Otka left with the Avatar for more thorough training in his element about two weeks after he told the princess. It was very exciting and Zeta and the other members of their group of friends threw Otka a going away party. Since he'd been gone Zeta and he had written several letters back and forth about his experiences in training. He talked about how sometimes the Avatar wouldn't let him do any bending at all but rather he would sit and talk to him about Chakras? He also had told her how a very old wise guy who called himself a guru came and talked with him for a few days. He also described the beauty and mystery of the air temple. Zeta had seen pictures and portraits of the long uninhabited buildings it was a place she always desired to go.
Like wise Zeta had to keep Otka abreast on the latest gossip and happenings at school. The topic that was on everyone's mind was Kenai's end of the year bash and birthday extravaganza. "Did you hear! Did you hear!" Suzuki exclaimed as she came running over the red lunch table where the princess, Uma and another young girl were sitting. She slammed her plate of rice down on the table in excitement.
"Did we hear what Suzu?" Uma asked with a yawn as she flicked some rice off her lap.
"Kenai is giving a party!" she exclaimed once more as she jumped up and down.
"A party? When?" demanded the other girl, Kumiko. Kumiko was Zeta's cousin on her paternal grandmother's side. Apparently she was the daughter of Zuko's mother's sister. The two families had long since been estranged, but the family resurged after Ozai was banished. They had been keenly interested in the fact that Zuko was taking a Water Tribe woman for his bride. Katara attempted to win over the Young Fire Lord's disapproving relatives and was very successful, though different in appearance many thought that she was a lot like Ursa. Kumiko would come to palace functions with her father every so often. Her father was ever trying to use his kinship to gain favors and position with in the government. His daughter was shaping up to be no better. She was younger than Zeta and just started attending the academy. She tagged along behind Zeta often times like a puppy. She tried to booster her popularity by claiming her links to the royal family
"On his birthday in just a few weeks!" Suzuki went on. Still giggling just as feverishly as the younger girl Kumiko.
"Who told you?" asked Uma. Now keenly more interested.
"Well I heard it from Kapa, who Jayzon's sister who is on the same team as Nuka who is best friends with Kenai!"
"Well that's straight from the horse's mouth," Uma said out the side of her mouth, Zeta heard it and snickered.
"Oh come on now, it's probably true," she said. "I mean Kenai will be 18, that's a big age. He can become a junior general and will become an eligible bachelor. Hot on the court circuit." The princess explained.
"He is gorgeous!" her younger cousin swooned.
Uma cocked her eye looking at the youngest girl at the table. She shuck her head. "Good looking guy like him won't be eligible for long," she reasoned. "And I know who his bride to be will be," she teased winking her eye toward Zeta.
"Stop that!" Zeta cried as she watched Uma bat him eyelashes. Zeta slapped her friend on the shoulder
"Oh but it's true he's the most likely match for you," Uma pointed out. "I might as well practice calling him Fire Lord now," Uma continued tauntingly as she stood up from the bench as walked over to dispose of her trash.
"My father is a picture of health, I'll have you know," Zeta added
"AAAHH!" Suzu shrieked like she had seen a locust spider.
"What's wrong Suzu," asked little Kumiko sweetly. She looked around wild eyes attempting to find the reason for the pudgier girl's outburst.
"You wouldn't do it? You wouldn't do it would you Zeta?" asked Suzu her almost brown eyes etched with distress. She staggered over to her friend and then collapsed and the princess' knee and rested her head there pretending to weep.
"Do what?" Zeta asked as she stroked the plumper girl's short hair. She looked over to her cousin to find some answer as to why the histrionics from her friend. Kumiko shuck her head and shrugged her shoulders in reply.
"Take him from me?" Suzuki asked breathlessly looking up into her best friend's face.
"Take who?" asked Uma once she sat back down. She crossed her legs. She was totally unmoved by Suzuki's little display. She continued to sip on a thirst quenching drink.
"Kenai that's who!" Suzuki shouted back. "You both know how long I've been in love with him."
"In love?" Kumiko questioned.
"Yes love!" Suzu insisted
"Well he's not in love with you," Uma added harshly.
"Uma!" Zeta scolded.
"What?" Uma shrugged, "It's true."
"Oh she's right... she's right Zeta!" Suzu said and then continued more blubbering. "Look at me.. He doesn't want me."
"Suzu, I didn't mean it like that," Uma said actually feeling bad. She knew that Suzu had struggled with her self esteem for while. It wasn't that Uma didn't think her friend was attractive. She did. " I just meant he's so arrogant and conceited that I doubt he notices anyone unless they are wearing a mirror," she joked.
"I bet the only reason he doesn't like you is because he doesn't know you," Zeta stated and then snapped her fingers, "You know what I do say we go to this party girls. I'll talk to Kenai for you." she nudged Suzuki's chin up and winked at her. Suzuki's chubby face lit up.
"Flame on!" exclaimed Kumiko "Mmm everybody is gonna be so jealous when they find out that I'm crashing an upper class man party." She rubbed her hands together greedily. Kumiko was an ambitious girl. When Zeta was done her time at the academy she would be the closest person to royalty at the school in theory and then she would be adored like her cousin. She always felt Zeta didn't know how to work her royalty. Zeta preferred to be low key. She didn't flaunt her title to get her way in classes or to get respect from her peers If Kumiko had it her way she'd have people bowing down in the street.
"Um... no" Zeta said immediately squashing that fire.
"What? How come?" demanded Kumiko.
"You said it yourself...it's a party for older students."
"Well I'm with you. I hang with older students all the time," Kumiko defended herself.
"Yes and we need to remedy that." Zeta said smartly.
"Humph" Kumiko snorted at the sny remark she had received from her cousin, "my mother says I'm very mature for my age and she's sure I'll be engaged by 16," Kumiko boasted chasing behind the three older girls.
"Eeww!" Uma turned around and snarled.
Kumiko twisted up her delicate features, " You only say that cuz you're jealous," she replied.
"If that's the case then you need be preserving yourself for your husband. You should take some sewing or cooking classes that night!" Suzuki chimed in snickering behind her fingers.
"I know how to do all those things!" Kumiko licked out her tongue at Suzu.
"Ha! Look at you sticking out your tongue. Your not mature enough...that settles it!" Zeta pointed out with mocking laughter.
"No! Wait... that was only a joke... please come on!" the 14 year old begged.
Then all three girls turned around in unison and said, "NO!" Mika stood back a dropped and seething as she heard the bell ring and lunch ended and everybody whizzed by her in a rush to classes.
As Zeta and her friends walked down the hall they picked up more bits and pieces about the party from other gossiping teenaged girls. The party was going to be on Ember Island and it was a masque! It sounded thrilling dazzling, exciting. There was going to be a live band and prizes and everyone was convinced that Kenai would find someone to court in the interest of marriage that night.
"Oh this is gonna be big, Big BIGGG!" Suzuki exclaimed.
"Its gonna be the biggest party of the year!" Uma added.
"There is no way we will miss this one ladies!" Zeta said as her mind filled with images of different costumes she may wear. Soon the three girls parted ways to go to their respective classes. Zeta had gym after Lunch, which she always found to be annoying. She felt full and bloated and in no mood for Firebending. The Fire Nation Academy for Girls made sure all female benders took firebending as their gym. They had the reputation for training the best female benders in the nation as apart of their academic program. As she walked into the gym a thought crossed her mind. There was only one reason why she wouldn't be able to go to the magnificent party. Her father.
"You can just ask him Zeta," Suzuki added as she touched her friend's shoulder while the exited the school building at the end of the day.
"I'm going to ask him, but I still know he is go to say, no"
"How o you know? He likes Kenai doesn't he?"
A My father finds him a respectable young man, but still my father isn't going to let me go to another island for a party," Zeta explained as she clapped her hand and found her coachmen had arrived right on time.
"Zeta you have to go!" Suzuki whined as she tugged on Zeta's arm. She looked like a little kid.
"Suzu's right Zeta you need to make it a point to go," explained Uma as she hopped on the back of her war rhino. The bulky and rough looking animal was a stark contrast to Uma's cool sexy demeanor. "If you don't go we can't go!" The general's daughter pointed out.
"Why?" Asked Zeta clueless as she had a footman help he into her liter.
"Because, you're the princess and you don't need an invite to go to a party. No one in their right mind would refuse the Fire Lord's daughter and her entourage!" Uma explained and winked as she gestured to herself and Suzuki.
Zeta smiled. It was true. Those were the perks of being a princess as it were, but still Zeta had a desire to make a name for her that did not include her royal title. "Point taken, well enough." Zeta said flippantly "Alright girls I'll send word to you later," she said and her friends parted company.
Zeta arrived to the palace on schedule that day. Not that she had any plans. Just leisure mostly. Her father was busy in meetings for the afternoon and would most likely not be through with them until dinner. Her Uncle Iroh wasn't busy though, except for sorting through his teas. He wanted to open a palace tea shop, like a tourist café. The Fire Lord frowned on this notion. He said that the palace was their home and shouldn't be made into some tourist trap. It already was though. The royal palace was the most beautiful place in the whole fire nation and Zeta boasted the world.
Zeta entered her uncle's tea lounge. He was bent over carefully inspecting his prized possession. The Fire Nation Princess snuck up on her uncle, who was bus counting teas and tea pots in his personal collector's room. "Boo!" she yelled as she came from behind.
The older man let out a yelp and trembled as his teas fell from his hand and onto the ground. He spun around on a quick impulse ready to face the invader. He was most disheartened and embarrassed when he found that his offended was playful teenage girl. "Zeta," he panted.
"Take it easy Uncle, it is only me," she said rubbing his back and then squatting down to pick up the tea packets that she had caused him to drop. "Who would have though the dragon of the west would be such a jumpy old man," she added from the ground.
Iroh's eyes that were now growing dim opened up big at her comment. "Oh you have the disrespect of your father and the tricky ways of your Uncle Sokka, I see," he faked a chuckle as she passed him his teas.
"No disrespect meant Uncle," Zeta bowed before the elder of her house. "Just because the dragon jumps doesn't mean he will not strike!" she covered.
"Mmm, but you get your gift for words from me," The round general stated with gentle smile coming our from under his long gray beard as he pulled the young firebender closer to him and giving her a hug. He kissed her on the cheek and the bristles of his beard tickled her cheek and she giggled the same way she had when she was little girl and when she was released she gave him one in return.
"Do you have a proverb today for me today, Uncle?" asked Princess Zeta.
"Let me see..." He stood and thought and tapped his finger on his lips. He shrugged, " "you know I like the one that you said : just because the dragon jumps doesn't mean he will not strike." He said triumphantly and put his hands up like claws around his face. Zeta laughed. "Yes I think I will ad it to my proverb scroll tonight before bed."
"That sounds like a plan." Zeta nodded.
"Now Zeta my girl you are just in time!"
"In time?"
"For afternoon tea! Ah hear I have the rare Panda Lily brew. " He waved the packet around and the took a deep whiff of it. "Oh it is so befitting on a day like today," he declared sniffing the packet. Will you join me princess Zeta?"
"General Iroh it would be an honor," said the princess politely. She gave a formal bow as she took a seat on a velvet pillow next to a small table. She watched as he uncle gathered all the things necessary to brew the tea. He carefully chose the perfect kettle. A rich black colored one. He got two beautiful cups and placed the before himself and then placed the other of her. He then began searching for flint stones to light the fire under the tea. It took him a little while he grumbled to himself about the fact that he had misplaced them. When he finally found them he quickly began to brew the tea.
"Uncle," zeta laughed as she watched the man rub the stones together to create a spark. She hadn't exactly been sure what he was looking for before. "Why not just use firebending?" she asked pointing to the flint rocks in his hand.
The older firebender blushed as he hid the rocks behind his back. "Oh I'm sorry," he gushed. "Old habits are sometime hard to break," he explained. " When your father and I lived in the earth kingdom we had to hide our bending and I became quite accustomed to using these, especially since we had to work at that tea shop," he said with a chuckle.
"Tell me," Zeta coaxed while she watched him pour the brew into her porcelain cup.
"There is much to tell. But you've heard all these stories before, princess," Iroh gave her a curious eye.
"A good story never gets old, Uncle," Zeta reasoned
"That is very true." The elderly man nodded. "Which story would you like to hear?"
"The part about mother and papa."
"Zuko could tell that better than I, Zeta. "I didn't come in until the very end and it looked like Aang and I had interrupted a very intimate moment," Iroh said as the smile faded from his face. Poor Katara she had died young, far too young.
"You know he won't," Zeta said flatly. Iroh knew it as the truth. Zuko rarely spoke of the late Fire Lady. In general that was how people in the Fire Nation handled grief, silently. Iroh had been different. His wife died giving birth to his son Lu ten many years ago. She had been labeled as barren. They had been married 5 years and she had never conceived and when the palace physicians informed the royal family of her condition it was only expected that Iroh would do away with this unworthy woman who could not produce an heir to the throne, but Iroh had loved her deeply and in time she gave him a child. Lu ten. The joy was short lived as by the next day she was no more. He mourned her always and often told Lu Ten about his mother. When Lu ten died Iroh was so destroyed that he left the battlefield. In the eyes of the entire nation he was a disgrace, to all but his father. Who actually attempted to comfort him.
Iroh shook his head to free it of the sad memories the sad memories that floated in his mind and tried to tell Zeta the little he remembered of the time when Katara had said she'd first fallen for Zuko. Once they were finished sipping the tea the two competed in a game of pai sho. Iroh won. He usually did. Zeta wasn't quite patient enough to make the game go on for hours which real masters of the game could do. She'd watched her uncle play some other elderly nobles in the nation. The old men and women could sit their for the longest time doing simple moves that made no one a winner or looser a lot of times the games would end in a stalemate. It was ridiculous. And if somebody pulled out the white lotus, she would just leave because the sun would be up the next morning before the game ended. Aang once told her that the tiles could be used to encode secret messages between the members of the white lotus. He uncle tried to teach her, but she just never really took to it.
Soon enough it was time for dinner, Zeta changed into a more suitable kimono for dinner attire. Her and her uncle went into the dinning hall together. There were no delegates or nobles present at the table to entertain making the long banquet style table look a bit empty, though food was piled from end to end. Iroh could eat as much as a hippo and Zeta could hold her own at the table no doubt, the Fire Lord ate the least. Zuko had never been a big eater, not that he didn't enjoy the scrumptious meals prepared by the palace chefs, but he had always thought that too much food weighed a person down when firebending. Princess Zeta and General Iroh were seated at the table for about 10 or 15 minutes before the Fire Lord arrived. Fire Lord Zuko looked exhausted and he was halfway tempted to request to have his meal brought to his chambers, but he knew neither his daughter nor uncle would give him that kind of satisfaction. Though they wouldn't stop the Fire Lord from doing as they pleased, they most certainly would gripe about it.
"I'm sorry, I'm late," said Zuko somewhat bitterly as he took his seat at head of the table. He removed his royal crown and let his dark black hair fall out the topknot. He now had a headache. Once the Fire Lord arrived the meal was proceeded with. The food was excellent as always.
"Did you implement the guards to be set up on the island?" asked General Iroh.
Zuko nodded. "It was difficult to convince some of the local magistrates of the provinces why the precautions were necessary, "he admitted.
"You are the Fire Lord, they should not need to be convinced if it is an order that comes directly from you," Zeta insisted.
"Perhaps. That is a ruling style that has been used before, but not a preferred one by many Zeta. The people are fearful Zeta, even leaders. They feel that having a military presence will cause the rebels to strike out more openly and maybe take their lives."
"Cowards!" Zeta coughed into her napkin and then glanced at Zuko and saw how he was giving her the side ways glance which meant he was amused.
"Zeta there is nothing wrong with a man trying to protect his family," Iroh said gently nodding.
"Anyway Zeta it doesn't matter the troops are being deployed tomorrow to go reside there. Hope this plan works," the Fire Lord muttered.
"It is a well thought out plan Fire Lord Zuko, it will work those scoundrels will show themselves," Iroh explained. Iroh had been a great general and knew many strategies. Iroh's response seemed to satisfy the troubled monarch for a moment he still let his fingers run through his hair as thoughts raced through his mind. He knew that he would have to make a speech about the matter to publically address his nation on all the things that were occurring. He also had to go visit with council of 5 in the Earth Kingdom apparently some attacks being linked back to the Fire Nation had taken place in some of the small cities.
Zuko twirled his chopsticks in his rice, finally he looked up shaking himself from the thoughts which were so worrisome. "How was school today Zeta?" he asked as he tried to fake a smile.
"It was ok?" she shrugged.
"What did you learn?"
"Nothing new," she reported broadly,
Fire Lord Zuko raised his eyebrow with discontent, "That is the finest school in the nation and you mean to tell me they teach you nothing?"
"It's not that they teach nothing papa..."
"Well then..."
Zeta thought quickly. What had happened today in her lessons? She was more so focused on gathering gossip about Kenai's party she hadn't really paid that much attention to the instructors. "Well I suppose I did learn a new classical piece in music." Zeta said as her hand touched her chin with thought.
"What song Zeta?" asked her uncle. Iroh was a great music lover. Though he hadn't a voice he was a fairly good horn player.
"Oh Sun Solstice!" she exclaimed and began to hum the tune.
"Oh that sounds so pretty and very familiar," said Iroh. "Ah yes, now I remember one of the early court composers wrote that as a tribute to the birth of Fire Lord Tzu."
"You should practice Zeta. It would be a lovely song for you to play sometime for our guest," stated her father. Zeta had taken harp lessons for years and she was talented. Usually she would play a piece to honor her father at his birthday celebration or to honor some foreign dignitary.
"Yes father."
"It would also be nice if you could lead the national orchestra in it during the Summer Solstice Festival," he explained
"Lead the National Orchestra? How could I? Our court composer master Fuzhou always does so?"
"I'm sure he'd be honored to have you conduct by his side Zeta," explained her father. "Besides," the Fire Lord went on, "Don't you and your friends have a band, which you are always trying to get recognition for?"
"Yes be we are not classical musicians," Zeta said with repulsion. Classical music was fine and dandy in its place...court, but it had no place in the average lives of free spirited teenage girls.
"Well I think becoming so would great help improve your chances of success. Classical music has lasting value Zeta, much more so than the music you want to play," The Fire said briefly.
"Our band is improving," Zeta pointed out.
"I'm sure it is, but classical music would be a bigger improvement still," Zuko said ever so calmly as a servant girl whisked a plate from under his nose.
Iroh decided to switch the subject, "what else happened in school today Zeta darling? Perhaps something more exciting than even a piece of classical music?" he inched up his thick gray eyebrows.
"Well actually Uncle something exciting is getting ready to happen..." Zeta said excitedly. "See there is this party coming up... for Kenai..."
"Kenai. He's a respectable young man?" mentioned her father as his mind now raced to think of the different males in Zeta's age category that he knew. He knew quite a few. Many were the sons of Nobles and generals. They often came to court with their parents.
"Yeah, well" Zeta continued almost thinking she might loose her nerve to ask her father if she could go to the party.
"How do you feel about him Zeta?" asked the Fire Lord with a serious sort of curious glint in his eye.
"He's handsome father," Zeta mused.
"He's a good bender as well and has an impressive military lineage," Zuko pointed out as he scratched his chin. "His father was telling me that he's think of naming Kenai as general after her retires."
"What are you trying to suggest, Papa?" asked Zeta playfully. It wasn't that Zeta hated Kenai, his looks were very pleasing, and He had a strong muscular body. Just the right amount of facial hair to show that he was coming into his manhood and a dazzling smile. But she didn't know him. He hardly ever talked to at school or when they ran into each other in the city. He was polite, formal, kissed her hand, but never really engaged with her as a human being. In court he would take with her a little bit more. They'd dance together once or twice. He'd compliment her, but he had seen the way he flirted with any girl who caught his eye. She supposed she could live with him if need be. If that was what it took to keep her claim to the throne than she would marry him. She had often dreamed of a life full of romance like her parents had shared. Though she was starting to doubt she would find such.
"Only that he's a respectable young man and apparently often mentions you," Zuko said with a wink.
Zeta reared back a little bit surprised that her father would be alright with her name being mentioned on the lips of a young man. "He rarely approaches me," Zeta said more to herself than her father.
"Well perhaps he's shy," The Fire Lord suggested.
"Kenai is everything, but shy. He's quite a braggart. And he's a flirt. He has a new girlfriend every month!"
"Well sometimes if a guy really likes a girl, he can be shyer around her. Especially a very attractive princess," her father went on.
"I don't know," Zeta said sort of blushing. If Kenai did really like her that would be a cool thing. He was popular, strong and excellent bender.
"Anyway Zeta, what about Kenai?" asked her uncle Iroh.
"Well he's having a party." she began to explain.
"A party?" The Fire Lord raised his one eyebrow and seemed to tense at the mention of the word.
"Yeah his birthday is coming up soon. He'll be turning 18 and I'm sure it's going to be a big to do," Zeta tried to explain remaining calm.
"When is this party, Zeta?" asked Iroh.
"In 2 weeks."
"Who's going to be there?" Zuko asked as he finished up with dessert.
"Who isn't going to be there?" Zeta exclaimed. "Everybody from school will be there! I've heard kids from other schools are planning on coming too. Most of them will probably have to sneak in of course."
"Sounds like a rave," Zuko said bitterly. He closed his eyes and breathed for a moment leaning back in his chair.
"No, no, No it's not a rave... it's a masquerade ball!" Zeta urged. "That's the furthest thing from a rave," she flagged off her father's concern.
"Oh that sounds nice," Uncle Iroh stated. "I threw a masquerade ball for my 18th birthday too, oh but that was many years ago. I practically invited the whole kingdom. Even peasants. The palace was alive that night. I met my wife their," Iroh explained as he nudge Zeta with his elbow. She giggled.
"Yes it's very traditional for a masquerade ball to be given for the 18th birthday," Zuko giving his uncle a suspicious look.
Zeta could see that there was no beating around the bush. She was just going to have to come out and pop the question, "Well, Papa I was wondering... if I could go?" Zeta held her breath after asking. She was preparing for a lecture.
"In two weeks you say," The Fire Lord muttered. He actually looked thoughtful. He looked like he was really weighing the pros and cons in his mind. Zeta crossed her fingers behind her back. She knew her father hadn't had much of a childhood, but even in the back of his mind he had to have a glimmer of the concept of the social complexity that made up high school. He scratched his thin chin that had a slight goatee. "I will be away that weekend. I have a very important meeting with the Council of Five in Ba Sing Se."
"Uncle will be here!" Zeta pointed out quickly linking arms with the pudgy, older firebender by her side. This time it was her turn to nudge. She quickly and painfully nudged him in the ribs.
"Uh... uh yes I will be here. I'm getting a bit too old for all this wild travel you know." he slightly chuckled while he rubbed his now sore side. Zeta thin little elbow backed a punch.
"Even so Zeta I don't feel comfortable with..." The Fire Lord was rudely interrupted b his enthusiastic teenage daughter.
"How can you not feel comfortable? It's not like the party is going to be here, at the palace!" she protested her thin slightly tanned arms waving back and forth frantically as she tried to persuade the most powerful man she knew.
I'm quite sure of that," Zuko said with his face unflinching as he watched his daughters display. He merely crossed his arms and leaned back.
"Well then what's the problem?" she demanded loudly.
"Mind your tone, young lady," the king corrected. "Kenai's father will be accompanying me to the Earth Kingdom, therefore this party will have no supervision. That's the problem."
"Father this a party for a young man turning into an adult, he doesn't need his parents there," Zeta tried to explain. Zuko wasn't buying it. His severely burned left eye twitched with annoyance that his daughter could possibly off that excuse. Zeta backpedal and smiled winningly at her dad, "I'm sure Kenai has servants that his parents trust to watch over the place!" Zeta insisted. She knew it wasn't a convincing argument. Most rich people were very rude to their servants and no servant would ever think of bossing or disciplining a child of their lord or lady without direct permission, especially one of Kenai's age. He was practically a man. After his birthday he would be. "Well Maybe his mother will be there!" Zeta thought better and raised her finger with triumph convinced that should satisfy her father.
" She always accompanies her husband," Zuko shuck his head. "Try again," he insisted patronizingly as he flipped his wrist coaxing her to go on. He had a smug grin on his face that drove the princess crazy.
She went on. "Well Kenai has older brothers maybe they will be there." She leaned over onto the table as if challenging her father.
"Where is the party going to be Zeta?" asked the monarch as he chuckled. He had to admire his daughter's persistence. It was one of the things that reminded him of her mother. So feisty and never backing down no matter whom it was that tried to stop her.
Zeta's golden eyes lit up bright as the sun. A smile was on her face almost as big as her eyes. She couldn't believe that she was this close to having her father say yes to the party. "Ember Island!" she announced recklessly. She had been so quick with the mouth, she hadn't thought what she had just announced through thoroughly.
The Fire Lord choked on the last bit of his tea. "Ember Island!" he coughed out. Zuko banged on his chest trying to get the particles that strangled him out of his throat.
Zeta looked nervous as she watched her father turn red. "Papa take it easy," she whispered
"Zeta what on Earth are you thinking? You think I'm just going to let you go to some far away island and party?"
"Far away island? Father it's a place we go all the time." Zeta tried to laugh off her father's statement with logic.
"You know what I mean Zeta!" Zuko said angrily lowering his one eyebrow and glaring at her. His ears had steam coming out of them. "The answer is no," he said flatly.
"No? No. NOOO!" Zeta screamed and stood up slamming her flat palms down on the table. "How can you say no?" she demanded.
"Just as simply as you can my little sun blossom," Zuko said also rising to his feet and mimicking the gestures of he and Katara's daughter.
"But it's not fair! It"s not fair at all! Why can't I go to Ember Island for one night. School is nearly over?" Zeta whined.
"Ember Island is too far away. It's at least a day's travel if not more to get to the island from the mainland, here. Besides you're too young to just go gallivanting off where ever you please, Zeta!" her father expressed.
"You and mom used to travel all over the world and I can't go to Ember Island for one night?" Zeta was furious. Her father never let her do anything.
"I can't believe you would bring that up," Zuko rubbed his hand along the side of his head. "Zeta that was completely different. That wasn't pleasure," Zuko began to explain.
"We have a home on Ember Island." Zeta shot back without letting her father finish his statement. "I could just be there for one night. It's not like I'd be a lone. My friends would be there. Uma and Suzuki are going too."
"Uma and Suzuki are not exactly what I think of as responsible chaperones."
"Well then Uncle could go." Zeta said as she threw a thumb in her uncle's direction. Then crossed her arms and squinted her eyes. Her gold pupils matched that of her father as she gave him a stare down. They were both stubborn as mules and could argue points till dawn if push came to shove.
"Zeta," Fire Lord Zuko's voice was a low rumble of annoyance and anger by this point. "Did you not hear your uncle just say that he does not feel up to traveling?" Zuko asked horrified by his daughter=s selfishness.
"I... I...I" Zeta began. Her Uncle had just mentioned something about his tired bones and long distances. This was a new development. Her Uncle Iroh was always bragging about how he was healthy as an ostrich-horse, but the past couple of months had started to show the weariness of his age. He didn't practice his bending for long hours anymore. He went to bed earlier and slept more often during the day. She noticed that he had been drinking more herbal teas and taking other medications prescribed by the palace physician. She had even heard him mention pain to a servant once, though he'd never admit that to her or the Fire Lord.
"You think your Uncle is just here to help further your causes?" Zuko demanded. Now he was angry as he pointed a ringed finger in his daughter's face.
"I didn't mean it that way!" Zeta cried as she looked back at her elderly uncle. To some degree she had always considered Iroh to be as young as Aang or Sokka, her other uncles. They were always getting her out of trouble mostly because they were helping her get into trouble. Aang had often helped her and Otka steal desserts from the kitchen before dinner. Sokka would teach her tricks to play n her mother and father that would really get their goat. And when her parents said no Uncle Iroh always said yes. Once her elderly uncle had been a great general, he was crown prince of the Fire Nation at one point. He had traveled the world and back several times with her father. He was worn by years of fighting physically, but his spirits were strong. He had always been such a focal point for her family that she forgot that he was an aged man. She forgot his frailty. She guessed often time her father did too. He depended heavily on his uncle for advice. Maybe her father didn't forget about Iroh's age, maybe it was just too painful for him to really face it. "I'm sorry, Uncle," she said sincerely. She turned to him and bowed apologetically. "It was not right of me to just volunteer your services or your presence."
"It is okay Zeta, really," the elderly man came up to here an wrapped his thick warm arm around her shoulder. "I wouldn't mind accompanying you and your friends to Ember Island. Ember Island is not nearly as far as the Earth Kingdom and I could spend some time on the beach, he mused pleased as his mind filled with the thought of pleasant figured females parading themselves about.
"No Uncle! Zuko declared. "Zeta doesn't need to go to this party that desperately. Do you Zeta," Zuko questioned harshly. He gave the young princess a stern look o disapproval that forced her to hang her head and overt her eyes, but she didn't answer the question. The young monarch went on after giving n exasperated sigh. "You've expressed your weariness time and time again. You should stay home and rest." Zuko made that clear as his hand came in front of him and made a karate chop motion through the air.
"Even if Uncle doesn't come I could go and stay one night by myself in our summer mansion," The young princess tried to reason with the Fire Lord.
"No," Zuko replied tiredly.
"You can't just say no, Papa, you have to have a reason," Zeta insisted.
Zuko's good eye narrowed as he looked back at the defiant child that he and Katara had together 16 years ago. "I have my reasons Zeta," was his response.
This infuriated Zeta, "Well what are they?" she demanded.
"Young lady you will speak to me with respect," the Fire Lord thundered.
Princess Zeta exhaled, she was feeling her temperature rise as he frustration with her father grew. "Sorry," she spat out, crossed her arms and sat back she had her head glancing down as she mumbled something under her breath.
"Zeta this is no time for you and your friends to be traveling alone. You know what dangerous times these are," Fire Lord Zuko explained with exasperation.
"I know Father, but there haven't been any attacks on Ember Island yet and you just posted a military outfit there. It's perfectly safe. It's just one night. We'll go and come straight back in the morning," She pleaded and batted her big gold eyes. Zuko's stomach contorted. Though her yes were his in color they had the shape of her mother's. They were wide and innocent looking. She could make them big as saucers and his heart would melt every time.
"Zeta I don't feel comfortable with you staying alone at the mansion. It would be the perfect target for an attack," Zuko sighed.
"What about Lo and La?" Zeta thought quickly. She was gaining ground. Now that she knew her father was simply concerned about her safety she could find some loophole to weasel her way to the party.
Zuko looked at her with confusion. "What about them?" he asked as he started to sip on the after dinner ginseng tea. Technically speaking the women were her godmothers. They were the two wise women of the nation. Amazingly they were still alive and they were every bit 100 years old if not older, but the women still seemed wise and healthy and resided in the city but as the summer months approached it was well known by all that the ancient twins went to Ember Island. The two old crones had been present during her birth as they had been for all the royal children for the past 70 years. They performed her cleansing rituals and took her to the temple to be dedicated by the Fire Sages. They had been her mother's advisers at one point. They often checked on Zeta's progress as a bender and even tried to tutor her. They lead merely by instruction for she had never actually seen them bend though apparently they were very powerful benders. Even her Uncle Iroh couldn't recall having ever seen the ancient female masters manipulate the element. Every so often they would call on Zeta to have tea with them. It was not a time that she looked forward to they were wrinkled, harsh and they smelt of prunes, but they had a sweetness in away. They were by no way her first choices, but if they could get her to that party then so be it.
"Well couldn't Uma, Suzuki and I stay with them?"
"Zeta that is extremely inconsiderate to barge in on those two women. They deal with extremely important affairs." Zuko reminded her.
"It wouldn't be barging. We could send word to them. I'm sure they wouldn't mind," the young Fire Nation princess shrugged.
"You don't know that they will be on Ember Island during that time," Zuko pointed out.
"If you request them to come then they will have to oblige you father," Zeta reasoned.
"Zeta I will not command Lo and La to change their plans merely so you can attend a social function. That is absurd." Zuko shuck his head and almost started to laugh at the ridiculousness of his daughter's proposal.
"But you said that one time your father sent you to Ember Island with them," Zeta pointed out. Zuko rubbed his forehead sometimes he regretted how many stories about his childhood her had shared with his only child.
"Zeta my father sent me away because he had things that he didn't want me to know about. He was keeping secrets and he wanted me out. Don't you see how that is different?"
"I do see how it's different, but the point is that Lo and La obeyed a royal decree and they'll do it again."
"No," Zuko shuck his head.
"Why? What if they are willing?"
"Do you think that Lo and La have nothing better to do than babysit you while you and your friends have a party weekend?" asked the king almost beside himself with fury and Zeta's juvenile wants.
"They live on the island. They don't have to do anything, but allow us to stay in their house. I'm sure they wouldn't have a problem with that… after all I a their princess." Zeta said smugly flashing a lovely smile in the direction of her uncle.
"Enough!" Zuko shouted his fist trembling as a small fire which he was trying hard to control glowed from the cracks in between his fingers. "Enough," he repeated with more control. "If that is how you intend to use your authority as a princess than you will not use it at all. Those are two revered and honored women of our nation. They were the ones who dedicated you at the Fire Temple, they have been your teachers for years and yet you would show them such disrespect as to command them about like bobbles! That is shameful Zeta! I will not tolerate one more moment of this foolishness!" the Fire Lord pointed his scolding hot finger in her face and flames sputtered, narrowly missing Zeta=s nose.
"Well can't I just take some guards with me or something!" Zeta yelled exasperatedly and she threw her hands up in the air in wild exaggerated movements. The Fire Lord's face remained unchanging as stone. Though she saw sparks flying from her father's pointer finger she remained firm in her stance. She even stiffened in her position showing she would not back down. "It's not foolishness!" She shouted back over her father's voice. She couldn't believe she had shouted so loud that she had almost dwarfed the voice of the Fire Lord, The Sovereign of the Nation that she thought was the greatest in the world, her father. "It's... it's... it's important to me," she said trying to subdue her tone.
Her father's face only looked appalled. "Why!" he demanded.
"Because... because... Oh just because!" she screamed trying to get him to understand.
"Is that all the better you can do! Because… because… because! You sound like a two year old and that is exactly why you're not going. Obviously Zeta you are not mature enough for this little venture."
"Papa please it's the biggest party of the year I have to be there! What will it look like if I'm not? And besides if I don't go then Uma and Suzuki won't go!"
"That is not my problem or my concern Zeta. Perhaps I should just tell Kenai not to have the party after all," Zuko suggested
"What? You can't do that!" Zeta yelled
"I'm the Fire Lord I can do whatever I want remember!" explained Zuko as he imitated his daughter he spread his arms out wide before him and rolled his neck. "And if you raise your voice at me one more time so help me I will lock you in this palace for the remainder of your days!" The Fire Lord thunder as flames exploded across the room. Zeta shrunk back in the presence of such tremendous fire.
Iroh looked around nervously. "We all just need to calm down," he tried to mediate between the two opposing forces in the room. Servants were starting to stare.
"Stay out of this, Uncle!" Zuko growled and even the wise old Dragon of the West had to back off when the Fire Lord snarled. "Zeta did you hear and do you understand what I said?" he demanded his breathing so heavy.
Zeta had been staring at the floor as she watched the flames around her. She slowly allowed her head to lift and her eyes were filled with tears, "Oh yes father I understand," she said her voice low and hollow. "I understand that you want to keep me from everything. From adventures! From firebending!"
"Zeta," he warned
"From becoming a Yu Yan…"
"Enough, Zeta!" the Fire Lord yelled once more.
"Well you won't keep me from everything I want father! Not always... not forever!" she shot back. Her eyes narrowed and looked as if she was shooting dangers from them right then and there.
"Zeta go to your room this instant!" Zuko ordered.
"I am Princess Zeta this nation is mine! And I will go where I please!" she explained as if making a speech. She didn't continue she turned on her heels and left her bravado was already fading. She headed to her room.
Zuko' s hand was strongly pointed as he demanded for his daughter to get out of his presence. When Zeta was far enough down the corridor where he could no longer see her wavy black hair swinging over her red garments the fire Lord wearily fell back into the chair he had been sitting in. He fell back almost like he had fainted, his body was slack with complete exasperation. His hand even felt heavy as he dragged it across his face rubbing his eyeballs.
"Well, that did not go well," Iroh came and said gently as he stood by his nephew's side. He patted the Fire Lord on the shoulder thinking that it would be a comfort to him, but Zuko quickly pulled his shoulder away from Iroh's grip and swung his head around staring at Iroh with a hard look. "Zeta is just young my nephew. Young and rebellious. She didn't mean it," he said as he tucked his hand in the opposite sleeves of his elegant royal robes and gave a slight nod of the head. He stood back looking serene as if he had said some unchanging wisdom. He looked so smug and at peace. He was too serene for Zuko's taste. The young Fire Lord got up quickly and kicked the chair to the wall with fire erupting from his foot. Iroh was a bit startled by the action, but tried not to show it . He merely raised his thick, wooly, white eyebrows as he watched the display. The Fire Lord panted furiously as he looked over at the chair that now lay overturned in a corner flames flickering from the cushion. He grunted. Even after the outburst his anger was unappeased. "Zuko I know you are upset..." Iroh began to say but he was cut off by the explosive and almost inhuman sounding growl that came from The Fire Lord.
"Just let me be uncle," the young king muttered bitterly as he stomped out the dinning hall.