Review. Faster updates for this and other stories if this and other stories get more reviews. Would love to see art work of this or any of my other work. Faster reviews for my other less popular stories means that more updates at a faster pace. Or just more stories like this one.
Also any requests in reviews will probably be ignored.
Also just to be clear. I do not do pedophilia, all characters are aged up in this stuff or aged down depending on the character, no loli, no yaoi, no shota, I don't do watersports (Shit/Piss/fart fetish shit)I don't do stuff like vore or entire bodies getting shoved into places (Shrink play) I don't do blood play or torture (Ball/cock crushing etc) or certain old people, (Yes I am a fucking hypocrite) . Also if you ask for something in reviews that normally means I won't do it. So anyone who asks for that will be disappointed. If you have questions/requests/suggestions PM me instead.
Also have an ao3 account under the same name. and same titles.
He kneeled before the empty graves. His warm parka hood pushed back. The white whale fur wet with tears and snow. Sokka's knees were going numb before the three empty graves. His father had sunk so fast that there hadn't even been time to snatch him back from the waves. The glaciers had taken his body.
Sokka presented the simple meal. Raw sea urchin, sea cucumber boiled and mashed, thin slabs of wild onion, and a hint of ground sea salt. It was the ceremonial mourning meal. Presented after the appropriate amount of time had gone past.
Normally the food was gifted to the dead by the head of the household. But Sokka was the only member of the household now. He breathed in deeply and poured an equal amount over Katara's head stone, Kya's head stone, and Hakoda in the center. The small puddle of soup steamed in the early morning star light. The breeze whipped the snow around him.
He took another breath and began to hum. The sorrow hum, reserved only for mourning. He fumbled over a note and suppressed a little sob. He swiped at his eyes. The tears had froze. They felt sharper then diamonds, and heavier then the sea.
He continued the mourning ritual. His family was gone. His father killed in the raid, his mother and sister taken by the Fire bending devils. His entire life shattered and laid bare. He felt like he was in an empty igloo. Or standing alone on an icy tundra.
He heard the crunching of the boots on the snow. The older heavier footsteps paused at a respectful distance. The younger two continued forward. Sokka did not look up. He remained kneeling. He would move when he was done. And not before.
Nutha and her sister Niyok came to stand on either side of him. The girls placed their mittened hands on his shoulders. He sniffed and rubbed aggressively at his face and nose. Nutha got to her knees and wrapped her arms around him. Nuzzling her chin against his shoulder.
Sokka squeezed her hands in response. He took a deep breath and finished the hum. The wind seemed to die down. The waves lapped a little softer. When he got to the final note the two girls joined him. Just enough to give the sorrow wings.
Sokka glanced over his shoulder. His Gran Gran stood holding a thick white blanket. A large black wolf head sewn in the center. He glanced at the empty graves of his family. They would never be filled. Neither would the hole in his heart.
But just because the graves were empty, didn't mean he had to be.
His grandmother wrapped the furs around his thin small shoulders. She rubbed his back as the four marched back to the village. Back to his home. The scent of cooking smoke came over the breeze. Women were tending to the fur bearing trout that had been fished yesterday. A pair of sledge hound rabbits were worrying over scraps. Small children chased each other next to the repaired wall.
'A guard tower would look good there.' Sokka thought to himself. Even if he was the only one who guarded the village. He didn't care how young he was, he would protect this village, and the people most dear to him.
A sudden shaking came beneath their feet. The ripple flowed through the ice and off towards the great inner glaciers. The entire world seemed to shiver. Far off in the distance a thick slab of ice cracked and flung itself into the air. The four paused and gripped each other.
"It happens more and more often." Sokka's Gran Gran mumbled to herself in amazement. She shook her head and then turned to kneel before Sokka.
"This is a gift, a precious one. For how much you've grown." She took his hand and ran hers over it. Sokka gasped at the familiar blue jewel and complex pattern carved there. His grandmother smiled, a tad bashfully. As if she wasn't sure how the young warrior would react to the gift.
"It isn't the most conventional gift. And it is not the traditional thing to do. But you are my blood. As much as your father was. Or your sister. Or your mother. It would traditionally go to your mother, and then to you when you decided to start courting. But I think that this will help keep her memory close." Sokka studied the small blue jewel. Round as a sea tossed stone. Light as a snowflake. With a deep warmth. The way that the sun gave warmth on a clear day.
"I thought this was gone forever?" He said in breathless amazement.
"Someone found it after the raid. One of the other villagers. It must have been thrown away when they….When it happened." Nutha said, her pale freckles standing out all the more in the starlight. Sokka grinned at his bracelet. The cord was a dark blue, like a great seal lion's mane.
"Thank you." Sokka spoke to his Gran Gran. Then to his friends. The hole in him was still there. But it was just the tiniest bit smaller.
The quartet stood on the rise and watched the sun wake up. Sokka's new blue bracelet felt good around his wrist. He held Nutha's hand in one of his. His Gran Gran squeezed his shoulder and smiled lovingly down at him. They were the only family they had left.
But the clan was their family. And no matter what sorrow, what longing, what misery followed the little boy, he would never forget that. Sokka breathed deep. It was going to be a wonderful day.
Dark rye bread in a roll. A thick onion. A cheese aged to perfection. Greens still damp from the sink. A tomato and a parsnip fresh from the royal greenhouses in town. And a few small fresh fishes that were kept cool on some chipped ice.
Keoza also added a fine bottle of red wine and some expensive eastern tobacco. Nothing brought a relaxing lunch to a fever point like a smoke and a glass of wine. She tucked a scroll under her armpit. Her picnic sat in its box.
She marched onto the beach in her bright yellow two piece. She had the entire beach to herself. Just sun, sand, and the bracing salty spray. She grinned savagely. Her chores for maintaining the abode were long done. She was so practiced with them that she could get them all finished within the morning. If not the night before. And now came her favorite game.
Pretending that this house was actually her own.
She flipped out a beach blanket with red and black beads. She uncorked the bottle and drank messily from the neck. A few long droplets hanging down her chin and staining her bikini. She leaned back and unfurled the scroll.
It was an old one she had read a thousand times before. But the stories still remained fresh and interesting. She skimmed over the lines. The sun hovered over her, drifting past like a cloud on the breeze.
The crunch of feet came down the beach. She looked up and sighed. She scooted until she was nice and comfortable on her blanket. She was pretty sure that he would prefer a casual greeting over the formality of bowing and postulating.
"Lord Iroh." She said with just enough respect. Bowing her head just a little. She was comfortable. He bowed low to her. He placed a hand on the little girls shoulder.
"Go and enjoy the beach. I will be right here."
"But I can't see right. The sand is too grainy."
"Then you can practice seeing. I will keep an eye on you. Don't worry." He spoke gently. The blind girl shrugged her shoulders and began to walk away. Sometimes stopping and stooping. She would dig her fingers into the sand and wiggle them around. She slowly meandered down to the sea.
Toph yelped and leapt. The water sprayed her legs and splashed against her face. She stumbled backwards. Only to grin and go back in again. Not too deep, just deep enough that she could get splashed.
"Your daughter?" Keoza said nodding towards the little Earth bender. It obviously wasn't. But it was fun to see the old man squirm.
"More of an apprentice." Iroh said as he sat cross legged beside the servant. He smiled as he watched Toph jump through another wave. The girl couldn't swim. But she could dive a little.
"Thirsty? Sorry that there's no tea." Keoza offered the bottle. Iroh poured a small amount into his hand and slurped it down. He had another. Keoza took out her bread and tore it in half.
"Hungry?"
"Yes. Thank you." He heated the bread she offered him. Then added the cheese, onion, greens and other tasty chunks. He made a small sandwich and pressed the bread between his hands. He hummed and heated it up. A small hot panini steamed in his fingers. Keoza copied him.
The two quietly began to eat. Enjoying the lapping of the sea, and the joy of watching a child play. The beach was peaceful, hidden, and completely calm. Their crispy sandwiches crunched between their teeth.
"I heard about Lu Ten." Keoza broke the silence between them like a brick through a glass house. Iroh nodded and bit his lip. Bowing his head over the final few bites.
"I never did find out if he was my brother or not." She remarked sharply. Iroh flinched at this and studied his sandwich, slightly ashamed, slightly apologetic, he held the expressions for a moment and then turned to her.
"I am sorry for what we did to your mother. I was young. And I was a fool. It does not excuse what we did. My father and I. We should have known better. I should have known better. I will forever try to be better. I do not know if I shall be. But I can try." He said with as much honesty as he could pump into the words.
"You don't regret your actions do you? Just that they've finally caught up to you. And to someone you care about." Keoza stated simply. She pulled out her pipe and lit up her tobacco. Iroh wrinkled his nose. It was a filthy habit, one that he tried to suppress when he was on campaign. Incense was one thing. But the thick heady smell of tobacco would give him a headache. A fact Keoza noticed.
"You can't tell me to stop. I'm not even sure if you are in the line of succession anymore. Tell me the truth…why didn't you return? After Lu Ten?" Iroh fiddled with his thumbs. He might as well tell the truth. With what he was going to ask her….honesty and openness was the best policy.
"I did not want to live after Lu Ten died. I was distraught. I was broken. I was furious and sad and heartbroken. I went into the caverns of the Earth Kingdoms with the hope to…well…" He took a deep sigh and shook his head in disgust.
"I see."
"I found her in there. And then I saw. It was as if I'd worn thick leather blinders my entire life. And she'd torn them off. Before, I was proud of my campaigns. I was proud of my actions. All of my orders were justified. All of my actions were for the good of the nation. To protect it, to encourage it, to let it grow and spread its influence. Only when I saw my son….broken….beaten….pulverized….I realized what we were doing was wrong. We were not spreading the greatest of the Fire nation, we were sewing fear and anger across the world. And soon we shall reap what we've sewn."
"So something bad finally happened to you and you realized that other people have feelings eh?" Keoza blew out some smoke and frowned at the man. "Forgive me if I am not brought to tears Lord Iroh."
"Always such a crude blunt tongue on you." He chuckled and shook his head.
"Just like my mother eh?" She responded with a smirk before sucking down some more of her pipe.
"No. She was…Hama has an elegance with her words. I envy her for them. But to answer your question yes. It took losing my son to see what was right in front of me. To realize every man I lead to his death, every man I had executed, or beaten, or found broken….They were a brother, a son, a father. My hands will never be free of their blood. Not truly."
"So why not return to the Fire Nation? Become Fire Lord? Put an end to this entire fiasco?" She swirled the wine in the bottle. It was almost gone. She offered it to him. He declined and she finished it.
"Because I am the last thread in my tapestry. If I did return home. If I did take the throne…Who is to say I will live to do any good on it? I have no heirs. Only Ozai. And I cannot see him ending the war at this point. Or at any point. He will go until we have victory. Or death. One or the other. If I did somehow live long enough to see my father's passing, then got installed on the throne, this is assuming that Ozai doesn't have me poisoned so that he can inherit sooner, then lived long enough to bring about peace talks with the other nations, who I must add are still very hostile to us. If I somehow did all of that. Ozai would still inherit the throne when I passed on. Or Zuko. Or Azula. And they haven't seen the war the way that I have."
"This is even assuming that the tank and battle ship manufacturers would let you stop the war. Or the military recruiters. Or the navy. All of which have a interest in seeing the war continue for as long as possible." Keoza pointed out. She pulled out an apple and bit into it. She didn't have any others to offer. And she didn't feel like offering any either.
"I am too old to be optimistic. It may sound cynical. But you have a good point. The military advisers and the ministers of commerce will insist that the war continues. I may be able to talk them down. May being the important word here. And even if I did there is no guarantee that it will work."
"So you are off being a renegade bandit in the middle of the woods then?" She crunched into her sweet treat. Iroh nodded. He was scratching an arrow in the sand. A touch bashful.
"When you say it like that it almost sounds childish." He responded with a little grin.
"That's because it is childish. You are still running off to fight an enemy because you are too afraid to confront your father, your brother, and your advisors. I might just be a simple house worker…But that is the very definition of cowardice." She smirked at him. Iroh huffed a little. Her words finally putting him out.
"It seemed like a good idea at the time. The historical fifth nation consisted exclusively of pirates raiding others. The current one is a guerilla group attacking both sides of the conflict. If we can bring them both down fast enough, or harry and worry at them long enough, eventually they will break. Or we shall break." He took a deep breath of the sea breeze and turned to her.
"I did not come here as a means of family reunion though." Toph splashed in the water and let out a shrill squeal of delight.
"You're doing it all for her huh? And for the children that come after her."
"You and I were born and raised in a war. I want more of her life to be lived outside of one."
"Why did you come here oh banished prince?"
"I have a favor to ask of you." Iroh pulled out a small board game piece. A white lotus was painted on one side of the small wooden circle. On the other was a blue air bending arrow pointing up.
"And a favor to ask your mother."
Keoza loaded their dinky little boat with the last of the supplies. She wiped her forehead with a frown.
"You really managed to get past the barricades with this little thing?" Iroh picked out a very ripe piece of fruit from one of the many boxes in the boat and took a hearty bite. He smirked knowingly at the other woman.
"It was not easy. But yes. They were all on the look out for massive battle ships. War rigs and other items to lay siege to the Fire Nation captials and places of industry. Who would care about a small rinky dink tub like this? What few did see us mistook us for fishermen too far out."
"Some of them even towed us. You Fire Nation folks are pretty unobservant huh?" Toph said from where she leaned against the boat. She was not going to get into that thing until she absolutely had to. The wood messed with her. She couldn't 'see' when she was on it. And the little girl feared returning to the dark.
Toph yelped and rubbed her forehead. Keoza frowned and then aimed another one at the disrespectful little girls knuckles.
"Mind your manners and mind your elders. You are a guest in my country. Treat me respectfully." Keoza said purposefully. Toph glowered downwards. She couldn't glower into Keoza's face so she had to make do. She then smirked and whipped a small pebbled from the sand behind Keoza.
Keoza stumbled forward. It was more of a smack to her back then anything else. It wasn't painful. But it was terribly rude.
"Iroh." Keoza threatened. The old man touched Toph's small shoulder respectfully.
"Be kind young one. Keoza is taking a great risk for our sakes. We don't know how this will end up. But we will gain immesurable ground in ending this war if all goes according to plan." Iroh said as diplomatically and calmly as he could. Toph snorted and shrugged her dissatisfaction.
"I get it. I get it." She grumbled in disgust. The trio went back to loading the boat. And Iroh pressed more scrolls to the woman's hands. She looked at them with bare faced interest. These were plans to start rebellion. To sew discord. To bring about the end of the Fire Nation. The only home she had ever known.
Iroh helped Toph onto the boat. Ever the gentleman. He scattered multiple handfuls of sand onto the deck afterwards. It would not provide Toph sight. But it might prove useful in a fight. He then clambered onto the small clipper.
"Give us a push?" He said as he hefted a long oar. The craft had a thin mast, a narrow body, and a short rudder. Much more at home navigating close to shore. Actually getting across the ocean would be tricky. But not impossible. And would actually pass unnoticed by many of the larger faster ships.
Keoza smirked, she dropped her beach towel and let her hair out of its bun. She popped her long pipe into her mouth and lit the tobacco.
"I'll do you one better." She grabbed the wood, her arms strained. And she wiggled her hips. The move began in her toes, arched upwards. And then came barreling out of her.
The boat didn't move forward. It didn't lurch. It shot. With the water lapping up at the sides. Sloshing around Toph and Iroh's feet. The old man sat down heavily with a startled yelp. Toph held onto the mast and bit her lips. Trying not to scream.
Keoza was in the water. Kicking furiously. The water forming thick frothing waves behind her feet. Her head was tossed back, thick guffaws of delight billowing from her lips. The salty spray stinging her lips.
Iroh awkwardly turned to her. The wind whipping his long hair and beard around his head.
"But….You're a fire bender! You've always been a fire bender!" He shouted at the playful eyed woman. She winked in response.
"What's she doing? Is she moving us?" Toph shouted over the splash of the waves.
"Keoza….This has never happened before!" It was impossible, yet Iroh could not look away. Or denying that it was happening. A Fire Bender who also bent water? But that was…she couldn't be….
"Oh Iroh, There has never been anything like me before." She released her hands and came to a screeching halt. Iroh continued to watch. Slack jawed and wide eyed. She floated impossibly high in the water. Her hands and arms and shoulders moving with an inate expertise. She was submerged to her waist, her hips, her thighs, then her knees, until she was floating ankle deep in the ocean. Hands still moving. She then paused and rolled. Like the moon moving the tides. Like the flower following the sun. Like a fish leaping through the waves.
And the boat Iroh and Toph were on screamed ahead. Skipping over the waves. Iroh grabbed a hold of Toph and the rudder. Attempting to steer them. The little girl was screaming, half in terror and half in exhilaration. The splash of the salt on her face, the wind whipping her hair, the sand bumping around her knees. Iroh turned around to look once.
Keoza had sunk back into the water. She treaded water for a few minutes. She dove and held her breath.
Hello? Are you there? She called hopefully out to the ocean. To the spirits. To anything that would listen. When nothing returned she tried harder.
Hello? Are you there? Please answer me. She bobbed to the surface. Feeling very much like the confused little girl she used to be. When she first heard him. He had taught her so much.
She floated in the water. Her breasts breaking the surface of the water. She closed her eyes and kicked. Her hair wiggling like seaweed around her head. Her hands reached up and cupped the salt water. Water was life. She'd always known that.
She heated her face and her pipe and relit it where she swam. She looked at the great ocean. It called to her. Coaxed her, encouraged her, TUGGED her. She turned to the beach. Her home, her responsibility. The scrolls sat near her beach towel and wine.
She held her breath, held her pipe above the surface and ducked her head again.
Aang? She called again. Not expecting or receiving an answer. He hadn't answered her since she was a little girl and he first taught her how to Water Bend.
She took a deep breath of smoke. Then began kicking back to shore. There was work to be done.
The chirping of the song birds filled the garden. Along with the excited gurgling of a baby. Azula held Luda in her arms. Ursa on one side supporting his head. Zuko on the other side staring in rapt attention. She hefted the small baby boy up and down. Her face wrinkled up in a look of utter contempt.
"My my but you are a disgusting looking thing aren't you? And so ugly. You're lucky though. From what I hear the ugliest babies turn out the cutest when they get older. So there might still be some hope for you, Zuzu." She delivered the last sentence to the boy hovering over her shoulder. He frowned and pinched her ear in response.
"Bite me Lala. Man his eyes are freaky." Luda continued to gurgle upwards at them. Completely oblivious to what they were saying. He focused on one and then the other. His strange otherworldly eyes taking them in with happy infantile indifference. Since he could see the two of them here and now. That meant they had always been there. And always would be there. And therefore everything was right in his world.
"Alright. Chop chop. You two need to finish cleaning up before your meeting with your grandfather." Ursa took Luda in her arms and pressed Zuko and Azula towards the bathhouses. Katara finished sweeping a nearby cobblestone and walked obediently over. Bowing at the waist and presenting her hands.
"Shall I take Luda Mistress Mom?" Katara asked with a small smile.
"No actually. Make sure that Azula doesn't hog all the hot water. Help her in the bathhouse." Ursa said hefting the small baby to her. His hands were barely larger then flowers. And they insisted on grabbing her hair and pulling if he could reach her.
"Yes Ma'am." Katara responded. She looked at Luda for a minute. Her eyes hovering with nothing but abject love and affection for the strange baby. A baby born from two nations was a novelty to her. An awe inspiring one. Fire Nation and Water Tribe having children?
You could have told her the earth revolved around the sun and she'd be less gob smacked.
"Hurry up Rara!" Azula shouted and snapped her fingers. Katara's head whipped around, and she started running. Her tiny bell tingling musically in the clear bright air. She came to a screeching halt between Zuko and Azula. She then blinked in surprise.
"Rara?"
"Of course. Zuzu." She gestured to her brother.
"Lala." Zuko playfully rubbed Azula's head. She batted him off.
"Rara." Azula finished by pinching Katara's nose playfully. Katara felt her heart swell. Her breath hitch in her chest. And her entire body glow.
"Rara." She tried the nickname out. She rather liked it. The three walked towards the royal palace bath house. Katara walking pleasantly between her two owners.
"She has earned her place between them." Ursa said over her shoulder. Kya finished pouring the tea and brought it with a bowed head to her mistress. Kya placed it down, kneeled on a nearby pillow, and served her mistress. Kya poured the tea and placed the small patted rice cakes before Ursa. The six cakes were as thick and wide as a thumb. Each one had a different rich savory seasoning on top.
Only then did Ursa relinquish the baby to his mother. Kya slipped out a breast and presented it to Luda. Who latched on with a content gluttonous smile.
"Hama shall watch him while we meet with Fire Lord Azulon." Ursa gave the order casually. Kya nodded along. She smiled as Luda continued to ravenously consume.
"He will be a large boy." Ursa said with a smirk. Kya chuckled and rubbed his back. He kicked playfully back.
"If he keeps on eating at this rate." Kya's smile slowly turned into a concerned frown. "Mistress…Does the Fire Nation have any superstitions on happy infants?"
Ursa wrinkled her perfect brow in confusion.
"Superstitions?"
"The Water Tribe….when an infant is born smiling during a snow storm that can be a good sign. One that he will embrace the cold and the chill of our home…I mean to say the poles…will not dampen his spirits. But an infant to laughs all the time and smiles repeatedly in the first few weeks of life can be bad luck. Because it means he used up all of his joy and happiness in his childhood. And will not find any later on in life."
Ursa tapped her chin with one of her long red painted fingernails. She let out a breath and then shrugged.
"I'm sure that we have some sort of superstitions related to that. If a woman gives birth on the equinox then the child will grow to be a powerful leader. That being said I've never heard of the concept of joy and happiness being a finite resource. Besides look around you Kya." Ursa gestured to the beautifully maintained gardens. To the trees so carefully grown and tended. To the multiple flowers of bright pinks and deep oranges. To the relaxing water features and the babbling of the turtle ducks.
"You live in a place of excess. And Luda shall grow in a garden of paradise. It's better to serve in luxury then to scrabble in poverty is it not? I promise you that he will want for nothing. As long as I live here, he shall have his whims encouraged. As long as said whims are in line with what the Fire Nation demands of him." Kya stared down at her son.
Lu Tens?
Ozias?
Azulons?
Who did he belong to? Did he belong to no one?
Kya knew the answer deep in her heart. The Fire Nation. That's who he belonged to. Just like his mother. Still she smiled to her mistress and bowed her head.
The Throne room was billowing with heat. Almost like a pile of fevered heads were bellowing before them. Katara and Kya stood by the far wall, a respectful quiet distance away. Just observing. Mere trophy's to show off the might of the nation. Kya held Luda in her arms. The baby seemed to be basking in the heat. As content as a lizard chipmunk on a rock.
"Ozai. Stay. The rest of you are dismissed." Fire Lord Azulon said with a wave of one elderly hand. Whithered and tiny with age.
The small royal family rose. Ursa patting at her robes as subtly as she could. The demonstration had gone smoothly. Her children had both improved their bending abilities.
Only Ozai continued to kneel. His eyes locked forward on the mighty old man who sat stoically so far above him. He was ram rod straight. His broad back filling out with glorious scarlet and black robe.
Ursa walked first. Kya fell into step behind her. The two women moving like oiled up smoke. Their generous hips and asses swaying in a secret tandem that neither were aware of at all. But to watch them was to learn what arousal meant. Then Zuko, with his burnt palms and calloused knuckles. Finally Azula and Katara.
The two girls got to the massive doorway, the large black iron doors opened just a crack to permit them to exit. Azula paused, grabbed Katara's wrist and yanked her to the side. Katara didn't even have time to gasp.
They were quickly hidden behind a massive tapestry. Small slits cut at their eye level. Where no one would notice them. After all how often do people kneel down to a little girl's height?
"What's going on?" Katara whispered nervously to her owner. Azula shushed her.
"Mistress Azula….We could get in trouble." Katara whined and tapped her knuckles together. Azula shushed her again and grinned.
"Haven't you ever wondered what they talk about when we aren't here?" She stared through her little slit and pointed. "Now don't move, don't speak, listen. And we might just learn something."
Ozai's voice came soft and crooning to the two girls. Neither had ever heard the man sound so tame. So encouraging, like he was teaching a talented child how to paint. He wove praise and arguments masterfully with his tongue. And then the flames behind his father turned a blinding white in rage.
"You want WHAT?!" Azulon bellowed. Katara covered her mouth with a gasp. The two girls exchanged a terrified glance. And then leaned forward. Listening all the more intently. Eyes riveted to the scene. Horrified at what was being shared.
Zuko snored, one hand under his head. The other sprawled over his lap. The soft noise eating stone around his bedroom made the room silent as a tomb. His bed felt cold and empty without his sisters in it. But he wasn't going to push them.
Sometimes Azula needed time alone. That wasn't so weird. In fact her spending all of her time around him was super out of the ordinary. He snorted and shifted in his bed. Trying to search out a warm spot.
The door to his bedroom slammed open. He sat up with a gawking hawking moaning noise. Rubbing sleep out of his eyes in confusion.
"Whatsat?" He grumbled. The candles in the corner of the bedroom flared into brightness. Azula was running to his wardrobe. Her eyes wide, terrified in a way he had never seen before. Katara jumped onto the bed, she sprinted to him, grabbed him under his shoulders and hoisted him up.
"We've got to go! We've got to go!" Katara was shouting in his face. She grabbed his hand and pulled him off of his bed. The sheets balling and falling to the floor. Spilling like a slit throat.
"Rara? Lala? Wa's going un?" Zuko yawned between sleep sore lips. Azula had yanked out a pair of boots. A long sword. A pair of authentic shoulder pads. Some of his nicer silk pants. And a lounging smoking jacket made out of spider bat silk. She ran to his next wardrobe and began to yank out underclothes, hats, anything that she could grab. She finally found a duffel bag.
It was in the navy design. An updated cute. If you folded things just right a surprising amount of clothing could fit inside of it. Azula was not in the frame of mind to properly pack though. She shoved the boots and pants and shirts and a jacket into the bag. She struggled with the knots to keep it closed. Eventually fuming and half assedly finishing it.
"Master Zuzu! You've got to go! Before he gets here! We need to get you out of the Fire Nation!" Katara was bouncing from foot to foot. Glancing over her shoulder. Her bright brown hair bouncing beautifully in the candlelight. Zuko swayed on his feet. Still half asleep. He yawned and rubbed his eyes.
"What are you talking about?" He grumbled. It was late, the meeting with Fire Lord Azulon had lasted late into the night. And he hadn't even been energized enough to eat dinner. He just wanted to go back to bed. Maybe wrap his arms around the girls, snuggle close and snore until morning.
"You've got to leave! He's going to kill you!" Azula said in a high pitched whining panic. Her eyes wide and red hot with fear, anger, betrayal. Zuko blinked in amazement. He had never seen those emotions on her face before. Or at least not so bare and naked.
"Who?" Zuko said in confusion. He felt like he was the butt of some elaborate joke. He hated jokes like that. Because he so often only found out later people were laughing at him. Not with him.
"Father!" Azula shouted in his face. Katara grabbed one hand. Azula the other. The two girls dragged him towards the doorway. His sleeping silk socks sliding on the smooth marble floor.
"Father?" He grumbled in confusion. What were these two crazy girls talking about now?
"Azula?" Kya called from the entranceway.
"Katara?" Ursa said beside her.
"Mother!" The two little girls called out and sprinted to their respective moms. Katara grabbing Ursa's sleeve and yanking on it. Azula skidding to a halt in front of Kya and jabbering breathlessly. The two girls canopy of screeching and explanation melded together into a symphony of nonsense.
And not a single word got through to their moms. Ursa looked helplessly at Kya who shrugged. Just as lost as the royal. Finally Kya planted her feet and clapped her hands together authoritatively. Instilling as much 'No Nonsense Hama' as she could into the classic old woman move.
The two girls instantly shut up, simmered down, folded their hands, and looked up with closed mouths. They still squirmed in place. Eyeing each other. Zuko. The long dark hallway behind the two mothers.
"Okay. Mistress Azula? You go first." Kya got to her knees and gripped Azula's shoulder's gently. "But speak calmly and slowly. I'm sure that its really not that bad."
"We were hiding in the throne room eavesdropping on Fire Lord Azulon and Father's private meeting—" Azula started to talk. Ursa let out a disgusted groan.
"How many times have I told you not to play spy in the palace? Your grandfather needs his privacy or else—"
"This was important!" Azula snapped back and stomped her foot impatiently.
"Katara?" Kya turned to her daughter with a raised eyebrow. Katara rubbed her elbow and gazed down bashfully.
"It was important Mom. Master Ozai said a lot of things. About how Lord Iroh's whereabouts is still unknown. How they don't even know if he's alive. How his section of the family tree has ended with Lu Ten dead—"
Kya let out a little indrawn breath and squeezed Katara's shoulders. Katara closed her mouth. Her chin wobbling. The next few things she had heard….They'd been awful. Just awful.
"Go along darling." Ursa prompted Katara. Rubbing the little girl's back. Katara let out a little breath and turned to stare at Azula. The little gold eyed girl got the gist and picked of the thread of the narrative.
"Father said that since Iroh has never had the stomach for war then he should be skipped as heir. That the family tree should be reshuffled."
"And that Master Ozai should be considered de facto next in line to the throne." Katara finished. Kya and Ursa exchanged an odd glance. It is the glance that adults share. A cementing. An understanding. Their minds were working to keep up with the girls.
"I still don't see how that lead to you two ransacking Zuko's room in the middle of the night." Ursa said with a frown. Katara snapped her head up to Ursa with a bright new terror clawing in her chest.
"Fire Lord Azulon was furious! He started yelling at Master Ozai. Saying how he doesn't know the sorrow of losing a child to war."
"How he would cut his brother to the root and discard him to the fire and winds." Azula added.
"How Master Ozai who has only known the Fire Nation is unfit the rule the empire." Katara covered her lips. That almost felt painful! As if she was a step away from blasphemy!
"And then Fire Lord Azulon ordered Father to know that pain. That Father must learn what it means to lose an only son." A tear started to prickle in Azula's eyes.
"He was ordered to kill Zuko!" Both girls finished together. Zuko stood behind the two little girls. His sleep top starting to slide down his shoulder. He looked very young. And very unsure of himself. As if he couldn't tell if this was a dream or not.
"Okay. Haha. Very funny Azula." Zuko said sarcastically. "I can't believe that you got Katara to go along with this. But if you both really wanted to scare me—"
"Master! We need you to leave now!" Katara said grabbing his hand and yanking. "We need to get you out of here before your father comes and kills you!"
"Dad isn't going to kill me." Zuko said with a haughty scowl. He yanked his hand away. Only to find Azula now holding it.
"Zuko! Please listen!" Azula was begging now. Snot dripping out of her nose and make up starting to crack and flake. He blinked and let out an unimpressed psssh. She was a good actress. Everyone knew that. Still, his heart began to beat faster. His mind started to niggle at that fear.
Would his father kill him?
Would his grandfather order him killed?
Was he losing precious seconds of life standing and talking when he could be escaping?
"Katara. Take Azula and Zuko to our chambers. Only permit one of us in there. We shall announce ourselves before we enter." Kya stood to her full height. She marched into the room and grabbed a pair of knives from Zuko's desk. They were small things, black handled and white fire designed along the blade. She pressed them to her daughter's hands.
"You three will be safe there. Try to get some sleep. We will deal with this." Ursa said as she took her children's shoulders and ushered them down the hall. The three kids walked somberly. Quietly in step. Sometimes glancing one way, then another. As if expecting an assassin to jump out and decapitate Zuko then and there.
They reached the chambers. Hama sat next to the crib. Fanning herself in the late evening heat. She looked up with a skeptical eye as the odd quintet walked in. Luda continued to snooze, asleep the only way newborns can manage. Kya and Ursa alternated giving each child a kiss to the forehead.
Kya whispered something into Hama's ear. To the old woman's credit she didn't even flinch.
"They will rest quietly while I am here. Don't you worry." She smiled her half smile. The one that didn't reach her eyes. A grim satisfaction in her jowls.
Kya and Ursa glanced into the bedroom. Zuko was seated on the bed. Azula beside him. Katara standing at attention in the center of the room. Her knives out, eyes fixed on the front door. The moonlight catching her deadly blades. And the deadly resolve in her blue ringed pupils.
Kya walked back and gave Katara the close kiss of their tribe. Foreheads pressed together briefly. Then she smiled and left.
The soft crackle of the fireplace filled the room. The soothing sound was as consistent as the sea upon the shore. The three were stiff, the bare bones of danger and anger cutting between them. Ozai sat before the two women. Clearly unimpressed with the makeshift ambush. It was hard to even describe it as such. He had just been sitting there minding his own business when the two furiously fuming women stormed in demanding answers.
He put his glass of fine distilled Earth Kingdom spirits down. It was all the way from Omashu. Say what you will about their marriage customs and their mad king. But they knew how to make the best spirits in the world. Clear as water, hard as metal, hot as fire, and made you let out a breath of satisfaction. Some called it the Avatar come again.
"I assume that you two have a little spy that poked her nose in where it didn't belong." He said with an empty little frown. He did not seem too bothered with this change of pace.
"You aren't really going to go through with this." Ursa crossed her arms and glared down. Ozai took another sip and glared back.
"The Fire Lord orders. I obey. That is the fate of a younger son. He has made his choice. I must see it completed. Even if I don't wish to. We all play our parts. We all live in our positions. No matter how unpleasant it is. And we cannot change the mind of the Fire Lord. I tried, not very hard I admit. But I tried."
Ursa slammed her fist onto the table. Ozai managed to save the bottle from breaking and glared at her.
"Careful woman."
"He is your son!"
"Which means he is mine to do with as I see fit. I….Don't do this joyfully. No matter how much I resent the boy. No matter how weak and pathetic I find him….He is still mine." Ozai glared at Ursa. She was breathing heavily now.
"Then don't do it! Deny him! Let Zuko live! Or let him leave! Send him away to the front! Or…or…or ship him to Ember Island! Find a place for him to hide! Keep him out of your father's way until Fire Lord Azulon-"
"The man could live another year or another two decades. He is too stubborn to die of old age. Trust me. And do you really think that Zuko would be safe anywhere else? If Azulon wants the boy dead then the boy is as good as dead. And hide him? None of you would be safe if that happened. You, me, our daughter. You would condemn us all to save Zuko?" Ozai snorted. "This is the only choice."
"No it isn't." Kya said softly. They both glared at her. The pet had forgotten her place. Kya took a shuddering breath and stared back. "We all are thinking it. You were going to suggest it weren't you? You cannot change Fire Lord Azulon's mind. But you can change the Fire Lord."
Ozai grinned sadistically. He wagged a finger naughtily.
"Tut tut tut pet. What you're describing is treason. All second born sons can talk of it openly. It is expected. But a woman of your position? Very dangerous. But yes. I will make you a deal Ursa. Kill my father, and I will permit Zuko to live. In fact I will go one better. I will not kill him or Azula. Both will never know death by my hand. I swear on my mother's honor."
Ursa glared at him. Her heart beating out of her chest. Ozai did not honor much. He did not care for much. But his mother? And her honor? That was one thing he did hold in high esteem. Her eyes gazed at the spirits. She poured three shots into nearby tea mugs and drunk her own. Passing the other into Kya's hands.
Ozai cleared his throat when he finished his slug.
"Ursa. I know what I ask of you. I know what I promise you. And I know you do not trust me. For good reason. But I want you to know this. I am fond of you. And the children. Or as fond as I can be of anyone. I won't insult you by saying I love you. I don't think I've ever felt 'love' towards anyone. But I've felt something towards you. And Zuko and Azula. Even to Iroh in our own way. I can't describe it. But my life is….richer with you in it. Better with you in it. What I ask of you I don't ask lightly. But I still ask it. And the rewards will be large."
Ursa glared at the man. He was at ease. As eased as a coiled up venomous snake bat. She sighed and nodded.
Po, Pe and Pi froze in the doorway. They stepped to the side and bowed dramatically as Fire Lord Azulon entered. He paused in the doorway and then grinned in delight. His eyes sparking with the age old lust that hid in every red blooded man's heart.
He turned to the triplets and flicked his hands at them.
"I believe I will be indisposed tonight. You three are free to entertain yourselves."
"Yes Fire Lord Azulon." The trio bowed in unison. Then Po and Pe yelped when Pi smacked their ass cheeks. They were always playing games of asserting dominance on each other. It kept them on their toes.
Fire Lord Azulon turned back to the room with a animalistic grin. Kya was blushing deeply. She squeezed Ursa's hand in anticipation. The two women had on stockings, high heels, garter belts and nothing else. Their hair was loose down to their waists. A small sheen of sweet smelling oil was shining on their lovely intoxicating skin.
Azulon undid the belt around his waist. He yanked at the multiple sashes across his chest. His robe fluttered to the ground. His long white hair caught the candlelight. His eyes hungrily staring at the bare tits before him.
"Now what do I owe these pleasures to?" He said addressing Ursa. She was a unique surprise. One he had never once thought to consider. Kya he expected, she was little more then property to him. So she winding up in his chambers….That was not as surprising.
"My Lord. My lovely Fire Lord. My perfect Fire Lord. I come to talk politics with you. And of course to see how you have been. It's been so long since we just talked one on one." Ursa patted the bed beside her. He got onto the bed and shuffled forward. His erection sticking forward like a arm. Pointing dramatically towards what he wished.
He reached and grabbed Ursa. His hands taking exactly what he wanted. Her body, her tits, her sides, her silky soft skin. His fingers dug into Ursa's hair and pulled her head back. He licked her neck, nibbled at the vein pulsing under her skin. She let out a shiver and an overly dramatic gasp.
Kya frowned then policed her face. She knew what they were doing was dangerous. Insanely dangerous. If something went wrong then imprisonment would be the least of her worries. Still she couldn't stop the strange jealously that arose in her. How dare this man kiss her Mistress? How dare he run his tongue up and down that neck that Kya spent so much time worshipping.
Ursa let out an overly dramatic gasp and pressed a hand to Azulon's thin chest.
"My glorious lord. We should drink to your health first. I have made a very special brew just for you. Something that will…encourage you along. For hours and hours and hours." The man raised a skeptical eyebrow but then sat back.
Ursa slid off of the royal bed and walked with a wiggle in her step. Her butt cheeks clapping slightly with every step. Like her own private metronome.
"What is the meaning of all of this Ursa? I doubt you came to my bedroom nude and aroused just to spend time with your father in law." Azulon said with a raised eyebrow. His mind felt a touch foggy. Thinking was always the most difficult at night. As if he could not keep track of his thoughts and memories.
"Alas I did have an ulterior motive when coming in my Lord. And I shall explain it all. But first I would like for Kya to service your magnificent cock if she would. Her oral abilities are truly unparalleled." Ursa said with a smile over her shoulder.
Kya kissed Fire Lord Azulon's cheek. His nipples. His belly button. And then nuzzled his orange sized balls. It was strange how the men of the Fire Nation royal family all seemed to have absolutely enormous units. She was a touch nervous about how to handle him. But still handle him she did.
She relaxed her jaw, popped open her lips, and began to bob up and down. His cock assaulting her throat and stretching it to the very limit. Her eyes closing as her hair whipped against her shoulders and upper back. Her breathing came out nice and even. Her nose would bury into his pure white pubic hairs. Her groans and wet slapping sounds filling the room. She popped off and drooled the blue potion along his dick. She rubbed it in quickly. The first ingredient delivered against Azulon.
He frowned down at her.
"I didn't tell you to stop." He snapped. Kya crawled forward and hefted her breasts, squeezing her nipples insistently.
"Forgive me my lord…But…perhaps a taste for your palette? I am overly pampered with your amazing tasty cock. Please…Permit me to return the favor?" She bit her lip and wiggled enticingly. He smirked and grabbed her around the waist.
Kya gasped as he latched onto her nipples. Not even aware of the thick flavor of roses and almonds patted to Kya's breasts. The second ingredient delivered orally.
Ursa finished the large mug of tea and walked back to the bed. Holding it before her with a wide smile.
"The tea my lord. Did you know that in some cultures they actually flavored their tea with animal milk? Isn't that a strange concept?" Ursa said tittering musically. Azulon pulled his lips free and took the mug. He sniffed the steam and rolled the liquid in the small bowl.
"What a strange odor. Is this a new blend?" He enquired. Ursa smiled and sat on her feet before him. Her breasts jiggling before the old man.
"Yes. It is meant to encourage your heart to beat evenly. And for your erections to last all the longer. You could drink an entire pot and screw for days and days and days." Ursa bit her thumb as he took a tentative sip. He then drank the rest in one long gulp. The final ingredient was delivered.
"We did also come for another reason my lord. It is about Zuko." Azulon sighed and finished the bowl.
"The answer is no. My decision stands. Ozai must learn his…Hmmm. Must learn his….Was I saying something?" He placed the bowl to the side of the bed. His eyes blinked in surprise and confusion. The blood flowing from his brain to his boner. Which popped lewdly before them all.
Kya felt her face blush a bright red. Her heart did an unintentional pitter patter. Ursa let out an impressed whistle.
"Well…Perhaps we can work on Zuko's replacement then." Ursa said. She couldn't help but be impressed with this. After all…It wasn't often an old man had a cock almost the length of a wine bottle.
Azulon yelped and spun to glare at Kya. The small pin she had pricked him with was deposited behind him. Leaving it in his pillowcase.
"I believe that Kya should ride you first." Ursa said with a devilish grin that Azulon returned.
The two women walked out of the room. Still nude and exhausted from the assassination. Their eyes downcast. There bodies sweaty. Red claw marks on their shoulders and sides. Po, Pi and Pe sat on the bench outside of the door. They stood as the duo walked out.
"The bathhouses"
"Are prepared"
"Your majesty"
"And pet." The three bowed low and gestured grandly down the hall. Ursa gave them a brief nod.
"Fire Lord Azulon is not to be woken until morning. One of you shall announce his status to Ozai and myself as well."
She took Kya's hand and pulled her towards the room. The triplets didn't even watch. They just walked right into the room. Closing and locking the door behind them.
"Should we worry about those three?" Kya whispered to Ursa as they neared the wash rooms.
"No. They are many things. But not stupid. They can see how the winds are blowing. And they know it is best to be on the good side of the new regime. They will keep this a secret. And they will find some use under Ozai."
If anything their assistance would be useful for the plot. It would be suspicious if Ursa or Ozai checked in on Azulon. But one of Azulon's secretaries breaking the news? That would be below suspicion.
They sat in the steam of the bath house. Kya squatted between Ursa's spread legs. Scooping the cum out from between her pussy lips. Eyes unfocused. The enormity of the situation dulling her senses. As if she was stuffed full of cotton. She could hardly compartmentalize it.
Kya took a soapy rag and began to clean Ursa intimately. Moving her hands over Ursa's thick thighs and beautiful knees. Going down her generously long legs and petite ankles. Over each toe.
"Your turn. Sit on the stool." Ursa offered Kya the small bamboo stool. It had a padded leather seat. Kya sat on the royal seat self consciously. She closed her eyes as Ursa poured boiling hot water across Kya's shoulders.
The two sat like that. The royal cleaning the servant. Pulling at the cum. Slapping the leavings down the drain. Spreading suds, kissing scratches, massaging muscles. Ursa rubbed a soft silk rag up and down Kya's nipples. Over and over and over.
Finally, when the water ran clear, Ursa latched on and suckled on a nipple. Kya let out a slight gasp. Closing her eyes and arching her back. Ursa nursed until milk shot into her mouth. She swished it between her cheeks. Leaned back and gargled. She swallowed the milk with a smile.
"Not even a hint of almonds. Nothing to fear." Kya let out a little sigh of relief. Ursa embraced Kya, the warmth of the water dripping down their bodies.
"Thank you. Thank you for being part of the delivery system. Thank you for saving my son."
"Our son. You birthed him. But I promise you. I love him as if he came out of me." Kya said with a soft smile. Ursa grinned back down and then kissed Kya. Kya tasted breast milk on Ursa's lips. And found the taste lovely.
Ozai stood up sharply when the two women walked in. A small charcuterie board had been set out. Sliced cheeses, dates, figs on small crackers, and a liver spread on a bamboo board.
"It is done?" He snapped. Ursa nodded. Her frown was sharp. Her eyes furious.
"It is done. Congratulations. You are the Fire Lord." Ozai touched his chin. Then his neck. His chest. Finally he grinned.
"It suits me. I've been waiting for this for a VERY long time." He said with a chuckle. He clapped his hands and spread them before the women.
"Now! To business. Clearly we can't have my father's assassin remain unpunished. Ah! I said I would protect our children. I never said you would be involved with them. Forgive me darling Ursa. But you are formally banished from the palace. For the crime of murdering Fire Lord Azulon."
Ursa glanced at Kya. Then back to her husband. She squared her shoulders and walked to the bed. She sat down on it heavily and crossed her bare legs. She was still nude and a little damp from washing Azulon's lust off of her.
"No. I don't think I am." She smiled in delight at Ozai's response. The look of abject surprise.
"What?"
"Well first of all I am not sure if I am the one who even killed him." Ozai narrowed his eyes.
"What?" He sounded as icy as a pole dweller. Ursa smirked, satisfied at having a hold over her husband.
"I will not bore you with the details. But we delivered different poisons to Azulon. In different ways. And I am not sure which ones did the job. It could have been in the pins. The tea. On our breasts. Our necks. Maybe it was a combination. Or one of them got to him faster. But in the end I can't tell you if I killed him or not. You will never be sure who did it. So if one of us is killed or sent away….Well Kya or I will destroy you. As simple as that. I suppose you could send us both away. Or kill us both. But then the children would grow suspicious. And it would probably affect them harsher then you would be able to deal with." Ursa smirked at Ozai.
"So really there is nothing you can do to us. And so much we can do to you. We know what you did. You ordered us to do it after all. So expect many changes going forward 'husband dear'." Kya sat beside Ursa and took the other woman's hand with a loving smile.
"For starters….Kya and Katara are permitted to travel further then before."
"Secondly. No more pet bowls." Kya said with a scowl. Ursa squeezed the woman's hand back encouragingly.
"Third Katara and Luda are permitted to go to school and be taught with the children." Ursa couldn't help but chuckle at Ozai's look. The abject shock on it is incredibly rewarding to her.
"Fourth—"
"I'm going to stop you both right now. We are doing none of these things." Ozai said sharply. He sighed and shook his head. "I can't get rid of either of you. That I can live with. But giving orders to the Fire Lord is something I refuse to permit. You really think that you have power over me? Just because of a simple task? Just because of a little blackmail? Blackmail is nothing if you lack the ability to enforce it. You might be able to destroy my reputation, maybe even force me off the throne. But it can only be used once. After that you have no weapons against me. I on the other hand—"
He snapped his fingers twice and tapped his right foot. Kya stiffened, her nostrils flared, and her hair rose on end and she felt her lungs compress.
"Kya?" Ursa asked her companion. Panic tinging her voice.
"Kya. Go kill that girl of yours." Kya stood up swiftly. Her eyes wide, body moving on its own. She strode towards the door. Ozai grabbed a cheese knife and tossed it to her. She snatched it from the air without even looking.
"Kya? Kya what are you doing?!" Ursa shot up in terror and ran after the other woman. Kya was halfway across the room. Ursa stood in front of her. Kya did not break stride and merely shouldered past the queen. Ursa grabbed Kya's arm, her elbow, her shoulder, pulling, yanking, shoving. Trying to slow the woman down.
"KYA!"
"Ursa!" Kya finally managed to wrench her jaw open and let out a bellow of terror. "Stop me!"
The words were strained and tight. As if they were being forced through massive slabs of granite.
"What have you done?!" Ursa turned on Ozai with a howl. He merely smiled and gestured.
"I gave an order. And she is following it."
"Ursa! Stop me! Please stop me!" Ursa wrapped her arms around Kya's waist and attempted to hoist the other woman off of her feet. But Kya was stronger then Ursa, and showed it by dragging her along the marble.
"Kill me." Kya said in defeat. If Ursa couldn't stop her, then really there was only one other option. "Ursa…please kill me. Don't let me do this. Kill me."
"Stop her!" Ursa screamed at Ozai. He smirked in response. Kya was at the door now. Hand gripping the handle. Knuckles white with strain. The last of her self restraint rattling against the muscles in her arms. Tendons standing out as she tried to keep from opening the door, stepping into the hallway and going to slaughter her daughter.
"KILL ME!"
"Please…..Stop her." Ursa fell to her knees and placed her forehead to the floor. "My Fire Lord."
"Release Kya." He ordered happily. He clapped his hands and Kya slumped to the marble floor. Gasping and panting. She dry heaved and stared unblinkingly at her knees. Tears beaded down her cheeks and splashed against her skin. Her throat closing up. She couldn't breath. She could hardly THINK.
She had been going to do it. She had been going to slaughter her daughter. She was going to shove this knife into Katara's throat and watch the life drain out. Her body had moved on its own. All she could do was watch it move. And scream.
"What have you done to her?" Ursa hissed at her husband. He smiled and placed his chin on his fist. Leaning back smugly.
"Fascinating isn't it? I experimented with the light. And with a few certain commands and hard work managed to add a little trigger move. A trigger only I can turn on and off. Permanently or otherwise. Think of it as insurance. Now that trigger has been activated. I have just reset it for a month."
"I don't understand." Kya said while shivering on the floor. "What have you done to me?"
"If I don't personally deliver a hidden phrase to you. Once every month. You will kill your daughter. This move will be secret. You didn't even notice when I activated it, it's that secret. Think of it as an insurance policy. The two of you could poison me. Kill me. Banish me far away. But then you would only have so much time before Kya eventually killed that little whelp of hers."
"Bastard." Ursa snapped out. Ozai frowned in response.
"You would blackmail me first. That being said I am not an unreasonable Fire Lord. There will be improvements to Kya's status. She and her children will be given certain liberties and privileges. As befitting pets of the Fire Lord. But they will never taste true freedoms. Like I said I am fond of you both. And I want you both to at least enjoy your time around me. But don't ever even consider betraying me. Or threatening me. Because I will destroy all you hold dear. Is that clear?"
Ursa screwed up her face. Her fingernails digging into the floor beneath her. Kya stood and walked beside Ursa. She got onto her knees and placed her forehead to the ground. Her collar clicking lightly against the tile.
"Yes. My Fire Lord." Ursa stared at Kya. Her chin quivered in anger, then in resignation. And then, she too said it.
The courtyard was massive. And full of men and women in their finest mourning outfits. Bright whites that fluttered in the breeze. Their hair covered in increasingly more and more elaborate smelling oils and perfumes. Their long fingernails wrapped in fake ivory ones to show off their level of decadence.
Katara studied the crowd as subtly as she could. She was standing far behind the royal family. Kneeling beside her mother and little brother. Luda was asleep at his mother's breast. Wrapped in a thin white silk sheet. He cooed softly and then resumed sucking his thumb.
Katara glanced briefly at her mother. Kya was looking respectfully at the ground. Sometimes she would also peek upwards, from underneath her eyelashes. Katara turned her gaze back to the backs of Zuko and Azula. The royal heirs were kneeling next to their mother. In only the finest robes of silk. Their hair in tight buns at the base of their necks. The trio had bowed heads and knuckles pressed to the stones of the courtyard.
In front of them was a massive wooden pyre. Made out of golden wood. Each piece cut with impeccable designs of phoenix's and dragons. Thick sprigs of rosemary and incense was stabbed in prime places. So that the smell of burning flesh would not overwhelm the watchers.
An old military man was openly weeping in the front row. He was missing an eye and his nose. A misshapen arm held close to him. He was so old to be bald and toothless. He stared at the corpse atop the unlit wooden pile.
Katara realized at that moment something shocking. Fire Lord Azulon for all of his evil, for all of his cruelty, did have admirers. Katara didn't know the nose less man, perhaps he had been a childhood friend, a school day companion, a brother in the military, a trusted advisor, or a bitter enemy. Whoever he was though, he mourned the passing of Azulon with his entire heart.
Pi, Po and Pe had delivered the news to the royal heirs and Katara. They had walked right into the room without knocking, turned to the three tired children on the bed and told them simply. Fire Lord Azulon was dead. Katara had been prepared to fight those three women if it had come to that. But all they did was deliver the news and then click out on their incredibly high heels. As if nothing had changed. And the world remained the same.
Fire Lord Ozai stood beside the large pile of wood. His chest rose and fell. He had a large golden disc in his hair bun. His eyes were bright and shining with fire. He turned to the pyre. And he lit the bonfire with a single move. The wood caught fast. And soon the blaze was reaching the sky. Cinders cracking off and drifting ever high ward. A Fire Sage approached the edge of the dais and made the announcement. Presenting the gathering commons with the new Fire Lord.
The first row bowed, then the next, the next, and so on until the entire courtyard were kneeling to the new world leader. Katara felt something thrill inside of her. Something completely alien and strange. This was power. This was the power of the Fire Nation. How she envied it. How she coveted it.
She crept forward. Slowly. Staring at Fire Lord Ozai. At the fire. At the skeleton that burnt to ash in the flames.
She came to a shuddering halt between Zuko and Azula. She looked down at their small hands. She reached out and took them. Giving the children a comforting squeeze. Zuko glanced at her and smiled. Azula stared at her with a surprised 'oh' on her lips.
It was a wonderful day for Katara. Her belly was full of the fine scrambled chicken trout eggs she had for breakfast. The sky was a bright blue, and the flames were a dark red. And she was exactly where she obediently at the feet of her owners. Which was her proper place. In the greatest nation in the world.She was home.
End of Book 1: The Taken
Editor's Note: Wow.
Creeply: Yep
Editor's Note: It's just...38 chapters almost 220,000 words. Multiple different POV's a lot of OC's/New Characters. Tons of floating plot threads. An entirely new world to explore. And you still haven't introduced the main character yet.
Creeply: Like I said to you privately its been a weird year.
Editor's Note: Clearly. You know if you spent even a bit of this time on something like Bimbo Bug it would be done by now.
Creeply: Yeah well...
Editor's Note: On top of that it feels like this chapter could have been three different ones. Or one super duper long one.
Creeply: I didn't really feel like writing a 20,000 word chapter dude.
Editor's note: Well are you going to do that more going forward? Shorter chapters? Like 5000 word ones?
Creeply: Probably? I'll try at least
Editor's Note: And next chapter is the time skip right? When we move in time to a different time period?
Creeply: Yes next chapter will be the first time skip. I promise. Thank you for being patient with this.
Editor's Note: Welp. I leave that to you. Can't wait to see it.
Creeply: Yeah well same here.
Review. Faster updates for this and other stories if this and other stories get more reviews. Would love to see art work of this or any of my other work. Faster reviews for my other less popular stories means that more updates at a faster pace. Or just more stories like this one.
Also any requests in reviews will probably be ignored.
Also just to be clear. I do not do pedophilia, all characters are aged up in this stuff or aged down depending on the character, no loli, no yaoi, no shota, I don't do watersports (Shit/Piss/fart fetish shit)I don't do stuff like vore or entire bodies getting shoved into places (Shrink play) I don't do blood play or torture (Ball/cock crushing etc) or certain old people, (Yes I am a fucking hypocrite) . Also if you ask for something in reviews that normally means I won't do it. So anyone who asks for that will be disappointed. If you have questions/requests/suggestions PM me instead.
Also have an ao3 account under the same name. and same titles.