her friend, and her thoughts calmed. For what reason, she knew not, only that she had been calmed. 'Instructor Chang looks displeased,' she smiled, seeing the retreating form of Takkar's father.

"Cadets have you had enough!?"

"Ma'am! No ma'am!" she replied with the rest, even though she knew most of their legs were ready to give out underneath them.

"Are you certain? My legs grow sore!" The Lieutenant stated.

"Ma'am! Yes ma'am!" they replied, knowing it was a trick meant to push them harder.

They circled around and came upon the eastern wall of the recess field. Chi-Ha lead them along the path entering into the recess field, a path Margaery traveled out of every moon. 'I will visit you again, my friend.'

"Such a beautiful day, cadets! I say four more laps around the Academy!"

They all groaned.

"What's that cadets!? Excitement?! Eight more laps it is!" the Lieutenant ordered joyously.

'Kill me,' she thought, looking over to Kai who had the same expression she did.

After nearly an hour-and-a-half of running, her legs screaming in pain all the way did Lieutenant Chi-Ha finally bring them into the now empty recess field and relent their endurance training.

"Platoon! Halt!" her scarred instructor commanded.

She and the rest of her fellow cadets, stood stiffly, facing forward as the lieutenant strode towards the entrance to the academy.

"Left face!"

Margaery turned in unison with the others. The soft scraping sound of light boots slid along the concrete and broke the silence in the recess field. A burning sensation coursed up and down the length of her legs as she stood straight with her hands at her sides. The lieutenant closed into the left of the formation, and went down the line, pausing every so often to inspect a cadet or two.

"You!" the instructor shouted to a student behind Margaery's sight. "How is your arm?!"

"Ma'am! My arm is well, ma'am!" she heard Haruto's voice respond. The large bully with sullen eyes had chosen to repeatedly terrorize the diminutive daughter of Xai Bau years ago. Until one day he had the ill fortune of doing so one too many times. No one knew what had transpired that recess period, only that Jun, Brienne, and Princess Ursa, who had never been seen together before had inexplicably become close friends. Haruto, on the other hand, had come to class the next day with a broken arm. Never again had he tormented the small girl.

"Good! The Fire Lord's army does not allow weakness to permeate its ranks!" The lieutenant continued on down the line. "Hmm," she came upon Kai, looking him up and down. "You are strong. But can you lead? Would you consider yourself a worthy addition to the Fire Nation army? Does such a possibility interest you?"

She saw Kai puff up his chest in pride. "Ma'am! Yes, ma'am! It would be my honor to serve our nation as both soldier, and commander, if the Fire Lord so wills it! If the Fire Lord does not, then it has been an honor to serve as a student within her Academy!"

"Praise be to her," Lieutenant Chi-Ha stated, as she stood there, silently analyzing Margaery's childhood friend. "Spoken true, and from the heart. Nearly word for word from the text." The woman raised a brow, "Do you enjoy Instructor Tima's readings? Do you relish every opportunity to learn about our history?"

"Ma'am! Yes, ma'am! Learning from our past helps us to anticipate our future! Allowing us to usher in a new age of prosperity for the Fire Nation, and for Westeros," Kai replied, his back stiff and eyes straight.

"Indeed it does, cadet," her instructor stated. Chi-Ha's words lingered in the air for several moments, before she continued on to her.

"And you," Chi-Ha peered into her eyes, "outsider?" Almond-shaped dull gold met their round brown counterparts. "Do you share your fellow cadet's conviction?"

"Ma'am! Yes, ma'am!" she responded, "Always!" Margaery heard the soft cry of a woman deep within her mind. 'A memory from long ago,' she thought. The cry was replaced by the image of the mother who did not share her blood but had cared for her all the same.

"Your curls are really bouncy," she remembered her mentor and friend, Ty Lee, stating while puffing up her hair like a pillow. Ty Lee's fingers had run through her hair in an attempt to tame, and mold, it into a style similar to her own. A rosy sweet scent followed the pleasant memory, and Margaery felt a small sense of happiness.

"So you say," the lieutenant muttered, narrowing her eyes. "Do you hold no ill will towards the Fire Lord for taking you away from your family?"

"Ma'am! No ma'am!" she replied. A small part of her had hesitated, but only just.

Chi-Ha looked down towards the few the columns that followed Margaery's own. "At ease!" the woman commanded as she clasped her hands behind her back. The platoon relaxed, mimicking the lieutenant's stance, and releasing their mutually baited breath. "You have all performed exceptionally well! As expected from those who follow the inexorable will of the Fire Lord!" A scarred face surveyed the gathered cadets, "All of you are truly a testament to the discipline and strength that the Fire Nation provides to those with enough courage and wisdom to submit to its teachings! Always remember, that the legacy bestowed upon you comes with thousands of years of history!" Margaery's instructor looked to and fro, examining the formation one last time. "You are all to proceed to the bathhouses, and then your classes. Cleanse your bodies, and change your clothes. You have one hour. Dismissed!"

All bowed, snapping their legs together, and presenting the Fire Nation salute of fist below vertical palm.