Day 2: Motherhood
Genres: Family/Drama
Rating: K
Setting: Fire Nation Royal Palace
The sound of shattering glass broke Azula's concentration. So much for breathing exercises. Ever since the kids had entered her life, getting even a half hour of tranquility was a gift. Nevertheless, her children were her little treasures, and with her husband, Sokka, away at a council meeting, she was left alone to deal with their shenanigans.
She walked into her son's room to find the young firebender creating a makeshift home for his pet firefly-fish. Servants were already scurrying to pick up broken glass from the soaked carpet. The perks of being royalty.
"She tired to murder my fish!" Koda cried, pointing at his little sister.
"I did not!" Arika insisted.
"Okay, okay." Azula took a deep breath. "What happened?"
"We were fighting and his fish bowl toppled over and broke," the non-bender started, "but I didn't do it!"
"Yes she did!"
"I wasn't even near it!"
"Then a ghost must have done it," the boy groaned sardonically.
"You've got to believe me, momma!" Arika looked up at her with wide, pleading blue eyes.
"I want to, sweetheart, but…" Azula sighed. "You were pretty jealous when your father and I agreed that Koda was old enough to have a pet – "
"Yes but – "
"And fish bowls don't just move on their own…"
"YOU ALWAYS TAKE HIS SIDE!" she shrieked.
That stung. "No honey, that's not – "
"IT'S BECAUSE HE'S A FIREBENDER, ISN'T IT?!" She clenched her hands into tiny, furious fists.
Suddenly, the water on the carpet turned to ice.
Koda's mouth dropped.
Azula froze. A waterbender! Her daughter was a waterbender!
"I…" Arika's eyes filled with tears. "I didn't know… I didn't mean to – "
Azula threw her arms around her daughter and hugged her tightly. "I know, sweet girl." She stroked her back. "I know."