Disclaimer: As per previous chapters.
A/N: Avatar1294: Kala was reincarnated into Baojia, a few cycles later Kizu was born, and then another cycle later Anuhya. And dozens of cycle later, Aang, then Korra, and then 2 more Avatars from Fire and Earth, Shey pön is born. The avatar in this chapter was born before Anuhya.
Tw: death, murder, infanticide.
The woman glanced at the child from across the room, unwilling to go near it, lest her heart crumble under the weight of the feelings that a mother ought to have for their child.
The midwife who had helped her through the birth had left, for just a second to fetch some water to sooth the new mother who had pleaded exhaustion. But when the midwife had left, the room was suddenly too quiet, and the only minutes old child demanded to be looked at. The unwanted child. The child who told of her sins and the things best left untold.
The child that must be killed to protect them all.
"Kaido," The midwife smiled sweetly as she returned so quickly; a jug of fresh water in her hands, "Do you have the strength to drink?"
The woman frowned, lying on her side as she swept the brown hair from her face, back up into the elaborate bun she had worn since she had been a child. Her blue eyes, half hidden by her lids and lashes must have given away her thoughts, for the old woman bristled and walked closer, placing the jug down on a table and frowned.
"If you don't drink, then your milk will dry," The midwife spoke softly, but calmly, "The babe will need to be fed soon. Drink."
The midwife uttered the last word as she held out a cup filled with water; urging the young mother to take te cup with her hands, and fill her dry mouth. The woman ignored the cup held to her, and rolled in her bed, until she could no longer see the child in her sight.
"Take it away."
The midwife paused, hesitating as she tried to find her voice.
"You don't mean that Kaiko- just look at him; he's such a strong, perfect boy." The midwife coaxed gently, walking around the bed to face the woman, "Would you like to hold him?"
"TAKE IT AWAY!" The woman snapped again; her words were clipped by a sharp sob that sent the midwife reeling, "TAKE IT AWAY!"
"Miss Kaiko-" The midwife stopped, as the sound of a gentle knock was audible at the door; the midwife sighed as she caught sight of an imposing, adorned man, "Firelord Ryuu, it is an honour to have you here."
"How is Kaiko?" His dark eyes glued on the slender figure of the woman with a strange glance, limply he handed a single white rose towards the midwife, who brightened at this display of affection and colour. The midwife had certainly heard that this was the babe's father, though she hadn't expected the rather informal use of the woman's name.
The Firelord's secret loves were rumored of, but never had she suspected that she'd meet one, or even be the one who would help birth a child of royalty. Even if the child would never have a claim to the throne.
The rose was quickly placed in the jug she had previously drawn water from, through the cup in her hands trembled at the sight of the powerful man, filling up the room with his overbearing presence.
Still, she composed her features- being someone used to powerful men over seeing the birth of their young, and let the words free from her mouth.
"She is recovering," The midwife carefully worded; watching the man's face, as his features relaxed into a relieved and relaxed mask, "But...I worry for her. The nature of motherhood does not come freely to her troubled mind."
The dark haired man stood primly, his eyes never moving and his face contorted into an unnatural way of neutrality.
"How is the babe?" The Firelord wasted no time, his eyes looked around until they focused on the small bundle of cloth, and the pink face that peering back at him.
"The boy is well."
"A boy..." Firelord Ryuu exhaled gently; an unusual shade crossed his sharp features. The look of a new father, utterly confused as to the way the world had just shifted around him, yet a sharpness hit his jaw, and he clenched unflinchingly.
"May I ask what the boy is to be called?"
"Tatsu-no-otoshigo!" The woman howled from behind her blankets, "Take it away!"
"Miss Kaido, Please just take a drink" The midwife stepped forward, holding it close to the woman's face, "Please-"
The woman let out a scream out fury, jerking her arm in the same instance as the water jeered up from the cup and went flying through the air, until it hit the stone wall with a sharp noise. The woman sobbed, as the midwife grew pale.
"Please leave the room," The Firelord grew grave; his dark eyes found the soul of the midwife and commanded her will, "Leave this place and tell no one of what has happened here. The child died in birth."
The midwife's eyes flashed towards the peaceful boy in horror; his life had only just began less than an hour ago, and yet...
"Let me take him with me," She pleaded, "I'll take him far away and tell him he is my son. You need never see him again!"
"The child died in childbirth." The Firelord repeated, with an edge to his voice that she didn't dare think of.
Mutely nodding, the midwife cast one more glance towards the peaceful child, and followed the directions of the new father and Lord of the Fire Nation. As she left, her mouth moved to pray for the child, and the spirits who would care for him, for the deed that was to be done.
"I cannot leave my palace." The Firelord quietly muttered. He turned, and moved towards the cradle, where he picked up the child roughly and left the child on the bed beside the new mother. His dark eyes narrowed in on the woman, who mutely nodded.
A broken woman. A woman with nothing else to lose.
A woman who couldn't risk anything else.
"I'll take my leave." He turned and was out the door before she could find her voice to cry out.
The child had the same black hair as he; the same palor, and the same features. Even if she were to return to her home, the water tribe would certainly know that he wasn't just of water tribe stock. And if he bent the fire, then the truth could have her killed.
Sobbing the woman sat; shakily raising her hand to collect the splattered water that sat on the floor in splattered droplets. The water rose, and swirled around her comfortingly.
If the element of his father, of fire had claimed his life, then the element of his mother, of water would take him back.
But as the water followed her command, and filled his tiny lungs, the mother swore she could see a soft glow from under his lidded eyes.
But just as quickly as it had come, it vanished once again.
The idea was spawned from a simple concept; "Inter-bending-al" relationships were pretty much unheard of pre-Republic city. I think the societal "rules" would have crushed any, especially for an unmarried water-tribe lover of a Firelord.
Second; this avatar did not die in the avatar state- instead, the child instinctively tried to save its life, but because it was so young, and so weak, no energy existed to let this happen.
Thus why the Firelord sends white roses to Anuhya every birthday.
Kaiko means "sea", while Firelord "Ryuu" means Dragon.
"Tatsu-no-otoshigo" Literally means "illegitimate child of a dragon", but is also the word for "Sea Horse".
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