Short Tales

by AnumOfTheMoon

Short tales involving OzaixKatara, Zutara, and OzaiXKataraXZuko. PM or Comment ideas for the stories

3. Short Story 2 Part 1

A/N:

Summary:

The Fire Nation has just declared war on the world and Katara is suffering through the aftermath of the war. However, with the protection of the commander of the troops in her area, Katara doesn't have it too bad. He offers her a chance to end the war but all she must do is be his mistress and slave. Will Katara's hard work pay off?

Short Story 2

"Just ignore them." A fellow tribeswoman whispered to her as the Fire Nation soldiers nearby were eyeing them, making flirtatious gestures their way.

Katara tried her best but she was so fed up with it all. Life had been so peaceful when she was younger. Even when there were rumors of war and genocide going around. Her people still had their walls, their city, their culture, their way of life. However; five years ago, upon her thirteenth birthday, the Fire Nation set its eyes on her people. They came demanding the Southern Tribe surrendered. That they had over all waterbenders born in the last ten-twelve years. Waterbenders that were her age. The tribe elders and chieftain refused to hand over the children of the Southern Tribe.

Of course, the Fire Nation didn't take this well and the Southern Tribe fell in months. The chieftain and elders were slaughtered. Anyone that rose against the Fire Nation was slaughtered in front of their families. Katara watched her father be burnt alive before her very eyes. He refused to hand her over to the soldiers and attacked them. Her elder brother was beaten to death for trying to stop the men. All that was left was her and her mother, they were dragged away from their city as it burned to the ground, taken to a desolate part of the tundra where the Fire Nation soldiers had settled. Here, they worked in service to the troops and did whatever they were told. Waterbenders like her had their bending suppressed with cuffs around their necks. Women were made to do chores while the men did the manual labor. Soldiers patrolled the camps where the tribes people were, told to monitor any unusual behaviors and keep everyone in line.

Things only got worse for those that were young waterbenders. Many were taken to be tested to see if they were in fact the Avatar once they turned sixteen. So far, everyone failed the test. Even she did but she knew that. However, things didn't end there. Once they were identified as not being the Avatar, the soldiers tried picking off the waterbenders they wanted to use for 'other' purposes. Mostly were women but there were some soldiers that liked men. Katara felt sick. Not a day went by that these sick monsters didn't try to make passes at her or her friends. So far none forced themselves on her. Mostly because she caught the eye of their commander during her testing. A hairpin was placed in her hair and he told her to keep it in if she wanted to go untouched. She thought he was doing her a favor at first, a soldier with some sort of conscience in all of this madness, but no...he was just saving her for himself.

While the hairpin kept the other soldiers from touching her, it didn't stop them from trying to make passes at her and she hated every second of it. The soldiers knew in Water Tribe culture a girl was considered a woman at 16 and felt free to have them as they liked. However, the commander that wanted her, he hadn't touched her yet. For whatever reason that was, she didn't know, she just kept the pin in her hair if it meant she wouldn't be raped.

Ignoring the soldiers that were trying to get their attention, Katara and her friend, Nani, continued washing clothes in the cold water while keeping their heads down. They didn't want to look at the disgusting men trying to have them in their beds.

When the day was over, Katara and her friend Nani returned to their camp, saying goodnight to one another before entering their respective igloos. Inside, Katara saw her mother stirring a pot of sea prunes while her grandmother was working on a new fur coat for her. She was outgrowing her current one and it was pretty obvious. She had to double wrap her breasts to make them fit and her shapely curves of womanhood were more pronounced in her tight clothes. Her grandmother worked day and night to make her a new one. She feared the commander would grow more and more tempted to have her if she wasn't properly covered.

"How was your day, Katara?" Her mother asked her as she looked up from the stew she was making.

Untying her hair, Katara shook her head and stared at the patterns on the rug beneath her. "It was like any other day."

Kya nodded, accepting this response.

"Did the commander give you anything?" Kanna asked her granddaughter.

Katara furrowed her brows, "No, not like we need anything from him." She spat.

Kya and Kanna exchanged looks and then looked at Katara.

"He looks after our family, Katara. With your father gone, we need protection and he has offered it."

"Only because he found out I'm the dead chieftain's daughter!" Katara hissed. "We watched them kill my father and my brother! And their commander decides I belong to him! I hate him! And I hate all of his kind! Ashe-makers!"

Kya sighed and tried to hold her tongue. She knew her daughter was not happy with the way things were but this was about survival now. Whatever it took. They all had to make sacrifices. Even she did. She wouldn't dare tell her daughter but she made a deal with the commander two years ago after turning sixteen, before she took the Avatar test. He told her what would happen to the waterbenders around her daughters age and she begged for her daughter not to share their same fate. The commander wanted her daughter and would look after their family as long as Katara cooperated with him. No woman wanted to sacrifice her daughter for any reason but there were worse fates than her daughter having someone like the attention of the commander .

The next morning while hanging a basket of clothes up to dry, Katara was approached by the commander causing her to drop one of the articles of clothes she was hanging to dry. Paralyzed in fear as the man stood on the outer end of the drying line. He was an incredibly tall man with a broad frame. This only proved to make him that much more intimidating. He had piercing gold eyes and raven hair that was tied into a high ponytail. His expression was always cold and impassive like he didn't care about anything. She was frightened of him and he never even touched her.

"You're still wearing the hairpin." His eyes roamed to the top of her head where she had the pin sticking through the top of her fishtail braid.

The waterbender nodded her head and averted her eyes from him.

"Do you know why I gave you that pin." He asked her.

"To protect me."

"And why?"

"Because I'm yours."

"As long as you remember that, I won't let any of my men touch you or your family. Understood?"

Katara nodded.

Reaching out to grab the girl's jaw, the commander forced her to look up at him as he ran his thumb over her lips. He could feel her shaking. She was obviously nervous and rightfully so. Meant she knew there was nothing she could do to defy him. If he told her to come back to his tent and pleasure him, she'd have to obey. He could take her right here in the open and there was nothing she could do but accept the humiliation. However, he wasn't so cruel and since she was technically a princess he'd treat her a little better than he'd probably treat these other people. Plus, she was the prettiest tribeswoman he had seen thus far and he wanted her for himself.

"I'll come collect you from your hut tonight, make yourself presentable." He told her.

Tears formed in her eyes as she nodded.

"Don't just nod your head, address me properly."

"As you wish, Commander Yong." Her voice trembled.

Smirking as he let go of her face, "Good girl."

When the commander left, Katara fell on her knees and muffled her cries with her hand. It seemed he was going to finally take her.

Running back home soon after the day ended, Katara entered the igloo and saw her mother trying to heal her grandmother from the chronic illness she suffered from. She had come to beg her mother to help her get out of being visited by Commander Yong tonight but the man literally had the medicine that treated her grandmother's illness. He gave it to them so often with other supplies they needed. It was likely he'd give them more after tonight and Katara suddenly realized she was stuck. Her family relied on the commander to 'look after' them and his one condition was that she be cooperative with him.

When her mother let her grandmother rest, Katara saw her mother look warily at her and avert her eyes.

"Nani told us she saw the commander talking to you. What did he say?" Kya asked her mother.

Katara hung her head in shame, "He's coming to get me tonight."

Kya nodded as she figured it would happen eventually. Commander Yong gave her daughter that hair pin two years ago and hadn't taken her yet. She figured that was because their cultures were different. Sixteen in the Water Tribes meant a girl was a woman but it was eighteen in the Fire Nation, she heard. Not that all of the soldiers followed their own culture's view. Some accept that tribe girls were women upon sixteen and they'd bed them. But the commander was different. Kya had never seen him look at the other woman or take any of them. He just wanted Katara.

"Then I should get you ready." Kya said as she went to the trunk in their small igloo hut and opened.

Inside was some clothing the commander gave her not too long ago. He didn't say what it was for but from the looks of it, Kya knew it was meant for Katara to wear when he finally decided to have her. She handed it to her daughter and told her to undress.

While helping prepare her daughter, Kya told her everything to expect and warned her against fighting the man. It only made things worse and with him being a firebender, she could be hurt severely if she didn't cooperate. If he offered her any sort of drug or alcohol, she needed to take it. Made things less worse. Both physically and mentally.

Combing her daughter's hair as it was freely cascading down her back, "In the morning I'll give you medicine to prevent any mishaps."

"Mishaps?" Katara asked.

"I don't believe you want to have children with this man."

Katara's eyes widened.

"I'm sorry it has to be this way, my love, but the commander does not want me. I can't take your place." Kya said reluctantly.

Tears spilled from Katara's eyes as she was fearful. She should have listened to Nani about losing her virginity with a tribesmen before it was too late. Many of the other young unmarried girls like her had already done so, Nani included. Some of the tribesmen were willing to help them out. One had even offered to help her but her mother advised her against it, saying it would anger the commander. But Katara knew she should have done it anyway.

As her mother pulled the cloak hood over her daughter's head and kissed her forehead hard as if to say goodbye, they were interrupted by a soldier who had come to collect Katara on behalf of the commander.

"I'll stay up the whole night for you."

Katara only cried more as she exited her igloo and was grabbed by the soldier roughly before being pulled towards the Fire Nation camp.

Arriving at the commander's tent, Katara was shoved inside and she tumbled to the ground inside her tent. She muffled her cry with her hand and remained there on the ground, afraid to look up or move.

Having seen the woman be pushed into his tent, Ozai glanced away from his desk and looked down at the ground to where she was trembling. He set his quill down and rose from his chair. Making his way to her, the commander crouched down in front of her and lifted her hood with his finger. When the hood was removed, her hair spilled from it and he saw her blue eyes slowly lift to his gold ones. She was frightened and he could see her mother dressed her exactly how he wanted her to be.

"Beautiful." He whispered to her as he grabbed her jaw.

Somehow the compliment only made more tears run down her face. He smirked and wiped them away.

"I'm not going to hurt you." He told her.

Katara didn't believe him and her gaze fell from his.

"You don't believe me?" Ozai eyed her as she shook her head. "Why? I haven't done anything to you before."

Squeezing her eyes shut, Katara refused to say anything and just shook.

Seeing the girl was scared stiff, Ozai let go of her face and pulled her cloak off for her. It was warm in his tent. Mostly from the candles and the use of his bending. She'd sweat if she left the heavy cloak on.

Katara clenched her teeth as he undressed her cloak and hugged her arms around herself.

"I'm not taking you to bed, woman. Not yet. Not till we know each other a little better." Ozai informed her. "Just because you're a pretty face and the dead chieftain's daughter doesn't mean I'm going to just put you on your back and make a real woman of you."

Tossing her cloak on the ground beside her as he looked her over, the commander saw her eyes bashfully glance up at him and he grinned.

"Y-you're not going to…-"

"You want me to?"

"No!" She pulled back.

"Then stand up." He told her as he was on his feet, offering his hand to her.

Hesitantly, Katara took his hand and let him pull her to her feet. She immediately felt uncomfortable as she noticed his eyes roamed over her and saw the outfit she was wearing.

"I imagined you smaller." Ozai commented as he saw the waterbender was a lot more shapely than he assumed. Her breasts were practically squeezing out of the top of the kimono and her hips were clearly being squished. He didn't realize she was built the same as the other tribeswomen he saw his soldiers with on occasion. Not that he was complaining. She was just rather petite and it was unexpected. A pleasant surprise if you asked him.

Feeling embarrassed, "is there something I can wear?" Katara stared at her feet.

Ozai wasn't so sure. She could just take off what she had on. He had enough self control not to pounce her. However, he doubted she'd take the risk. He figured she could wear one of his tunics for the evening.

A few minutes later, Katara was sitting on the edge of his bed, nervously twiddling with her fingers as the commander stood shirtless in front of her. He gave her one of his tunics and it was rather big on her, though her legs were exposed in it. Not only that but it had his scent of it and she found he smelled nice. She tried not to look at him while he was observing her. Most of this night had been him observing her. She didn't understand why. She figured he'd just strip her naked and take her in his bed. But he didn't seem interested in doing so, at least at the moment.

"Tell me, your name." He asked her, taking a seat at his desk, his chair turned to face her.

Pulling on her hair and combing her fingers through the ends, "My name is Katara Mizuki."

Ozai smirked. "I heard the names of Water Tribe princesses were always recorded and only the family and elders know the names until they are of age." He pulled out a scroll that was sealed with the Southern Tribe's insignia. "Not only is that recorded but I hear you have a strange birthmark on your lower back."

Katara swallowed hard.

"Show me. I want proof you're really the princess."

Reluctantly standing up from the edge of the bed, Katara turned around and lifted up the back of the tunic she was wearing. She couldn't see it but the commander leaned forwards to pull down her lower binding some. The waterbender nearly jumped but he told her to be still. She forced herself to remain calm as she felt his hot fingertips touch her lower back.

"Looks like you're really the princess." Ozai continued studying the birthmark.

The scroll he was sent by the general that laid waste to the city years ago had the details of the royal family. If any surviving members were found, they were to be executed on the spot. However, if the princess was found, she was to be apprehended and taken into custody by the royal family. He mused at this.

"Then I guess that makes us equals in titles, Princess." He said as he removed his hand from her.

Katara sat back down as she saw him move from the desk to the spot beside her on his bed and leaned close to her. She tried scooting away but he took some of her hair, pulling her towards him.

"Fire Prince Ozai Yong. Nice to make your acquaintance Princess Katara Mizuki." He brought her hair to his lips. "I plan to make you my mistress and accomplice."

The waterbender's eyes widened.

"Like I said before, I want to get to know you before I make you mine. So let's set things straight, shall we?" Ozai let go of her hair. "Technically, I'm supposed to hand you over to my father and he decides your fate. You could be executed or thrown in prison for the rest of your life or made to be his mistress. But I'll spare you. All I need is for you to do me one favor."

Katara nodded her head. Anything that got her out of being handed over to the cruel Fire Lord that started all of this mess.

"You're going to help me kill the bastard." Ozai grabs her jaw. "And when my father is dead, I'll grant you three wishes in my power to give you. Plus, you'd be saving your people and ending a pointless war before it even really begins."

The waterbender's eyes were even wider.

"You will help me, will you not?"

Katara nodded.

"Words, woman." He bit out as he squeezed her jaw.

"Yes, Commander Yong."

"Call me Ozai when we are alone, Katara."

"Yes, Ozai."

"Good girl." He purred. "Now, I can't have you leaving my tent in the middle of the night. You'll be staying until morning. Make yourself comfortable. I have rounds to do."

Katara's eyes lingered on this man as he pulled away from her and went to grab his black fur cloak before leaving the tent. She remained in his bed in utter confusion. Had she heard that right? The mistress part was no surprise. She had known he planned to have her anyway. But the accomplice part...he wanted his father dead? And wanted her help. Why? Couldn't he do that on his own? Why did he want her to help him?

…

When morning came, Ozai put the cloak for the princess and pulled her hood over her head. He told her not to tell anyone, including her mother and grandmother about what they discussed, for if he doesn't kill them, someone else will. Katara agreed not to say anything. She was far too frightened of him to not cooperate at this point. Throw the part about him wanting her to be his mistress away, he literally wanted her to help him murder his father.

"I'll collect you again for tonight." Ozai told the nervous waterbender as she silently stared at him as if he was going to kill her.

Katara nodded her head.

"And I expect more talking from you."

Calling for his men to return her to the village, the commander left her with a single kiss on her forehead and whispered something to her that unnerved her.

"Wear nothing under your cloak tonight. I don't want anything in the way."

Returning home, Katara was immediately embraced by her mother outside her igloo and rushed in. Many of their neighbors had seen her be taken away last night and were watching her return. Katara felt embarrassed as they looked at her sympathetically. It was common knowledge amongst her fellow tribespeople that she was selected by the commander and he had been waiting for her to come of a suitable age for him. Now, returning back home, people knew she was with him last night and knew it had been her first encounter with a man. They looked at her in pity. She was relieved her mother took her into their igloo instead of talking to her in front of their nosy neighbors.

Undressing the young woman, Kya looked over her daughter and tried to see if there were any marks left on her body. She sighed in relief upon seeing her daughter bore no injuries and had her mother in-law pour the mixture she had been concocting since last night into a mug for Katara.

"Here, drink every drop." Kya told her daughter as she handed her the mug.

Katara held it and looked to her mother, "He didn't touch me."

Kya and Kanna looked at her in shock.

"He said he wanted to get to know me before he…. we only talked. He made me confirm I was the Chieftain's daughter." The waterbender explained. "But tonight he doesn't want me wearing anything under my cloak. He says it'll..get in the way."

Kya urged her daughter to drink it anyway as it seemed the commander was planning to do something to her tonight. Katara didn't know. He made it very clear he didn't want her until he knew her better.

"There are other ways a man and woman can be together without intercourse. But sometimes it can lead to such without intending to. You need to be careful either way." Kya told her daughter.

Katara nodded.

…..

Night came and Katara was back in the commander's tent. He had removed her cloak and was currently looking over her naked form. From the way he was looking at her, she had a hard time believing he wasn't going to have her, she felt like she was being circled by an Arctic wolf ready to pounce her. She saw his hand reach for her breasts and she quickly pulled away, covering herself with her arms.

Smirking, "I'm just going to touch."

Katara shook her head.

"Don't give me a hard time. I might reconsider our arrangement." Ozai told her sternly.

Shaking as he approached her again, Katara whimpered when he pulled her arms down to her side, and she shut her eyes hoping he would just do whatever it was he was trying to do.

"I'm only doing this because you're going to make things more difficult when I do finally take you." Ozai told her as he grabbed one of her breasts and heard her yelp. He grinned as she trembled, squishing her breast a little in his hand and seeing her bite her lip to keep from crying. "You're a beautiful girl. You should be thankful I discovered who you were or you would have already been used up by now. I'm your best option, princess."

Katara would rather none of this be an option. She took no pleasure in this man groping her. Her eyes squeezed tightly together as she felt his other hand slide to around her waist and reach behind her. She immediately snapped her eyes open as he grabbed her ass and pulled her up against him.

"Why are we killing your father?" She asked in a moment of desperation to get him to stop.

Fortunately, it worked like a charm and his hands fell from her as he pulled away. Katara slowly opened her eyes to see the man staring down at her with a smirk.

"So you want to talk this evening?" He grinned.

Covering herself up, "Anything but be felt up like I'm a doll."

Ozai snickered as he decided they'd talk since she seemed more willing this evening to be verbal with him. Going to sit on his bed, he patted the spot beside himself and beckoned to her to sit with him. The girl took a moment before she came beside him and sat herself in a rather comfortable position, trying to hide her nudity under her arms.

"We're killing him because I want him dead. Is that not enough of an answer for you?" Ozai's eyes roamed her.

Katara shook her head, still covering herself. "But he's your father."

"And?" He tilted his head and grinned wider as he saw she was even more confused.

"Family shouldn't kill family. It's wrong." Katara hung her head as she didn't want to see his amusement. "How could you want to kill the man that raised you?"

Ozai burst out laughing.

The waterbender eyed him with displeasure. This wasn't funny. He wanted her to work with him to kill his father and while she was okay with killing the tyrant that turned his gaze on the Water Tribe after annihilating the Air Nomads but this man, Ozai, he shouldn't be wanting his own father dead.

"Look, woman, my father might have spilt his seed in my unfortunate mother but by no means did he raise me." Ozai explained. "We Fire Nation royals are closer to our nannies than we are our own parents."

Furrowing her brows, "That sounds awful."

"Oh, I sure it must be to you family oriented people. There's nothing you wouldn't do for your loved ones." Ozai smirked and grabbed her by her jaw. "It's why your people are so easy to manipulate. Look at yourself. For family and your people you obey me."

Snatching her face from him, Katara narrowed her eyes at him and moved from him.

Ozai loved this. Finally, he was seeing something other than fear in her eyes. "Don't look at me like that. I might take you right now."

"Can I have something to wear?" Katara averted her eyes as she didn't want to turn him on if he really was so easily affected by her.

"Perhaps." Ozai leaned closer to her. "We make a trade. I give you clothes and you give me something."

"Like?" Her voice shook.

"Close your eyes and I'll take it."

"No!" She looked at him with distrust as she sat off of his bed and stepped away from it. "You're going to kiss me."

"And?" He stood up. "A lot more than that will be taking place soon enough. I did mention along with being my accomplice I want you as my mistress."

Swallowing hard, Katara shook her head. "I don't want that."

"You backing out of our deal so soon, princess?" Ozai eyed her smugly as he crossed his arms.

When the princess didn't answer, Ozai went to the flap of his tent and opened it, letting the cold air end. "Then I'll let my men have you. You can see if they'll offer you anything I am for the price of your submission, not that many of them care. You'll just get held down and fucked."

Katara stared at him wide eyed.

Closing the flap, "Don't want that do you? Like I said," Ozai made his way back to her, looming over her. "I'm your best option. Three wishes, an end to your people's suffering, and you get to have the luxury of being the woman of a Fire Prince. I promise you the wealth of my country far surpasses your own."

Tears formed in her eyes as he cupped her face, "You'll really end the war?"

Ozai nodded.

"And I get to ask you for whatever once you've taken your father's place?"

"If it's in my power, then yes." He inched his face closer to hers and angled her head as he went on to capture her lips.

A few minutes after having her first kiss taken by the commander, Katara sat at the low table pressing her fingers to her lips as the commander fixed tea and poured her a cup. Her eyes glanced from the cup he pushed to her up to his gaze that was set on her. He was musing over how she reacted to him kissing her. She blushed and forced her eyes to focus back on the table in front of her. It wasn't like she liked being kissed by him but it was very...stimulating. It felt like lightning traveled between them and she felt heat was breathed into her body. She gasped but he said she was moaning. Katara may not be in a position she liked but she still had her pride in the face of an ashe-maker. He didn't make her moan. She was just surprised. But of course, he didn't believe that and went on to kiss her some more, holding her face in his hands as it felt he was drinking her in. Like she was quenching a thirst he had been ignoring for far too long. She hoped the kiss would be enough to satisfy his thirst for now. Her mother did say sometimes things led to one thing without any intent. Katara just hoped he wouldn't change his mind about having her.

Watching the princess drink her cup of tea, Ozai observed her and wondered if she had a temper. He had seen a small glimpse tonight and he liked it. She'd need to be a little fiery to survive court life once he brought her home with her. Sure, it'd be another year from now but he figured the sooner he got to see her for what she was, he could plan accordingly what he needed her to do.

"Tell me, princess. If I told you the name of the man that slayed your father and your brother, what would you do?" Ozai asked her.

Setting her cup of tea down, Katara's gaze became icy and her brows furrowed. If she knew the name of that bastard that murdered her father and brother, she didn't know what she'd do but it wouldn't be pretty. Her knuckles cracked before restraining as she bent the tea in her cup.

"You know his name?" Her eyes lifted to him.

Ozai saw the frost of her breath as the temp of the tent cooled, "We're giving and taking, sweetheart. I'll tell you if you tell me. What would you do?"

"Kill him, of course!" Katara slapped her fists down on the table as she growled viciously. "I'd make that bastard feel everything I've felt since that day tenfold! No mercy!"

"No mercy?" Ozai smirked. "I thought your people practiced mercy."

Katara sucked her teeth, "And look where that got us?"

"I think I like you, woman." The commander leaned back, resting on his hands as he wanted a good view of her. "You've got fire in your eyes."

Glaring at him, "When you've seen everything you ever knew burn before your very eyes, it's hard not to reflect those same fires you watch destroy your world."

Nodding his head, "You want revenge. Not just on him but all of us, I presume."

The waterbender didn't respond to that. She felt like it was a trap.

"I'll allow it."

Her blue eyes eyed him strangely.

"I will. Your wishes, if you use one for the death of the soldiers here, I'll allow it."

"Can I just wish to kill them as a whole or do I have to ask for one at a time?"

Ozai tilted his head, "You tell me, princess. It's your wish. But I need you to help me gain the power to give you what you want."

"Kill your father? Okay, since you don't care for him, I'll help." Katara accepted this as she was coming to terms with this arrangement. "But I need more than three wishes."

"Five?"

"No," The princess shook her head. "I want my tribe restored to its former greatness."

Ozai snickered. "No deal."

"Why not?"

"You think I'd waste money and resources in the desolate tundra?"

"You said your country is far more wealthier, I don't see the problem."

The commander looked her up and down, "Doesn't matter. I won't do that."

"Will you think about it at least?"

Removing his eyes from her as he sucked his teeth and folded his arms, "You're asking for a lot for someone offering very little."

Katara sulked a little. She figured he'd at least tell her that could be a wish but it seemed he didn't want to grant that request at all. Honestly, it would take decades for her people to get back what they lost on their own. They needed help.

"What else can I give for you to at least consider?" The princess asked eagerly.

Ozai spared her a glance and saw she looked desperate.

"Please, Commander Yo-"

"Ozai."

"Please, Ozai, if you want me to kill your father myself, I'll do it. Anything. Whatever."

The commander watched the young woman remove herself from the table and fall on her knees in front of him, bowing her head to the floor. Truly, he didn't need to think on it. He wasn't going to do it, period. He'd just be giving her false hope. It wouldn't be beneficial to the Fire Nation for him to help out a country that was nearly wiped out. He'd look like a fool and people would see he was selling out to a nation of water people. He wasn't about to be mocked as Fire Lord for being soft on a people they defeated.

However…

"No promises," Ozai hardened his expression. "But maybe, I'll think about it."

Lifting her head, Katara nodded.

"Come, I'm tired."

…

Scrubbing the clothes clean with her friend Nani, Katara tried staying focused on what she was doing and not thinking on her situation so much. The commander had been having her at his tent every night, going straight to him instead of going back to her mother and making her spend the whole night with him. People thought the obvious but they didn't know the two of them only talked. Sure, he'd kiss her a lot and touch her in places but he hadn't taken her yet. He truly seemed interested in getting to know her. As much as she could tell it was taking a lot out of him to stop from having her, he managed to show restraint every night. The most he ever did was suck on her breasts and make her touch him back.

"Your face is red, Katara." Nani pointed out as she giggled.

Katara slapped her hand against her face several times until her friend stopped her.

"What's wrong?"

Shaking her head, "My mind was just elsewhere."

"On the commander, was it?" Nani smirked.

"No! Absolutely not!" Katara said defensively as her face turned even redder.

Rolling her eyes as she chuckled, "You know, it's okay, right?"

"What's okay?" The waterbender tried refocusing on her work.

Nani shrugged, "One of the soldiers made claim of Lyra and he's taking good care of her. And there's a few others. If you like the commander, it's okay. We're just all making the best out of a bad situation."

Katara refused to think any of this was okay. Those ashe-makers destroy their home, kill their loved ones, and force them into labor. Not to mention forcing their women to be objects of sex for the soldiers to find release in. This was more than a bad situation. It was unbearable. She felt nothing for the commander. She was only doing this because the two of them were plotting to end all of this. This was just business for her. As the princess of this fallen tribe, it was her duty to do whatever it took to restore things to normal and the commander was her ticket to making that happen. Nothing more.

As the two women continued with other chores, Nani turned to hang the damp clothes up on the clothesline and gasped when she saw the commander was standing there staring at her friend.

"What is it, Nani?" Katara asked after hearing the woman gasp.

"I've got to get going, Katara." Nani nervously said as she was gestured to get lost by the commander.

Katara turned around and saw her friend jet off along with Commander Yong approaching her. Her expression dulled.

"You were giggling last night. What's with the sudden attitude?" Ozai remarked as he saw she didn't look happy to see him.

Admittedly, she had been giggling but that was because he let her try the content of his canteen which was some sort of whiskey mixed with something else.

"I'm leaving for a few days." He cut to the chase. "I want to see you before I leave."

Nodding her head as she went back to work, "Well you see me. You can leave now."

Smirking, the commander knocked the basket of clothes she was carrying out of her hand and grabbed her as she tried to reach for it. He pushed her up against the wall of one of the ice structures that surrounded the camp and forced his lips on her. Kissing her passionately as he pressed her into the wall, Ozai felt her respond as she had recently begun to do and hold onto the black fur of his cloak. As much as she had been very shy with him in the beginning, he noticed she was less and less bashful. She spoke her mind more and reacted more honestly to things he said. The Water Princess was anything but boring and he really liked her. She kept him entertained. He already told her as much that she had cast a spell on him because he felt he was in a trance sometimes.

As he parted from her lips, Katara saw his gold eyes roam over her face as his warm breath heated her skin.

"When I'm back, I'll make a woman of you." He said in a low growl as he went to kiss her again and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her tight to him.

Katara felt a bit feverish as he seemed far more aggressive than before. She wondered if he would be like this when he got back and had her. Her friend said it was okay but she didn't want to believe it was okay that she was looking forward to him coming back. It shouldn't be okay. None of it should. Even if she couldn't say she liked him, she had gotten used to him and his company. She had started looking forward to his touches. The commander was a good looking man and she wasn't ever really in the presence of other men like this. It was only natural, despite her hatred of his kind. She figured she'd make an exception to him if he really planned to give her what he promised her.

"Don't let anyone else touch you." Ozai grabbed her jaw and told her sternly.

Nodding her head as she was out of breath.

"Even if they try to force you, don't allow it. I rather you kill them." He bit out.

Katara would kill them.

Ozai smirked as he could see in her eyes that she would really kill anyone that tried to take her by force. "Good girl." He purred. "I'll be back in a few days. The soldiers may behave differently. I want you to remain in the village until I return, don't come to the camp, understood?"

"Yes."

"Yes what?"

"Yes, Ozai."

Nipping her jaw after kissing her again, "Agni, I'm trying not to take you now." The waterbender's face turned beet red as she couldn't muster looking him in the eyes.

When he kissed her hard one last time, she hurried to the village and went to her mother's hut. There, her mother and grandmother were so happy to see her. She hadn't been to the village in weeks and they worried about her. They figured she had to be alright as they were sent rations from the soldiers daily now, along with medicine for her grandmother and other resources. Katara saw some of the things they were given and noticed the black fur immediately. Her mother asked how she was and how the commander was treating her. The waterbender only said he wasn't cruel or anything. There wasn't much she could tell her mother or anyone. Wasn't much she was willing to discuss or could discuss. The commander was good to her compared to how he could be. He hadn't taken her to bed but she didn't explain that to her mother. He would as soon as he got back. No point in telling her mother that.

As her mother fixed dinner and made a bowl for each of them, Katara was happy to be back home even though the camp wasn't far from the village, she wasn't able to see her mother after the commander made her stay with him.

"I'll make you some of that tea." Kya stated while eating her food. "Can't have you turning out like Lyra."

Katara heard about Lyra. She was pregnant and the soldier that had been having his way with her had her stay with him, carrying on with some domestic relationship. On playing house as some called it. It was really unfortunate but it could be worse.

"Not like anyone will take these ladies as a wife after what the soldiers are doing to them." Kanna scoffed. "Katara is no different, Kya. I've told you that already."

Pausing from her eating, Katara watched her mother glare at her grandmother and set her bowl down.

"The soldiers will leave eventually and when they do, the girls will no longer have to endure. Our men won't have much of an option for wives anyway. Practically, every tribe woman between sixteen and twenty has been claimed." Kya explained in frustration.

Kanna shook her head, "And you think some won't be leaving with the soldier?"

"That's not going to be my daughter!" Kya shouted.

The old woman sighed and shook her head, "We don't know that, Kya….we don't know-"

"The commander assured me that Katara would not turn out like the rest of the girls. He gave me his word." Kya looked down at her bowl in sorrow. "I'll kill him if he's lied." She sniffled and wiped the tears that pricked at her eyes. "I'll kill him."

Katara swallowed hard as she didn't want to be the one to break it to her mother that she would be leaving someday. There was no guarantee that she'd make it back home. Not with what the commander wanted her to help him with.

Later that night, the waterbender laid down in the furs huddled up with her mother, who was caressing her face and singing softly to her. She didn't realize her mother was so worried about her. Her mother helped her bathe and gave her the medicine. Now, she was singing her to sleep as she tried to comfort her. Katara felt like crying knowing her mother was so affected by her absence.

"No matter what, you are still my daughter and I love you." Kya said, forcing a smile.

Nodding her head.

"Just be careful, Katara. I know some of the other girls are becoming smittened with the soldiers but you must never forget what they've done to us. What they've done to those we've loved." Kya ran her hand over her daughter's head. "The commander's only purpose is to protect us until he moves on. Do not get attached."

Katara shut her eyes and nodded.

"He's using you as much as we are using him. Give and take. That's the nature of this arrangement. Never forget."

…

As days went by, Katara had been helping her mother around the village with skinning the animals the men brought in from hunts or fishing. Half of what they caught always went to the soldiers, the other half was what the men took back to their families or was divided amongst the tribe. The waterbender went with a few of the older women to gather in the tundra forest not far from their village to get the vegetables they needed for stews that were typically cooked to give to those that weren't able to provide their own meals.

Nani's mother, Toka, was showing her which plants were good to gather and which needed to be left to continue the cycle of the plant. While they were gathering, Toka asked how Nani was and Katara looked confused.

Wearing a wary expression, "Nani is being kept by the lieutenant. Jee, I think his name is. I haven't seen her in a few days. Is she alright?"

Last Katara had seen her, Nani was alright but she remembered what Nani told her about things being okay as they had to make the best of a bad situation.

"Nani is fine. I didn't realize she was being kept." Katara confessed.

"You didn't?"

Shaking her head, "I guess we're all just in the soldier's tents after chores. We don't see each other unless we're working and Nani didn't tell me."

Toka figured that made sense. She went on to tell Katara that Nani had liked the lieutenant shortly after she had gotten called to his tent one night. The mother recalled her daughter stating that the lieutenant wanted her to stay with him and she feared her daughter might be just like Lyra.

"Can you check on her for me? I want to be sure my daughter is alright." Toka said as they were on their way back to the village.

Katara knew the commander told her not to go to the camp while he was gone but she remembered how worried her mom was a few days ago when she returned to the village. She couldn't let Nani's mother go on thinking the worst had happened to her daughter.

Returning to her mother's hut, Katara brought some of the vegetables and meat to be prepared for dinner. She let her mother know she would be right back and just needed to get something. Her mother was in the middle of cooking and nodded her head.

The waterbender headed for the camp and saw a few of the girls that hadn't been picked by any soldiers return home. She asked a few of them if they knew which tent was the lieutenant's or if they knew where Nani was. All of them gave her nervous looks and tried ignoring her. This was a bit odd to Katara and she started to panic. Did something happen?

"Nani?!" Katara called her friend's name repeatedly as she walked around the camp hoping to hear her friend's voice respond back to her. "Nani?!"

Eventually, she caught the attention of a few soldiers playing cards by a fire outside of a tent. One of them stood up and told her to shut up and go back to the village if she was done with her work for the day. Katara ignored him and continued calling for her friend. This incited the soldier and marched up to her, snatching her wrist.

"I said 'Shut your mouth' you bitch!" He yelled at her and threw her in the snow.

Katara tried getting up but the soldier kicked snow in her face.

"No point looking for your friend. She's probably working overtime." He chuckled at his own crude joke.

Climbing to her feet, Katara turned to continue looking, nor concerned with the man. She needed to find her friend. Toka would be hurt if she didn't find out how her daughter was.

"Nani! Nan-"

"I said shut up!" The soldier whipped out a fire whip and was holding it threateningly.

Katara paused and glared at the man, "I'm just looking for my friend. I'll leave once I find her."

"No one gives a fuck about your friend! If she's not here and not at the village maybe she ran off! Now, shut up and go home!"

She couldn't go home until she found Nani. Katara was about to make a move to continue with the soldier and sent the whip at her to which she bent the ice from the snow up the man's body to his arms. It was just enough for her to get out of range of him to keep looking for Nani but it wasn't long before he melted and came after her, his friends joining after witnessing her using her bending against the soldiers. Which was a crime under their occupation of the village.

Running through the maze of tents, the waterbender kept calling for her friend but still wasn't getting a response. She was growing more and more worried. Katara had to use her bending a few times as the soldier that confronted her and his friends started catching up to her. They retaliated and sent fireballs at her. She dodged as much as she could. However, one got her in her rib and fell into the snow.

Katara cried out in pain as she fell on her side and held to where she had been struck. The soldiers chasing her laughed as they approached. She looked at them fearfully as she tried dragging herself away from them.

"Please, I just want to find my friend." She pleaded with them. "Her mother is looking for her."

The soldier that originally confronted her spat on the ground and crouched down in front of her, giving her a dirty look. "Look bitch, I don't care what you're trying to do. You were told to shut the fuck up and go the fuck home. You refused and even used your bending against us. Disobeying orders and assault will get you burned to a crisp back where we're from. So, ask me what you think we're going to do with you?"

Katara's eyes were wide.

A wicked smirk painted on his lips as he stood up and looked down at her, "You guys think we should make an exception?"

The others all nodded, also wearing the same expressions.

"Look here, girlie. We know you're the commander's girl. Your hairpin gave you away. Can't kill you if we wanted to but you still gotta be put in your place. So how about you just let us sample what you do with the commander and we let you go?"

Shaking her head as she became even more guarded, "He said not to let anyone touch me."

"Then don't tell him. We won't." They all chuckled.

"He'll know." Katara told them.

"And how's that?"

Averting her gaze, "He hasn't taken me yet." She confessed.

The soldiers started chuckling and whispering things amongst themselves as the main one only smirked more.

"So you're a virgin?"

Nodding.

"Then we can use the other hole." He said.

The waterbender's eyes widened. "No, please! He told me-"

"Should have thought about that before you disobeyed and assaulted us, bitch." The soldier hissed at her as he started unbuckling his belt and pulled his pants down to show her his half erect member.

Katara thought quickly as she knew she couldn't let anyone but the commander have her. Everything that came from their relationship would be gone. She wouldn't get to end the war or get her three wishes granted. This would be her life forever. Waving her hand, she bent the snow at the men and sent them all flying back as she got up quickly and dashed off. She couldn't find her friend right now. There were bigger things at stake here.

Using her bending to help her sled out of the camp, Katara managed to get away from them completely but she knew they'd be coming for her. They knew who she was. They'd be coming for her soon. Maybe she shouldn't head back to the village. Her family could be in danger if she did. But if she fled and they went to the village only to not find her, her family could still be in trouble.

When she got home, Katara nearly fell over in pain as her wound from being struck with a fireball had finally subdued her ability to move anymore.

"Katara, where have you be-"

"Mom, there are soldiers coming for me! You and gram gram need to leave!" Katara shouted as she held her side.

Kya was confused but saw her daughter was in grave pain and took a look to see what happened to her. She gasped at the nasty burn.

"What happened, Katara?!" her mother demanded to know as she quickly got her medical kit to treat the burn.

Katara explained she went to the camp looking for Nani because her mother was worried but trouble broke out and she had to defend herself.

Placing some cream on the burn, "We just have to wait till the commander is back and when he is, we'll be fine."

"We can't wait for him! It could be a few more days! Mom-"

"No, Katara, we have nowhere to go either way." Kya explained. "And even if we did, your grandmother won't get far. Whatever happens we have no choice but to face."

Katara could see the defeat in her mother's face and hated it. Hate how there was nothing she could do, nothing they could do. This was their fate. Only person they could depend on was the commander. Otherwise, they were doomed.

As her mother fixed her up, the waterbender prepared herself to face the soldier that would soon be on their way. She tried mentally preparing to fight even though she was in no condition to fight. Katara was prepared to fight till the last breath if she had to. They wouldn't get the satisfaction of raping her. They'd have to kill her first.

"Everyone! Out of their huts!" A loud voice shouted.

A shiver of fear ran down Katara's back as she swallowed and her mother and grandmother looked prepared to face death head on. The three exited their home to see others were standing outside their homes. Kya pulled her daughter close to her as soldiers looked to be checking everyone out, looking for Katara. She pulled the hairpin from her daughter's hair to make her less identifiable and whispered for her to run if things got ugly.

"No!" Katara said, whispering back. "I won't leave you!"

Kya gave her daughter a stern look, "You'll be leaving behind ashes. Worthless, meaningless ashes! You run, you hear me! Run!"

Kanna nodded her head in agreement, "You are the last of the royal household, Katara. Try to make it to the North Pole. You'll be safe there."

Tears ran down the waterbender's eyes as she realized her mother and grandmother were serious. They were prepared to die to save her. As the soldiers made their way closer, one approached them and Kya kissed her daughter on the forehead as if to say goodbye.

"Whatever happens, never forget what they did to us. What they did to your father and brother. To our people." Kya shut her eyes. "You must avenge us. No matter what. And let no one get in your way."

Katara shut her eyes and nodded.

The soldier smirked as his eyes landed on the waterbender.

"So you think we won't remember a face like yours just because you remove your hairpin?" He chuckled. "Cute."

Several soldiers came over as the one soldier grabbed Katara by her hair and snatched her from her mother. Kya screamed for her daughter and was bitch slapped by one of the other soldiers as her grandmother was stared down. Katara was dragged by her hair to the center of the village and kicked where she had been injured earlier.

"Look, we were being nice before. Big mistake on our part but don't worry, we're not going to kill you. We'll let the commander do that after we rape you in front of all your little friends."

All the village people gasped as some looked away, not wanting to witness but Katara wasn't going to let it happen. Even though her mother and grandmother were prepared to die for her, she wasn't going to let them. When the soldier tried restraining her while his friends came over to participate, Katara kicked him in his groaned and shoved him off of her as she managed to her feet, holding her side.

"Katara! Don't!" Kya yelled for her daughter as the other soldiers had restrained her.

Katara shook her head before using her bending to call the snow around to engage her attackers. Everyone around them watched as the young woman fought with an injured side as the group of soldiers tried to stop her. They all begged for her to stop and accept her fate, not wanting to witness her death. But she was headstrong. Determined to not be humiliated. If she was going to die, it would be on her feet. Not her knees. She wasn't going to submit. Not to death. Not to this war. Not to them. They'd have to kill her.

As she tackled one soldier to the ground, the waterbender formed an ice dagger in her hand and shoved it into the soldiers face. His blood splattering on her face. Katara made a grieving sound as she had never taken a life before and didn't find pleasure in it. But she knew it was the only way to stop some people. The other soldiers, however, had surrounded her and were about to make her regret killing one of them.

"Oh, you are dead, bitch!" One shouted before charging at her.

But before the soldier could get to her, Katara watched her mother suddenly come out of nowhere and jump the man, shoving a whale tooth dagger into his neck, driving him to the ground.

"Get away from my daughter!" Kya hissed as she climbed off the soldier she just killed.

The soldiers were only more pissed off as the mother daughter duo were on their feet ready to fight to the death.

"You've both crossed the line! Prepare to die!"

As fire and ice clash, blade and flesh made contact, the mother and daughter gave it their all until they were both subdued. They were both forced down on their knees. Katara's arm was broken and she was unable to even stand. Beside her, her mother laid sitting on her side with both her legs burnt and immoble.

"You've both killed two of our men." The main soldier stated as he paced back and forth in front of the women. "But, I'll still offer a way out...for one of you." He stated. "So, who wants to die?!"

"Me!" The two women said in unison.

Kya looked to her daughter and glared, "Stop it! I told you to stop!"

Refusing, "I won't! I can't! You think I want to live like this anymore than you do?!" Katara yelled back at her mother in tears and shook her head. "Why would you want me to live like this?!"

"Because you're the last hope our people have! It's your burden! It is as much of your burden as it is mine to do whatever it takes to see to it you fulfill yours! Even if it means death!" Kya cried as she screamed at her daughter. "So live on! And remember everything I told you! And everything they did!"

Katara was going to retort something back but it was too late and the soldier decided to set her mother on fire right there in front of her and in front of everyone. The screams. The smell. The sight. The waterbender was in disbelief. Her blue eyes wide as the fires that were consuming her mother's life reflected in them. She wanted to look away like she had looked away when they killed her father and brother but she couldn't. She wouldn't. Her mother wanted her to remember. She needed to see this. She needed to never forget what her burden was.

As her mother's body collapsed, the life snuffed out of her as the flames only wanted to take more until there was nothing left but ash, Katara was reached for by a soldier as she wouldn't tear her eyes away. However, her attention was eventually taken from her mother's burning corpse by a blue flame that blazed just past her face and burned the soldier behind her.

"Step away from her if you value your lives!" Katara heard the commander's voice and saw him beyond the blue flames.

Ozai climbed down from his mount along with a few others that had been accompanying him and approached Katara. He grabbed the princess by her arm and forced her to stand.

"Commander Yong, that wench and her mother killed three of our men!" One of the soldiers that had been attacking the waterbender stated.

Not wanting to hear it, the commander saw the look in the princess's eyes and knew there was more to the story than that.

"Take these traitors into custody!" Ozai ordered his group.

The soldiers he was apprehending were confused and didn't know what to make of this.

"But-"

"But nothing! I gave her instructions to kill if she were in danger! The fact three of you are dead speaks enough for what took place!"

As the men were arrested, Ozai saw Katara staring at a burning corpse and figured they must have executed her mother. Bending the fire out of it, he ordered a soldier to collect the body and have it taken away.

"What happened?" He asked her.

Katara shook her head as she was out of it, "What always happens. The same thing that happened then. We defend our lives and the lives of our loved ones and we are punished." Shutting her eyes a cool arctic breeze blew in and swept the smoke away. "I have to remember. I can't forget. I have to-"

"Let's talk more later, then." Ozai placed his hand on her shoulder and took her under his cloak to lead over to his mount.

Passing her grandmother, Katara couldn't make eye contact with the woman as she heard her cries fill the night time air. She was helped onto the mount as the commander settled behind her and they took off to the camp.

Shutting her eyes as the grief in her heart was shaping into anger and hate, I'll avenge you, I'll avenge you all. I swear it! And no one will get in my way! By Tui and La, there will be hell to pay and I will sentence all that are guilty to a just death.

…..

Having heard the full story from Katara, Ozai executed the men that had tried raping her and killed her mother. He let her watch as she requested to see the one that ended her mother suffer the same fate. She was void of emotions for many of them but he saw there was pleasure she took in watching her mother's murderer be burned alive. Obviously, the rage he saw in her before had grown. It would prove to be what he needed in due time.

Back at his tent, the waterbender turned to him and looked him directly in the eyes. He raised a brow, curious about what she had to say to him.

"Everything you said, you're not lying to me, are you?"

Ozai shook his head, "I'm not. You help me and I'll help you."

"Why would you be willing?" Her brows furrowed.

Smirking, "You can't possibly think all of us 'ashe makers', as I hear your people call us, are in support of this war. Some of us rather think it's barbaric and beneath us."

"And what do you think?" Katara folded her arms.

Ozai walked around her and removed his hair tie at his dresser, "I think the war is worthless and I hate the smell of burning flesh and the sound of children screaming."

As the commander removed his outerwear and was planning to go to bed after his journey back to camp. But when he turned around, he saw the princess had removed her clothes completely and had her hair completely down. She walked up to him and pulled on the tunic he was wearing, inching herself up on tippy toes to reach his lips.

Turning his face from hers, "You're grieving. I won't have you."

"Give and take. You saved me and killed those bastards, let me repay you." Katara persisted as she pulled the tunic up and lifted it for him to remove.

Ozai looked at the waterbender and tried to see if there was any doubt or uncertainty.

"Knowing you're willing is payment enough." He pulled his tunic back down.

Katara wasn't going for that and reached to cup his face, trying to force her lips onto him. However, he leaned down and bit her lip hard to get her to stop. She let go and eyed him with a hurt expression.

"I'm trying to repay you. You want 'that' from me. I'm your mistress, aren't I? Let me do what you've called me to do." She reminded him.

The commander shook his head, "I saved you because you belong to me. I executed those bastards because they went after what is mine. I don't need to be repaid. Just get in bed and rest. I'll have you when you've buried your mother and dealt with her death."

Furrowing her brows, "So you're a man of some honor?"

"I see you're testing me and yes, I'd think I still have some honor." Ozai told her as he pulled a lock of hair behind her ear and brushed his thumb over her tear stained cheeks. "Give and take as we may be, I'd still want a companion. Can't have that if you grow to hate me as you have all other ashe-makers."

Katara sniffled and cast her gaze away from him, "And you think I don't already hate you too?"

Tilting his head as he smirked, "If you do, you won't for long. I have a way of making women fall for me." His thumb moved over her lips. "I give you permission to do so, Princess."

Pulling away from him, the waterbender turned her back from him and folded her arms over her bare breasts. She wasn't going to justify his remark with a response.

"If you're not going to have me, I'll just go to bed then." Katara made her way to the bed, not noticing the way gold eyes were trained on her backside and the slight regret in them for not taking her up on the offer.

When morning came, Ozai escorted the princess to where the tribespeople sent their loved ones off and stood a bit of a distance away to give Katara her space to say goodbye.

Preparing the small boat for her mother's wrapped remains, Katara sniffled and wiped her tears away. She hadn't gotten to send her father and brother off to the depths of the ocean like their people usually did with the dead. Their remains were carried out by the arctic winds along with some many others that died with them. Hopefully, her mother found peace with Tui and La as rejoined her father and brother.

The Princess of the desolate tribe pressed her lips to cotton wrappings of her mother's forehead and promised to carry out her burdens. You've done your part and I'll do mine. Pulling away, she gazed sorrowfully down at what remained of her mother in this world and her heart broke some more. All that remained with her grandmother and she knew that would not be for long now with her grandmother's illness. At most there was a year left.

Katara pushed the small boat out into the water and used her bending to get the boat as far as she could before it sunk from the holes in the bottom. Her teary eyes watched as little by little the small boat sunk, the wind blowing her loose strands of her hair across her face. Her lips chap from the cold, mouthing the words of a prayer her people recited to their lost loved ones. When the boat had completely sunken, the waterbender's eyes were flooded with tears as she bowed her head to press to the icy ground beneath her, her heart lurching in her chest.

"I'll join you when our people have back what was taken." Katara shut her eyes and lifted her head from the ground. "Wait for me."

Once her goodbye was said, Katara got to her feet and turned to see the commander was waiting patiently for her. She wiped her tears and made her way to him. He met her half way and held his hand out for her. It took her a moment to accept but she eventually did.

"Your flames are blue, why is that?" She asked him as he walked with her back to his mount and was helped on it.

Jumping up onto the saddle and grabbing the reins of his komodo with the waterbender in front of him, "It's what happens when you go beyond mastery of the element." Ozai answered simply as he had them take off.

"Does it only change the color or are they hotter too?"

"They're much hotter."

"I figured. Those men were in ashes in seconds." Katara replayed the execution in her head.

Reaching the camp, the commander had a few documents to oversee from his trip away from camp while Katara went to do her chores with the other waterbenders. She noticed they were all eyeing her as she picked up her bucket and went to the tent where they cleaned the soldiers' uniforms and clothes. She found a secluded spot to get started and noticed right away that people were whispering. Knowing it was in her best interest to ignore them, Katara got started and used this time to distract herself from what she was feeling. As much as she wanted to cry she had to condition herself to stay strong. There was much she had to prepare for in the future and there would be no room for tears. She had lives to avenge and people to save.

As the waterbender focused all her thoughts on her task, a bucket plopped down in front of her and her attention drew to it. Her eyes widened as she saw it was Nani.

"Na-"

"Katara, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." Nani said as she looked full of guilty and remorse.

Katara swallowed hard and let her gaze dwindle back to her bucket, "It's fine. I'm just glad to see you're okay. Your mother is worried about you."

"Katara, you didn't have to-"

Shaking her head, "What's done is done. Nothing we can do about the past. We just have to move forward."

Nani could see this was the way her friend was coping with the death of her mother and nodded, wanting to be respectful of the process in which she chose to heal.

"What are they all whispering about?" Katara asked, scrubbing the dark red trousers in the bucket of soap and water.

Nani grabbed an article of clothing to clean, "They all found out who you really are. None of them knew the princess of Chieftain Hakoda had survived."

Scoffing, "Not like it matters. Our tribe is in ruins. Princess is nothing but a title."

"From what I heard the commander executed the men they tried to rape you and kil-... anyway some heard he is the Fire Prince, second prince, from the other soldiers. They think he might be the key to helping us, at least with his relation to you." Nani explained.

Katara snorted and shook her head, "Is that how we're coping now? Telling ourselves and each other these pointless fairytales? I'm merely a mistress for the commander to take pleasure in while he's away from home. No doubt he's married and has an entire family waiting for him. I'll be discarded like everyone else here."

"The lieutenant says he plans to take me home with him." Nani stated. "And Lyra will be going home with the soldier that she's with. I don't doubt the commander will be taking you with him either. Heard he was very upset about what happened."

Furrowing her brows, Katara decided not to respond. She knew he was taking her with him. They had an arrangement. But that was no one's business but theirs. She just knew not to talk about it and she didn't want people assuming things that weren't true. The commander was upset because those men got in the way of what he wanted and tried to covet what belonged to him, both being her.

After washing the clothes and ringing them out, Nani helped her take the basket of damp clothes to the clothesline and hang them up. One of the female waterbenders that had been watching the princess had come over, clearly wanting to speak with Katara.

"Hey, Katara." The timid tribeswoman started. "Is it true you're the princess?"

Katara eyed her peer as she hung up the clothes before sighing, "Can't be a princess when there is nothing to be a princess of."

"B-but before you were, weren't you?" The young woman seemed eager to know.

Pausing for a moment, Katara looked the woman in the eyes and then to those standing a little ways behind trying to listen in. Her expression was impassive and unmoved. This was all very annoying to her. What did it matter if she was the princess? Their tribe might as well be nonexistent.

"In the time before our cities and villages were burned to ashes and we weren't being used as whores by foreign soldiers, yes, I was the Princess of this tribe. But as it stands, I'm no different than any of you."

"But the commander, he's the Fire Prince. Maybe he can-"

"He can what? What can he possibly do? His father launched the attack on our people. Why would any of you place your trust in him?"

The tribeswoman began to feel a bit uneasy, "Maybe-"

"Maybe nothing." Katara shot back. "Let's get back to our chores so we can return to the warm beds we spend getting fucked in."

As the tribeswoman teared up and walked back to the others, Katara saw Nani eyeing her pitifully.

"You didn't have to be so cold, Katara. They all just want something to hold onto. Like hope." Nani explained.

Hanging up the last of the clothes in the basket, "So I should lie to them?"

"No but-"

Katara picked up her basket, "Your mother is worried about you. Ask the lieutenant to allow you to go see her. She needs to know her daughter is alright."

With that, the waterbender left and went to take on the rest of her chores. She wasn't in the mood.

…..

Next few days, Katara was allowed to return to the village in order to look after her grandmother during the hours she was supposed to be doing chores around the camp. In the evenings, she remained with the commander, who she watched until he fell asleep. She didn't know why she was suddenly cautious of him. Maybe she wasn't as sure of his intentions for her even though he was pretty straightforward and didn't say much if there was no need for talking. Or maybe she just believed all Ashe-makers were the same, even though she wanted to believe he was different.

One afternoon after finishing things up with her Gram Gram, Katara felt the woman watching her hard as she had the last few days. They didn't speak much after her mother's death but maybe words would finally be held between them. The waterbender tried to speak first but she couldn't get the words out.

"How is the commander treating you?" Kanna asked seldomly.

Casting her gaze away from her grandmother, "He's not cruel." Was all she could say.

"That all?"

Katara nodded. She never had much to say about the commander. He was one of the soldiers that occupied the ruins of their once beautiful home. Sure, he wasn't a monster like the others or at least he had shown that side to her yet. But what made him any different. He claimed her when she was sixteen and while he hadn't taken her yet, she didn't view him any differently. Not even with all he offered her as long as she remained only his and cooperated with him in due time. He was still just another ashe-maker. The only one she actually spoke casually with but that was all.

"There must be more. You've been with him over a month." Her gram gram said.

Shrugging, "What should I say about him? We don't talk much."

"Ah, so he's only interested in that."

Shaking her head, "He still won't do that with me. I don't understand why."

"That's odd." Kanna looked strangely at her granddaughter. "Have you refused him before?"

Katara shook her head and told her she did the opposite but he refused her.

"And you keep up with your hygiene?"

Nodding.

Kanna sighed, "Is he messing with the others?"

"He doesn't even look at the others." Katara answered.

"You should probably tempt him." Kanna suggested. "He's aware of who you really are and we know who he is, I think you should take matters into your own hands."

"Tempt him for what reason?"

Kanna sighed, "Your mother would kill me if she knew I was suggesting this but I think the better your relationship is with the commander, the more you'll gain. You're a woman now, Katara. As women, we can get whatever we want from a man if we know how to manipulate them correctly."

"I doubt he can be manipulated, gram gram."

"Oh pish posh, he's a man. They can all be manipulated. You just got to find what works with him."

Leaving the village shortly after speaking with her grandmother, Katara returned to the camp and made her way towards the tent she shared with the commander. When there, she saw he was at the low table looking over a bunch of scrolls and rubbing his temple. She noticed the cup of tea at his side was empty and figured she should make herself useful. Grabbing the tea kettle, the waterbender got to fixing more tea over the fire pit in the center of the tent.

When it was done, she carried it over to him and knelt beside him, pouring tea into his cup. She set the tea kettle on the burn proof surface away from his paperwork and added a mint leaf to the tea before remaining at his side. He grabbed his cup and drank from it as he remained focused on his work. Katara sort of just watched him and observed him as she typically did. He hadn't as much touched her since he returned even though he made it very clear before leaving that he wanted her.

Setting his tea down, "Is there something on my face?"

Katara shook her head.

Glancing her from the corner of his eyes, Ozai looked her up and down. "What is it?"

"How old are you?" She asked rather bluntly.

Snickering as he looked away from her, "Why does that matter?"

"I'm curious by nature." She admitted. "Plus, you look like you could be thirty but your mannerisms suggest you're older."

"You've been studying me. Cute." Ozai set his scroll down. "I'm forty. Any other questions?"

"Do you have a family back home? Like a wife and children?"

Ozai turned to the waterbender, "Why the interest?"

"Because…" Katara looked him dead in his eyes, "You're hesitant with me. Like something is holding you back from having me. The other soldiers don't seem to have your same restraint, maybe they don't have wives or maybe they don't like their wives."

Chuckling, "You sound as if you even want me to have you, Princess."

"It would make things less awkward if you just treated me accordingly. We're not friends. We're barely even acquaintances. You told me I was your mistress. Do you simply like to look at me like a jewel or are you afraid to dishonor your wife?"

Ozai smirked, "What if it's neither?"

"So you're not married?"

"Never said that."

"Then you are?"

"Didn't say that either."

"Then how about you answer the question?"

"Which one?"

"Both."

The commander eyed the waterbender before shifting his gaze. "My marriage was arranged twenty years ago. She and I have a son together. He's a little older than you."

Katara was a bit surprised by this.

"But we're not in love and so I've been known to step out. Dishonoring her is not my concern."

"Then why is it you won't have me?"

"Do you want me to?" He raised his brow as his attention was back on her.

The waterbender nodded to his surprise.

Studying her face, "For someone so young, you are rather pushy. Why the sudden desire, princess?"

"I have my reasons."

"Not jealous of your little friends. I notice my lieutenant is involved with one of the women I see around you all the time."

Scoffing as she looked away from him, "I'm not jealous. I'm just curious."

"About?"

"Sex."

Ozai couldn't help but laugh. He didn't expect the woman to want to give herself to him. Honestly, he had been contemplating it the last few days. Wasn't exactly easy sharing his bed with the waterbender and not as much as touching her. However, he took pleasure in tension and was now wondering how far she would go to sway him. Not that it would take much. He wanted to pin her down now. But maybe he would toy with her a little bit.

Leaning in to kiss the waterbender, the commander pulled her into his lap as she moved her lips against his in response. As she straddled him he could feel heat radiate from her body. He found himself growing more and more hungry in his claim of her lips. Her breathless moans teasing at his senses and causing him to harden underneath her. Ozai was a bit stunned when the princess rolled her hips against him, grinding herself into him as her hand reached around to grip a chunk of his hair from behind his head while she shoved her tongue into his mouth.

The commander flipped her on her back on the rug under them and lost control as he devoured her plump lips, pulling at the indoor dress. His hand traveled up her dress to the waistband of her legging and slipped inside of them. He removed his lips from her and trailed light kisses down her jaw to her neck as his fingers found her sex. Biting her neck and sucking on it, Ozai could feel Katara was soaked. His fingers rubbed the folds of her sex, extracting a beautiful moan from her lips as she arched her back, and he lifted his head from her neck to watch her expression. He continued fondling her and watching the way her eyes were squeezed shut as she cried out in pleasure, her arms above her head as her nails clawed the rug. When he saw her eyes flutter open, Ozai probed the entrance of her sex and eased his finger into her.

Several minutes later, Katara was holding her arms around herself as she bashfully stared at the rug under her. Apparently, the commander didn't believe she was still a virgin and was only checking for her maidenhead. As soon as he confirmed it was still intact, he kissed her long and hard and then removed himself from her.

"We're not friends. Barely even acquaintances. I'm not eager to sleep with a stranger or a potential enemy." Ozai explained to her. "As much as I want to, I need more from you than just a warm place to shove by cock in at night."

Furrowing her brows as she continued to stare at the floor, "Sounds like you're looking for a lover."

"And if I am?"

Katara looked up at him and wore a cold expression, "Then you're looking in the wrong place, Fire Prince Ozai."

Ozai smirked and let his eyes roam over her, "Better to be my lover than my enemy, Princess. Remember that."

The waterbender turned her head as she buried her face into her knees that she had pulled to her chest. "You're all monsters, aren't you?"

"Us and everyone else." He replied. "Especially, bloodlusting Princesses with hearts shrouded in ice."

"Some are born monsters and some become ones." She retorted at him.

Smirking, "All are still monsters. Justified or not, still a monster."

Katara scoffed as she glared down at the rug.

Moving to kiss the side of her face, "Go to bed." He told her as he patted her head.

…..

Another month went by and Katara found that Nani was pregnant. The lieutenant had to leave the camp to be reassigned and he was taking her with him. Nani said she was excited and admitted to having feelings for the lieutenant. Apparently, he gave her a ring which was a symbol of affection in the Fire Nation. They couldn't marry but it was the closest thing that could take place. Katara tried to be happy for her friend but the reality of things was still very morbid to her. She wished Nani luck and reminded her to see her mother before leaving.

With her friend gone, the waterbender was less and less social. She just did her chores and looked after her grandmother during the day. At night, she watched the commander busy himself with his work and try to get glimpses at what he was reading but it was all in Fire Nation script and she wasn't able to read it. So, she'd just fix his tea and sit waiting to see if he'd change his mind. However, he'd only tease her which turned into a struggle where she was trying to pin him. But she was easily outmatched. She would end up getting tied around the pole that stood in the middle of the tent to maintain its form.

One night after nearly pulling his pants down, the waterbender was stripped down to only her binding and was tied to the pole. The commander had a guest coming by. His new assigned lieutenant. Of course, the new guy was eyeing her practically the entire time to which she tried to not notice. Ozai noticed. She could see he was annoyed with his new lieutenant already. He was quite cold and bitter towards the man. Giving him a list of his responsibilities, the commander let the man know he can have any of the other women but to leave her alone, she was his.

When the new guy left, Katara sighed as she shook her head and looked over to Ozai.

"So I'm yours?"

"Yes. I think I established that quite some time ago." He answered with his back turned her, working at the low table on important paperwork.

Katara narrowed her eyes at him, "So are you ever going to sleep with me?"

Ozai pinched his brows as he set down his quill and sighed, "I've never dealt with such a horny woman in my life. Let alone one that was still a virgin."

"I'm pushing nineteen. Typically, tribeswomen marry at sixteen. I'm a little behind, your highness." Katara said in a snarky tone.

The commander decided to ignore her. Tomorrow, he had to leave the camp again and he was going to have to bring her with him. He didn't trust her to not cause trouble. Three men and a tribeswoman ended up dead last time. Ozai always prided himself on maintaining order in his camp and the village that they occupied. Violence took place in a lot of other villages and camps but he didn't have that issue until he left the princess alone for a few days.

Getting up in the morning, Ozai untied the waterbender from the pole and clamped a gold collar around her neck with a chain dangling off of it. He let her know they were going to an outpost by the ruins of the capital city and that she'd have to be shackled to enter with him. Katara stared hard at him, clearly not liking this but didn't say much. A black fur cloak was thrown over her shoulders before he took her to his mount.

Holding to the commander's middle as he stirred the large beast through the frozen bear tundra, Katara gazed out at the landscape that once had statues and monuments that were now rumbles of snow and ice. She hadn't left the village since her mother brought her and her grandmother here when the capital was first attacked. There was no telling what the capital looked like now after all these years. No doubt it looked like everything else. In complete ruins. The waterbender buried her face into the commander's back as tears pricked her eyes. She hated having to see the nothingness of her once proud nation. Completely desolated in a span of a few short days. If there was anything the Fire Nation was good at, it was obviously destroying things. Her home, her culture, her people….all destroyed by the Fire Nation.

As they continued on north, the two ended up stopping in the arctic forest that would lead out into the territory surrounding the capital. Katara fed the mount as the commander went to relieve himself. When she finished feeding the mount, the waterbender went over to the bushes to see what the man was doing only to find he was pulling at himself. His back was to her but she was quite interested in exactly what he was doing. She figured it would be a good time to check him out and see what he had down there. Not fair he had already seen her naked on several occasions but she never got a glimpse of anything but his bare torso.

Sneaking over around the bushes, the waterbender took a look and her mouth dropped. It was not what she expected. Having healed tribesmen that had been injured and having soldiers expose themselves to her, Katara had seen plenty of male members but none of them looked like this. Her face was flushed at how large he was. La, it was too big if you asked her. Now, she was thankful he hadn't had sex with her yet. She feared he'd tear her apart. Oh, she dreaded the day he'd finally change his mind.

"You just really want to test my patience."

Katara's eyes lifted to see the man glare down at her as he still had his hand on his member.

"Get over here!" He growled as he snatched her before she flee and threw her up against the tree in front of him.

"No! Wait!" She pleaded.

Ozai ignored her and lifted her parka to her hips, pulled her pants down. He pinned her in place as she tried squirming away and pulled her hips out to him.

"Shh, not another word." He breathed in her ear.

The princess squeezed her eyes shut believing he was going to finally take her virginity. However, as he removed her lower bindings, tossing them into the snow, he spread her thighs apart and pushed his member between them, shutting them tight as he was wedged between them. Katara moaned a little as she felt the heat of his cock right against the folds of her sex. She braced herself against the tree as he began thrusting between her thighs and grew wet from the friction. In her ear, she could hear him breathing heavily as his lips pressed into the nape of her neck. As he picked up his pace, his cock coated in her warm juices, the commander clenched his teeth as he finally came. Pulling from her thighs and jerking a coat of hot semen on her ass.

The commander pulled her leggings back on her with his cum still on her. He fixed her parka and kissed the side of her face before walking back to his mount. Katara needed a second to get a hold of herself. She wasn't used to that sort of stimulation and she felt she was burning up under her clothes. That felt all too good to her. She changed her mind again. She wanted him. Horse cock and all.

Back on the mount head for the capital, Katara held onto the commander's middle again but this time her eyes were shut as she replayed being thigh-fucked over and over in her head. She unknowingly rubbed her hands along his middle and nuzzled herself to his back, daydreaming about the ordeal. He made her want to do things she probably shouldn't want to do with him or his kind but it wasn't all sexual, she tried telling herself. She still had a mission to complete. Both the one he wanted her to do for him and the one she was burdened with when her mother died to protect her life. Sex would just be a bonus...if she could get him to have sex with her.

…

An hour later and the two were riding through the capital ruins. Katara noticed right away that all was not completely lost. While many structures were destroyed, plenty were maintained and even remodeled with what looked like metal. Something she rarely ever saw. Only on the ships the soldiers arrived and the armor of their attire. She deduced they must use metal quite a bit back in the Fire Nation. The canals that boats transporting people and things were frozen up and made into mere icy roads. The uniqueness of the Water Tribe erased left and right as she saw statues disfigured and the tribe's insignia erased. She barely recognized the place anymore.

"We're heading to the palace. There are some things I need to take care of with the high-ranking generals overseeing operations here in the South Pole." Ozai told her over his shoulder. "I've already told them the Southern Tribe princess is in my custody so they'll know who you are. While we're here, you need to act like you've been tamed."

Sucking her teeth as she rolled her eyes, "I am very tamed." Katara said back in offense.

"Not as of late." He pointed out.

"I wouldn't if you'd stop delaying the inevitable. I know you want to."

Ozai scoffed but didn't reply. The woman was already wearing on him and he wasn't sure he would last much longer restraining himself. He had used up every bit of control he had left finding release with her thighs alone. It took everything not to shove his dick straight into her and ruin that tight little fit of hers. She clearly wanted him to make a woman of her and Agni knew he was growing real impatient. However, there were reasons he hadn't yet taken her. One being, that he wanted to get to know her a little better and two being, why he brought her here.

Aside from not wanting her to cause trouble back at camp, he was asked to bring her the next time he arrived in the ruins of the Southern capital. It was a request, nothing that had to be followed through but there were some that wanted to confirm her identity. He let them know her purity was intact which would allow him to make her an official mistress. Only a woman of purity was allowed to serve as a mistress to a prince. As soon as they confirmed she was pure, he was going to strip her of it and give her what she wanted.

Approaching the palace gates, the two were let in by soldiers stationed around the perimeter after the commander showed his papers and seal confirming his identity. As they rode in, Katara noticed the palace had been altered like the other building in the capital. A gigantic tapestry with the Fire Nation insignia on it hung from the top of the palace, declaring it was conquered. There was nothing but disgust and hatred she felt as she stared at it. I'll take back our country and tear down that ugly sign, starting with killing the Fire Lord. I promise you, mother, I won't fail our people and I won't fail you.

Ozai helped the waterbender down from the beast's saddle and took her by her leash as soon as she was on her feet. He could see she was not a fan of the leash but they didn't want any waterbenders going around unchecked in the capital, especially ones that the soldiers brought in.

"As soon as we've been accommodated, I'll take it off." He told her.

Katara sighed and nodded.

Adjusting her hood as the arctic winds blew in, Ozai turned and led her up the staircase of the palace. He was saluted by several guards by the time he reached the top and greeted by one of the generals he had planned to see while here.

"Fire Prince Ozai, it is good you could make it back." The general bowed to the prince.

Ozai bowed in return to his ranking superior, "General Fuji, I'm glad to be back. This is the closest to civilization I've gotten since my deployment."

"Ah, I hear that. Only a year more before you'll be able to retire and return home." The general chuckled as he noticed the cloaked woman behind the prince wearing a collar.

Noticing the general eyeing Katara, Ozai pulled her by her leash and urged her to come forward. As she did, he removed her hood and allowed General Fuji to see her.

"This is Princess Katara Mizuki, last surviving member of the royal family of the Southern Water Tribe." Ozai stated.

The general marveled at the woman as his eyes roamed her face, "My, she's gorgeous. I guess your hard work paid off."

Katara stood still and gazed at the floor as the general came forth to grab her jaw for further examination. He angled her head around, taking a look at her from different views and then getting her to flash her eyes up at him. She stared at the older man and saw him smirk before letting her go.

"Gorgeous indeed. I find it hard to believe you haven't fucked her yet." Fuji shifted his gaze from the princess to the prince.

"You know the rules for having a legitimate mistress. If I want her to be an official mistress, I can't have her sullied until she's been appointed." Ozai pulled Katara back to him. "I do plan on taking her back home with me. A princess as a mistress is quite the conquest."

Nodding, the general had his eyes on the princess again and agreed it would be a waste if she could not be flaunted around. He went on to snap his fingers and two tribeswomen came forth, each wearing a collar for safe measure. The general ordered they take the two to their assigned accommodations until the meetings commenced.

As they were led away, Katara felt the general grope her ass and she flinched, hurrying to match the commander's pace as she glanced over her shoulder at the man. He was licking his lips at her. She felt disgust and focused back ahead, pulling close to the commander. When they arrived at their quarters, the waterbender recognized these rooms as the ones that belonged to the noble guests that would come stay in the palace whenever they were visiting the capitol. The chambers had been altered with Fire Nation decor but it still looked very much the same. She was let off her leash, collar still around her neck, and allowed to explore around in each room. It didn't take her long to fall somber from the nostalgia and miss the past.

Going to the master suite where the commander was undressing, the waterbender came up to his side and saw the clothes splayed out on the bed. They weren't clothes she had seen him have before and a pair looked like clothes for women. Was she supposed to dress in these too?

"The capitol is occupied entirely by the Fire Nation. We have to dress accordingly." He told her as he gestured for her to change her clothes.

Picking up the red long sleeved dress with black fur around the collar, cuffs, and hem. "I should probably wash up before I put this on." Remembering he came on her ass and left it there when he pulled her leggings back on her.

Ozai handed her the undergarments to wear to which she eyed them strangely.

"They're what women in the Fire Nation wear." He informed her. "Wear them instead of your bindings."

Katara took the underwear and eyed them funny as she took them to the bathroom. She wasn't exactly sure how to put the top part on but the bottom wear looked simple enough.

Once she was bathed and in the dress, Katara came back out with the top part dangling in her hands. She didn't know how to put it on and decided not to wear it, tossing it on the bed. The commander eyed it and then looked at her.

"I can see your nipples." He pointed out.

Shrugging as she went to sit on the otimen that was at the foot of the bed, "I don't know how to put it on."

"You should have at least put your bindings on there. I have to take you to be seen after the meeting."

Katara glanced up at him as he stood to her side, tying up his hair. "Why does it matter?"

"Because you have to be presentable."

"And how much work do I have to put into being presentable? Every man that sees me will just undress me with their eyes. I'm an object of sex, aren't I? Anyone that looks at me will know my only worth is the service I provide and that's sex. Why should I bind my breasts or even wear clothes at this point?" Katara said harshly.

Ozai furrowed his brows at her and forced her to stand up. As she did, he removed the dress from her and grabbed the bra off the bed. He helped her into it and snapped it together in the back as he put the dress back on her.

"Have you suddenly lost your dignity, Katara? If so, let me know and I'll find someone else that'll help me end this war." He told her.

Shaking her head, the waterbender wiped the tears in her eyes and sniffled.

"What people think you are and what you are can be two different things. You must always carry yourself as what you are. And if you still have your dignity, you should carry yourself with dignity." Ozai looked her in the eyes. "If I just wanted you for sex, I wouldn't have told you all I have. I know it seems like I just want my father dead so I can take the throne but I heard the Southern Water Tribe was a place to be envied. I come a year after the initial attack and find rubble. You think I like seeing kingdoms fall?"

Katara didn't know but from the sound of it, he didn't seem to like it.

Taking her chin and lifting it to make eye contact with her, "You asked me if I'd help you rebuild the Southern Water Tribe. I'll see what I can do but in the meantime, don't forget you're my accomplice as much as you are my mistress. The sex is only a bonus. Got it?"

Nodding her head.

Smirking, "Good girl." He moved to press his lips to hers.

As the commander pulled the waterbender into his arms as he passionately kissed, they were interrupted by a knock on the door. Ozai pulled apart and kissed her cheek before removing himself entirely. Katara stood there watching as the man left to join others in a meeting. She was starting to like him some. Ashe-maker as he might be, he was beneficial to her goals, and how could she pretend not to be attracted to him. Despite age and race differences, he wasn't all too bad.

….

Attending the meeting, Ozai discovered the new direction his nation was going in as far as what they planned to do with the Southern Water Tribe. Apparently, all waterbenders were to be rounded up and taken to work as slaves and house servants in the Fire Nation. As for those that were non-benders, they were to be left here with minimal supervision by an outpost right here in the capitol. The people of the Southern Tribe would be in servitude to the Fire Nation as they moved on to find the reincarnation of the Avatar elsewhere. The Fire Prince knew this news would enrage the waterbender and decided he'd inform her after he got her appointed, which would take place thirty minutes after this meeting was over.

When the meeting adjourned, Ozai was approached by a few ranking officers and General Po. Po was an old friend of his. The general asked him quite a few questions about his plans after retirement. The Fire Prince didn't say much as he always kept his simplest plans secret. However, Po brought up the rumor about him finding the Water Princess. Ozai confirmed that the woman was in his care and that he was about to have her appointed as his mistress shortly.

Po smirked and patted his friend on the back, "Fuji says she's better looking than any of the women he's seen around here. I hope to meet her."

"Trust me, you won't be seeing much of her." Ozai stated. "Not for a while that is. I discovered her almost three years ago and it's not been exactly easy restraining myself."

Chuckling, "Then I'm sure I'll hear her before I ever lay eyes on her."

After the two exchanged more words, moving onto the subject matter of how his father and wife will feel about the princess being brought home, Ozai returned to his chambers to find Katara dancing in the sitting area. He decided not to disturb her as he wanted to watch. It had been a while since he watched a woman dance and honestly, none of them danced like this. It was rather hypnotic and arousing. She really didn't know what she did to him but she would soon enough. The waterbender stopped as soon as she saw him, her hips stopped swaying and her arms fell at her side.

"Go on. I'm only watching." He said as he watched her make her way up to him.

Shaking her head, "I don't like having an audience."

"Then someday would you allow me to watch?"

Katara blushed and shook her head.

Ozai smirked and caressed the side of her face, "I'll get you to dance for me one of these days."

"Don't be so sure." She told him bashfully. "I dance for no one."

"Then I can be no one if it means you'll dance for me." He whispered as inched towards her face, holding her chin in his hand.

The waterbender made a move to kiss him but he pulled back, pressing his thumb over her lips. She bit his thumb and tried reaching for him to which he pinned her to the wall, looming over her. Her icy blue eyes stared at him as she panted, gazing lustfully into his eyes, wanting to feel good like he made her feel earlier. He leaned down to kiss her and she eagerly jumped which caused him to pull back, grinning at her. She was being toyed with and she couldn't take it.

Turning her head from him when he tried to kiss her again, Katara put her hand in his face and stopped him. "Keep screwing around with me and I'll make you regret it." She told him.

"Cute threat." He planted a firm kiss on her temple and pulled away.

Eyeing him as he moved away from her, "How was the meeting?"

"Boring." He answered.

"Ah, and here I thought meetings were some sort of code for parties." She said sarcastically. "I was asking what was discussed."

Ozai scratched his chin as he turned away from her, "I'd rather discuss that another time. We have somewhere to be."

"In the morning, then?"

"Fine."

…..

The palace looked pretty much the same. Everything was left intact as long as it didn't have the tribe's insignia. The tapestries were replaced but that was all. Katara also noticed that the servants were all servants that had served before when there was still peace. Only they were dressed in red and collar cladded their necks. She saw many of them hang their heads and meekly glance up at her. She tried not to notice them as the mere sight caused a great pain in her. Seeing her people suffer in bondage. It was one thing back at the village, where there was some freedom but this, this was hard to swallow. They were in shackles and with every move they made, she could hear the metal jiggle. Her throat tightened and she focused her attention on the floor. In due time, things would get better, she'd see to it.

Arriving at the double doors that once led to the chapel where her mother and her would spend every night in prayer to Tui and La, Katara furrowed her brows as they opened. She prepared herself for what awaited on the other side but not could prepare her for the complete alteration of the chapel. The entirety of the chapel was changed. The ceiling fixtures were removed and Fire Nation tapestries hung in their place. The walls were no longer pale blue of unthawable ice but dark like the metal that brandished the half destroyed buildings. The statues and religious artifacts were replaced. This was not the holy place she had prayed in. This was completely different. This was evil at its purest and she loathed to step foot inside.

"Commander Yong, I see you've brought the woman you claim to be the Southern Tribe's princess." An elderly man dressed in religious robes spoke as the Fire Prince approached, pulling along the waterbender.

"I've confirmed her identity based on the text given to me." Ozai stated, pulling a scroll from his robe to hand it to the Fire Sage.

The sage eyed the water woman as he took the text and read its content. After reading it, the sage turned to pull out two items from behind him and held it out in front of him.

"Only the princess would be able to identify the necklace of her tribe passed down from generations to generations. It is always hidden from sight and only ever seen by the parents of the princess or her husband. So tell us, child, which of these did you wear around your neck?"

Katara glanced at the necklaces and looked away, "Neither."

Ozai was confused by this but the sage smirked.

"Ah," He said as he looked to the Fire Prince, "And she has the birthmark?"

Nodding his head.

"Then it would seem the lost princess was no longer lost." The sage set the items down and then gestured for them to follow him.

On the other side of their altar was a door leading to the priest quarters. Katara was quite familiar with them from when the high priestess would go over scriptures from their religious text after prayer. The high priestess was a wonderful woman but Katara remembered the night of the invasion, the woman was cornered by soldiers. She never saw her again as her mother and grandmother hurried her out of the capitol.

Standing in front of the door, Ozai told her to go in with the Sage as he had to confirm her purity. Katara looked at him with wide eyes and shook her head.

"Come now, child. It'll only take a moment." The sage said.

Katara continued to shake her head as she pleaded with her eyes for the commander not to let her go in alone with the man. She wasn't a fool. A holy man like a sage shouldn't be drinking but she spotted the small wine stain on his sleeve and saw the way he looked her over like he craved the flesh. She didn't know how things ran in the Fire Nation but clergy made an oath to be celibate and this man looked like he was not faithful to such vows.

"I will be right here. I'm not going anywhere." He told her as he could see she was afraid.

Seeing she had no choice in this, the waterbender turned around and looked to the floor as she made her way to the sage. He placed his hand on her shoulder and let her into the room as he made the Fire Prince aware it would not take long. When the door shut behind them, Katara felt a chill run down her spine as she looked around the now dark scenery.

"Come, lay yourself on your back there on the bed." The sage said as he grabbed some tool off the surface of his desk.

Swallowing hard, Katara went to the bed and sat on the edge as the sage approached her with the tool.

"Now lay back. This will only hurt a bit."

Moments later, the waterbender hurried herself out of the room and rushed herself to the Fire Prince. She buried her face in his chest and tried to calm her nerves as the sage followed out in a much calmer fashion.

"Looks like she's still pure. For now. I'll have it documented that she's suited to be a mistress of yours and send the documents to your father." The sage stated. "In the meantime, no further examination is required. Do with her as you like."

Taking her back to their chambers, Ozai noticed the waterbender was clinging to his arm and hadn't stopped since they arrived here. He sighed and patted her head, assuring her she was fine but she just shook her head. Shaking as she did. Obviously, she wasn't a fan of being touched by others. Men specifically. He didn't blame her. That was normal. Not to mention he was well aware of how the sage was eyeing her. No doubt that bastard did a little more than just examine her. Hopefully, not too much more.

"Ready yourself for dinner. It should be here shortly." He helped her remove her arms from around his.

Katara looked up at him and shook her head.

"I want to bathe, Katara."

"Then I'll come too."

"Kat-"

"Please, I won't try anything if that's what you're worried about." Katara told him. "I just don't want to be alone right now."

Eyeing her, "Fine."

….

Ozai eyed the waterbender that sat across from him in a mere bathroom with her damp hair cascading down her shoulders as he ate his meal, watching how she struggled with eating the spicy food. He pointed out what was mildly hot and she stuck to those items but overall, it was still too spicy for her. She seemed to calm down after they bathed but didn't say much. Somehow she was rather meek towards him again and he wasn't exactly pleased with that. He liked her best when she spoke her mind and behaved as herself. The commander was rather smitten with her and her looks weren't the only thing he marveled at. Though she was a waterbender, she had the rage of fire in her heart and in her eyes. The way her blue eyes burned with anger, it reminded him of his flames.

Eating the spiced vegetables, Katara glanced from her plate to the Fire Prince and saw he was staring at her while eating. She felt the awkwardness of silence didn't suit them any longer and decided to start a conversation.

"So, am I officially your mistress?" She asked him, her eyes returning to her plate.

"Yes." Ozai replied.

Tilting her head, "And will this upset your wife? What of your son? What will he think?"

Setting his chopsticks down, "Doesn't matter what they think. My wife is not new to this and while you're the only woman I've made my mistress, she knows I have no feelings towards her. And my son, his concerns should be elsewhere."

Katara nodded as she accepted his answer.

"You needn't worry of others. Your only concern should be us and our arrangements. Understood?"

"Yes, Ozai."

When dinner was over, Katara went to look around the chambers some more while the commander got ready for bed. She knew with things being official he would no longer hold himself back. As much as she looked forward to knowing what it was to be embraced fully by a man, she was not entirely happy with her situation, even if she trusted the Fire Prince to be good on his words. Finding the study, the waterbender looked over the bookcase and found books and scrolls were still there. She picked a few and schemed through them, smiling when she realized she hadn't forgotten how to read after years away from any written word of her people.

As she got lost in a few of the scrolls and books, the waterbender was found by the commander. She figured he was calling her to bed and from the way his arms wrapped around her middle from behind, lips pressing to the back of her neck, she knew they weren't going straight to be sleeping right away.

"I've waited a long time for you, Katara." He whispered in his husky voice as he pulled the sash of her bath robe loose.

The sash fell to the floor and Ozai pulled open the robe, easing it off her shoulders.

"Where do you want me to take you? In the bedroom or is here in the study more your taste?"

Katara felt both his hands roam over her body as he pressed himself to her, running the tips of his fingers hard into her skin. It burned but it felt good and she wanted to continue feeling good. Only she knew his initial invasion of her body would hurt but once the pain was gone, she hoped she'd be able to feel the pleasure she heard many others talk about.

"Hmm?" His lips rested against the crown of her head. "Where will it be?"

The waterbender turned around and stared up at the man, her hands running up his bathrobe. Her gaze fell as she undid the sash of his robe and watched it fall. As it laid on the floor, Katara ran her hands into the opening of his robe and pressed her hands to his bare chest. Slowly pushing the robe out of her view as he shrugged it off, her blues eyes went back up to him, hazed with lust.

"Where do you want me?"

Ozai really hated having his questions answered with another question, however; in this case, he would make an exception. The way her blue eyes were staring up at him caused him to lose all his patience. Here would be where he'd have her. Grabbing her face and smashing his lips into hers, the commander backed the waterbender to the lounge chair by the window. Her slender arms wrapped around his neck as he laid her down on her back, driving his tongue into her mouth as he settled himself between her legs.

"I won't be gentle. Don't ask me to be." Ozai told her as he trailed kisses along her jaw.

Katara felt a little uneasy at this but she accepted that he would do with her as he pleased. She knew she had little say in the way things were and while the commander offered her much in return for her companionship and cooperation, what could she say? They weren't lovers. They weren't friends. They were barely acquainted. Even if he made it seem like he would rather they were beyond acquaintances, Katara could only ever see him as her benefactor if not her enemy. This was completely transactional to her. Sure, she had come to lust for him but that was lust, of course. Didn't mean anything.

The commander did as he said and was not gentle. He tore her maidenhead and fucked her like she had been as experienced as a brothel whore. She cried and screamed more than she moaned with pleasure. Her nails drew blood from his back, neck, and shoulders. Even though he knew she was in grave pain, she asked him to be even more ruthless with her and he obliged her. He hadn't been with a woman since his deployment to the South Pole and she had been tempting him ever since he laid eyes on her. It would be a lie to say he didn't find it sadistically pleasing to see her crying in agony as he thrusted into her tight pussy. He struggled to not cum too soon but she felt so good and the way she called his name out in distress, he was fighting hard not to spill his seed yet.

Eventually, Katara started to enjoy herself and she moaned as loudly as she cried. She literally felt like she was being torn apart and she craved every bit of it. He pulled her from the lounge chair and held her up in his arms as he brutally fucked her. Her hands cupped his face, lips hungrily kissing his as she called out his name again and again. Every part of her body felt on fire but she welcomed it. Whatever fires he was igniting her in, she didn't want the flames to go out.

"Don't stop!" The waterbender begged as she held tight to him.

And he didn't, not wanting to disappoint her.

An hour later, on all fours, clawing her nails through the rug, Katara screamed to the top of her lungs as she came. She collapsed as he pulled out of her and laid on her side, panting. The commander came all over her breast and stomach, some even getting on her face. Out of curiosity, she wiped her finger across some of it and rubbed it between her fingers as she observed. Her mother told her this stuff could get her pregnant if she wasn't careful. Should he be cumming on her like this?

Joining her on the floor, Ozai saw her look from her fingers to him with worry.

"What?"

"Won't I get pregnant like this?" Katara asked him.

Chuckling as he sat up on his side, Ozai ran his hand along her thigh and pressed one of his fingers to her lower abdomen. "Only if it's inside."

Katara figured that made sense.

"I'll try my best to be careful with you." He pulled her hair out of the way and kissed her ear.

Morning came and Ozai could see the waterbender was clearly sore from last night. He hid his smirk behind the tea cup as she approached the dining room table with a limp, holding her arm around her middle. When she sat, he heard her groan and hiss under her breath until she found a comfortable way to sit. He honestly didn't intend for things to go as they had last night but he'd be lying if he said he couldn't wait to do it again. Hopefully, she'd soak in a hot bath and be ready for him tonight when he returned from his duties.

Katara poured herself a cup of tea and glanced at Ozai, "So, you said you'd tell me about the meeting from yesterday this morning."

Ozai had completely forgotten about that and set his cup down, "It's nothing good. Are you sure you want to hear it?"

"It concerns my people doesn't it?" Katara brought the tea cup to her lips, "Then I want to know."

Reluctantly, he told her all about the meeting and what was planned. The princess was clearly upset at this news but learned it wouldn't take place until around the time of his retirement in a year. By that time, they'd be on their way to the Fire Nation and things would be set in motion. She wasn't exactly sure what Ozai's exact plan was but she was willing to get her hands dirty if need be. Whatever it took.

"For now, I have matters to attend to. Stay in bed and rest. I'll check on you when I have the time." Ozai instructed her.

Nodding her head, Katara wasn't going to protest that. She barely wanted to get out of bed this morning. Her entire body ached and she was exhausted. The commander had her again in the middle of the night as she laid in bed with him. Finally getting from her what he wanted.

As they finished breakfast, the commander got ready to leave as he saw his mistress struggling to get herself up from the table. He helped her and led her to bed where she snuggled herself up under the sheets, shutting her eyes as he ran his hand over her face.

…..

A/N:

Part Two will be up shortly.