Soraya dashed through the Hanging Gardens of JinOKai. A scampering fawn with markings on its back darted to the sides, always managing to keep out of her reach. Around it's neck was an silk olive band and tied onto it with a tiny knot was an diamond-shaped emerald surrounded by gold.
"Rayanicus! Come back!" Soraya puffed as she chased after her escaping pet.
She waved her hand. Let him run, she was too fatigued to keep up. She turned and strolled on a neatly trimmed dirt pathway, shaded by several wooden arches that were shrouded in thick green vines and lush foliage. Emerging from the sheltered tunnel, she arrived at a valley, the heart of the Hanging Gardens. The entire basin itself was shaded by lofty palm trees, especially at the center, where the jagged leaves soared up to the sky. The gentle golden sunlight poked through the leaves, crafting illuminated patchwork at the bottoms of the vigorous streams and octagonal ponds. Exotic flowers with petals extended adorned shrubbery outlining the valley. Peacocks with sapphire chests and turquoise feathered tails fanned out strutted the grounds egotistically. Carp and Coy painted with the colors of the sunrise, red, gold, orange, white, anf brown, leapt out of the ponds leaving rippling echoes on the surface. Small beige deer and rabbits darted in and out of the seven pathways and forests that all lead to the valley. Soraya trotted to a ebony wooden bench encased with opals and seashells, where she found her mother stroking a trilling peacock under the beak.
"Mother!" Soraya exclaimed. Empress Emseirildia glared at Soraya; her gorgeous sea green eyes ablaze with fury.
"I was acquainted with your exploit to the Fire Nation the other day."
"Oh? Did Genji tell you? That traitorous blabbermouth! That good-for-nothing- "
"Oh no that's Sokka!" Katara chirped as she ran by, chasing peacocks with Aang.
"Your Father; he's having trouble in several Earth Kingdoms. Some of the splendid, Onyrashu, Fekhromah, and Igiris have all fallen to the Fire Nation. Being the Grand Emperor of the Earthen Empire; they may target his home or family! You can't go running off! Your inexperienced! A woman's job is to-"
"Mother! Your just like Genji! What's wrong with being strategic and witty? Women are useful for more things than batting their eyelashes! You want me to marry some prince you've chosen, then become a housewife and tend the children; forever lying in HIS shadow!" Soraya exploded and angrily raced back to the palace like a determined stallion.
The General's Tent at a Fire Nation Encampment
General Riko'rah whipped the metal pointer at the large map.
"Quite significant, it is, that we reach and vanquish the Earthen capital by Midsummer's Night. It has come to my attention that the crass individual claiming to be the avatar has come to master waterbending. Any sooner, he may perfect that bestial savagery associated with rocks approved as a bending art. Due to the devastating outcome at the temple; (glared at Zhao) where some of us believe 'Avatar Roku' came back to defend his apprentice, we gathered that Sozan's Comet shall return near the end of the summer. We'll have to have Ba Sing Se under our command without the its power."
"Sir!" Zhao saluted as he stood, "Would it not be easier and less time consuming to have them surrender?"
"Elaborate."
"Taking something dear…" Zhao proposed with a triumphant smirk. General Riko'rah stroked his chin and smiled satanically, revealing gleaming fangs,
"I know just where to start."
The Palace of JinOKai: A window overlooking the Strata Delle Sinai Courtyard leading to the Hanging Gardens
Soraya settled on a window-sill and glared out the window, where sparrows twittered and darted by. Suddenly, she felt an arm warmly touch her shoulder.
Katara smiled warmly at her and softly whispered, "Are you alright?"
Touched by the girls sensitivity, Soraya's expression softened. "No! Everyone wants me to marry a prince and become a housewife. I DON"T WANT TO! I want to make a difference; leave an impression…I'm just as rightful a leader of this empire as any male!"
Katara snarled. "I know just what you mean…"
Suddenly, Empress Emseirildia ran up to them; frantically waving her arms; blood burning below her cheeks.
"Girls! Girls!" she shouted.
"What is it!" Soraya and Katara said in anxious unison, as Soraya leapt to her feet.
"He-he never came back…" Empress Emseirildia sobbed. She covered her face with her palms and fell to her knees to break into mournful weeps. Sounds so sorrowful emerged from her throat, they charmed the birds from their joyous being, the carp from vigorous leaping, the flowers from exotic bloom. Soraya tried to surface with a comforting comment, but she couldn't utter a syllable. All she emerged with were choking sounds.
"S-S-o he's g-gone to defend an-a-n-another city! He'll come back!" Soraya declared with her voice trembling like a plucked violin string.
"You don't understand…he'll never come back…" the somber Empress raised her sea green eyes to look at her daughter; so swollen from tears that tangled red veins completely covered sclera. Imprints of tears stained her face like dried riverbeds. Gorgeous auburn hair that once cascaded to her shoulders stuck outwards in random places as a sparrow's nest would.
Soraya widened her eyes realization and denial. "No!" she yelped as if she had been burned.
She ran to the large, tastefully adorned throne room and shrieked at what she saw. Two able-bodied Earth soldiers carried the imperial olive sarcophagus, trimmed with gold on the edges and the earth symbol on the top. Soraya threw herself at the casket and her shouts of "No!" gradually decrescendoed to muffled murmurs through her loud sobbing. Pulling her away from the foreboding omen, Genji apologized to the cheerless men, whose eyes no longer twinkled with excitement, like most earthbenders, and dragged her to her room.
Aboard Zuko's Ship
"WHY?" Zuko demanded. His eyes ablaze with excitement, commanded an answer.
"It is going to be one of the final and most devastating offenses of the Fire Nation siege! It's imperative that as many soldiers, especially firebenders, actively participate." Iroh explained; frustrated with his nephew's cynical questioning.
"But from Zhao?" the prince insisted turning to the side. Iroh struggled to move to Zuko's vision, but the young heir kept flinching and turning.
"It doesn't matter who invited you! The Fire Nation must remain unified until we emerge victorious!" Prince Zuko snorted with resentment. "Where did you say it was?"