Hey there readers here's chapter two I hope you enjoy.
i don't own ATLA.
Chapter Two: Things We don't Want to Do
Fire Nation…
His gold eyes focused on the ship coming into the harbor, his sister and cousin would arrive within minutes. In a very improper manner he dropped down onto the sand and stared at the ocean, he could feel the guards eyes on him. He disliked the fact that he had to travel with the guards being a master Firebender, but he saw where is father was coming from, with the Rebel forces getting stronger. His eyes flickered up to the sky, something emerged from behind the puffy white clouds.
"General Lee, do you see that?" Ryuu asked getting to his feet and pulling his swords out in one swift motion. He turned to the guards and pointed with his sword to the thing in the sky.
"It looks like a giant flying buffalo." General Lee said. Ryuu raised one of his brown eyebrows at the general. "A bison maybe."
"Aren't they extinct?"
"It is just what it looks like, my Prince." Ryuu put his swords away and undid his topknot letting his brown hair fall into his gold eyes like he liked it. "Do we attack?"
He shook his head and dismissed them, they were reluctant to go but once he assured them that he'd be fine they left down the beach. The ship was getting closer while the flying bison disappeared behind the clouds. Slowly he made himself to the end of the dock and waited.
oOo
Kailee could see a figure standing alone on the dock, a smile spread across her face, she knew who was standing there. She turned to Judai who was sitting on the floor of the deck eating seal jerky.
"Hey Jude, do you think I can beat Ryuu?" Kailee asked turning back to her brother.
"You guys are both masters so it'll be interesting but it's been years since you've beat him right?" Judai asked putting the seal jerky back in its pouch and in his bag. He watched as Kailee pulled her hair up into a ponytail, her style of choice when she went into a fight. "What are you doing?" he asked scrambling to the front.
"I'm only one behind him." She said giving him a look one that he hadn't seen in the longest time, the look of excitement. Before he could stop her she was climbing the ships railing. He knew what was coming, a sparring session between the prince and princess of the Fire Nation, two masters going head to head...for fun. He groaned and stood up off of the floor. She smiled at him just as she stood up on the railing and executed a perfect dive, he walked to the front of the ship and waited for the show to start.
oOo
Ryuu dropped his swords and smiled to himself, he bowed to the ocean, turned around, and walked down the dock. He couldn't remember the last time they merely greeted each other, for the longest time their method of greeting was a display of their bending. The sun was at his high point but they were surrounded by an infinite source of water, that didn't matter all that mattered was their skill level. At the end of the dock he turned around and surly enough standing in front of his swords, clad in blue was his sister.
"Are you going to beat me this time?" Ryuu asked offering her a small smirk.
"I promise you that I won't make it easy on you, older brother." Kailee said hurling seawater at him.
oOo
Judai watched as blue clashed with red, sticking whale jerky into his mouth as he did. He noticed that Ryuu's tactic changed, he was using the terrain, jumping and flipping off of rocks. Judai had seen his aunt and uncle spar once before and looking at his two cousins reminded him of that.
"My money's on Kai." he told the crew members who grunted. "What you believe Ryuu has the advantage, water beats fire every time." His eyes widened as Ryuu melted the ice disks Kailee was sending at him. "Fire melts ice...every time."
oOo
Kailee enclosed her brother in a ball of ice, he lowered his head admitting defeat. She skipped up to her brother. "Now we're even." she released him and bended the water out of his clothes.
"It won't be that way for long." he said pulling her into a hug. "Now there's Judai."
They walked to the end of the dock. Ryuu picked up his swords. "How good are you with those?"
"Not bad, why do you ask?" he asked raising his eyebrows at her. "Want to go against me?"
"You'll beat me, I never made a good swordsman." Kailee said remembering the time she went to warrior training with Judai.
"Hey there cousin, how goes it?" Judai asked as he walked off of the ship. His eyes flickered to the swords strapped to Ryuu's back. "Dao Swords, you and I will have to go against each other."
Ryuu nodded, "Are you a master swordsman like your dad?"
"Yup, I've even beaten my dad a couple of times." Judai said proudly.
"Alright well we'll have to go at it later tonight." Ryuu said extending his hand toward Judai, they shook hands making it official. "Dad and Uncle will be back from Republic City later tonight but grandma and Ayumu are here and excited to see you guys."
"Dad..." Kailee said as she twisted her hair nervously.
"You do know he doesn't blame you right?" Ryuu said. "You'd know that if you read our letters, which you didn't since we never got a single one from you."
"Ryuu…" Kailee said softly.
"It's alright Kai." Ryuu said throwing an arm around her shoulder.
Ryuu talked about anything and everything that had gone on in the past year, he was repeating the things he wrote about in his letters, as they walked up to the city. Kailee listened and felt horrible for never answering his letters. He asked her questions, which she answered trying to make her life the past year not sound like it was all bad. Judai helped Kailee by telling stories of their ice fishing trips and of penguin sledding. Ryuu told of sword training and trips to Ember Island with Ursa and how the plays were beyond horrible.
"Why are dad and Uncle in Republic City?" Kailee asked.
"They're dealing with members of the rebellion." Ryuu said. "The ideals of the rebellion are extending to not just hostility against the fire nation but to all benders in general. The Avatar is going to have some hard stuff to deal with."
"Yeah he's going to have to deal with her." Judai said with a laugh. "She's not the easiest teacher out there."
"Shouldn't the Avatar already know waterbending?" Ryuu asked raising his eyebrows.
"He should but doesn't because he's lazy." Kailee said repeating Hiro's words to her.
oOo
After taking a walk through the city they finally made it to the palace. They walked into the sitting room that overlooked Ursa's well-kept garden. Sitting in one of the plush red chairs was Ursa. Ayumu was leaning against one of the floor-to-ceiling windows looking out at the pond where the turtleducks were swimming. Ayumu smiled when he caught Kailee, Judai, and Ryuu's reflections in the window.
"Grandmother we have company." Ayumu said.
Ursa set her cup of tea down on the coffee table and turned around to see who walked in. She smiled at the sight of her granddaughter and Judai. She stood up and enveloped Kailee in a hug. "It's so good to see you sweetheart."
"Its good to see you too grandma." Kailee said with a smile.
"You guys are here in time for tea." Ayumu said walking away from the window and taking a seat on the couch.
"Honestly Ayumu you are a twenty-two years old, I'd think you'd have learned some manners. Get your feet off of the couch." Ursa said pouring three more cups of tea.
"Yes grandmother." Ayumu said taking his feet off of the couch. "So Kai, Jude how's the South Pole, you know beside cold and snowy?"
"It's nice, really quiet compared to Ba Sing Se, Republic City, and Capitol City. There's not much to do if you're not creative." Judai answered taking his cup. "There's a lot of focus on warrior training and bender training."
oOo
The streets of the Fire Nation capital were lined with people eagerly waiting for the parade to start. Katara watched as Ryuu and Kailee conversed with the kids, she saw Ryuu's hands clench and immediately took him by the ear. She took Kailee's hand and led the two of them to a different spot on the street. She sat Kailee down before turning to her son, as she stared into Ryuu's amber colored eyes she couldn't help but be reminded of Zuko.
"What did they say to you?" she sighed.
"Nothing." replied the five year old. He didn't look at her when he spoke, she knelt down and tilted his head up so he was looking at her. "They called us weird because we look different."
"Ryuu, you and your sister are different." Katara said, the frown on his face deepened and she smiled tenderly at him. "You're a blend of two different cultures, you belong not to one nation but to two. I think that's pretty cool."
"But you're our mom, you're supposed to think we're cool." Ryuu said.
"Ryuu, people are going to be mean to you but you can't let what they do hurt you and you can't hurt them." Katara said firmly. She gave up on trying to explain how being different was good in their case, he was much to young to understand, she'd try again when he was older.
"Mommy, look the parade is starting." Kailee said pointing to the soldiers who were carrying the Fire Nation flag. She stood up and the three of them joined the rest of the people in reciting the Fire Nation anthem.
"I hear that the Fire Lady and the kids aren't in the parade this year," someone next to them said drawing Katara's attention away from the fire dancers.
"I don't know if you could really call her the Fire Lady," someone else said. "Lady Katara is a master waterbender, a peasant from the Water Tribe."
"She's not worthy of being the Fire Lady."
"No she's not."
"Look momma there's..." Kailee started pointing to Zuko.
"Yes there's the Fire Lord." Katara interrupted, the men behind them weren't giving off a good vibe. She had a feeling that they were members of the Rebellion, but she couldn't do anything about them without risking the safety of her kids.
"What did I tell you, he's alone?"
"The two brats must be in the palace."
"No, they're out here somewhere. Those kids shouldn't be alive and that woman shouldn't be here."
That was Katara's cue to leave, she'd have to find some guards to either handle the situation or to take Ryuu and Kailee back to the palace. As much as she wanted to beat the men up she didn't want to leave her kids alone with anyone, even the guards. The only people she really trusted with her kids were her family and since none of them were around she'd have to let the guards handle the situation.
"Kids get up we're leaving." Katara said getting to her feet.
"But mom," the two of them started.
"No whining we're leaving." she said pulling Ryuu to his feet.
Kailee was a little bit more difficult so she picked her up and took Ryuu's small hand in hers firmly. Ryuu blended in well so no one would suspect he was indeed the Fire Nation prince, Kailee on the other had had bright blue eyes, a color not commonly seen in Fire Nation children. She had to get them back to the safety of the palace. She expertly weaved her way through the crowd and literally bumped into Iroh, Ursa, and Ayumu.
"Katara?" Iroh said. He saw the look of worry in Katara's blue eyes and turned to Ursa. "Ursa would be so kind as to take the kids back to the palace."
Ursa nodded and Katara handed Ryuu and Kailee over to their grandmother. She watched them go before turning to the former general.
"Members of the Rebellion are here," she said in a hushed tone leading him back to where they had been watching the parade.
oOo
The kids sat down in the grass looking up at the sky, they were waiting for the firework display. Despite their happy faces Ursa knew that they were disappointed. They had wanted to watch the display from the beach just like everybody else but now they were sitting in the gardens of the Fire Nation palace.
"Lady Ursa, you called for me." she looked up to see General Lee of the imperial guard coming their way.
"Yes. General I would like you to inform my son that the plans for the evening have changed." Ursa said.
"Yes My Lady." he said.
oOo
Zuko was confused when General Lee had come to get him, he was supposed to signal the fireworks from the beach and then he'd join his family. He walked into the gardens and was immediately tackled by Ryuu and Kailee.
"Daddy can we see the fireworks from the beach?" Kailee asked.
"Yeah daddy, they don't look the same from far away." Ryuu added.
"No, there are bad people out there." Katara said as she walked into the gardens Iroh right behind her. "Zuko, Uncle needs to talk to you."
Katara pulled both kids off of Zuko and took them to the stone bench where Ayumu was sitting with Ursa. Katara told Ursa to go with Zuko and Iroh. Zuko followed his uncle into the palace, his mother right behind them. When the three of them were inside the doors closed Iroh turned to them.
"The imperial guards are searching for men that Katara suspects are members of the Rebellion. We went back to the spot where Katara had last seen them and they were gone." Iroh said a solemn look on his face.
"What reason is there to believe that we are dealing with members of the Rebellion, Iroh?" Ursa asked.
"They said that Kailee and Ryuu should not be alive. All members of the Rebellion dislike the blending of the nations, they want to keep the world pure." Iroh said.
The sound of a gong startled them all, the Fire Lord let out a small groan when he realized what it was for. "I have to start the fireworks."
"Do not worry about this matter, I will handle it." Iroh said putting a hand on his nephew's shoulder. "You two go enjoy the show."
Zuko and Ursa nodded and walked back out to the gardens where Ryuu and Ayumu were displaying their bending. They stopped and gave a small bow, Zuko and Ursa applauded earning their attention.
"Ready for the show to start?" Zuko asked the kids who nodded eagerly. He smiled at Katara before lighting the night sky orange, it had taken him a while to bend his fire into the shape of a dragon but one he perfected it, it became a part of the festival.
He sat down on the grass pulling Kailee onto his lap and kissing the top of her head. Katara sat down next to him and gently placed her had over his.
Zuko stood up and walked out onto the main deck, he had been sitting at his desk for hours and had decided that after hours of being cooped up in his study he needed some fresh air. He had spent that time thinking of the early beginnings of the Rebellion, how the Rebellion started because of the dislike of the new peace between the nations. Now after his visit to Republic City he could see that the Rebellion now included the hatred of benders all together. They were in need of the Avatar again, and once again the Avatar was a kid who hasn't mastered the four elements.
"Padme and the boys are doing well." Iroh said startling Zuko.
"Yes they are and so is Air Temple Island. Aang wanted to bring back Airnomad culture and traditions and the only downside is that he isn't here to see it. He didn't get to see how well Takumi and Daichi turned out." Zuko said, it saddened him thinking about how much his friend was missing. He had honored Aang's wish and kept his family a secret from everybody except the Order of the White Lotus. "Toph is also doing well."
"Yes she and Haru have done a good job running the Metalbending Academy. Toph told me over tea that Misaki and Hikaru are now teaching at the academy." Iroh said.
"Yes Toph and Keichi must be really proud of Misaki, Haru and Ayano must also be so proud of Hikaru." Zuko said, he knew that they were proud that their children were finally masters of their element because it was how he felt when Ryuu and Kailee became master benders and when Ayumu became a master swordsman. "How much longer until we dock, I really want to see my kids."
"About another hour." Iroh answered.
"Is there anyway to make this hunk of metal go any faster." Zuko groaned.
"Patience Nephew, I told you we should have taken the airship but you insisted on taking a ship." Iroh said walking toward the door. "Come Nephew lets pass the time with a nice game of Pai Sho and a cup of tea."
"Yes Uncle." Zuko said with a laugh.
"So Pro-bending is becoming really popular." Iroh said.
"Frankly I don't understand it."
"Its for a younger crowd."
"I'm not that old."
oOo
She could have gone home after her escape from the Rebellion, but Katara had something she needed to do. She loved her children and her husband, but she couldn't see them without first getting the answers she needed. Before she could go home she needed to find out the cause behind Aang's sudden death. The more she thought about it and everything Aang had prepared in case of his absence from the world the more she thought that his death had been no accident.
"What happened to you Aang?" she said as she walked through the Western Air Temple that, along with the others, had been reconstructed by Aang.
oOo
"I'm afraid of going crazy." Ayumu said to Kailee as they walked through the gardens. "My mother is insane and my father's a psychopath, they're both serving life sentences in prison. I wouldn't even be here if Uncle hadn't stopped the prison guards from performing the abortion, don't get me wrong I'm grateful for everything Uncle Zuko and Aunt Katara did for me and everything Grandmother and Uncle Iroh are doing for me now but I can't help but worry that I might go crazy like them."
"Crazy isn't a disease you can inherit." Kailee said trying to comfort her cousin.
"Yes it is, you need to pay more attention to those healing lessons Pakku punishes you with." Ayumu said laughing at Kailee's face of disgust. "It's why I hold back when it comes to firebending."
"You're nothing like your parents, you're good and sane." Kailee said.
"She's right, you're nothing like your parents and you won't ever be. Now stop thinking like that and go talk to Uncle he has some stories he wants to share with you." The two of them turned around to find Zuko standing underneath a tree. A smile broke across Kailee's face and before she could feel any hint of nervousness she ran to her father and threw her arms around him. "It's good to see you too Princess."
"I missed you daddy, I'm sorry I ignored your letters." She mumbled into his neck.
"I missed you too Princess." Zuko said kissing the top of Kailee's head.
oOo
Northern Water Tribe…
"Hey there Mika I was wondering if you'd like to go out tomorrow night." Arlyn asked the Princess.
"I'd love to go out with you." Mika said with a blush.
"I'm sorry Mika but the Avatar will not be going anywhere tomorrow." Hiro said grabbing the back of Arlyn's parka. "He has a lot of basic training to master before his teachers get here."
"Oh well maybe some other time." Mika said with a sad smile. "I have to go father won't like it if I am late for dinner."
Arlyn watched Mika walk into the palace, he made sure she was out of earshot before turning around and cursing Hiro out. He hated the White Lotus sentries they were always telling him what to do and how to do it, he hated everything about being the Avatar, it's not what he wanted to be.
"You guys are always up in my business, can't you just leave me alone. There's peace between the nations the world doesn't need the Avatar." Arlyn groaned starting in the direction of his home.
"It's only been twenty-four years since the war Arlyn and people don't forget a hundred years of war in twenty-four years. Rebellion is brewing and if we don't do anything now we might have ourselves another war." Hiro said, he really hated watching over Arlyn.
"Yeah well I don't want any part of it, I want to be normal and have fun. I want to meet girls, go on dates, party until dawn, and live my own way." Arlyn said freezing Hiro's feet so he wouldn't follow him home.
"You actually know how do something with your bending." Hiro said unfreezing himself. "Did you forget I'm a master waterbender? You're never going to be normal Arlyn, you're the Avatar your duty is to the world."
"Spare me the lecture Hiro."
"You're going to complete your training in Republic City." Hiro said angrily.
"What?"
"Your teachers and yourself are being relocated to Republic City."
"Why?"
"So you can see why the world needs you."
"No."
"You have no choice."
"I can disappear for a hundred years like Avatar Aang did." Arlyn said defiantly.
"You don't have the necessary skills to survive the way Avatar Aang did, you haven't even mastered your natural element. You're a disgrace to the Water Tribe and to the world." Hiro said angrily. "You're a spoiled brat who doesn't deserve to be the Avatar, you know nothing about being selfless or how life really works. I hope that your new teachers can pound something into you and if not I hope they just pound you."
"I don't want to be the Avatar!"
"We all have to do things we don't want to do Arlyn it's part of life so deal with it!"
To be continued…
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