Ziggy's Corner: Okay we have ten reviews now! In the top five this story is the fifth, with Avatar the Last Air bender: A Mid Winter's Romance, Sly Cooper: Everything's Relative, Avatar the Last Air bender: Kiss and Tell, and Witch Hunter Robin: Into the Flames of Veinica, being the top four above this story. Not too bad though, if I add the reviews for three of my four Avatar stories (Why has no one reviewed the Fire Hunt! weeps bitterly at possible failure) I have over sixty reviews! I guess I was meant to write Avatar the Last Air bender fics ! Okay this story takes place one year after the last chapter ends. Hope you all enjoy it.
Sozen sat on his throne, watching the parade of soldiers pass between him and the cheering crowd below. He smiled, and held the hand of his wife of almost ten months. He turned to her and kissed her cheek, grinning from ear to ear as she blushed and placed her hand on her round stomach, which was growing each day. It hadn't taken him long to make an heir to the kingdom.
"And what if she's a girl?" Jenai asked, flashing him her bright brown eyes. "Our laws state only men may have the right to the throne."
"If it's a girl, then I'll see to it that the laws are changed," he chuckled. "Any girl who kicks like that can't be much of a push over." His smile fell for a few minutes as he thought about current affairs. Gai and his witch of a wife were spreading lies up the dung pile about the new administration, and numerous Earth Nation kingdoms had united in an attempt to force Sozen from his throne. Already they had blockaded his port, and expelled many Fire Nation dignitaries from their lands. "We are going to need a strong leader for the storms coming."
Jenai shifted her weight, her light brown hair glowing in the sun, her summer tan dress pressing against her body. She pierced her thick flame red lips and stared at him. "I thought we agreed there would be no more talk of politics for a while."
"I don't see how that can be helped," he snapped quickly, his orange eyes flashing with anger for a moment before they melted at her gaze. Sozen sighed and shook his head. "I-I'm sorry, Jenai." He rose to his feet and watched the parade, and made a few comments, telling the people the state of their kingdom.
Things were orderly, just as he had wanted, crime was down to an all time low, most criminals were dealt with harshly, and crime trials were withered down to only a single day of discussions. Sozen had ordered that only a judge could decide the fate of a criminal, promising to bring back trials by juries within time – once the threat of war was eclipsed by peace. He made schools mandatory, and rid the country of bureaucracy; all taxes and policies were now dealt with by Sozen and only Sozen. There were a few nay-sayers about his policies at first, but as things seemed to begin to run smoothly, the Fire Lord's adversaries were quickly silenced by the people. And those few that still opposed his rule were arrested for the good of the peace and exiled. The other nations considered Sozen a tyrant, abusing his power, but he refused to be swayed by such arguments. True, many liberties were being taken away, but it was for the good of the people so as to sustain peace. As soon as things were running full speed for his administration, Sozen promised the people and himself that all liberties taken from them would be restored, he even had a grand plan to great a council to counter his power within time, but that would have to wait until the war was brushed aside.
The Fire Lord finished his speech, and smiled at the cheers and happiness of his people. He refused to allow his pride to swell, he knew all too well what may happen if that ever occurred, and Sozen was not about to become tyrant in reality as he "was" in deed.
He walked into the great hall, and sat down, wiping his brow as he sipped an ice tea, and read the current reports of the day. Three more Earth Nation kingdoms had taken up their fleets to block his country, although the high capital of Bosing Se refused to be dragged into the conflict.
"Why couldn't all Earth Nation people be as level headed as their own capital?" he sighed. He continued reading, and signed into effect a license that bought a large chunk of land in the water kingdom for his armies and fleets, in case of war, then finished reading the reports and waved his advisors away.
"Sire, there are many more things to do," one began.
"I'm sure there are," he stated, "but I'd rather be with my wife than here right now. What I've done will serve the country for now." A Fire Sage reached over and grabbed his arm, bowing with respect as his king glowered at him.
"You're majesty, I apologize, but there has not been word from the Air Temples for some time now, I was hoping that you would authorize a small troupe of my brothers to travel to their country and ask of the news of the new avatar."
Sozen's eyes shrunk as he stared down at the old man and tore himself from his grip. "The avatar is dead, he's not coming back," he roared. The old man stood on trembling legs and looked at his king. "You and your brothers serve your people now, not some superstitious hack pretending to be an immortal god in human flesh."
"You're highness, you must understand that the Fire Temples are independent of all matters of state," the old sage said, his voice wavering.
"For now you are, but if war breaks out, I'll need all Fire Nation people under my banner if we are to triumph over our enemy." He sighed, and shook his head, his teeth gnashing so hard that they cracked at the words he was about to speak next. "There is a group of those people here in the kingdom anyway, if you must obey your silly superstitions, then go to them, and ask your questions."
"It would be so gracious of you to invite them into the throne room, husband dear," Jenai said sweetly as she walked into the hall. "I would love to met them, I've long wanted to travel to the Air Nation anyway," she could sense his tension even at her words, and she stroked a long arm. "Besides, if war does break out, the Air Nation at this point and time is very neutral. A favorable meeting of their dignitaries with the Fire Lord could change that."
Sozen sighed and smiled, his hate melting at the smiling eyes of his wife. "Very well," he said. Turning to the Fire Sage, he lowered his head and blinked. "Have those people come into the throne room, and we shall have our discussions. If you wish, you may ask about your avatar afterwards."
The Fire Sage smiled at the possibility of peace in religion in the kingdom, and nodded. "As you command, Sire."
Six Air Monks stood before him, four ancient relics possibly as old as their religion, a man in his forties, and a small boy possibly no more then ten years old. They bowed to the king and stood, their arms crossed in their sleeves as they waited for him to speak.
"As I am sure you are aware, I am a king of peace, and yet the Earth Nation continues to blockade my nation with more and more ships. While my people are not exactly suffering from this ridiculous conspiracy of lies my cousin Gai has pushed on us, time will come when we will run out of rations from our own land."
"We rely a lot on money and rations from the other nations, especially the Water Nation and your Air Temples," his wife said sweetly.
Sozen nodded. "I don't know how long we could hold out without intervention, unless we were to strike, so I humbly ask that your nation support us in this endeavor to keep peace."
The eldest of the Air Monks cleared his throat, and stepped forward. "Your Highness, we of the Air Nation truly understand your blight, and we deeply feel for the agony of the Fire Nation, but you must understand, unlike the other nations we are not a warrior people, we have no weapons no ships, and no desire to press our people into service."
"But you can meditate, between the Earth Nation and us, before there is any real war," the Fire Lord said, trying to keep his calm. "Perhaps you'll be understanding enough to allow us to buy some land from you, to protect your villages as some of the Water Tribes have done."
"I'm sorry Your Highness, but we will sale our land to no man, the same as we have told the Earth Nation Kingdoms. What's more, we have tried to negotiate peace, but unfortunately the Earth Sages have been given very little freedom to speak their minds on this matter."
"If war does come, you must understand that it might brush against your border," Sozen said, trying to be as reasonable as possible. His fingers were gripping the arms of his throne so tight, that he almost broke his bones.
"We can only pray that the Avatar will be revealed, and defend all innocent life before that happens," the white haired monk answered with a pleasant smile.
The boy stood forward and bowed again. "Your Highness, I'm sure that with enough faith and patience, there will remain peace. Your kingdom is wonderful, and I've made hundreds of friends while I've been here. One in particular, Kuzon, is my best friend!"
"Ah Kuzon," Jenai said with a bright smile. "He's a second cousin of my husband."
"Really, how cool, he never mentioned it before …," the boy jumped as one of the elderly monks placed a strong hand on his shoulder. He sighed and bowed his head. "Anyway, if more people thought like Kuzon did, I'm sure there will never come a time of war."
Sozen's eyes were squinted so tight he could barely see anything. He had nothing against this boy, or his second cousin, but children's places were where they could be seen and not heard. It also frustrated him immensely that these fanatics, like the Fire Sages with them, were so intent on obedience to their human "god". If the avatar really was an Air Bender and had been standing in front of him just now, that "god" would find out just how mortal he or she really was. Then the whole idiotic system of one man negotiator would crumble and the world would have to face a system of checks and balances, which the Fire Nation would lead.
"Perhaps you are right, young monk," he thought for a moment and tapped his fingers. "Er, what was your name again?"
"His name is Aang, your Highness," the elderly monk answered for him.
"Perhaps you are right, Aang. I truly hope so; calmer heads are much easier to work with than those who would rattle their sabers all day long." He made himself smile and he nodded. "And I apologize for taking your time away from your studies of our land, and your prayers. Please feel free to rest in one of my suites."
It was then that Jenai gasped, and squeezed her husband's hand very tightly. He turned to her and felt the color melt from his skin as he looked at her. "Darling?"
"My water has just broke," she wheezed.
A few hours later the screams of a very healthy, very upset baby boy filled the palace walls. The air bending monks had stayed and helped Jenai with her delivery, and it had been young Aang who had actually caught the child as he emerged into the world.
"What are you going to name him, Your Highness?" the boy asked.
"His name is Kaori," Sozen said proudly. "You gave me the idea, young monk. It means peace."
Okay this chapter was light hearted to an extent, but starting next chapter, you can kiss all of that good bye! What did you think of Aang being the one to help Sozen's only child into the world? Or the boy's name? As the coming chapters are revealed, you're going to see that the father, along with the son are anything but peaceful. And it all starts with the next chapter, the clouds have come, and with it, an approaching storm!
Time for reader review answers:
lightbird: Thank you for your praise. I try hard to please. I had always wondered what went on in Sozen's mind and so this is why I had to write this story.
Hotspur: Lol of course you are free to say that you love this story. Like I told lightbird there was just something bothering me about how Sozen came to power. I knew I could go the spoiled brat route, or a military coup route, but I thought that this was much more interesting to do it this way. I'm glad to hear that you believe the politics are complex, I wasn't one who thought I could write them. Sorry to tell this, but now that there is war approaching there ARE going to some ships. Can't have countries divided by water and war without ships. Of course they're not going to play a predominant role in this story. Again thanks for the praise!
distant6: Thank you, hopefully you like these chapters too!
whirleeq: Thank you, I'm so glad to have written an interesting story. I don't know how but the backgrounds seem to just pop in my head, as if I was really there, and I just had to write them. I'm a firm follower of if you can see it and taste it, and hear it, and feel it, while you write it, then you've done a good job.
Spleef: Thank you so much! Now that it's getting darker, it should be even more interesting.