Iroh continued to soothe the young woman softly sobbing in somber solitude until settling her down to silence the unsettled egg in his pocket. Though, he was sure the princess had felt the quaking in his robes, she said nothing about it when they pulled away from the other. Instead, her back stiffened, eyes blinking away her tears before returning to their old, usual stone-stilled face when she looked at him.
"The show must go on," she said, quietly. "Perhaps you should join Zuzu. I have matters to attend to. Unfortunately, I don't wake up beautiful".
The former general gave a single nod, allowing the princess to exit the unlit throne room through The Iron Blood Curtain before following suit. The princess's red, elaborate dress trailed the dim corridor as she turned in the opposite direction of the ballroom where the coronation was being held. Iroh watched her disappear into the maternity room before turning to join the celebration.
"Uncle! Finally! Come sit with us," called the excited new father, like a hopeful child. Iroh's spirits lifted at this. With haste, he joined Lady Ursa and her family at Zuko's left as the fire lord's right was strictly reserved for the fire lady.
Looking about, Iroh marveled at the extravagance of the decorated ballroom. Everything from the dragon-designed table props, sconces, cutlery and wine goblets were as pure gold as the fire lord's crown. The red painted walls held golden emblems designed in the shape of the crowned princess's signet. The long room's floors had been reupholstered from red brick to black marble, so well polished that one could view their reflection. A single red carpet rolled from the golden front, glass doors to the royal family's table at the back of the room. On either side of the glass doors were two rectangular, golden-trimmed indoor water falls, glowing red. This, however, was minimal compared to the marvel overhead in the form of a gold-plated, crystal diamond chandelier that nearly covered the entire glass ceiling with fresh incents dispelling from its four corners.
Iroh knew such extravagance could only have been formed from the mind of a woman. Ursa perhaps?
"Wow," was all the old man could say as he straightened in his seat, nodding to the likes of King Kuei, King Bumi, Chief Hakoda and Chief Arnook, along with numerous other wealthy nobles and dignitaries, who were privileged to witness the event.
"Right!" Gushed Ursa's husband, elbowing Iroh in the bicep. "Your niece sure knows how to throw a party," he added, taking puffs of an expensive cigar with a pinky lifted. "You people sure are fancy!" He chuckled winking to a frowning Ursa, seemingly lost in her untouched wine goblet.
Between her big brother and her mother, Kiyi leaned forward to address Iroh. "Where's Azula, anyway, Uncle? Shouldn't she and Mai be here, now?" Inquired the teen, between chomping a handful of pule cheese in her cheeks as if it wasn't worth more than the Imperial guard's monthly wages.
Noting Ursa's bulged eyes, unbeknownst to anyone else, he gave a smile.
"I'm sure they are attending to whatever women of marrying age tend to do before events like this," he answered. "Perhaps, they are even a bit fearful with so many people. Clouded eyes can ruin such joyous occasions," he added, earning a relieved side-eye glance from the fearful matriarch. Ursa's terrified demeanor was not missed by the old man's keen eye, along with her elaborate, well-applied make-up and lovely, red dress plunging low to reveal just enough firm, ample skin expanding from her neckline to straddle the line of socially appropriate.
It was this sudden distraction, that snapped Iroh's eyes away from Ursa's form in sudden realization that he had been staring. Glancing to Ikem, he was relieved to see the man discussing the prices of various cheeses on the tray with his daughter before tasting each one. Ursa's eyes did not leave the chandelier, however, and Iroh noticed the slight tremble in her hands as she raised her goblet to her lips, in time with Azula's freshly painted face leaning down to hover over the fire lord's ear. Of course, now was far from the appropriate time to inquire about the emotional display between mother and daughter that took place less than twenty minutes before, so Iroh simply observed with a steaming cup of tea in hand.
With the crowd's loud applause at the arrival of Avatar Aang escorting his wife, who had unexpectedly joined him despite her own recent childbirth, it was difficult to make out what the princess and the fire lord were discussing. The Southern Water Tribe warrior and newly appointed councilman, Sokka, followed behind the couple, garnishing coos from the ladies with a handsome smile and wave, his other arm around his new girlfriend's, Chief of Police Toph Beifong, shoulder. Her unseeing eyes looked down towards the marble floor, though Iroh noted the soft smile playing on her lips as they walked. He cast a look to Suki, who entered behind her ex-boyfriend, in a fancy green dress, absent her warrior paint. The woman seemed unbothered as she and noblewoman, Ty Lee took their seats with the group at their honored table just to the right of the royal party.
The servants entered stealthily to clear the middle ballroom floor, along with dirty dishes to finally refill glasses before disappearing.
"What?"
Iroh's head turned to Fire Lord Zuko, attempting to whisper back to his sister. "How? Should we postpone?" He asked, brow furrowed.
Iroh saw Azula shake her head, vigorously.
"The show must go on, Fire Lord," she insisted, softly, her hand on his shoulder. "This is Izumi's big day. The greatest day in Fire Nation history. I'll handle everything," she then assured him before leaving the table, taking the hand of the avatar at the bottom of the steps, awaiting his cue.
Iroh heard the young man began with, "I thought Mai-" before Azula waved him flippantly, holding the hem of her dress as she ventured to the center of the room with him following close behind, too close for a married man whose wife was merely two feet away at the honored guests' table.
A raised eyebrow was Iroh's further response to Avatar Aang's tattooed hand reaching out to grasp the princess's slender, bracelet adorned wrist, stopping her to whisper in her ear, not to mention the teasing smirk and quick glimpse of pink flesh at the corner of Azula's mouth.
Kiyi's hushed comment to her brother did not help matters either. "They are so cute together," further twisted the general's renewed potbelly in an uncanny way.
Obviously, the fire lord shared a similar disdain from the look in his stone-face, eyes firmly held on the center pair. His frown further dropped as he answered, "I'd kill him," mistakenly before clearing his throat and standing to his feet.
With a diplomatic wave to the crowd, the fire lord raised his goblet to grasp everyone's attention. "Please, everyone, let's get settled," he said, awaiting the crowd to take their seats, voices hushed, before continuing. "Thank-you all for joining us on this momentous occasion," he spoke with careful articulation. "Unfortunately, my wife, Lady Mai will not be in attendance due to mandatory bedrest," he paused, his eyes at the center of the room, obviously looking to the princess for approval, at which Iroh noted her simple nod.
"It is with great pleasure to announce the current Crowned Princess, my very own, lovely Princess Azula in her place for the Blessing of the Avatar performed by our very own, Avatar Aang".
The crowd roared in applause as Zuko took his seat, his proud smile returning when a servant presented his new, swaddled infant girl to his sister.
"Everything will be fine, Mom," the fire lord said to Ursa, giving her a reassuring pat on the knee.
Ursa's sigh shook the napkin by her plate as she seemingly struggled to look towards the center of the ballroom, forced to watch the daughter she had yet to make amends with unclouded eyes.
Iroh, too, kept an eye on the woman with Zuko's daughter held in her arms, kneeling at the avatar's feet as he, donned in ceremonial robes that seemed to cling to his form, whirled his staff overhead, the smoke from the diamond chandelier's incense following suit, creating a wide cloud over the entire party and the gong was sounded eight times in tandem with Aang's shrinking of the cloud until it was small enough to wrap about Izumi's tiny wrists.
The next part of the ceremony, Iroh highly doubted was planned or encouraged in a traditional air nomadic blessing ceremony and nearly had the fire lord and the avatar's water tribe wife up in arms. With words unable to be heard over high pitched flutes performing Leaves from the Vine, the avatar suddenly placed his hand inside of the princess's bosom to reveal the signet of the crowned princess.
"What the fuck?" Growled Fire Lord Zuko too loudly, nearly hopping from his seat before Ursa's hand against his, stopped him.
The avatar turned to the royal table, holding the pendant high. Eyes closing, Aang spoke an ancient chant in a tongue foreign to everyone in the room. On cue, Azula's eyes lifted from the child in her arms to lock eyes with her brother. "If it is the fire lord's will," she spoke calmly as though he were the only one in the room, "I present Crowned Princess Izumi".
Those who understood the meaning behind the woman's words gasped in unison.
What? Iroh wondered on Azula's motives. The woman always had ulterior motives, though nothing made sense to the general. A quick, side-ways glance told him Zuko and Ursa were equally shocked to hear Crowned Princess Azula of The Fire Nation renounce her family position, bestowed on her during her father's tyrannical reign.
All eyes were fixated on Zuko. The fire lord seemed to tremble as he stood to his feet, obviously deeply affected by the shock of his sister's announcement more than anyone else in the room. Complete silence ensued, even the flute players had ceased their beautiful melody to await the ruler's next words.
No. Thought Iroh, worried for his nephew's tendency to consume himself with anger.
"Yes," said the fire lord, simply. "Behold…the Fire Nation's Crowned Princess…" Zuko held up his goblet, his face betraying his effort to keep his hand from shaking. The wine sloshed over the sides before he managed to settle it. "Izumi," with that he drank down the contents of the cup, the audience following suit as Aang used his bending to place the signet in Izumi's tiny hands to touch before Azula placed it back in her bosom.
As if lethargic, Zuko fell back into his chair as Azula held her niece to her heart and stood. Aang removed the cloud bonds from the baby's wrists, exchanging soft words with the former princess at which Azula shook her head and left the ballroom floor to join her family. The palace's comedic relief revealed himself in a platypus-bear get up, lightening the mood with his jokes and announcing the dance floor open to everyone.
The royal table was not in such spirits, however, as Azula took Mai's seat, Izumi snuggled against her. The fire lord was quick to make his disapproval known, despite the occasion, however.
"How could you do this to me?" Iroh heard his nephew ask at which Azula only briefly glanced up at him before taking a piece of cheese to stick between his teeth. Zuko swallowed without chewing, fury evident. "We need to talk, now!" He growled inches from her face.
Unfazed, Azula answered, "As you wish, My Lord," standing she called to their half-sister, "Kiyi, could you take the princess while I discuss next steps with our dear brother?"
The teen surprisingly said nothing as she took the baby. Iroh watched them go, heart skipping several beats. The old man felt strange about the entire encounter. Azula was different, sure, but twice as deadly in his eyes. It was difficult to discern her motives as easily in her adulthood, unmotivated by the excuse of being a child, or at least as childish as she and Zuko could be given their father's selfish impact on them. Though Zuko was older, he still held his sister in high regards despite all their past feuding.
"P-Perhaps, I should join them?" Ursa suddenly asked.
"No," said Iroh quickly. "I'll go, please, enjoy your dinner and your granddaughter".
With that, Iroh stood to follow through the door, stopping in the shadows behind a column to stay out of the siblings' sight, though close enough to hear their passionate exchange, the egg in his pocket shaking as Azula spoke.
"She knew, Zuko," the woman was saying, hands gripping the railing of the balcony, her back to her brother and Iroh. "In her dying breath she told me she knew all along".
The fire lord neared his sister, wrapping his arms about her waist, the moon reflecting off his crown as he laid his head on her naked shoulder.
"I-I told her I couldn't do it…I…" Azula sighed, rare vulnerability in her voice. "I can't take care of Izumi, Zuko, no matter how…what this is". Turning slightly, until they were facing one another, the siblings embraced, Azula's head on her brother's chest.
"Are you going to leave me then…for him?" Asked Zuko, softly making Azula's head pop up though he did not let her go.
"What?" She hissed with a glare.
"For Aang? You too seem awfully close".
Azula clicked her teeth. "Mai's dead, Zuko and all you concern yourself with is the avatar?" At Zuko's silence, she added, "I told him I am not that kind of woman".
Iroh smirked proudly.
"I told him my heart is in the fire nation," the girl continued.
It happened before Iroh could blink. Zuko pulling his sister closer, leaning downward until his lips locked with hers. Their eyes closed in tandem, the moon illuminating their mutual pale skin, as Azula's lower back hit the balcony's railing and Zuko's lips attached to her neck. A moan left her throat as Azula clutched his head, nails scratching his hair.
"I love you, Zuzu," gasped the woman. "Only…you".
Iroh rolled away from the scene, crashing into a nearby lamp that was thankfully unlit. He made a dash back to the ballroom at a pace much faster than a man of his years. Taking his seat by Ikem, he nearly drowned himself in his tea, ordering more in hopes of washing the taste of bile in his throat.
"Slow down, Iroh," Ikem jested with a chuckle. "Did you see a spirit?"
Iroh gave a shaky grin, mumbling under his breath when Ikem let the matter go. "No…much…much worse".
Uh...surprise? Haha! QTZ, let me know what you think!