A/N:
This chapter will lead us into the Legend of Korra Era. BTW
Chapter 22:
Hearing the news of her little sister, Kya sighed to herself as she wiped her tears away and prepared herself to be around her family for the funeral procession in the South Pole. It took a lot of convincing her to go but Zuko and Uhara got through to her. She did feel horrible and grieved the loss of her younger sister but she was not ready to face her family. However, Uhara told her to do it for Mailan, not the others. So she would. She would show up to say her final goodbyes to Mailan and then leave.
"Are you ready?" Uhara asked her as he held his hand out to her as a black portal was opened.
Kya took his hand and nodded before leaving through the portal. Arriving in the South Pole with their winter fur cloaks on, the couple spotted where her family were gathered outside the home of her Uncle Sokka. The funeral would be in a few short hours as Mailan's body was being prepared for the Water Tribe funeral procession. Kya noticed right away that there were other guests present to pay their respects to her family. Some were all the way from the North Water Tribe, paying respects to the last princess of either tribes, the former Chieftain Arnook's second daughter that died at a young age just like her eldest sister. A few from the Fire Nation had seemed to come along with Zuko and of course, Phoenix Empire guests were present.
Managing to get the crowd to part ways to allow her and her husband to enter the home of her uncle, Kya saw her mother sitting in the far side of the room with a miserable look on her face as she looked as if she cried all her tears. Kya could see a void in the way her mother's eyes as she was given condolences one after another by guests she couldn't seem to be bothered to say anything to. She had seen her mother miserable plenty of times throughout her life but this was different. This was the worst she had ever seen her mother. To make matters worse, her father, she didn't even sense his presence here. Kya knew her father was probably grieving in his own way but she wished he had been here with her mother through this time. They needed each other.
"Kya."
Kya turned around to see her Grandmothers Hama and Kanna. The two women looked like they were trying to force as much of a pleasant expression as possible when greeting her but Kya wouldn't fault them.
"Hey," Kya waved her hand at them as they came over to her and Uhara.
Kanna embraced Kya and Kya returned it as her grandmother looked over her somberly. "Kya, go say something to your mother. She needs to see your face and hear your voice."
Kya sighed and glanced over at the pitiful sight that was her mother, "I will after the procession." She assured her Grandmother Kanna.
Hama looked Kya over and shook her head before looking to Katara, "I pray you never know the scorn of your child for being less than perfect."
"I don't scorn her." Kya said to her Grandmother Hama, who loved to start conflict. "I just don't know how to face her."
Rolling her eyes, "You've always been critical of your mother, Kya. Always. She's never quite been good enough for you, has she?"
Before Kya could comment, Uhara reminded them that they were at a funeral.
Hama sucked her teeth, "I always thought Zhiar was the worst of my grandkids but I see it was and has always been you, Kya."
Kya didn't react as her grandmother bumped shoulders with her and stormed off. Uhara asked if she was okay and Kya nodded.
A few hours later and the funeral procession began. Kya finally saw her father show up and he took his place at her mother's side, holding her to him with his arm around her middle as she pressed into his side. They looked equally miserable but that could be said for all the members of their family, especially Ryu. Kya was surprised to see it was Zhiar that spoke of Mailan but remembered how he was very much a big brother to Ryu and Mailan, having a closer connection with them than she did. He talked a lot about how Mailan had been one of the sweetest of all his siblings and the kindest of hearts. Zhiar spoke very fondly of their younger sister. However, when Ryu went to speak, Kya couldn't help but notice his words were far more sorrowful as if he had lost more than just his sister.
"Mailan was my best friend in all the world. Ever since my grandfather brought her from the North Pole, I knew we'd be inseparable and we were for most of our lives. She was my other half and now, I just feel empty like there'll always be this gaping hole in my heart for the rest of my life." Ryu teared up and looked over to his mother who was crying into his grandfather's robes. "I'll never have what I had with Mailan ever again and it was all my fault." His voice cracked as he choked on those last words and held his hand to his mouth as he looked away from his mother. "It's all my fault, mom! I'm sorry! I should have been faster but I wasn't! And now she's not here!"
Kya watched Zuko go to his son and pull him away, trying to comfort him as he wept for his sister, his best friend. Of course, her father spoke over Mailan and stated that she was the most like their mother out of all her children. Kya listened to her father swallow his hurt down as he recalled the day he met and adopted Mailan. How it was his love for his wife that he took the girl in but it was his love for Mailan that he raised her as his own, stating that she was his daughter no different than all his other daughters. Kya knew for a fact that he meant it. She remembered how her father spoiled Mailan rotten, she had him wrapped around her little finger.
When all the kind words were expressed about Mailan, Kya watched her parents push the boat that held Mailan's body from the snowy shore into the water of the frozen beach. They all watched as the boat made its way a little further from shore before Zhiar shot a flaming arrow at it and the boat lit with flames. It was then that her mother could hold her despair back no more and fell on her knees. Her father tried to gather her up as she screamed for her lost daughter.
Kya felt Uhara rub her shoulder as she watched her mother break down at the loss of Mailan.
"You should go speak to her." Uhara whispered.
Shaking her head, "I don't think I can. Maybe some other time." Kya whispered to Uhara.
As the guests all left the grieving parents, Kya watched Zuko pull Ryu aside and she overheard Ryu asking his father if he could come back home.
"I can't face mom." Ryu cried. "How can I face her and it's all my fault?"
Zuko held Ryu to him and rubbed his back, "It's okay, Ryu. None of this is your fault."
"I just want to go home!" Ryu wept. "I'll do anything. Just let me come home."
"You can come home, Ryu." Zuko told his son softly as held his teen son to him in the way he wished his father had when all he wanted was to return home.
As she watched Zuko take Ryu off with him to Sokka's home, Kya was about to leave also when she saw Zhiar looking at her with a cold gaze as he approached her.
"Don't leave just yet." He said. "Dad has something to tell all of us and you should be there."
Kya sighed as her breath steamed the cold air, "I'll listen through a water mirror. I should be getting back home to the kids."
"Kids?" Zhiar lifted a brow.
"Uhara and I have a daughter now and-"
"What?! You have another kid and you don't tell any of us?!" Zhiar was outraged.
Kya glanced to see a few stragglers glance their way as well as noticed their father side glance them as he finally managed to get their mother up to take her back to her brother's home.
"This really isn't the time or place, Zhiar." Uhara said as he placed his hand on Kya's shoulder to pull her away from her twin brother.
Zhiar reeled his anger in but wore an upset expression. "You clearly want no parts of this family, Kya, and that's alright. We're all just fucked up anyways but the least you can do is give a proper goodbye before you just turn your back on all of us."
Kya's face gave nothing away because there was nothing to give away. She simply turned to her husband and let him know it was time to leave. Uhara looked from his wife to her twin brother, giving him a sympathizing expression before opening a portal and leaving with Kya.
….
Ozai gazed down at his wife as she had fallen asleep in her brother's bed. He ran his hand over her side before turning to leave and heading to the living room where all the rest of his children and family members were. They were all staring at the floor, unable to look him in the eyes as they felt utter despair at the loss of Mailan. Exhaling heavily, Ozai took a seat in front of all of them to address the news he wanted to share with them.
"My twin brother, Atsou, is dead." He informed them all.
Their eyes all lifted to him and he continued.
"Old age caught up to him and the attack of the abominations he created was his last assault on us as a family." Ozai told him, hoping it would comfort them a little to know that what happened to Mailan would not happen again to any of them. "I want you all to know that after I stabilized the Phoenix Empire, that I intend to create a new form of government so that I can step down as Phoenix King."
All of them looked with wide eyes at him.
Ozai sighed, "Katara and I want to lead a life that does not make us responsible for more than the family we have. We want to solely focus on this family and ourselves. It was something we talked about almost two years ago but with Mailan's death, we intend to speed the process up a little more. We want to cherish this family more than we have now that our greatest foe is dealt with and we no longer have to fight as we have for the last thirty plus years. We are tired and we are broken." He wanted to be absolutely honest with them all. "Katara, even more than me, because she's lost so much already before Mailan and this will take her time to recover. But she has expressed that she will continue with her role in everyone's lives. I just ask that you not approach her with too heavy a topic."
As they all pondered on what Ozai was telling them, Zhiar decided to speak up.
"What about Kya? She showed up for the funeral and didn't speak to any of us." Zhiar said.
Ozai told him they would leave her be, that eventually, she would come around.
"You know she's got another kid." Zhiar told him and everyone. "A baby girl and she didn't even bother telling us."
Zuko rubbed his brow as he held one arm over Ryu's shoulders. "She and Uhara also got married while we were all dealing with the creatures. Said it was a private affair with the Totomi clan as she's no longer a Yong but a Totomi now."
Hama scoffed as she folded her arms, "She's been dying to break away from this family since she was sixteen."
Ozai sighed, "Kya, as are the rest of you, are allowed to branch away from the family if that is what you want. I will not hold ill feelings towards any of you if that is what you choose to do. Just let me know in advance so I know how to tell Katara."
No one spoke up.
"Very well." Ozai stood to his feet. "Thank you all for coming to see Mailan off. Katara will be here in the South Pole for a few months to make the memorial and place it with her parents' memorial. I'll be heading back home."
Zuko informed his father he was taking Ryu home with him and Ozai sighed as he looked at his pitiful grandson, agreeing to let him go. He placed a hand on Ryu's shoulder and told him that it was not his fault what happened to Mailan. With that, Ozai watched his son take Ryu out of the home and leave the South Pole. Kanna and Hama told him they'd be staying here as well to be with Sokka, which he saw coming. They wished him luck on the youngest children he had in his care and told him they would help Katara through her mourning before she returned home to him.
As Ursa and Iroh said their last condolences to him before leaving, Zhiar came up to his side.
"I figured the council in Republic City will have to replace me. Think you and mom could use my help more." Zhiar said.
Ozai looked to his son who had not quite measured up to him in height, "You can take over your mother's duties while she's here recovering."
Zhiar nodded.
Patting his shoulder, "Thank you, Zhiar."
"No problem."
…..
~Some Years Later~
It took a year and a half before Katara returned to the Phoenix Empire to resume her duties as Phoenix Queen. She was welcomed by her husband and Zhiar as well as the youngest of the children, Hiroshi and the triplets. It seemed the heaviest parts of the melancholy had worn off and she was able to cope a little better. Though, Ozai would still find her crying at night or pausing when she passed by the empty chambers Mailan used to live in. But the pain dulled as the years went on and while he knew that hurt was always there, Katara wasn't so affected by it with each passing year.
The two of them focused heavily on raising Hiroshi and the triplets, giving more and more authority and power to a trusted council that Zhiar oversaw. It was their way of slowly pushing for the government they felt would best serve the nation after they stepped down. This allowed them to travel as a family like they never had done before and be more hands on with each of them. It was how they had originally wanted to be with their kids.
Hiroshi was not only a human but a nonbender which was fine with Ozai as he noticed his son was very much like him and his mother. The boy wanted to build and create things. By the time he was fifteen, Ozai found the boy working on a similar blueprint to him and the two of them got to working immediately on the idea. As for the triplets, they were all doting daughters. Yukino, who had all her features of her mother, was a waterbender and siren. She was interested in healing mostly and only really cared about water instructions with her mother if it was healing related. Izumi, taking after her father, was a firebender and Phoenix. She was a bit rough around the edges and wanted to become the best firebender there was as well as learn politics in the Fire Nation as she had set her goals on becoming Fire Lord since her eldest brother, Zuko, always made it clear he didn't want to be Fire Lord anymore whenever they visited. And then there was Yumi, their hybrid dual-bender that took after both of them. She didn't want to heal or become a politician. All Yumi wanted was to be free to swim the oceans and sore in the sky. She wanted to join the nomadic air acolytes and lead a life of freedom.
Ozai and Katara were completely supportive of all their dreams and desires. Investing and helping them achieve their goals. Hiroshi was given a lab and some of the best scientists in the country to work with upon his twenty-first birthday. Ozai would periodically help in the lab with his son, giving him even more ideas to think upon. When the triplets all turned eighteen, they wanted to leave home though Katara tried convincing them to stay. Yukino went off to start studying medicine at one of the universities that opened up in Republic City. Izumi went off to the Fire Nation to learn under Zuko and become his successor as Ryu did not want to be Fire Lord. Yumi ran off with an air acolytes to join the air nomads, she married the young man in a month's time which turned out to be a wonderful wedding that the entire family attended.
In the Fire Nation, Ryu decided he wanted to work as a cook at the restaurant his Uncle Iroh opened in the Fire Nation. Apparently, he got all his cooking skills from his mother and wanted to make real use of it. He was very passionate about food in the same way Iroh was about tea and so the two decided to go into business together. It was rather funny but his parents and grandfather would come by to support him, dining on the second story balcony where they'd have his employees running and ripping to meet their needs. Honestly, he wished they wouldn't come by so regularly. His grandfather especially because he was so damn picky about everything.
As for Kya and her family, things were pleasant though she continued to keep a distance from a bulk of the family. She did eventually work her way up to seeing her parents and telling them how her life was going and how she wanted to stay out of everything to focus on her own family. Her parents accepted this but her father reminded her that if she was ever in trouble to let them help her. Kya agreed and even allowed them to see their grandkids briefly. As for being the Lady of the Totomi clan, Kya did well and was always carrying out her duties to the clan. When Lady Sho passed, it was pretty hard on her and Uhara but they remained put together for the sake of the clan, their children, and themselves.
In the South Pole, things were going pretty well for Sokka as he passed the Chieftainship onto a man from the Northern Tribe, Tonraq. Sokka wanted to focus more on living life freely and seeing the world one more time. Azula and him ended up getting together about a year after Mailan's death. The two never married but they had a child together that was a little girl named Rin. Sokka and Azula visited his sister and her father quite a bit, showing off their daughter. Katara was very happy for them as Ozai refused to admit she was a matchmaker like him. However, her brother got really sick on one of his visits and Katara treated him to the best of her ability, desperately wanting to save her brother. But it was a terminal illness, similar to the one their father had. Azula took him back home and Katara followed them in order to be with her brother in the end. Sokka made jokes the entire time and Katara laughed more than she cried. He made her promise to look after Azula and their daughter, which she planned to anyway. When he passed in his sleep, the next morning her grandmothers and Azula held a small funeral for Sokka that his other kids and Toph showed up for. Even Zuko, Aang, and Suki came. It wasn't somber like most funerals as they all recalled the funny times they had with Sokka. Katara was glad to have her friends all together to celebrate the life of her brother. Even more, it was nice to see her brother's daughters, Lin and Sue. Aang and Suki marveled at how she and Zuko were really ageless as time had passed and they looked very much in their twenties though Zuko didn't actually stop aging till he was in his early thirties.
When the funeral ended, Katara returned home with Azula and her niece. Ozai realized her brother died and was surprised she wasn't miserable like he expected. She was still very sad at her brother's death but Sokka died laughing and making her laugh. He was at peace and that's all she could have asked for him and those she loved that weren't inhuman like them.
It wasn't long before Katara and Ozai shocked the world by stepping down as monarchs, stating they did not want to rule forever but to simply live life as it was intended to be lived. Ozai had already had a mansion built not far from the city limits of Republic City for them. It was a sixteen bedroom mansion with all the amenities that they enjoyed as well as a laboratory for him to continue his inventions and open fields that were partly a garden and partly a track to test the cars he and Hiroshi were working on together.
Settling into their new home, Katara decided to get a portrait taken of the two of them with the cameras that Hiroshi invented. The two of them took a few and had them scaled large for the wall at the entrance of the mansion. Ozai even took a few naughty photos of his wife that he said was for him to look at whenever they were apart or she wasn't in the mood. Katara rolled her eyes and agreed only if he agreed to do the same. The two had pictures of their children and grandchildren taken to add to the wall, even Kya agreed to it. Aside from Azula and Rin living with them, Zhiar was the only other child that lived with them.
It was Ozai's hundredth birthday and the two were about to head out for a date in the city when Katara found her husband in the bathroom shaving his beard and cutting his hair. She gasped at this and went up to his side to look at his face.
"Ozai, what the hell have you done?" Katara looked at him in shock.
Smirking at her in the mirror as he continued getting his beard up to his chin and shaping it out a little. "We live in a new Era, Katara. We should get with the times."
Katara furrowed her brows at him, "You're having an existential crisis, Ozai, just say that."
Ozai rolled his eyes as he told her to tell him if his hair was even in the back.
"You're a century old today." Katara picked up the pair of scissors on the counter. "We've had nothing but peaceful years after Atsou died and while we've dealt with the grief around each corner, I feel as though it's still odd to be here as we are."
Ozai scoffed, "I'm sorry, dear, but I don't share your same sentiments. I find it invigorating to know time will flow and we'll not be touched by it. Just think of the world in another hundred years, Katara. It'll be magnificent."
Sighing as she evened his hair out, "Yes, I guess you're right."
"Of course, I'm right." Ozai told her.
After finishing up his hair, Katara sighed as he turned to look at him. "You look handsome but I prefer your long hair. It's why I fell in love with you."
Ozai raised a brow, "Really?"
"That and your seduction did it for me." Katara admitted seldomly. "However, I've grown to love you for other things but I'm the beginning it was the hair and your charm."
Ozai took a bit of offense to this as he didn't realize his wife fell in love with him over something so superficial.
Out on the evening in the city, Katara held to Ozai's arm as they road in the back seats of the car that's model would soon be available to the market soon next fall. Ozai had a terrible habit of showing off the flashy inventions his son and him made together. While most of everyone in Republic City used automobiles, Ozai always had the best out of everyone and Katara had begun to hear how much of a flashy person everyone thought him to be. Every time she came into the city to shop or visit a Café with one of the four kids that she still saw often, she'd hear how her husband was a show off. Hiroshi would always agree with them, causing her to laugh whenever he told her about how his father always upped the ante when building a newer model because he really just wanted it for himself.
Arriving at the building they'd be having their date, Ozai got out the car and held his hand out for Katara, helping her out before she took to his arm. The two were greeted by the staff upon entering and Ozai was congratulated on his hundredth birthday. When they reached the manned elevator, Ozai saw his wife sigh as she looked at the elevator operator and saw he looked frightened of them.
One of the things they learned after stepping down as monarchs was that the average person was afraid of them and not just because of their past as even young individuals that were born after all the chaos had stopped were afraid of them. It was hard to make acquaintances that weren't also inhumans and many still spoke to them like they were still sovereigns. Katara always tried to show herself friendly but it was still not enough to ease people into being around them. Even their children were struggling with the exception of Hiroshi and Zhiar. Hiroshi was a human as was apparent to everyone and Zhiar had a reputation for being a lady-killer, so the women adored him. But for the rest of them, people feared them. So much so that Yukino didn't tell people who her parents were if they didn't already know so she could fit in better at the hospital she worked at. She was the only one of the kids that didn't have her name or face in the spotlight. Only way to know she was related to the infamous Yong clan/family was if you saw her at the family get together. Yumi was also obscured from the public but all the air acolytes she lived amongst already knew who her parents were and none of them cared, so she didn't really feel the scrutiny like her other relatives.
As they reached the rooftop restaurant, Ozai saw his wife tip the elevator operator a few hundred bills and apologized for frightening him. He sighed at this as his wife was trying to pay people's fear away. She took back to his arm as they reached the receptionist and was identified right away, taken to their seats immediately. It was a private little room with a balcony view of the city. They had been here once before and loved it absolutely.
Ordering their drinks and food, Ozai noticed his wife looked a little glum and reached for her hand. He rubbed his thumb over to palm of her hand and looked sweetly into her eyes.
"What's wrong?" He asked her.
Katara forced a smile and shook her head, "Nothing. Today's about you. We can worry about me another day."
Ozai chuckled, "I've had a hundred birthdays already, Katara. Just tell me what's wrong."
Seeing that he really wanted to know, Katara averted her eyes and pulled her hand from his. "Please don't take offense to what I'm about to say but I am devastatingly bored."
To her surprise, Katara heard him burst into laughter before addressing her. "Of course you're bored. You don't do anything but make rounds on the kids to try to still be a part of their lives and then come home to rob our staff of their duties." Ozai took his wife's hand again and beamed at her. "Things have been peaceful and quiet for us compared to how they were through most of our lives. You were more than a mother and partner during those times. You're used to having your hands full and this idle time is too much for you. You need a purpose and something of importance to do."
Katara nodded as she was happy to know her husband understood exactly how she was feeling, "I really do."
Giving her hand a little squeeze, "That's why I think you should become the water instructor for the new Avatar."
"What?!" Katara's eyes widened at this.
Chuckling, "I learned from Iroh a few weeks ago that the White Lotus had finally found the next Avatar. It's been four years since your Air Nomad friend passed, so the girl is still very young."
"It's a girl?" Katara was surprised.
"Yes and she was born of the Northern man that succeeded your brother in chieftainship." Ozai informed her. "Her name is Korra. I think you should become her water instructor."
Slipping her hand away from his, "Ozai, I don't thi-"
"Iroh told me Zuko will be her fire instructor with Izumi taking over the throne." Ozai pointed out. "And you'd get to live in the South Pole while you train her."
Katara sighed and shook her head, "I don't think they'd want someone like me as the instructor. Besides, Sokka introduced me to Tonraq and he's not a fan of me. His father was Chieftain Hanh, who I killed when he and his brother were just small boys back at that Gala forty something years ago. I doubt he wants me near his daughter."
"Well, he doesn't have a say. The White Lotus decides and your name is already on the list for candidacy." Ozai told her.
Furrowing her brows, "How?"
"Outside of your water siren abilities, you're one of the most versatile waterbenders that exist, not to mention, you served the Avatar before her. Zuko was picked for that reason alone." Ozai told her. "I think you should sit on it, give it some more thought, and make your decision then. Like you said, you're bored and I think this is what you need."
Groaning as their food and drinks came, Katara eyed her husband like he was a meddler because it definitely felt that way. She loved that he understood her and even had a plan to cure her of her boredom but she wasn't so sure about becoming the new Avatar's instructor. Not only would she be away from him for months at a time but she had been hoping Ozai had given the idea of them having another child some more thought. He hadn't flat out said 'no' like he used to, so she figured maybe he would be willing to change his mind. However, it looked like this was his way of removing that option from the table.
Finally understanding the big picture here, Katara agreed to think things over and give him an answer at the end of the week. He figured that was perfect since he had already invited the White Lotus to their home and they would be here at the end of the week. For that, Katara refused to sleep with him that night since he already had 100 birthdays.
…
There had been nothing better for her to do at this point in her life but train the new Avatar. Katara agreed and the White Lotus and her husband were thrilled. The White Lotus were going to take her straight there but Ozai assured them he'd be the one escorting her to the South Pole. Once they were gone, Katara eyed her husband funny as he seemed all too excited about her leaving for her taste.
"You're trying to get rid of me." Katara narrowed her eyes at him.
Ozai laughed, "Dear, I just want your spirits to be lifted a little more. You've been down longer than you realize and I can't wait to see my wife back to her radiant self. So please, have fun and enjoy having something to do because me and Hiroshi will not be able to entertain you much these next few months anyways. We have this new plan to-"
"Okay, okay, I get it. You and Hiroshi will be nerding out or whatever with your mad science experiments." Katara grumbled in annoyance. "And I'll be having a 'purpose' thousands of miles away from you and the only kids I get to regularly see since the rest of them live all over the world except in the Water Tribes, which is where I'm headed."
As her husband told her he would stay in the South Pole for a week before leaving her there to begin her training of the Avatar, Katara felt a little better as he helped her pack her things. The two were getting ready to have the driver take them to Yue Bay to depart to the South Pole when Zhiar asked them why they didn't just flash travel with their abilities. Katara explained for the hundredth time that she and his father wanted to live as normal of a life as possible. Unless it was absolutely necessary, they did not want to use their inhuman powers with the exception of communicating long distance with the rest of the family.
After he called them lame and headed out on the motorbike that Hiroshi had placed on the market a year ago, Katara looked to her husband wondering what they were going to do with that boy. He was the oldest son they had together but he acted like the youngest child. The youngest children they had were the triplets and they were all living very adult lives. Yukino was a surgeon, Izumi was Fire Lord, and Yumi had married into the air nomads. As for all the other kids, they were all doing something. Zuko was Fire Nation ambassador and would be training the new Avatar. Ryu was a chef with his uncle, Kya ran an entire clan and two nonprofit organizations in the Fire Nation for orphans, Hiroshi ran a company that made billions in just the last five-ten years, and Azula was in charge of the power plants that Ozai owned in the city. They all had things they did but Zhiar, he just roamed about looking for the next young woman to get in bed with. Ozai tried to give him something to do like he did with Azula but Zhiar fucked it up. Ruining his good standing with some of Ozai's old political connections. The two of them agreed to just let Zhiar be Zhiar since at least one of their kids lived at home.
It was a three day trip to the South Pole now that ships were much faster than before but it still didn't compare to the instant travel of their inhuman capabilities. However, it did allow them to enjoy a little more time together before they parted ways for several months at a time. Katara put on quite the performance in the bedroom for her husband in order to get him to change his mind about letting her go off on her own. They had been together nonstop for years and she didn't want to go back to how it had been before they remarried. Yet, Ozai was truly convinced this would be for the best.
On the morning they would arrive in the South Pole, Katara cuddled up on the lounge chair with her husband and a fur blanket draped over their naked bodies. She nuzzled her head up against his tone chest and purred as he ran his hand through her hair. As he played in her hair and told her how great this would be for her, Katara pouted to herself.
"Will you at least visit occasionally?" Katara asked him.
Ozai nodded as he chuckled, "I'll visit for the holidays."
Pushing herself up off of him, Katara narrowed her eyes. "You know I don't do those made up holidays, Ozai."
"So what? They're still fun." He chuckled. "Think about how fun it would have been to celebrate these 'made up' holidays while our kids were all small."
Rolling her eyes as she climbed off of the lounge chair and walked her naked body up to the large cabin window staring at the glaciers, "I think about how fun they'd be if we had small children but that won't happen because you don't want more."
"We have nine children between us, twelve if you caught the two miscarriages and Mailan." Ozai told her as he sat on the lounge chair, covered in the white fur as he stared at his nude wife's backside. "We don't need more children."
"But you said you'd consider it!" Katara whipped around to look at him with an angry expression.
"Children are not pets, Katara! You can't keep having them and thinking there's no consequence to their existence! We are inhumans! We create inhumans every time we have a child! The world does not need more inhumans!" Ozai said very sternly as he had to stress this issue to her. "I don't mind having more children with you. I would love to hold another child that you and I have created together because I think it is the most beautiful thing in the world but I will not throw this world into chaos because we want a gods damn litter."
Katara looked at him with her hurt gaze and sighed, "Our children's existence wouldn't breed chaos. We have very productive children."
"Yes, for the most part that is true but inhumans like us have incredible powers and we can't risk having a child that could use that power destructively. We got lucky thus far but we shouldn't push it. Don't you remember why we never taught the triplets how to use any of their inhuman powers. Not because they'd misuse it but because we did not want more overpowered beings in this world." Ozai continued to explain why he did not want more children. He could see his wife understood but she still didn't want to quite agree to no longer have children. It was just her greatest desire to be a mother and with all their children being full fledged adults aside from Zhiar, it was hard for her to bear through no longer being a mother in the same light as she had been when the children were under her care.
Katara pleaded her case some more and Ozai continued to refuse having children with her in the foreseeable future. He did, however, meet her half way and stated they could get a cute pet for her to cling to if that would ease her baby fever but the water siren refused.
Reaching the docks, Katara and Ozai were dressed in their long city-styled coats with fur hoods. Their hands were tucked in their pockets as they wore mittens and they stayed huddled up. It have been years since either of them had been to the South Pole and even though Omashu and Republic City had snowy winters, it was nothing compared to the arctic tundra of the Southern Water Tribe. Their hired help carried their luggage as a snow sleigh was awaiting them. Ozai was not at all pleased to have to ride on something he now deemed primitive transportation but Katara reminded him that much of the world still used the old ways of transportation as automobiles were still only ten years into its existence. It would take a little longer for everyone to get on board with some of his and Hiroshi's inventions.
The ride wasn't too long as the now bustling city of the South Pole was still nowhere near as large as Republic City or any of the major cities throughout the world. Though that was not to say it wasn't still a large city. It was very much so but it was far more humble in comparison to the massive super cities that had occupied in the past and present. Katara was thrilled to see it with her own eyes as her grandmothers always told her how much more wonderful it was in the South Pole.
Arriving at their destination, Katara and Ozai stepped out of their sleigh to walk arm in arm into the hotel they'd be staying in until Ozai returned to Republic City. Entering, Ozai checked in with the receptionist while Katara looked around the lavish and large lobby. She wished her father and brother got to live long enough to see all this. It was incredible.
"Come, dear." Ozai called to her and she hurried over to him as they got into a manned elevator to take them to the fifth floor where their suite was. Katara was thankful it wasn't one of those high rise hotels like the ones in the city. Heights were not exactly her forte.
Once they were in their suite and their staff dropped off their luggage, the couple removed their coats at the warmth of the room. Ozai settled down on the edge of the bed while Katara went into the bathroom to see how she looked in the mirror from their travels. Just when the two were about to kick their shoes off and settle in some more, a knock came to the door.
Ozai went to answer it and saw it was his wife's grandmothers, both sporting their youthful forms. It really confused him how they were able to look old or young but Katara remained young throughout the entirety of him knowing her. What was up with that?
"There's our lovely granddaughter." The hags shoved him out of the way to go greet and hug on his wife. "Finally, you've come to see how magnificent this place is becoming."
Katara smiled and nodded after hugging them, "Yes, it is very different from what I remember."
"I'm glad you've decided to join the White Lotus in order to teach the Avatar again." Kanna beamed at her granddaughter. "It has always been your calling, Katara. Remember, your life only took the path it did after you discovered Aang and began teaching him."
Hama nodded, "Yes, if you hadn't found the Avatar and taught him, then you'd have never found your way in the Fire Nation to be kidnapped to marry Ozai. You two would have never met. Maybe this time, you'll meet someone else."
"Someone that was less of a moron." Kanna added.
Katara held Ozai back as he was about to assault the two women. "I don't think that will ever be the case. I've known Ozai since I was eighteen."
"So?" The women said in unison.
Growling at them, "How about you old hags get out of our hotel room since you've both got such an issue with me?"
Unphased, the women rolled their eyes.
"We only came here to let Katara know that Chieftain Tonraq is opposed to her teaching his daughter, however, the White Lotus are in full support of you becoming Avatar Korra's instructor." Hama explained. "He also would like to have a word with you shortly upon your arrival here, so he should be stopping by or inviting you out. Please, be on your best behavior. Tonraq might be the Southern Chieftain but he is very much still a Northern Tribesman."
Katara nodded as she heeded her grandmother's warning.
Kanna nodded in agreement with Hama, "He might not hold the same prejudice towards female waterbenders as many northern men but he has stated his particular distrust of sirens. Specifically, the siren that started our kind, Kalhime. Never let her out around him. He's hinted that he knows how to subdue her."
Furrowing her brows, "Subdue?"
"Well that shouldn't be a problem. We'll go meet with Chieftain Tonraq and show him that you were only ever a threat when absolutely necessary." Ozai said as he was confident in his ability to now befriend people.
Katara and her grandmother were not as convinced that it would be that simple. Ozai didn't understand the loath Northern men had for not just female waterbenders but sirens especially. Any woman that had ever been up North or around a Northern man would know right away how much they were viewed as not only inferior but as a threat if she was gifted as a waterbender/siren.
As her grandmothers left and stated they'd catch up more another time, Katara turned to her husband and gave him a look that told him that he had just gotten her into this mess. However, Ozai didn't see the problem. If the chieftain turned out to be an asshole, they'd deal with him, but Katara told him that they both agreed no violence unless they were blatantly provoked. They weren't in any political power to intimidate others and though they had powers that could pose a great threat to anyone, they both agreed to a 'normal' life. If anything, they needed to show themselves friendly and nonthreatening.
After a night in their hotel room, trying to make up for the time they'd spend apart from one another, Katara woke up to a knock on the door as her husband was still snoring in her ear with his face buried in her hair. She sighed and got up to put a robe on to answer the door. Opening it, Katara was surprised to see it was Tonraq. She watched his eyes take in the fact that her hair was messily unbound and she was wearing a short nightgown under the robe she threw on. Katara knew how such a look was all too much for a Northern man and she saw him avert his eyes as if she was naked, to which she rolled her eyes.
"Chieftain Tonraq, it's been too long." Katara tried sounding pleasant.
"Not long enough." Tonraq said as he suddenly barged his way into her hotel room and spotted her snoring beast of a husband. "I want to have a chat with you and your husband, Lady Yong. Wake him up."
Holding her robe closed as she shut the door and followed him in, Katara went to Ozai's side of the bed to nudge him awake. "Ozai, wake up. Tonraq is here."
"Make him wait." Ozai groaned as he tried swatting her away.
"But Oz-"
Pulling the pillow over his head, "Please, I just want to sleep! You kept me up all last night with your crazy sex drive, woman! I don't know how you're going to survive without me, fucking Agni! Tell the man to wait!"
Katara blushed as she saw the Chieftain look in disgust at her. "Ozai, he's already here."
Ozai threw the pillow aside and sat up abruptly in annoyance, looking from his wife to the man standing at the foot of the bed. "For a Northerner, I half expected you to stand outside like the prude you men are in the presence of a scarcely dressed woman."
Hitting him on his bare arm, "Have some manners." Katara whispered at him.
Rustling his bed hair and rolled his neck, "Very well, dear." Ozai threw the covers off and revealed he had been completely naked before stretching.
Katara palmed herself as she knew Ozai was purposely being a dick even though they agreed not to start an unnecessary feud. She quickly got his robe and helped him put it on. The three then left the bedroom of the suite and went into the sitting area. While Ozai sat in a sluggish posture in the chair of the dining table with his legs spread, robe slightly opened to reveal his bare chest, Katara put on coffee for the two men. Setting their guest's cup in front of him before serving her husband, the water siren took a seat on the sofa as the two men sat at the table.
As her husband drank his coffee, Katara addressed the Chieftain on what he wanted to discuss with them.
Tonraq eyed her disdainfully, "I'm just a concerned father that wants to know why a murderer is going to be teaching my daughter."
Swallowing hard as she casted her gaze down at her hands in her lap, "I was the water instructor of the previous Avatar. I thought I had much to offer the current one as I am a very versatile waterbender outside of my inhuman abilities. There is much your daughter could learn from me."
"Like how to be a murderer?" Tonraq lifted a brow at her.
Ozai chimed in as he wasn't about to let this asshole talk to his wife like this, "Those were dark days, Chieftain Tonraq. There was much that took place that you don't understand because you were just a boy."
"Yes, I was a boy whose father was killed by a crazed siren." Tonraq said as he looked at the water siren's husband. "I'm very aware of the dark days you speak of. There are many accounts that not only the elders of the North taught me but the White Lotus filled me in on your late twin brother and his role in much of the chaos that took place not long ago. I do understand that your wife was not fully responsible for everything that happened but that doesn't make her any less dangerous."
Standing to her feet, "I was never once a threat to any of my allies, Tonraq. Never. The only allies I ever fought against were my husband and his eldest son because they were the only ones that would survive a fight with me." Katara explained. "I can promise you there is much your daughter will learn from me that will be pivotal to her development and survival as Avatar. The greater threats of my earlier years may have been squashed, all thanks to my husband and I's efforts, but who's to say another threat won't arise later? Besides, the average bender or politician is not the only issue she may face as the Avatar. There are inhumans amongst us and unlike my family, the others are unknown. Korra and every Avatar after needs to be prepared to face inhuman threats."
Tonraq scowled, "Inhumans have been around predating the first Avatar and never has there been an issue until your family was formed. Perhaps, it is to do with the mixing of not only opposite elements but opposite inhuman species that's to blame."
Ozai sucked his teeth at this, "Our children are of no threat to anyone. With each one, they became more and more docile. The very youngest don't even know how to wield their inhuman abilities. We purposely didn't teach them. Hell, my wife wants more children but I remind her of the possibility of one of our children posing a threat. We are on your side, Tonraq. We want peace like everyone else. Which is why it is important for your daughter to be fully capable because we don't want to be looked to in order to fix what is the Avatar's duty to oversee. The former Avatar was absolutely useless. Other than the war, what did he actually do? Nothing. We handled it ourselves and it put our family through hell. We want no parts of that. The only reason I pushed my wife to do this is because we are tired of living a life that makes us responsible for others just because we have the power to do so. It is why we stepped down from political power. So, understand that in truth, we want to lead as normal of a life as we possibly can but in order to do so, we need to make sure that the Avatar is capable enough to protect this world as is her destiny."
Katara watched Tonraq's expression shift as it seemed to finally dawn on him that they were not his enemy. Even more, she finally had an understanding of why Ozai wanted her to become the Avatar's teacher again. He wanted to be sure that if another threat fell upon the world, that it would not fall on them to fix everything. This sat well with her as she completely agreed with him. Their family had been through enough. They couldn't afford to go through that again. Especially since their kids were all living their lives outside of them. As parents, they wouldn't dare drag them into another conflict, not after what happened to Mailan.
Tonraq stood and looked firmly at Katara, "I see that you mean well as you are ultimately using this as a way to no longer involve yourselves in the conflicts of the world. I understand that more than you know. When I watched my daughter be born, her entire life played out before my eyes, but that changed when my wife and I saw her wield three different elements upon her fourth birthday." Sighing as he looked away from her, "I can't protect my daughter from her duties to the world and I'm sure you understand that more than anyone on this earth right now. Help my daughter become strong, so she can take on the challenges of the world and survive them. If you are anything, Lady Yong, you are a survivor of many things."
Offering the man a soft smile as his gaze rose back to her, "I promise to strengthen your daughter in whatever way I can."
Nodding his head at the water siren, "Very well. I will see you both tonight at the banquet at the compound."
When the Chieftain left, Katara sighed as she looked to Ozai and saw him making his way back to bed. She chuckled and told him she would go explore the city a little as she was curious about all the changes. As she bathed and dressed in her more modern clothes, Katara threw on her city coat before heading out.
….
There was a lot to take in. For one, the South Pole finally had a palace for its leading family to dwell in which was really nice to see. Meant the South Pole would be on its way to being on par with the rest of the world like she had always hoped for. Not only that but there was a lot the South offered that brought in tourism to boost the economy here. There were two resorts for snow sports and arctic water sports. Now only that but there were many restaurants that served authentic Water Tribe dishes that were a combination of Northern and Southern cuisines. She could see much had been adapted from the sister tribe since most of the South Pole's history and culture was lost to the hundred years war. However, the South still maintained its free spirit despite the influence of the Northern Water Tribe.
Passing by an ice cream shop, Katara tilted her head in curiosity as she had never heard of ice cream from either tribes or anywhere for that matter, seeing as she had lived on every continent. Going up to the counter, Katara inquired about the strange dessert and learned it was something a Southerner created by accident. It turned out to be a good treat that was big in the South Pole now. Katara's eyes lit up when she learned the colors were representative of their flavors and found one that was a dragon fruit sorbet that used no dairy products. Selecting the dragon fruit and mango sorbets, Katara paid extra for a large portion in a cute cup. One taste and the water siren wanted more, buying a different flavor, this time picking an ice cream.
As she ate more of the icy dessert, Katara noticed that someone was standing over her seated spot, chuckling at her. With a spoon in her mouth, the water siren looked up to see it was Zuko and she beamed as he took a seat beside her.
"I see you found the ice cream parlor." Zuko said as he reached to stick his finger in her ice cream and lick it off his finger.
Slapping his hand away, "Yes, now get your own and leave mine alone." She said playfully.
Zuko looked her over and smirked, "I assume your being here means father convinced you to teach the new Avatar. Looks like we'll be working closely together again."
"Yeah, just like old times." Katara giggled as she ate her ice cream.
Sighing, "Not quite but close enough. The new Avatar is a bit…different from Aang." Zuko told her.
"Of course, she's an entirely different person." Katara pointed out. "Besides, she's just four years old."
Zuko scratched his head, "I guess you'll see what I mean when you meet her."
As Zuko walked with Katara back to her hotel, catching up on the details of their lives since they only saw each other every so often, he let her know he'd see her again at the banquet tonight. She asked if he wanted to see his father and Zuko figured that he'd see his father at the banquet, giving Katara a kiss on the forehead before leaving.
In her suite, Katara saw Ozai was up and lounging nude on the sofa reading a book. She rolled her eyes at her husband, who had recently been very proud of his naked form, and set some ice cream/sorbet in front of him. He sat up and eyed it funny.
"What the hell is this?" Ozai asked her.
"Eat it." Katara poked his cheek.
Watching her husband try the dessert, Katara giggled as he seemed to like it and kissed his cheek. She got up to go get dressed for the banquet that would start soon and told Ozai to get ready as well when he finished the ice cream. The two didn't take very long getting ready as the modern attire of the times made it much easier to dress. Making their way downstairs and then outside, Katara managed to find a sleigh driver. The two of them got in and were on their way to the compound the White Lotus erected to house and train the Avatar.
Reaching the compound, Katara was helped out by her husband and the two approached the gates.
"What business do you two have here?" One of the several guards guarding the compound entrance.
"I'm Katara Yong." Katara spoke up. "And this is my husband, Ozai Yong."
The guards looked them over and even though they clearly fit the description, they couldn't be too sure.
"Identification." The guard retorted.
Furrowing her brows, "Identification? We don't have any. We haven't needed it."
The guards all raised their weapons and took bending stances against them. Ozai sucked his teeth and manifested black flames under their feet, swallowing them all before having them drop ten feet from the air. All the guards groaned as they came crashing on the snowy ground. The ground standing to the side trembled and quickly opened the gate for the couple. Sure, there were a couple of inhumans in the world that could pose as the former Phoenix King but it was unlikely that one with a short temper and a tribeswoman for a wife would show up here unless it was really him.
Entering, Katara scolded Ozai for using his powers that they agreed no longer to use.
"That was nothing." Ozai scoffed as he rolled his wrist. "Five years of barely using it has made me quite rusty."
"Still, you shouldn't use it." Katara reminded him.
Rolling his eyes, "I understand fitting in with everyone else but do we have to pretend like we're not practically gods?"
"The point of fitting in is to not be gods!" Katara stressed in a whisper.
As the two bickered amongst themselves, they reached the middle of the massive courtyard and were greeted once again by Chieftain Tonraq. This time his wife was accompanying him.
Bowing her head, Katara greeted the Chieftain while Ozai refused to lower his head. "Excuse my husband." Katara apologized on his part as she nudged him. "Having been a royal all his life until recently, it's still hard to get him to bow his head to people of higher political status than him."
"It is fine. We don't bow in the South Pole." Tonraq reminded her. "I'm sure your many years away has made you a little rusty on your own customs."
Nodding her head as she chuckled, "Ah, yes, I forget. It has been some time away from home."
The Chieftain's wife smiled at Katara, "Well, since you'll be training our daughter, I'm sure you'll adjust back into your old roots."
"I hope so." Katara smiled.
"I'm Senna by the way."
"Katara Yong, though I'm sure you already know that." Katara said, "and this is my husband, Ozai Yong."
Senna waved at Ozai and he nodded his head at her in acknowledgement. The woman giggled and bluntly stated how handsome he was to her husband's dismay.
"What?" Senna said as she laughed. "You know I used to date a Fire Nation man before I met you."
Tonraq palmed himself in embarrassment, "We agreed not to ever discuss that."
Senna giggled and looked at Katara, "I'm sure he's good in bed with all the kids you two have."
Ozai watched his wife laugh as she agreed but embarrassed him by stating his sex drive wasn't the same anymore.
"I literally have to chase him down and pounce him some nights." Katara laughed as Senna thought it was hilarious. However, their husbands looked completely mortified at the conversation being had between their wives and they just met. "Sometimes I have to bloodbend his-"
Ozai grabbed his wife and covered her mouth with his hand, "I think that's enough of that. How about we join the others at the banquet?"
Tonraq nodded his head in agreement as he tugged his wife along to where the banquet was being held. As the four reached the banquet hall, Tonraq told them they could take their seats anywhere while he and his wife joined the top members of the White Lotus at the main table of the banquet hall. Spotting Zuko, Ozai pulled Katara with him to sit with him. He let his wife sit between him and his eldest son.
"Glad you two could make it." Zuko said as the two took their seats by him.
Katara patted his arm and smiled, "We got held up speaking with the Chieftain and his wife, Senna. They're really lovely."
"You two made peace?" Zuko raised a brow.
"Not for long." Ozai scoffed. "Katara felt the need to share our sex life with him and his wife."
Katara playfully hit his arm, "Senna thought your father was attractive and figured that our sexlife must be exciting since she had dated a Fire Nation man previously. Just wanted to clear the air about that."
Ozai rolled his eyes, "You're going to make people think I'm impotent."
"Are you?" Zuko was curious.
Ozai sighed as he placed his hand over his face, "I'm having a dry spell. Completely normal. It's happened before only the last time it happened, Katara was in prison up north."
"It's fine, Ozai." Katara rubbed his arm to comfort him as she looked at Zuko. "He still tries to satisfy me even though he's not really up to it."
Groaning, "Why are you discussing this with my son?"
"Zuko and I are good friends, Ozai."
Scoffing, "Not that he would prefer it that way."
Rolling his eyes at his father, "Katara picked you. She's always picked you. Why do you feel so insecure?"
"I'm not insecure." Ozai grumbled.
"Sure doesn't seem that way." Zuko sucked his teeth.
Katara placed her hands on both of their shoulders, "Hey, you two, please, not here."
Just as they were both about to say something, the banquet commenced with a White Lotus member addressing the hall of many guests to meet the new Avatar. The speech of the White Lotus member was long but profound to the new era they all lived in. An era of outstanding peace and prosperity. The White Lotus member stressed the importance of protecting the era and how the Avatar's duty was to be the balance the world needed. To Katara's surprise, they spoke of the failures of the previous Avatar and how he sat many conflicts out due to his desire to preserve his monk mentality. When the lotus member took his seat, Chieftain Tonraq came forth to thank all the instructors that would be teaching his daughter and how he wanted them all to be hard on her as she could be very stubborn though she meant well.
With the end of the Chieftain's speech, everyone got to enjoying their meals and chatting amongst one another. Katara had noticed that Ozai was busy trying to hunt down the waiter walking around with a tray of champagne glasses and decided to hold onto Zuko's arm as they mingled with some of the other guests. Several White Lotus members approached them with the plan tactic they'd use to train the new Avatar. Apparently, she was already bending three elements, water, earth, and fire. From their observation of her wielding these three elements, she was most proficient in water and fire. Something that was surprising as most Avatars struggled with the element opposite to their native element. However, Korra wielded fire with more proficiency than she wielded water, not to say her waterbending wasn't impressive.
Katara was a bit confused at this. "Isn't she just four years old?"
"Yes but Korra is a bit unique to previous Avatars." One White Lotus member pointed out.
Tilting her head, "How so?"
"She's an inhuman Avatar." A White Lotus member whispered.
Katara didn't know how that was supposed to explain anything.
Seeing that his water friend was still confused, "No Avatar before had been inhuman, Katara. The spirits always made sure never to pick an inhuman to be the Avatar since the existence of inhumans go completely against the will of the spirits. We are a cross between humans and spirits. The Avatar was created not because of mankind's flaw but because our existence was a threat to mankind."
Furrowing her brows, "Then why did they suddenly allow an inhuman to become the Avatar?"
"When Avatar Aang was on his deathbed, he said the spirit never intervened with the inhumans before because their numbers were too low for them to be much of a threat and while that remains the case, the number of hybrid inhumans has increased. It is an even bigger threat and needs to be dealt with." A lotus member explained. "We believe Korra's inhuman nature is the result of the spirits' concerns."
Looking from the lotus members to Zuko, "Are they talking about-"
"Yes, you and dad need to stop having children." Zuko told her.
Katara's eyes widened as she looked back to the White Lotus members, "But we only have two hybrids. Kya and Yumi. While Kya knows how to use her inhuman powers, Yumi doesn't. Not that any of that matters seeing as they both live docile lives."
"That may be true, Lady Yong, but it still remains a threat." A lotus member from the Fire Nation spoke. "When those of phoenix and dragon lines mixed, their child would be either/or as the two genes are combative of each other, making it where only one gene will be able to take over. However, the gene of a completely different type of inhuman mixing, can give way to a hybrid. To make matters worse, the specific kinds of inhumans you and your husband happen to be very powerful, very dangerous, the fact that you both have created two hybrids is even more dangerous."
Offended by this, Katara was about to tell them off when Zuko stopped her and assured them that she was sterile. When the Lotus member stated they wanted to confirm her sterile status by performing a new surgical procedure on her that would remove her internal reproductive organs, Katara spat in their face causing many to gasp at the sight. Zuko quickly picked Katara up and hauled her away. Confused by this, Ozai raised a brow at his son as he approached them in the back of the banquet hall and sat Katara down on her feet. It only took a minute to fill him in on what happened before he marched over to one of the White Lotus members and formed a black flame behind them that he pushed the man through.
"What is the meaning of this?!" Chieftain Tonraq approached the fire bird.
Ozai scowled at the Chieftain, "These White Lotus bastards want to sterilize my wife! Claiming our children are dangerous hybrids!"
Tonraq looked from the fire bird to his wife, whom stood with the fire instructor that would be teaching his daughter before sighing. "Your children for the most part are harmless. They bother no one in their personal encounters and from my knowledge, only the older four have done anything worth scrutinizing in the past. But even they are no threat currently. However, -"
"However, if anyone touches my wife or threatens my family, I will unleash hell upon every last one of you fucks!" Ozai spat furiously as his eyes turned red and people backed off in utter fear.
"Ozai!" Katara called to him for him to calm down.
Ozai scowled at the White Lotus members and the chieftain, "We can be your greatest allies. We have been loyal to our allies but if you show yourself to be our enemies, we will be your worst nightmare!"
"OZAI!" Katara shouted angrily at his threat as he turned his head to glare at her. "We agreed to be peaceful! Remember?!"
Sucking his teeth as his fangs started forming and his short raven hair had flames dance in it, "We agreed to be peaceful, not harmless! Peace is a choice and if they choose wrong, we will deal with them!"
Zuko stopped Katara from saying anymore as he could see there was no way to take back what his father said, not that he'd want him to. Despite being the Fire Nation ambassador, Zuko was no diplomat in his spare time. If someone provoked him or anyone he cared about, he very much sided with his father on the matter. They were peaceful. Not harmless.
Creating a black flame from the ceiling, Ozai let the White Lotus member fall from it and the man fell onto the main table where he snapped his neck. Fearfully, people took off screaming and chaos erupted. Katara and Zuko watched a green crystal be shot into Ozai's neck, forcing him to his knees as he held the place he had been hit. The two of them rushed to him as Chieftain Tonraq scowled at them.
"Are you declaring war on humanity?" He demanded to know.
Ozai glared at the man as he slowly shifted back to his human form as the crystal weakened him, "For your daughter, for your wife, would you not?"
Tonraq furrowed his brows and raised his hand to signal for the guards to leave him be. The lotus guards stood down as the fire bird was helped up by his wife and eldest son. As they removed the crystal from his neck, Tonraq assured Ozai that not a hair on his wife's head would be touched and that they all only wanted peace. Sensing the man was reasonable, Ozai agreed to not unleash his wrath upon humans unless completely and utterly necessary.
Sighing as it had been a long night already, Tonraq offered to show the two instructors to their quarters in the compound. With Ozai on his feet, they all followed the chieftain to where they'd be staying while instructing the Avatar in their native elements. Their quarters were not far apart from each other and they were decorative of the nations they hailed from, both nicely decorated as well as comfy with all their necessities. With the brief tour of the rest of the compound, the chieftain let them know they could begin early next week with training his daughter as she had not yet been moved into the compound.
"I trust you all will keep your tempers mild for the rest of your time here?"
Zuko and Katara nodded.
"Excellent. I will see you both along with our other two instructors tomorrow." Chieftain Tonraq expressed before departing.
Turning to each other, Zuko let Katara know he'd be staying here since he didn't bother getting a hotel and didn't feel like running into his old politicians that vacationed here in the South Pole.
"Alright, Zuko, I'll be moving in just after your father leaves. We just want to spend a little more time together before our six months apart begin."
Zuko said his goodbyes and kissed Katara's forehead before she and his father left the compound.
…..
At the hotel, Katara lounged in the tub with bottles and a glass of wine that her husband refilled for her as he sat off to the edge of the tub. They most wanted to de-escalate from the climax of the night and discuss their plans for their months apart. Katara figured she'd be concentrated mostly on training the avatar and hanging out with Zuko and her grandmothers. Ozai knew for a fact he and Hiroshi would be at the factory busying themselves with their work.
Eyeing Ozai in disappointment, "Ozai, Hiroshi is married and has a daughter. He should be focused on his family. Stop taking him away from them so you can play inventor. He's human, remember. He only has but so much life left on this earth. Let him cherish these moments he gets in being a husband and father." Katara scolded her husband.
Rolling his eyes, "We offered him immortality as Hama is able to awaken his phoenix gene. He's the one that said he wanted to remain human."
"Yes, well, that was only because he said he wanted to live and die as humans are intended to do." Katara sighed painfully. "I've loved and raised Hiroshi as my own son, Ozai, but he wants to be human like his mother and I can't fault him for that."
Ozai looked off to the side. As much as he wanted to force Hiroshi into being immortal, his son expressed wanting to die alongside his wife someday and Ozai understood the feeling. It was why he never told Katara but he had found a way to make her like him and have her live a truly immortal life with him. Life nor death would keep him from the only woman he had loved dearly. It was this that Ozai was allowing his son, the only son he had that bonded with him, to live a human lifespan.
Sipping the rest of her wine, "I know I've been with you consistently for over twenty years but I hate parting ways. Even if only for a short time."
Ozai took his wife's hand and brought it to his lips, "I share your same sentiments but I want your happiness more than anything. You're no fun when you sulk around aimlessly." He smirked.
Katara giggled as she playfully hit him, "Whatever, Ozai. I'll try to visit whenever I can, okay? Just to make sure you aren't keeping Hiroshi from his wife and daughter."
Sucking his teeth, "Then I'll be sure to visit as well to make sure you don't get tempted to let Zuko crawl into your bed."
"Shut up, Ozai." Katara scoffed as she climbed out of the tub. "We're just friends."
"Sure but now that he thinks I'm impotent because of your obsessive need to tell everyone, I'm sure he will try to convince you that he could take 'good care' of you."
Rolling her eyes as she grabbed a towel, "Ozai, if I'm needy and you're not by my side, I will simply satisfy my own needs."
"So you'll fuck yourself?" Ozai raised a brow.
Going up to kiss him on the cheek before she eskimo kissed him, "Yes, I'll fuck myself."
….
A/N:
Hoped you all enjoyed the chapter! More of an interesting spin on the story of Korra.