The Legend of Zuko
Chapter 2
Shrugging out of my training vest, I grabbed a towel from the edge of the sparring ring to wipe the sweat from the back of my neck. Ronan stood off to the side looking fairly pleased with himself, after a successful training session. For a ten year old, he would definitely qualify as a firebending prodigy, much like my sister.
"Ronan, I want you to spar with Nya now" I said gesturing for her to step forward into the sparring ring. Nya, being a miniature version of her mother, stepped onto the mat cracking her knuckles loudly. Without warning, she bent a large column of rock in Ronan's direction. In that instant, Ronan sent a blast of fire shattering the column, and following it with an attack of his own.
"Good morning, Lord Sparks" I heard my idiot brother-in-law call as he approached my on the edge of the ring.
"Hello Sokka" I said acknowledging his presents, trying to focus on the sparring match before me. "How's Koda's hand to hand combat coming?"
"Good, Today we're working with Boomerangs!" He answered sounding much more excited than any grown man should be about a boomerang.
"Ronan, do not attack when your opponent's back is turned, that 's the cowards way to fight," I corrected crossing my arms, and watching intently as Ronan pinned Nya to the dirt. This was short lived as Nya flipped my son and encased his wrists and ankles in stone leaving him struggling to get out of his binds.
"Very good Nya" I called and looked to my son"Ronan this is a chance for you to see how quickly you can break the hold of an earth bender."
Blowing steam into the binding on his wrist, he lubricated it enough to slip his wrist out and did the same for his other wrist. Sitting up, e bent fire to heat the delicate stone encasing his ankles and easily cracked them to escape.
"Very good, that is enough for today you should go shower off and meet us in the dinning room for your sisters tea party." I called to Ronan, earning an eye roll and muffled response.
"Dad!" I heard Koda shout behind me and turned just in time to see Sokka's boomerang collide with his head and rendering him unconscious. Looking down at his unconscious form Koda and I just shook our heads at the ridiculous man. I instructed Koda to keep an eye on his father, knowing it wouldn't take very long for the lug to awaken.
Entering the dinning hall, I noticed Katara, Toph, and Suki already seated at the large dinner table. My younger nieces all sat at the other side of the table, munching on scones and fruit tarts.
"Daddy" Kya called from where she stood serving scones to her mother. My six year old waterbender set down the serving tray, to come over and grab my larger hand in her smaller one. She led me to the head of the table to sit beside her mother. Katara reached over and took hold of my hand. I turned to her and gave her one of my rare genuine smiles, which she returned brightly before looking at little Ursa who was clumsily pouring tea into my tea cup.
"How was sparring today?" Katara asked, once she saw our daughter put the tea pot safely back onto the table.
"I went very well, at least until your brother knocked himself unconscious with his boomerang" I informed her with an eye roll. Katara could only chuckle and shake her head at just imagining her brother being knocked out by his beloved boomerang.
"Not again" Suki said rising from her chair and exiting the room to find her husband.
"Sparky, did Nya whoop Ronan's butt?" Toph asked with a smirk already knowing her daughter won the match today.
"Yes she did Toph, and how is that little airbender cooking in there?" I asked gesturing to the swell in her abdomen.
"He's riding on an air scooter as we speak" She answered affectionately rubbing her belly, who knew the blind bandit could look so motherly.
"Uncle Aang!" I heard Ursa yell with a mouth full of fruit tart, earning her a pointed look from her mother. Swallowing quickly to appease her mother, She called "Come have tea with us"
Kya patted the seat beside her, earning her a warm smile from the air monk.
"Where are the rest of the kids?" He asked taking his seat beside Kya. His orange and yellow robes billowing out around him. Ursa, with the tea pot in hand, clumsily poured a cup of tea for her 'Uncle' as Kya stacked his plate with fruit tarts.
"I sent them to their rooms to wash up before joining us" I informed him, "and Sokka is probably still unconscious in the training ring"
With a playful chuckle, Aang shook his bald head before lifting his tea cup to his lips. "Oh, did you get my message yesterday?"
"Yes, and don't worry I completely understand. You can just come when we return for Ursa's visit" I answered calmly, earning me a curious look from both of our wives.
"And what will twinkle toes be missing out on?" Toph questioned tilting her head.
"Well, Aang was supposed to join Ronan, and I on a visit to the sun warrior village next week, but he wants to be with you as you near the end of your pregnancy." I explained
"Twinkle toes, you should go you know I'll be fine" She said sternly, not wanting to seem weaker in her pregnant state.
"Sweetie, the doctor said you could have the baby anytime, and I will not miss this delivery." He said then mumbled under his breath, "like last time."
Missing Nya's birth weighed heavily on the Avatar and he spent everyday catering to his daughter just to make it up to her. "Any way Toph, I'm sure Ronan would love to have his dad all to himself on their trip." Katara said putting her tan hand over mine. Lifting our conjoined hands I placed a small kiss on her knuckle before lifting my tea cup to my lips, just as Nya and Ronan stumbled into the room. Kya and Ursa already had two seats pulled out with hot cups of tea waiting for them.
"Ronan" I called drawing his attention, "How would you feel if you and I went on a trip next week?"
I could already see the curiosity in his golden stare, "Really?"
"You bet" I said with a smirk
"But what about my tutors or my fire bending training" He asked looking from me to his mother waiting for the other shoe to drop.
"No tutors, and you will be learning plenty of new firebending forms while we are away, some very old ones in fact" I said raising my cup to my mouth again to hide my smirk. I watch as the wheels in his young mind turned over my words, until finally something clicked and the excitement ignited in his eyes.
"No way!" his golden eyes wide, and he grinned from ear to ear, "are we going to the sun warrior village, like you and Uncle Aang did?"
"Yes, we are son" I said mirroring his enthusiasm.
Jumping out of his seat quickly he shouted over his shoulder, "I'm going to pack" running from the room. Katara could only shake her head, missing her opportunity to reprimand our son's very haste retreat from the room. Both of my daughters had their hands on their hips glaring in the direction their brother just ran.
"Girls" I said calling their attention to me, "You won't be angry if Ro and I go on a trip alone will you?" I asked not wanting favoritism to ruin my children's' lives much like it did mine.
"No Daddy" Kya said innocently, giving me a sweet little smile.
"While you guys are away, we get to spend alone time with Mommy" Ursa said with a leap of excitement, getting what they wanted normally was much easier with their mother than me.
Smiling warmly at the girls, Katara added, "remember girls, Daddy owes you each a field trip too after he gets back"
Giving a sarcastic laugh, Toph was quick to add, "A field trip with Zuko, not so much fun I recall"
"Haha Toph, very funny" I returned with my own sarcasm, "But if I remember correctly you can thank your husband for that poor excuse of a field trip, he was the one who vanished the day before he faced my father.
"Hey, don't blame me because your boring" Aang said getting in on the fun.
"Girls just make sure your Dad takes you some where fun" Toph said with a typical Toph chuckle.
"Speaking of fun field trips, Toph. Where will you be taking my children this evening?" Katara asked cautiously knowing to expect anything when Auntie Toph was on babysitting duty.
Pointing a thumb in Aangs direction, Toph explained "The monk wants a quiet evening tonight so probably some board games, leechie nuts, and meditation. You know it should be a real riot."
"Hey the kids love beating me at Pai Sho" Aang argued trying to defend himself
"Don't worry kids Auntie Toph will be supplying the candy and scary stories after the monk goes to bed" Toph instructed, earning some cheering from the twins. "Meanwhile, any fun plans for this evening, sparky?"
"NO,no I do not need to hear any details about my sister's love life" Sokka shouted finally joining us followed by Suki and Koda.
"Why not Sokka? You don't want know all the ways I can make her..." I earned myself a slap in the arm from my wife at that statement, and some curious looks from my daughters. "Scream?" I concluded with a chuckle as my brother-in-law spit the fruit tart he was chewing into a napkin followed by some gagging sounds.
"DADDY!" my attention was drawn to my little Ursa who was glaring at me with her Amber eyes, "You are not supposed to hurt girls" her reprimanding me sounded far too much like Katara, and this drew a small chuckle from Katara beside me.
"I'm very sorry, Princess" I said with a funny look on my face, trying ever so hard not to chuckle myself.
"Now I apologize to Mommy" Kya chimed in, her brown eye brows knitted together in a glare and her hands on her hips.
Katara couldn't hide her laugh any longer, as it range through the dinning room along with Toph's, Aang's, and Suki's. Sokka's loud guffaw the loudest of all.
"I'm very sorry Tara, How will I ever make it up to you?" I asked grabbing my wife's hand and playing along.
"I'll lay out the terms of your punishment, later this evening sparky" She said smirking at me, her blue eyes glittering mischievously. Sokka of course was green by the end of her statement, and actually pushed his plate of pastries away from him.
"Can you two at least leave the room or wait until I'm finished eating!?" He grumble in our direction, earning a chuckle from all the adults in the room.
~~~Well here it is chapter 2, I know a little late. But hey better late then never right? Anyway shoot me some reviews! Please and thanks! Kbye