Hello! I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy with everything that is going on in the world right now.
Anyway, here is a new chapter!
I would just like to add a few notes. I took some more liberties with the AtLA canon for plot purposes of this story. Also, there will be some small elements of Arthurian legend as the story progresses.
Many thanks to PurseMonger for her great feedback as always!
Disclaimer: AtlA, Beauty and the Beast, legends of King Arthur are not mine.
Chapter Thirteen
In Which the Prince Makes an Unexpected Link
"Do you think it'll be a girl or a boy?" the blue-eyed princess asked wonderingly as she caressed the smooth, rounded surface.
A low rumble was her response.
Katara chuckled as she looked up to smile at the dragoness who was curled around her egg. The two of them were in the mated dragons' cave, waiting for the males to show up. Zuko had told her he was going to try to set some traps for small game and she was sure the black dragon was probably out hunting. With nothing else to do, Katara decided to hang around the female dragon and her egg as she had done a few times before. She wondered how much longer it would take for the egg to hatch.
A few days had passed since Zuko's curse was broken. He was still trying to get accustomed to his human body and his new reality. Sometimes she would catch him about to lift his arms as if he were spreading his wings or let out a couple of animalistic grunts before cutting the sounds off. When he realized what he was doing, he would freeze self-consciously before a scowl would darken his face. Whenever he noticed she had caught him, he would flush, as if in shame, but she would always assure him that with time he would adjust. He would then give her a small, thankful smile that made her heart flutter in her chest.
How could someone's smile make her react like that? La, he just had to look at her or touch her hand and she would melt in happiness… and become aroused. Ever since that day when they had kissed each other passionately after his curse was broken, they had only shared quick, light kisses and hugs. Not that she was complaining. She loved those sweet moments. However, a part of her seemed to be craving something more…
She shook her head, which caused the silver dragon to croon in question. Katara gave her a smile she hoped was reassuring and returned her attention to the egg.
Yet, there was another part of her that hesitated. She was afraid of crossing that line into the unknown when their future was so uncertain. She wanted some sort of confirmation to their relationship being a committed one, but she also knew that she needed to be patient. It was still early and she needed to give Zuko time to adjust. For the moment, she was enjoying her time with him and getting to know him better. He was opening up to her a bit more as they talked about their childhood and their lives as young royals. It saddened her to realize that her memories held more happy moments with her family, whereas his were more about the strict training and studies he endured as the next heir to the throne. It only made her want to make him happy even more. She found that the more she knew about him, the more she loved him.
The dragoness calmly watched the human woman gently run her hands over her egg as she hummed with a faraway look in her eyes. The silver dragon tilted her head at the soothing melody. A sound at the entrance distracted both females and they looked up to see the males entering, with the dragon following behind the human.
"I had a feeling I would find you here," Zuko said as his eyes caressed every inch of the waterbender's face.
"How did it go?" Katara asked with a smile as she watched Zuko approach her while the dragon moved past him to nuzzle his mate before curling around her.
"Not too bad," he replied as he watched the mated dragons interact almost tenderly, "I hope the traps work. I guess we'll see if I did a good job in a few days." He rubbed the back of his head and shrugged self-consciously. "I never had to set traps to catch food before…"
"You mean the Crown Prince wasn't taught to hunt for his own meals in his fancy palace?" the waterbender asked with a mocked-scandalized gasp. "The shame!"
Zuko chuckled at her playfulness.
"Nope. I was too busy being spoiled by the world's greatest cooks," he replied with mock hauteur.
Katara laughed, enjoying their banter and the humor in his eyes. It always made her happy to know that he was no longer alone and that he could be playful with her. She was distracted from her thoughts when she felt the dark dragon nudge her as if in greeting before he did the same to the egg.
It amazed Zuko to see how comfortable the dragons were around them. The male dragon seemed to be more approachable these days. Perhaps it was because Zuko no longer posed a threat as a male dragon and two humans were not much of menace. The black dragon even followed him around that morning as the firebender set up several traps. Zuko had at first been unnerved by his proximity, but when it seemed the dragon was just curious of the human's actions, he relaxed and went about his task. He had sarcastically asked the dragon if he was memorizing the traps' locations in order to snatch whatever animal fell into them, but the dragon had only blinked at him and yawned. Once he was done, both males had then made their way to the cave where Zuko had a feeling he would find Katara.
She had been very considerate and kind since his curse was broken as he continued trying to figure things out with his human body. She always gave him words of encouragement whenever it seemed he fell back to old habits of behaving like a dragon. He had wanted to show her that he could adjust to his human form and still be able to provide for her. He wanted her to know that she could always rely on him for anything.
He was no expert in setting up hunting traps, but he had seen Uncle set them up so many times during the years they were hiding together and he hoped he had done them right. The thought of the tea-loving old man brought a pang to his chest and he grimaced. Even after all these years, he still missed Iroh just as much as he missed his mother. He was sure that if his mother and Uncle had met Katara, they would have loved her and they would have been happy to know that he had found a woman to love and who loved him in return.
He had been unable to protect the two most important people to him, but he vowed that that would not be the case with Katara. He would always protect her no matter what. He would not let any harm befall her if he could help it. He did not think he would be able to recover if he were to ever lose her…
Zuko quickly shook his head of his dark thoughts and frowned slightly, but fortunately, Katara was too busy cooing at the dragon egg to notice. He was still uncertain of the future and how he now fit into the world. He was also unsure of how he could stop Azula from her tyranny. However, there was one thing he knew for certain and that was that he would always love Katara and would always remain by her side.
They had not outright talked about it, but he had a feeling that she was also wondering what the future held for them. They were both adjusting to the new events of the past few days, so he did not want to rush things and have her pull away. She had already shown she was not afraid to speak her mind if a suitor displeased her and he certainly did not want to ruin anything before it had the chance to start. He wondered, not for the first time, how he could convince Katara to stay with him forever.
His thoughts returned to the kisses he had shared with her since his curse was broken and how the sexual tension was killing him. She just had to smile or touch his arm and both his chest and groin would tighten. He knew it was affecting her too, but he had been careful not to push things too far. First, they needed to talk more about their future before they took that step. He needed to make Katara understand that if he took her body, she will be his forever as he will be hers. He wanted her as his wife and nothing less.
However, would she even want to marry him…?
"Everything ok?" Katara's question immediately brought him away from his thoughts.
Zuko blinked and focused his attention back on Katara to see that she was walking toward him, concern in her blue eyes. He cleared his throat.
"Yes, why do you ask?"
"You were frowning," she responded before adding, "And you didn't respond when I called out your name several times."
"Oh…sorry," he replied with a small, apologetic smile, "I…was lost in thought."
"Clearly," she said playfully before adding more seriously, "Do you want to talk about it?"
He did not want to confess his uncertainties at that moment, but he did not want her to think anything was wrong. So, he decided to tell her part of the truth.
"Setting up the traps reminded me of my uncle," he replied in a low tone, "I…miss him a lot."
Katara immediately wrapped her arms around him, wanting to comfort him, and Zuko readily accepted her warm embrace. It still amazed him how easily she offered her comfort to him and how easily he accepted it. If it had been anyone else, he would have lashed out at them for daring to think he was weak. However, he knew Katara did not see him as such. She was just a naturally caring person, which was one thing that endeared her to him.
"He sounds like a great man," the waterbender spoke up softly as she ran a caressing hand down his back, "I wish I could've met him."
"He was," he agreed softly as he brought her closer to him, "I wish you could've met him and my mother. I'm sure they would've loved you."
It was strange to think, however, that even if they had lived a long natural life, they probably would not have been able to meet Katara since they would have been gone by the time she was born. He shook his head at such confusing thoughts.
Katara pulled back slightly to look at him.
"You would've introduced me to them?" she asked with wide eyes.
"Of course," he responded assuredly, a smile on his lips, "You're the woman I love."
A pleased blush appeared on the princess' cheeks at his words. That had to mean that whatever their relationship was, it was serious, right? Before she could say anything, however, the male dragon let out a loud rumble and a huff.
"I think that is our cue to leave," Zuko said with a low chuckle.
Katara laughed as the dragon threw them an annoyed look before returning his attention to his mate. She smiled when Zuko grabbed her hand and led her back to the entrance of the cave to give the dragons some alone time.
They walked in contemplative silence as they made their way through the snow toward their cave as dark clouds loomed overhead, reminding them that the weather could turn for the worst at any moment.
"I've been thinking," Zuko spoke up with a frown, "If it's been over forty years since I was cursed, Azula has to be an old woman now. Why would she want to declare war on the world to conquer it at such an old age? She would be dead before she could enjoy any victory."
Katara hummed at his words since she had heard her father ask the same question during a tribal meeting of the elders years ago at the first rumor of impending war. Of course, they had not realized that she and Sokka had snuck in to listen.
"That's what everybody's wondering. No one outside the Fire Nation has seen her in years, so there are many speculations surrounding her. There's a rumor that she drinks babies' blood to remain young," Katara began with a wrinkle of her nose. She smiled wryly when Zuko raised an incredulous eyebrow. "Others speculate that the current Fire Lord is actually Azula's illegitimate daughter, while others wonder if Azula is insane and thinks herself immortal."
She sighed. "No one knows for sure, though."
Zuko frowned at her words as he once again wondered what Azula could be thinking. Whatever the reason, something had to be done before war broke out and countless people suffered. If only there was a way he could prove his identity and reclaim the throne…Yet how was that possible?
Perhaps when they arrived at the Northern Water Tribe, Pakku would recognize him. However, would that be enough? Would the Fire Nation believe him, especially with such tension between the other countries and the Fire Nation?
Zuko's frown deepened as he lost himself in his thoughts. Perhaps he would never be able to reclaim the throne, but he vowed that he would do whatever he could to stop Azula, even if that meant joining the other nations' fight against the Fire Nation. For that, he needed to resume his training. He may not have his dual broadswords, but he still had his firebending. He needed to become stronger…
He was brought out of his thoughts when he felt Katara gently squeeze his hand. He glanced at her to see her give him a reassuring smile. The warmth and confidence in her blue eyes made him stop in his track, causing her to do the same and look at him questioningly.
Unable to help himself as he once again felt that magnetic pull, he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. He heard her soft moan at the same time he felt her press herself tightly to his hard body, her sweet breath tickling him, her soft lips caressing his. He slanted his mouth against hers and she responded in kind, softly whispering his name. The soft sound seemed to send an electric current straight to his groin and it took all he had to keep control. He reluctantly wound down the kiss and pulled back slightly, gazing down onto the waterbender's face. He watched as she slowly opened her eyes and stared at him with a dazed and pleased smile that only made the ache in his loins increase.
Agni, he wanted her so badly.
Yet, the uncertainty of the future made him hesitate.
One thing was for certain, though, and that was that he would love and protect her always.
Several suns had passed since the red dragon disappeared and was replaced by the dark-haired human. The mated dragons did not understand how such a feat was possible, but it made sense why they felt like there was something odd about the red dragon and why he was so protective of the human female. Could it be the man was able to wield magic as many humans were able to do so many years ago before their magic died as their civilization advanced and they moved further away from the natural world? Yet, they could not sense any magic from him since that day when the other humans attacked and the red dragon changed to a human.
The black dragon looked up at the sound of footsteps and watched as the human male emerged from the tree line and made his way to the female, who was again looking through the shrub for those small, round fruits. He and his mate were outside, enjoying whatever heat they could soak up from the sun after they had gone on a successful hunt, lazily watching the humans go about their day.
He watched with mild interest as the dark-haired man proudly presented several squirrel-rabbits to the female, who exclaimed excitedly over them. The small animals were not that impressive, but humans were not great at hunting without their strange weapons and traps, so he assumed it was the best the male could do with the circumstances. He could understand the need to provide for one's female.
He no longer held any animosity toward them since the red dragon could no longer challenge him for his mate and the human woman had protected his offspring from those weasel-foxes. Besides, both humans had not threatened either his mate or their egg or done anything remotely aggressive. In fact, both humans seemed concerned and genuinely caring toward them, although the female was more expressive about it.
It was strange.
Most humans he had encountered were violent. They just had to see him and they would start attacking without provocation. He had seen many of his brethren fall under human hands, their territories overrun and destroyed, their bodies desecrated and butchered. He did not understand what had caused humans to become so vicious. Although he had only been a hatchling, he remembered a time when dragons and humans lived in mutual respect and harmony. It seemed like that time was now over. Which was why he had left the land of fire, flown over the vast, salty lake, until he arrived at his current location, where he was lucky enough to find his True Mate.
The human male was also from the land of fire. Not only did he have the same dark hair, pale skin, and gold eyes as many of the other humans possessed, but he also had the command of fire. He had seen the man summon flames to his hands or feet on several occasions, but he had never used it to hurt them, instead it seemed he was training his body to become stronger. The dark-skinned, blue-eyed woman seemed to be doing the same, but by using the snow and water around her.
However, there was something familiar about the man. The scent of his blood and the power of his flames let the dragon know that he was no common human. It brought to mind the line of humans his forefathers had bonded with many, many suns before…
The dragon's red eyes narrowed at the almost long-forgotten memory.
Could this human be…?
He watched as the humans made those strange noises that they all seem to do to communicate before the man leaned down to press his mouth against the woman's mouth. He did not understand what the significance was for such an action, but he assumed it was a way to show affection. The woman wrapped her arms around the male's neck as they continued to press their mouths together. The scent of their attraction was heavy in the air, but instead of continuing in the natural course of things, they quickly separated from each other, their faces flushed. They smiled at each and continued talking as they began to make their way to their cave, ignoring the call of their bodies.
Not for the first time, the black dragon wondered why they were stalling when it was obvious they wanted to mate. The female should present herself to show she was ready or the male should cajole her to accept his advances and then mount her like he and his mate did. It was only natural.
He turned away from the confusing humans to regard his mate, who immediately understood that he wanted to rut.
They proceeded to their cave to do just that with the mystery of the man fading from the dragon's thoughts.
How dare she defy me! And in front of my men, too! Jet seethed as he took a long drink of his wine before throwing the empty wineskin away with an angry curse. It bounced against the wall of his room before landing on the ground. He ignored it as he uncorked another wineskin and took another long pull.
He and his men were once again staying at the seedy tavern miles away from the mountain valley. After they had settled in their rooms to heal their wounds, Jet had refused dinner and closed himself in his room to drink and fume about their failure. One of his men had tried to coax him to eat, but the Earth Prince had furiously thrown him out. After that, trays of food had been placed outside his door, but no one had dared to bother him since.
She was so close! he mentally growled as he rubbed at his face.
He almost had her, but he had not counted on not only one dragon but three to attack them. How did Katara even manage to befriend the beasts? Dragons were known for their viciousness. Why hadn't they killed her?
He took another drink. Either way, he was going to go back for her. He had made up his mind that she would be his wife and no one was going to get in his way. Not storms and cold weather, not stupid dragons, and definitely not Katara.
He frowned as he once again went over his new plan.
Perhaps tomorrow he would hire some hunters to kill the monsters. He could have his men inquire for any in the village. And once they had killed the dragons, he could capture Katara. Once he had her, he would show her how much her defiance had displeased him. Then he would make her his and show her how much they could please each other as they made their way to Ba Sing Se. By taking her virtue, she would have no choice but to marry him if she did not want to disgrace her family. Then she would be his forever.
But first, he needed to get rid of those dragons…
The warm flames were a respite from the cold wind as the heat from his firebending surrounded Zuko in an almost welcoming manner. He had not realized how much he had missed firebending and going through the different advanced katas he had begun to master before the curse. Uncle had even taught him to redirect lightning, but unfortunately, he was unable to teach him to actually bend lightning before Zuko was cursed. Only a few people from the royal bloodline were able to bend lightning as it was a highly advanced skill. Ozai had been proficient in it and Azula had mastered it during her early teen years, much to Zuko's chagrin. However, that had only urged Zuko to strive harder in his firebending, swordsmanship, and martial arts skills.
Spinning in the air with a flaming foot, Zuko landed hard on the ground, sending a blast of fire before him that caused the snow to immediately melt. He then spun around as if to block an attack only to see the black dragon resting on the sidelines. The firebender faltered only slightly in his stance, but quickly corrected himself and continued through the kata. When had the dragon arrived?
He was no longer unnerved by the dragon's presence. Ever since Zuko began training, the dark dragon had appeared several times and watched him silently. The banished prince wondered once again what had caught his attention, but decided not to dwell on it as he continued through his firebending moves.
All of a sudden, a fireball shot past Zuko's head, causing him to lose his concentration and stumble slightly from the intense heat. Zuko's head whipped to the side to see the dragon walking slowly toward him, thin plumes of smoke curling away from his fanged mouth. The firebender stared at him wide-eyed, adrenaline pumping through his veins.
What the hell was that? Why was the dragon attacking him? He moved into an offensive stance as the dragon continued to advance, but something in the large creature's slow and deliberate movements stopped Zuko from returning the attack. He watched warily as the black dragon began to circle him, his long tail moving almost close enough to touch him. Zuko followed the dragon's circular movement, always keeping him in sight, mentally wondering what the dragon was doing and if things would turn for the worse.
Suddenly, the dark dragon stopped right in front of him. He looked at him straight in the eye for a moment and Zuko was intrigued by the calculating intelligence he could detect in the reptilian, crimson eyes. Then the dragon reared back onto his back legs and spread his wings wide before he shot up into the sky. The blast of wind almost toppled Zuko over, but he planted his feet in the ground and shielded his eyes from the flurry of cold snow. Shaking himself off, the golden-eyed male looked up to see the dragon circling only a few feet above him, generating powerful gusts of wind.
"What is he doing?" Zuko asked himself with a frown as he watched in consternation.
The black dragon continued to fly in the air in an elaborate pattern of curves, turns, and twists, his dark scales glinting in a reddish hue under the pale sun's rays. The display was mesmerizing and Zuko could not help but stare in awe. It looked almost like a dance or like a more fluid form of katas...
Then it clicked.
The dragon wanted him to repeat the same moves.
Zuko watched the dragon's movements more carefully for a moment before he spread his arms out, took a deep breath, and proceeded to follow the dragon's forms with the shape of his arms, moving lightly forward with his legs as if following a series of dance steps.
Zuko turned his arms to the side and above him the dragon turned as well. He pushed his hand up and the black dragon angled his head upwards at the same time. The dragon dove down and below him Zuko dipped toward the ground. They continued in the same formation for several long minutes until their movements were perfectly synchronized. If anyone had come upon the scene, they would have been enthralled by the sight of the dragon performing powerful yet graceful movements with the man displaying the same maneuvers below him.
A moment later, they both stopped their movements at the same time, ending in a low dip. Panting slightly, his body rushing with a strange, almost electrifying power, Zuko brought his hands to his sides as he silently watched the black dragon drop down on the snowy ground right in front of him, his leathery wings slightly extended on his sides, his red eyes glinting almost supernaturally. Then, the dragon opened his mouth and his throat began to glow in a golden light as fire licked along his sharp fangs.
Shocked, Zuko only had a second to shut his eyes before the dragon breathed out fire, bracing himself for the burning pain. It took him a moment to realize that he was not burning, but he could feel the warmth surrounding him. Slowly, he opened his eyes and was struck speechless. The flames were not touching him, but instead he was engulfed within a vortex of fire that not only was red and orange, but also blazed with a myriad of astonishing colors. Amazed, Zuko slowly extended his right hand to the side until his fingertips touched the colorful flames, again feeling no pain, but an extraordinary sense of acceptance and warmth.
Suddenly, there was a bright explosion and Zuko shielded his eyes from the blinding light, feeling the last of the flames swirl around him before they dissipated. Zuko blinked as he tried to get his bearings back. He raised his eyes to see the black dragon staring down at him. The duo stared at each other without blinking. There was a strange sensation in the back of Zuko's mind, like a thought that was not his, as if there was another presence. He shook his head and rubbed his temple.
Not to worry. You will get used to the sensation soon.
"What?" Zuko frowned as a sort of tickling sensation in his brain appeared at such a strange thought.
The Dragon Dance worked.
"Dragon Dance?" Zuko repeated with another frown.
Your inner fire is stronger than most. You are more attuned to your heritage than most.
Zuko blinked slowly as something began to nag at him. Those were not his thoughts. He didn't know about any dragon dance...Eyes wide, he stared back at the silent dragon.
It was then when Zuko realized that he was able to understand the dark dragon and vice versa.
"I can...understand you?" the firebender slowly questioned, unsure exactly how to word it or even if he was right. "And...you can understand me?"
He watched as the dragon dipped his head in a nod and rumbled quietly.
A small frown marred Zuko's brow as he rubbed at his temple, trying to make sense of things.
"How?"
Magic.
Zuko was amazed at the answer.
The word resounded through the firebender's head. He looked back at the waiting dragon and his hand dropped to his side. He could not exactly hear the dragon's actual words, but it was more like he could understand his thoughts and sentiments. It was strange yet fascinating.
The dragon let out a low rumble as he stared intensely at the man.
Zuko's eyes widened when his mind was suddenly flooded with the dragon's thoughts.
Many years ago, when the people of the land of fire were still young, they lived in harmony with the dragons, the first masters of fire magic. The humans learned how to manipulate the power of flames with the dragons' aide. Years later, the leader of the human clan and the king of dragons performed the first Dragon Dance. The Dragon Dance created such a strong bond between the two that they were able to share their thoughts. The two leaders led both their kinds to many mutually beneficial years until the human's death. His son took over the leadership and was able to bond with the king of the dragons' offspring. And so, the tradition was passed down through the generations. The Dragon Dance only worked, however, if the human's inner fire was strong and their heart was honorable, so not all heirs of the first leader's bloodline successfully bonded with the next king of dragons. This disunity became more common as the years passed, the human's civilization grew, and their leaders' power and greed increased. Then the traditions became lost throughout the years until only one remaining tribe of humans, hidden from the world, continued to uphold the harmony between both species.
"Wow," Zuko breathed once the flow of information settled, "I had no idea."
Then he frowned as a thought appeared in his head. The leaders of the humans the dragon was talking about must have been the Fire Lords. He had never heard about the Fire Lords bonding with dragons, yet if he remembered correctly, he had read in an old tome about humans and dragons living in harmony centuries ago when he had snuck into the Dragonbone Catacombs when he was sixteen. It was there he had learned that his great-grandfather, Fire Lord Sozin, had started the tradition of hunting dragons after his great-great-grandfather, Fire Lord Roku, had died mysteriously alongside his animal companion, Fang. Zuko had been unable to read more before his father's guards had caught him and forced him to return to the palace.
Zuko's frown deepened. Could this Fang have been a dragon? A dragon that had bonded with Roku? He glanced back at the dark dragon, who was now sitting on the ground with his wings tucked against his sides, as if he was waiting for him to sort through his thoughts.
"How did you know I come from the Fire Lords' bloodline? And why did you decide to, uh, bond with me?" Zuko asked wonderingly, still fascinated that they were able to understand each other.
Your scent and your appearance are almost identical to those of the human leader that had bonded with the previous king of dragons, my sire. They were the last dragon and human to bond before their untimely deaths.
Zuko's eyes widened slightly at the dragon's answer. That must have been Fire Lord Roku and Fang.
"Wait. If the previous king of dragons was your father...does that make you the current king of dragons?"
A rumble and a nod was the response before an angry yet sad sentiment reverberated through Zuko's mind.
Although there are not many dragons to rule over anymore and there probably will not be any at all in the following years with the way humans are hunting us down.
Zuko's eyes narrowed and he clenched his hands before he sighed and glanced almost apologetically at the red-eyed dragon.
"I know. I wish there was something I could do to stop the dragons' extinction," the firebender spoke up sincerely before he added more firmly, "If I could do so now, I would, believe me."
The dragon let out a low growl, his large wings rustling slightly at his sides, smoke curling gently from his nostrils, as he dipped his head.
I believe you. I had sensed your sincerity and knew you have an honorable heart by observing you the last couple of days. Which is why I decided to try the Dragon Dance to see if we could form a bond. It seemed my instincts had been correct.
"But why did you want to...bond with me?"
You are a son of royal blood. You have the power to stop the cruelty of the one currently in power. You can save dragonkind and together we can bring both our species to live side by side in peace once again.
Zuko slowly shook his head, which caused the dragon to let out a low growl before huffing questioningly.
"It's not that I'm refusing," the firebender quickly assured the suddenly agitated dragon before he sighed in frustration and ran a hand through his hair, "It's just that...My sister, the current Fire Lord, cursed me before I was crowned Fire Lord...many years ago. In order to survive, I was forced to leave the Fire Nation. Many think I am dead. I...don't hold any power anymore."
The dragon was silent for a moment at Zuko's remorseful words.
Cursed. That is why you were the red dragon before the magic light changed you back to human.
"Yes," the golden-eyed man replied, "I was cursed to take on a dragon form for almost half a century...And during that time, I was attacked constantly." He paused. "So, I understand your plight."
The dragon let out a pensive rumble.
How did you break the curse? Are you a magic-user?
"No, I don't, uh, have magic," Zuko replied before he added softly, "Katara, broke the curse."
Katara. The female? Is she a magic-user?
"No, she isn't. She just broke the curse," the firebender answered before he quickly explained the conditions of the curse and how it could be broken.
There was silence for a moment after his explanation.
What is your plan, now that the curse has broken?
Zuko faltered at the question since he had asked himself the same thing so many times before he narrowed his eyes and straightened himself out.
"I am not exactly sure," he answered truthfully, "I'm not sure I could regain my rightful place on the throne or if anyone would believe me. But one thing I know for sure is that I want to stop Azula's tyranny before she destroys the world. Not only does she want to kill all dragons, but she means to bring war to the other nations as well. I will stop her."
The black dragon let out a loud rumble at his adamant words and he spread his wings wide.
You will not be alone. I will be by your side so that together we can bring harmony back to the land of fire and impede a war with the other lands. I will show you how to increase your inner fire.
"I am honored by your trust and your aid," Zuko replied as he placed a fist against an open palm and bent at the waist before he straightened back up and looked resolutely at the glinting, red eyes, "I am Zuko, Crown Prince of the Fire Nation, and I will do everything in my power to save your kind."
Zuko. Together we will bring a new era. One where my mate and my hatchling will live in peace alongside your own mate and future offspring.
Zuko felt himself flush at the dragon's words. Mate and future offspring? Did he mean Katara and their future children? Well, it was definitely something Zuko wanted one day when things were more settled...He cleared his throat to try to refocus his thoughts.
"Yes, uh, anyway, what is your name?" he asked as he walked to where he had placed his parka before training and put it on.
Dragons do not have names. Such a thing is only used by humans to compensate for their weak senses.
"I see," Zuko replied with a small frown, only slightly offended since the dragon was only speaking the truth. Humans could not detect each other through scent. Clearing his throat, he carefully added, "Well, we'll have to come up with a name for you and, uh, your mate. It's strange to keep referring to you as just 'dragons'...If you don't mind, that is."
The black dragon was silent a moment before he let out a huff and a reluctant agreement reverberated in Zuko's mind. The firebender could just imagine the dragon saying "silly humans and their silly custom of naming everything." Before he could say anything else, he watched as the dragon lifted his head and sniffed the air before he let out a small, welcoming rumble.
"Zuko?" he heard Katara's voice in his head.
"Over here. In the clearing," he replied mentally.
A moment later, they watched as the waterbender and the silver dragoness emerged from within the trees. Katara had a curious expression as she and the dragoness walked toward them. She paused slightly to smile up at the dark dragon, who leaned down to nudge her slightly on the head, before she returned her attention to Zuko. The two dragons crooned as they rubbed their snouts together.
"Who were you talking to?" Katara asked wonderingly as she looked around the clearing.
"To him," Zuko replied as he inclined his head toward the dragon.
"Oh, I see," she said, although her confusion could be heard in her tone. "That's nice."
Zuko suppressed a grin. She probably thought he meant he was talking to the dragon as he would to any other animal.
"Yes, although it's not like I can actually hear him talking, but I can understand his thoughts."
"Um...what?" Katara uttered, even more confused, as she crossed her arms over her chest and looked at Zuko with a raised eyebrow. Was he messing with her?
"Something very interesting just happened. You see, he and I, uh, just bonded, so now we can understand each other," he began to explain.
"Bonded?" the blue-eyed princess interrupted as she frowned deeply, glancing uncertainty between Zuko and the dragon.
"Yes, well, I'm still trying to understand it myself," Zuko began with a small frown as he tried to find the right words to explain, "But apparently, it's a tradition that was done centuries ago between Fire Lords and the king of dragons. I guess it's sort of like forming a symbiotic relationship or link between both leaders…"
Zuko went on to explain about the Dragon Dance, what the dark dragon had revealed about the past, how they could now understand each other, and how they would work together to find a way to stop Azula's cruelty.
"Wow," was all Katara could say once Zuko finished. "That's incredible."
She looked up at the dark dragon when he let out a small growl.
"He says that he and his mate are grateful to you for protecting their, uh, hatchling. They appreciate your kindness."
Katara smiled happily at them. "You're welcome."
A moment later, both dragons turned around and took to the air.
Zuko pensively watched them go. He was still not exactly sure what being bonded to a dragon meant, but it was definitely an honor to be chosen and trusted. He was not exactly sure how they could defeat Azula, but he was willing to help their species recover as he was hoping to save his own people.
"So how was your firebending training today?" Katara's question brought Zuko out of his thoughts.
"Despite it being years, my body still remembers my previous training," he replied as he glanced down at his hands which he lit on fire before he clenched them to extinguish the flames. "The dragon said that he could help me strengthen my inner fire." He paused. "That reminds me, we should probably think of a name to give them since it's strange to keep referring to them as just dragons after everything they have done for us."
"That's a great idea!" Katara exclaimed with a clap of her hands before she blushed at her reaction and cleared her throat.
Zuko chuckled at her antics. A moment later, he noticed that she was fidgeting.
"What is it?"
"Zuko…" she began before she faltered slightly. Clearing her throat, she squared her shoulders and looked him resolutely in the eyes. "Can you train me to be a better fighter? I want to become stronger. I want to defend myself and those I care about."
The firebender's eyes widened at her request. He was only slightly surprised since he knew how much it meant for her to use her waterbending to her full capacity. How could he deny her need to better herself? He should have offered to train her earlier.
"Of course I will," he replied with a firm nod before he added, "I have no knowledge of waterbending techniques, but I can teach you hand-to-hand combat. This would be especially helpful if you find yourself in a situation where there is no water around you."
"That is perfect," the princess agreed enthusiastically before she added softly, "Thank you, Zuko."
She gave him a grateful smile before she leaned up to kiss him. He immediately wound his arms around her and brought her close to his firm chest. Katara moaned softly as they deepened their kiss, ignoring the snow that was now falling from the sky, as she melted into his warmth.
He had agreed to help make her stronger instead of insisting that she didn't need to learn because he was a man and as such he would protect her. How could she not appreciate his respect for her concerns? She could not help falling more in love with him.
She just hoped that their future was a happy one.
Miles away, across the great sea, a beautiful woman stared silently at her reflection from a large, elaborate mirror. Her long, manicured nails ran slowly through her long, black hair before gently running down the smooth, pale skin of her cheek. Devious, golden eyes stared back at her.
Young and beautiful as always.
A sharp smile curled Azula's lips.
She leaned back on her plush chaise, taking an elegant sip of her exquisite wine, with only a thin robe hiding her nakedness. Her long hair hung loosely around her as she continued to stare at her reflection on the golden mirror. She could just make out the low snoring from her latest lover lying on her massive bed. He was young, handsome, and so virile. He satisfied her greatly, more than her previous lovers did since he enjoyed the pain she inflicted on him during sex, and definitely more than that bastard Zhao ever did. Perhaps she will keep Chan for much longer than she did her other lovers. She smirked. She may be decades older than him, but she was still energetic and she had tired him out. She would be at him again once he woke up.
Azula sipped her wine as her mind wandered back to the events of her life as they seemed to do more recently nowadays. She did not regret killing her family to get to where she was, and although her reign had not been easy, she would not change anything. She was the most powerful person in the Fire Nation and soon of the world.
She frowned. Perhaps there was one thing she did regret. She had not taken the necessary precautions and got pregnant by one of her lovers during the time she had been trying to annihilate Zhao and his followers. At the time, she could not afford having a baby when she was trying to suppress a rebellion nor did she want to be a mother. Everybody would have known it was a bastard since her 'dear' husband had left years ago when he betrayed her.
She sneered at the thought of Zhao, but smiled at the thought that she had successfully gotten rid of him. But before that, she had gotten rid of the baby before anyone realized she was pregnant. However, there had been complications and she later found out she had become barren. Honestly, it was no big loss to her. She had no desire for a child and to be a mother, but she had wanted someone to carry on her legacy one day.
However, it did not really matter. She did not plan on dying anytime soon.
She glanced at her reflection again to see her youthful face and then smirked down at the ring on the middle finger of her right hand as she again lost herself in the past. It was a simple golden band with a small ruby in the middle.
Before that stupid mage had cursed her brother, she had demanded he used his magic to make her immortal. The mage forged the ring to keep her young forever, but the useless man had told her that permanent immortality was something beyond his level of skill. She had almost killed him then, but managed to restrain herself at the last moment since she had still needed him to place the curse on Zuko.
She lifted her hand and examined the ring as she had done many times before. As long as she had the ring on, it's magic would prevent her from growing old or from dying. However, if she ever took it off, the magic would disappear and she would revert to her true age. She clenched her hand and narrowed her eyes. She was always careful to keep the ring on.
Her reign had not been easy and the damn old man had only made it harder for her.
Many of the royal court and the stupid peasants had argued against her taking the throne, wanting to have Zuko be crowned Fire Lord and not believing her claims that he had abandoned his duties. Ignoring their protest, she had continued with her plan on claiming the throne and marrying Zhao.
However, before she was able to take her rightful place on the throne after her coronation, the mage—that idiotic fool—and his grandson had suddenly pushed their way forward from among the crowd and declared that Zuko was still alive, but had been thwarted by his own sister. Because of the mage's actions, a majority of the royal court had later rebelled against her.
Azula narrowed her eyes and her hand clenched around her winecup as she lost herself in her memories…
"Lies!" she screamed as she pointed an accusing finger at the old mage.
"That man is delusional," Zhao shouted from his spot next to her, "Zuko ran away from his responsibilities, like the coward he is."
"Crown Prince Zuko is an honorable man," the mage continued in a thundering voice that bellied his old frame, "He had left the palace because he was trying to save his mother. The same mother who was killed by her own dau—"
"Shut up!" Azula screamed, immediately cutting off the mage's words.
"And in his pursuit to rescue Fire Lady Ursa, Prince Zuko was thwarted from returning to the palace by his sister. She forced me to place a curse on him!"
"I said shut up!" Azula demanded once again before she shouted at her guards, "Arrest this traitor and the brat!"
Before the guards could apprehend them, the mage spread his arms wide and began to chant in a strong voice that rebounded through the large room. The spectators gasped and moved back when the torches and candles flickered from orange to a strange, purple color. The guards stopped mid-step and looked around them fearfully.
Azula and Zhao jumped back when the wall of fire in front of the throne flared brightly before changing to the same bizarre, dark purple glow. Everybody stared at the firewall in fear and astonishment, never having seen fire be such a color before.
"No one can enter the wall of flame to sit on the throne except the true Fire Lord," the old mage declared, although his previous strong tone wavered slightly. His already old features seemed to have aged considerably as he leaned on his young grandson, whose eyes were wide with concern.
Azula scoffed at his words and she turned resolutely back to the wall of flames.
"No one can stop me," she declared haughtily as she confidently walked closer to the fire, "I am the true Fire Lord."
"If that is so, then where is the original fire crown? The one that has been passed through generations?" the mage asked knowingly.
The crowd murmured and whispered among themselves since they had all noticed that the fire crown that had been placed on her during the coronation was slightly different. There had been rumors that the Fire Sages had been unable to locate the original fire crown weeks after the Crown Prince's disappearance.
Azula growled under her breath and glared at everyone present, effectively cutting off their whispers.
"I am the true Fire Lord and I will prove it," she declared.
She flicked her hand to the side to firebend a space for her to walk through the firewall. Instead, she felt a resistance at the same time she felt an intense burning heat as the dark purple flames violently pushed her back. With a scream of pain, she jumped back and cradled her burnt arm as she stared incredulously at the wall of fire. Enraged, she whirled on the mage.
"What have you done?!" she roared angrily.
"I placed a spell on the throne. Only the true Fire Lord can break it," the mage repeated before he added firmly, "And he will return one day. Prince Zuko will defeat you and he will take back his rightful place on the throne."
"Kill him!" Azula ordered, her eyes blazing. She ignored Zhao urging her to stop and that they needed him alive to revert the spell.
The guards hesitated slightly before they rushed forward. Their brief hesitation, however, allowed the mage enough time to whisper something to his grandson.
"Grandfather, no!" the boy cried out in fear as he clung to the old man's robes.
"You must find him, Yong!" the mage shouted quickly. "Promise me!"
Then the old man turned around and uttered a quick spell. There was a small explosion as the boy was enveloped in smoke. Once it cleared, the spot was empty. The mage panted and struggled to keep standing as he stared straight into Azula's glaring eyes.
"I have fulfilled my duty," he said before he collapsed onto the ground.
The crowd gasped when his face and arms began to turn translucent before he completely disappeared. They watched as a moment later, the robes he was wearing sagged onto the floor.
Azula sneered as she took another sip of wine and clenched her hand.
The nobles had begun to murmur behind her back before she lashed out at them. It was only because of Zhao that she had not killed them all. She had tried to have the throne room demolished, but no one could get near the purple flames without being burned. Unable to do anything, she had ordered the throne room to be closed and ordered for a new one to be built.
Chaos had resulted not long after that as both the nobles and the peasantry rebelled against her, demanding Zuko's return.
How could they want such a weakling on the throne? How could Father not have named her his heir despite Zuko's flaws? Why did Mother love him more?
It only increased her hatred toward Zuko more. She had wanted to torture him, punish him, for it all by keeping him trapped in his cursed form in the underground caves. To her rage, she later found out that Zuko had escaped. She suspected, however, that he had been set free by their useless uncle when the old man never returned to the palace. Things just got worse from there.
Zhao's betrayal, civil war, and years of rebellion passed, but now she finally had control of everything. She had made sure Zuko could never set foot near the palace by passing a law that degreed all dragons to be killed. If he was still even alive, there was no way he could retake the throne in the form of a dragon. He could never come back to take what was hers.
Azula relaxed her fist and smoothed out her features.
Soon, the world will be hers for eternity.
"Come back to bed, my queen," the voice of Chan's husky voice brought Azula out of her thoughts, "Your man needs you."
Azula looked over her shoulder to see her lover beckoning her back to bed. With a smirk, she stood up from the chaise and allowed the robe to fall sensually from her naked body as she made her way back to the visibly aroused man. She climbed onto the bed and immediately straddled him, roughly pinning his arms beside his head, her nails digging painfully into his skin. She needed to release some pent up anger and what better way to achieve that than by inflicting it on her naughty pet?
It was too bad Zuko wasn't around to see his little sister triumph and do something no one had ever done before.
Rule the world.
A/N: Dun, dun, dun.
There you have a little more background to this fictional world's history. I wish I had a dragon as a friend lol.
The black dragon's 'dance' was inspired by the AtLA episode "The Firebending Masters".
A couple more notes that involve Game of Thrones.
*Warning. Spoilers are coming*
So those of you who have watched Game of Thrones know that Melisandre's necklace was keeping her young. I started writing an outline of my story since 2014 and my plan was to have Azula remain young because of a magical ring. So when I watched the episode where Melisandre first takes off her necklace and she turns into an old woman, I was like "Whaaaat?" I thought I had an original idea lol. Anyway, Azula's ring was not inspired by Melisandre's necklace.
*Spoilers over*
Thank you for reviewing and for reading!
Stay safe!
~alwaysZutarian