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For years, he had been stuck - no, trapped - in the watery-grave that the damned Ocean Spirit had vanquished him to. Because of those fucking boys, the Avatar and the pathetic failure, he had been humiliated during what was supposed to have been his crowning achievement.
Zhao the Moon Slayer! Zhao the Invincible! Zhao the Conqueror! Instead, those grand titles were stolen from him by the Avatar!
Legends would have been told for countless generations of his magnificence, of his power that was great enough to slay the Moon Spirit itself. He had permanently darkened the Moon, thus achieving something that would have placed him on the same pedestal as the most-esteemed Fire Lord Sozin, giving his Noble House more power; he was to be married into the Fire Royal Family and sire a son, the next Fire Lord after Fire Lord Ozai through Princess Azula. Everything was within his grasp, but then the Dragon of the West, the general who had laid siege to the great city of Ba Sing Se for six-hundred days, the son of the prodigious Fire Lord Azulon, and an heir to Sozin had interfered! That washed-up, tea-loving, traitorous bastard had ruined Zhao's chances to make sure that the damned Moon Spirit had stayed dead, had begun the trek of his downfall; he had stolen his future!
Then when he had dueled the pathetic son of the great Fire Lord Ozai, Zhao had felt the glow of the Moon Spirit shine upon him, condemning him, mocking him. He had known, and he still did, that it was the Avatar who had restored the Moon Spirit! That fucking boy! Then the Ocean had swallowed him whole and Zhao had been stuck in his isolation ever since; it was agony, unrelenting and perpetual.
He would admit that the Ocean Spirit certainly was clever; his prison was something he doubted that anybody would think of, nonetheless construct.
For years, Zhao had been submerged into the darkest, deepest depths of the ocean, forced to die every time Agni's great light set. Then he would miraculously heal once the sun rose and it's great light shone through the murky ocean until it stretched upon his drowned, trapped form, bringing awareness back into his mind. The Ocean Spirit would never let him die, forcing Zhao to endure eternal torment as the world passed him by, dreams of conquest forever stilled by the mighty ocean. Despite being imprisoned in the very ocean itself, whispers had reached his ears of a spirit that all spirits feared, even the Ocean Spirit.
Vaatu.
It was the key to Zhao's freedom! He could finally leave his accursed prison. He had to contact the spirit, but he knew that for Vaatu to release him from his torment, Zhao would need something that the Spirit of Darkness and Chaos desired, and luckily, because of the rumors that had reached his drowned ears, he knew exactly what information would earn him his freedom.
'Vaatu!' He tried calling out but could not, for his voice was permanently fused shut from an unknown force. His crazed, golden eyes smashed shut and Zhao amplified his thoughts of that one word, desperately hoping that the mighty spirit would free him from his suffering. He had no idea how long he continued to call out for Vaatu; it could have been years, probably had been. He had felt himself die and then had been, subsequently, revived countless times only to continue his call to the spirit, using all of his energy for his task; he needed to seek revenge on the boys who had humiliated him on multiple occasions!
Zhao felt the abrupt change as the area around him shifted; cold flooded his soul and darkness surrounded him. He could suddenly breathe for the first time in years and he greedily inhaled as much as he could of the divine substance.
"This is most rare, refreshing really. It's not often that a mortal calls upon my name with such insistence." A voice slithered into his ears as a viper and Zhao shivered at the amount of power those few words contained. It would be a power that would destroy the Avatar! "You probed my curiosity."
He slowly turned around and stared at the being before him in terrified awe. A massive, black form with lines of swirling purple energy coiled through his body in an ancient bearing. Wisps of unholy darkness cascaded off of the spirit in waves and Zhao suddenly bowed as he recognized that he was in the presence of someone above him.
"Mighty Vaatu," he began with utter respect coloring his tone as if he were speaking to Fire Lord Sozin himself. "I have called upon your name with absolute vitality in the hope that you would grant me an audience. I possess knowledge that could potentially be crucial to your agenda."
Zhao kept his eyes on the rough, sandy ocean floor as Vaatu floated closer, the unbearable chill growing more apparent. "What knowledge could a mortal possess that would interest me? I am ancient! You dare?"
"I would like to offer a trade, Mighty Vaatu," Zhao said confidently even though fear had begun to whittle its way into his heart. "It would be of great benefit to you."
A gasp escaped his lips as the pressure intensified and darkness seeped into his heart, "You presume much, mortal. Despite the obvious, you have snared my curiosity again for but a mere moment. What is your name, human?"
"My name is Zhao," the former Admiral of the Fire Nation declared proudly. "I am a Child of Fire who was robbed of his crowning achievement- "
Vaatu interrupted him, surprising him as the spirit chuckled, sounding like death incarnate. "So, you are the one who attempted to murder the Moon Spirit; I guess that I shouldn't be so surprised. After all, you are trapped in eternal torment by her brother." The cold that had seeped into his soul intensified and he was fearful that Vaatu had somehow been insulted, but he carried on, refusing to be denied.
"You have heard of me?" Zhao asked, delighted that his legend had, in fact, been spread.
"Of course," the spirit floated closer, darkness stifling. "Your failure to murder the Moon Spirit, that had been thwarted by the Avatar and another, saved you from the Void of Eternity, a place where no one, mortal or immortal, would dare willingly enter. Even I with my immense power only travel through the Void of Eternity during the rarest of occasions. Those who perpetrate the death of a Major Spirit, such as one of the Elementals, among others, are condemned to the Void for Eternity." Vaatu's words were ominous and somehow, Zhao felt slightly thankful that the Avatar had somehow saved the Moon Spirit. "Anyways, my patience is beginning to wane. What is it the knowledge that you claim to possess, mortal?"
Zhao swallowed, "In exchange for my freedom from this damned prison of torture, I will tell you the location of the Moon and Ocean Spirits' mortal forms."
Silence reigned as Vaatu's form stared down at him, but Zhao refused to back down for he needed his freedom, needed his vengeance!
"Indeed, this is most interesting," the dark spirit murmured silkily, words echoing throughout the ocean, chasing away potential eavesdroppers. "Besides your desire to be free from your prison designed by the Ocean Spirit, why do you ache to tell me of my kin's location?"
"I need revenge!" Zhao spat out, reminded of how close he had been to greatness only for it to be snuffed out by the Avatar and that pathetic heir to Sozin. "The Avatar humiliated me many times and so did Zuko, that marked fucker! I don't know how long I've been trapped in this damned prison, might Vaatu! For all I know, centuries have passed! They cheated me of my crowning moment, and I want their heads on pikes so that I can spit on them!"
"Here is a counterproposal, Zhao." Vaatu whispered enticingly, "I will free you from your torment and you will join my crusade of vengeance against the Avatar; you would be a great help for you are already familiar with my vessel. In exchange, you will give me the knowledge of the location where the mortal forms of the Ocean and the Moon lay hidden. Then you will have your retribution towards the Avatar and Fire Lord Zuko in ways that you cannot even fathom."
Zhao's eyes blazed with hate, the words mocking him. "That pathetic, pile of Dragon shit is Fire Lord?" He screeched, unable to grasp a reality where that traitor sat on the Dragon's Throne.
"You have missed out on much, my friend. Over eight years have passed since the end of the Great War. The Avatar defeated the Fire Nation, but a reckoning is coming and Aang will not be able to stop the inevitable - darkness will dominate the Realms!"
Falling to his knees, Zhao knelt before the powerful spirit, "I agree to your terms, Vaatu." The moment when the words left his lips, darkness swallowed him whole and Zhao felt absolute ice begin to form in the very blood in his body, the frigid feel enlightening. Then Zhao felt the glorious feel of grass under his feet and he leaned down, clenching his scarred fists into the lush, green substance.
"Now, the location of the Moon and Ocean, Zhao." Vaatu hissed and the hair on the back of Zhao's wet neck rose erect. "I released you from your prison, and I can just as easily return you to it."
Zhao nodded, knowing that it was the truth. "In the Northern Water Tribe, there is a place called the 'Spirit Oasis,'" he noticed that Vaatu seemed to freeze at that information, but he continued. "The Spirit Oasis has been declared sacred by the Waterbenders, none willing to ever enter save for their Royal Family of peasants. In the center of the Spirit Oasis, in a pond of Spirit Water, the Moon and Ocean circle each other in an eternal dance; their mortal forms are Koi Fish, one black and the other white."
"And, pray tell, where did you learn this information, Zhao?"
He looked up at his savior, "In a desert, in the Earth Kingdom, there was an enormous library filled with knowledge. There, I learned of- "
Vaatu interrupted him, understanding inflicting his voice, "Ahh… He-Who-Knows-10,000-Things. You see, Zhao, you are exactly what I have needed. Come, let me reunite you with a… familiar face."
Foreboding hissed in his ears, but Zhao grinned as he was swallowed by shadows once more, and when the darkness faded, Zhao felt his features widen in disbelief. There, right before him, Fire Lord Ozai narrowed his gaze onto him.
He felt the reflex to bow, "Fire Lord Ozai!" He exclaimed in shock.
Before Zhao could react, with speed that was envious of an Airbender, Fire Lord Ozai rushed forward with only one arm - how could the powerful Fire Lord Ozai lose an arm? - and gripped his neck with unrelenting strength. Without a wince of effort, Fire Lord Ozai hoisted Zhao in the air, squeezing his throat tightly, cutting off his air.
"You dare?" Golden eyes burned with fierce power, freezing him even though he couldn't move to begin with. "I should rip your head from your shoulders! You have the gall to show yourself before me after your colossal failure? Because of you, the Avatar," he spat with such hatred that Zhao cowered in place. "That stupid monk-child was able to defeat me during Sozin's Comet, the Waterbenders still exist, and my worthless and treacherous son sits on the Dragon's Throne all because of your incompetence!"
Zhao gasped, trying to breathe, but wasn't able to. He glanced at Vaatu, who remained an amused bystander. "My liege," he choked out, vision dimming as the furious eyes of Fire Lord Ozai crucified him.
"That's enough, Ozai." Vaatu murmured and after several seconds, Fire Lord Ozai dropped Zhao, who fell to his knees in a heap of exhaustion. "Your former Admiral sought me out, and offered the most valuable information we need in exchange for his release from his prison."
"And what information, pray do tell, did you offer him, Zhao?"
He couldn't answer for he was still sucking in precious oxygen so Vaatu did, instead. "We have searched for the Ocean and Moon Spirits for some time now, Ozai. Thanks to Zhao, we now know where they are. Soon, Water will become ingrained in our arsenal of power."
Fire Lord Ozai's golden eyes darted towards Vaatu, "Where are they?"
"The Northern Water Tribe."
"What? I thought that you- "
"I know what I said!" A frigid cold began to encompass the area, "The letter that we intercepted from the Avatar said was something about the 'Spirit Oasis' and how the North must be cautious. It made no mention of the Ocean and Moon Spirits, Ozai. Now we can begin to build a force to invade the Northern Water Tribe, corrupting them to join our legions."
Zhao watched as fire bloomed across Fire Lord Ozai's lone hand, crackling flames echoed through the area. "Good, that's good," he turned towards Zhao and tilted his head, eyes alight with a dangerous glow. "Zhao, it is a... pleasure to be in the presence of an old friend. I will be Vaatu's vessel, his own Avatar and I will acquire the elements just as that monk-child. Now, from this moment forward, you will never use my titles or name." Zhao's eyebrows furrowed in bemusement and shock. He was about to question, but Fire Lord Ozai nodded, "We have a powerful Waterbender as our ally who seeks to destroy one of the Avatar's companions. She has an intense hatred for the Children of Fire; she knows me as 'Piandao' - a shunned non-bender born to Nobles in the Fire Nation, and was, subsequently, abandoned. Yes, I stole the name from the swordsman after I murdered him. Her name is Hama and she is healing my injuries." He gestured to his missing arm and Zhao stared at it, unable to envision a scenario where Fire Lord Ozai was maimed. "With her help, I will be whole once again. Also, Chin the Conqueror's bloodline has allied with us in hopes of destroying the Avatar. Their leader, Chin V will aid me in my training over the Earth. Once our army is united, thousands of disgruntled benders and non-benders will descend upon the Avatar and my treacherous son, with us leading the charge." Fire Lord Ozai's golden eyes moved like flames, dancing in the dim light, igniting Zhao's heart with fire itself. "Our legions will be so vast, they will drink the rivers dry. So massive, they will shake the ground with their very march! Do you understand what I am saying, Zhao?"
After several moments of processing the information his Fire Lord had revealed to him, Zhao licked his lips and nodded. "Of course, my lie- Piandao," he corrected swiftly. "May I ask about Princess Azula- "
"Don't say that whore's name!"
"Why? What happened?"
"The Avatar is what happened, that elusive and clever bastard. He seduced my daughter and she fucked him, spreading her legs like a common whore."
"I had never imagined that your daughter would succumb to such weakness," he said in shock, feeling his own rage enlarge even further. How dare the Avatar steal his future wife, his ticket into the Fire Royal Bloodline? His son through her was supposed to become the Fire Lord after Fire Lord Ozai's death!
"Yes, so to rectify the error of her disappointing existence, I killed her. There is no way that she survived my attack. Not even the Avatar himself could have escaped death from my unleashed lightning!"
Zhao felt a brief moment of grief hit him because now there was no way for him to be integrated into Sozin's bloodline. He felt it wash away after several moments and he looked at his once-to-be-wife's father. "I wouldn't have wanted to wed such a whore anyway, Piandao. You clearly did the right thing in snuffing her out."
Fire Lord Ozai chuckled darkly, "Good, good, good. Your mind is still as sharp as ever, my friend. Things are coming together nicely. Soon, the Avatar will know true agony as I extinguish the light in all of the ones who he holds dear, plunging my flame-coated fist through his heart." Zhao stared at Vaatu as Fire Lord Ozai continued. "Once Vaatu and I are fully bonded, the world will be under our heel."
Zhao grinned in bloodlust, savoring the thought of watching that boy die for all of his slights against him. He couldn't wait until he could bear witness as life fled the depths of the Avatar's gray eyes; they would be clouded with anguish, expression permanently immortalized in fear.
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A large, bubbling, circular river of lava surrounded a figure, the stifling pressure of heat dancing in harmony with the foreign-languaged chants of the man. He wore dark green garments that bonded with the soil as his knees knelt in the earth. Just beyond the figure, immortalized in the rock, was a beautiful statue of a grandiose man; the massive statue was a powerful sight that reminded those who had the honor to gaze upon it of the strength of the Children of Earth, of their resiliency.
He was not to be disturbed by anyone, it didn't matter who it was - the time to honor him had arrived.
The figure stopped his chanting in a foreign tongue and gazed up, his dark eyes connecting with his ancestor's, and his words were understandable. "The Avatar has no idea what is coming, sire. For too long, we have been forcefully forgotten by the world. Soon, with the aid of Vaatu and Piandao, the Children of Chin will dominate over the Earth Kingdom as you had intended before that bitch interfered." Chin V stood up, vibrant green garbs shrouding his body from all. "Nobody truly knows what happened, sire. Myths have taken the place of the brilliant and blood-soaked truth. You were unifying the Earth Kingdom, bringing it all together under your reign. The Fire Lord would no longer have been the most powerful of the political leaders; a new contender would have arisen and challenged him." Chin V bowed in absolute awe and respect, "I will make sure that, as your heir apparent, our people will be able to bear witness to your magnificent, beautiful vision, sire, I promise you." He rose once again, green garbs blinding under the light of the streams of lava. With a twitch of Chin's hand, the earth rumbled and the fiery lava vanished as if it were never there.
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"I'm afraid, Aang, so terribly afraid," Bumi whispered, eyes showcasing his age. Aang had never seen his old friend, from either before the Great War or during the conflict, seem so morose. "The entire Order of the White Lotus has been slaughtered. Our legions were vast and yet, they were inconsequential to the enemy. Whoever was able to hunt down and kill our members was a supreme agent for Evil himself, Aang." Bumi's lopsided eyes stared at Aang with urgency, "I've felt it, all of the myths soaked in blood that I've heard from a scarce number of reports have painted our enemy as a brilliant, death-worshipping monster!"
"Bumi," he gripped his oldest friend's hands. "I'm sorry that I haven't been able to reveal the truth to you, but now, I believe, is the opportune moment." He told him everything that he had learned, "Ozai is our enemy once again, and this time, he has power on his side." Aang concluded, "Sozin's Comet was irrelevant compared to what is coming."
Bumi leaned back, speechless, fingers pressed against his parted lips. He stood up, standing next to the window that overlooked Ba Sing Se's Upper Ring. "Well, at least we know the face of our phantomic and elusive enemy; for too long, I've been jumping at shadows, old friend." His friend turned around, eyes tired, and he swallowed, old eyes shining with tears. "After you were gone, I readily joined the fight against those of Fire. I eventually became King of Omashu and I was consumed with hate and grief. The Fire Nation had stolen my best friend from this life and, more than anything, I yearned for gruesome, blood-filled retribution. I had never imagined that the Great War would last as long as it did; an entire century of death ravaged this world. The Fire Nation had a dozen years and more to prepare their crusade as you were still only a child, unaware of your destiny." Bumi sighed, collapsing back into his chair, "Roku's death shocked the nations - I can still remember my father discussing it most often in my childhood. Nobody was prepared for his passing; Avatars lived for a long time, usually longer than the strongest benders in history, for entire generations as children's children's children all knew the same Avatar. The Water Tribes and the Earth Kingdom, as a result, weren't able to keep pace with the Children of Fire. Eventually, I saw the inevitable. The Great War would continue as long as the Avatar ceased to exist."
"I'm sorry," Aang whispered, hearing the raw pain in his oldest friend's voice, "I was frozen in ice, ignorant of how my absence affected the world, the world that I was supposed to preserve."
Bumi smiled, eyes full of sorrow, "It's in the past, Aang. The events that happened were the best events in an impossible situation. Nevertheless, I was unable to determine if the Avatar hadn't perished indefinitely from Sozin's Comet. Several decades into the Great War, Fire was heads and shoulders above Water and Earth. So, as a result, I met with advisors, the Earth Sages to be exact, to discuss and clarify fully how bending is passed on because I had a plan. They had all assured me that the bending arts weren't passed through blood, but decided by the Spirits themselves." Bumi held up a finger, wagging it in the air. "But I disrespectfully denied their declaration, calling it a bunch of Badgermole shit! You see, I had theorized that bending was directly passed through blood, through someone's parents. If it was decided by the Spirits, why isn't a Firebender born to non-bending Nobles in Ba Sing Se? Instead, the non-bending Nobles always sire an Earthbender. The Air Nomads were all Airbenders, quite astonishing actually, and no record of a non-bender ever existing in the Air Nomads has ever been found. Even the Order of the White Lotus claims that it to be so! Now whether that is because of a nefarious plot to keep the Air bloodlines pure with benders by killing all of the non-benders or because they were, indeed, all benders, nobody knows except maybe you, Aang, but it further expanded my claim that bending was inherited through the blood."
"It was a nefarious plot," he interrupted softly, sadly. "My people weren't as they had seemed at the end; they had fallen far."
"I had suspected but never wanted to... speak of it without certainty."
Aang swallowed, "You were saying?"
"The Sages were furious with me." Bumi chuckled and Aang was relieved to see that spark back in his oldest friend's eyes, "Despite their objections, I implemented my risky plan. Since I believed that bending was gained through one's parents, I wanted to sire strong earthbending children who would help me and the rest of the world defeat those of Fire."
He had to admit that Bumi's idea had merit; he had just never suspected that his old friend would try to do such a thing. "I'm assuming that the Sages were livid, yes?"
Bumi nodded, "More than you could imagine, but we did eventually come to a compromise. I was the strongest Earthbender in the world - and I still am - and the Sages had smartly recognized that. Despite never admitting it, they knew that I was right in my plan to sire children in hopes that they would be strong Earthbenders like me. Eventually, they agreed to bless my plan only if they were able to choose all of the women who would bear my children."
"Wait," Aang leaned forward, elbows crossing over the edges of the chair. "You sired children through multiple women?" He asked in disbelief. "That's only something that I've heard of - from all of the Sages, no less - in regard to me bringing back the Air Nomads!"
"Yes," Bumi held up a hand, halting Aang from interrupting. "It was because it was an experiment. Although I was certain in my beliefs, just as the Sages were for their own, none of us truly knew if we were correct. Frankly, we were all desperate to begin a comeback against the Children of Fire, so it was for the best that I did the experiment. So, I mated with four women: one non-bender with an extensive lineage of non-benders, a non-bender whose parents were Earthbenders, an Earthbender whose parents were non-benders, and a strong Earthbender from a notorious line of Earthbenders."
"What happened?"
Bumi leaned back, old eyes staring into the gray of Aang's. "All four became pregnant almost immediately," he gave Aang a lascivious wink, hinting at how much fun he had had. "When the children were born, the Sages and I found out the results. I sired three daughters and one son. The woman from a family of non-benders, who was a non-bender herself, gave me an Earthbender - a daughter." Bumi said, lopsided eyes gazing into the past, "The non-bending woman whose parents were Earthbenders bore me a non-bender - a daughter. The Earthbender whose parents were non-benders sired me an Earthbender - a daughter who was stillborn, but she had been wrapped in the Earth's energy. And, finally, the Earthbender from a family of Earthbenders sired me an Earthbender - a son."
Aang leaned back in his chair, "I'm sorry about your daughter who didn't make it, old friend. I can't imagine what that must have been like to lose your child."
A single tear slipped out of Bumi's eyes. "It was rough for the first couple of months, but, with time, and the help of my other kids, I healed. Her name was Ekta."
Silence.
"So, you and the Sages had to concede that bending was gained through both blood and the Spirits' machinations. You yourself come from a lineage of strong Earthbenders, you've said as much, so that somewhat explains your first daughter you mentioned if the Sages still doubted your claims. What else happened?"
"I was King and was proud to be the father of two strong children."
"Wait, what?" Aang asked because, surely, he had misheard Bumi, "What do you mean by only two children, Bumi?"
The regent ruler of Ba Sing Se sighed tiredly, rubbing his forehead gingerly. "I was King, Aang, and I was gifted three living, beautiful children, two of whom were Earthbenders. The non-bender would have never been able to protect herself in case of an attack against the palace that I couldn't protect her from. I knew that the best thing for her was to be away from the palace, away from me… where she could die."
Aang's eyes became enlightened. "So she was adopted," he concluded sadly, witnessing the pain in his friend's eyes.
"Her name was Avani, and yes, you know the custom."
Aang did know the custom, "Yeah, it is rare for a non-bending child to be kept by its bending parents, especially during a time of war. Often times, the non-bending children are adopted, like Piandao from the Order of the White Lotus and your daughter, into another family that matches their certain skills more so than their birth family did. That way, people can receive successors more fitted for their profession." Aang suddenly glanced up, startled, "Wait, what happened to the mother? And how did you know what skills your daughter would have? She was just born."
"The mother was a harlot, a very beautiful one who wanted nothing to do with Avani."
"I'm having difficulty grasping that piece of information, old friend," he shook his head in disbelief. "The Sages, the most spiritual humans in the world, chose a… a whore to bear your child?"
"Not exactly, Aang," his friend chuckled. "The Sages rounded up the most spiritual women in Omashu and they were presented to me. The harlot was among them, strikingly attractive. The Sages then told me to choose and I did - boy, I made some beautiful children thanks to the women's contributions in the looks department." Aang nodded in understanding. From what he remembered, and hadn't realized since he had still been a naive child, Bumi had always had a certain weakness for the temptations of the human flesh for beautiful women. Even though Bumi had been only a few years older than him, Aang couldn't remember a time when his oldest friend hadn't had a story to share about a 'date' that he had had with a female. "To answer your second question, Aang, I had been gifted a vision in my dreams. I glimpsed a place, a time where and when Avani was happy. I followed my instincts and gave her to a nice family near the outskirts of the city."
"Did you keep in contact?"
"No, it was too risky. I never even got to have a conversation with her - she died of a virus when she was a teenager." Bumi said flatly, but the pain behind his lopsided eyes was real. "All I saw was her corpse."
Aang closed his eyes, "I'm sorry, old friend," he murmured, watching solemnly as Bumi's eyes glazed over, reliving tragedies. He didn't want that to happen; he knew how easy it was to become consumed by memories. "What about Anju's mother? What happened?"
Bumi blinked, "She died of childbed fever giving birth to Anju; she was older when she gave birth, a lot older. Her husband was killed in the Great War during her pregnancy and... and I believe that she was so distraught that she refused to fight the fever after Anju's birth."
"I can't imagine losing a child of your body," he consoled and put a hand on his friend's shoulder. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked."
"Bor's father, my son, Sheil," Bumi began in a daze. "He was strong in the bending arts, and I firmly believe that he would have rivaled me. He was ambitious, seeking to destroy the Children of Fire like his father before him. He sired Bor through a beautiful harlot just as I had with Avani; like father like son, I suppose." Bumi said without any amusement, eyes hazy in remembrance. "When Bor was still just a child, Sheil approached me with a plan to unite Omashu and Ba Sing Se, unifying the Earth to ward off Agni's Children. I agreed and within weeks, Sheil and I, with a squadron of soldiers, began the journey to the impenetrable city to propose the plan." He paused and Aang leaned forward in concern.
He gently placed his hand over Bumi's, "You don't have to tell me, old friend."
Bumi didn't seem to hear him, though, thin lips trembling with emotion. "Several days into our travels, we set up a camp; there were no warnings. Nothing seemed off. My platoon of soldiers sensed nothing and neither had I, and just when I was ready to rest, we were ambushed in a deadly attack. Through the foliage of complete darkness, men appeared and danced through our attacks, disappearing through the ground like smoke and reappearing behind my soldiers, snapping their necks like twigs. There were only four attackers in total and while I had well over a dozen soldiers, they were… insignificant in the grand scheme. I had managed to kill two of them while Sheil had killed one, but as a result, my son had become distracted." Aang closed his eyes in sorrow, understanding what had happened before his friend could finish. "I watched as my son and heir, my pride and joy, was murdered before my eyes, and I was helpless to prevent it," Bumi said softly, green eyes welled with thick tears. "The remaining man swiftly slaughtered the rest of my guards and I attacked him in rage. To my shock, the man was powerful in the bending art for Earth; we went toe-to-toe until I managed to injure him, scarcely slashing his face with several daggers of solid stone. Then, the man screamed, sounding more animal than human, and unleashed a powerful wave of lava - yes, Aang, lava - that swept me off my feet. Never before had I ever encountered, or even heard of, lavabending, but this man proved that it does, in fact, exist. I barely managed to survive, but not without injury." Bumi gestured to his thighs, "The lava scorched my skin, maiming me; it's difficult to walk. That's why I walk like I'm twice my age. I should walk around completely fine, but the lava took that from me. By focusing on my chi, I can alleviate the pain during duels and battles, but it doesn't last for long. The healers were amazed that I could walk at all and that I hadn't died from the pain." Bumi sighed, gently rubbing his coated thighs, "Anyway, the man disappeared into the darkness, but not before I fully saw… saw his face. Dead-looking and dark eyes connected with mine for only a second, but it was enough. I will never forget those eyes, Aang, or that face."
Silent tears spilled down Aang's cheeks as his oldest friend confessed his trauma. "Bumi, I'm so sorry," he whispered and pulled him into a fierce hug, gripping the elder Earthbender with everything that he had, knowing that he would need to find answers about 'lavabending' later, but right now, his friend needed him.
XxXxXxXxXxX
For many days, Toph had avoided any and all confrontations with the Gaang save for war-like meetings; she couldn't face the questions and advice that she knew they would undoubtedly spew. They didn't understand and they wouldn't be able to in spite of their best efforts.
Yes, she loved Bor.
When she had visited Omashu after the Great War, Toph had never imagined that she would stay in the Major City for years. In fact, the only reason why she had journeyed there in the first place was so that she could finally take King Bumi up on his offer of a match to see who the strongest Earthbender in the world truly was.
Toph had lost quite badly.
She had been in disbelief, fury bubbling inside her, and with every match that they had battled, the results had been the exact same: every time, King Bumi would end up defeating her in grandiose fashion after an intense back and forth between the two strong Earthbenders.
It had boiled Toph's blood and she had desperately sought to beat the old King. For months, she had trained and trained, actually trained as she had never had the need to do so before, evolving her form and stance until her bones splintered, and during those sessions, she had met Bor. He had been obviously prideful of his bending abilities from his bloodline, showing her his great strength and it was obvious to her then, at 16-years-old, that Bor was attracted to her.
Toph had had no idea how she looked - she still didn't - and it was strange to know that someone had found her physical appearance appealing. During the Great War, she had been smitten with Sokka. She had found that his personality was as likable as it was annoying and he had a bluntness that was refreshing to Toph, who had been used to the pretentious Nobles who she had been stuck with because her parents had always loved to invite them to the estate, forever conversing dramatically about everything.
During the training sessions, she had felt something inside her shift, locking into place, and she had become accustomed to Bor and found that she enjoyed his presence. Although his endless questions about the Avatar were tedious, she found his almost childlike awe about Aang endearing. She hadn't known how he looked. For all she had known, he might have been the ugliest human to ever exist, but based on the gossip that the servant girls had whispered about incessantly, Bor was incredibly handsome.
She hadn't liked the feeling in her stomach that she had felt whenever she heard those maids talking about Bor.
After an initially rocky start, Toph had begun spending every and all of her days with the Prince of Omashu, the heir to King Bumi. She had liked listening to his voice, the steady, deep timbre that, when it resonated in her ears, soothed her, brought her peace. With her feet, whenever she had known that no one was watching, she had seized her chance, focusing on his body's vibrations and they had felt like a lifeline to her drowning, lonely form.
She had been used to being alone.
Immediately following Zuko's coronation, she had stayed at the Caldera in the Fire Nation, trying to avoid the decision that she knew she had had to make: should she go back home and should she give her parents another chance, or should she stick with Aang and travel the world? Eventually, after several weeks at the Caldera, she had journeyed back to Gaoling, nervousness wafting off her usual confident body. When she had finally arrived at the place of her birth, she had silently felt the stalls and shops' vibrations with her feet, the familiar echoes soothing for they were the same as they had always been when she had snuck out to participate in Earth Rumble VI.
Then, she had arrived at her parents' home, the Beifong estate, a place where many of her memories rested, both good and bad. She had timidly - hating the fact that she had felt like a shell of herself but she had needed to visit her parents, needed to have the closure - stepped into the guards' line of sight and pulled down the hood that had covered most of her features. She had felt their shock, their disbelief at the sight of their employers long, lost daughter. They had rushed forward, pulling her into the house, and Toph was subsequently reunited with her parents. It was a very dramatic and emotional reunion from her parents' side just as Toph had always known that it would be, but she had dutifully hugged them back as her mother's tears soaked her shoulders and hair. After explaining her purpose for visiting, Toph had allowed the hurt and bitter anger to surface, showing her parents just how painful it had been to live under them, under their dainty heels for so long.
To what had used to have been her utter shame, tears had spilled down her pale cheeks as Toph berated her parents for their treatment of their only child, locking her away like a petite trophy that was made of glass. She had recalled everything: when Toph had revealed the truth and shown her parents the prodigious earthbending talents that she possessed, they had refused to change. As a result, she had been forced to take desperate measures and to train Aang in earthbending, to be a key member of the Gaang who saved the world, Toph had run away from her home, from the only family that she had had since she could remember. To her utter relief, the Gaang had become her new family, replacing the tattered one that she had been born into. Then, in Ba Sing Se, Toph was captured by Xin Fu and Master Yu on orders from her parents; she had a bounty to be captured alive on her head that was placed there by her own parents! Toph had let her contempt for her parents' actions echo through the main foyer, shaming them with her words of scorn. She had laid down an ultimatum: her parents could either treat Toph like the capable person, one of the heroes of the Great War, who she was, or she would leave and her parents would never hear from her again.
She had been able to feel the anger carved into her parents' faces, but, ultimately, they had relented to her demands, but it hadn't lasted.
At first, everything had seemed better because, for the first years, Toph had appreciated the efforts that her parents had made to accept her. By the time when she was a little over fourteen, Toph had thought that her parents had finally accepted her for who she truly was, but she had been arrogant - she had been wrong.
Eventually, her parents had started demanding that she act more like a lady and began to inquire around the Earth Kingdom for a worthy young man who would be a suitable match for Toph. Yet despite her blatant refusal of an arranged marriage, her parents had ignored her and retorted that she would understand when she was older, angrily chiding her, fiercely declaring that she would never understand if she continued to act like the nuisance who she had been since returning from the Great War.
Toph had then realized that they were the ones who would never understand and change. So, during the dead of night, with many vast pools of gold that she had stolen from her parents and a broken heart, Toph had run away from her parents once again, knowing that, deep down, she would never return.
For the first time in her life, Toph had been truly alone and she had had no one who she could turn to for help. She hadn't been able to go to the Southern Water Tribe where Sokka and Katara and Suki were because it was cold and she wouldn't be able to see. And she hadn't wanted to stay in a stuffy palace in the Fire Nation because it would have reminded her of her parents. She had had no idea where Aang was, and since she hadn't been able to find a messenger or a hawk to deliver a message to him, she hadn't been able to get in touch with him even though she had really wanted to. She had had no way of knowing where he would be, though. When she had traveled through various towns, news had reached her eyes of the Avatar's great benevolence as he flew from town to town to help the Earth Kingdom rebuild. Feeling hope blossom in her heart, she had tried to track him down for weeks, but she had eventually stopped even though she could have kept going and sent messages in the hope of finding him. She hadn't known whether to continue or quit, but the knowledge that Aang could have been anywhere in either of the Realms helped her make her decision.
She had been relieved.
Her and Aang hadn't spoken in the years since Sparky's coronation; she never wanted to feel the realization that they were too different to get along because they had both changed from the people who they once were.
Toph had been alone, feeling more lonely than she thought possible, and she had stumbled through many Earth Kingdom towns for months, fending off bandits and rapists who had desired her young body. There had been a couple of close calls with stronger men, but Toph had, with hardly an ounce of guilt, killed the men with her earthbending, leaving their corpses to rot in the dirt.
With a weary heart, after over a year of travel, Toph had arrived at the great city of Omashu.
Bor had filled the void that was left oozing after her parents' rejection of her true self, and through much time and conversation, she had grown to care about him in ways that she had never cared for another person. He had made her feel safe and protected. Even though she hadn't needed anyone to help her feel that way, it had felt... nice to allow someone to become an integral person in her life.
Eventually, after over a year of laughs and conversations, they had become lovers.
She had known for some time that she was attracted to the Prince of Omashu, had known that her feelings for Bor were far stronger and different than what she had felt for Sokka during the Great War; her heart's emotions for the Prince were intense and stole her breath with its unrelenting force. One day, during a sparring session, Bor had landed on top of her. His muscular chest had been pressed against her breasts and Toph felt both of their heartbeats racing with emotions. Without realizing what she had been doing, Toph had leaned up and tentatively pressed her lips to Bor's.
She had immediately pulled back ashamed, heat rushing to her face, and she had hastily tried to apologize, aching for the earth to swallow her whole from the complete embarrassment that she had felt. To her shock and pleasure, Bor had swiftly silenced her with a passionate kiss, stealing the breath from her lungs; his mouth had been everywhere, hot and heavy, and Toph had never wanted him to stop.
At that moment, she had felt his manhood straining against his pants, pressing into her center, and the thought of her parents witnessing what she had been doing had spurred her on, urging her to take equal part in the lust-and-thrust. In the Royal Palace of Omashu, in the dirt-coated Arena where anybody could have stumbled upon them, Toph and Bor had made love for the first time. After that moment, for the next years, Toph hadn't been afraid to know that she was in love with the grandson of King Bumi.
It wasn't until several weeks before Sparky's letter had arrived when it had happened.
Bor, who was several years older than her, around Sokka's age, had begun questioning her about children and marriage, and Toph had always avoided the questions, innocently trying to change the subject. Bor had easily seen through her attempts and relented to her unspoken pleas until he no longer could. He was stubborn like the Earth, but Toph was as well:
She stared into the darkness as her blind eyes connected with her lover's. Through her feet, she could see everything around them, felt the agitation vibrating through Bor's body.
"I don't want to talk about this," she tried to walk around him, but a grip of pure iron wrapped around her arm, keeping from leaving.
"You've been avoiding this for months, Toph!" The pure desperation poisoning Bor's tone echoed in her heart.
She closed her eyes, knowing that nothing good would come of the conversation. "All right, fine, let's hear your speech, Bor," she relented tiredly. "Make it quick."
"Thank you," he stood taller and his voice grew softer. "I know that this is hard for you, but in the long run, you'll thank me." He gripped her hands, his larger ones softly wrapping around her petite ones. "I'm 23-years-old and the Prince to my grandfather's throne. As you already know, my father was killed when I was just a small boy and it's been only me, Anju, and grandfather ever since. Certain 'rules' are required of me because of this. Although the Earth Kingdom is much less rooted in tradition than the Fire Nation, there are still expectations for those of Royal Blood."
"To continue the bloodline, siring children and bastards as soon as possible because life is unpredictable," Toph said flatly, having heard the same spiel from her parents growing up. "I'm aware of these 'rules,' Bor."
She felt Bor nod, "Benders, from what my grandfather has often said, can live for a long time. He is a perfect example of his claims: well over a century old and in great health except for his legs. But there is history throughout the world of Royal Bloodlines dying out because no heirs had been born; the family tree had withered, and the history of those lines will only ever be remembered by scholars."
"What are you trying to say, Bor?" Toph demanded, "Are you being pressured to marry? Is King Bumi wanting you to sire heirs? Is that his way of thanking me for teaching him metalbending - he is gifting me the opportunity to marry a Prince? And let me guess, if those are true, you want me to be the answer to those problems?"
Bor hesitated, "My grandfather feels that something is coming, something that would wage war across the Four Nations once again. He has mentioned, several times, of the need for our family to be secure. He also remarked that a marriage with you would be incredible, almost unprecedented. I am a powerful Earthbender, with the blood of my grandfather running in my veins, and you, Toph, are exceptional, almost rivaling my grandfather in sheer strength over the Earth. Our union would become the foundations of a powerful bloodline that, in several or so generations, could potentially rival the Fire Royal Bloodline, the line of… Sozin."
Toph pulled her hands out of Bor's, crossing her arms over her chest, "So, this is all just because King Bumi wants you to?"
"No!" Bor shook his head rapidly, "I love you, and think that you are the strongest person who I've ever met. It's just… you've never mentioned anything about this. Lately, I've been... imagining what a union between us would be like. I don't think that anything would change in our lives except if - or when - we produced children. We already live together and, in my grandfather's words, bitch like a fucking married couple. I don't see how things would change." Bor tried to reach out but Toph leaned back, "You're everything to me, Toph. I mean, all my life I had always thought that I would be cursed to sire my children through a harlot like my grandfather and my father before me, but then you arrived and opened up a whole new realm of possibilities. You made me fall in love with you. Now, growing into a future King and leader, it doesn't seem so daunting knowing that I'd have you by my side, supporting me. I could have amazing children with you, Toph. Our children would be extraordinary. Can't you imagine it?"
She could imagine it and what she saw wasn't what Bor had obviously envisioned. Instead, she saw herself trapped in a cage just as she had been with her parents, chained and reliant on someone. Worst of all, she saw herself as being a terrible mother, mimicking her own parents, and she saw her own children hating her like Toph hated her parents. Simply put, she saw a nightmare beyond any other; it was terrifying.
She swallowed, taking another step back. "I don't want to bear your children," she whispered. "I... I don't want to marry you."
Bor stumbled back as if struck, shock vibrating through his body, "No, you don't mean that, Toph."
Toph's fists clenched; she wasn't even sure if he was correct because her emotions were in such chaos. "Yes, I do. I don't want to marry you, Bor. And I sure as fuck don't want to bear your children!" She yelled out, immediately regretting what she had said, but it was too late.
Bor opened and closed his mouth several times, dismay shaking through him as he licked his lips. "Okay, I understand. Tha- thank you," he murmured, sorrow and pain coloring his voice as he turned around and walked away.
The weeks after that had been rough and when Sparky's letter had arrived, Toph had jumped at the chance to leave Omashu, to leave Bor because she hadn't been able to stand the sheer rift between them any longer, the rift that she had caused. So, wandering through the halls of Ba Sing Se, Toph continued to avoid her former lover, afraid of what he would say to her. Did he still love her as she did him, or did he hate her for breaking his heart as he should?
XxXxXxXxXxX
Katara smiled at the sight of Zuko as he approached her after a war-meeting with the rest of Gaang, King Bumi, and Bor. She had no idea how they were supposed to act around each other since the revelation of their shared feelings, but she was content to, simply, be herself with him. After all, she would wish it no other way, especially if they did actually, somehow, get married.
"Hey, what did you think of Bor's suggestion?" She asked, curious to hear the Fire Lord's answer. She liked Bor and if she wasn't mistaken, the Prince of Ba Sing Se desired Toph for she had noticed that he continually glanced at Toph during his strategic discussion, but Toph had kept her face towards the ground, averting her blind eyes.
Zuko chuckled, golden eyes burning with fire, with life. "It was certainly unconventional, but seemingly effective. It sounded like something that Uncle Iroh would concoct."
Katara nodded, "Speaking of your uncle, how is he? Have you written to him at all?"
"Yes. He's doing great and most deeply laments the fact that ginseng tea isn't the Fire Nation's most popular beverage." Zuko said flatly and Katara had to stifle her laughter, "He's also commissioned, as my regent, a Jasmine Dragon to be constructed at the Palace in the Caldera," he sniffed dramatically.
Katara wasn't able to hold her amusement and laughed loudly. "That sounds exactly like your uncle," she quieted and then frowned after realizing what he had said. "Wait, what did you mean by 'at the Palace in the Caldera' just a moment ago? Are there... multiple Palaces in the Fire Nation?"
Zuko blinked, "I'm sorry, I had thought that you knew, but yes, there are multiple Palaces in the Fire Nation." He hesitated and gripped her hand. "Come, we'll speak where it is more private." Katara smiled up at his handsome face and quickly realized that he was leading them to a garden, the garden where they had agreed to begin their 'relationship' if she could even call it that. "Now, you can ask me anything that you want, Katara." Zuko sat down and Katara followed his lead.
She had to be sure, "Anything?" When he nodded, she blurted out what swirled through her thoughts, "How many Palaces are there in the Fire Nation, then?"
"Well, there are three Palaces, all owned by the Crown. There is the one in the Caldera renamed Sozin by Azulon in honor of you-know-who after he had died, which is where the Fire Lord and his family live; it's the same one that you have visited and been inside. Then, there is the Eastern Fire Torch Palace and the Northern Fire Dragon Palace."
"Why are there so many Palaces?" Katara asked, curious to know information about the Fire Nation other than the Great War.
Zuko seemed surprised but answered dutifully. "Long ago, before the Great War, pestilence would spread across the different territories of the Fire Nation, of the world even. Fire Lord Kazuki, Sozin's grandfather, was particularly petrified of sweating sickness, a deadly epidemic that plagued my nation for many decades. He was also most wary of consumption, an infection that mainly affected the lungs of benders and non-benders alike, both killing many thousands of people. He built the other Palaces so that he could escape from seeming inevitable death, continuously traveling between them for his entire reign, never taking a permanent residence."
"What was sweating sickness?" She questioned in fascination because she had never heard of it. If it had killed so many, why hadn't she ever learned of it?
Zuko chuckled, "It's nearly forgotten in this day and age, but the Fire Royal Family always remembers. Kazuki's elder brother, Takumi died from sweating sickness when Kazuki was only a young teenager, undoubtedly the reason for his phobia. The sweating sickness was a serious detriment to the wellbeing of my people during that time. It came on without any warning and didn't seem preventable. Based on the reports that I was forced to study as a child, people would feel a sudden sense of dread, then be overtaken with headaches, neck pains, intense bouts of fatigue, and a cold sweat that covered the entire body. Fever, heart palpitations, and dehydration soon followed. This is truly staggering: within only a quarter of a day to over a day, almost half of the people afflicted with sweating sickness had been killed."
Katara was deprived of utterance, "I can't even imagine…" she breathed out in horror.
"No, you can't, and neither can I." He smiled slightly, "What else do you have questions about?"
She was thankful to edge away from the morose history of the Fire Nation and asked a question that had been revolving around in her mind for years. "Why are you called the 'Fire Lord' instead of the 'Fire King'?"
Zuko nodded in understanding, "Records show that the Air Nomads had five Elders at each Air Temple who were in charge of their Temple and they each formed High Council - and then all of the High Councils formed the High Council of Elders that decided the Air Nomads way of life and such. The Earth Kingdom has four Kings: Ba Sing Se, Omashu, Zaofu, and Chyung, each with equal power. The Water Tribes have two Chiefs who control each hemisphere's territories and have the same authority throughout their domain. But unlike the other nations, the Fire Nation only has one sovereign whom every Child of Fire obeys, the Fire Lord." He breathed deeply and Katara was prepared for an extensive history lesson. "Only the Fire Royal Family knows the truth of how the Fire Lord came to be, so I implore you not to tell anyone outside of the Gaang, please."
Katara swallowed at the amount of trust that Zuko placed in her. "Very well. I probably won't tell Sokka, then; he tends to blabber."
Zuko laughed quietly, "That's probably a good idea." He sobered and breathed deeply, small flames dancing out of his mouth for a moment. "The Dragon Bone Catacombs, accessible only to the Fire Royal Family and the Supreme Fire Sage, detail records that reveal that the Fire Nation originally formed through a large number of tribes called the Sun Warriors."
"Wait, isn't that where you and Aang had found the last Dragons?"
He smiled, "Yes, I was as shocked as you. From what I've been able to piece together, a single tribe had managed to escape."
"What do you mean by escape, Zuko?"
"Let me explain and then you will understand, Katara." Zuko closed his eyes and seemed to delve into the past, his deep voice lulling Katara into a sense of awe. "The Sun Warriors were led by five Fire Sages for several generations. Eventually, one Sage wanted more and rose above what had been his position. He then convinced his spiritual brothers that they should all be called a 'Fire Lord' because Agni favored them over any of the other Children of Fire, telling them that they were all chosen by the Fire Spirit to fully and truly lead his people in all aspects. The Fire Sages, subsequently, all agreed and for several centuries, each Fire Lord controlled a certain number of Sun Warrior Tribes, divided amongst them evenly, and five new Fire Sages were also chosen and each reported to a certain Fire Lord - they were basically like advisors, but their main duty was spiritual healing. My great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather, Fire Lord Kai, who had just succeeded his father after his demise, desired more power, though. He was already the strongest recorded Firebender at that time, and believed that it was his destiny to lead Agni's Children by his lonesome; he wanted no other Fire Lords to contend with."
"He took over all of the Sun Warrior Tribes, then?" Katara guessed, leaning forward in fascination over the lore that Zuko was sharing.
Zuko shook his head, hair obscuring the view of his beautiful eyes for a second. "Not exactly. You see, Kai's aspirations quickly began to draw attention from the other Fire Lords; he was young and foolish, he hadn't learned the games of monarchs. The records show that for several years, each Fire Lord, with the support of their Sun Warrior Tribes, battled for complete dominion over the Children of Fire. Eventually, Kai, through means unknown - though I suspect that he used blackmail - somehow rallied all of the Fire Sages to join him, betraying the other Fire Lords. Now with the support of all of the Fire Sages, Kai united all of the Sun Warrior Tribes together, creating the Fire Nation."
"That doesn't make sense, though. Why would all of the Sun Warrior Tribes accept Kai? I thought that most of them were loyal to the other Fire Lords?"
"During the countless battles for conquest, much death spread through the Sun Warrior Tribes. Infections mounted and diseases ravaged through the territories. Soon, famines began to affect the tribes. Kai saw his opportunity and exploited it; because of his strong bending, he was unafraid to enter the battlefield against the other Sun Warrior Tribes. As a result, his tribes didn't suffer near as many casualties."
"Yeah, but what about the diseases? What about the famine? That was easily the worst because the sick can't heal without the proper nutrients."
"The Fire Sages, who by then were all loyal to Kai, prayed incessantly to Agni to grant Kai's Sun Warrior Tribes strength to fight. Through many struggles, Kai was able to coerce all of the starving Sun Warrior Tribes to join him, promising to let them return to their Fire Lords once the famine and plagues were over. That was a lie, but soon, nobody knew it. During the process of integrating all of the Sun Warriors together to form the foundations of the Fire Nation, Kai, with the aid of the Fire Sages, secretly murdered every other Fire Lord and their families and inner circles, eradicating their entire bloodlines, erasing them from history. He reported all of their deaths as a result of the plague, declaring that Agni himself was on his side, and nobody questioned it. Kai burned every other Fire Lords' parchments, keeping his deed hidden. Those who did suspect were silenced. Every historian and every scribe who had even uttered the other Fire Lords' names were punished with death. Others had their eyes pulled out and their tongues cut from their mouths to keep the world, to keep the future generations from ever knowing that the other Fire Lords had even existed. Finally, to answer your question, Kai didn't dare hail himself as 'Fire King' because that would have been more than suspicious to the tribes; he would have pretty much openly declared that he was the one who had orchestrated the deaths of the other Fire Lords, and thoughts of rebellion would have run rampant through the unified Fire Nation. Thus, the Fire Lord is the sovereign of the Children of Fire instead of a Fire King."
"That's incredible." Katara breathed out, "I had no idea that the Fire Nation was rooted with such a… bloody backstory. It's kind of frightening, actually."
Zuko winced, "Through much research, I've discovered that the Fire Nation has always been feared since its unification. While the Air Nomads held no political viewpoints and didn't care for war and death and conquest, they didn't fear the Fire Nation at all because of their isolation except for the rare visit. In fact, I have always thought it to be the other way around because fire needs air to exist. But the Earth Kingdom and Water Tribes had heard of the Children of Fire's ability to wage war, to spill life's blood and were wary with good reason."
After several seconds of silence, a thought occurred to Katara. "Wait, where was the Avatar during all this? The unification of the Sun Warrior Tribes? I doubt that he or she would have just sat by and allowed such a changing of order to happen."
Zuko nodded, conceding her point. "I believe that the final unification, Kai becoming the lone Fire Lord, occurred during an Avatar's childhood. The Avatar would have been unable to do anything to keep Kai from his ambitions for he or she was ignorant of their own destiny, of their power. It's the only thing that makes sense. I don't know about the first Fire Sages becoming Fire Lords; the Avatar, whoever it was, mustn't have cared and, apparently, didn't do his or her duty."
"Yeah, it does make sense. That's what Fire Lord Sozin did; while Aang was only a child, he built his army... Speaking of Sozin, how is he viewed by your people, your nation?" Katara asked seriously, not sure when she would have another chance.
Zuko raised his one eyebrow. "He was revered by Agni's Children; he always has been and probably always will be. You already know about the song that my mother sang in the cave about him. My people loved Sozin and mourned his passing for many years. By the time of his death, he had been Fire Lord for 128 years. It was hailed as an unspeakable tragedy when Agni had finally claimed his greatest child. The song that my mother sang in the cave is renowned in the Fire Nation by everyone. The last line: 'Till Sozin wakes again from sleep,' is a testament to that. They held unwavering hope that Sozin would return from the Gardens of the Dead to the Mortal Realm and reign eternally over us all as the greatest Fire Lord."
"Really? But what else? He was a monster, though."
"Well, although the citizens adored him, they feared him as well, just as all the ones who dawn the mantle of Fire Lord are feared."
"So, he was the worst Fire Lord in history, then?" She was surprised when he laughed, "What's so funny?"
He quieted, "I'm sorry, that was inconsiderate. To answer your question, no. Sozin always kept the Fire Nation on his mind with his actions. Everything that he had set out to do was to benefit his people. He was beloved more so than you could imagine. There was one Fire Lord, other than my father, though, who was, notoriously, a despotic tyrant to the Children of Fire: Fire Lord Kazuki."
Katara's jaw dropped, "The sweating-sickness-guy?"
"Yes. He was a… peculiar man." Zuko said quietly, "He transformed from a charming young ruler into a monstrous despot. You see, he was obsessed with his passionate and understandable, yet vain desire to father a male heir to the Dragon's Throne. He famously kept a harem of women in the Caldera and each of the Palaces that he had commissioned and bedded them all constantly, spreading his seed. It was estimated in the records that he had sired hundreds of children through these women - all girls and the only sons that he had ever sired were, unfortunately, stillborn or died after a few days of life. It seemed that he was cursed by Agni himself to never beget a son. He never took a wife and brutally executed one of the Noble Houses, snuffing out their entire bloodline, when their Head had recommended it. For decades, Kazuki hadn't been able to produce his desperately sought-after-son." He swallowed and Katara knew that she needed to brace herself for what was coming. "One of the first daughters that he had ever produced, Jyoti was allowed to live; he sent her to an estate outside of the Caldera where she grew up, raised by servants with no contact between father and daughter and people say that it was because Kazuki was fond of his daughter's mother. Kazuki's mercy for any of his children ended there, though; he only wanted a son, and when the harem of women, for the next decades, continued to only bear him females or stillborn sons, he callously killed both mother and the living daughters... each time."
Katara gasped in horror, feeling the urge to vomit and narrowly succeeding in quelling the urge. "Are you serious? That's horrible! I cannot even- …what else happened?"
"His legislation during his reign, inadvertently, killed many thousands, and when the people were stuck in a state of fear and tumult, they say that he ordered executions daily. Tens of thousands of people were killed by my ancestor's hand, entire lineages snuffed out because of his bloodthirsty and vile deeds." He breathed deeply, "Eventually, records show that Jyoti was ordered to live at the Caldera after more than five decades since her birth. Nobody has ever deciphered why the Fire Lord, unexpectedly to everyone, invited his unwanted daughter back to his home after so long, for it was well known of his desire for a male heir and his disdain for his female progeny. Then, after a year, Kazuki and his daughter had become… intimate." Zuko shuddered and Katara was little better, "Their union sired two daughters, whom Kazuki narrowly allowed to live - they had intense health problems and died during their early years. Then, the two sired a son, Kohaku, who succeeded where all the other sons had failed. He... lived."
"Was Jyoti executed?" She asked hesitantly.
"No. Jyoti died only weeks after her son's - and... brother's, too - birth from childbirth fever, and the Fire Lord ordered that she be granted an extravagant funeral. Kazuki had finally received the son that he had so desperately yearned for and that son didn't disappoint. He was strong and his bending was unparalleled amongst the peers of his age of the Noble Houses, and some say that Agni came down to beget him instead of Kazuki. That son was Sozin's father. Kazuki reigned for a long time - almost as long as Sozin himself did - and lived to see his grandson born, but he died in his sleep only days after Sozin's birth. Most, if not all, say that it was because Sozin was so pure that upon viewing his grandson, Kazuki's vile nature withered, for the light inside Sozin blinded him, eroding away his defenses, shining a light into the darkest and deepest depths of Kazuki's poisonous heart. He had seen, with his own eyes, the tyrannical monster that he had become, and horrified by the realization, he had simply lost the will to live." Zuko shrugged after a moment, "Actually, the Final Testament of Fire Lord Kohaku revealed that he had murdered his father in his sleep and seized the Dragon's Throne - as was his birthright." Katara was speechless, horror and disgust intermingling within her. Zuko saw her expression and sighed, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have shared any of that."
"No, no, don't be ridiculous, Zuko. I asked you. Although... it is gross and sad, I'm happy that you showed me a part of your history. Everyone has dark spots in their family tree, Zuko. Nobody's family is perfect."
"Oh, don't I know it, and that doesn't even begin to, in my opinion, compare to the Cousins' War."
Katara raised her eyebrows, "Another war? When was that and, more importantly, why doesn't the horror that was Fire Lord Kazuki compare to it?"
She saw Zuko close his eyes, "It's a blood-soaked story, Katara, more blood being shed in these events than any other in Fire Nation history - that includes the Sun Warrior battles and Fire Lord Kazuki's reign of terror. As far as the Dragon Bone Catacombs reveal, the Fire Nation had another civil war besides the unification of the Sun Warrior Tribes and Kai being crowned the lone Fire Lord."
"What do you mean? There was another civil war?"
Zuko exhaled slowly, "Yes, but this was worse. Because spanning entire, multiple generations, the Fire Nation was shaken by a power struggle between two rival, noble branches of the Royal House of Agni, the Houses of Ishaners and Vasuman. It was chaos for centuries as the Fire Royal Family plotted the deaths of their kin for several generations, seeking the Dragon's Throne for themselves, for their House."
"But the Avatar!" She exclaimed, "Surely, he or she would have stopped it."
"But that's not what happened, Katara. Do you know who was the Avatar during the Cousins' War?"
"No... Who was it?"
Zuko smiled without mirth. "It was Avatar Kuruk, who many consider the greatest failure of an Avatar - and probably rightly so."
Katara's lips parted, "Kuruk? I know that he was... laid-back, but..."
"He was notorious for it, Katara; my people hated him for it. The only reason why the Cousins' War was allowed to happen was that of Kuruk's idiocy. He was too concerned with fucking and siring bastards in all of the Four Nations; the legends say that many thousands were born from his seed and that every person in the world right now is descended from him."
"How did the Cousins' War start, Zuko?" She demanded, wishing to no longer speak of Kuruk's failings as Avatar; it brought shame to the Water Tribes. "How did it all happen?"
"It all began with the death of Fire Lord Ravi; the seeds were sewn when he had failed to designate his heir. The situation was quite complicated, actually. You see, Fire Lord Ravi's oldest son, the Black Prince had died before his father only a year previously, but the Black Prince's 18-year-old son, Rohit was alive and well. And while it was he who wound up succeeding to the Dragon's Throne after his grandfather's death, it had been ahead of Fire Lord Ravi's three surviving sons, Fire Lord Rohit's own uncles."
Katara's eyes widened in understanding, "That mustn't have gone well for Rohit. Ravi's three surviving sons must have been insulted for they all desired to sit upon the Dragon's Throne, right?"
"Yes," he nodded his head. "While none of them did attempt to take the Dragon's Throne from Fire Lord Rohit, the same couldn't be said for their various offspring because the skipping of an entire generation left lingering claims to the Dragon's Throne, and created far too many Firebenders with Royal Blood in their veins who all had a legitimate claim to be the Fire Lord. In fact, I've heard rumors that Sozin was who killed his other children to keep another potential Cousins' War from occurring; he only allowed his bastard, non-bending daughters and strongest son to live."
"That's horrible," she breathed out but then remembered that it was Fire Lord Sozin. "Is... is that true?"
Zuko sighed, "I highly doubt it, but if it that is somehow true, it wouldn't surprise me."
Katara didn't want to talk about Fire Lord Sozin. "So the Cousins' War began because too many Firebenders had Royal Blood, right?"
"Yes. Two main factions rose in the Noble Houses were part of the Fire Royal Bloodline, the Ishaners and the Vasuman. As you have probably deduced, the name of the war comes from the blood relation between the Ishaners and Vasuman."
"What happened, then?" Katara asked, leaning forward, peering up at Zuko's face. "How was it... worse than Fire Lord Kazuki?"
Zuko looked amused, obviously witnessing her eagerness. "The Ishaners first gained the Dragon's Throne when Fire Lord Rohit was deposed by his cousin, Hideki in a coup that saw blood staining the walls of the palace. Rohit had given up the Dragon's Throne without fuss, hoping to keep his life intact but Hideki, wielding his new power as the Fire Lord, executed his cousin, refusing to show mercy unto his kin and keeping the possibility that Rohit could return with an army to reclaim what was his from happening."
Katara swallowed, "Once again, that's horrible. Did Fire Lord Rohit have... any children? Were they, too, executed?"
"No. Rohit's line ended with him for he didn't have a son, the most important thing for any ruler, no matter the nation. The dynastic succession must continue."
"But you don't have any heir except Azula, Zuko," she pointed, wanting to hear his answer.
"Yes, and the Noble Houses have been bitching about it for years, throwing all of their daughters and sisters - some have even offered their mothers! - at my feet, pressuring me to take one of them as my bride, but I have steadfastly refused. I am the Fire Lord. The Noble Houses, their Heads do not control and they never will - it is the other way around." Katara felt pleased by his words of how he had rejected all of the various women he had encountered. "But if you and they think that I've waited a long time, that's nothing compared to Sozin himself."
"What do you mean?"
"Fire Lord Sozin, since the time when he took the Dragon's Throne, waited over half a century for his son and heir, my grandfather, Fire Lord Azulon. You see, Fire Lord Azulon wasn't born until the year the Great War started when the Air Nomads were... slaughtered by my great-grandfather. It was comparable to Fire Lord Kazuki's ordeal, actually, but Sozin waited because of his Fire Lady's inability to bear him any children besides Lo and Li."
She blinked, digesting all of the shocks from that information. "Well, that is certainly surprising, I must say. I wonder how Sozin held onto the Dragon's Throne for so long without an heir."
"He's Fire Lord Sozin," he snorted. "That's how, Katara."
The assumptions those words brought with them filled her with anxiety, so she returned to the topic of Cousins' War, finding it far more preferable than listening to the exploits of Fire Lord Sozin. "I'm glad that Fire Lord Rohit didn't have any children, then, so that their lives weren't needlessly snuffed out by Hideki."
"Yes," he nodded his head slowly. "The Crown then passed peacefully from Fire Lord Hideki to his son, the most famous Fire Lord before Kazuki appeared, Fire Lord Houka."
"Why was he so famous?"
"You'll see, but you must listen first. Many years into his reign, a rogue group of Air Nomads brought violence down from the sky, the records say, and terrorized the Fire Nation, the wind and air lethal to everyone who wasn't an Airbender. Fire Lord Houka lost many of Agni's Children to these aggressive and violent Air Nomads, and war was declared by him against the Air Temples. He eventually realized that something darker had happened and that it wasn't a random attack. Apparently, a Dragon had eaten one of the rogue Airbenders' Sky Bison, one that he was bonded to." Katara's eyes widened at the words, remembering Aang's rage and grief when Appa had been stolen by the Sandbenders - and then there was what he had done to Kuei after Appa had been killed. "While the Dragon had been killed by another Sky Bison, the damage had been done for several Air Nomad children had been killed, too, during the scuffle. These Airbenders had then forsaken their teachings and desired vengeance and they brought with them the fury of air. Fire Lord Houka eventually managed to kill them, but he made a critical mistake when he murdered one of the Air Nomad Elders when the man had traveled to learn what had happened. Nobody knows why Houka killed him, but we know that it was somehow an accident because of his next actions."
"What were his next actions?"
"Fearful that the Air Nomads would descend down on the Fire Nation in waves of calamity, wiping them out - and he knew that it was a possibility because the rogue group of only a few had killed hundreds - Houka had offered to marry an Air Nomad women to save his people from more destruction. He was a true Fire Lord."
"What?" Her jaw dropped, "An Air Nomad was wed to the Fire Lord?"
"No. There was no marriage, but the Air Nomads did agree to tie Air to Fire by choosing one of their women to enter the Fire Lord's bed, siring him his son, his heir. And the woman did succeed, but the Children of Fire were outraged that their future Fire Lord would be part Air and rose against Fire Lord Houka, catching him by surprise when they, in a large mob, entered the palace, and he was accidentally killed, leaving his only infant son, Zyrn as Fire Lord."
Katara gasped, sitting up straighter, "A child?" She asked in disbelief, "How could they put... a child on the Dragon's Throne? I thought that they hated Zyrn."
"He was the heir, Katara. When news spread that Fire Lord Houka had been murdered in the uprising, a great shock had been the reaction; they had, apparently, only meant to murder the Air Nomad woman and kill the child, never wishing harm upon their Fire Lord. Subsequently, out of fierce guilt for their egregious deeds, they all loyally pledged themselves to Zyrn as the Fire Lord."
"And what about the mother?"
"She had wanted pretty much nothing to do with her son, believing him to be an abomination; she left the Fire Nation, leaving the baby Zyrn behind after Houka had been murdered.
She felt angry tears well in her eyes, "How could she? Her son needed her! How could they place a crown on a baby's head when he had no mother or father?"
"Zyrn was the rightful heir to the Dragon's Throne, Katara. That's how it works, especially since Fire Lord Houka had no brothers. Anyway, because his mother fled, the boy was weak-willed and dominated by his advisors, who he was also raised by. Eventually, through the words of these selfish advisors, Fire Lord Zyrn, when he became of age, was convinced to marry Kimiko, daughter of the Head of the strongest Noble House at the time to gain their support and to strengthen the Royal Bloodline, trying to keep any Airbenders from being born. Kimiko was stunning, beautiful, ambitious, power-hungry, and utterly ruthless in persecuting any threat to her newfound power. Legend says that Fire Lady Kimiko would personally execute those who disrespected her." Zuko's eyes dimmed, "I suspect that Azula, during the Great War, was most similar to Kimiko."
Kimiko did sound exactly like Azula had been during the Great War and Katara licked her lips. "So, Kimiko manipulated her husband into killing the Vasuman, right?" Katara guessed after a pause.
"Pretty much, yes. She distrusted Rishi of Vasuman, one of the great-grandsons of Fire Lord Ravi most of all. You see, Rishi had been Fire Lord Zyrn's closest advisor and loyal general during the boy's childhood, the only of the advisors who kept Zyrn sane, but everything changed when Kimiko became Fire Lady. He was increasingly repressed by her, and the history of the Fire Nation changed when she convinced the incompetent Fire Lord Zyrn to banish Rishi for false accusations of treason. Widespread discontent spread through the Children of Fire for Kimiko was the ultimate puppet-master, controlling her husband flawlessly. Make no mistake, Katara," Zuko's eyes burned with knowledge and Katara stared into his beautiful, golden eyes. "Zyrn may have been Fire Lord and the face of the Fire Nation, but it was Kimiko who was the true ruler."
"Was there a revolt by the Children of Fire? What about Rishi? What happened to him after his banishment?"
"Well, in the midst of all of the chaos, Rishi of Vasuman returned with an army to cause reform amongst the Fire Nation. He was initially unsuccessful, but he soon got his chance when he was appointed Regent of the Fire Nation after Zyrn suffered a mental breakdown. Rishi immediately excluded Kimiko from anything and forced her under house arrest with Zyrn's unconscious body and began drafting documents which would change the Fire Nation. Before he even began to truly change anything, though, Zyrn suddenly recovered and the Fire Lady shriekingly convinced him to reverse Rishi's reforms. Then, under the helpful guise of night, Rishi fled from the capital and raised an army once more. Though he was unable to directly seize the Dragon's Throne, he did, through cunning maneuvering, manage to get himself reinstated as the Regent of the Fire Nation, and have himself and his own heirs designated to succeed Zyrn upon his death as Fire Lord, skipping ahead of Zyrn and Kimiko's own son, Jylzhol of Ishaner."
Katara's jaw slightly dropped. "He was a very cunning man, then," she breathed out, trying to figure out how Rishi of Vasuman had managed to succeed to place himself and his descendants ahead of Zyrn's. "Kimiko must have been livid."
Zuko laughed, "Oh, yes, she was, and she claimed her vengeance for instead of the Fire Crown, Rishi of Vasuman's head acquired a pike after he was murdered in battle with the Fire Lady's loyalists. She raised her own forces and campaigned against the Vasuman, discovering her husband, who had been captured by the Vasuman, sitting quietly beneath a tree, talking to himself. After she retrieved the insane Zyrn, Kimiko retreated to the northern part of the Fire Nation to consolidate, leaving the Dragon's Throne without any Fire Lord. Rishi of Vasuman's young son and heir, Ehktol took up the claim to the Dragon's Throne and was crowned as Fire Lord by the Fire Sages to Kimiko's outrage. Fire Lord Ehktol, after several blunders that almost cost him the Dragon's Throne, enjoyed great military success against the Ishaners, and eventually captured Zyrn once again while Kimiko fled into exile with her son, Jylzhol."
"So, it was over, then? The Ishaners' power was in tatters and the Vasuman were secure in their own power upon the Dragon's Throne."
"No, for the newly-crowned Fire Lord made a tragic political mistake by backing out of his arranged marriage to the sister of the strongest Head out of any and all of the Noble Houses so that he could secretly marry the widow of a minor Noble. This stupid act alienated Ehktol's most powerful ally, Rei, the strongest Head of all of the Noble Houses at the time and the disregarded bride's brother. Rei then allied with the Ishaners, turned Ehktol's jealous younger brother against him, and he even briefly managed to restore Zyrn as Fire Lord, but it didn't last."
"How so?"
"Ekhtol managed to recapture the Dragon's Throne, and in a battle afterward, the Ishaner Prince, heir to Fire Lord Zyrn and Fire Lady Kimiko, was killed in the battle, and Zyrn himself was murdered in his captivity not long after. Kimiko was found in her quarters, body terribly charred; she had set her clothes on fire and fanned the flames, taking her own life instead of bowing before Fire Lord Ekhtol and his heirs. The rest of Fire Lord Ekhtol's short reign was peaceful and prosperous, but upon his sudden death - and many say that he was secretly murdered - the bloodshed resumed once again. Though his 12-year-old son, Elsine was due to succeed him as Fire Lord, Ekhtol's once loyal younger brother, Ojas claimed that, due to Ekhtol's secret marriage, none of his children were legitimate to sit on the Dragon's Throne. Instead, Ojas assumed the Dragon's Throne himself, threw his nephews in prison, and was crowned the Fire Lord; they even say that it was he who killed his brother, Fire Lord Ehktol to seize the Dragon's Throne."
"What? Surely, your people were enraged by such an act!"
"Most of the Fire Nation didn't seem to actually care because the disastrous reign of a child Fire Lord in Zyrn was still fresh in everyone's mind; they thought it better that Fire Lord Ojas sit on the Dragon's Throne."
Katara licked her lips, dreading the thought but knew that she had to ask the question. "What happened to the nephews, to Fire Lord Ehktol's sons?"
Zuko sighed tiredly, gently intertwining their fingers. "Ojas secretly murdered them one night and revealed to the public that they had disappeared. Their two charred skeletons were found under a staircase in the prison by Sozin himself centuries later."
Tears welled in Katara's eyes, "How can somebody do that to their own family? What a monster."
"The same type of person who could do this," Zuko brought her hand to his scar, "to their own son, their heir with a smile on their face."
"Did Ojas get away with his crime?" Katara asked after several moments so she could recollect her emotions, trying to keep from envisioning Ozai scarring Zuko.
"At first, Fire Lord Ojas' power seemed secure, but his downfall would come only several years later by a long, lost blood relative. Henjul was a direct descendant of the first Ishaner, Fire Lord Hideki, raised in exile after his father's death in a previous rebellion against Fire Lord Ekhtol. Just as he had been discovered, the Vasuman faction was split due to Ojas' mad, blatant, and vile power grab. Henjul, as a result, won critical support for his royal claim and he raised an army, quickly overcame Ojas' superior forces and killed Ojas himself in battle, desecrating the body. Thus, he was crowned Fire Lord Henjul and by marrying Elizyruth of Vasuman, the older sister of the murdered Princes and eldest child of Fire Lord Ekhtol, Henjul forever joined the two Houses, incorporating both of them back into the Royal Bloodline, forever reuniting the House of Agni's power."
Katara watched Zuko close his eyes and inhale slowly as she pondered everything that she had just heard. "What happened after?"
"Well, Henjul and Elizyruth of Vasuman produced four children to survive past infancy: two boys and two girls and all were powerful Firebenders. Sadly, the heir apparent died in a training accident with his father and that left the younger son, Rylun as Fire Lord upon his father's death. The two daughters died before they were able to reproduce and when Rylun died, there was only one heir; the Children of Fire feared that another Cousins' War would happen, but it never did."
"That's very... interesting," she said quietly, staring into Zuko's eyes.
Her companion ducked his head, ashamed. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have revealed all of that poison to you."
Katara's eyes widened and she quickly tried to reassure Zuko. "No, no, no. I am thankful that you put such trust in me; it's overwhelming, really."
"Still, I don't mean to burden you with the darkest parts of my nation's history."
She nodded and quickly switched the subject away from Zuko's bloodline and it's dark blood-soaked history. "So, the Fire Lord has absolute power over anyone in the Fire Nation?" She asked, "There is no Council of Five like Kuei had? Do you have a Court? Do the Noble Houses have any true power?"
Zuko laughed before he sighed. "The Fire Lord is the only main political leader of the Four Nations who needn't or must hear others' advice to make a decision. Sure, I have the occasional meeting with the generals and advisors, but they are old wretches, hanging onto a time of war when it has long since passed. I deal with them mainly just for show to keep the Nobles Houses from having thoughts of betrayal. The advisors and generals all masquerade as grandfatherly figures, but they are not. Their souls are as black as a starless night itself. Although they try to seem innocent, the facade fades to those who know of their true nature; they are rotten hags, they have the needs of men, and I've heard too many stories of young women, mostly servant girls, being raped." Katara gasped, and her blue eyes turned to slits, fists clenching as the pond beside them swirled violently. "I've executed the ones who I could prove did it, but most of the young girls are too afraid of the old generals and advisors' positions, the power that their Noble House affords them, to speak out."
"What do you mean?" She growled out, staring at him intently, daring him. "I had thought that the Noble Houses didn't matter!"
Zuko turned to look at her sadly, "To me, they don't, Katara. They hold no sway over me and they never will. The only possible reason why I would be remotely wary is that of a potential rebellion."
"Then those girls should speak out! How are they afraid of those scum?" She snarled, "Those monsters are not even of Noble Blood, are they? I know that being a Noble is important, but those bastards should be punished!"
"All Noble Houses are headed by a firstborn son. That is how it works and anything different is considered blasphemous. The second and third-born sons are conscripted as a Lieutenant in the military and work their way up the top until they become a general. You know of Zhao, right? He is a perfect example of that. If there is somehow a fourth-born son, which there is always at least one from the Houses, they become advisors and try to gain the favor of the Fire Lord himself. The girls all fear those men because the wretched hags are the brothers to the most powerful men in the Fire Nation."
"But you're the most powerful man in the Fire Nation, second only to the Avatar himself in reputation throughout the world!" Katara glared at him, "You can't just let them do that, Zuko!"
"I can only do that if the girls testify, Katara. Otherwise, I would be my father and I refuse to do that, no matter how vile I know the wretched hags are. I will not become my father reborn," he declared with a surprising amount of patience. "I've ordered the wretches' executions without an ounce of guilt when there is evidence brought to me. Do you think that I allow that, Katara?" He sighed tiredly, "I hate it, but there's really nothing that I can do. If I kill the ones who I know are guilty without evidence, the Noble Houses would eventually band together and attempt a revolt to overthrow me. All of the Noble Houses are many in number and have a lot of family members in the military who hold sway over large squadrons of soldiers." Zuko threaded his fingers through his hair, "It's gotten better than what it was when I ascended the Dragon's Throne, Katara, but it's a long journey. My father had turned a blind eye to the old, wretched hags and he had most likely partaken in the... activities himself after my mother left. That's why it was so bad, why it still exists."
"So, it's always been like that?" She asked brokenly, not certain why she felt so distraught for a nation that wasn't her own.
"No. Fire Lord Azulon and Fire Lord Sozin were both notorious for their distaste for the hags who preyed on young and fertile women, and they all feared them, so they didn't attempt to force themselves upon the young girls. I've tried to have the same fear of my forefathers that kept the monsters in-line, but I'm afraid that I am too young. The hags can still picture the boy who took the Dragon's Throne instead of the man who I have now become."
Katara knew that if they continued this conversation, she would explode so she asked another question. "What about women? What do they do?"
Zuko was taken aback but quickly answered. "Well, women factor into much of the nation even if their position might seem demoralizing to you. They don't have any political power through the Noble Houses but look at Mai and Ty Lee. They are of the Noble Houses and they hunted down the Avatar - and myself, of course."
"That was because of Azula," she pointed out. "They got lucky and befriended the Princess of their nation."
"That is true, but my sister had power when she was with Ozai. Nobody messed with Azula, mainly because of her position and reputation." He sighed, "Most peasant girls if they're lucky, become maids and servants for the Noble Houses. Females born in the Noble Houses are pretty much used as nothing more than a tool to gain favor with the Fire Lord. First, they are sent to the Academy, where Azula and Mai and Ty Lee had met and attended for several years. Then, if they draw the eye of one of the other Heads of a Noble House or even the Fire Lord himself, a betrothal would commence. For example, I was betrothed to Mai before my banishment at the age of eight."
Katara's jaw dropped and she refused to acknowledge the rush of rage and envy that suddenly flashed through her heart. "Really? What about when you returned?"
"We tried dating for a while, but it was blatantly obvious that it wasn't ever going to work. While the match itself would be politically compatible, Mai would never be a remotely good Fire Lady. At the time of our betrothal, I was never expected to be Fire Lord. It would have been considered treasonous to even think it, blasphemous even. You see, my cousin, Lu Ten was alive and uncle's bloodline seemed to thrive. But my cousin's death is a perfect example of why all Fire Lord always want their heir and their spare in case something happens to their firstborn."
"So, what if the Heads of Noble Houses and the Fire Lord aren't interested in the girls? What happens to them, then?"
"The elite Firebenders are drafted into the military and serve under their brothers or uncles, or even father's. The girls who aren't drafted because of their abysmal bending or because they are a non-bender, are all rounded up and then integrated into a harem that someone, a Head of a Noble House or those of the Royal Bloodline, could purchase. I will say that my father purchased many of these harems. Frankly, I'm shocked that I don't have any bastard brothers and sisters. Who knows? I actually might."
"What?" Katara demanded, "How could people do that?"
"It's a different culture, Katara. In the Fire Nation, firebending men are ideal, and then non-bending men. Then, firebending women, and non-bending women. That's just how it works. Nevertheless, a non-bender is usually discarded, no matter the sex, because the Fire Royal Family and the Noble Houses view the child as a deformity to their bloodline. It was unheard-of what Fire Lord Sozin did, how he let Li and Lo live. Actually, my father and I had both thought that I was a non-bender for the longest time; it was all the way until I was 7-years-old, I believe. The only thing that had saved me from death was my mother, my grandfather, and the Sages' assurance that I was a Firebender."
Several tears spilled out of Katara's cheeks in a steady stream. "I can't believe…" she struggled to find words and was perpetually graceful when Zuko pulled her into his arms. She sunk into him, nestling into his warm chest and she felt him kiss her hair.
"You know, there was a full-fledged Fire Lady once." Zuko murmured, "She was the only heir to the Dragon's Throne upon her father's demise, and she became a true Fire Lady instead of just a Royal Consort. Her name was Fire Lady Akemi. Actually, she was Fire Lord Rylun's only child upon his death. He was Fire Lord Henjul's only surviving son, remember?"
Katara smiled against Zuko's chest, "Really? Who was she? What did she do?"
"She was Fire Lord Kazuki's mother, a generous ruler who, while in our time is thought of as an angel, one of the kindest to ever sit on the Dragon's Throne, was reviled by Agni's Children during her reign. It was the first and only time when a woman had ever sat on the Dragon's Throne and needless to say, she wasn't accepted. Fire Lord Rylun's final request was that she marry one of the Heads of the Noble House, and despite her reservations, she complied. Almost immediately after the marriage, Akemi became pregnant. It was highly-celebrated when the child was born a firebending boy and they named him 'Takumi'. Years later, Kazuki was born. I believe the reason that Kazuki desperately sought a male heir was because Akemi doted on her eldest son while Kazuki was only thought of as the spare heir, just as my own father was. He had mommy issues, you could say. When Takumi died from sweating sickness, Fire Lady Akemi mourned for a long time and as a result, her marriage suffered."
"What do you mean?" Katara frowned.
"Well, after several years, her husband, Ryyti sired a bastard child with a concubine who- "
Katara gasped, "What? Surely, he was executed, then! It's common knowledge, even to me, that if the Fire Lady bore a child that wasn't the Fire Lord's, she would be executed."
Zuko shook his head slowly, seeming to wince, "While that is true about a Fire Lady, the Fire Lord, whether he has the position as Royal Consort or by blood, is allowed to have as many concubines and bastard children as he wishes."
"What? But what about the Fire Lady?"
"Never. Even if they were the true heir, like Akemi, they had to be loyal to their consort."
"That's unfair!"
"Life's unfair," he shrugged. "Look at what has happened to all of us. Look specifically at Aang. What he had to choose to do on that trip from the Tree of Time, I can't even imagine."
"You're right," she whispered. "It's just like the Northern Water Tribe all over again!" Katara huffed against Zuko's chest in irritation, recognizing that she couldn't do anything to change it.
"Anyway, Ryyti sired a son through one of his concubines, and that sent Akemi spiraling out of control. She murdered the child, who she saw as her husband trying to replace her precious Takumi, and Kazuki, who by then was almost 17-years-old, witnessed it, undoubtedly traumatizing him. Records then show that Ryyti grievously beat Akemi after she killed his bastard son and Kazuki caught his father by surprise during the scuffle, killing him. They say that Akemi died from her wounds hours later, and Kazuki, subsequently, as the only heir, was crowned the Fire Lord, one of the youngest ever."
"I'm speechless, but at least now, Fire Lady Akemi is recognized as a good ruler even though she murdered an innocent child."
"Yeah, I know." Zuko whispered, "My bloodline is made of monsters, isn't it?"
Hearing the raw pain in his voice, she looked up at his hooded eyes. Without thinking through her actions, Katara grabbed his face and brought his lips down to her own.
After a moment's of hesitation, she felt Zuko eagerly respond, and his lips moved with and against hers, eliciting deep emotions within Katara. She moaned when his tongue snaked into her mouth, hot and heavy against her own, gliding across her teeth. His hands cupped her cheeks and the kiss deepened; his teeth gently nipped her lower lip, tongue quickly soothing the area. Katara's fingers found the back of his neck, massaging the pulsing muscles gently. Zuko sucked on her lower lip, caressing it while she tasted his upper one in return. Suddenly, he roughly pulled her onto his lap, pressed tightly against him, trailing his arms upwards over the luxurious folds of her gown, trailing hot, searching fingers across the front of her bodice and gripping the material roughly, trying to reach the forbidden flesh beneath. Katara gasped as his wandering fingers slowly moved along the outer swell of her breasts, cupping the swollen orbs gently, tenderly, almost lovingly.
He was hungry, but Katara was hungrier. She leaned upwards, craning her neck, arching into him as she drowned under the feel of him; his mouth was warm and his tongue was wet. Zuko became more urgent, lips crushing her own, and Katara longed to be utterly consumed by him. With one hand still on the small of her back, he pulled hard, crushing her against him and her fingers gripped his neck and cheek; his lips were needy and incessant whilst his hands ran downwards, reaching through the fabric of her gown as though he could touch the heated skin beneath simply through willpower. His large, strong hands cascaded along her rear, finding it and cupping it possessively, and then he was smiling against her lips as he greedily kissed her.
Katara couldn't catch her breath, lungs starved for air as she rolled her head against him. His hands explored her bodice once again, traveling upward, feeling urgently along the swell of her breasts, running his expert thumbs across her nipples as they hardened immediately under his heated touch. She fully wrapped her arms around his neck, basking in the feel of his lips on her own, his tongue gliding across hers, his fingers that sent delicious shivers through her body. She realized at that moment that she loved him, and she didn't want this to end. Zuko rumbled and her eyes abruptly popped open as she felt something poke her groin, making her shiver with desire.
Zuko pulled back with a sucking sound, fingers leaving her body, making her feel lost. "If we don't stop, I'm not sure if I will be able to restrain myself." His golden eyes burned with fire and Katara swallowed, ducking into his chest, and let him simply hold her.
She felt closer to him than she ever had.
XxXxXxXxXxX
Walking through the halls of Ba Sing Se's Royal Palace, Azula was bombarded with the memories from another life, of a time when she had been considered nothing more than a monster. She had killed people, soldiers that were only trying to protect their home, but back then, Azula hadn't ever cared.
All that she had wanted to do was make her father proud and if at all possible, earn his love.
What a fool she had been, truly. Ozai didn't care for anyone except himself, power, and possibly, her mother. Now, Azula knew better and she was content with the sharp stones that life had thrown at her. She had made many mistakes, but she had been given a second chance by the one person, the only person in the world who possessed the patience to help her.
Upon Zuko's instructions after her 'escape' from prison, Azula had soberly traveled to Ember Island, to her family's home where so many memories loomed in the shadows. For days, she had shuffled through the dusty villa, wondering what in Agni's name she was supposed to do. Despite her brother's mercy in letting her escape, Azula was wanted throughout the entire world for her crimes during the Great War. If anyone recognized her, she would be executed on sight, regardless if her brother was the Fire Lord. Was she supposed to linger on Ember Island for the rest of her life? What about when the Earth Kingdom's threat of war rescinded? Would Zuko force her back into that cell?
Thankfully, none of the inevitable outcomes that she had concluded had happened, though. Instead, an intruder had broken into her new home after a week of isolation, drawing her curiosity. After all, nobody dared enter the Fire Lord's home, not even the Heads of the Noble Houses. People had been executed by previous Fire Lords for much less; she alluded to Fire Lord Kazuki and several others, her father being one of them.
She had silently snuck behind the tall, broad yet lithe figure, figuring it to be a man but she wasn't sure; the urge to lash out was strong, but she had resisted for the sake of her curiosity, for the eagerness that she had felt to have contact with another person. Then, to her immense surprise, the figure had called out into the darkness, declaring that his name was Kuzon and that he was a friend of the Fire Lord Zuko's. Azula obviously knew at that moment that it was, indeed, a man; the deep voice, steady and yet gentle was her evidence. It contained a subtle power that she had never experienced before. Not even her father's voice could portray such simple… power as the man who had declared himself Kuzon.
She had moved slightly closer, trying to see through the darkness, but to her immense shock, the figure had stiffened, realizing that he was not alone; she had warily watched as the man raised his arms in a surrendering gesture, and slowly turned around.
Immediately, Azula had been struck by how handsome the man was. Pitch black hair, almost Fire Nation-like, covered his head, falling slightly past his ears and a headband wrapped around the man's forehead, accentuating his vibrant, intense, stormy gray eyes and the man's full lips. She had to stare up at the man for he was over a head taller than her; he was even taller than her brother! She had searched through her memory, sifting through images to try to remember if she had ever encountered such a handsome man, one who was so beautiful that she knew that he could have anyone who he wanted. When their eyes met - golden versus gray - the man's eyes had spasmed shut, a tenseness entering his body. After several moments, with Azula frozen to the spot, bemused by the reaction, the man's gray eyes had suddenly opened after a moment and his full lips were parted in shock, recognition carved into his handsome features.
"Azula," he had whispered.
She remembered her own eyes widening and then they had narrowed into slits, wondering how the man had known who she was. Warily, she had stared up at the man and watched as the figure's arms lowered and the effect was instantaneous. Arrow tattoos were clearly visible and Azula gasped, hands alighting with hot sapphire flames.
"Avatar," she had cursed, knowing that she wouldn't stand a chance against a fully-realized Avatar, nonetheless against the very same Avatar who had dethroned her father during Sozin's Comet when he had only been a mere, inexperienced boy. That boy had grown into the man who stood before her, the mighty god who her forefathers had all been terrified of. Azula realized swiftly that she would not survive a battle; her only chance was to tell the truth. It was the only way for her to continue living in freedom; she couldn't go back to that cell! "Zuko let me go," she said adamantly, dimly realizing that her reputation as a skilled liar wouldn't help her at all in her conundrum. "I didn't escape, he let me go!" She tried to convey the desperate truth through her eyes, praying that the Avatar would believe her.
To her utter relief, the Avatar had sighed tiredly, gray eyes old. "And why on Devi's green Earth would Zuko do something like that?" He had asked politely, seeming to believe her, but he had needed the reassurance.
As a show of good faith, Azula had snuffed out her blue flames, tilting her head up to meet his, eyes connecting with his beautiful, old eyes. "Because I needed to be; my life was in danger."
"Very well, I would like to hear the details, then."
Looking back at that moment, Azula wondered what would have happened if she had attacked Aang. All scenarios displayed her being either locked up again, having her bending removed, or a swift death. But because of her restraint and decision to be honest, none of those things had happened and she had, fortunately, been gifted a path that she could have never imagined. Instead, for the first time in her life, she had found someone who understood her.
Through months of slowly adjusting to having someone in her life who she could trust, Azula had learned much about the Avatar that she had never expected to, had never even thought of. She had always believed that her own childhood was rough, but through intense reflection and healing, in her opinion, it was nothing compared to Aang's heavy burden. At the age of twelve, he was tasked to save the entire world with the knowledge that one of the nations that he had had to liberate was the one that slaughtered his own people, his family. He was completely alone in a way that Azula - that no one - could ever understand, being the Last Airbender and the Avatar.
The Avatar was always traveling, fixing the world's problems because people expected the Balance-Keeper to be a babysitter, and nobody usually, continuously joined the Avatar on their duty. When she had begun to call him by his name, she realized that Aang was destined to be alone; she had easily been able to discern the visible anger that had seemed to shine in his gray orbs. She had learned of the blood that stained his hands, the deaths that he had been responsible for; she herself didn't have as much because of the Avatar State's unholy power. She had learned of the various tragedies that had plagued Aang throughout his life. He had revealed that he had always felt different ever since he could remember, and it had never been more apparent than when it had come to the elements; the bending arts were utterly effortless to him when he had actually focused and tried. He had shared the memories that he possessed of the other Elder Monks beside Gyatso at the Southern Air Temple always watching him, monitoring his actions continuously, challenging him with games that no matter what he did, it would never be good enough. Azula wondered if the Air Nomads did that with all of the Airbenders, or if it was only an Avatar-needed necessity. But based on what Aang had revealed from his trip back in time, it seemed that the Air Nomads had, indeed, fallen from grace; it sickened her because that behavior that the Elders displayed reminded her of Ozai.
Aang's journey had shed much-needed light on the darkest parts of Azula's heart. Through his unwavering patience, his relentless encouragement, she had realized much about her own life; her road to restoration had begun because of Aang. He had helped her, given her a reason to fully heal mentally from the horrible tragedies that the winds of fate had cursed her with. In return, to her incredulity, she had fallen in love with the Master of the Four Elements, the Balance-Keeper, with the Avatar, the boy who she had hunted across the world as a child.
Azula snorted in amusement. It was ironic; one of the heirs to Sozin, the man responsible for the genocide of the Air Nomads, was more than willing to bear the new nation of Airbenders.
"I see that you have become lost, Azula." King Bumi's nasally voice echoed in her ears and she turned around, nodding her head in greeting to the regent King of Ba Sing Se. The Earthbender smiled crookedly at her, lopsided eyes glowing like emeralds. "It's been a long time since I've had the pleasure of speaking with one of Sozin's line face-to-face."
Taken aback by those words, Azula raised a brow curiously. "I thought that you were friends with my uncle, the Dragon of the West?"
"Oh, most definitely, Azula. I am, indeed, Iroh's friend but it has been too long - years - since I have been able to give him a hug. In fact, I was the one who put him on the path of joining the Order of the White Lotus." Bumi sighed, switching the subject. "I can remember a time, in my childhood, when the Four Nations had seemed at peace."
"That was a long time ago," she said quietly, thinking about how much of the world had suffered because of her great-grandfather's influence, from Vaatu's influence, but it was Sozin's hands, nevertheless, that the blood of millions dripped from. "I've never known such a thing."
Bumi nodded solemnly, "Yes, it was a long time ago. In many ways, I believe that the Great War's greatest thefts have yet to be seen. As you said, your generation, you specifically know nothing about living in a peaceful world. Your group, save Aang, were all born in war, bred to fight… and kill."
"Yes, you're right," she murmured. "My father was a cruel monster and raised me as his weapon, discarding me to the side when he no longer had any use for me. Yes, I was born into war, bred into it. The phantom feeling of pain was a constant ally, the only constant ally that I had had for so long. Until I met Aang, I had thought that that was how life itself was supposed to be."
"Your entire group, Aang included," Bumi shook his head mournfully. "You all suffer from the same afflictions, the utter poison that stains your souls, blackens them with the thoughts of hate, smothering the love, clouding it until the two become one and the same."
Azula snorted, "I know all about hate," she said softly. "I know about the differences between hate and love."
King Bumi turned to her, lopsided eyes showcasing his old age; they were serious, unnerving. "I'm not sure that you do, Azula. You're still young, around my grandson's own age. I'm uncertain that no one understands what true hatred is until one is, at the least, several decades old. What is something that you hate, Azula?"
"I hate my father," Azula said darkly, clenching her fists as memories of the utter abuse she suffered bombarded her mind. "He is a monster above all monsters; he was the perfect vessel for Dark."
Bumi nodded, "That is more than understandable, Azula. Ozai deserves to die and if he was right in front of me, I would hold no hesitation to watch the life flicker out of his eyes." He held up a finger, "But, you see, I wouldn't watch the life leave your father's eyes because of hate, but because of indifference."
Azula was taken aback, "What?" She asked numbly, "How is that supposed to make any sense?"
Bumi smiled gently, "Most, if not all, would describe hate as the opposite of love, but that is simply not true. The opposite of love is indifference," he held up a hand when Azula was about to protest. "You see, hate gnaws at you incessantly, Azula. It swirls around your soul, coiled through the deepest recesses of your heart. With every breath you take, no matter when it is, the hate is a venomous bite that deforms your mind until the only thing that keeps you alive are the whispers in the dark, the clouds that shadow the brightest days. Hate is a constant in your life to those who are unfortunately afflicted by it; it walks with you throughout your journey, and sleeps with you through the night, poisoning your dreams. Hate is overly cruel and it cares for nothing except you and the one - or ones - who you hate."
"I've never heard hate described like that," she admitted, amazed at Bumi's wisdom; it reminded her of Aang, somewhat.
"Nor would I have expected you to, Azula. I know, first-hand, the effects of true hate. When the Air Nomads were slaughtered, I succumbed to the hate, eagerly bearing arms against the Children of Fire."
"Then why do you say that indifference is the opposite of love?" She questioned in bemusement, "That doesn't make sense. I... don't understand."
Bumi tilted his head at her, staring at her thoughtfully. "Think of it this way, Azula: when you love someone, you care for them even more than you care for yourself. Simply, you love them. When you hate someone, you still care about them only because it needs to be you who ends their life, who stops the beating of their heart. You love Aang, yes?" Azula nodded, speechless, "If you hated him, he would still consume your thoughts, but if you were indifferent to him, that is when you wouldn't care at all if he died right in front of you, regardless if it were you who killed him."
"I would hold no emotion while watching him die," she realized, feeling sick at the very thought. That was how her younger self had been, the Avatar-hunting Azula had been during Ba Sing Se, during the damned night when she had ravaged Aang's body with her strongest lightning strike; she had held no emotion except triumph as she had watched the Avatar fall.
"Yes, that is why indifference is the true opposite of love. Anyway, if you were looking for Aang, he's feeding Appa in the Royal Stables. He also mentioned something about meditating with his past lives."
Azula nodded and while she knew she looked pale, she contemplated Bumi's words. "Thank you, King Bumi."
She needed to speak to Aang immediately.
XxXxXxXxXxX
In vigorous retrospection, Iroh was relieved that this had not been his chosen path. Although he had been an esteemed General, the Dragon of the West, sitting on the Dragon's Throne was simply tedious, to say the least. He honestly had no idea how Zuko didn't execute the Nobles every day - and his nephew's temper was worse than his own!
Iroh rubbed his beard, reviewing the paperwork to commission his Jasmine Dragon in the Caldera. Since he had taken over as regent, taking over the job that he had been groomed from birth to dawn, Iroh was impressed with his nephew's dedication to his people. Zuko had worked tirelessly to create a better economy, and through much hard work, he had been able to reverse Ozai's horrid legislation.
Although, problems did still reign supreme over the lower class of Agni's Children. Ozai's machinations had borne strife on anyone not of strong blood. Iroh shook his head, putting down the Jasmine Dragon's construction paperwork. The reason that he had decided to use his power as the regent Fire Lord to commission a Jasmine Dragon was so that Iroh could stay close with his dearest nephew. After the Great War, he had visited Sozin's Caldera several times but had always journeyed back to Ba Sing Se after a few weeks. He had been selfish in pursuing his dream; he had wanted away from the Fire Nation, away from the memories that would flood his mind.
By doing that, he had, in a way, abandoned his nephew to deal with the Noble Houses by his lonesome when he was on the brink of adulthood - one of the youngest Fire Lords in the history of their nation, and by far, the most successful at his age.
"Prince Iroh," his gaze snapped to one of the Palace's scribes who had just entered. The boy looked to be around 17 or 18-years-old, black hair falling past his ears and to his shoulders. The boy was thin, almost painfully so, but Iroh instinctively knew that it was a facade, for the boy undoubtedly had strength. Iroh could feel the boy's chi, and it was strong, although it possessed no Fire. What drew his attention, though, were the boy's eyes. They were permanently wide, irises gleaming almost malevolently in the light of the room. "We have received word that Fire Lord Zuko's group has reached King Bumi in Ba Sing Se. Also, several of the Imperial Firebenders and Yu Yan Archers who had served Fire Lord Zuko while he was searching for the Avatar's location have requested an audience with you, Prince Iroh. They claim to possess critical knowledge of our enemy's whereabouts."
Iroh narrowed his eyes and nodded. "Send them in… quickly." What would they know of his brother's whereabouts?
"Of course, Prince Iroh," the scribe motioned behind him and Iroh watched as five men swiftly entered, postures ramrod and eyes dark. "Imperial Firebender Ryuko, Imperial Firebender Mako, Imperial Firebender Oryn, Yu Yan Archer Suarto, and Yu Yan Archer Tsyuni." The scribe quickly announced and scurried out of the Fire Lord's privy chambers, shutting the door.
"Gentlemen," Iroh nodded, observing the men before, knowing that he looked every bit the Dragon of the West, the firstborn of Fire Lord Azulon.
They all kneeled before him humbly. "Prince Iroh," Oryn murmured and they all rose gracefully.
"The scribe mentioned that you all possess knowledge of the enemy. Why do you claim this? Are you traitors to the Dragon's Throne?"
Mako stepped forward, looking shocked. "Prince Iroh, we are loyal," he said adamantly, all the other men nodding in agreement.
Iroh raised a brow, seeing through the words easily. "And to whom are you loyal, all of you? To Fire Lord Zuko? You didn't specify," he asked curiously, already knowing the answer. Just as he had suspected, the men paled, eyes widening in realization. Mako swallowed and opened his mouth, but Iroh waved him off. "The reason why you possess knowledge of the enemy is that you are soldiers for the enemy, for my brother." Iroh said darkly, glaring down at the Imperial Firebenders and Yu Yan Archers, the traitors to the Dragon's Throne, to his nephew.
As if a signal went off, the men all gained a cold glint in their eyes, fire sprouting from the fists of the Firebenders while the Yu Yan drew their bows back, arrowheads gleaming under the light of the fire.
"The Phoenix King sends his regards, Prince Iroh." Mako smiled coldly, "The reign of the treacherous Fire Lord Zuko will soon be over, and the Phoenix King will rise, bringing forth a new era!"
Iroh shook his head sadly, keeping his eyes focused on the traitors, gathering his energy. "An era of darkness, you fools. Alas, it is too late for all of you. Your fates have been sealed, but know that I will take no pleasure in this."
"Our fate?" Mako scoffed, flames growing with anger. "No, your fate has been sealed, Prince Iroh! The line of Sozin is full of traitors: Fire Lord Zuko, you, and the traitorous Princess Azula. Phoenix King Ozai will merge with Vaatu and become the new Avatar."
"You're delusional, all of you." Iroh almost laughed at their absurd mindsets. "Nonetheless, you have all lived your last days; none of you will be leaving this room alive."
Mako stepped closer, anger carved deep into his flesh. "Oh, I think we will," he leaped forward and punched forward, a torrent of embers flashing towards Iroh.
Kicking the desk forward, Iroh lashed through the wood and attacking the surprised, traitorous Children of Fire; he hissed as an arrow grazed his cheek, a thin line of blood bubbling to the surface. Iroh rolled to the side and swept out his leg, fire sprouting from his foot as Ryuko was caught, screaming in pain as his flesh melted from the sizzling hot flames; his death was imminent.
"You bastard!" Mako roared, "You killed him! My cousin!" Sparks of lightning condensed in Iroh's palm as he leaped away from Mako's spinning flame kick. He spun around and unleashed his lightning, watching dispassionately as the man was blown apart, smashing into part of the wall in different areas; blood colored the walls further crimson.
Iroh summoned a wall of flames that kept the incoming arrows from reaching him, melting upon contact with his fire. He hopped over Ryuko's carcass and spun to his right, wrapping his hand around Tsyuni's bow, wrenching it to the side; he quickly snapped his hand towards the Yu Yan's face, breaking bones, and blood sprayed into Iroh's beard. Suddenly, he heard the tell-tale sound of a bow's line being pulled back, and Iroh yanked Tsyuni in front of him, multiple arrows tearing through the man's body relentlessly; the arrowheads were a hair's breadth away from Iroh's face and chest.
"Prince Iroh!" Iroh's eyes widened when he saw the scribe entire into the array of chaos, surprise plastered on the poor boy's face. Before Iroh could try to react, Suarto snapped his bow into the scribe's face; the man wrapped his arm around the boy's throat, arrowhead held against the side of the skull, ready to tear through bone, muscle, and brain.
"You know that I'll do it, Prince Iroh." Suarto's tone chilled Iroh's soul, "I know that you don't want this poor scribe's blood on your hands, so surrender and he will remain breathing."
Iroh closed his eyes in sorrow and he kicked Tsyuni's body to the floor, arms raised in a gesture of surrender; he stared at the scribe, who looked to be no older than Zuko was when his nephew ascended to Fire Lord, than when his precious son, Lu Ten was killed. "Don't worry, boy, it will be all right." He felt Oryn step behind him and Iroh was shoved down on his knees, a fire dagger held to his throat. "Release the boy. If you don't, your honor will be questioned."
Just as he knew would happen, Suarto shoved the boy to the corner, snarling in rage as he wasn't able to kill the scribe as he desired. Iroh had deliberately mentioned honor because he knew that in the Fire Nation, if one's honor was questioned, they would be shunned by everyone. His head suddenly snapped to the side as Suarto backhanded him, following it up with a swift, painful kick to the abdomen.
"Phoenix King Ozai will reward me greatly for the murder of his elder brother." Oryn hissed into his ear and Iroh's eyes connected with the boy's. The scribe gripped a fallen arrow from the ground and his eyes glowed with determination and rage and insanity. Iroh urged the boy to wait with his eyes and was relieved to see that his order was followed.
"Fuck you, Oryn," Suarto sneered, "If anyone will be rewarded by the magnificent Phoenix King, it will be me. In case you had forgotten, it was me who had coerced Prince Iroh to surrender, not you." Iroh wanted to laugh. He raised his brow at the boy and smiled slightly as Suarto's back was turned, oblivious to his imminent demise.
"It doesn't matter!" Oryn spat, spit falling into Iroh's hair, "Let's just murder him and then I'll kill the boy- behind you!" When the grip on his shoulders slackened in shock, trying to warn Suarto, Iroh harshly elbowed Oryn; he quickly wrapped his fiery hand around the fire dagger, snuffing out the flames. He wrenched the man's arm, snapping bones like twigs. On his knees, Iroh spun, twisting the man's broken arm and jumping to his feet, smashing his knee into Oryn's face, snapping his head back like a slingshot. Before the Firebender could defend himself, Iroh roared, breathing pure fire into Oryn's face, killing him quickly, but painfully.
"Not… another step, Prince Iroh." Suarto hissed, and Iroh closed his eyes in anger. He slowly turned around, not moving a step, and clenched his jaw upon seeing the boy held in Suarto's grasp. A large, bloody wound was scraped through the man's face and Iroh knew that the boy had mistakenly attacked Suarto's face instead of the neck. Always go for the neck in close combat - firebending basic teachings.
Iroh grasped for excuses, "Just… let the boy go, Suarto. He has nothing to do with this! If you kill him, your honor will be in doubt."
"The boy knows too much," the man laughed loudly and the arrow dug into the poor boy's skull slightly. Suarto rubbed his face against his shirt, smearing blood across the red expanse, darkening the color even further. "And nobody will be able to question my honor because everyone who knows the truth will soon be dead!"
Iroh shuddered and tried to smile at the boy, "Do not worry, boy. You will live to see another sunrise."
"Don't lie to the scribe," Suarto chided and the boy thrashed in the grip and a cloud of energy seemed to emanate from him before it vanished. "This boy will die. It is only, and simply, the inevitable. He's pointless anyway, Prince Iroh. He's a peasant! Not of Noble or Royal Blood!"
"Nobody is pointless, fool!" Iroh cried out, breathing deeply, obscuring his fingers' motions, letting puffs of steam cloud through his nostrils to conceal his actions. "Everyone matters and their blood doesn't determine who they are! What they choose to do in their life, who they choose to be will be their legacy."
Suarto scoffed, features rippling with disdain. "You truly are senile. It's pathetic! The once-great Dragon of the West, firstborn of Fire Lord Azulon is a traitor to Agni's Children! No, you are the fool! Unable to see the truth!"
Iroh smiled steely, "Many of the truths that we cling to depend greatly on our perception." He felt the lightning begin to form, spiraling across his fingers in a beautiful pattern, a dance of energy. "Who is the fool, Suarto? The fool, or the fool who is distracted by senseless ramblings?" Just as he finished, the scribe snapped his teeth across Suarto's hand, blood squirting from multiple puncture wounds as fingers were torn off in a display of animalistic savagery.
The Yu Yan Archer cried out in pain and fury, throwing the boy to the side in a reflexive gesture, and it was as the Dragon of the West had foreseen; he was ready, prepared. Iroh unleashed his lightning, watching with a grim-like satisfaction as Suarto's body was blown apart, blood spraying the floor and walls; the traitor joined his fellow traitor, Mako.
"Are you injured, Prince Iroh?" The scribe stumbled forward, spitting out the now-dead man's fingers, assessing his body for wounds.
Iroh waved him off. "I'm fine, boy, but the question is: are you all right? You were most brave," he was impressed with the boy, with the courage that he had displayed despite his obvious fear. It reminded him of his nephew before his banishment, actually.
"I'm a little shaken, but other than that, I'm okay, Prince Iroh." The scribe suddenly smiled and Iroh was immediately wary of that smile, the subtle triumphant, savage gleam that shined in the boy's eyes, the sheen of red blood coating the boy's teeth, looking like it belonged. It eerily reminded him of Azula during Ba Sing Se many years ago, but somehow... worse. "You mustn't worry about me, my liege."
With narrowed golden eyes, Iroh observed the scribe. Before, when he was captured, the boy had been timid and terrified, playing the role of a scared hostage. But now, the boy seemed confident, unperturbed by the blood staining his clothes and teeth. "Get yourself a clean change of clothes, boy, and return to your duties," he finally declared. "Before you depart, though, answer me this: what is your name, boy?"
"My name is Lee, Prince Iroh," the boy's tone was level and Iroh didn't like it, especially when he was able to sense that it was a lie. The heat in the boy's body had flared dramatically around the boy named Lee's eyes and nose, indicating a bold lie.
Iroh stepped forward and didn't fail to notice the scribe stiffen, eyes becoming more alarmed with each step Iroh took. Iroh narrowed his eyes even further as he felt a tug on his chi, something that he had never experienced before. He stared into Lee's eyes, and then he smiled, purposefully losing the 'General' look. "Thank you for your bravery, Lee. Your courage will be rewarded justly. I will see to it. I take back my earlier order. Go rest, boy. You've been through a traumatic experience." He placed a 'fatherly' hand on the boy's shoulder, radiating fake pride. "A young man needs his rest, Lee, especially the brave ones."
The scribe bowed, looking relieved. "At your orders, Prince Iroh," he turned around and soundlessly stepped through the stained, chaos-impacted room, unaffected by the death.
"And, Lee," Iroh called out, watching the scribe pause. "Make sure to speak of this to no one." The boy nodded and left the room.
Iroh knew that he would need to message his nephew at once and keep an eye on the scribe named Lee. Something was definitely off about the boy, or maybe, Iroh was paranoid about what had just happened; he didn't know, but hopefully, his nephew would.
XxXxXxXxXxX
Well, that's all for this chapter, everyone. I hope you all enjoyed it, and please, remember to leave a review, whether it be positive or negative, I really appreciate it.
So, some action happened in this chapter:
**Zhao returns and joins Vaatu and Ozai, and Chin's Children, and Hama! He reveals the location of the Ocean and the Moon's mortal forms in return for his freedom. Now, Vaatu and Ozai know the location and know where they can achieve power over Water. All that's left, if they accomplish acquiring Water, is the Air Spirit.
Zhao's prison is based on the Greek myth surrounding the Titan Prometheus. In legend, the Titan stole the gift of fire under Zeus' nose and the King of the Olympians was not happy about it. For his punishment, Prometheus was chained to a rock and an eagle, the symbol of Zeus, feasted on the Titan's liver. Even worse, Prometheus' liver re-grew every night and the eagle returned each day to perpetually torment the Titan, continuing to devour Prometheus' liver.
Shout-out to gaara king of the sand who gave me the idea to have Zhao back in the story. For Zhao's punishment, the Ocean Spirit is Zeus and the act of drowning is the eagle. Agni's light represents the 'liver' growing back as the sun recuperates Zhao's corpse. Anyway, I honestly hated what the Legend of Korra did with Zhao. The Fog of Lost Souls seems too lenient, in a way, to me. The Ocean Spirit is one of the Major Spirits in Avatar, one of the Elementals themselves. His sister was murdered by a human and I feel like La, the Ocean Spirit would want a personal hand in Zhao's punishment. Needless to say, in the world of Avatar, don't EVER piss off a spirit.
**Chin V reveals some critical details! I've never, never been a fan of a villain or character like Chin the Conqueror who seem to have no motivations in response to their actions. Personally, that's why I enjoy Darth Vader in Star Wars. I can - and others can, too - understand his fall to the Dark Side, to the regime of the Sith. Anyway, I wanted Chin's reasons for what he did to be a little fleshed out. In Avatar, the Fire Lord is easily the strongest of the Four Nation's political leaders. The Earth Kingdom isn't unified, but rather under the rule of four separate Kings. The Water Tribes are each under the rule of a single Chief, but they both only control half of their nation. The Air Nomads had Elder Monks and Nuns who ran each Temple and when combined, formed the High Council of Elders. The Fire Lord is the only ruler who controls everything in their respective nation. I think that Chin the Conqueror saw that and realized that the Earth Kingdom should be set up that way as well, so he laid siege to his nation, forcing it under his heel until Avatar Kyoshi finally stopped him.
**Bumi gets some backstory! I've always enjoyed the concept of Bumi's character, a personal friend to Aang who lived through the entire Great War. He saw, firsthand, the true horrors of battle and was, subsequently, scarred by those experiences. He opens up to Aang about his life and reveals some critical details. First, the genocide of the Air Nomads that he believed to have killed his best friend. Bumi, above all else, desired vengeance and eagerly, once he became the King of Omashu, joined the war effort of the Earth Kingdom. He also explains how hopeless it was to continue to fight because the Fire Nation was so powerful and advanced, head and shoulders above the Earth Kingdom and the Water Tribes.
Sozin lived for 153 years and had plenty of time, with the influence of Agni and Vaatu, to plan his strategy to create a world of only Fire. Roku physically didn't do much to stem Sozin's ambitions. On his friend's wedding, Sozin did bring it up, but Roku shut him down with scarcely a sentence: "This is the last I want to hear of it." That threat obviously didn't last as Sozin was able to, without Roku's knowledge - which is impressive or scary depending on the point-of-view - create the Fire Nation Colonies in the Earth Kingdom. Once he finds out, Roku sets things straight and then doesn't speak to Sozin until the day of his death. If Sozin was able to hide the Colonies from Roku, he would have EASILY been able to hide much more. Once Roku died - or was left to die - Sozin had nobody to fear. He was able to build his army in secret, without the gaze of the other nations, build his power for decades without the fear of facing retribution from the other nations' knowledge of his machinations. As a result, the Fire Nation had well over a decades head start over the Water Tribes and the Earth Kingdom in preparing for the Great War. (Honestly, it's incredibly, almost unfathomable that the Earth Kingdom and Water Tribes were able to last as long as they did during the Great War. Realistically, they would have been destroyed because of the Fire Nation's technological advances and decades-long preparations for the Great War.)
Bumi revealed his plan that he had implemented to Aang about siring strong Earthbenders. I was never a fan, when in the show, both the Last Airbender and the Legend of Korra, it said that spirituality is the only way that someone achieves bending. I think that is ridiculous. If that were the case, a Firebender could easily be born to an Earthbender or vice versa. Genetics, the blood itself must play a role in it. If not, why is Aang the ONLY one who can sire Airbenders in the world? Why were people so concerned that the Air Nomads were gone forever? Why were Yakone's children so powerful in waterbending to the point where they could bloodbend without a full moon? Why were Amon and Tarrlok able to have waterbending after their father's bending was taken away? Because blood plays the biggest role, it has to! That part was Canon - at least for Airbenders with Aang - until the bullshit spirit magic mumbo jumbo, deus ex machina that suddenly gave a bunch of people airbending after the Harmonic Convergence in Legend of Korra.
(Sorry, but I really hated that because it totally disregards true and lasting consequences. The Air Nomads' Genocide and Aang's constant, ubiquitous need to sire Airbenders to repopulate his race is the greatest scar of the Great War that stemmed from Fire Lord Sozin's evil; it's a scar that should take many generations to fully heal - or fade, I guess. It should be a constant reminder of the horrors that Sozin unleashed and what true war can beget. But then it's just wiped away! I mean, what the actual fuck? I'm sorry for the vulgar language, but you CANNOT do that! For real-world context, that would be similar to wiping away the holocaust! Suddenly giving people airbending and regrowing the Air Nomads so easily pretty much says: "Fuck long-lasting effects on the Four Nations and the world, fuck the scars caused by war, and fuck the concept of things taking time to heal from!" If you liked it, that's completely fine, but I just didn't.) Bumi knew that blood was more important than spirituality so he sired four children: 1 non-bender and 3 Earthbenders. One of the benders was stillborn and Bumi gave his non-bending daughter to another family. (Personally, my theory is that for the spirituality angle to work, a spiritual person must have been touched by a spirit to have bending, thus changing their blood or unlocking something in one's genetic potential to manipulate an element. Then this person sires children with this same genetic potential - or even better depending on who the other parent is - and thus it's a domino effect. It would work the same for energybending and thus the chi-flow. That's just my theory.)
It was revealed that Piandao was given up by his Firebender parents because he wasn't a Firebender. I think that would be very common in the world of Avatar, especially during a time of war. In Japan, a long time ago, there was a rule or custom of adopting children out of a family and into another if the child's abilities and skills matched better with the new family than the birth family. Anyway, the girl dies and Bumi is once again kicked in the heart by life. Then he reveals what happened to his son, Sheil. Bumi is very wary around his family, of the possibility that he could lose more of them to death.
**Toph's journey after the Great War is shown and I think that it is realistic for her parents not to change their ways. By their age, the Beifongs would have many problems trying to change their ideology, their need to keep Toph in a cage. To me at least, in the show, it seemed like the Beifongs despised things or people that they couldn't control. They were very rich and in the old days, the rich lived with certain 'rules' that had to be followed or you could be cast out. Toph, as we all know, is a very rebellious person and hates being told what to do. To their credit, the Beifongs did try to change their ways but, ultimately, were unable to do so because as the popular saying attests, you can't teach an old dog new tricks.
I honestly think that Toph would have no problems killing someone, especially if they were raiders and rapists. Her personality, once she accepts something as 'the right way', wouldn't allow her to feel regret. And honestly, even though the raiders might not have deserved it, those rapists most certainly did. I hold no respect for any man or woman who sexually forces themselves upon someone for the act of procuring carnal pleasure. It is wrong, and there is no place for it in any society, so Toph shouldn't feel regret whatsoever.
The Blind Bandit then falls in love with Bor when she went to Omashu. Yes, Bor is older than Toph. Also, I do truly think that Bumi is a stronger Earthbender than Toph. Before you start raging, hear me out on this: Toph's key vulnerability is her blindness even though it is also her greatest strength. Experienced combatants, like Bumi who fought during the entire duration of the Great War, could easily exploit her inability to 'see' through her eyes and only 'see' things when it is touching the ground, achieving victory in a match. Bumi, in my opinion, has more raw power than Toph and I think that their technique, their skills are evenly matched. During the Day of Black Sun, Bumi single-handedly retook the entire city of Omashu, killing hundreds of non-benders and Firebenders alike. Even though the sun was blocked, any Firebender's chi during that time was still full of energy. They couldn't express that by bending because the darkened sun wouldn't allow that, but they could still fight, using their chi to even strengthen their body. Plus, Bumi can bend with his face! Nobody else can do that with earthbending! We also need to take in the fact that Bumi is a century older than Toph, with decades of experience and knowledge that Toph simply doesn't, and might never have. Bumi was, as a teenager, raised in war. Every day, he would train and train and train. Then he was, I assume, on the battlefield fighting. Whereas, Toph was raised in a cage and was unable to fully apply herself. She never necessarily had the time to fully commit to training like Bumi did because she was under house arrest thanks to her parents. Combine all of those things together, and I believe that it is easy to understand that Bumi is more powerful than Toph. Also, prodigies are known to struggle against someone who is their equal or superior; they are so used to being the best that when they are beaten, it is impossible for them to grasp that they aren't the best. Azula was an example of this, Toph is an example of this, and even Katara was briefly when she first taught Aang waterbending. (She thought that she was so great because she taught herself some small moves, but then Aang, pun definitely intended, blew her out of the water.)
**Zuko and Katara talk and Katara questions him about the Fire Nation and its history. I've always been fascinated with the Fire Nation's lore and took some liberties to make it, in my opinion, awesome and dark like a lot of real-world histories. In case you hadn't guessed, Fire Lord Kazuki's character was based on King Henry VIII, England's most notorious - and probably most powerful - monarch. In real life, Henry VIII was absolutely obsessed with having a true heir to his kingdom - a son. (He famously divorced Catherine of Aragon, who only bore him dead children and one living daughter, who, in his mind, was a failure, so that he could marry Anne Boleyn. After several years, all Anne Boleyn accomplished was a living daughter - another failure in Henry VIII's mind, but that daughter would grow up to be Queen Elizabeth I, easily one of England's greatest rulers - and several miscarriages, who were confirmed to have been sons. To get rid of her, Henry had Anne Boleyn detained at the Tower of London on several false charges, among them adultery, incest, and conspiracy. Then, several days later she was beheaded. King Henry VIII quickly married Jane Seymour, who was able to bear him a living son, but she died only weeks later from puerperal fever, an infection that can arise from childbirth complications.) As I'm sure that you can clearly see, Fire Lord Kazuki is very similar to King Henry VIII.
In Avatar Canon, it says that a single Fire Sage rose above the other Sages and became the Fire Lord, but I honestly don't see that going well; the other Sages would want to become the Fire Lord and war would be waged. So, I added the first civil war concept and then, Fire Lord Kai eventually became the lone Fire Lord. In case you didn't know, the sweating sickness was a very real thing. During King Henry VIII's reign, it terrified him because it was so deadly and common. Also, consumption is the old term for tuberculosis - made famous by Edgar Allan Poe. In real history, men have been hailed across the globe as the dominant sex. I think that would be the Fire Nation's thoughts as well along with all of the nations except the Air Nomads.
The Noble Houses are based on real political history as well. Only a son is considered a legitimate heir - in fact, families would pray for a son so that the family line wouldn't die out - and the firstborn male of any aristocratic and Noble family automatically inherited everything upon the father's death. Simply put, the eldest son - never a daughter - is always the natural heir to the father's estates, riches, land, and women - concubines. It might sound like he would be living the dream, but familial duties would begin to demand his attention and resources. If the firstborn had any sisters and nieces, they would all need to be supplied with suitable marriage portions, or in the case of the Fire Nation, have enough money and skills to survive the Academy. If the firstborn had a brother or nephew, which is very likely, funds would need to be given so that they could enlist in the Fire Nation military as a lieutenant instead of starting at the bottom of the ladder. The fourth-born son, if there is one, would need to be schooled on everything from politics to economics and diplomacy. The fourth-born son would become an advisor and seek to catch the eye of the Fire Lord, who could show him, and thus his Noble House favor.
Also, the Cousins' War was another name in real life for the criminally - in my mind - underrated War of the Roses. These were the events that actually inspired the very successful Game of Thrones book series. Honestly, in my opinion, they are utterly fascinating. Actually, the characters are directly based on the main people in the War of the Roses and the events that led to it: Fire Lord Ravi is King Edward III, Fire Lord Rohit is King Richard II, Fire Lord Hideki is King Henry IV, Fire Lord Houka is King Henry V, Fire Lord Zyrn is King Henry VI, Fire Lady Kimiko is Margaret of Anjou, Rishi of Vasuman is Richard of York, Fire Lord Ehktol is King Edward IV, Rei is Richard Neville who was the Earl of Warwick who is also better known as the Kingmaker, Fire Lord Elsine is King Edward V, Fire Lord Ojas is King Richard III, Fire Lord Henjul is King Henry VII, and Elizyruth of Vasuman is Elizabeth of York. Okay, these are some extremely chaotic events and the Fire Nation has a lot of them, but in my mind, the Cousins' War would be the worst because it's a continuous upheaval that upsets the balance for multiple centuries. The Avatar would never allow such a thing to happen, but who was an Avatar who was really laid-back and let people 'solve their own problems?' Avatar Kuruk! So during his reign as Avatar, I had the Fire Nation undergo the civil war; it wouldn't be out of character for Kuruk because he has been proven to be a failure as Avatar in regard to actually doing his job as the Balance-Keeper.
Finally, the reason why Katara doesn't show her displeasure as much as she probably would if the conversation had happened in the show is that she understands that there is nothing that she could do to change history. The Water Tribes haven't really changed much despite the fact that Katara was taught waterbending. Traditions can last for many decades until a social reformation happens, which is very rare. The Fire Nation has been rooted in those traditions for many centuries, and Katara has matured enough to recognize that there isn't much that she could do to change them. Before, she would have childishly whined about the unfairness of it all, but now she has matured. Maybe, she also realizes that if she were in a relationship with Zuko, she would really be able to make some long-lasting change within the Fire Nation, the strongest out of the Four Nations. Who knows? We'll have to wait and see.
**Iroh is attacked by a group of traitorous Children of Fire who are loyal to Ozai and Vaatu, the same guards that the Gaang trusted in the previous chapters while Azula was healing. One of the main reasons why I wrote that scene was to show what a badass the Dragon of the West truly is and for some other reasons I don't think I should share as of now - I don't want to ruin anything. He was the General of the Fire Nation military for at least a decade, firstborn of the prodigy, Fire Lord Azulon. I love Iroh's character, easily one of the best in fiction, but I do wish that they had shown how much of a retired badass he is. Although I don't think that he could ever beat Ozai in Canon, especially considering the lightning strike in The Day of Black Sun episode that Ozai threw at Zuko, I think that he would be able to hold his own against his younger brother for a short time. (E.g. Kind of like how Aang did before he went into the Avatar State during Sozin's Comet.) I am trying to almagate the two main characteristics that everyone loves about him: his 'uncle' personality and the Grandmaster of the Order of the White Lotus, retired badass motherfucker. I don't know if I've done a good job, but oh well. We'll all see what happens.
Well, I think that's everything. I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. Please, leave a review and tell me what you think! I'd really appreciate it!
Stay Safe
ButtonPusher
