A/N:
Hey guys just want to let everyone know I'll still be using FanFiction . Net but I'm also using Archive Of Our Own for those that used that one more so than this platform. I update the same time on both so don't worry about one being further ahead than the other except by a few seconds. Only difference is I'm more inclined to put Author's Notes on this website but some, depending on the importance will back it over to Archive.
Thank you all for the years of reading. Love you guys!
Chapter 17:
Biting into an apple, Kya munched on it like it was the best apple she had ever had. Lady Shu had a few apples brought from the province estate where their clan originated. They were absolutely to die for and Kya couldn't get enough as Lady Shu explained the care they took with their apple tree's growth. It was the original business of their family when they were just a small noble clan but through the years they developed into the prominated clan they were today through close ties with the latest royal Fire Nation dynasty, the Yong clan. Lady Shu was first cousins to Sozin Yong and was married into the Totomi clan.
"What is it?" Kya asked Lady Shu as the woman eyed her funny.
Smirking as she looked away and took an apple for herself, "You're with child, child."
Kya's eyes widened.
"I also know who the father is." Lady Shu smirked. "I've seen how the Fire Lord acts around you. Very protective and affectionate.
"Lady Shu, I-"
"Hush hush, child, incest is frowned upon but common amongst our class. How many cousins do you think have been promised to each other before they are even born? Or what of your father's half sister, Kimiko, being in love with him through all the years of her life? All you can do is pray for a healthy baby."
Tearing up, "Thank you, Lady Shu."
Lady Shu beamed at the young woman, "You were everything to my Uhara and he loved you for many years. The only thing I believe he regrets is not marrying you before he died."
Kya feels immediate sorrow at the thought of Uhara.
"You are like a daughter to me, Kya. I love you as if you were the daughter the gods never graced me to have until you came along. So understand me when I say, I want your happiness above all other things."
Hugging the woman, "I needed to hear that. Thank you so much, Lady Shu."
"You are most welcome, dear."
As the two women pull apart, the Fire Lord shows up in his partial dragon/human form and lands in the garden where they had been enjoying their apples. Lady Shu smirks at Kya and greets the Fire Lord warmly before excusing herself to give them privacy.
Zuko eyes the old woman funny as she gave him a look before leaving.
Chuckling as she brought herself in his arms, "She figured us out but no worries, she supports us."
"Nice to know someone does." Zuko scoffed as he pulled out a scroll and handed it to her. "Father has figured out my punishment already."
Kya read over it and saw that her father was charging him for his role in the project of Republic City and so was the Earth Kingdom. "He can't do that! He agreed to-"
"Father has more support these days now that he is married to your mother. People both fear and respect them, following his lead when he makes decisions. No doubt he wrote them to hold me accountable and they must have jumped at the opportunity to not have to raise taxes on their citizens this coming winter. That bastard!"
"I'm going to talk to him now!" Kya said as she opened a black flame portal.
…
Kya storms into her father's office as he is writing something while Lele cozied herself in his lap. She growled and slammed her hand down on the desk. "Why are you charging Zuko for something you promised to cover so long as a statue was built in your honor?! You have three statues in the Fire districts of Republic City! So why?!"
Ozai sighed and patted Lele's soft fur as he looked up at his daughter, "There are consequences for everything, Kya. Zuko's not off the hook. Not after what he's done."
"Dad!"
"Oh but don't worry, he's not alone in his punishment." Ozai pulls out a scroll from his desk to hand to Kya as he continues patting Lele.
Kya snatches it from her father and unrolls it to read the punishment he decided to give her. Her mouth drops as she can't believe him. Throwing the scroll, Kya screams at her father.
"YOU BASTARD! UHARA WAS LIKE A SON TO YOU! HOW CAN YOU DO THIS?!"
Unfazed by his daughter's yelling, "Calm your voice, Kya. I don't like being screamed at."
"You're making me pay for his burial in the royal tombs after it was a decision you made?! You son of a b-"
"Watch your language, sweetheart." Katara said as she entered, she walked around her husband's desk and stood behind him, placing her hand on his shoulders to massage. "What's going on here?"
"Dad is giving unfair punishments! He wants Zuko to pay for the project of Republic City and me to pay for Uhara's burial in the royal tombs!"
Katara leans down to kiss her husband's cheek, "Thank you for taking care of this matter for me, Ozai."
Ozai smirked as he watched his daughter's mouth drop.
Kya stared in disbelief, "I lost Uhara! I lost my person just like you did when you thought dad was gone! I'm lucky I can find that again with Zuko."
Going around her father's desk to beg on her knees at her mother's feet, Kya pressed her forehead to the floor and bowed her head several times. "Please, let us be together! Please, I've never asked for anything from either of you! I just want this one thing! Please, I'm pregnant! We have this baby together! You can't keep us apart!"
Katara shuts her eyes and shakes her head as she steps around her daughter, leaving as she could stand it no more to hear her daughter profess her love for her own brother.
Sighing, "Your mother doesn't need to deal with this, Kya. She's been through enough. This is too much."
"Too much?! I'm too much now?!"
"What do you think?! Asking her permission to fuck your brother! What the hell kind of parents do you take us for?! We're not perfect but we're not those kinds of parents either! Now, stand up and get going so you can pay up."
Climbing to her feet, Kya wiped her tears and glared at her father. "Fine! We'll pay it and we'll be together regardless of what you and mom say!"
….
"You've got to be kidding me." Zhiar's mouth dropped.
Katara sighed as she pushed Hiroshi back and forth on the garden swing. Her lack of response to her eldest son's question answered it all and she was really going to have to talk to Ozai about telling the kids everything. Maybe he meant to warn Zhiar not to get any ideas or whatever but she really didn't want the whole family knowing about Zuko and Kya. Especially Zhiar because he would go back to his 'lady friends' and tell them everything. Next thing they know, the whole world finds out that Zuko was messing around with her daughter.
"Don't tell a soul, Zhiar. I mean it. This gets out, I'm sealing your bending off." Katara warned.
Zhiar nodded as he swallowed hard, "Yes, mother."
Turning her attention back to Hiroshi, "Now, go check on Mailan and Ryu, they've been really quiet today and something tells me they're up to no good. Last week, I caught them using a servant as a practice dummy."
Zhiar kissed his mother's forehead and told her things would fix themselves because Zuko and Kya were the most stubborn people he knew and they'd turn on each other. As he left, Katara hoped that would be the case. She really wanted them to break things off themselves so they'd never turn back. It'd be too tempting for them if they only did so because they were told to.
Taking Hiroshi out of the swing, Katara took his hand and was about to walk out of the gardens when suddenly several icicles flew in their direction. The waterbender quickly put up an ice barrier to protect her and her son. After the icicles rained down on them, Katara sent Hiroshi on with the servants and told them to get her husband as she was ushered into full combat with her foe. Or should she say foes. There were several waterbenders with masks over their faces, all black uniforms and hair tied up with a blue ribbon. They jumped down from the rooftop of the veranda and lunged towards her.
Katara counted all twenty-four of the women coming to attack her. She knew these were the siren women from the North that she and Daikoku saved many years ago. Atsou must have sent them to attack her or apprehend her in some way. So, you're finally making your move, are you, Atsou? Her eyes glowed as she water whipped the small group that charged steadily for her and then kicked the one that tried sneaking up on her. Katara headbutted another as they jumped down upon her and tried pinning her to the ground.
Ozai finally showed up after being informed by the servants that Katara was being attacked. He watched her take on two dozen waterbenders and did so with fluid ease. She was a fighter through and through as much as she was a healer and a gentle woman. Ozai was about to aid her when she knocked a woman out with her fists and threw her at his feet.
"Don't kill them!" Katara shouted.
Pinching his brows, "Don't kill them? They're clearly from Atsou." Ozai said as he was trying to figure out what his wife was up to now.
Ready to surrender the body to me? Just take it and make them stop. As you wish, your grace. The siren, Kalhime, chuckled and blood bended all the sirens down on their knees.
"You bitches have a lot of nerves to come after the queen." Kalhime smirked as she kept them down with ease and walked over to Ozai. She snaked herself around him and kissed his cheek, causing him to wipe it clean from his face.
"Don't touch me, Kalhime."
Her eyes lit up in glee, "You know my name, Ozai. How flattering. Want to get away and do the freaky shit Katara won't do?"
Ozia rolled his eyes, "Finish with your siren buddies and leave me alone." He said he skulked off.
Kalhime sighed and turned her attention back to the other sirens that were still kneeling. She looked them over and placed her hands on her hips as she looked over the fearful gazes of all the siren women. It was clear to see that they didn't know who they were up against before coming here. She was the queen siren. The one that had dominion over all of them. She was not to be tried on messed with. Even sirens like themselves, inexperienced, were likely being warned by their siren souls to back down and yield. She was dangerous and dangerous she was. Katara might have become volatile in the more recent years but she was nothing compared to her. Kalhime had killed her own loved and destroyed entire continents of people. Violence was her forte and she would experience it to the first degree if need be. These half-baked sirens had nothing on her and she'd prove it to them.
"Alright, ladies, get your asses up." Kalhime folded her arms. "We need to have a chat."
The siren women all moved against their will to stand, somehow controlled by something other than bloodbending. They knew the webby way bloodbending felt and this was not it. This was like following a command, a command that could not be unfollowed, a command that demanded obedience. This siren woman, the Phoenix Queen Katara, was a dangerous woman. One they should have known from rumors not to ever cross.
"I am Phoenix Queen Katara's siren soul, Kalhime, Queen of the Sirens. The first siren to ever be born and I dare you to raise a hand at my host or her family! I will shred your body with ice so cold it burns like a thousand suns! Try me, peasants!"
Ozai watched from the balcony as his wife's siren reigned over the other sirens and sighed. That woman, Kalhime, was a trip and he really didn't want to get mixed up with her. So he remained a safe distance from her on this second story balcony.
"I will spare you all but I demand loyalty and obedience. You will know my grace as you will my wrath and I pray you all choose to fall under my good graces or there will be blood shed, am I understood?"
They all bowed, "Yes, Queen Kalhime!" They yelled in unison.
"Good girls. Now, come let's get you all situated. My husband will want to meet you all." Kalhime smirked as she turned and strutted into the palace from the garden and her newly acquired siren minions followed behind her in two rows.
Having returned the body over to Katara, Kalhime had made sure before hand to explain her plan to Ozai first and get his feedback. Apparently, he was not for the group of sirens staying in the palace but as Katara was given the opportunity to advocate for the group of sirens, Ozai relented.
"Fine, but they are your responsibility." Ozai told her.
Smirking, "As Ami is yours."
Ozai sucked his teeth, "You'll never let me live that down, will you?"
"Eventually." She smirked. "But I figured out a way to deal with our Kya and Zuko problem."
…..
It was always a heated passion between them whenever they finally discovered some alone time. It couldn't be helped. She was fiery water and he was burning flames. Zuko never felt so instantly taken over by his carnal instincts before. Not even with Katara. He wanted nothing more than to have Kya all to himself and never let another take her from him. She was his and he was hers.
Tearing at each other's clothes in a rush to have their naked bodies collide, Zuko was suddenly sliced on the cheek on a blade of ice. He looked at Kya and she shook her head, letting him know it wasn't her. The Fire Lord looked up and saw Katara preparing another blade of ice for him, this time likely to hit somewhere it would hurt more. He and Kya parted as the mother broke things up, pulling her daughter away from him. Katara did well to slap him as soon as Kya was out of reach and spit in his face. Wiping it off, Zuko grabbed her wrist when she was about to slap him again and growled for her to leave them alone.
"There will never be a price or condition met for me to allow you to have my daughter, Zuko. You can't have her!"
"Mom, please, listen t-"
Katara immediately bloodbends Kya to her knees as her eyes glow and Kalhime takes over. Zuko was aware that Katara's siren soul was in control as he saw an uncharacteristically wicked grin form on her face.
"Ladies." Kalhime clapped her hands and suddenly two dozen Water Tribe woman emerged from the water Katara had spilled around them while neither were paying attention.
Zuko tilts his head as Katara in confusion as to what she had planned. Who were these women?
With the commanding voice of the queen siren, Kalhime ordered Kya to never touch, kiss, sleep, or go near Zuko again. She would have the child in peace and raise them without anyone knowing of the affair. Kalhime also gives the order that if Zuko approaches her, she is to attack him at all cost.
Kya eyes glowed as the command was ingrained in her and she got up to her feet to walk away.
Zuko tries to run after her but Katara's goons stop him, holding water forged weapons against him. Kalhime surrenders the body back to Katara and she looks to Zuko with a small grin as she had succeeded with her plan.
"You'll never have my daughter again, so long as we both live." Katara told him in a venomously cruel tone.
"You bitch!" Zuko hisses and lunges at her.
Katara smirks and claps her hands. Her sirens jumped him at that moment and began kicking his ass all together as the Phoenix Queen strutted off chuckling to herself. Tui and La, she wanted to be a good woman but it was so fun being bad at times.
…
"Lele, bring that back to daddy." Ozai said as he was crouched down on the floor trying to sway his baby tiger-dillo to give him back his quill so he could return to working.
"Dad, we need to talk!"
"Just a minute." Ozai sighed as he was losing this stand off with Lele. "Come on to daddy, Lele."
Zuko went and picked up the tiger-dillo, removing the quill from her mouth to hand to his father.
Ozai took a good look at his eldest son and looked at him funny as he saw he was covered in bruises. His clothes were disheveled and his hair looked like someone shaved the side of his head. He furrowed his brows, "Atsou?"
"Your bitch of a wife!" Zuko shouted in frustration and rage. "That bitch sicced her siren goons on me!"
Ozai tries hard not to laugh but fails miserably as he finally realizes why his wife wanted to keep the sirens so badly. Now it made sense what she had planned.
"She even cast some siren spell on Kya to not go near me and to attack if I approach her!"
The laughter only grew louder. "My wife is marvelous, is she not? Oh my Agni, that woman frightens me but she does know how to get the job done."
"Katara's crossed the line, dad! Kya has my child in her! My child! She can't keep me from my child!"
Ozai's laughter lightened up and he wiped the amused tears from his eyes, "So what's keeping you from Ryu?"
"That's different." Zuko hissed.
Ozai tilted his head and folded his arms, "So what if the boy is gay, Zuko. He's your son."
"He's her son!"
Furrowing his brows at his son, "You say that over a child she tore from her own arms to let you raise?"
"After she was going to keep it a secret from me!"
"Zuko, get your shit together, son. You're being a brat."
"Get your wife together! Or I swear-"
Ozai's eyes narrowed, "You're not doing shit, Zuko. Not to my wife."
"This isn't going to end well for any of us! You hear me?!"
As the two men argue, Katara enters to take Lele out for a walk and sees Zuko present. She tries not to laugh as his gaze falls on her and he scowls so deep he looks just like Ozai.
"Zuko, I didn't think I'd run into you so soon." Katara went to her husband's side and rested against his arm.
Zuko looked between his father and Katara, "You both are terrible people! You deserve each other."
"Wow, Ozai, you hear that? We're a perfect match." Katara said in gleeful sarcasm.
Playing along with her as he stroked Lele's fur, "I always said we were a match made in hell."
Zuko looked at them in disgust. "Bastards!" He left the room in frustration.
Ozai turned to his wife and kissed her cheek, "You're perfect, darling. Everything about you."
"And you're perfect too."
The two esikmo kissed and cooed at each other until their other kids entered.
Mailan was holding Hiroshi's hand as Ryu walked with them to ask their parents if they could go into town. All were disgusted by the sight of their parents getting all mushy with each other.
"Ew! Gross!" Mailan cringed.
Ryu snickered behind his hand.
"That's nasty, mommy, daddy." Hiroshi said.
Ozai rolled his eyes as Katara shooed the kids along telling them they could go with a few of her siren guards. As they ran along, Ozai eyed his wife and her belly.
"Are you sure you want another kid?" Ozai asked her.
Katara giggled at him, "Stop getting me pregnant if you don't want more, Ozai."
Ozai sucked his teeth.
…
Having summoned his mother, uncle, and evil sister to the palace as they had all resided in the calmer provinces to the north west of the Fire Nation, Zuko sat them all down in the veranda of the palace gardens and made sure all his servants were away to not overhear what he was about to discuss with them. They all seemed very intrigued by his summons as he was so eager to get them to move out and leave him alone. So whatever reason that he brought them here was, they knew it was something to blow their minds.
"Nephew, tell us, what have you brought us here to talk about today?" Iroh asked as he had a delightful smile on his face.
Zuko looked from his uncle to his mother and then annoyed sister. "I have something I must confess."
"Confess?" Azula asked. "Don't tell us, you're gay too and that's why you kicked Ryu out."
Ursa tilted her head at her son, "Is that why Ryu is not here? I thought he just wanted to leave with his mother and your father."
"That's not it." Zuko bit out as he glared at Azula, who was laughing.
"Then what is it, Zuko?" Iroh asked in curiosity.
"I have another child on the way." Zuko stated.
Iroh's eyes lit up as his mother gave a delightful smile all while Azula could care less about her brother having another kid.
"Nephew, this is great news, tell us, who is the lucky lady?"
"Kya." Zuko answered.
Everyone's mouths dropped.
"Kya?" Ursa seemed very confused. "Your sister?"
"Half-sister." Zuko corrected.
Iroh got up as that was all he wanted to hear for the day.
"Uncle?"
Fixing his yukata, Iroh refused to meet his nephew's gaze and prepared to leave. "I will not tolerate this foolishness. Either you're lying or you've fallen to madness. Either or I will not be a part of this. Your father will no doubt attack any involved and I will not fight my brother a second time."
"Uncle, I'm serious. Kya and I, we're having a child together."
Iroh walked away as Ursa and Azula sat there staring at Zuko in utter shock.
"You dumb fool! Where'd you get that brain of yours, your father?!" Ursa scoffed as she folded her arms. "Ozai is the least of your worries. Katara is the dangerous one."
Zuko explains he knows all that as Katara had already come after him but he needed help, Katara cast a spell on Kya to make her stay away from him and he wanted to be in his child's life. He needed their help to convince Katara and his father to allow them to be together.
Ursa got up from her seat and walked around to her son, "Zuko, you've fucked up, big time and I can't help you."
"Please, just talk to dad for me. He'll hear you out."
Ursa snickered, "Your father and I are not friends, Zuko. We're barely cordial. He will not hear me over his wife's voice and Katara will not even stand to listen to such nonsense."
"Mom, plea-"
"No, Zuko, I will not. I'm returning home. Let me know how things go and stay out of even more trouble."
Zuko sighed as Azula came around the table to sit in front of him and clasped her hands together. "So you and that bitch, Kya, have been fucking around?"
"Don't make it sound so crude."
"Oh, you did that all on your own, Zuzu." Azula smirked. "But I'll help. Father won't listen to me much as I'm not one of the brats he sired with Katara but Katara, she and I are good friends. Maybe she will hear me out."
Zuko looked at his sister and wondered what her angle was. "What do you get out of this?"
"I just want to see dad and my one good friend. This gives me an excuse."
Zuko agreed to take her help but warned her not to cause more trouble for him.
Azula arrived at the palace where her father and his family lived. She found him walking his tiger-dillo on a metal chain and taking a stroll down the corridors of the palace. His eyes fell on her almost immediately and she grinned as she walked up to him, earning a growl from his pet when she got too close.
"There, there, kitty, he's my dad too." Azula said as she patted the cat's head and came up to her father.
Ozai looked at his daughter, "What have you come all this way for, Azula?"
"Figured I'd get to know my siblings more. Spend time with my good friend, your wife." Azula said as she tilted her head to the side.
Ozai narrowed his eyes, "I really don't trust you, Azula."
"Oh, I know but Katara is more than capable of dealing with me if I am a threat."
While Ozai knew that, he was still protective of Katara. She endured so much and he couldn't let her endure more because of him. He couldn't fail her. Not again. Besides, Katara was not well. She was ridden to bed and he rather Azula stayed away from her until she recovered.
"Katara is resting, you can see your siblings but I mean it. Try anything and I'll break you in half."
"Understood, daddy. I'll be on my best behavior.
…..
A/N:
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