Sundrop

Posted originally on the Archive of Our Own at http://archiveofourown.org/works/50490298.

Rating: Not Rated

Archive Warning: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Category: M/M
Fandom: Avatar: The Last Airbender
Relationship: Sokka/Zuko (Avatar)
Characters: Yue (Avatar), Zuko (Avatar), Sokka (Avatar), Katara (Avatar), Aang
(Avatar), Toph Beifong, Azula (Avatar), Ozai (Avatar), The Gaang
(Avatar)
Additional Tags: Spirit World (Avatar), Sun spirit zuko, Moon Spirit Yue (Avatar), Ocean
Spirit Katara, Earth Spirit Toph, Bad Parent Ozai (Avatar), Alternate
Universe - Canon Divergence, Arranged Marriage, Toph Beifong and
Zuko are Siblings, Yue & Zuko Friendship (Avatar), Swearing, POV
Multiple, Other Additional Tags to Be Added, I Don't Even Know, Been
in my head all week and demanding I write it, Zuko is an Awkward
Turtleduck, Zuko (Avatar) Needs a Hug, War, no beta we die like jet,
Hurt/Comfort, Angst, Fluff and Angst, We shall see if this is even liked,
Broken Engagement, Arranged Zuko/Yue, Platonic Zuko/Yue, Slow
Burn, Slow Build, irregular updates, world building, Eventual
Sokka/Zuko (Avatar), not for a long time, maybe not even this part,
maybe series
Language: English
Stats: Published: 2023-10-02 Updated: 2024-03-05 Words: 57,060 Chapters:
15/?
 Sundrop
by Lynnrose

Summary

Before the time of the Avatar the spirits danced. As the humans grew, they learned from the
dances and eventually made it their own. They gained the gifts of elements from the spirits
who fell in love with their dance. In order to keep balance between those with different gifts,
the Avatar was not the only spirit that moved through humans. The spirits of the major
elements also bonded themselves to a human vessel, much like the Avatar spirit. That
souldbonded human was to serve as the link between the great spirit and the human world.
They were also meant to be the teachers of the Avatar to assist in keeping balance in a world
full of wonder and power.

That was true, until everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked.

Notes

Hello! This is an idea that has been rattling in my brain and will not let me be. I have no idea
if it is even good or welcomed, but I wanted to at least get it out. This is my first time
straying quite far from cannon as well as my second fic of all time!

This is the introduction to the spirit's side of the story. They won't be around long so I hope
this is an okay start.
 Chapter 1

In the beginning there was light.

That light flickered dimly in the ever expanding darkness. Despite the dark, it danced and
grew until it was too big to hold into one singular form. When it finally became too much to
hold, it split itself into two. These two changed and continued the slow dance of push and
pull. One light burned bright with life and energy, the other a cold light that moved slow and
worked hard to reflect the others energy back towards them. To show their beauty to all.

The lights dance became far more active and invigorating as they collided and repelled each
other as they continued to grow. However, with every push away they noticed that reaching
each other once more became harder. They drifted further. They had to pull with all their
energy to find their sibling in the not so dark space. Something solid slowly built between the
twins and eventually their base forms were never able to come back to the center again.
Instead, they settled into a different dance of rotation and watched the growth of the world
between them.

Tui still remembers those early feelings. The dance, the forming of the worlds around them.
They wonder if their sibling remembers as well, if they also mourn its loss. They know Agni
remembers, but they do not miss the way they once danced as Tui does. They do not miss the
push and pull and are happy to sit in the rotation as long as it is with Tui. The siblings still
hold meetings, ones similar to those when they would collide, when they pass close enough
to hide away their light from the world below. They were the start of everything, after all.
The night and day. They were what helped all others start dances of their own.

The world below formed slowly, strong and solid and far too tempting as it continued to
change in color and shape. Tui, ever curious, poured themselves into a large drop of light.
Slowly, they grew and formed into pure energy much like their early form, and decided to see
just what was growing on the mass that had divided the twins all those cycles ago. Tui felt
themselves leave the comfort of the ground they had called home for so long, that was always
reflecting the beauty of their twin back at them so they would never forget their worth, and
fell. They fell far longer than they had expected and landed in a world far unlike any light
dance they had seen before.

The world was colorful and alive. Things that were solid and not so solid moved and mixed
with one another. Sounds, lights, and things Tui had no names for danced by and quickly
became too much and not enough. Tui wanted to learn everything. This, was far better than
staring off to watch other things dance while wallowing in ones own lost connections.

Years passed and Tui continued their fall to the world below every chance they could. They
learned that the nights where Agni could no longer see Tui were the nights where Tui could
not make the fall. On the contrary, the nights where Tui was full were the nights they were
the brightest. When the things on the world could see them easily and when they could
engage with them the most. Spirits could see them even when they were shimmering, but the
humans, they needed that full reflection or they could see nothing but a reflective shimmer.
Agni had joined Tui in the energy drop fall some years ago. They had far easier a time being
seen and engaging with the humans. Their light burned too bright to hide, after all. The
problem was that they also burned too quickly. Agni could only maintain form on the planet
for a short while. While the sun burned bright on the lands, they were able to be just as
present. The moment Tui’s domain began to move over the lands Agni faded and quickly
vanished back to the mass they resided in for rest.

Tui could stay and watch Agni play with the creatures for a few lucky moments before they
changed who could be on the earth. Agni would always beam the brightest smile whenever
they saw Tui, but they knew not to come close or they risked an early fade. It was a sight that
warmed even Tui’s cold domain. Agni had always been warm and welcoming and so happy.
It was a gift to be able to see this once more be true, even if it was directed more so at the
weird little things that grew on their dividing mass.

The little things, the humans mostly, were full of surprises. Tui had years to learn the spirits
of the land below them. To figure out the good and the bad. To learn who was safe and who
was not. To learn just what not safe was.

Humans and animals were far different. They were both and neither. It really depended on the
human or creature, but they did not live in solid form for long. They, like Tui, had to return
what they borrowed eventually. Unlike Tui, they never seemed to come back quite the same,
if at all.

Tui had adapted their form long ago, making it one that fit the design of the humans over all
other creatures. It was a unique and appealing design, after all. So many different things one
could do with this base form. Agni had followed Tui and continued to dance with the
humans, glowing far too bright to hide. Tui took notice of the other great spirits that danced
with the humans, much like Agni.

It was in this moment that they found a great spirit who called themselves La. La, was
beautiful in all the ways Agni could never be. When Agni was always warm and welcoming,
La was cold and dark if one did not know how to look. Where Agni moved with solid
motions and control, La danced with the fluid movements of the water. Where Agni was life,
La was neither giving nor taking. La was constant change, and La had started to dance with
Tui.

It had been so long since Tui had danced. They knew they had missed the dance terribly. The
push and pull. The power and serenity created. Tui had always known they wanted to dance
forever, and had always held a distance with the forms on the mass that had ruined their first
dance. Now, Tui found that the dance with La was far more than that with Agni. Agni always
needed Tui to reflect them and remind them they were something worthy of the moment
spent with them. La, they wanted nothing more than to watch Tui and have Tui glow with
them in return.

Love. That was what the humans had called it. From that moment on Tui fell to the world
below and joined La in a dance on the surface of the great waters that they called home. To
push and pull the waters with the moods they felt during the dance. It did not take long for
the humans to see them, to love them, and to join them.
Some of the special humans, ones whos dance drew the attention of La and were granted their
gift, began to push and pull the waters just as easily as La could. They were able to take the
water, manipulate it, and to use it through dances of their own. La found it beautiful, how the
dance of love so strong gave such a powerful gift. Tui loved it if La did.

Soon they saw other humans preforming new dances. Ones of strength which moved the very
earth they were living on. Others with fluid movements that lifted them into the skies like
they were the air themselves. Finally, the ones who moved with heat, energy, and life itself.
Those who danced so similarly to Agni that Tui knew they had found a love in these humans
much like La had.

Tui had loved their dance with La, had ignored the things around them. Had nearly forgotten
that humans were dancing with La as well. Every moment they could they would reach out to
La and give themselves to the oceans and waters below. Had taken far too long to notice La
becoming more cold and distant. Until one day they did not reach out to help guide Tui home
to the water as they fell to the earth.

Tui had panicked. What could have happened to their beautiful ocean? They had spent the
night following the feeling of past dances, most of them humans. Had hoped that they could
help if needed. La was not weak, but they were often far too quick to change their mind. The
waters were constantly changing under Tui as they scanned for their light and that did
nothing to help sooth the fear.

Tui hurried over the surface of the water until they reached the top of the planet. The ice,
formed by La and the cold that Agni struggled to reach. Here, where that water had settled to
a glass like surface, they saw La talking to one of the great Lion Turtles. These creatures
housed most of the life not able to move freely through La’s great domain. Often, the humans
on them could not begin to understand just how much more to their world there was.

“La, my love, I have found you.” Tui decended to the water and walked along the surface.
The fear they had felt left like a stream at the small smile La sent them.

“Tui, forgive me. I had forgotten it was not yet a new moon and that you would be joining
us.” They reached out and grabbed hold of Tui’s shimmering form.

“The night of no moon is tomorrow. Tell me, what has you so worked up?” Tui looked out
beyond the calm waters they stood on. The seas were still churning and rolling in chaotic
ways that spoke of great upset.

“It is the humans, I fear.” La sighed and turned back to the great Lion Turtle. “They took our
dance but have no one to guide them. None to keep the gift strong and alive.”

Tui looked to the Lion Turtle, confused as to what the problem really was. So the humans
who had learned from the dance were dying out. That happened. That meant that Agni was
losing their people, and while it was sad they could just teach new ones right? That was a
good thing about humans, they were always so eager to learn.

“You do not understand." La sighed, they were always good at reading Tui's silence and
hesitation when it came to things outside their push and pull of the world. "Our gift has
passed to the children of those who lived on the edge of the shell. From the ones who saw our
dance.”

“You are right, I do not understand. Is that not a good thing?” Tui asked.

“It is good! Great! Those who are blessed with water are doing fine. There is a divide
happening, though, splitting those gifted based on what they do.” La’s grip tightened and the
waters under glowed a deep blue.

“You worry for your people.” Tui understood. A divide among humans was always tricky at
best. They were a creature prone to the unexpected in an instant. “Alright, what would you
like to do?”

“This Lion Turtle has just given me a way to make sure the gift of our dance continue
through the humans. You won’t like it.” They shifted away to look towards the land of ice on
the Turtles back.

“I suppose you will have to tell me. I have never been good with hearing the Lion Turtles
even on my full nights, and so close to a new moon I fear I will hear nothing at all.” Tui
sighed as La chuckled.

“Agni has already done it.”

“Not sure what ‘it’ is but I am not surprised. They do not think on long term and burn far too
bright to control.” Tui huffed. Their twin had always been what the humans called impulsive.

“Yes, well. It really feels like a good way to keep the gift going. There are sometimes humans
who can learn two or more gifts! If there is such unbalance, then we need to provide a master
for all gifts.” La sounded so confident, Tui knew the decision had been made far before this
conversation. They feared that La had attempted to do whatever Agni had on a night Tui
would not come to them. Did they fear Tui denying them their choice or was it really that
bad?

“Allow a single human the power of all elements? Would that not continue the unbalanced
nature?”

“No, we need to provide a master of one element. One with the power of the core of that
element.”

“Alright. I am not sure I follow but how do we do this?” Tui glanced towards the Lion Turtle,
feeling nervous.

“Simple, I must find a water gifted human to become my vessel. That human will hold a part
of my core in them and be guided by myself. They will be my connection to the human world
and I could take their form for my own in moments of great need. Like a tether to the world
and a guarantee of our dance continuing.” La stepped back towards the Turtle and Tui felt
that panic spike once more.
“La, you are going to cut a part from your core and give it to the humans? Are they really
worth so much? That you would willingly give a part of your spirit to them just to keep some
idea of balance?” Tui backed away. The very idea settled wrong in their center.

“Yes. Agni did it and said it was little less than having an empty feeling that is easily ignored.
They said it was the best choice they ever made. That having a tether to the world made
coming down in spirit drop form far easier and that the humans were very willing to host
them. Said the hardest part was finding a human with an inner fire that matched their own
enough to house them.”

“You have spoken to my twin about this for awhile now."

"A full moon cycle, yes. Forgive me Tui. I had to be sure." La sent them an apologetic smile.

"You would make a human immortal?”

“No, they are not built for that like we are. I would gift one with my spirit to help train the
others and guide the ones learning more than one gift. Hopefully prevent them from creating
a disturbance. They would live and die as humans do, and my spirit link would find the next
host or return to me.” La looked to the Lion Turtle and smiled as they watched it nod in
agreement.

“Is this what you are wanting to do?” Tui asked.

“Yes.”

“Then, I shall support you through it. I will be here, and continue our dance, and when you
need it I will give you my strength.” Tui vowed as they wrapped La into a tight embrace. The
very idea of splitting a part of what made La whole terrified them, but it was not their choice.
La also knew these humans far better than Tui and if they believed this was needed then so be
it.

La waded away from Tui towards the Lion Turtle. As Tui watched, La bowed low and
glowed a blinding white. That glow left La in a flash and shot high into the skies before
twisting towards the back of the Turtle. La themselves stayed frozen as they watched the light
pinball around before disappearing. As soon as it faded La gasped out and tipped forward
into the water. Tui rushed forward to the spot they had been and waited anxiously.

Moments later La reappeared and formed once more. They quickly wrapped Tui into a tight
embrace and the waters around rippled in such happy energy that Tui could only hug back
and smile.

“I feel them. My moon. I have found my host. She is beautiful and so little.” La whispered, as
if the human could hear them and they did not wish to scare them.

“Everything is little to you, my ocean.”

La laughed and pulled Tui once more into their dance. They danced for years as La learned to
live with their spirit mixing with humans. Sometimes they felt the emotions of their
soulbonded, other times they felt as if it was just a hole they had. The worst was when they
felt the moment their spirit was freed from the vessel and on the move to the next. That was
always a hard time as La cried for their broken bonds. Tui wondered if Agni felt the bonds
like this, and why one would ever elect to give so much of themselves away to such pain.

The humans continued to surprise the spirits as they grew and learned. They gave themselves
to the elements with such willingness that Tui almost feared their need for more. As it was,
Tui had little power to give and so they paid little mind to those who danced with other
elements, but they watched how La loved and cherished their children. How they gave that
tether to the humans and never regretted it, even if it caused such pain when the short life of a
human ran out.

Everything was in balance. Only a select few humans ever moved to learn more than one
element, but never all four. Those humans were only ever good with one element and the
second was usually a byproduct of location. The duel elemental humans died off quickly,
usually at the hands of those around them, and soon the world settled into divided parts.

This divide was constant for many cycles. The spirits continued to mix with the living, some
more peaceful than the others. The humans continued to push back against each other and the
spirits, feeding into new life and giving name to chaos and corruption. With this new energy,
came greater dangers. Those dangers threatened the very world, but not Tui and La in their
everlasting dance. They were not living on the Lion Turtle, after all.

Tui knew very little about the spirits that were causing discord among the humans and so it
took a great deal of time to learn the names. La, however, would become agitated or upset
whenever their vessels were taken too soon. The ocean would buck and raise up to punish the
lands for such actions.

After one vessel was taken in infancy by a petty argument, La rose high and learned how to
drag humans to the depths of the ocean with no remorse. They also learned how to mark a
soul and wait for them to cross over into the spirit world. There they dragged the soul down
into the fog that had grown deep in their other realm. Those trapped in the fog never left.
They were held prisoner for their wrongdoings towards the ocean and their people, never to
be seen again. It was terrifying, but Tui loved La and often agreed with the humans who
deserved such endings.

It was easy to forget these moments. Tui was often divided from it all, trapped to return to the
moon more than drop to the earth. Together they were safe to dance with the waves as one.
That was, until one spirit got greedy and one stupid human decided to intervene.

The spirit, Vaatu, grew too large to contain as the humans continued to feed his need for
chaos and darkness. Tui knew of Vaatu, had watched him grow as one of the early beings on
the mass that divided the twins, but paid him no mind as they did not affect the night.
Besides, the white twin to Vaatu always seemed willing to continue the dance they were
locked into. That was, until Vaatu broke the rules of balance and fooled a silly human into
joining.

Tui did not know what happened, only that it changed everything. The Lion Turtles all spread
out and dove deep. They discarded the land masses they carried all over La’s great oceans.
They sealed these lands to the floor of the ocean, forever blocking just where La could move.
Moments later, Tui felt an energy blast ripple out with such intensity that their form almost
collapsed. The gate between the spirit world was being forced closed, and with it meant that
Tui and La would be divided forever.

Instantly, they knew they could not stand such a divide. They chose to instead shed their
spirit forms to take shape as something simple yet beautiful. It was a choice that took little
time as they felt themselves shrink and the connection the the spirit world break. They were
small, smaller than anything they had been before, but they were together. They swam
towards the place they had first met, where the night ruled far more than the day, and where
La’s people had been settled by the lion turtles.

It took a great deal of time, but they made it north to the ice shelves. The humans there called
them “Koi” and Tui thought that name beautiful. La spent many nights crying out for their
soul bonded. For the one who would recognize them the moment they saw them. The one
who could be trusted to keep them safe. The animals had left them alone, seemingly knowing
that they were more than just fish, but the humans did not have such recognition.

On a full moon night La found their soul bonded human. The young man had looked to the
fish and instantly began to move the ice and make a path for them. They yelled out for others
to help and soon Tui and La were lifted into a pool of water deep within the ice shelf. They
were safe, and they danced. The area around them fed off the energy created by the ever
present circles and soon the small pond before formed a hidden oasis. Tui did not care much
about what the place looked like, only that it glowed with their love for La and La’s love in
return.

Through La, Tui learned more of the world. They knew that La’s spirit had continued to
bounce through the humans. That they continued to feel the pull of those who borrowed from
them for a short time and often saw images of the world beyond their pool. They told the
stories to Tui as they circled endlessly. Tui was surprised to learn that the Avatar, the one soul
bonded with the white spirit Raava, naturally sought out the benders who held the original
spirits deep within. That they often gathered the four great spirit vessels and learned from
them like they had first done all those cycles ago. And through that Tui was always able to
know that Agni’s spirit was alive and well with the Avatar.

As the years passed, Tui learned that on full moon nights they could once more see from the
moon. That if they really exerted themselves, they could form once more as a being on the
earth and not a fish. They did not do so often, perhaps once every 100 years, but it was good
to know. The balance had changed without the spirits, but it was balance none the less.

That was, until the Fire Nation attacked.

 Chapter 2
Chapter Notes

The Fire Nation attacks!

This story really means a lot to me, even if it is not the best. I hope it is at least
enjoyable. Please let me know what you think!

See the end of the chapter for more notes

The night started as any other. The sun had fallen behind the horizon and Agni’s spirit had
fallen asleep, unaware of what was about to happen within their nation. The comet had
rocketed towards the divide between the masses and sang out to those with Agni’s blessing.

This had been happening for hundreds of years. Most of the nights that saw it pass by was
celebrated with the dragons in night long festivals full of fire and life. To no ones surprise,
the comet was met with fire. To the worlds surprise, that fire was turned against the air itself.
The very element that fire needed to grow strong, and yet in a matter of hours it was burned
away.

The winds screamed. The world was thrown into chaos as it bled from the sky. The spirits
cried out too locked away to hear, but Tui and La heard them. La felt them. Had pushed
themselves out of the Koi pond to take over their host in a way that had not been used in
many generations. The oceans rose up, and the winds died.

La had returned to the pond in hysterics. The fish had swam in sporadic patterns, searching
and failing to find an exit. La cried and screamed so shrill a sound at the hurt felt at being
shoved out of the humans form in a last act to protect them. When they felt their soul bonded
fall trying to protect the wind children, La sank to the bottom of the pond with a shattered
heart. Screams for the winds soul bounded ripped around the world in storms as he stood
alone against an army.

Tui had known the new Avatar had been a wind child and most likely was already with the
old wind bonded host. The man had been there with the previous Avatar, after all, and it was
of no surprise that they found the next within a few years. The question was, where was the
Avatar now? The power of past generations would have given the wind a fighting chance, but
that took out the fact that the Avatar would have been a child. Most likely, they had burned
with the rest of the wind.

Tui tried to give support to La and the rest of the crying spirits that past through their oasis on
the way towards their rest. Had tried to support them. Had notice that Agni’s light did not
seem to burn as brightly. La had told them that the soul bonded to Agni had also perished
trying to defend the wind.
The Fire Nation as they were called had killed all soul bonded children. That they were
continuing to do so every chance they got. They were searching the earth for the children of
the elements just as desperately as the Avatar and that those who showed signs of the bonds
were swiftly ended, bonded or not. Because of this, La had decided to pull their spirit close
once more to protect their children from ruthless killings.

They had chosen to keep it for themselves once more and would not release it until they
knew the others had at least tried. The winds were gone. The children of the great air spirit,
who had chosen the form of the bison they had loved so deeply, were no more. The lands
were forever unbalanced without the Avatar, and they had vanished many cycles ago.

The earth spirit had followed the guidance of La. The great spirit pulled their spirit from the
humans and let it reside instead in their children. The badger moles were to be the guardians
of the spirit until the day they chose to pass it along to only the most worthy of an earth
bender.

It was Agni who felt the loss far more than all others. On the fated passing where Tui got to
hold their twin for mere moments they learned of that pain. Agni had burrowed deep into
Tui’s light and cried. It was such a human thing, but Tui supposed it came from bonding your
spirit with them for thousands of years.

Agni had told Tui that they had not known their gift was going to be used in such ways or
they would have never given it. Had cried for the winds, and raged at the loss of their
children. This had shocked Tui greatly. Agni had loved the humans, Tui knew they still did
even if that feeling was muddied, but to learn of the dragons was almost too much.

Agni had seen the air create the bison, the earth create the badger moles, and in turn created
the dragons. They were as much Agni’s children as the fire benders had been, and yet the
benders were slaughtering them just as ruthlessly as they continued to cut Agni’s connection
to the world.

Agni had continued to send a drop of the sun to the earth every few months with the hopes of
it taking to an unborn firebender. Every drop had been doused. Every bender that it did settle
in was slain the moment the multi colored fires shot forth as the child learned to bend what
was their gift.

The pattern continued. Years past. The world settled into the new normal once more and felt
heavy. The great elemental spirits did not reach out to their gifted, and the days of the Avatar
seemed to be over. It was a dark new time and Tui wondered if this was what Vaatu had
wanted all those years ago. Funny, Tui had always known the humans to be potentially
dangerous.

The sun drops slowly ended as well. The loss after loss of the children bonded to Agni over
something so mindless had taken it’s toll. Agni no longer danced with excitement. They no
longer tried everything in their power to stay close to the earth for as long as they could.
They had lost so much of what had made them Agni in the matter of years.

That was, until one passing Agni cried for their children and the burns of the world. They did
not pay attention, could not focus, and never realized that within the tears that fell to the earth
 they had once more sent down a gift. A sundrop that none but Tui had known about. They
had always had the gift of seeing Agni no matter what, after all.

Chapter End Notes

Next chapter we shall finally meet our Sundrop <3

How is the story start? Should I cut the spirits part out or what do we think?

Edit: I do not know why there are two note sections. I condenced two chapters and I
can't seem to get the notes off of this one, sorry!
 Chapter 3
Chapter Notes

One child of the spirits is about to re-enter the world, but how well will they last?

Tui's story has one more chapter! (might redo this chapter depending on reactions, so let
me know any thoughts)

See the end of the chapter for more notes

Tui was surprised that none had noticed the growing sun bond that had taken root those
cycles prior. They had kept the knowledge of the sun drop quiet as they did not want to hurt
those with potentially pointless hope. Instead, they have been watching the growth of the
human from the moon every chance they got. It was beautiful, and it was terrifying.

The sun drop was growing strong and for the most part healthy. They seemed to be taking
well to the bond even if it would not be full until the child was born and faced the sun. What
was truly the worst part was just where Agni’s bonded was growing. They had somehow
dropped their spirit link right into the Fire Nations royal family.

Tui did not understand humans and had chosen to not learn for years. They had thought them
far too unpredictable and unbalanced to give them too much time. La had loved them, and
Tui had loved La enough to tolerate them in order to continue their dance.

Over the past few months of watching the sun drops growth, Tui grew to worry far more than
they were ready to. As much as they did not intervene, had never mixed with the humans, and
had watched the humans destroy those they loved Tui had a hard time not connecting with the
mini sun. The woman who was housing the sun was surviving but was unwell. The prince,
and the father to the human growing the sun, was a vial creature.

Tui believed that humans, for the most part, could learn to be swayed by the choices of right
or wrong. That those choices for these creatures were muddy and depended on the actions of
those around them. That most were worth some kind of leash for mistakes over wrong
doings. This man disproved that thought tenfold. If there was ever a soul that was wrongly
blessed or deserving of La’s wrath, it would be him.

Tui had watched him threaten others, broken things, attack people, and on many occasions
taken a hand towards the sun drops carrier. Had felt the rage at the pain given to the sun
before they had ever even graced the earth with their light. The fear that at this rate they may
never. That they were going to be born into the worst location for a gifted child and they were
going to be cut down just like all the others before them. The Fire Nation had actively hunted
those who were linked to spirits, there was no telling what they would do to their own prince.
The young sun had only to be born under Agni. That was all that was needed to forever link
them together and seal the bond. That would also seal the fate of the child, and Tui felt that it
may just serve to seal that of the worlds this time. They could not shake the feeling that
something was at work causing such a link to slip towards the earth without the notice of the
others. It was that very feeling that led them to the strong choice that they would watch over
the child as much as they could. This was their sibling, in some weird way, even if none of
the other bonded humans had felt like that.

That very resolve was what led Tui to sit in their moon form on a full power night. They were
watching the tower to the palace where the princess resided and noticed that much was
wrong. The tower for one was a buzz with people. That in itself was not unusual, but these
people moved around far too panicked and irregularly to be reassuring.

Tui decided to take form and descend to see what had caused the sudden upset and was met
with a view they were unprepared for. The woman who carried the sun was screaming in a
bed. She was clearly in deep distress and Tui realized just what was about to happen. The
child of the sun was about to be born to the moon.

This, was interesting. Tui had never been able to witness the birth of a sun child before. They
were controlled by Agni and every part of them was ruled by the sun. The birth of a fire
gifted child under the moon never turned out well. Often those children lost their fire or they
did not survive.

The woman screamed once more and Tui knew that this was not when the child was meant to
be born. The child was to be born to Agni but external factors were forcing them to be born
to Tui. They could only hope that the link between siblings was enough to sustain it for the
time being.

A roar of near inhuman characteristics ripped through the hall as a man forced his way into
the room. The other humans in the room with the sun and mother rushed to prevent him from
entering further. Everyone was pushing, running, and screaming. The only one that was quiet
throughout the whole event was the infant who had just entered the world. It had yet to open
its eyes or make a sound. Tui believed that without the bond with the sun, the child would
stay like this. The sun was just as much his soul as his own fire was and without one piece it
was merely a husk.

An old man entered the room and had gained the attention of the raging beast. Tui took that
time to study the mother and the sun drop. It was so small. The body nearly glowed in the
light of the moon and it looked healthy despite everything. The mother looked far worse. Too
small for a woman who had carried a child. Injuries both internal and external were being
treated by those around. One of the other people had taken the sun child away from her and
were trying unsuccessfully to make it move. To make it cry. To make it show them it was
alive with more than just steady breaths. Tui knew it would only do so when the sun rose and
Agni blessed their bond.

“It was born to the moon. It will never be a child of Agni.” The old man had said, louder than
those scuttling around.
Tui had found those words extremely off putting. They were holding the very child of Agni
and yet they placed blame on the child’s time of birth? While it was true most fire children
under Tui were not well, it was still upsetting to hear. This child had not asked for this early
birth, the fault of that lay with one person.

“So, he is worthless.” The beast growled.

“He is your first child. A prince. He is lucky to be-”

“It is no prince without fire. He was born under the moon, and a full one at that. It is lucky I
do not throw it out that window right now.”

“My prince, he is your first born.”

“I can have another. This one was defective from the start. See to it that it is removed from
this tower and brought to me.”

“Sire-” The old mans tone spoke of worry and fear.

“Look at it. It has yet to even cry with life. Either I take care of it or it will die within the
night. You said so yourself, it has no spark of Agni’s light. It will never be a firebender and
with that it was lucky to be born at all.” The beast turned and left, leaving the others to stare
at the ever silent newborn and the mother who had fallen unconscious after the birth.

Tui was enraged. They had known that man to be the worst, but to talk of the death of their
first born as if they were replaceable was indescribable. The rage that built up flowed out in
the moons rays and Tui knew La would feel it.

Tui had a choice, and it was an easy one to make. They would protect the sun bonded from
that man for as long as they could and their was nothing anything could do to stop them.
They reached out with the light of the moon through the window and greeted the sleeping
child. Pouring all the light into the child, they worked to seal their fire in a protective layer
until the sun could reach out in a few hours. This would ensure that the child would at least
live the night as long as that man stayed away.

That meant Tui had one last job to do, and they had to move fast. They were losing strength
being in the human world and away for the pond for so long. Tui forced one last beam of
light into the infant being taken from the room. This time, they fed a piece of themselves into
the light and let it settle over their seal. The infant went cold with the moons blessing but that
was not something that could be helped without Agni.

Through the soul link now in place Tui could take form inside of the infant. They moved
from the moon to the infant as it was laid on a stone table equally as cold. It was an odd
feeling, being tethered to a living being, and not one Tui had ever expected to feel. The body
of the infant was moved unnaturally as people around worked to position them in a way that
opened the midsection. Tui felt the danger in this seconds before the fire and reacted on
instinct. La was right, the drive to protect these bonds was indeed strong.
Fire flashed and Tui felt the heat of it and worked quickly to form a spirit block mere inches
above the infant. Tui was not one of elements. They had no control of fire or water like others
did. Instead, they were a link to the spirits. They held the worlds, both physical and spiritual,
and were a tethering factor in their own spirit oasis. Tui was not an elemental bender, but
spirit bending was easy enough when they had watched the creation of it from the start.

The spirit barrier held strong as more fire cut down from a singular point. That beast of a
human was physically shooting his own gift from Agni at them with such a drive that any
infant would have been unrecognizable by this point. With the cold of the moons touch and
the power of the spirit world evaporating the flames, the infant continued to sleep unaware of
the dangers.

The fire had lasted minutes. Far longer than would have been necessary to end an infant and
more likely held much more vial intentions from such a man. Once it ended Tui dropped the
spirit shield. They needed to hear just what was being said and to maintain some energy in
case another shield was needed.

Gasps and murmurs rippled through the chamber. So, this was not a private endeavor? What
good could witnessing the murder of a newborn by their own father provide these humans?
Tui, once again, was at a loss for how humans behaved. Was this typical for such actions?
Without the ability to open the infants eyes, Tui had only the ability to listen.

Murmurs and mumbles mixed. The words: “It survived, How-, It is gifted, A spirit child, A
moon child, A blessing, A curse…” echoed within the chamber.

“SILENCE!” Roared. Tui knew that was the beast.

Immediately the voices ceased. The room fell into a desperately silent space as Tui worked
hard to nudge the eyes of the infant open. They wanted to see, needed to see to prevent any
harm. The infant did not respond to Tui which was not a surprise. This was not their vessel,
but it was frustrating given the situation.

Footsteps. That was what Tui was able to hear after a moment too long in the silence. The
beast was approaching and a spirit shield may not be enough this time. Tui had to think fast if
this infant was going to make it to see the sun.

Words. That was the next thing Tui heard and they were whispered just for the infant.

“You continue to disgrace me. You, who did not have the strength to wait for Agni, defy my
judgment?” A hand had settled on the tiny chest of the infant. It did not feel as if it was a
danger but even still Tui threw a thin layer of spirit energy between it and the infants skin.

“You are cold as ice. No fire lives within, yet you repel mine? What are you?” Within
seconds fire burst from the hand on the infant and was swallowed by the spirit shield.

Tui grew ever more enraged. This vile thing had laid a hand on their offspring in the hopes to
burn it to death and feel the whole thing. It was with this rage that Tui finally felt the body
twitch at their command. The eyes of it fluttered open and stared up at the face of the man
who had tried three times to end its life. With a final shove at the infants half empty core Tui
 was able to make it scream. Make the infant cry out with such strength that spoke of a
healthy child. That would put doubt into those around that this child was ill or born lifeless.

The wails of life brought forth a new amount of activity. Voices and objections to the current
actions burst from every corner and the beast was forced away for him own child. Others rush
forwards to scoop the limp yet screaming body up off the stone table and worked to wrap the
infant in blankets. Tui let the eyes fall shut but worked hard to encourage the child to
continue to scream. That the screams of pain and distress were what would save it. All too
quickly the infant was hurried out of the room despite the yells and orders from the beast.

Tui felt the moment they left the chamber. The gentle care of the others who worked hard to
care for and tend to the uninjured infant. They were still worried at how cold he was. He, the
infant was labeled a he. The humans worked hard to keep him safe and to get him warm.
They rushed outside the moment the sun rose and Tui felt their siblings shock as they too
joined within the infants body.

Tui had only moments to mix with Agni. To tell them of all that had happened. To be sure
they would be okay within such an infant before the sun became too much. The seal over the
boys fire broke under the sun, the bond to Agni was accepted, and Tui knew that the child
would at least live for a few years. They were safe in Agni’s care after the months being
under Tui’s watch.

The last thing Tui learned as their tether to the infant was shattered was a name. The sun
bonded was once more a part of the world, and they were to be prince Zuko of the Fire
Nation.

Chapter End Notes

Thank you so much for reading. Please let me know your thoughts on this one <3
 Chapter 4
Chapter Notes

With this, Tui's story ends and we are linked to the human world!

See the end of the chapter for more notes

That full moon night had been many cycles ago. The world had felt the shift only briefly
before falling back into its unsettled normal. The spirits that leaked through still harbored
nothing but hurt and hate for their lands burning. The people still screamed and suffered, if in
different ways. Nights were still cold while the days were kissed by Agni.

A quick shift into the full moon far above and Tui found themselves once more scanning for
their twins vessel. They had become far more invested in this little beasts well being than
they cared to admit, though La had their suspicions. It took far longer this time to locate
them, the little sun was not in bed as they should be.

At this age the setting of the sun should zap them of all energy. If humans were truly honest
and believable then mothers of Agni’s gifted always praised how easy the nights were
compared to other infants. This went to the extreme for those who were Agni’s vessel.

The loss of the sun and connection to fire should render the vessel unconscious or asleep until
early teen years at least. Agni held a great deal of power and energy. They gave it all freely
but burnt out far too quickly. That curse was also passed to their human side and as a result
they showed the greatest rise and fall of all the spirit links. Even the ocean linked spirits who
rose in power with Tui given the ties they had to the ocean never fell like a puppet cut loose
as those who were tied to Agni sometimes would.

La had always found it funny, watching Agni’s vessel drop even as adults as they had burned
far too much. If La was being honest, they would admit that they too blessed their vessels
with a flaw. They often gave them their never ending shifting tides. The moods of the ocean
were unpredictable at best, and their vessel were always just as beautiful and terrifying to
Tui. Those rolling moods and raw power mixed in a deadly force. The humans were
unyielding and unforgiving at the best of times. Those who saught to hurt the sun often found
themselves swallowed by the sea.

Not that that sun was helpless at night, far from it. They could easily call forth the power of
fire and life at any time, they were just less likely to catch on to a need for it quickly without
a warning. This was all to say that the sun human was weakest at night for obvious reasons,
but was still the sun and Tui had never hindered them when they ignited during their time
over the lands. If anything, Tui had always loved to see them. It was a glimpse of their sibling
they longed for, after all.
This was all to say that right now Tui was sat on the moon and thinking, scanning the palace
of the cursed house of flames, and very much not finding their little sun. They were
becoming worried. It had been just over a year in human terms and the sun had been kept safe
from that man. Most of the people in this building were putting themselves between that
monster and Tui’s little one so the worry of it coming close had settled. Perhaps too soon. Tui
was high in the sky now and there was very little in chance that the little sun would be awake
no matter what was around. They were far too small to pull in the power of Agni.

A shuffle of light caught Tui’s attention and they spun to locate just what was moving. The
child’s room was empty, that meant any movement could hold an answer. The tower that had
the flickering lights moving with shadows was an old one, possibly from well before there
were even lords over the lands, and Tui hurried to form within to find answers to where the
sun was hidden. They knew that Zuko was somewhere on this planet. They would have
known the second the sun crossed to the spirits side if they had died being a keeper of the
gates.

Inside the old tower they were met with the sight of the mother of the sun handing a sleeping
bundle to two old women. They were twins, identical in every way. They had silver hair from
age but their skin had just begun the wrinkle. Their hair was pulled back into long braids that
wove around their heads like little crowns and were held in place by gold pins. Their brown
eyes were sharp but kind as they took in the figures before them. They were short for
humans, both standing roughly the size of a young teen. This height made their fire red robes
brush the floor as they walked. Each had rings of varying sizes decorating their hands for
reasons that Tui could not recognize.

The women both took one look at the child and whispered far too low for any to hear them.
Tui faded into the shadows and watched. What were they doing with the sun?

“So, is it true? Does he truly hold no fire?” The woman holding the sleeping baby asked in a
pleading tone. She was dressed in far nicer fire red silks that had details of flames woven
throughout. The gold trim of her gown caught the dancing light of the candles within the
room and made the illusion of flames dancing over her. Her kind face was beautiful in human
standards but was pulled into a worried frown as she looked over the child in her arms. Her
hair fell freely down her back and over her shoulders. She was thin still but far healthier than
Tui remembered her being last time.

They were worried the sun would have no fire? How would that be possible?

“We are sorry, my dear princess, but he is as cold as the night. Even during the day we have
felt no heat. It would seem he is not one for Agni’s gift.” They bowed low as they laid the
slumbering child onto a table top.

The area did not look as if it had been used for any fire related things so Tui did not see the
need to intervene. Instead, they sat stunned. A vessel of Agni was never cold. They were
always on the warmer side as they were holding far more fire than those gifted with the
flames of life. How was it possible that the infant was still cold?

“Tell us, how is he during the day?” The two women asked, rotating between just who was
speaking.
“Oh, he is so lively! He is the perfect baby. So happy and curious. Really, so full of life that I
have rarely gotten him to take a nap unless in complete darkness. The second the sun reaches
its first rays out he is awake!” The young woman rushed to answer, like her words could
change some horrible thing.

The two women stood stunned for a moment before looking between themselves and the
sleeping form. They both touched the child and shivered as if they expected something warm
and were met with ice. Tui waded forward, careful to keep themselves within the spirit vale,
and brushed a finger over the infants forehead. It was no different than how Tui felt and they
meant they were indeed as cold as the night.

“Interesting. The babe wakes with the sun you say?”

“Everyday. Since the first ray’s of light touched their skin and every day after. Even when the
sun is hidden away they wake, if just a bit groggy.” She was hopeful, Tui felt nothing but
worry.

“Have they shown any sign of fire? Smoke? Perhaps a scary sneeze?” One of the older
women asked, she was also beginning to sound a bit hopeful.

“No. I am afraid not. I have been doing my best to make sure others believe he has, but I am
no bender.”

“Then, we shall test his skin. That is a true way to know. It will not hurt him if he is a true
bender, trust in that. It will scar him with a small circle otherwise.” The woman who spoke
was fully turned to the mother, gripping her hands it what could only be seen as a reassuring
manner.

The other had pulled out a box of matches and Tui knew what they were going to do. They
were going to test the skin of the infant. A firebender did not burn easy and the skin should
be enough to snuff out a single match without so much as a mark. Like they said, a
nonbender would burn but with such a controlled fire it would be easy enough to stop the
moment they were sure the child was no bender.

Tui leaned forward to watch, they would not speak it out loud but they too were curious as to
what would happen. This child was a mystery. They were full of oddities that were truly
unseen before. They were an accidental sun, for one. Born to Tui and accidentally blessed by
them in order to keep them alive to meet Agni. Because of this they were cold and had yet to
show flames, but still behaved as all infant Agni vessels had in previous generations. It was
perplexing, and it was interesting.

The match was struck and lowered to the exposed forearm of the sleeping child. The moment
it touched the ice cold skin however it did not snuff out like one would expect. It sparked,
spit fire as if it had struck flint, and seemingly dissolved into the skin. All in the room stood
stunned. Even Tui, who still had a finger to the infant and had felt the flash of heat from the
match pass through the child as the fire fed his inner core.

“Was that… did it-” One of the old women began to speak in broken questions.
“Try it again!” The other yelled, she shoved at her twin to strike another match and turned to
examine the perfect, moon white, skin of the infants arm.

The second match was struck and met the same fate as the first had. Soon they were striking
another and watched as match after match the skin absorbed the fire as if it was starved.
Eventually, however, they placed far too much fire to the same spot and the fire snuffed out
as it should, only to leave a small reddening of the skin. It was the early markings of a burn,
but nothing some aloe and a day covered would not heal. This meant that there was a limit of
just how much fire the child could pull into themselves. Still, this was not an ability that Tui
had ever seen in one of Agni.

“He is warm!” The mother had stated in pure excitement as she scooped up her baby. She
hugged the child tight as he snuffled and grunted at the discomfort of his now slightly raw
arm being touched. “It is as if he was laying in the sun! I always find that he feels just like a
summer day the longer we are outside but cools while we are away from the light.”

Interesting. This child sounds more like a reptilian creature than a human. Perhaps this was
due to his birth to the moon. Or perhaps it was survival. After all, even as an infant this body
had been met with fire in a means of violent actions. Could it already be locking away its
own flames in order to protect itself or was this something Agni was doing. It was a mystery
and one that Tui would love to watch unfold.

As for now, the child was safe and the women in the room were excitedly talking about their
next steps forward. They had proven him to be a firebender, despite the old mans words the
moment the boy had entered the world. Tui would have to hope the continued to keep him
safe as they felt the pull back to their pool within the form of a Koi.

Tui had followed the pull, had left the boy behind in the protection of his loving mother. Had
expected to be met with knowing looks from La like they always were upon their return.
They were not expecting to see the forms of humans from the Northern Water Tribe scattered
throughout the little oasis. The oasis was abuzz with activity and a quick question to La was
met with equal confusion. Apparently, something big had just happened.

Before either spirit had time to really wonder what was happening they were met with
waterbenders pulling water from their pool. Usually this was something that was agreed upon
prior. The benders would talk to La and if La was feeling that their need was great enough
then they were granted permission. The pull from the pool without permission felt like a
violation of this and Tui almost demanded for it to be returned. Tui was no bender of an
element, so they did not have the power to do so, but La could.

La, however, was watching the humans with their calm curiosity they always showed to those
who had danced with the water. Tui could do nothing but watch as their waters were splashed
around pointlessly in the direction of something wrapped in a tight ball. They watched as the
water glowed with the light of the moon as it began some kind of healing only to see the light
die instantly. Whatever it was they held, it was lifeless.

A figure appeared above the pool. It was a young woman dressed in water tribe blues and she
sat sobbing into the waters below. Her sorrow was bitter and turned the water into a salty mix
with every drop. Her prayers, while her spoken words only reached La, were clear to Tui.
This was a mother, most likely a new one, and that lifeless bundle was yet another child born
to the moon when they should not have been.

Moments later the bundle was plunged into the pool between the circling Koi. It was a human
female. It was silent and motionless but warm. The child was alive but empty.

La swam to the infant, circled, and returned. “She is warm. A day old, perhaps.”

Tui took their turn to view the infant. “Perhaps. She is alive.”

“She is empty.” La scoffed. “There is nothing within. She is missing something, or developed
without it.”

“So it would seem. It has been so long since a child was brought before us.” Tui swam again
to the infant before returning to circle with La. “Do you think…”

“I do. I do not know why, but that vessel is empty. I have not given my link out for many
years, and just because they cry for a shell does not mean they get help. I do not know who
she was meant for but I shall not be filling the void left by some other spirit.” La huffed and
with a flick of their tail dove deep and away from the empty child.

Tui made to follow their love to the bottom of the pool only to freeze at hearing the wail of
the mother. They had seen the ocean reject their child. They had known that it was not going
to live as it was now and had put the hope into its survival with the spirits. How
heartbreaking that rejection must have been. Before they could stop themselves, Tui turned to
begin circling the shell once more.

The infant was silent much like the sun drop had been. It lay in the water, warmer than Zuko
had ever felt, but just as hollow. It was missing something important, something that should
have joined it the moment it entered the world. Whatever that something had been, it had
either not been released on the time frame it should have followed or it was removed before
the vessel ever started.

They were a child of the water people and held a chance for a gift but La had turned them
away. Tui understood, they really did. La had yet to heal from the fire that stole their link the
last time. The fire that had burned away all other links after. Why would they give what was a
piece of them back to a world that only ripped it away? Tui understood this, and yet the
thought of a spirit vessel alone on the world felt unbalanced. It felt wrong to leave a vessel
empty. Whatever had been meant for this vessel was now open for the taking.

Tui moved without much thought. They had never felt a need to tether to a human before and
had only done so once. That one time had been in place of a sibling and was broken the
moment the sun rose. They had no gifts to present to the humans, no powers that they knew
of, and yet the void in this child was far too strong a pull. Like it was waiting to hold safe a
part of something that was now for the taking. Whatever had meant to be kept within would
have been safe and warm and loved. Now it was a pit and Tui thought of Zuko. Perhaps this
could be a way they could once more hold their twin. Once more see them glowing. Perhaps
she would give the moon something in return for her life.
With that Tui dove forward and nuzzled up onto the chest of the bundled child. The layers
were making finding a way to connect too challenging. The Koi flopped and flailed as if
crazed as it tried to find a way into the bundle. Just as soon as the humans recovered from
their shock hands dove around the child and dragged the wet blankets back and away. Tui
backed away as they worked and the moment the hands were away they dove forwards once
more. With a few wiggles to center themselves on the infants chest they gulped a few great
breaths of air.

The moon above glowed bright as Tui pulled on the last strands of the full light. They pulled
all they could into the link between the spirit and physical world. It was odd, they had seen
La do this, had watched it happen for thousands of years. They had never learned just how by
those Lion Turtles and even now had to hope they were doing this right. That what they were
pouring into that empty space within the infant was indeed what would be needed. They
tethered their spirit to the child, wove it throughout the empty parts of the vessel. Linked
them spiritually and physically. Blessed them with the moon as they only knew how.

The infant grew cold as the moons light settled deep within her spirit before the warmth of
life returned. Her hair, black as night like her peoples, instantly bled into a brilliant white.
Her eyes flickered open and she began to cry as a human baby should. Tui was forced off of
the infant as it was dragged out of the pool and felt the distance as if it were pain. The infant
felt it too as her cries turned to shrieks and she was returned to the pool.

Tui returned to her chest once more and tried to rewire the spiritual weaves. This was both
their first time being linked, after all, and there were bound to be learning curves. Tui thought
that once they worked out how to mute the link that they would be alright. With a test flop
and roll, Tui swam away slowly. They reached the edge of the pool with no more pulls of
pain and the sobs had softened. With a splash Tui dove down the far deeper pool than one
could see and felt only a twinge of discomfort at something so new being pulled. That was
fine.

At the bottom of the pool they met with La who looked amused. They said nothing at first but
shuffled to make room at the bottom for the now exhausted Tui.

“So.” La chuckled.

“Don’t you start.” Tui groaned.

“And here I thought the mighty moon would never give to the humans. They were far to
unpredictable if I remember you right.” La continued with a wiggle to start swimming in a
lazy circle around the motionless Tui.

“And I stand by that. I still believe them unpredictable and chaotic.”

“Hmm.” La hummed, much more unbelieving than Tui cared to hear. “Could it have
something to do with your little sun child, I wonder.”

“It has everything to do with them. I feel a change coming, La. You know this.” Tui flailed to
join in the slow circle at the bottom of the pool, away from the eyes above.
 “So you say. I am sorry, my moon. I know you are the one to know change best but I do not
feel the same. However, I am curious. What will a child of the moon gift the world?”

“I do not know. Perhaps nothing. I have nothing to gift, after all. My ocean, you are the gift
these humans love.”

“I suppose so. Still, it has yet to be seen that you give nothing. I fear you do not know your
own powers. That link is tightly woven. You two are linked in a way the worlds have yet to
see. Perhaps, if I feel a pull, I may allow my spirit to find its link once more, just maybe.” La
sighed.

Tui knew they longed for that link but the fear of fire was far greater. Still, Agni had started
something big and it was yet to be seen just what would come of it. They did not have an
Avatar to balance the world, but maybe they could build something new. As for now, the
world welcomed its first ever child of the moon: Princess Yue.

Chapter End Notes

As always, please let me know any thoughts! This is a passion child of mine that has
been brewing in my brain for a long time now. I am not really keeping to a schedule
with writing this, however.

All comments are welcomed as they really help me grow and build my story! Let me
know your thoughts <3
 Chapter 5
Chapter Notes

Fire has entered the world.

I had a free day today and thought a cute little chapter was what I needed to fill it.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

A soft breeze rustled the leaves as the warm summer sun cooked the lands. The birds were
singing, the pond gurgled with the ground water and the small quacks of the turtleducks were
enough to persuade anyone to try and sleep. Under the single tree in the courtyard had always
been a safe space. It was a place untouched by the people or things that were built up around
it. A slice of the world beyond the stone walls. A place that seemed to always bask in the sun
as it danced from east to west.

The sun was easy to follow. Had always been easy to track throughout the sky, even if it was
giving its warmth to the other side of the world. Telling time had been as easy as breathing,
yet he still managed to lose track of it. Now, under the single tree, lay the young boy
currently basking in the sun and completely ignoring the fact that time had moved. He knew
it, felt it in his core, but the idea of going to that stuffy room again only to be chastised was
not a priority.

He was going to be in trouble again, but that was nothing new. Every day he seemed to find
or do something that put him into the palace tutors and fire sages bad books. It was not his
fault that he had been born at the wrong time to use fire, apparently. So what if he had come
into the world sooner than he was supposed to. He was here, was he not? He had lived
throughout the night unlike most of those with fire born to the moon.

He had fire, sometimes. One would think that would count for something, right? Not if his
father was anyone to be believed. It was hard not to believe him, he was the second in line to
the throne of the Fire Nation after all. The greatest Nation in the world, and here it was
producing a failure. No, he would not be going back into that dark, damp, stuffy room just to
kick weak flashes and be flaunted as the failure anymore. Not when the sun was so warm and
he was so tired.

He hated being inside. Had always felt best outside, no matter the time. When the sun was
high he burned with energy and life. When the sun danced low and the moon shown bright it
was a different feeling. One of protection. Like he could sleep, not much of a choice on his
part, and that he would be kept safe throughout the night if in the rays of its light.

That brought a part of the problem currently to his mind. Zuko sighed heavily and slowly
dragged himself to sit up. He tucked himself against the base of the tree and pulled his knees
to his chest. Resting his chin on his knees he took in the ducklings chirping and diving on the
small pond in front of him. They were without a care or worry, lucky.

Right now Zuko was doing all in his power to hide from his tutors. Not hard, really, they
knew nothing about him. They had never cared to learn. All they knew is that Zuko had a
flaw, many really, but one that was going to be a problem here very soon. He was going to be
ten in a few days. That would have been a time to celebrate for any child, but not a royal. No,
not prince Zuko.

See, the tenth birthday marked a Fire Nation Royal old enough to start becoming more
involved in the nation. They were almost old enough to be in the war, after all. They would
start their advance fire courses, wahoo, not like he could make a simple fireball anyway.
They were also expected to be active in things at all hours. That, was the problem.

Zuko had yet to be able to stay awake for more than three hours past sundown. Not his fault.
It was as if his very life force was drained the moment the sun dropped beyond the horizon.
Like a link fueling his energy snapped and he switched to reserves. Some nights were easier
than others, but it really depended on how much time he had outside and just how much he
had been forced to do throughout the day. If he was able to be outside or near fire but not
made to create it then he could usually make it to the full three hours before dropping like
some dumb doll.

Lately, the fire sages of the palace had begun to push the fire royal kids like this was the most
important thing. The old, stuffy, wrapped in equally stuffy red robes sages were always
pushing and correcting them like it was life or death. Like something was happening and they
would not say what.

Azula, his perfect little sister, fed off the attention. She took in the commands and produced
fire far faster and stronger than any of the other children the sages tutored. They sang praises
of her powers and even believed her blessed beyond most by Agni themselves. She could
very well be the missing spirit link to Agni for all they knew. Zuko would not be surprised.
Not when her fire was as strong and dangerous as it was.

It did not help that she was only seven and she had boasted about staying awake all night on
more than one occasion. The sages all praised her ability to stay strong through Agni’s
slumber and used that moment to always interrogate Zuko on just how long he had made it.
Why was it even important? So what if some meetings or other world nobles visited at night?
He could just meet them in the morning, not that big of a deal.

Zuko growled as he swiped up a rock nearby and moved to throw it into the pond. He froze
as he watched a duckling appear in the very spot he had planned to whip the rock and instead
gently tossed it off to the side. He sighed deeply, and looked to the sun. Turning his focus
inward he pulled the warmth around himself into his core and breathed out a thin stream of
steam.

He knew he was absorbing the heat again. He did that sometimes, mostly without much
thought. It was like he fed off the heat around and gained power from it. Like it fed some
missing inner part of himself. If he took in too much, however, it had to escape somehow.
Usually it escaped in the way of steam or flames from his breath. It was something his father
always reacted poorly to if he saw it.

The first time Zuko could remember feeling the overfull feeling of heat he had been in some
class. He could not remember what it had been, only that his grandfather and father had come
to observe and with that they had lit those giant flame pits. The fire and heat had felt so
blissful on his frozen skin from being without the sun all day and he had basked in it. Soon,
however, he had become overly warm and the burning feeling had bubbled up and out faster
than he could blink. With it came the feeling of an angry hand to the back of his neck.

He had been yelled at for the disrespect of the class material. Had been shaken by the burning
grip until he had cried out in apologies. The heat of the room had felt so warm and
welcoming and he had honestly not understood what had happened. That night he was locked
in the pits of the sages tower, and that was where he went every time he was caught breathing
the extra heat out. He hated that tower.

“Zuuuuzuuuuuu.” A high pitched call echoed throughout the courtyard.

Zuko pulled himself into a tighter ball. The last person he needed to find him was Azula. She
would just make fun of him for hiding or call him a leech again because he was warm from
being in the sun.

He hated that name, hated how right it was. He was always sucking the heat out of areas even
if he did not mean to. He was also far colder than any respectable firebender, even if he did
not feel ‘cold’ and was usually just tired or sluggish, and everyone loved to remind him of
that.

“Zuzu! Where you hiding? I have something for you!” Azula giggled. Whatever she had, it
was nothing he wanted. He closed his eyes tight and prayed to Agni to keep him hidden.

“Zuzu!” A cheer echoed throughout the courtyard.

He had been found and it was now or never. Without thinking Zuko popped up and moved to
flee. He took off towards the open gate, eyes locked on the escape route.

With a glance back he saw only an empty yard and slowed his escape in confusion. Where
had she gone? That had been Azula, no questions. She had sounded so close to the tree-

A small figure slammed into his front with enough force to send him sprawling to the grass.
He landed with a loud thud and groaned as a weight settled on his stomach. That weight
giggled and squealed as if they had just won the best game. Zuko, for his part, tried only half
heartedly to twist out from under the giggling mass before giving up and laying back with a
dramatic sigh.

“Lala, that hurt.” Giggles, harder and far happier than they had a right to be were the only
response he got.

Zuko huffed and peeked up at the glowing figure settled on his middle. Azula was just in the
line of the sun enough that looking right at her was a bit tricky. She had her hair tied up into
the tight bun of a young princess with a thin gold band to pin it into place. The gold was
glinting in the sun and it hurt Zuko’s eyes to look at her. Her molten gold eyes were locked
on his face, however, and made it hard to look away. They were always so sharp and cutting,
even if that smile was missing a few baby teeth.

“Found you!” She giggled, far more innocent than her tackle had been.

“Yeah, yeah. Good job, Lala, you found me. Now, get off me would ya?” He shoved at her
only to find his arm twisted back and locked to his side under her knee in a flash. Agni, when
had she learned that!?

“No. You will run away again. You always run away.” She pouted. Zuko felt a pang of regret.
She was right that he had planned to bolt the second she gave him space.

“I-I wasn’t-”

“Liar. I know you, Zuzu. You are always running. Don’t lie or I will tell someone.” She
huffed and crossed her arms while she wiggled to be more secure on his middle to make sure
he could not get away.

“Lala, just, I don’t wanna go to fire practice so let me be will you?” Zuko tried to wiggle out
only to watch as Azula dropped against his chest like a puppet who’s strings were cut and
clung tight.

“No! Zuzu has to go! I won’t go alone. We are doing the sun test today and if you miss then
father will be mad again.”

“Azula, get off of me! I don’t care about some dumb fire test. You will win anyway so why
do you care? Father is already mad at me. I was supposed to meet him last night at ten.” Zuko
flopped back and accepted his fate as her pillow for a moment.

“That explains it.” She hummed. She did not elaborate further but instead placed her small
hand into his own. She moved his around as he let her do so, accepting his fate as being
defeated by her for the time being. “You are so warm, Zuzu. Leeching from the sun, now?
Isn’t that disrespectful to Agni?”

Zuko pulled his hand from hers as if she had burned him and growled. “I am not leeching! I
was basking! There is a difference! If you laid out here for as long as I have been you would
be warm too.”

She wiggled to move so that she could prop herself up just enough to look him in the eyes. At
first it had seemed like a curious motion, that was until she broke out into her twisted little
toothless smile.

“Leech.” She whispered.

“That’s it!” Zuko twisted roughly and dragged himself out from under her without much
resistance. They both knew each other well enough to know that if they had meant harm to
the other they could have actively done so. They rarely did.
Before he could properly get up, however, Azula had latched herself to his neck and clung
tight. She giggled once more and nuzzled into the side of his face.

“So warm, Zuzu. I like when you get to hide in the sun.” She sighed as she continued to pull
him down with her surprisingly tight hold.

“Lala! Let go!” He choked out and pulled.

“Nope. Besides, I have something for Zuzu.” Her tone had turned serious and Zuko slumped
into her tight hold. She leaned back and pulled hard enough to land Zuko right back onto the
ground with a thump and threw herself to lay half on his chest. She twisted to prop herself up
on his chest with her little boney elbow, resting her head in her hand and looked down at him.
She was clearly comfortable and he glared in return.

“Fine, what do you have?” He was curious. This had been the second time she had mentioned
having something which meant there just might actually be something. Her grin grew and he
rolled his eyes. “Lala, out with it!”

“So impatient, dear brother. Can’t I cuddle with you after you have so kindly leeched the
warmth of the day for a bit?”

“No. Out with it!”

“Fine! So dramatic, Zuzu.” She rolled her eyes but her grin only grew. “I knew you would
miss the meeting last night, Zuzu always misses the night activities.”

“Good for you, you got to stay up past curfew. Get to the point or I’m telling mom you were
out past your bed time.” He retorted and watched her face fall at the threat.

“You wouldn’t. You would never learn what I have learned if you did.” She glared.

“Try me. Hurry up and tell me what is so important and we shall see if it was good enough a
reason to be out past candles out.” He matched her glare.

“Fine. You were SUPPOSED to be up at that time to make your first royal meeting, did you
know?”

“What?” Zuko’s heart sank. He had received a note from his father yesterday demanding his
presence after sun down. It had said that he was going to be presented with something
regarding his birthday and to be on time. Nothing more. What did his birthday have to do
with a royal meeting?

“Guess you didn’t, shame. Some big guys all dressed in different shades of blue and white
marched into the royal throne room an hour after you were supposed to be there. They looked
all big and scary. Covered in weird, sharp weapons and shaved hair!” She reached forward
with lightning speed and pulled at Zuko’s loose pony with a wicked grin.

“Ow! Lala, let go! I don’t believe you. What would men in blue have to do with my
birthday?” He shoved her hand away with a glare.
“I dunno.” She shrugged and moved to snuggle into his side more firmly. “They spoke in
weird growls and said things I’ve never heard before.”

“So? Father had a meeting after I was supposed to show up. What does that have to do with
me? He has meetings all the time, Lala.”

“Grandfather was with the men.” Azula whispered and Zuko felt himself go cold. Azula sat
up instantly and looked him over with a rare look of concern before it melded into
annoyance. She slapped his chest hard before flopping back onto him. “Zuzu, I hate you
when you do that! You feel like stone!”

“Sorry! I can’t help it. Why was grandfather with these weird blue men? Why is this
something I was supposed to be aware of?” He huffed, trying to pull in the heat around them
again to warm up. He ignored the fact that a small hand that was very much too hot was
gripping his forearm and giving him a direct heat to focus on.

“I dunno. All I heard was father say that you had not bothered to show and therefore gave
your fate to the men of the room. That they would choose what to do to settle some kind of
treaty with or without the young prince. The door shut then and I missed the rest.” She pulled
her hand away and curled against his side after he had heated to her preferred temperature.

“I was supposed to meet the men in blue? Why? What part of my turning ten has anything to
do with a treaty with blue people?”

“I dunno.” She parroted and yawned. He couldn’t help but move to hold her close to his side.

Despite their little bickering moments, this was his sister and he loved her just as much as he
hated her attitude most days. He knew she was telling him this because he failed. She always
found ways to tell him what he had missed on nights the sun left him dry.

“I’m sure it was nothing too important. Father knows I have a hard time at night.”

“Father knows you can’t stay awake to save your life.” She muttered and clung tighter.
“Maybe they sold you for being a bad firebender.”

“Lala! They would never!” He pulled back and away only to be met with her grin yet again.

“They probably did! Sold you to some water peasants as a heater! Got something in return!
All you are good for, after all.” She cackled.

“Cut it out, Lala! Father wouldn’t sell me because I can’t stay awake! It’s not my fault!”
Zuko made to pull away only to look back and see a fire sage watching them.

Behind the old sage stood the biggest man Zuko had ever seen. The man had long black hair
that hung free in the back. The front of his hair was pulled into two braids, one on either side
of his face, and was held with thick strips of blue fabric. Beads were woven into his hair and
glinted in a variety of blues and whites even from the other end of the courtyard. He was
wearing a tight fitting blue tank top that had details that looked like water woven throughout
in silver. A large symbol of a crescent moon with waves filling the space of the circle left
without the moon was in the center. The man wore a white fur belt and his dark blue pants
were loose. He had tattoos along his upper arms that were thin bands wrapping around the
muscle like the gold rings worn in the Fire Nation.

Zuko felt his body go cold once more and heard Azula huff out in frustration. He felt her little
hand slap his neck and burn but he could not find it in himself to pull in that heat. Instead, he
stared at the man in blue and felt nothing but fear. What was he doing with the fire sages?
Why was he even in the palace without a guard? Did father really sell him to these people for
missing a night time summons?

“Ow! Azula, quit it!” Zuko pulled away from the fire hot hand on his neck and swatted at her.
He had sat as long as he could, eyes locked on the stranger, before the heat had become
painful.

Azula pouted and moved to put her hot hands onto his face instead. “Zuzu is cold! I hate cold
Zuzu!”

“Lala, stop! I can’t take heat right now, I’m sorry!” He held her back and twisted away. They
both froze at the voice that broke through their bickering.

“Azula! You are seven now. Behave like it and get off your brother.” Their mother was
hurrying over the courtyard towards them as Azula slid off and back from Zuko. Zuko felt a
flash of regret seeing her momentary look of dejection but forgot the moment the warmth of
his mother pulled him up from the ground. “Oh Zuko, you are freezing. Sweetheart are you
alright?”

“Mother? I’m fine, promise. Lala was trying to help 'cause I was cold.” He looked towards
his sister and was met with the hard eyes she used to hide her hurt. He reached a hand
towards his little sister but she turned away and got up to dust off invisible dirt.

“No time, I am afraid. You two were supposed to be on the testing grounds within the tower
an hour ago. Your father is not pleased. Come, at least we can greet our guest and arrive with
them to help the situation.” She scooped Zuko up into her arms and without a glance around
began to walk towards the fire sage and the man in blue.

Zuko felt his heart beat far too fast. He twisted in his mothers hold to look back at Azula who
was standing alone where they had been a moment before and glaring at the adults. He
wiggled a bit much to his mothers annoyance and freed his arm. Turning back he once more
reached for Azula who this time slowly began to follow. Zuko felt the moment he was put
back down and turned his back to the guest to wait for his sister to catch up and take his
hand. With a tight squeeze he turned to face the strange man in blue.

What he had expected was a glare. He was used to those. He had prepared himself to face the
man and be met with the usual anger or disapproval for him just being himself. Instead, he
looked up into curious blue eyes. Zuko stood up as straight as he could and forced himself to
maintain the eye contact as the man looked the siblings over. The man then smiled and
looked to the other adults.
 “My, he has a protective spirit.” The man chuckled in a deep tone that made Zuko feel no less
on edge.

He widened his stance just slightly and pulled Azula to his back just enough to know he
could protect her, or the guest, if needed. They were outside. They were in his sacred
courtyard. Here, he had always felt his strongest. Fire was always easiest here and even now
he knew it would not fail him like it did in that cursed tower.

“I am Arnook, Lord of the Northern Water Tribe. It is an honor to meet the royal siblings.”
The man bowed in a way that Zuko had never seen before.

The mans hands had stayed tight to his sides instead of making the symbol of fire and that
had startled him. He knew he was supposed to do something in return but he was too busy
watching the strange action. He would have completely missed his moment if it hand not
been for the flash of heat that passed through his hands and rippled throughout his body at
Azula’s warning.

“The honor is ours. I am Prince Zuko, first born son of Princess Ursa and second Prince Ozai.
This is my younger sister, Princess Azula.” With that he pulled his hands free from his sisters
hold and bowed properly. He watched out of the corner of his eye to make sure Azula had
also bowed. Once that was finished he returned his hand behind his back and felt the little
hands of his sister latch on instantly. The fire sage huffed in displeasure at the display but the
man in blue simply smiled wide.

“The honor is mine, I assure you. My daughter would have loved to have been able to meet
you two. I am sure you all will be good friends.” Arnook stated in a way that spoke of little
argument.

“It will be decided soon. As for now we are late for the sun test as it is! If we do not hurry we
will lose daylight.” The last part of the sages statement was followed by a sharp look in
Zuko’s direction. He turned on his heel, his weird sage shoes clacked overly loud on the stone
as he led the way towards the sage tower.

The adults all began to follow while Zuko and Azula stood frozen. Azula was busy glaring at
the strange man but Zuko was still confused by everything. This man was the Lord of the
Northern Water Tribe. Why was he in the Fire Nation? Why was he not in the icy and water
covered savage lands like the tutors said they all were? Why was he so well spoken and not
scary? Worst of all, why was he still here after the moon had left hours ago?

He did not have long to think on this, however, as Azula had become bored with waiting.
They were going to test fire, and that was her favorite game. They also had an audience of
high importance and it was clear that the outcome of this test was important. Much more so
than either child could begin to understand.

Chapter End Notes

Little Azula is just too cute and strong for her own good. I love the siblings, even if they
are mean to each other.

Let me know your thoughts on this! <3

 Chapter 6
Chapter Notes

How good are you at tests? Me personally, I am not the best. Got that test anxiety ✨

Let me know what you think! All comments are welcome!

(I secretly live through knowing others thoughts and feelings about this story)

See the end of the chapter for more notes

The fire sage led the way towards the old, stuffy tower without a glance backwards. The
candles along the wall flickered happily as the adults past by far faster than the small children
following. No one was paying much attention to the figures huddled together as they moved.
No one but the man in blue, who would occasionally glance back at them and smile.

“Zuzu, stop. You're gonna to get into trouble.” Azula whispered a bit too loud to be a true
whisper but the adults paid them little mind. They were late, and that meant the Fire Lord
was going to be angry.

“Stop what? I am just trying to keep up.” Zuko huffed but pulled his sister’s arm tighter into
his side. She had latched onto his elbow and he was not about to make her let go. Not when
that strange man was here.

“Stop. You said you can’t take in heat so stop!” She grumbled and looked around behind
them.

Zuko slowed their walking speed and looked to the hall behind. He had been right that he was
cold but also unable to take in heat. His fear of the situation was keeping his core cold.
However, when he looked back down the hall they had just come from he found himself
confused. It was dark and every candle had a thin stream of black smoke that spoke of being
blown out. Looking towards the adults who were now quite a bit away the candles were all
burning as they should.

“Wait, I didn’t-”

“Now you see it? So stop, Zuzu, or you will get into trouble again.” She huffed and tugged on
his arm to get walking. Zuko followed and watch the candles as they passed by. Every single
one was glowing warm until it lined with himself. The second he passed them they snuffed
out like a cold breeze had pulled them down towards him but the flames warmth never
reached the children. Zuko still felt cold and now he felt worried.

“Zuzu, if you keep this up the blue man will know you are a leech.” Azula huffed in
annoyance and dropped his arm with a shove. She spun on her heel and took a deep breath. In
one swift flick of her wrists she shot tiny flames back towards the candles and easily lit the
hall once more.

Zuko stared in awe. His sister was mean, strong, and far too smart for her own good. She was
also amazing and so gifted with fire. He reached his arm back towards her and watched as
she took it with an arrogant huff. As he turned back to follow the adults however, he saw that
they had stopped and were watching them. Zuko swallowed hard, tightened his hold on his
sisters hand, and tried to gauge the reactions.

His mother was worried, as always. She was always worried about Zuko and his temperature.
It was nice most times, having his mom so close and feeling so loved. Other times he wished
she would trust that he was fine just as he was. That the times he was cold was not always
bad or the end of the world. Right now she was looking over him like he was going to faint.
That had never happened before so he did not know why she was so worried about it now!

The fire sage looked equal parts annoyed and impressed. That was nothing new. Any time
Zuko did something weird and unscripted with fire it was always met with disapproval or
swift punishment. This was a leeching moment, and one in front of a noble from another
nation. Zuko had no doubts that he was about to face a few days in the towers pit away from
the sun.

With a shudder, Zuko glanced at the man in blue, Arnook. It was an odd name, but it fit such
an odd man. Said odd man was looking at him with an equally odd expression. It was not one
of anger like Zuko had expected, nor was it happy. It looked more like curiosity if he had to
put a label to it, but that could not be right. Everything Zuko did was worth nothing more
than a correction or a moment of panic and it never instilled curiosity in anyone other than
Azula when they were alone. The man flashed another warm smile that made Zuko swallow
hard as the fire sage loudly exclaimed they were wasting more time.

Without a glance back at the candles which were most definitely being snuffed out as they
ran past the group moved to reach the entrance of the old tower. The guards stationed at the
door simply nodded and opened the large wooden arch to allow the group entrance. That was
common enough, but Zuko was still confused as to why the man in blue was being allowed
into the Sun Tower. This was a sacred place for Fire Nation and anyone gifted by Agni so
why was this blue Water Nation person walking in like he belonged here? Without time to
ask or get his answers the small group was led up the spiral stairs to the training fields.

On the second to the last room at the top of the tower was a large and open circular field
meant for only fire. It was seen as disrespectful to Agni to even bring any other weapons into
this space, which again brought the question of why the blue man was allowed in. The field
was large, about the same size as the courtyard below, and the top room was a few stories
above them. The ceiling, which was so high it was almost pointless to have a top floor, had
old and soot covered paintings of Agni fighting a dragon.

Zuko had always thought it looked more like a dance between the dragon and Agni, but that
statement had been met with a smack to his wrists for not paying attention and a grueling
history lesson about dragons and the great war with them over fire. The room had slits for
windows all around the walls which gave the impression that the sun could freely enter the
space. Zuko had always felt that they blocked the majority of the sun on a good day. Either
way it was brightly lit, and today the walls held the high fires of royals to signal that they
were indeed late to meet the great Fire Lord.

Three figures sat at the far end of the field, just in front of the wall of flame. They were
dressed in all of the high noble Fire Nation reds and watched the small group closely. Along
the field was a mix of old fire sages and more of the weird men in blue. Why were so many
of them here to watch a fire test? What could all of this have to do with some treaty with the
Northern Water Tribe?

The figure in the middle slowly stood to his full height and Zuko instantly recognized his
grandfather. Fire Lord Azulon had been sitting between his sons, Prince Iroh to his right and
Prince Ozai to the left, and had stood to greet them. They were late, and that meant they were
all beyond in trouble.

Despite the heat of the intense flames burning, Zuko felt nothing but ice. He must have let
this leak out if Azula ripping her hands away and slapping his shoulder hard had anything to
do with it. Azula hated cold with every fiber of her being. Another point for her being the
perfect little firebender.

“Forgive our lateness, Fire Lord Azulon!” The fire sage bellowed and dropped to his knees.
He bowed low to press his head to the floor of the training grounds and stayed there. Zuko
watched as his mother also joined on the floor and quickly grabbed Azula by the arm to drag
her down. They had disrespected grandfather, they needed to show respect.

Azula, however, ripped her arms away and crossed them. “Not my fault. Zuko was hiding,
that’s why we are late.”

“Azula!” Ursa hissed in urgency. She reached out for her daughter to drag her into the bow
only to miss as Azula danced out of her reach.

“What? I’m not wrong. He was gonna skip!” Azula pouted. She hated the floor bows as it
was and stomped her foot. “I didn’t do anything wrong. Why should I-”

“Because it is the respectful thing to do, child.” A booming voice echoed over the field and
the fires flickered high with the power.

Azula froze and turned to look towards the three men across the field. Slowly, she dropped to
her knees and tilted forward as if still fighting the order. Zuko shuffled to her side and
reached up over her head to push her down more. He was met with resistance, but nothing he
could not manage. He could also feel her little tremors as she fought to keep her emotions
held by her tight leash.

“I know, you were right. I’m sorry.” Zuko whispered to her as the fire sage continued a chant
of some ancient apology to Agni. “You did nothing wrong.”

“I hate you. You are always getting into trouble, stop it. I hate this.” She sniffled but leaned
into his side slightly.

“I know, I’m sorry.” Zuko rubbed her back, keeping his voice low.
“I’m always cleaning up after Zuzu. Always fixing Zuzu’s mess. Why can’t you just-” Her
words were cut off by a loud boom that echoed throughout the room. She flinched hard and
Zuko moved to be pressed against her side just in case he had to pull her under him.

“Rise, we are late and Agni will not continue to wait.” The Fire Lord called out in a calm
tone that echoed throughout the hall. He had always been able to project his voice and it
never failed to make all the heat leave Zuko.

Azula ripped herself away from her brother with a glare and quickly stood up to straighten
her clothes. She was going to be giving him the cold shoulder for awhile after he had zapped
the heat from her like that just now. He sighed and slowly stood to face the fire nobles as the
Water Nation man approached them.

Arnook bowed deep towards his grandfather. He once again did not make the fire symbol
with his hands and Zuko felt a moment of panic. Was that man going to be burned in the Sun
Tower? Grandfather would not do something like that in Agni’s sacred area, would he?

“Fire Lord Azulon, I once again offer my humble thanks at your housing my men. I am
hopeful that the results of today will bring both our Nations closer and to an understanding to
end foolish fights between great Nations. My offer still stands.” Arnook finished his
statement and slowly rose to face the Fire Lord without a single flinch.

“We shall see just who Agni chooses. By the end of this test, you shall have your answer and
we shall see to our future.” Azulon bowed slightly in return and motioned for Arnook to join
him at the guests spot to better observe the training field.

Bringing the nations together? Zuko had never heard of anyone wanting to make steps to
create treaties. This was all so new. What did grandfather mean by Agni was going to
choose? Choose what? Who? Was this between his sister and himself? Wait, had Azula
actually been right about them selling one of them!?

Before his thoughts could spiral any more into the pit of panic another loud bang echoed.
This time Zuko located the noise and realized it was from two decrepit fire sages dragging in
a goblet the size of his little sister. It looked to have been forged from pure gold and had a
giant sun on either side. The sun itself was a brilliant and massive stone that took in any light
that touched it, only to reflect it back twice as strong. The handles were twin dragons woven
around the entire cup and were what the sages were using to lift the heavy thing and set it
down harshly. They worked hard to place it into the center of the training field before bowing
to the groups and hurrying away.

“Right, now that we have everything we need I must ask for everyone to take their places!”
The old, scruffy fire sage yelled out. His glare had landed on Ursa who moved to sweep her
children into a tight hug before she hurried to take her spot beside her husband.

Zuko let his gaze shift between his mother and the goblet. It glinted in the light that was
coming through the many slits they called windows. The colors reflecting from the gems
seemed to dance and glow on every surface. It was too bright and not enough all at the same
time. He was so fixated on the stones that he had missed the fact that the sage had begun
speaking once more. A sharp pain to his ribs had his attention ripped from the goblet to glare
at his sister. Azula, for her part, stood in perfect attention with her eyes locked on the sage in
front of them. The only part of her the spoke of any action was her eyebrow which had raised
in silent challenge.

Zuko huffed and turned to stand in attention and tried to listen. The thing in the center of the
room was making it hard. For some reason he felt like all the warmth of the room was being
pulled towards it and with that it felt like he too was supposed to go.

“We shall start with the youngest, seeing as the oldest is never up for a task without a
demonstration.” The sage huffed to the two still within hearing range and turned to face those
who were sitting to observe. “Welcome, those who have come to witness the test of the royal
siblings inner core! For those who are not accustomed to this kind of test, it is very simple.
The children must feed the goblet as hot of a flame as they can. The goblet will give that fire
to Agni and return with a fire strong enough to match the child’s potential. It will also change
in color to tell us a great deal about their fire within. It is perfectly safe, and not a test anyone
could possibly mess up.”

Zuko flinched. He knew very well that that last bit had been aimed at himself. So what if he
had burned down the training dummy last week, not his fault. Those things should be fire
proof!

“Princess Azula, daughter to the second Prince Ozai and Princess Ursa. Please step forward
and display your fire.” The sage called.

Azula took a deep and steadying breath. Her nerves that she had been showing switched off
as if she could just lock them away for a later time. With a flash of her toothless grin she
winked at her brother before striding forward with all the confidence of a true royal.

She bowed low, brought fire to her middle, and flowed through her new advanced kata like it
was as simple as breathing. The fire she brought forth was red and flashed strong. It was
always strong, but somehow it felt off. Finally, she spun on her heel and punched her final
shot directly into the goblet like some practiced show performer. Never mind that this was the
first time either of them was doing something like this.

The fire lit in the goblets center and stayed burning a deep red. With a loud pop it suddenly
flickered from the normal red to a bright and striking blue. The blue was the color of the
flames that burned so hot they would never fail her. An almost sky blue with its power as it
tripled in size and sizzled angrily.

Azula stood stunned by the changes. Slowly, she reached her little hand towards the blue of
the fire and was gifted the smallest of embers. In her hands she cupped the dying blue flame
and breathed it back to life. Her face broke into the brightest of smiles and Zuko could not
help but feel that the blue to her flames had been the missing piece. The endless control and
extreme heat was his sister at her core and he agreed. It was terrifying and beautiful.

The fire within the goblet gave a final pop and with that it snuffed itself out. The room was
thrown into a darker shade than it had been moments before as all stood to await the verdict.
One of the fire sages who had helped drag in the goblet looked around nervously before
rushing to check the mouth of it. He ran a finger along the side to pull away soot as if it was
going to talk to him.

“D-dragon fire! She wields the core of a dragon, and the fire to bring forth great victories for
the Fire Nation, my lords.” The sage stammered out as he bowed low. With that, he quickly
shuffled back to join on the sidelines as if expecting some kind of fire strike for just speaking.

“Well done, my child. You will do your Nation proud, little dragon.” Fire Lord Azulon
smiled. He motioned for Azula to take her place in front of Ozai. She bowed once and
skipped to take her spot, far more proud than she had any right to be.

The room grew colder as the fires died down. All eyes had settled onto the one still standing
at the other end of the field. The one who very much wanted the tower to split in half and
swallow him whole. If he was being honest, he knew that the moment he moved towards the
watching group he was signing his fate to whatever the blue men were here for.

“Prince Zuko, eldest son to the second Prince Ozai and Princess Ursa. Please step forward
and display your fire.” The sage called. His tone was much harsher and the look of warning
was clear. If Zuko messed this up he would absolutely face some kind of punishment.

With a deep breath, Zuko tried to swallow down the nervous dread that was freezing his
entire body. He glanced to his sister who was watching him with her piercing eyes. She let
her look drift towards the wall of fire that reached around the field just close enough to touch
its edge. Her eyes snapped back to his and she glared.

Zuko felt like he was missing something, and his look must have said just that. Azula rolled
her eyes and turned her glare back onto the fire before looking back to her brother like he was
the dumbest thing in the room. Zuko returned the glare, he may be dense but he was not
dumb!

Azula opened her mouth as if to speak but a quick look around told her that that idea was not
a good one. Instead she lifted a finger just enough to catch Zuko’s attention and slowly
moved it in a weird way. It took possibly two times before Zuko realized she was spelling
something out for him and he put all of his focus onto her hand as he took a step forward.

‘L’

‘E’

He was about halfway across the field, just at the edge of the fire wall.

‘E’

No, she would not.

‘C’

Okay, she would.

‘H’
Zuko stopped walking and moved his gaze to glare at her. He had expected to be met with a
toothless grin, a mocking face, or even that little glint in her eyes she got when she knew she
had won. He found none of that in her look. Instead he was met with the look of absolute
seriousness rarely found on his little sister when it came to things he was about to do. She
was not making fun of him, this was something different. Something important. He was
beyond confused.

Her eyes flicked once more towards the wall of fire at the edge of the field and everything
clicked. She was not mocking him. Not making fun of something he rarely controlled. She
was telling him to do it. To use that weird thing he did with fire as he walked and melt his
frozen core. She knew him, knew he had no fire when he was frozen solid, and knew he was
too scared now to be anything but cold. If he could pull in enough fire from the wall as he
passed by, maybe he could fool them into thinking of it his own as he released it and maybe
not make a complete fool of himself.

Zuko uncrossed his arms and twisted them behind his back to stand as a proper royal. This
position was a good way to fool even the most suspecting of sages as he opened his hidden
hands. He turned his palms towards that wall of flames and moved to walk as close as he
could without gaining any more attention. His sister nodded her approval as he felt his palms
and feet begin to heat up with the extra energy. As he walked ever forward he continued to
pull in as much heat as he could store in his ever empty fire pocket. Forced it to condense as
much as he could.

Moving away from the wall of fire Zuko took his place before the group. He bowed low, all
his attention turned inwards towards the extra fire raging in his core and demanding release.
He was burning hot now and needed to work fast or he risked the fire breaking out via his
breathing like it usually did. He clumsily twisted into the first kata meant to build up fire. He
knew he was rushing through the areas that were usually used as a warm-up to make it to the
first release. It must have looked horrible. Probably the worst display for the royal family
with access to royal sages but he did not remember the need to care about looks. At the
moment, it was push out some fire or burn up, and he rushed to punch out just enough to ease
the feeling.

He sighed in relief, unaware of the fire that followed his breaths as he slowed to be more
secure in the kata movements. They still felt wrong, more force and anger than they should,
but the borrowed fire made it the most successful set he had ever done. He was able to
produce at least a bit of fire at every point where it was expected. He was able to move
through the motions with minimal stumbles. The final shot was where he had failed.

He had used up all the borrowed fire, he was only so big and could only hold so much. By the
time it came for him to punch some towards the goblet he had to actually pull from his own
core. The fire was a mere spark and died the moment it entered the goblet. The fire from the
wall connected to the royal family core died at the display and Zuko knew he had failed. He
had somehow managed to fail a test that was meant to just identify his core flame. He would
be sold away for sure.

“It would seem, that the princes fire is not yet developed enough to finish the test.” The sage
stated, disapproval clear in his tone.
 Zuko, however, was more focused on the sound that had started coming from the goblet. It
sounded like a warm campfire happily crackling despite there being no fire that anyone could
see. Taking a few steps forward towards the goblet, Zuko gasped as he lined the mouth of the
goblet with a beam from the window slit. There, in the light of the sun, was a fire burning
larger than the royal wall of fire ever had. It danced with colors Zuko had never seen before
and twisted more like dancing dragons than any fire he had ever seen. It sounded as if it was
singing a song only he could hear, perhaps it was only burning for him to see.

“Prince Zuko will- Child, step away from the goblet!” The fire sage had noticed Zuko’s slow
walk towards the cup and sent a small whip of fire to try and cut his path.

Zuko ignored the fire as it hit his outstretched hand and dissolved into nothing but warmth
that flashed through his being. Slowly, he reached out towards the stone. It was shining and
he could swear that he heard it calling to him. Stones do not talk, so that could not be the case
and yet he felt the need to touch the invisible flames. He reached out, ignored the shouts from
all around him as they sounded just as distant as a memory, and touched the stone on the side
of the goblet.

The reaction was instant. The large ball of fire glowing only in the suns rays burst into life for
all to see. Its bright colors danced across all reflective surfaces in a rainbow and burned the
most comforting warmth that Zuko had ever felt in that room. The sound of the happy
campfire echoed loudly and most of the sages had hit the ground as if the sun itself had
entered the room.

Zuko looked around the room in awe. He took in the colors, the sounds, the smells. It was all
so warm and loving. So different from any fire he had ever seen or felt. It felt like the missing
core that he was always searching for to fill that spot that always leeched off of others. He
saw the faces of his family and felt that cold return. He had thought they would have been
proud that his fire was strong, but instead he was looking at the faces of fear and betrayal.
Ones of deep thought and anger.

He felt more than he saw the fire react to his cooling by dying down into a tight ball of white
light. It whispered through the crackles for Zuko to look- Wait. The fire whispered? That
could not be right. It was fire. It was his fire. Yet there it was. The crackles and pops were
clearly asking for his attention. For him to look at the ball. For him to let the ball of fire look
through himself.

Curious, he turned to look. He looked deep into the center and felt his world tilt as everything
faded into the warm colors and sounds once more.

Chapter End Notes

Thank you so much for reading!!

I've loved writing this so far, even if each part is short. Please let me know any thoughts,
reactions, ideas! I love them all and love interacting with everyone <3
 Chapter 7
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

The room watched as the boy had turned to face the now burning hot ball of fire. Most did
nothing but watch, while others yelled at the child who had gone as still as stone. The fire had
flicked, popped, and settled into a smaller and more maintained version of the previous
flames. The colors continued to twist and dance as the light of the room began to dim with
the suns movement through the sky reaching towards the horizon.

A mother was calling for her child to step away from the sun goblet. She sounded more and
more desperate as the boy continued to stand as if frozen. The fire sages were mixed in their
reactions as half had yet to rise from their bows while the others were demanding that the
prince step away or he would face some kind of repercussions. The Fire Lord had proclaimed
loudly that the child had disgraced the traditions of the test. It all mattered little.

One little girl had slowly stood, and it was her voice that had broke through any lingering ice.
Her call, so quiet under all the extra noise, asking for her brother in the way only a sibling
could. It was to her direction did the boy turn to face and it was her who saw him first.

“Who are you?” She had asked as her face turned into that of wonder over fear. The boy she
was now looking at was not her brother. It had been him a moment ago, no doubt in her mind.
It was not him now.

No, one would have to be a fool or blind to not see that the slight glow to his skin was not
some trick of the light. If that was not enough, then the solid golden glowing eyes that left a
slight streak of light like a moved fire when he turned around should very much be.

“Where is Zuzu?” She demanded quietly. She locked eyes with the thing in her brother as
well as she thought she could. It was hard when there was no longer any pupils to guide her
in where the person was looking.

“Asleep, but he is here.” A voice had mingled with Zuko’s own as it spoke. It sounded
unbalanced. At parts it was Zuko, others it had no part of his normal voice. It was hardest to
understand when it mixed the two unevenly.

The adults continued to scream and yell at him. Some began to move in his direction and
Azula felt panic swell. Zuzu was always in trouble. Whatever this was, it was big. She looked
around and saw that none looked to be noticing that they were no longer yelling at Zuko.
None, but one.

That blue man who had met with her father at the time when Zuzu was never able to be
awake. The one who had come to ‘arrange’ something between eldest children if they were of
power to do so that would ‘bond two great Nations.’ Azula had heard most of that nightly
meeting and still had no idea what any of it had meant. She did know that grandfather and
father had expected Zuko to fail today, and that would mark whatever arrangement void
seeing as he would not be fit to do something. If that weird fire and the reactions around them
was anything to go off of, she would say he had passed and that the ‘arrangement’ was set.

The blue man, name unimportant, was now watching her Zuzu with wonder. While those of
the Fire Nation leaned towards punishment and were about to charge whatever was standing
in her brothers place, no name was smiling the warmest smile she had seen on a man. Well,
on someone that was not her uncle. He had leaned forward and bowed the way a person in the
Fire Nation should, that snake. So he had known how to all along and had played stupid.
Props to him, Azula would have believed it to be so if she had not caught this moment.

Zuko had also caught the movement of those around them finally and sighed. He let go of the
goblet and with a quick snap snuffed out all fire in the room, bathing it in the chill of the
shadows created by the limit of true light. With another snap, the fires ignited in a ray of
colors far happier than they had a right to be as they once more touched the stone on the
goblet. Whoever this was, they were showing off.

The room fell into silence and all who were moving towards her brother froze. The not
important blue man who wanted something from the boy slowly stood and bowed once more,
gaining the attention of whoever this was.

“It is an honor to see your fire. Your true flames. We are often blessed by the moon, so we do
not see the beauty of the sun.” He said.

He was saying far more with his words but it took a moment for Azula to riddle them out.
She looked between the blue man and her not brother. Listened to the empty words they
exchanged. Looked to the new fire now warming the room like a summer morning usually
did. It hit her then, just who this was.

Zuzu really knew how to get himself into the worst trouble but this took the cake. Being a
spirit link was walking death and that was Agni standing in her dense, leech, fireless big
brother.

Azula looked around and realized that the others did not see what she saw. They could see the
fire, saw that Zuko had changed it by just his own will. They did not react as one should for
seeing the burning suns for eyes. Nor, did they seem to hear the mixing of voices as the dumb
spirit walking her brother to his death spoke to the man in blue. The blue man was also being
careful with his words. He was speaking to her brother about the weird arrangement, but he
was not speaking to the spirit. Instead, he was pushing her grandfather to agree.

They had yet to realize that Zuko was Agni’s link and she was going to keep it that way. She
was always the one to fix the messes Zuzu made and always needed to protect her helpless
big brother, after all. Without her, he would have died years ago as a failure. She was why he
was here. She was his protector. They had said she had dragons fire, then let her be his
dragon.

Agni looked back towards her. It was hard to know how she knew that he had looked towards
her when she could not see more than the glow but she knew. He had heard her. She had said
nothing, yet he had heard her and smiled like her brother always did secretly when he
watched her excel in her training. It was a hidden and warm smile, and it made the fire in her
stir to life. It was also unsettling. How did that thing know how to smile like Zuzu?

“I think Zuzu passed, right mother? He made fire! Look at it!” She felt a desperate need to
redirect the rooms attention. Agni was about to get themselves cooked like an idiot if she did
not do something, after all. It was bad enough when it was just Zuzu.

“I am unsure, sweetie.” Ursa had answered as she continued to stare at her son with grave
concern. Azula felt the pang of jealousy but pushed it down. That would be later.

“I had to make fire! My fire was that of dragon’s fire!” She boasted loudly. They need to
remember the basics of this dumb test at the very least. Forget that this stupid spirit was about
to ruin everything by standing and watching like some stupid deer dog.

“You have the core of a dragon, yes.” A sage agreed hesitantly.

“See! Dragon! I wonder what Zuzu’s core is. That fire is so weird, just like him. Guess it fits
that his fire wouldn’t know how fire is supposed to look.” She mocked, hoping that Agni or
whoever that was would get the hit and put it out already.

They must have understood because a moment later the room was back to being darker
without any fire. The sage called for all to rise and those who were bowed low slowly stood
once more. They whispered to one another and one ran forward to test the basin of the goblet.
Azula had to just hope they did not say anything ridiculous.

“S-Sun-” He began and Azula squealed louder than him.

“Summer fire!” She belted and locked eyes with the sage who looked a few days away from
death as it was. With a dip of her chin she sharpened her look and watched him crumple.

“S-Summer… Summer fire, indeed! Th-The prince has the fire core of a summer day! Re-
Relaxed and unfit for battle but great for warming a loving home. He will make a great
family!” The sage stumbled through the made up core description and Azula thought it still
kinda fit Zuzu. Either way, with that the test was finished and that thing could leave her
brother.

With that exclamation the testing was finished and the room stood silent in waiting. No one
seemed to know how to move forward from this point as Zuko had clearly broken some rules
yet they were never really told the rules anyway. He had also touched the weird cup of Agni
and that seemed to be another big no no. Why was he always finding ways to mess things up?

“Family man!” Azula squealed like only a little girl could and jumped to run to her not
brother. She latched onto the arm still touching the blasted goblet and dragged it away using
the jumps only children could get away with. “Zuzu is a heater! My heater. I am the dragon!”

“Indeed, you are.” Zuko’s body said, that not Zuko voice stronger than all others as he smiled
warmly at her. She glared back at him and tugged the arm once more to pull him away from
the stupid cup.
“Be that as it may, the child has disrespected tradition-”

“How?” Azula cut in. She turned a child like confusion onto the great sage to sell the point.
They had been dragged in here, and Zuzu had been set up to fail because they did not tell
them the rules. They were always doing this and she was not gonna let it slide this time. Not
with blue men here watching.

“What do you mean, how?” The sage asked in his stern voice.

“How?” Azula repeated.

“He broke form-”

“How?”

“Child, enough interruptions! He has acted against old Fire-”

“How?” She kept her voice strong and even. Every question cutting before any real argument
could be made.

“He touched the goblet of Agni! That is forbidden-”

“Why?” Azula looked to the stupid cup. She had to admit she had no desire in touching it
herself, but that never stopped Zuzu.

“Why- Stop asking foolish questions!”

Azula slowly turned back to glare at the sage. “No.”

“No!? You disrespect-”

“NO.” She said louder.

The grumpy great fire Sage looked close to popping. He might have if it wasn’t for the
chuckled from not important blue man. The man had started to laugh openly and it had
startled all present.

“My, you remind me of my daughter. She too argued when she found unspoken rules to be
upsetting. I believe, she is right. If they were never told what was not to be done, then I see
no harm in any actions taken by curious and open children. May we move forward?” He
chuckled and glanced towards the Fire nobles.

“I suppose, in light of the evidence that neither child was properly prepared, we can agree
that they passed the core exam. It would seem Agni has chosen. Our arrangement stands. The
treaty is set. From this moment on, the arrangement between Princess Yue of the Northern
Water Tribe and Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation shall bring forth a new age of peace between
two great nations.” Fire Lord Azulon proclaimed. Once finished he swiftly stood, bowed, and
left with his sons following.
The blue men returned the bow and with a glance at the children followed the nobles out of
the room. Azula held her brother tighter as she watched them leave.

“You owe me.” She whispered, gripping the arm to make sure he would not leave. It was far
warmer than Zuzu ever was in this room.

“That, I do. I was not prepared to be summoned and for your help I am forever grateful.” The
mixed voice whispered back as he looked over the room. “I forget what the first pull through
the link feels like, and saw that this was not the place to speak. Thank you, my dragon, for
protecting me while I talked to your brother.”

“You? You talked to Zuzu?” She snorted. That was probably why the dumb spirit had just
stood there looking at nothing.

“Indeed. He was quite shocked. I fear he will most likely not remember our conversation, as
he has made a mental wall around the very idea that he could be something greater than
just…” Agni trailed off, face twisting into that of confusion.

“A leech?” Azula guessed.

“Yes. That was the word he used. Tell me, little dragon, why did he call himself that?” Agni
wondered, openly curious as to what their link was going through.

“That is just a name he has because of what he does. See, Zuzu can suck in heat from things
and use it to be warm. It is nice at times, awful at others. We call him Leech because of it.”
She shrugged.

“Interesting. I have never had a vessel with such a way to use fire. Perhaps it has to do with
my sibling getting involved all those years ago.” Agni was thinking out loud, much like Zuzu
did, and Azula could not help but wonder if this was due to the connection.

“He always does it. So annoying. He also can’t stay awake.” She huffed.

“Ah, yes. I fear that is common. That is my doing but it should become more manageable
with age. He is still young yet, and without a developed core it is hard to not fall when my
energy is removed.” Agni flashed a sheepish grin of guilt and Azula knew that she had just
lost one of her biggest points of jabbing her brother. Well, she now knew why, but she was
still going to poke fun at him. Even if it was not his fault it was still funny.

“Fine. Whatever.”

“Oh, it seems I have extended my stay a bit too long. Forgive me for this, little dragon, but I
must leave you with your brother.” Agni looked to the slit of a window with a sheepish grin.
Azula twisted to see the sun dip below the horizon and realized just what was about to
happen.

“Wait, don’t you dare!” She yelled but it was too late. The glow of his skin had vanished and
his golden eyes had returned to normal once more. Zuko blinked, swayed once, and fell to the
ground in a dead faint.
“You- you… Ahhhhg!” Azula screamed. How dare that spirit take over her brother, nearly get
them both killed, and the dump her with the dead weight. She would be burning Agni for this
one the next time the so much as sneezed in her brothers body. Why had all the adults left the
children in the room with the supposedly forbidden to touch goblet anyway!? This was
ridiculous and she was not about to be forced to drag her brother until an adult realized they
were missing royal children.

She punched out a flame back into the goblet, the colors dancing between red and blue. She
had loved the blue fire. It had felt perfect in her hands. That did not make creating it easy and
she was going to figure it out soon.

When it was clear the fires were not enough to gain the worthless adults attention she did the
next best thing. She squared herself, hefted her dumb brother up and let his weight knock her
back into the ground with an audible thud. Even though it did not so much as even sting she
waited for the echo of it to die before sucking in a deep breath. With all the frustration built
up over the past few minutes she let out a piercing scream like only a startled child could
manage.

Zuko, for his part, had stirred awake from the sound and was fumbling to figure out what was
happening. He was not truly awake, Azula knew this, but if he got up he would fall back
down and probably split his head on that damn cup. She latched onto him and continued to
scream.

“Lala?” He had looked towards her with worry but the hazy look was still clouding his eyes.

“Shhhut it, Zuzu, just let me handle this!” She hissed and screamed once more, where were
those dumb adults!?

The sound of thundering footsteps rushing into the room signaled the need for tears. She
changed her scream into a cry and held her brother still.

“Oh my, what happened?” A mans voice asked. It sounded far too gentle to be anything but
that weird man in blue. Fine, an adult was an adult.

“Zu-Zuzu! He- he fell on me!” She cried harder, the more attention she could pull to the fact
that children were left alone the better. “Th-The stupid sun! It went away and Zuzu always
falls asleep!”

“I see, are you hurt?” The man gently untangled the siblings to lift the very confused Zuko
into his arms. He moved him into one arm and helped rest the child’s head onto his shoulder.
Once secure he looked back to Azula who was really selling the big, fake tears.

“N-No. Zuzu is heavy. I couldn’t get up. Stupid Zuzu. Stupid sun.” She pouted and sniffled.
She was ready to just get herself up and dust off as always but was startled when an arm
caught her around the middle. Next thing she knew she was manhandled into the blue mans
other side as he stood. The move gave her no choice but to wrap her arms around his neck as
she sat on his forearm. She looked around startled before fixing her confused glare onto the
man who laughed.
 “Not used to heights? No worry, I shall put you two down when we are with the others. Relax
little dragon. I got you now. You did a great thing, today, helping your brother.” He smiled
and turned to walk down the hall.

“I dunno what you are talking about.” She huffed and tucked into his side. She felt him laugh
and pinched his neck, only to feel him laugh harder. This man was so odd, but he was the
only one who came when she had screamed so she supposed odd was good sometimes.

Chapter End Notes

I live for reactions and comments. Every single one makes me so excited, no matter
what they are. Please let me know thoughts as I have never worked with Azula before!

Thank you all for reading along to my brain child and second fic <3
 Chapter 8
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

The room was still pitch black. The sounds of the palace were silent and peaceful as the
world slowly became more real. He had had the weirdest dream to date and was trying to
remember just what had happened.

He remembered Azula being the normal thorn in his side as she got the idea that he was being
sold to the Water Tribe deep into his subconscious so that he would fail. That they had done
some weird test of fire, Azula making blue fire and being perfect as usual. He had a weird
memory that he had done the same test and had had rainbow fire. That was when the dream
seemed to cut into his memories because he had remembered the fire talking to him, and that
was just crazy.

Fire was fire. It had no voice, only the pops and snaps of whatever it was eating. The weird
dream had exploded from there and he had found himself sitting next to a pond much like his
turtleduck one in the courtyard. He had, well, from there he could not really remember much.
Words floated in and out of his thoughts but he could not make heads or tails of anything that
was said. From what he could remember, he had talked to a figure that had been beautiful
even though all he could remember was a blinding sun in its place now. It had said something
so shocking, so unbelievable, so ridiculous that Zuko thought he may have locked the whole
conversation away.

He glanced around, noting that he was in his room which was not what was expected. At the
end of the day, he had failed. Why was he not in the pit of the Sun Tower? Quickly, Zuko
threw back the covers and rushed to get ready.

He was slipping out the door just as the first rays of the morning light painted the sky. The
palace was still asleep, the day having only just started and Zuko loved this time. The time
that was secretly only for him as he rose just before all other firebenders and was free to just
be.

A sound from the dining hall drew his attention as he had made his way to the courtyard.
Slowly, he edged his way towards the open door to peek in. The glow of the fire lights at this
hour was not an unusual thing, but others being up before him was. As quietly as he could,
Zuko crouched to listen in.

“You sure about this?” It was that man again. What was his name again? Arnook?

“Yes, he will be here soon. I believe it best he hear this from us before it is demanded of him
fully.” That was his mothers voice. Why was she with the Water Tribe leader? If father found
out she would be in serious trouble and the very thought chilled his bones.

“I understand and agree, but the sun has just begun its great journey over the lands. Surely he
would not wake so early?”
His mother chuckled at the very idea of him sleeping in. The blue people clearly knew
nothing of firebenders if they thought they could ignore Agni’s summons without great effort.

“I do believe he is already up. If he wants to have a warm breakfast, I suggest he stops trying
to spy and comes in already.” His mother stated, smile clear in her voice as she sipped her
morning tea.

Zuko swallowed, how had she known he was there!? His mother was just as scary observant
as Lala. With a quiet sigh he let himself slide around the door and enter the room. He was
careful to keep his eyes locked onto the ground, not willing to look at those in the room and
make a mistake so early in the day. His mother rarely took offense in his mistakes, but this
other nation noble may not be so forgiving.

Arnook let out a surprised laugh at seeing him appear. “My, you were right. I had the hardest
time dragging myself up so early and yet here he is all ready for a day.”

“Yes, well. Get used to it, if the order is going to be put through as we believe. The second
before the sun is visible to all, this one is up and ready. Always has been.” She sipped her tea
and held out a hand to ask for her child.

Zuko felt cold despite the warm room as he moved to let his mother pull him into her side.
She brushed the hair from his face and carefully set her tea aside. With a practiced and gentle
move she helped pull the loose hair into the proper bun of a prince and pinned it with the
golden fire clip. He had hoped to get away with it being down for just a bit longer but would
never complain with having his mother do his hair. It always felt so nice, even if the bun was
tight and an awkward weight.

“I shall be ready. We will provide what is needed for a morning riser, even if most I know
love the night far more than the morning.” He sipped what Zuko had thought was tea but the
bitter smell was far too strong. Whatever it was, it was not from the palace.

“Why would you need to provide for a morning riser?” Zuko asked, the conversation was
making less sense than before.

“Because, my love…” His mother sighed and pulled him into a tight hug. “You did so well
yesterday.”

“What? No, I… I failed yesterday, remember?” He looked between his mothers concerned
look to that of the strange man and knew he was missing something important.

“No, my little Fire Lily, you passed. You have a strong core flame. That of a summer day and
one that would provide for a loving family. I am so proud of you.” She kissed his forehead
and Zuko’s world spun.

He had passed? He had a core that was made for love and family? Then, that rainbow might
not have been a dream. Was that why he was so bad at fire? His core was not for fighting?
No, he knew many who did not have a fighting bone in their body who could go through the
fire katas like they should.
“So, I passed?”

“Yes, little sun. You passed, and with it you solidified a great truce.” Arnook stated as he took
a large drink from the foul smelling liquid.

“I don’t understand. How did my passing a test do anything?” Zuko looked between the
adults, wishing one of them would quit speaking in riddles and just spit it out.

He was to be ten in two days time and with that his upper training would begin. He had also
apparently passed a test for once and wanted to ride that giddy feeling for a bit. He was old
enough to handle whatever it was they had to say.

“I believe it best to speak clearly, he does not do well with riddles.” His mother chuckled as
Zuko huffed out a ‘I do just fine.’

“I do believe you are correct. Alright. As you know, there was a peace treaty signed long
before your birth, young prince. It was to respect the boundary waters of the two nations, but
lately things have become more strained as this great war between the nations has continued.
A few years ago an arrangement was made in secret between the Northern Water Tribe and
the Fire Nation. We agreed to become neutral to the other and respect ports occupied, only if
the treaty remained. In the agreement, the Prince of the Fire Nation must test with a mature
fire core before his tenth birthday. If he passed, we would move forward.

“Of course you know about this all. At least to some degree, I am sure. The treaty asked for
unification between the nations and for that the Princess, my daughter, was agreed to be
given to the Prince. I am sure you are well aware of that little detail, however, there have
been some changes to the how. Originally she would have come here to the Fire Nation, but I
am afraid that is not possible. She can not leave the North.”

Zuko felt his understanding of his whole life shatter like a dropped mirror as her stared at the
man before him. The stranger. He was talking as if the life of his very own daughter had been
something to gamble with. That his own family had done just that with his own life and had
not said a single thing towards him. Was this why the sages had always demanded so much of
them? Why they had been on his case for hours more than usual?

“Wait.” He slowly pulled himself from his mothers arms to step back and really look towards
the two adults. He may not be as smart as his sister, but he could still see through them like
looking into water.

“I just- I want to see if I understand.”

“Of course. Ask anything and I shall answer as best I can.” The man said and it felt like hot
daggers to his ears.

“That test. It was for this treaty? One that was put in motion years ago and I am just now
hearing of it?” He looked between them and was shocked at the very different looks he
received. His mother looked so full of grief and regret, while the man seemed just as shocked
as he was about the news.
“Forgive me, I was unaware that you had no notion of this. I thought that the arrangement of
the marriage was at least shared with you.” He looked to Ursa and his look hardened into one
of resolve. “Just what does he know?”

“Only what you have said, just now, I am afraid. Ozai forbid it from being discussed. He was
not showing enough strength to pass that test, you see.”

“Wait. So I- That test. I was set up to do a test everyone thought I would fail? Okay, I usually
do. But, by some miraculous moment I actually passed and-” He took a deep, steadying
breath.

“Sweetie, just breathe.” She reached out a hand to touch his arm but Zuko jerked away. He
couldn’t look at her or anyone right now. His mind was racing and the energy around them
was buzzing far too loud.

“Are you telling me that the first time I succeeded. Actually passed! I did something right
and my reward is to be shipped away!?” He screamed, his eyes burned and he did not miss
the flicks of red that had accompanied his words.

“Honey, that is not true-”

“Don’t! Don’t you lie to me! I can take fathers harsh truths. I know grandfathers
disappointment. I can even handle Azula’s twisting words. I can’t- Don’t lie to me!” He
pulled away further, just out of reach, and glared at the two who had dared to finally tell the
truth.

“I worked so hard, every day, only to fail and disappoint. I was never good enough, and now
I know I was never meant to be anything but a name on a treaty for grandfathers stupid war!
That the one time I did something, anything right, I was good enough and ready to be shipped
away like some toy!”

“Zuko, that is not true. You have always been good enough-”

“DON’T LIE!”

The torches along the walls in the room ignited into a line of infernos before being pulled like
a vacuum to the center of the room. The room was thrown into a dim, gray shade as the
morning light did not break through the west walls. Zuko stood, fire burning his throat as he
fought to keep in the flames he had pulled into his void of a core.

“Father never wanted me to succeed. I was a mistake, the one lucky to just be born. I never
did anything to make anyone proud and the one time I did, I am sold for it as some grand
prize for everyone but myself! No one ever thought to ask the person behind the name on a
paper? What I would want? If I would even like to go be married off to some girl I don’t
know for the sake of a war I have nothing to do with? Well, no thank you! If you need me,
don’t.” He spun on his heel and stomped out the door, tears flowing freely as his every step
sent sparks and his labored breathing spit flames.
He needed to leave. While he could get away with having a royal outburst like that towards
his mother and a stranger, there was no way he would survive his father. Even his grandfather
may find a way to take him out if he caught wind of what had just happened.

He needed to pack, to run away. If they were going to sell him away with the slightest hint of
a chance he would survive in the north, then he would run and hide in his own nation. At
least his people would not hand him away to savages the first time he did something right for
a change.

Without paying any attention to his surroundings, Zuko stormed back into his own room and
ripped a bag only used for weekend holiday trips out of storage. He threw it into the middle
of his floor and began ripping out all of his belongings. Once he had a tall pile next to the bag
he froze at seeing just how much he had. He had never packed for himself before and the pile
on the floor was definitely meant for two, maybe three bags. He had yet to take his bedding
and that would be another bag at least. He would have to choose more carefully, but what
would he even need? He had never run away before, or even lived an hour outside of a royal
house. What would one need?

A snicker drew his attention out of the tunneled vision he had set on the bag problem as he
whipped around to see just who had entered his room. There, on his bed, sat the unmistakable
form of his sister. She was watching him with her sharp eyes. Tracking his every movement
as she grinned like a cat minx with a cornered prize.

“Lala! Get out of my room!”

“I just wanted to see my brother. Not my fault Zuzu didn’t notice me. What has you all in a
dramatic huff at dawn?” She flopped onto the bed to hang off the edge slightly, letting gravity
pull her long hair to the floor. She was dressed, but like him had let her hair hang free.

“It’s nothing you need to worry about. Leave!” He snapped.

“Hmm. No, I don’t think I will.” Her sharp eyes moved from the pile of clothes to the scorch
marks on the floor. She was studying everything and it made his insides twist. If she told
them all he was running, then he would never make it to the gates.

“Lala, for once will you just leave me alone? If you love me at all, you will leave.”

Her eyes snapped towards him as she took in his stance. How he could only look to the pile
of clothes on the floor and could no longer meet her gaze. How he was shaking despite not
being cold at all. Slowly, she pulled herself up to sit on the edge of the bed.

“Threes.”

“What?” He looked up and stared at her, beyond confused.

“You need to pack in threes. Three outfits. Three extra under layers. Three days of food.” She
rolled her eyes as if this was the most obvious answer. “Honestly, Zuzu. If you are going to
run away, you can at least do it efficiently.”
“I-I’m not-”

“Zuzu always runs.” Her eyes looked beyond him. Like she was seeing some kind of great
truth and he stood frozen.

“Lala. How… how do you know how to pack?”

“I dunno.” She shrugged. “Just smart I guess.”

“Thanks. You, should leave my room. Don’t tell anyone you saw me.”

“And what will you give me in return?” She looked around the room like she was trying to
pick something then and there.

“What? Nothing. I don’t know, this room? Whatever I don’t take? Have it all, I don’t care.”
He huffed as he started to stuff three outfits into his bag. He had to admit, this rule of three
may just make his packing fit.

“Why is Zuzu running this time?” Her question was quiet as she took in his packed bag. She
watched as he pulled out his secret stash of money and added it to his pack.

“If I am going to be shipped off, I’d rather it be on my own will. Not some paper signed years
ago.” He growled as he drew the straps tight and tested the weight. It was odd having such a
heavy thing on his back but he supposed he would get used to it in time.

“Shipped off? Zuzu, I was joking about it all. You are silly.” She grinned but it was far more
guarded than usual.

“Not this time. You were right-”

“No.”

“What? Lala, what do you mean ‘no?’ They are sending me with those Northern Water Tribe
people. You were righ-”

“NO.” She slid off the bed and stomped her little foot hard enough to send sparks scattering.

“You can’t just say no and change things. That is why I have to leave.”

“NO. You stay here. Stay in this room, don’t leave. I will… I can figure this out. Zuzu stays
here!” She glared at the piles still left on the ground as if they had personally offended her.

“Lala, I won’t be leaving you. I’ll… I’ll sneak in for visits!” He reached towards his sister
only to withdraw as fire was shot at his hand. “Lala!”

“No!”

“What are you going to even do about it?” He yelled back.

“I dunno!”
 “Then I have to go-”

“No!”

“Why?”

“I dunno!” She stomped her foot once more and spun to run out the door.

She screamed into the hall with enough force that Zuko knew his running time had just been
shattered. He shoved his way past her anyway and tried to run down the hall. If he could just
make it to the tree on the outer wall, he could scale it and be out of the palace. He just had to
make it.

There in the distance, bathed in the light of the morning, he saw the tree open and unguarded.
He ran as hard as he could, counting every breath as he charged. It took all his effort not to
slide past the trunk with his speed an weight, but he managed to latch on and pulled himself
up onto the first large branch. He was just about to make the next jump up when an arm, hot
and tight, wrapped around his middle and pulled. He dug his nails into the branch, unwilling
to release his freedom from something he had no say in.

It would have worked had he not felt a sharp pain throb from the back of his head causing
him to let go. Something had struck him, hard. He saw little suns dance along the edges of his
vision as he heard a voice that chilled him to his core.

“And just where do you think you are going, little prince?” The man whispered and Zuko felt
his world grow cold.

He went limp as a numb feeling washed through him. He was caught, and by none other than
his fathers suck up of a Lieutenant Zhao.

Chapter End Notes

Please let me know your thoughts!

 Chapter 9
Chapter Notes

Surprise, I had a free weekend.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

With a twist and a calculated kick, Zuko dug his heel deep into the stomach under the chest
plate of Zhao’s lieutenant uniform. He pushed as much heat as he could into the kick to
hopefully get a puff of flames to accompany the strike. From the answering grunt and the
feeling of the grip loosening he would say that it had worked. With a dead drop of his weight
he was able to drop onto the ground in a heap before popping up and bolting back towards
the tree.

His head was pounding but that meant nothing to the possibility of freedom. Only, he never
made it to the tree this time. He felt the moment the pack he was carrying got yanked back.
His feet slipped and with it all he fell flat back with a groan.

“Listen here kid. Just because you are a prince does not give you a right to assault a ranking
member of the Fire Nation army. You will answer for that little stunt.” Zhao snarled as he
used the backpack handle to drag Zuko back towards himself.

Zuko’s heart was pounding hard. His ears were ringing with the exertion of his multitude of
escape attempts and his head was throbbing. He was breathing hard and could not control his
temperature, flashing from hot from a need to run to cold with dread. Fire, he knew, would be
impossible.

“Zuko?” A young mans concerned call echoed over the open courtyard. He sounded like he
was searching and that he had not yet seen what was happening. The steps that followed the
voice went from slow to a run as he spotted them.

“Zuko! There you are- oh! Are you alright?” Lu Ten’s concerned face came into view as he
took in his cousin laying flat on the ground with a backpack.

“Lu Ten?”

“Oh dear, what happened? Here, let’s get you sat up.” Gentle hands worked fast to untangle
Zuko from his pack and helped him sit up away from Zhao.

“Prince Lu Ten, thank Agni you are here. I do not know what came over the little prince here
but I saw him recklessly climbing and then fall. The pack he had must have been too heavy.”
Zhao stated with a sickeningly well practiced voice of concern. Lu Ten glanced towards the
man, eyes searching for any signs of deceit.
“Well, then it is a good thing you were here to make sure he was alright, Lieutenant.” Lu Ten
stated in a flat statement that spoke of fake formality. He turned to Zuko who had tucked into
his side tightly. “Dear cousin. Just what were you doing? You have everyone so worried.”

“I…” Zuko looked from his cousins deeply concerned face to that of Zhao. He knew a threat
when he saw one. If he told his cousin the truth of what had just happened then Zhao would
tell his father. Even Lu Ten could not stop that punishment. He bowed his head and chose to
bury himself into his cousin’s hold instead.

“Oh, Zuko. Come here, it will be alright. I heard about the test. Good job, giving those old
windbags a scare!” He chuckled as he moved to hug Zuko tighter. “I am sorry I missed it. My
tour got back at sundown. We are here for a few days yet before we head out again. Will you
make me the happiest cousin in the world by blessing me with your time?”

Zuko only nodded as he felt the arms tighten and move to have a more secure hold. He was
not shocked to find himself scooped up off the ground as Lu Ten stood.

“Lieutenant, take the princes pack back to his rooms for me, would you? I’d like to speak to
my father about this. You are to say nothing to anyone until we can riddle out just what has
happened.”

“Yes, your highness.” Zhao bowed, snatching Zuko’s pack as he stood and marched away. Lu
Ten stood for a moment to watch the man as he left before he sighed out quietly.

“Zuko, I don’t know what happened and you don’t have to tell me. Just, be careful. I don’t
trust that man. He only wants one thing and does all he can to get it. Men like that are not
things to turn your back on.” Lu Ten had turned to head away from the courtyard, presumably
in the direction of uncle Iroh’s rooms, and Zuko could only let out the smallest of sobs.

His life was over. Had he even really had one? He was born for a treaty, raised to be nothing
more than sold. His every step was being carefully watched with the hidden expectation that
he would make the bridge between the Northern Water Tribe and the Fire Nation one that
both nations could benefit from. Whoever that princess was, she had been raised much the
same.

From the reaction of Arnook, however, she had known about it all and must be in some way
willing to give herself like some token over to another nation. Zuko thought she sounded so
brave and strong. To be willing to give her freedom and self for her nation and people. He
hated that he was not like that. He was not that strong. Had never been. He had heard of the
treaty and his first action was to attack the people behind it and try to run. He was a coward.

Lu Ten chuckled and simply moved to tuck his cousin into a more protected hold as he took a
less crowded path through the palace. He stopped only once to inform someone that his
cousin was found and safe and for the word to spread that those looking could return to
normal duties. After, he walked quietly till he reached a large door and knocked before
pushing to open it.

“Father? Forgive my interruption. I have found Zuko and I do believe we need to talk.” He
whispered as he pushed the door open to a dark room. Zuko turned his head to peek in only to
see his uncle sitting in front of a few candles, just breathing slowly as the flames rose and fell
with him.

“My son, your company is never an interruption. Come in. Light the room for me, would
you? I shall get some calming tea.” Iroh’s gaze had fallen to Zuko and he had taken only a
moment to decide that his meditation was through. He stood slowly and with a flick of his
wrist the candles snuffed out.

Lu Ten chuckled and moved to place Zuko on one of the floor cushions before setting to
work bringing the room into the warm golden glow that the torches always brought with
them. Zuko sat sniffling as he pulled his knees to his chest and hid his face. He had tried to
run away and failed, and his brave and strong cousin was about to learn just how weak he
really was.

The rattling of china and a whistle close to his left brought Zuko out of his huddle just
enough to peak out into the room. His uncle was humming happily as he began to pour three
cups of tea, probably something he would say to cure sadness or something else ridiculous.
He watched silently as the cups were pushed to be in front of every person. Lu Ten had taken
the cup with a wink towards Zuko as he took a slow and drawn out sip.

“Hm, this is great! But, it has no spice. Tell me about it?” Lu Ten asked loudly, keeping eye
contact with his little cousin as he watched the look of horror pass over his face. Zuko hated
listening to tea rants or other pointless things that were more unreasonable metaphors more
than anything.

Iroh laughed and gladly supplied some pointless and possibly just flat out lie about the tea.
Going on about how it came from some small Earth Kingdom village they had stopped in to
resupply and something about the lovely woman who sold it. Went on about health benefits
that could not possibly be found in a cup of hot leaf water before encouraging everyone in the
room to try it.

Zuko only snatched the hot cup up to quite the man before he could really get going. He had
to admit it was an unusual taste. It was much more earthy than ones he was used to, and the
bitter flavor made him scrunch his nose as the aftertaste took far too long to sweeten. He
hated tea. It was always so bitter at first and took too long to show a true flavor.

“Better?” Iroh asked.

“Yeah, a bit.” Zuko sighed. He had to admit that focusing on the tea, no matter how gross,
had calmed him some. His heart was slowing and his breathing was less tight. He was also
able to think a bit better but he was hard pressed to admit hot dirt water was the reason for
any of it.

“That’s good! Now, will you help us understand what happened this morning? Why did I find
you alone and with Zhao?”

Iroh’s kind eyes turned sharp as he looked between the boys. It was only for a brief moment
but Zuko was far better at seeing those types of changes than any other. He flinched and
sighed. If anyone in his family would take mercy on him, it was these two. Still, his heart had
begun to race again and he feared the worst.

“I was going to run away. He stopped me.” Zuko mumbled into the cup.

“Run away!?”

“Hmm, I see. You know. When I was around your age, I too tried to run away from the
palace.” Iroh sighed with a memory no one else could see.

“What, father you never told me this.”

“Of course not. Why would I? It was a time in my life where I had thought the expectations
of royalty were far above a simple man like me. I thought I was meant for more than just
being a figure head and went to seek out a life of adventure. I had read so many stories of
great adventures, and I was itching to have my own.” Iroh chuckled.

“What happened?” Zuko asked.

“I lasted a total of five hours in the city before I was well and truly lost. I had never left
before and the life of those outside these walls was so different. Ended up stuck in a barn
with not even a cup for tea.”

“Father, really? How old were you?”

“I was ten. Much like prince Zuko, I had been given orders to start my upper training and had
thought my place was elsewhere.” Iroh looked to his nephew with knowing eyes that made
Zuko shift where he sat.

“And you learned that running away solved nothing?”

“Yes, and no. Running from my problems did only make them worse, but in looking for self
discovery I learned a great thing about myself. I also met a kind girl, and she gave me the
best gift I could have ever asked for.” Iroh patted his son on the shoulder with a fond smile
while Lu Ten laughed.

“Wait, you met mom as a runaway!? No, dad, you can’t be serious!”

“I am. Extremely serious. Always am.” He laughed as his son groaned.

“Why are you telling this weird story?” Zuko huffed out as quiet as he could.

“Because, dear nephew, I am afraid a great wrong has been done to you. You are aware now
of the treaty signed for you before you were old enough to walk. I have tried many times to
convince my father and brother that keeping this from you would do more harm than good.”
He sighed deeply.

“Wait, what is grandfather going to do? Zuko has yet to start his advanced core training,
surely he won’t be made to join the war. If he is, I demand he is in my unit. I’ll protect him as
best I can, father.”
“No need for such drastic steps. I fear that he is entering the war but as a much more delicate
piece.”

“I’m not delicate!”

“No, I did not mean you were what was delicate. Far from it, nephew. A treaty through
marriage is a delicate thing all together. More than often they fall through and they can cause
strain on those forced into it. You have to be far stronger of a person to agree to give yourself
to another nation for your own than many realize. It is beyond scary, tying yourself to
someone you have never met just for the safety and wellbeing of so many others.” Iroh
poured himself another cup of tea and sat sipping it while he looked towards the pot with sad
eyes.

“Treaty through marriage? What, to the Northern Water Tribe? Uncle Ozai is going to ship
Zuko off to the north without proper training? He can’t even marry for war for another three
more years!”

“That is why I am the one who has pushed for this to happen now.”

“You? But why, uncle?” Zuko asked, shocked.

“I wanted to give you two a choice. You are both young, and marriage is a great demand on
anyone when it is arranged. I have requested something of a grace period for the two of you,
if you are willing to hear it out?”

Zuko nodded but kept his eyes locked on his uncle.

“This marriage would be a great unification between two great nations. I do see the benefits
in having it, but that does not mean I do not see that there are two very young people attached
to this declaration. I propose that you both get to know each other. Be kids, have fun. Make
friends. The next three years is being given to this grace period and at the end of it the
marriage between you both will need to be something you agree fully to. If you do not, well,
I would have had three years to make a different proposal to keep the peace by then and you
two would hopefully not suffer much for your choice.”

“Father, are we sure this will work?” Lu Ten asked, looking between those in the room.

“No. But I have been working hard for this time and that is where we shall begin.”

“So… I have to go… make a friend?” Zuko had no idea how he was going to even do that, let
alone marry some girl after three years. Though this did sound a lot more manageable. He
could play nice for three years and then say no. They were going to give him a choice.

“Yes, you only have to be you, nephew. Let us handle the rest.”

“Will I get to stay here?”

“Unfortunately no. You will be accompanied by different units of the royal guard, but you
will have to travel north to see her. Princess Yue is not in good enough health for long times
away from the water healers, you see. I have put in that you are to return for late fall and
through the winter, however. The North gets less than an hour of sunlight during winter and
the risk to your own health is not one I am willing to take.”

“I… don’t have a say on that, do I?” Zuko sighed and pulled himself back into a tight ball.

“No, not until the first trip and meeting, anyway. I will be joining the first one. I have a friend
in the north I am wanting to speak too. We will not leave you to do this alone, nephew.”

“Alright. I can try.” Zuko mumbled into his knees.

“That is all that is asked of you. If we go and you absolutely hate it then I will bring you right
home. We could try again later or end it all then. You are not alone.”

Zuko could only nod in agreement. He spent the next hour or so sipping the gross tea and
listening to his uncle and cousin talk about things they had experienced outside the palace
walls. In a weird way their talk was burning a hole through him. One that had secretly wanted
to see the world as he ran and was excited to venture out, even if it was not on his own terms.
He would not say so, but he wanted to see this other land more than he had ever thought
possible. Secretly, he wondered if love really could be found as easily as his uncle had found
it.

The rest of the day went by surprisingly quietly. Zuko hid in his uncles room, spending time
with Lu Ten and eating stolen sweets. He learned of Lu Ten’s unit and of the world beyond
the walls he was beginning to feel trapped behind. By the time the word of all the royal
family members presence being requested to the throne room reached them Zuko had decided
that it would not hurt to at least meet the princess.

He followed Lu Ten to the throne room, keeping his head down and trying to not pull or
expell heat. Lu Ten only chuckled and nudged his side with a wide smile.

“Hey, you got this. You are so amazing. Honestly, I don’t think I could say yes to even going
north when I was ten.”

“Not like I have a choice.” He muttered.

“Zuko.” Lu Ten stopped walking and grabbed hold of Zuko’s shoulder. “Say the word. Say it
and I will stop this all now.”

“You can’t and you know it, Lu. Besides, whoever Princess Yue is, she has been waiting a
long time for this. The least I could do is meet her and talk.” It was true. While he may have
been struggling with this for less than a day, that Yue girl had been raised with this idea
buried deep. He would hurt a person he’d never even met by saying no now and that did not
sit well with him.

“You, little summer day, are the bravest of all in this building.”

“Wha- No! I am not! I tried to run away. You go fight for our Nation. If anything, you are the
brave one.”
“Then, let’s agree to disagree.” He laughed and led Zuko fully into the throne room where
they split to take their seat.

Zuko sat through the meeting mostly unhearing. The adults argued, bickered, and were
overruled over just what was going to happen from this point. Zuko had known from his
uncle that at the end of the day he would be leaving for the north soon. He had accepted this
fact, and was ready to meet his fate. The details of it all meant little as they worked out the
finer parts to the plan.

He had expected to be put through extra training, so when he was given the schedule he was
not surprised. It was also not shocking that he had been moved from one area to the other like
some doll. Waving to his people with his father and grandfather as the unity pack basics were
expressed openly. He barely remembered most of the next few days, only saving his attention
for the times he was with his cousin.

Lu Ten had given him a sword. His uncle had given him a small knife to always keep on his
person. Both of these things had become Zuko’s whole world and he had thrown himself into
sword training with Lu Ten with his whole being. The moves and dance with the blade came
so naturally that he wondered if this was what fire to Azula had felt like.

Azula, for her part, had set the hallway in front of his room the day he had tried to run on fire.
She had apparently attacked anyone who had tried to calm her for some time until she had
targeted some men in blue and demanded that they leave. She was eventually brought under
control by father, though she was now giving Zuko the cold shoulder. She had burned a fire
sage during her lessons the next day and even skipped a different noble lesson in favor of
hiding for hours.

He was at a loss as to just what was happening. Azula had never acted like this before. Any
time one of the Water Tribe people crossed her path they were met with fire and no amount of
scolding seemed to get through to her. She had even delayed Zuko’s departure with these men
by two days after she set one of the ships in the bay on fire via the engine room. How she had
even snuck out at night and gotten onto the ship was still anyone’s guess.

Zuko had tried to comfort his sister. Said he would try to write to her and was met with a face
full of hot hands before she had shoved him into the turtleduck pond and ran away. Lu Ten
had said she was struggling to process his leaving without her, others said she was a danger to
others while she was like this.

It had not mattered, in the end. Zuko had his birthday, the normal royal ball filled with the
stuffiest of stuffy people in the nation all packed into a room. The only plus side was he got
to pick the food. It had gone perfectly, and had ended with him standing outside his now
packed away room. It was serial, seeing his life neatly stuffed into only a few creates.

He did not know what to do with it. In the morning staff would come by and he would be
loaded onto a ship. That would be the end of it. He would be heading north for a few months,
as it was only early summer, and was going to meet the person who would eventually become
his wife. That, in itself, was enough to make the rock in his stomach grow twice as big as he
turned to leave his own room. It felt too cold, all packed.
He had walked down the hall with no real destination in mind. He had a few minutes before
he was on reserve energy, so he was not in a rush. As he walked he saw a door that was never
open cracked just enough that a light shown through the seam. It was Azula’s room. Her door
was cracked open and when he approached the door he heard the clear sound of small sobs
mixed with sniffles.

Without thinking, Zuko ripped open the door and stepped inside. He froze at seeing his sister,
tears staining her face as she stared in shock at him. He slowly shut the door behind himself
as her stare morphed into a glare that should have been able to melt metal.

“What are you doing here, Zuzu?” She growled.

“I had no where to go.”

“Go to your own room, duh!” She turned her back to him and crossed her arms tightly across
her chest.

“It feels wrong, all cold and empty.”

“Then make it right. Tell them no! Stay here, were you belong.” She spun back around to
glare hard.

“I- Lala you know I can’t do that. This is grandfathers orders, and no one can say no to that.”
Zuko sighed.

“So? He is old. Maybe a good no will do us all a favor and put him in the gro-”

“Lala, don’t. I know you are mad but you can’t say things like that. They will find out and I
won’t be here to help you.”

“Help? Zuzu, I am always helping you! If I would have just kept my bright idea to myself
during that test you would have failed and that ice witch princess would have no claim to
you.” She huffed and threw a small flame at her wall. The scorch marks told Zuko that this
had been happening for awhile now.

“Lala. You don’t know that I would have failed without it.” He stopped at the look she had
given him and shifted nervously.

“Yeah, okay, I probably would have. Lala, you do know I won’t be gone forever, right? Just
for three months this time. Uncle said if I don’t like it he will bring me home even sooner.”

She slouched and sighed. “Why can’t she come here?”

“She would, she is not in good health I guess.”

“Then she is unfit to wed a royal of the Fire Nation.”

“Lala.”
 “Zuzu. It is what father always says. They will see with this trip that she is not worth it and
then you will come home.” She nodded to nothing and flopped back onto the bed.

“Maybe.” Zuko shrugged. He made no move to leave.

“Are you gonna stand at my door like a creep, or come in?” She popped up again only to look
at him with clear annoyance.

Zuko smirked and moved from the door to slowly enter the room. He took care in taking off
his shoes and climbing into her bed as she gave him the most disgusted look.

“And just who said you could sleep here?”

“I did. Move over and give me some blankets.”

“Absolutely not, heat yourself up.”

“Fine, I’ll just take the rooms heat and-” He coughed as a blanket was stuffed into his face.

“No!” Azula shrieked. “You do that and I will be happy to see you taken!”

Zuko laughed as he wrestled the blanket out of his face and hugged Azula close. She
wiggled, complained, and on one nasty moment bit him as they fought. Eventually, she
latched to him and clung tight. The small sniffles filled the room once more as he held her in
a tight hug.

“I don’t wan’ you to go.” She sniffled.

“I don’t want to leave you, either. I promise to write. It will be like those day’s I am in the
Sun Tower and we talk with your notes. Just, longer.” He hugged tighter.

“If you say anything I don’t like in your notes I am coming to get you, you hear me?”

He laughed. It was rare to feel so loved by his sister, even if that had sounded more like a
threat than a statement of care.

“Yes, I hear you. Lala is always right.”

“I am.” She agreed and settled. She stayed awake far longer than he had and just laid clinging
to her warm brother.

Come morning, Zuko woke to the sounds of the staff preparing for his departure, and an
empty bed.

Chapter End Notes

This one was a bit tricky to figure out how to pace. I am trying to not make this one as
massive as my other fic but have a hard time with writing a bit too much.

Let me know thoughts! I anxiously await seeing any comments and would love to know
peoples reactions <3
 Chapter 10
Chapter Notes

Traveling is hard.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

The boat was massive. That was the first thought that crossed Zuko’s mind as he stood
shouldering a large pack. It was the size of the palace courtyard and stood at least four stories
tall. How it could ‘stand’ to any height above sea level was beyond his understanding. All he
knew about boats were that they floated in the water and never touched the bottom somehow.
Besides, the ocean was deep and scary! No way these things could crawl along the bottom
even if they wanted, so how did they get that tall and not just roll with the slightest wave?

The next thing he realized was that the ship was pure metal. He was not the smartest in his
family, but he was pretty sure that metal should sink straight to the bottom of the ocean given
any chance. He had tested buoyancy with Azula once, which had ended up with him falling
face first into the ocean, but besides that point it had been pretty informative. Metal always
sank.

A glance to the ships beside the massive metal anomaly told him that the Northern Water
Tribe used wooden ships that stood half as tall as the Fire Nation one. The ship looked sleek
and fast. While some may say it looked like it was primitive or out dated sitting next to the
Fire Nation ship, Zuko thought that at least those looked like they actually belonged on the
water. Those ships bobbed and weaved with the waves like they were the oceans favorite
toys, ones that it would never intentionally drag to the bottom. The Fire Nation ship only
groaned and bobbed lightly with the stronger rolls of the bay and Zuko instantly wanted
nothing to do with it.

He glanced up the dirt path along the dock leading towards the loading ramp and spotted a
discarded piece of scrap metal laying near the edge. With a quick look around he walked the
few feet needed to stand next to it and tried to subtly knock it over the edge. Once it tipped
and looked over the edge. The metal slapped the water, bobbed twice, and slipped below the
surface.

A hand gripped his shoulder, making him jump as he was guided away from the edge.

“Careful, the docks are a busy place and one wrong move could find you swimming.” Lu Ten
chuckled.

“I’m a good swimmer!” “No doubt, but here there are more than just waves to worry about.
What had your attention so fully?”

“Metal sinks.” Zuko huffed.

“Usually, yes. What does that have to do with anything?”

Instead of answering, Zuko pointed to the ships awaiting them with a furrowed brow. Lu Ten
followed his look and laughed hard. He squeezed the shoulder still in his grip and used it to
keep himself upright as he tried to breathe.

“It’s not funny, Lu! They expect me to ride on that! I just tested it, metal always sinks.”

“Oh, Zuko, it sinks if it is flat or not made for the water. The ships are made to sit on the
water just as securely as the wooden ones.”

“I’d rather not test my luck. Can’t I ride with the Northern Water Tribe?” He pouted.

“‘Fraid not, cuz. You are a firebender.”

“So? I’d rather ride a wooden ship and not bend than a metal one and sink.”

“Not bend? Zuko, it is a good two weeks trip. You can’t go two weeks and not bend. You will
make yourself sick. Besides, you out of all of us have never been able to control your
connections to external fire. One rather bad day and you will ignite the ship without trying
to.”

Zuko huffed and crossed his arms tight. He hated to admit that Lu Ten was right, but he was
rarely wrong. With a deep sigh Zuko nodded and shifted the heavy pack once more.

“You are going to be just fine. My father will be with you, remember.” He looked around
once before bending to whisper into Zuko’s ear. “You have the swords?”

Zuko nodded.

“Good. Keep them close, keep them hidden. Practice the duel blade only in your room. Keep
the small one in your boot at all times. I trust father, but these are Zhao’s men. Besides, we
don’t know those who are in the Northern Water Tribe.” Lu Ten waited for the next nod
before pulling Zuko into a tight hug.

“Don’t worry about things here. Azula and I will keep these stuffy old fox-bats on their toes.
You go have fun. Make a friend. Experience a new world for us all. I’ve always wanted to go
to a Water Tribe, you lucky duckling.” With that he ruffled Zuko’s hair so roughly that the
gold flame pin keeping his hair up flew out and right over the edge.

Zuko squeaked as he went to dive for it but was caught by Lu Ten who laughed.

“Ah, my bad cuz, take mine.” He pulled out the flame marking him as a prince from his hair
and quickly worked to fix Zuko’s into the proper bun. “Now run along, don’t wanna be late
for departure. You are the main reason they are sailing.”

Zuko touched the new flame in his hair lightly before he nodded and hugged Lu Ten tightly
one last time. He bowed low, making the symbol of the flame to those who had gathered to
watch and rushed to the platform that led up to the main deck.
The ship was even more massive than he had thought. The people scattered about the main
deck looked small with just how far they could be. Why was this thing so huge? What was
the point? Everyone onboard also looked so busy as Zuko stood still. He had no job or any
idea as to just where he was supposed to be.

A rough pull to the side had him latching onto the railing for support as one of the crew
dragged him out of the way of the loading ramp. He had froze and blocked those loading the
ship with supplies and felt the red hot flush of embarrassment at the mans exaggerated eye
roll. It was not his fault no one had told him how to do this! Okay, maybe it was his fault for
stopping where he had but still!

He stayed latched to the side as those around him worked. With his luck he would just get in
the way or do more harm than good. Best leave this to those who know what they are doing.
His uncle found him just before departure and hugged him tightly.

“Are you ready, dear nephew?”

“No turning back now, right?”

“Very true. Shall we wave to the family?”

“Wait, are they here!?” He whipped around to look back towards the docks as the ship
shuddered and began to pull out of the harbor.

It took a moment of scanning to locate a familiar form but when he did his heart felt light.
There, hidden in the gathering of people under a disguise of a shall and common wear, was
his mother standing with Lu Ten. She was clearly crying but the smile she gave when she saw
him was warm. He waved openly despite the disapproving looks some of the crew were
giving him and saw his cousin return the wave just as openly. He scanned the area around
them and felt a squeeze to his chest as he realized his sister was not among them. She had not
come to see him off.

Zuko tried to not let that little fact upset him too much as he waved one last time towards his
family. The two who had actually come to see him off. He stayed at the ledge well past when
the port was no longer visible. It was near lunch when he finally let his uncle take him to the
inside portion of the metal death trap. If he was crying, his uncle made no comment on it and
for that he was grateful.

His room on the upper level was smaller than the one he had in the palace, but just as red.
The walls were covered in Fire Nation flags and tapestries that made him scrunch his nose. It
was not like he was going to forget just who he was because he was going to some other part
of the world. He threw his pack onto the bed and set to look around.

The first thing he found odd was a coat twice the size of any coat he had ever seen. It was
super puffed out and had black fur of some animal layering the inside. The fur was somehow
both soft and stiff. The coat itself was black with red details of the Fire Nation much like the
Fire Nation armor. The clothes in the closet followed the same odd pattern, going from the
normal summer to winter wears in the Fire Nation to these super bulky and puffy items. He
knew the north was cold, but surely no place was this cold that had people living there.
The boots were also a shock. They went from the normal thin material that allowed for easy
formations of fire to pass through to massively thick blocks. These also had the fur in them
which meant they would more likely catch on fire if one tried to bend without practice. One
pair of boots even came with metal spikes! What was he going to be fighting that required
such hardware!?

He shoved the odd clothing back into the closet and turned to look over the desk. It was
normal, one just like his old room. It had papers on his studies and those about the cultural
practices of those in the Northern Water Tribe. He had two weeks to really study up and
become familiar with their customs so he was not in too much of a hurry. Besides, he would
have a perfect knowledge of everything by now if they would have just prepared him for this.
He had some free time for the moment and he would much rather read one of his plays.

It was not until a knock at his door made him jump did he realize that he had spent far more
time reading than he had planned. He had hidden himself away, tucked in his room and not
come out for a few hours. It was not like he had a job on this ship though so he was not sure
as to why someone was knocking.

“Nephew, you missed lunch and it is near dinner now. We have a few more hours of sun after
and I would love to have you join our ice breaker night!” Iroh smiled wide as he held a cup of
steaming water out towards the boy who was still laying on a bed.

Zuko sighed and slowly sat up. He set his play aside, fully intending to finish it later, and
accepted the tea. He sighed even harder when he tasted the bitter leaf water and huffed out a
thin line of smoke.

“Uncle, is all tea gross?” He watched as his uncle recoiled as if he had been hit in the heart.

“My dear nephew, how could you wound me so?”

Zuko snorted and took another drink to appease his uncle. He had to admit it was okay the
more you drank, but still not great.

“What would I have to do at the ‘ice breaker?’ We are not that north yet, will waterbenders
make the ice for us?”

“No, there will be no real ice breaking.” Iroh chuckled. “We just introduce ourselves and try
to make the place feel less full of strangers. Perhaps the Water Tribe will join in. I sent them a
hawk with the invitation but they seem to be a bit more tied up with their ship than us at the
moment.”

“Uncle, what would I even do? I don’t have a job here.” Zuko sighed and flopped back onto
the bed, glad the cup was empty or he would have just taken a hot bath.

“You have the most important job of us all, but not an easy one to show. Perhaps we could
show one of your talents.”

“Oh yeah? Name one thing I am actually good at.” He challenged.

“You are gifted with a wonderful story telling ability, for one. I have heard you read your
stories to your sister.”

“That is more likely to get me thrown over the edge than respect by men of war, uncle.”

“They would never, and telling stories is not a weak skill. Far from it, as story tellers can
weave the world together. But, if you are worried about the opinions of others then perhaps
showing them a fire trick?”

Zuko sat up slowly. “I don’t have a trick.”

“How about taking fire from me to breathe out?”

“I… could do that. Okay. I’ll go to the stupid no ice at an ice breaker.”

Iroh chuckled and nodded. “Thank you, nephew. I shall see you there.”

The wait for just before night fall felt extremely long. Zuko hid in his room, not wanting to
get in the way, and only came out when his uncle came to fetch him. The cool ocean air felt
sticky as it mixed with the salty water.

On the deck was a small fire with men in a mix of blue and red scattered around. Zuko
noticed that the men in blue were all laughing and talking, while the ones in red sat close to
one another with a ridged posture. At first glance, the ones in red looked ready to fight at a
moments notice, but a closer look showed that they all had their helmets off and most were
holding glasses of sharp and bitter smelling liquid.

The way the two different groups of people relaxed were stark opposites, yet they sat mixed
together freely and Zuko felt his nerves begin to spike. He thought the Northern people were
going to stay on their ship! He wanted to not think about them for as long as possible and
now he was going to preform in front of them all.

Arnook stood and shook hands with Iroh in a far too familiar way before the nights activities
began with a speech to welcome those who chose to come. A quick scan showed far fewer
red to blue and Zuko realized Zhao and most of his men were not present. He supposed if he
wanted to know who was trustworthy he better pay attention to just who was here.

The men went around in the circle, saying their names and ranks. It was quickly clear to Zuko
that he was not going to remember a single name that night as they moved far too fast around
the circle. The Water Tribe names were also far too different for his mouth to really try and
form the words as they ran through everyone. Eventually they all grew quiet and Zuko
realized a bit too late that they were waiting on his own introduction.

With a deep blush, he shifted to sit up and looked to the fire. “Prince Zuko, son to Princess
Ursa and Second Prince Ozai, voyager.”

The Water Tribes men all looked him over as if studying a piece of meat while those of the
Fire Nation had looks ranging from second hand embarrassment to disinterest. He had to
suspect the disinterest was from the gross smells coming from the open bottles around them.
“Alright, how about we start the party?” Iroh chuckled.

“Oh, no. No offense general, but your songs take forever and are better received later in the
evening.” One of the stiff looking men in red chided with a friendly smile. Iroh merely
laughed in agreement.

“That may be true. We are also losing light. Perhaps our newest could start us off?” Iroh
nudged Zuko to stand.

Zuko exploded into a deep blush as he slowly stood. He was shaking and all the eyes on him
was making his very insides clench with nerves. Before he even began his uncle walked him
through a few deep breaths. Once he was sure that his nephew was not about to faint he lit a
small flame in his palm and held it out with a warm smile.

“Whenever you are ready.”

Zuko took a few more deep breaths to steady himself. He focused all he was onto the fire in
front of him. Felt it dance and sway freely in his uncles palm. It pulsed with his uncles heart
beats and stayed steady as if waiting. Once he was sure it would also bend for him, he
reached towards it. A few of the present firebenders chuckled and relaxed. Most assumed
that, given that he was ten, he was going to simply take the flame from his uncle and hold it
in his palm as his own.

While at ten that is still pretty impressive, controlling another persons fire is not easy, he was
not really able to do that yet. Instead, he tugged the flame towards himself and felt as the
warmth passed through him and settled deep. His uncle was not going to force more than he
could take so once he was sure he had plenty he dropped the connection and turned to center
himself. The gasps and overall attention was now fully on him and while he hated attention,
he was proud to have stunned actual firebenders for once.

Once his core felt just the slightest bit too warm he slowly breathed out and let the fire escape
in a similar mixing of colors that had been in that goblet. He would freak out about the colors
later, for now he just worked to breathe bright life into the campfire on the deck as he
released the extra fire. Once he was sure he could do no more he looked around to see a mix
of shocked and impressed looks all locked on him. He blushed hard once more and cleared
his throat while moving in his seat to shrink away as much as he could.

“Wow, I’ve never seen that much color in a fire before.” One of the Water Tribe men
muttered.

“That was quite impressive, little prince.” Zhao said as he walked up to join. “Forgive my
lateness as I had things to attend to. Now, lets really get this little party going, shall we?”

Zuko felt himself fall as cold as the crisp night air at the voice of Zhao. He also felt the pull
of the sun falling under the horizon in his bones and stood to leave. He had wanted to slip
away without being seen, but after his little show that was impossible.

“Leaving so soon?” Zhao asked, eyes locked onto Zuko’s retreat.

“Uhm, yeah. Sorry. Just, long day.” Zuko glanced to the colorful sky over the ocean.

“That it was. And an emotional one at that. It is not easy, leaving ones homeland for the first
time. You should rest, little sun.” Arnook agreed and gave Zuko a warm smile as the boy
bowed before fully retreating.

Once in his room, Zuko was alone to settle and let the weight of it all hit. He did not finish
his play. Had cried himself to sleep only to wake with the morning pull and the need to be
sick. He had learned that the sick feeling was called ‘sea sickness’ and spent the next two
days fighting to keep anything and everything down. He hated to admit that his uncles tea
was the only real thing to stick as the rough rocking of a storm made eating impossible.

It was four days into the trip when he was able to leave his cabin once more and was met
with food from every soldier he passed. He knew he had not kept much down but the amount
they expected him to take in now was far too much. He ended up pocketing most of it
throughout the morning as he learned of his training schedule for the remainder of the trip.

His uncle was just as strict as those old sages, even if he was kinder. He also had Zuko
running basic drills all afternoon until his legs could no longer hold his weight if not moving.
From the look of dissatisfaction with his single player game, Zuko was bound to repeat this
set tomorrow as well.

With a groan he left for his room, only to scream as he opened his door. Sitting on his bed,
very much like a ghost from home, was Azula.

“LALA-” She launched forward and ripped him inside to slam his room door shut behind
him.

“Shut up, Zuzu.” She snarled.

“Shut up? What are you even doing here!? Lala, we are four days at sea! How-”

“Exactly. I had three days of supplies, I ran out today.” She huffed and rolled her eyes.

“Three- You can’t be here!”

“I can and am. What will they do, turn around? Zuzu they can’t wait that long or they run the
risk of cutting your time there short.”

“This is crazy!”

“No, this is needed. You need me, Zuzu.”

“Lala, you should be home! What about mother and father!?”

“Like they care. Don’t be stupid, Zuzu. Mother will spend at least a week sobbing because
her baby boy is gone and father is far more into sucking up to grandfather with uncle being
here. No one but the sages will notice and I give them another day to realize I am doing more
than just hiding from them.” She opened one of his culture books to flip through. The spine
groaned as it opened and she gave him an annoyed look for skipping his studies.
“This is crazy! I’m telling uncle-”

“I wouldn’t, if I were you.” She said in a lazy voice.

“Well, you are not me so I am telling.” He set a serious glare to his sister only to be met with
a flash of bright blue flames.

“You tell, and I burn your plays.” She grinned wide as he recoiled. Those had been a gift
from his mother. He hadn’t even gotten to read them all yet! He wanted to call her bluff,
knew he should, but the sight of her bright blue fire so close to all his books was enough to
make him drop to his knees.

“Lala, this is really bad. They are going to be so angry when they find out you are here.”

“Then they won’t find out. Simple. Zuzu, you make this seem like the world is ending.” She
waved her hand and the blue flames extinguished.

“Because it is! Azula, father will be pissed-”

“At the guards. At the staff for my being gone as long as I was with no notice. I will simply
say that I was wanting to see my brother off, like a good sibling. That I wanted nothing more
than a final hug goodbye but found myself on the boat as it pulled away. I hid, fearing the
people here and reactions like a scared child would do normally.”

“You are going to get innocent people into trouble over this.”

“They let me get away. They have yet to notice my being gone. They are not so innocent in
this, Zuzu. What would happen if I was actually kidnapped? How long would that go
unnoticed? Or you?”

“Why would we be kidnapped?”

“Royals, for one. War, for another. Really Zuzu do you ever think? Think about yourself,
now. I am doing this for better security for when you come home. Your head is now target
number one with anyone not happy with a treaty between the Water Tribe. I will weed out the
weak before I let that be a problem.” Her look spoke of no questions. She had thought this
through and was not going to budge. As much as he hated keeping secrets, and admittedly
couldn’t, he would have to keep this one.

“Lala, I can’t lie-”

“Then you better learn how to keep your mouth shut. If Zuzu fears spilling his secret early,
then he comes right back to his room. Got it?” She glared and he groaned.

“Fine. But what are you going to do for two weeks in a room?”

“Have you get me something to eat, for starters. Don’t worry. I sneak out at night to release
some energy. The sea water makes holding blue fire so much easier. I love it!”
“That’s great and all, Lala. But we really should figure this out. How did you even get on
here?” He dug out the extra goods he had been given by the crew and watched her hungrily
eat. He was worried about just how much she went through to hide for three days.

“That’s for me to know and you to forget about.” She said through a mouth full of dried
fruits.

“I really think we should have an adult help us.”

“No. We are just fine. You go out and study with the crew, I will read these stupid books.
Before night, while I eat what you can bring me I will teach you the weird Northern
customs.”

“That’s…” Actually, that could work. He had already lost a few days to sickness and would
need to know all he could before they got too far. The night at the fire already told him that
they were from very different backgrounds. He heaved a deep sigh and fell onto the bed.

“So?”

“Fine. You win. I will keep my mouth shut for as long as I can.”

“Good.”

He groaned. He continued to groan and moan through the next few days of his new routine.
He went out for breakfast, faked a shaky stomach so he could bring it to his room and share.
Kept pocketing the fruit the crew secretly gave him and found ways to either eat in his own
room or slip away after to bring his sister something more.

During the day he trained with his uncle, got in the way of those on the ship, and tried his
best to keep everyone away from his room. It was working surprisingly well. Most were
looking towards him like he was acting odd because he had never sailed before. No one asked
him direct questions and no one seemed too worried.

That was until he saw a massive messenger hawk land next to his uncle as he played his
single player tile game. The bird had his family seal on its harness and there was no
mistaking what that letter was. He was about to fain illness when his uncle stood so quickly
that Zuko stumbled backwards.

“Forgive me, nephew. This is important.” He left as Zuko sat on the training grounds, heart
racing. He knew she was missing. He would ask. Zuko could not lie and they were about to
be in so much trouble.

They were almost to the north according to Arnook. The days had started to get colder and
the wind bit at any exposed skin leaving it red. Even Zuko had found himself shivering if
exposed to the temperatures for a long time. He was having to pull out some of the weird
long sleeve shirts for the days when the wind blew hard. Ice had begun to float by, bobbing in
the water and causing the ships to have to weave rather than cut straight. They had even
stopped all of uncles song nights due to the need to be more cautious at night when moving.
 If they could just hold off a few more days, Azula would make it the whole way with them.
She would be kept safe from Zhao or the others before she was found out.

No, his uncle would ask him sooner rather than later about where she might be and all was
going to be found out. He could never lie to uncle. The least he could do was prepare Azula
before she was found.

Chapter End Notes

Tune in next time for: The Northern Kingdom and Ice Princess

(This is just to say I am running on daydream style outline and I fully intended on
getting to Yue in this chapter but Azula said no and wanted more attention)

Let me know your thoughts! All comments welcome! Thank you so much for reading
along <3
 Chapter 11
Chapter Notes

Have a fun little ride as I try to organize things to get a handle on the world I am
making.

See the end of the chapter for more notes

Every step felt like it was going to break the ship into two and drag him to the bottom of the
ocean. He was trying to move in a normal way, after his uncle had run off suddenly, as he did
not want any extra attention. He could not afford attention if he was going to get to his room
in time to warn Azula.

That letter had been long and it had had the royal seal. She was found out to be missing and
there was no telling what that was about to bring forward. This had never happened, at least
not to Zuko’s knowledge, and it was bound to make for strict rules or reactions.

The large metal door to his room looked so much heavier than it was as he finally made it
away from the others. He had earned some searching looks by just staring at his door, but had
ignored them. After the hall cleared of all other people he cracked the door and looked
around once more.

“Lala?” He whispered into the crack. He was only met with silence which made his worry
spike.

When he finally decided to slip into the room his whole core self froze solid. The candle that
had been burning on his nightstand snuffed instantly and the room itself lost all sense of heat
as he through the room into the coldness of his very being. Sitting on his bed, looking every
bit disappointed, was uncle Iroh. Azula, for her part, was sitting at his desk and he had
realized far too late that she had not taken kindly to his throwing the room into a makeshift
tundra.

“Ow!” He cried as a book on Common Law in the North collided with his face with scary
accuracy.

“Out! If you are gonna be a leech, then Zuzu leeches the sun! Not my room!”

“I didn’t mean to- wait, this is MY room, Lala!”

“Not during the day, it’s not.” She huffed and pinched a small flame to the candle to reignite
it. The light cast a warm hue over the room, but did nothing to return any heat to it.

Zuko looked towards his uncle who was watching them. The look of deep thought and grave
decision making made his face look far older than he was.
“Children, if you would please. This situation is no laughing matter. Please, prince Zuko, take
a seat and let us work through this.” His uncle said, tone even and lack of tea did nothing to
lesson the tension. If anything, it only grew as he spoke.

Against every fiber of him screaming to run, Zuko shuffled into the room and sank to sit on
the floor in front of his desk chair and between his sister and his uncle just enough to be able
to react against either if needed. His sister huffed as if the idea of him being that close was
the most upsetting thing in the world, and to her it probably was when he sucked the heat out
of a space.

His uncles eyes flashed a knowing look and something deep in them looked so endlessly
saddened by Zuko’s instinct. It did not matter if he found Zuko to be pitiful, he would stand
between them if the need came and nothing would stop him. Even if that look had hurt.

Iroh sighed deeply. He sat for a moment, just breathing, and Azula made a funny sound as her
patience ran thin. Before she could react, however, Iroh breathed out a small flame meant
only to reheat the room as his calm gaze settled over the children.

“Now, would you two like to fill your old uncle in on your little adventure? I must say, it was
a great shock to read even if I had my suspicions.”

“Had suspicions? Wait, you knew!?” Zuko nearly shot up as the panic and confusion
redoubled.

Uncle Iroh only chuckled and shook his head.

“No, dear nephew. I did not know who you had stowed away, only that you had something.
You were always so careful of food and time spent in this area. I had hoped it was nothing
more than a turtleduck that would be easy to keep safe during our stay. Or, that you would
have eventually come to me for help.” His voice was calm, far more so than the rooms air
felt.

Zuko shifted uncomfortably. He looked once more to the ground as he stammered. “U-uncle.
I-I’m sorry. I wanted to tell you, really!”

“Shut it, Zuzu. Say no more.” Azula cut in before Zuko could ruin things further.

“What? You were the one who told me I couldn’t tell anyone!”

“And I still stand by that.”

“Lala, you can’t honestly think that he doesn’t know you are here when he is sitting right
there!”

“Of course he knows, dumb dumb. He doesn’t need to know anything more though so stuff it
an let me do the talking.” Azula rolled her eyes so hard her head tilted with the action as she
turned in the chair to face her uncle.

Iroh chuckled and nodded. “A wise woman indeed, but I am not here to antagonize. I only
wish to know how this came to be and why it was kept quiet.”
“I wanted to say goodbye to Zuzu, obviously.”

“Ah, yes. A good and loving sister. How kind of you, dear child.” He smiled a warm yet
knowing look and Zuko swallowed hard. Their uncle clearly knew that was not the real story
but he would keep quiet. Azula had always been better at this stuff.

“Yes, you are right. That is me. Anyway, I couldn’t find dumb dumb so I went onto the boat
to look really quick. Only, I never found him and when I came outside the inner parts all I
could see was water.” Azula gave a dramatic sigh.

“I see, that must have been quite shocking.” Iroh nodded along with her story.

“It was! So shocking!” Azula nodded in agreement. She always loved stealing other peoples
words and Iroh was freely giving them to her.

“Then, why did you not come to find me?” He asked.

“I thought I should find Zuzu or Uncle. I wanted to, but I found the scary looking grump
instead. He looked upset, muttering about savages coming aboard his ship soon. He was all
angry and mean and scary so I thought that if he knew I was here he would tell father. He
would pass on that mean and scary attitude and I would be in trouble.” Azula’s voice had
gone from confident to that of a child being scolded for getting lost. She let it tremble with
her words and Zuko could have sworn she had tears forming.

“Hm, I see your point. Zhao is a high ranking officer of the royal family and he would never
harm a member of it. I have faith in that, at least.”

Azula sniffled and pointed towards her brother. “He hurt Zuzu.”

Zuko blinked in surprise, confused at just what she had meant by that. When had Zhao hurt
him? Sure, he creeped him out, but hurt?

“Is that so?” Iroh looked between them, clearly unsure how to take that information and
Zuko’s reaction to it. “And being that you hid now makes me believe this was before the
voyage?”

Azula nodded again and sniffled louder. “I saw him. He threw Zuzu on the ground. Zuzu had
tried to climb his stupid tree for some stupid reason and that big meanie had pulled him out of
it and threw him down.”

Zuko blinked in realization. That had happened when he had tried to run after Azula had
screamed like a possessed creature. Had she followed him? He had been so focused on
escape that he had missed that little fact.

“I see. Were you the one who told my son where to find prince Zuko?”

Azula only nodded as she wiped her eyes.

“And you hid away here because you feared Zhao’s reactions?”
“I didn’t want Zuzu to be alone with him, or him to have a reason to hate Zuzu. This was my
fault. I’m sorry uncle.” She let the tears fall for real and Zuko was stunned further. He could
not even tell what was the truth or not anymore.

Uncle Iroh was the first to act as he stood slowly and moved to pull both his niece and
nephew up and into a tight hug. He hushed Azula’s crying gently and rubbed her back while
his other arm pinned Zuko to his chest tightly. Zuko let the hug go for a moment before he
felt far too trapped and wiggled to break free. Iroh only chuckled and let him.

“I understand now, thank you. Do not worry, you two are not in trouble. This situation, while
tricky, is easy enough to explain. I will ask my son for a report on his finding of prince Zuko
and the Lieutenant prior to our departure. As for what to do, leave that to us. You two stay
here for now and I will instruct the crew. Do not leave this room until I return.” Iroh hugged
them both once more before he stood and left.

Zuko stared at the door for a bit too long before he turned to see his sister. That had been a lot
of stuff and she seemed so upset with it all. He had expected to see her trying to act like
nothing had happened but unable to brush off everything. She got that way when father
yelled at her and sometimes with mother too.

She looked nothing like a person who was upset or crying moments before. She even winked
at him and let her little smirk grow.

“Told you it would be fine, didn’t I?” She stated as she twirled a paintbrush around.

“What? Wait, was that all fake!?”

“Hmm, some of it, not all. I find truth fluffed up can be the easiest way to get a result you
need.” She shrugged as he gaped at her.

“You lied!? To Uncle!? Lala, how could you!”

“Like I did? Come, Zuzu, it was that or get you into trouble. Which would you prefer? And
besides, I will admit you are right only if you can tell me what I lied about.” She set the brush
down and gave him her full attention.

“Finding Zhao first, obviously, you hid!”

“Wrong. I did hide, but only after finding him.”

“Okay, then what about trying to find Uncle, huh?”

“Wrong again, dear brother. I said I ‘wanted’ to find him, and I did. You always want to find
people you trust. Never said I ‘tried’ to find him.” She rolled her eyes like he was missing the
obvious.

“Then, what about the thing about ‘savages.’ I haven’t heard that word used since we left the
Fire Nation.” Zuko more wondered than actually guessed at her lies. It was a losing game,
after all.
“Really? Then you are deaf, Zuzu. That, or Uncle has you on a tight leash. My money is on
the second one.”

Zuko flushed and glared. It was true most his time was spent with Uncle but that did not
make him deaf or anything. He just didn’t have time to mix with the others.

“Proved me right without a word, impressive. If you would listen to those who avoid Uncle
you would hear it in seconds. Not that I think they are wrong, no proof otherwise yet.”

“That’s not nice, Lala.”

“News flash, Zuzu. I am not nice and I do not give away things that are mine freely. You are
mine and this Ice Princess will learn not to take from a dragon.” She huffed a thin line of
steam to prove her point.

“Wha- I- Lala! I am not some toy! I am your older brother! And you are not an actual
dragon!” He flushed deep and could feel the room heat as he radiated his embarrassment.
Worse part of his weird way with fire, no emotion was easy to hide.

Azula only smirked wide. “You are my brother. My little leech. My sun. I am the dragon. My
fire was deemed that of a dragons and that makes me one if I wanna be! If uncle can have the
title of ‘Dragon of the West’ then I can be the ‘Dragon Princess’ just for having the inner fire
of one!”

“That is not how that works!” Zuko shouted.

“No? Show me the law that says I can’t. You can’t cause it doesn’t exist. As your little sister I
am entitled to check out just who they think is good enough for a Fire Prince, even if the
prince is as pathetic as you.” Azula huffed and waved a dismissive hand in his direction.

“I am not-”

“Are you going to come sit and hear my takeaways from this boring law book or not?” She
twisted in the chair, promptly ending the conversation and held up the book in question. Zuko
was mildly surprised it had not been the one thrown at him.

“Yeah, fine, but this is not over.” Zuko grumbled as he hopped up onto his bed and took the
book.

“Hm, sure it’s not. Page 28, read that and know it. You will need to know it for the welcome
feast I think.” She stated as she cracked a different book, her legs kicking as they were a good
ways off the floor in a chair made for him.

Zuko sighed heavily and opened to the page. It was funny just how fast they settled into a
study routine.

The rest of the voyage had been spent in a new normal. The mornings were still his time, and
nights were Azula’s. The difference was that she was now out in the open and basking in the
weak sunlight during the day with them. The crew had been made aware of an part of the
situation and she was now able to roam free without having to sneak around.

She had also joined Zuko in the daily firebending lessons and he hated every second of that.
It had taken her a total of three days of training to have consistent and strong blue flames
flow from her every mover while his was still so weak. He had not seen a single unnatural
color since that night during the ‘icebreaker’ and was not sure why. That time he had only
stolen another persons fire and breathed it out into the air. It had not had any kata movements
at all!

Kata movements were what was used to push the fire in by every single bender. Through the
movements perfected by masters the benders should be able to grow their fire and freely
move it out with as much power as they could. It was true, too, Zuko had seen some really
amazing displays from the crew alone during their downtime and yet he could just not get it
right. It seemed to him that the movements were too strict and caused his own fire to fight
against his every demand of it.

He twisted and punched, nothing. Took steps and kicked, sparks. Finally he pushed through a
complex set, steps not feeling right despite the proud grin of the benders around to watch the
siblings. He rolled, stood, and punched the weakest fire ball that steamed and vanished into
the arctic air.

Azula fell to the ground with a laugh and Zuko could hear the whispers. He hated when
people watched, knew when he had failed. Without a bow to Agni to finish the practice, Zuko
let the feeling of shame and embarrassment chase him as he ran. He ran from the practice
pitch. Dodged through the people scattered, and found his way to the back of the ship where
he clung to the railing as he sobbed.

Why was Agni so cruel? Why could he not make fire like the others? Why was his fire just so
useless? He had been so wrapped in his spiral that he had not heard someone approach. That
was until he heard his name and his insides froze further.

“Prince Zuko? It is not safe to be at the railing.” Zhao said in an exasperated way.

He was walking towards Zuko at a faster than normal pace, most likely intending to grab him
and lead him away. Zuko’s body worked on autopilot at the action and he backed up to be
against the railing. What he had not seen was the ice that had built up or just how close he
had put himself to the open space that led to the side of the boat for maintenance.

As he shuffled back, he lost his footing and was pitched up and to the side as the ship rocked
against a rather large sheet of ice it was passing by too close. The metal would keep it safe as
it was made to break ice shelves, but that meant nothing for people. His body hit the side of
the gap and he scrambled to grab anything to stay on. His fingers only scrapped against ice as
he slipped fully over the edge and plummeted towards what he hoped was water at least and
not a shelf of ice.

The last thing he saw was the sheet white and shocked face of Zhao as his back slammed into
the ocean below and the water reached up to pull him under hungrily. The sheer cold and
shock of the force had knocked all the air from his lungs in a silent cry. Icy salt water rushed
 to fill his mouth and he gagged on it, only making his lungs spasm and pull in the water. He
realized in panicked moment that he was going to drown without ever even trying to get to
the surface and that did not sit well with him.

He forced his body to quite trying to breath all together and twisted in the heavy water to
swim hard back towards the pull of the sun. He was a good swimmer! He could do this!
Every movement made his body feel colder, heavier, and his vision was going black with the
burn in his watery lungs. The last thing he thought he saw was the form of another body
entering the water as the world had gone cold.

Chapter End Notes

I'm a liar liar pants on fire. Next is the "Ice Princess" for sure.
 Chapter 12
Chapter Summary

Ice, and Bears, and Princesses oh my!

Chapter Notes

Welcome to the Northern Water Tribe~! We might have taken our sweet time getting
here but, here we are!

See the end of the chapter for more notes

Cold.

Everything was so cold… and loud.

Burns.

His lungs burned as he felt another breath drag in the icy air only partially. He felt as his
lungs quivered with it, and something wet followed up forcefully as he breathed out. It
blocked his airway and his lungs tensed in panic. His throat burned as the mass was ripped up
and out past his teeth.

The second his airway cleared he dragged in another frozen breath, this time far deeper, into
his lungs and felt them spasm. He coughed violently and felt more than anything as his body
forced water from everywhere it should not be up and out. He coughed, sputtered, probably
even got sick with sea water but he could not really recall.

A hand was rubbing his back and voices were muttering around him but he could not hear
them. His ears were ringing still and his nose and throat felt like he had tried to breathe
through sandpaper. Another pull deep in his lungs was all the warning he got before another
mass was pulled up and out of his airways, leaving him coughing and shaking again.

Once the wave of coughs passed he felt a large hand land on his chest. It forced him to lay
back onto a cold slab of something, he hadn’t realized he was sitting up, and pinned him
down with a new cold. This cold dug deep into his chest a spread around as if searching for
something. It must have found nothing because just as fast as it had started it left.

“His lungs are clear. You are lucky you were all so close to the boarder or this could have
been far worse.” A woman was speaking. Her voice sounded calm, but he did not recognize
it.
“Thank you, Yagoda.” He recognized that voice. It was Arnook, the Chief of the Northern
Water Tribe. Why was he here? Where was his Uncle?

“Of course.” She had replied and Zuko once more felt the cold feeling wash over him.

This time it was centered over his arm and something there stung with a sudden intensity. He
let out a hiss and tried to weakly pull away from the cold, yet also hot, pain. This time a set of
large hands gripped his shoulders and held him firmly in place, despite his vocal groan of
discomfort. It had all stopped hurting but that did not mean the cold felt good. The sooner he
could get away from it the better.

“Hush, child. I know this must feel wrong but we must treat your burns.” Arnook stated in a
far calmer voice. Something in his words, however, did not sit well within Zuko.

He had to remember what was going on. He remembered failing at his fire practice. Azula
had had a great laugh at his display, as she always did. The feeling of it all had been too much
and he remembered running to the back of the ship to hide. He had not really hidden, as Zhao
had found him without even looking. He remembered Zhao approaching him and the panic
he had felt. Remembered backing away just as the ship had hit an ice shelf.

The ice on the deck had been cold as it had bit into his fingers, preventing any grip. The wind
had howled past him as he had plummeted over the side. The icy water had slapped the heat
and air out of him instantly and swallowed him deep into the inky blackness. The last person
he remembered was Zhao, he had looked horrified as he watched the fall.

Zuko’s world had gone cold and dark moments after. He had been in the frozen waters of the
north. How could he have ‘burns?’ Last he checked, water did not burn. If anything, it bit.

To prove he was right, Zuko cracked an eye open to take in the glaringly white world around
him. Everything was white, cold looking, and reflective. There was a slight glow to the white
walls that danced, which told him there was a fire nearby but he could not locate it as his
body was still so cold. He blinked rapidly and took in the shocked face of the Chief.

“Easy, son. No need to be up or moving yet. Your crew will be meeting us here in another
hour or so, do not fear.” Arnook whispered in a way Zuko could only remember his mother
doing when Zuko woke from bad dreams.

“Uncle-” Zuko’s voice gave out to a rough cough and he felt a pull against the skin on his
forearm.

He looked towards the person on his right to see an older yet kind woman smiling at him. Her
hair was peppered with silver and pulled back into braids that ran down the length of it much
like Azula’s friend Ty Lee did. She had beads, however, and they were woven throughout her
hair in a far prettier way than the water tribe men had. The men all used them to clasp their
thin front braids and they seemed to dangle in their faces rather than twinkle in the light.

“He is here, so is a small girl. They are outside. Would you like them in here?” Her kind
voice somehow sounded so much softer and he nodded. He wanted nothing more than to
have his family close.
“Alright dear, don’t move and the Chief will go get your family. Okay?” She asked as the
weird blue glow continued to dance along the white surfaces. He realized that the light in the
room was not due to a fire at all, but from the weird water.

He felt more than saw the hands of the Chief release him. The glowing water on his arm had
stolen his full attention as it twisted and pulled at the skin in two places. One, his upper arm,
was impossible to see just what was being pulled at but he could feel the sting. The other, on
his wrist, was clear against his pale skin. A dark, angry, small burn set deep on the pale
surface. It was shocking and new. He pulled in heat, even if he got too full he usually never
burned past beyond a smarting red blotch. This one was blistered, angry, and knitting together
under the magical blue water slowly.

“It looks worse than it is, do not worry. We caught it early enough that it should not even
scar.” She had caught his stare and was smiling kindly. She had taken his stare as worry over
a scar, and not over just how wrong everything was.

“Zuzu!” His sister burst through the flap at the door with incredible speed. She ran right up to
the bed and he had every idea that she would have continued up until she saw the glowing
water. She slid to a stop and stared at it with horror.

“Lala, it’s okay-”

“No. Lie! Zuzu is a liar!” Azula stomped her foot and pointed at the burns that Yagoda
continued to heal. “Zuzu is not fine!”

He was going to double down on the fact that he was, in fact, fine. That he was cold and tired
but nothing worse. His words died as his Uncle entered the tent with a worried frown as his
eyes took in the burns.

“Uncle.” Zuko breathed out in relief. It was funny, just how much he had needed to see these
two.

“Prince Zuko, you gave us all a great scare.” His eyes were worried but his voice broke with
relief as he moved to take the seat left by Arnook.

“I’m sorry-”

“Hush, just lay back and rest. No need for anything more my sweet nephew.” Iroh moved to
brush the strands of hair that Zuko hadn’t even noticed away from his face.

“Uncle?”

“Yes?”

“I burned.” Zuko’s voice broke with the words and he felt as his Uncle froze in his
movements.

“Yes, you did.” He admitted. Zuko heard Azula sniffle, was it really that cold in the room?
He could not tell, his whole being was still heavy and frozen.
“How?” His voice was almost a whine as he tried to make sense of the world. He was so
ready to hear his Uncle explain that it was a mistake, a one time thing, something that would
never be able to happen again. He was not expecting to her the tell tale hic of a child trying
not to cry.

“I-I did it. I didn’t- I wouldn’t- Zuzu was ice!” Azula stammered through growing sobs. Tears
had formed but she was refusing to let them do much more than that if she could help it.

“Lala?” Zuko watched her as she started to shake with the effort of holding back. It hurt his
heart to see her so upset over something he had done and he reached out towards her with his
free hand. She had looked at it with disgust but shuffled forward slowly to let herself be
pulled into the side of his stone slab of a bed.

“Zuzu is a leech. Zuzu always takes heat. Zuzu wasn’t moving! You were ice and it was
wrong!” She had grabbed onto his arm and shoulder as she hid her tears into his bare arm. “I
didn’t mean too!”

“Lala, it’s okay. What didn’t you mean-” He cut himself off as his head whipped around to
take in the burn once more. It was small, circular, with four thin points that wrapped his
wrist. It was a perfect hand shape and he realized that his sister had been the one to burn him.

“It was not intentional. Chief Arnook had dove in after you and when we finally got onto the
water tribe ship you were boarding on hypothermia. Before I could stop her, Azula had tried
to warm you the easier way by feeding you fire. I don’t know if it was how cold you were or
if it was the fact that you were unconscious, but your skin burned under the flames.” Iroh
filled in the unasked question.

“It was awful. Zuzu sizzled so fast. Like the bull-toad that hopped onto the training field.
Instant and smelt of bad things.” She hic-ed once more and her grip tightened despite her
awful words.

Zuko remembered that toad. It had stood no chance against Azula who had punched her fire
with deadly accuracy. She had not meant to kill it. Everyone around her was fire resistant and
could easily knock away her flames. It had been a reminder to Zuko, and a lesson for Azula,
that most things burned instantly and fire was deadly. If Zuko’s arm burning had reminded
her of that moment, he feared just what had stolen his only true protection in the house of fire
that he had.

“Do not fear, children. You got here within plenty of time to be healed. No harm done. In a
few days it will be but a memory.” Yagoda chimed in as she pulled the cool water away and
helped Zuko to sit up fully once more. She got to work wrapping his arm as Azula wiggled
her way onto the slab table he to curl into his side.

“Why did Zuzu go swimming?” She mumbled.

“I didn’t try to, Lala. The boat tipped me through the open hatch in the back.” He huffed as
he wrapped his free arm around her to hold her tight.

“Stupid Zuzu. Always where he shouldn’t be.” She huffed.

“Will he be alright tonight, or shall I work to reschedule the Great Feast?” Iroh asked the
woman wrapping his wrist. She thought about the question and sighed.

“I suppose he would be alright to attend but should not be expected to do much more than sit
and eat something. He should go straight to bed no later than an hour after sunset, healers
orders.” She sighed deeply and turned to fetch warmer clothes for the children.

“Zuzu dies with the sun.” Azula grumbled.

“What!?” Yagoda spun around with a worried expression.

Iroh only chuckled and laid a hand onto Azula’s head, earning a new glare. “She means that
our young prince Zuko loses energy without the sun and can’t stay awake for long after
sunset. He will be the perfect patient in that regard only.”

“Hm, I suppose if I were to get one thing on that list, rest would be the thing I would push
for.” Yagoda relented and turned to once more fetch thick cloaks in deep blue colors for the
children.

“That’s ugly.” Azula wrinkled her nose and Zuko pinched her.

“Azula, that is not nice. Behave.” He huffed and looked back to the old blue cloaks. He
agreed with his sister, but he had enough manners to keep that thought to himself.

Yagoda did not seem to mind, however, and only chuckled as she brushed off more dust. She
nodded and gave the coats a good look over. “I do agree that they are a bit out of style. Rather
old designs and the color is a bit more dark than the ones they like to wear for summer season
gatherings. I am afraid they are all I have in your size, for now, my fire princess. I am sure
that upon your next known visit we can have more suitable wears for you.”

Azula puffed up under the knowing smirk of the woman and huffed out a thin line of smoke
in warning. She said nothing more and only reached a grabbing hand towards the coat to try it
on. It was a little too big yet and hung past her knees. Zuko saw the argument brewing on her
lips when the flap to the hut blew open to let in Arnook. A breeze of cold air whipped around
the room and Azula ducked into the coat like a burrowing turtleduck.

Zuko laughed so hard his lungs burned with the effort of breathing and he felt more than saw
the cold glowing water on his chest. The water helped ease air through his lungs as he
struggled to get his wheezing cough of a laugh under control. Azula shooting him a glaring
look with one eye through the top of the coat was not helping.

Arnook chuckled at the children before speaking to Yagoda in that weird way that had both
fire noble children staring. It sounded so odd. Zuko knew it was a language, but the tutors
had told them that only the fire nation used a special language or had something unique. They
had said all other languages were dying or dead because of common earth script which was
what Zuko used unless in specific classes or at a theater. That they were dumb sounding if
they were still alive.
Zuko realized in that moment, that his tutors were uninformed. The North had a language all
their own. It was complex sounding and beautiful. If they would not find it offensive to their
people, Zuko would not hesitate to learn it and was almost dreaming of the stories they would
speak of in that very language. Of the plays and theaters. Of the history. It was exciting and
scary. He would not say that is tutors or the Fire Nation were wrong, never! But, maybe they
did not have the right picture.

He was to marry into this culture, anyway, and he was now more excited about that idea than
ever before. Being here, maybe this wasn’t the worst thing. That was, until the cold reached
through his excitement and made him shudder harder than he had in his life. The adults
chuckled as he was wrapped up into the other massive coat and some hot liquid was shoved
into his hands.

“Drink up, son. You will need the strength. Tonight will be a busy one.” Arnook smiled down
at Zuko who gingerly sipped the hot water.

There was a hint of something bitter in the drink but he could not place it. He scrunched his
nose at the thought of it being a new tea but realized that his uncle did not have a cup. Must
have been a weird medicine then. Good, he could handle the unusually bitter taste if it was to
be a medicine.

Arnook must have caught his look of disgust, much to Zuko’s horror, if his snort and chuckle
was anything to go by. The last thing they needed was for the people in the Norther Water
Tribe to think him mocking their ways. Or worse yet, for word of his disrespect to reach his
father.

He quickly threw back the rest of the hot, not tea, kinda tea liquid and poorly suppressed a
shudder. Yagoda clucked her tongue in distaste for the act but took the cup back without a
word. Once his hands were free and he was twisted to throw his legs over the edge he found
his lap full of a fluffy bundle of blue. His sister had forced her way up and was more than
content at using him as a chair, rather than the chair at the far wall.

Which, wait, were the walls curved? Zuko twisted to look around and quickly noted that, not
only were the walls curved, but it was all one wall. The only corner to be found in the large
arch of a building was the odd doorway. It too, was an arch in shape and only a tarp
functioned as the actual door.

“Is this an ‘igloo?’” Zuko asked before he could think better of the question. The sharp pinch
of warning from his sister was the only reason he knew he had spoken his question at all.

Arnook chuckled once more and nodded. “Yes, this is what you would call and igloo of sorts.
It is our outer bank healing hut. We are not yet to the city center, that is about an hour walk
from here. This hut is used to help or treat those in desperate need before they reach the city
walls.”

“Before- wait we are not yet in the North!?” Zuko shrieked as he looked around shocked.

His question, which had been meant as a one time panic, danced loudly around the space as
the walls seemed to enjoy repeating his very fears. He stared shocked before he quickly
bowed his head low. His face burned with shame at the way his voice had echoed off the icy
walls.

Azula, however, simply twisted her head in wonder at the new sounds. She hummed some
nonsense tune loudly and giggled as the walls seemed to send it sharply right back. She
wiggled in Zuko’s lap to sit better and let out a long ‘ah’ that some might call singing, while
others would call a war cry. She shrieked with joy when it continued well after she had
stopped, much to the adults discomfort.

“Ah, youth and their first time with the wonder that is ice.” Iroh sighed and smiled.

“Yes, I do forget these two are not aware of the joys of it all. Or that it holds no ones secrets
safe if they are spoken too loud.” Arnook groaned. “No, young prince. We are not in the city
yet. We shall leave this hut when the others catch up and from there you shall meet my
daughter. After the formal meeting, we shall feast. Rest up, you need it.” He nodded low
before he exited the hut. Zuko almost swore that he was not leaving to get ready, but instead
to escape a certain someones ‘singing.’

Yagoda seemed to agree with Chief Arnook, however, and quickly fed something rather tart
to Zuko. Before he could complain or even make a comment on the taste, a wave of
exhaustion hit like a run away komodo-rhino. It was so instant that he felt himself slump into
the poof that was his sister before the pair of hands caught him. The white of the room spun
as his sister started loudly demanding explanations. He could have sworn he saw a flash of
red and blue but the world faded to black before he could think too much on that.

Everything was moving.

Okay, he was not moving, but things were moving him. Like waves on a ship, or when one
rode an animal. You did nothing, but the other factors made you move and sway. That was
how he was moving now. Not him, but something. If he could open his eyes he’d see just
what, but it was so warm and he was rather okay just slipping back into oblivion.

He would have been, anyway, if a certain someone had not shifted in front of him with far too
much energy and kicked him in the knee. He groaned and popped an eye open to see the blue
puff that was his sister shifting around to try and stand in front of him.

“Lala, sit down.” Zuko bit out before he took in everything else.

He was sitting, bundled up in a number of coats and blankets. Arms were rapped around him
to hold the children in place and grasp a thick leather strap. Said strap went from the hand to
the face of a- was that a polar bear!? Were they riding a bear!?

Zuko sat up straight with such force he smacked into whoever was behind him. The ‘oof’
sound of impact did nothing to lesson Zuko’s nerves as he took in the saddle strapped to the
spirits blessed BEAR. He sat so tight that the animal growled out and shook lightly. It even
raised its head to glare back and Zuko was even more sure they were all going to die a dumb
death.
It was not just a bear, but a Polar-dog! These things were one of the known animals of the
North and tundra that actively hunted humans! Were they mental!? This thing was going to
eat them all! He would have continued this line of thought if not for the mitten that smacked
right into his face.

“Zuzu, relax! Spirits, you are the worst. It’s fine!” She huffed as she wiggled back to be
tightly pressed against his chest once more.

Zuko took a deep breath and looked again. He saw that the dog had a bridal, much like the
komodo-rhinos did when they rode them. It also had a collar and seemed to know just where
it was going. The lead was more or less just there in case of emergency. His sister was
sandwiched between the front of a large saddle and himself, with their uncle taking up the
lead spot behind them. The fact that the dog was not raising a fit at just how many people it
was carrying was actually impressive.

“Good, if you are quite done panicking, look up!” Azula wiggled about again as if to try to
stand once more, but a hand grabbed her shoulder. Uncle seemed to have been fighting this
particular battle for awhile.

Zuko huffed but followed her instructions by looking outward and gasped. His mouth fell
open and stayed that way as he took it the sight of the large ice walls before them. They were
all perfect in height, smooth like metal, and moving. They towered over everything, reaching
up to the sky like mountains, and made the marching bears feel like they were all ants. The
symbol of the Water Tribe was proudly displayed in the center, which meant it too was bigger
than Zuko and Azula combined.

“Whoa.” Was all he could breathe out as he watched the first few bears in their caravan reach
the center. The walls split perfectly and slid as if it were made of nothing more than canvas
on a roller frame.

“Now you see it. If you ask me, it all looks far too cold.” Azula huffed out a puff of smoke
which was quickly whipped away by the rather cold breeze.

“Everything white looks cold to you.” Zuko chuckled as he watch the polar-bear-dogs bring
people ahead of them beyond the opening in the wall. Excitement only grew as they got
closer to passing that very opening.

“Of course I do! I can’t think blue cold anymore.” She flicked her thumb through her fingers
to ignite a small blue flame only to have it extinguished instantly.

“Azula, you know the rules.” Uncle reprimanded far kinder than the others usually did.

Azula only huffed out a, “yeah, yeah. No fire in city center. Why?”

“This is Water Tribe land, not Fire Nation. Unexpected fire can be read as a threat, even if
none was meant. Best to just keep it to private spaces or training while here for the time
being.” Iroh sighed, he knew better than they did the reactions that unexpected fire could
bring, but it still hurt the children a bit to be told that a part of them was not welcomed.
Azula muttered something about it being ‘stupid’ but tucked her hands away into the mittens
again. As they reached the entrance all thoughts of hidden flames fell away.

The city beyond the wall was just as stunning. It was layered upwards so almost every part
was visible, even from the entrance. The houses, roads, bridges, everything was reflective
and white. The buildings looked uniformed at first, but as they marched the dogs down the
main road towards the massive ice castle, Zuko started to notice little differences. There were
symbols, drawings, shapes and cuts in the ice of the homes and buildings that made each
slightly different. They must have had meaning, but from the seat of the bear Zuko could see
nothing more than an artistic choice.

The roads were not empty. As the bears carrying the mix of blue warriors and red soldiers
passed through, a growing crowed along the streets began to form. They were all wearing
shades of blue, but everyone had something different about them that Zuko could not
pinpoint with the speed at which they passed by.

They were not running, but the dogs were definitely close to home if the upped walking
speed was anything to go by. They were being led towards the castle, and the sooner they got
there the better.

It had not taken long for Zuko’s excitement to bubble into fear and nerves. The people
gathering were glancing between the passengers of every bear. It was clear what they were
searching for, however, because once they spotted Zuko all fingers pointed in his direction.
Whispers intensified. Stares grew intense, judging, and he really hoped he read some faces
wrong because otherwise he would have to sleep with his knife close by. He might just do
that anyway. It was clear that many, if not all, wanted nothing to do with the Fire Nation.
Which meant that Zuko’s engagement was not a favorable thing and he was not welcomed,
despite also having no choice in the matter.

“Breathe, my nephew, watched the road and face the sun.” Iroh nudged Zuko’s side in
encouragement as he continued to pretend to lead the dog forward.

He must have also noticed the stares and wanted Zuko to show his royal roots, something he
had been trained to do from birth. He could do that. He knew how to do that. He felt his sister
take a deep breath and followed her lead. Together they shifted to be more upright and
breathed out thin lines of steam. Whether it was because of the cold or their fire, they would
never say. The two then tipped their chins slightly towards the sky to let Agni see them.

Zuko knew that the riding pose of a royal meant that their eyes were positioned to look down
on those around. He always felt a pang of regret using it, but it always looked so perfect on
his sister as she stared down towards the castle. Instead, Zuko turned his eyes to the sky.

A thin line of clouds were blocking the sun, but he could still place it just beyond the halfway
point of its daily travel. He closed his eyes to better pull on the heat just creeping down
towards them. He must have fallen into a meditation or sorts for the air around them became
a cozy warm as he opened his eyes to see the large ice castle before them.

Azula nearly purred with how warm the air had gotten as she snuggled back towards him.
“Good Zuzu. Do that again.”
“Lala, I can’t and you know it. Besides, I think we are here.” He looked again and saw the
massive front doors swing open to show Chief Arnook standing in waiting. He walked down
the large set of icy stairs before the doors to greet them.

He was no longer in travel wears, and instead in a cloak that reached the floor and screamed
of high rank. It was embroidered along the seams and on the sleeves and back were pictures
of fish. Two fish to be exact. One, black with a white spot on its face and the other its
opposite with the black being the spot and the body all white. They were circling the Water
Tribe symbol. The edges of the cloak were lined with white that looked new. His hair also
looked freshly braided and all beads polished.

Zuko quickly felt under dressed in his cousins headpiece and the borrowed blue coat of
Yagoda. He was not even in the lovely Fire Nation coats that were still hanging on the ship!
If his father saw this whole thing, he would have ended everything and dragged Zuko back to
spend a life locked in the sages tower for such poor display.

Azula seemed to be thinking the same thing as she shifted around and looked back towards
Iroh for any answer. The only one they got was uncle swinging his leg over the bear of a dog
and standing to bow low to the Chief. Arnook returned the bow as the children clung to the
dog, both swallowing down fear the burned them from the inside out. This was, in every
sense of the word, a bigger disaster than his fall had been.

Iroh turned and helped Azula down from the dog. She slid off easily and quickly dusted off to
stand like she had never felt out of place. Then he turned towards Zuko and smiled warmly.

“Breathe, dear nephew. You have done nothing wrong and look perfectly presentable.” He
reached forward and gently helped him slide down.

“I don’t feel it. I’m in borrowed blue, uncle! If father saw he’d-” Zuko started as he tried to
calm his shaking nerves.

“He’d have had to come himself to see, and I believe in weather appropriate clothing over
colors. As it is, he is not here and I am. So I say, you two look like perfectly presentable Fire
Nobles who are also open to new ideas.” His smile helped warm his words as Zuko let them
sooth his worry like a smooth burn balm.

“Ready?” He asked and Zuko took a deep breath before he nodded. Ready or not, it was now
or never.

Chief Arnook took that nod to mean as much as he turned to head inside the castle, only to
freeze. He sighed deeply and his form sank slightly as he took in what was just beyond the
doorway. Zuko let his gaze follow and froze.

Standing in the doorway was a girl, no older than he was, yet her hair was as white as the- he
didn’t know. He had never seen that kind of white before. It was absolute. Void of all color
and glowed slightly in the dim light. Her eyes were a blue he did recognize, deep and cold.
The ocean danced in them even from the distance. She wore blue like everyone else, but
somehow it felt like it fit her far more than most.
 Her tan skin looked kissed by the sun, yet the sun felt so far away. It was the same color of so
many people Zuko had seen since the Water Tribe had showed up at their palace. She looked
curious, cautious, and a little mischievous but only if you knew how to look for such a thing.
Growing up with Azula meant he did.

The girl was small, but she stole his whole attention as something about her screamed
familiar. Like he knew her, yet this was very clearly his first time seeing her. Yet something
deep in his core begged to differ. He knew this girl, maybe not by the name she had now, but
by something far harder to understand. By the look on her face, she felt it too.

They stared in awe and shock for however long it took for Azula to become fed up with the
silence and growl out. She moved to stand in front of Zuko in an odd manner and crossed her
arms tight. One would think it was to show how not amused she was but Zuko knew better.
She was holding back her fire.

“Who are you?” Azula snipped in her tightly controlled way and Zuko shook out of his daze.

“That’s Princess Yue.” He said with far more confidence than he had any right having. He
had not seen or heard of her appearance before, but he was confident in his answer. More
confident than he had ever been.

The girl in the doorway slowly smiled as she nodded. Her smile reached her eyes in an easy
way and she looked so welcoming despite her not moving from her half hidden place.

“Hello, and welcome to the Northern Water Tribe.” The princess said as she glanced towards
her father with a sheepish grin.

“My little moon, you were to wait-”

“I know, father, but I just couldn’t wait any longer. You were to be home before the midday
sun! I was worried and excited. Forgive me.” Yue ended her quick rant with a small bow of
her head before she tried to steel a glance towards Zuko once more.

Arnook sighed deeply and muttered something before waving a hand through the air. “It is
done. No harm has followed. But please, let us move inside and away from long stretching
ears and echoing ice.”

Iroh was the one to chuckle and nod as he turned to lightly push the fire siblings forward. The
walk up the stairs felt heavy as Zuko tried and failed multiple times to not look at the ice
princess. The reality of his new situation sunk in as they once more connected their gaze and
that far too familiar feeling of knowing someone but unable to place how settled deep into his
bones.

Chapter End Notes

Thank you everyone for reading and following! I have no real schedule for this and try
to work on it whenever I get time or feel inspired!

I also get fueled by all engagement and comments of any kind are welcomed!

Let me know your thoughts and feelings! <3

 Chapter 13
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes

The ice castle was nothing like that of the Fire Nation palace. It was more compact, for one.
Where the fire palace spread for a great distance with the maximum of two floors unless at a
corner tower, the ice castle was built upwards. Where the palace had multiple grounds and
court yards, this place had inside fountains along the walls. There was floor after floor that
towered above them as well as below.

The group walked through the many halls and continued ever downward. The white blue of
the walls reflected the light of the torches lit along the hall in a dull glow, keeping the room
far too cold for the fire siblings liking. It felt like an eternity as they followed down, every
layer losing more heat and becoming colder than the air outside until they reached the final
level. Both had huddled together as they made their way towards the icy door at the end of
the hall that towered above the group like a foreboding entity.

Upon the door was an etching of those same fish that the Water Nations nobles all wore
woven into their clothing. The fish made a perfect boarder around the water symbol, one
carved out fully with the moon marked on its forehead. The other looked like it was raised
with extra ice, possibly the ice removed from its twin, and had waves rippling around it.

Azula was fascinated by the fish, asking their uncle about them and why they were so big.
Zuko ignored the whispered childish questions. Instead, he locked eyes on the fish with the
moon carved into it. It was, familiar. Of course it was, he had been seeing them the moment
he came into contact with Chief Arnook in small ways. Still, he could not place the oddly old
and familiar feeling that a simple ice fish door was giving him. Kind of like a weird deja vu,
like he knew that fish somehow.

A glance towards Yue only strengthened the feeling. She had her eyes locked on the same one
and was wearing a look that mixed apprehension and wonder. Her gaze left the fish to lock
with Zuko’s own. She had jumped slightly at his staring but smiled kindly despite the shock.
Zuko tried to question things, glancing between the fish and the girl of perfect white, only to
be tugged away further by a pair of hot little hands.

The doors cracked down the middle and swung slowly outward. The motion separated the
two fish in a way that made Zuko’s heart squeeze. It was foolish to feel sorry for a door. He
couldn’t help it. Something about the way those fish wove around each other, no matter the
material they were made from, begged to never have them be split. Like having one without
the other was unheard of. Unnatural.

A tug to his puffy sleeve let him know that he had missed the cue to move, again. He
followed the pull, allowing Azula to be his guide as he let weird fish swim through his mind.
The room they entered was one like the sage towers in the Fire Nation. A stage with a great
deal of seats carved upwards for people to be seated to observe. They were currently on the
stage, looking up towards the curved stands, filled with what looked to be men of all ages.
The higher up, the younger the man. Those seats were to be only observing, if Zuko was
remembering that one politics book correctly. The seats that meant anything were the ones
closest to the happenings on the stage. The ones who’s voices would be easiest to hear, and
therefore should be listened to. If that was the case, then all the power of this place fell to
those who were elderly. And men. It was hard to tell with the style of puffy clothing, but
Zuko was sure that there were very few, if any, women.

Iroh pulled Zuko and Azula behind himself and motioned for them to stand tall. His agreeing
to come to the north made more sense than anything with that single motion. He was acting
as the royal families representative. If a prince was not needed for final negotiations, would
he have come at all? Zuko hoped he would have, but bringing a bargaining pawn North was
probably far less demanding of his time than having a general on the battlefield. His own son
was out there, and here he was with his nephew who couldn’t even make the first trip without
incident.

Chief Arnook bowed once towards the fire nobles before he walked the steps up towards his
high seat in the center. Once all were in place, the steps melted away. The fire siblings
instinctively shuffled back from the shifting ice as the benders hidden in the corners of the
room worked to flatten the shelf. It made those sitting above feel like they were towering
over those on the stage, like some all powerful being casting judgment.

Azula was the first to feel this power shift, and the first to make it known just how much she
disapproved. She snarled at the fresh wall of shifting ice as if it had personally insulted her.
Steam rose from her feet as she worked to be ready for any kind of change too close to her
own being. A pat on the head from Iroh was all that was keeping the princess from starting an
international incident.

The fish and moon symbol was once more carved into the newly flattened surface and things
were clearly ready to begin. The water folk shuffled around papers and scrolls, most glaring
at the general and children below. Arnook flashed a small smile as he stood and called for
order.

“My fellow councilmen, together, we are here to welcome the Fire Nation royals and see to
our agreement for a future of peace between great nations.” Arnook started, his voice boomed
through the room and echoed off the icy walls.

Whispers followed the words. Hundreds of eyes were boring into the fire siblings as they
stood in attention behind their uncle. Iroh, who had bowed to Arnook’s words despite Azula’s
growl, stood and smiled.

“Thank you for your wonderful hospitality. I, Iroh, first prince and heir to the throne, hereby
represent the Fire Nation in this matter.” More muttering followed, this time the ice echoed
back the words ‘first prince’ and ‘heir’ over all others. Clearly, he had their attention.

“Welcome, Prince Iroh.” Arnook said as he took his seat once more.

“Pleasantries out of the way, it is time for the matter at hand.” A shaky old man said as he
looked at those on the stage like they were bugs. “Which of these is being presented, today?”
“Of the two children.” Iroh paused. He waited until the man met his gaze, keeping the room
in an icy silence for however long was needed to make sure the man looked every bit
uncomfortable for his words.

“The one being presented for the matter of the treaty is Prince Zuko.”

Zuko took a shaky step out from behind his uncle and bowed. He held his hands tightly
pressed in the symbol of fire and dipped low to show respect as only he knew how to do. It
must have been alright, because the icy whispers were less angry sounding.

“Rise and introduce yourself, son.” Arnook chuckled as Zuko slowly stood.

“I am prince Zuko, first son of princess Ursa and second prince Ozai. Fourth in line for the
throne of the Fire Nation and fire core of a summers day, here to offer myself to the treaty
willingly.” He said his lines, loudly.

He had practiced them for hours to make sure they sounded right, and to prevent himself
from freezing. Now that they were out, it was up to the Northern court to accept them.

“He lists his mother before his father?” An old man on the left muttered and scoffed.

“Rather disrespectful to the prince line, is it not?” A faceless man towards the back uttered
loud enough for the ice to take his words and repeat them.

From there, even though he had spoken no more than fifty words total, he was already being
ripped apart. The fact that it was his mothers placement that caused this sent a wave of anger
rippling through him and boiling the more the whispers grew.

“Do it.” Azula snickered quietly.

Azula’s words were his only warning. Instantly, he felt that all too hot feeling boil up and he
growled as the anger flooded his too small body. Everything went red as words of his mother
being worth no more than an afterthought ripped through his heart. He had not held his
mother in weeks, had not heard her voice, had not even seen her smile and here these old men
safely in their home nation were judging her!?

“ENOUGH!” He roared.

He had stomped his foot and the room was bathed instantly in the all too hot flash of angry
red flames. They had rolled out of him and up the wall only half way, but it had been enough.
The air in the room was hot, causing Azula to purr happily. The room broke into screams and
water and ice had raised above the fire nobles in warning.

Zuko fell back and away from the water. Felt his uncle drag him back behind him once more
and his sister latch tight to his arm. His heart was pounding and every part of him thought
that he was about to die for yelling at these windbags. He had lost his head, which was still
swimming with the sudden change in heat, and would lose far more because of it.

The room was chaos. The water above was rolling dangerously, Iroh held a defensive stance
that dared even a drop of it fall towards the children. Azula was steaming, literally, and her
grin dared the water to fall for a completely different reason. Angry voices were rolling just
as loudly as that water and everything was a pin drop away from a catastrophic meltdown.

That was, until a loud laugh broke through the angry shouts and caused all parties to freeze.
In a seat toward the upper middle row, sat a woman. Her laugh had cut through the room and
every person was slowly moving to look at her, yet she seemed completely unbothered by the
attention. She looked to be no older than Ursa, with long black hair braided into two thick
rows that fell over her shoulders. The large beads at each end held the symbol of water and
were as large as an egg. Her laughter died down slightly once she had all parties attention and
she waved them off like they were all foolish children.

“Forgive me. I know it is wrong to interrupt, just, you all had that coming.” She giggled as
she wiped tears from her blue eyes. She locked eyes with the Chief and her smile only grew
fond as the man groaned deep.

“And just what is meant by that?” A man, unimportant if his seat placement was anything to
go off of, remarked.

“I mean, what did you expect was going to happen with that rude display? Really, you all
were insulting the child’s mother, for spirits sake. I don’t know how it is done in the Fire
Nation, and clearly none of you do either, but it feels as if his placement of his mothers name
might mean something?” She crossed her arms and leaned forward slightly so she could
better look towards the fire siblings.

“You are correct, ma’am. In the Fire Nation, we are free to place either parent in the front
placement as long as both are equally represented. Often, children are expected to state their
caretaker or the parent that is present more first.” Iroh nodded. He slowly relaxed his
defensive stance as the water above them fell harmlessly back into the ponds on the sides of
the large room.

“See? You all have yet to exchange a simple greeting and here we are already upsetting our
guests with cultural ignorance. I suggest, if we are to show that we are a stronghold in this,
that you men do better.” The woman leaned back into her seat and blew a kiss towards the
chief.

“Madam Chief, I request you hold your opinions until the end, if you please.” An exasperated
sage like man sighed. The woman, Arnook’s wife if that title was correct, simply smiled and
shrugged.

“I’ll keep my tongue if you keep your head and try not to cause a cultural upset, Master
Pakku. Don’t forget, these are children and not court practiced men. That boy is also being
promised my own child, and Tui above if you mess this up.” She sent a sharp glare that Zuko
thought would be enough to cut through ice. Before he could make another statement on the
matter the woman settled back with a wink towards the children.

“I like her.” Azula muttered with a smile that showed off her missing baby teeth.

Zuko swallowed and bowed his head, flushing hard at the upset he had caused by letting
words burrow under his skin in such a way. His uncles hand fell onto his shoulder with a
gentle squeeze as he once more got the meeting on track.

As the terms of the arrangement were settled Zuko turned his attention inwards. He knew
most of what was being said, anyway. Uncle had told him that most of the stuff wouldn’t
even matter until he reached the age of thirteen, which was three whole years away, and even
then things could change. For now they were just making sure that the three years were
agreeable.

His raging core, which had burned so hot just a moment ago, was what held his attention
now. Usually his fire fizzled out after an expulsion like he had just had. He had even nearly
frozen himself not a day ago which should add a point to his fire being pathetic. Instead, it
continued to bubble up and crackle just under his skin. It was pouring from his core in a way
he had never felt before. It felt strong, unusually so, and caused the air around him to hiss
with the change of temperature.

He wondered if this was what normal firebenders felt like. If their fire always felt so ready to
be pushed into the world. If they were able to listen to it as it flowed through their being with
a warmth that cut even the icy cold of this basement meeting chamber. It felt good. Strong
and protective.

It was also, he realized, pulling in energy to feed itself from something nearby. He was not
making this fire naturally, but leeching it. That something near this building, or reaching out
to him, was feeding his core happily. Whatever it was, it was invisible. He could not tell
where he was pulling from for the energy was pouring out of the icy walls. It seemed to be
for him, and him alone. At least he thought so until he glanced to his side and saw that the Ice
Princess was once again watching him.

She was standing between two waterbenders, easily protected until her time was needed. It
had looked like she had been paying attention. That she was hearing and memorizing every
word, right up until Zuko had found the link to his new energy and pulled. She had gasped so
lightly that Zuko knew only he had heard her. The others were still talking over each other,
arguing out pointless things and making the meeting last far longer than needed.

The two children locked eyes and while he had looked away slightly in shame, she had
watched him in wonder. Her eyes had slowly traveled around him, not up and down like one
who was taking in a persons overall appearance, but actually around him. Like she could see
the energy he was leeching. That was impossible, no one could see energy unless it was
ignited or heated. Yet, her gaze locked onto him and perfectly changed to watch just where he
leeched the most.

He tested it. Starting with the hands and letting them heat slightly before he tugged on the
strange stuff oozing out through the ice. Princess Yue’s gaze locked onto his hands as if he
was fidgeting too loudly. Zuko let his leeching slip to his feet, pulled up from his points of
contact with the ice and watched as the princesses gaze slid to match. He cut the pull and
focused onto his inner core, pulling all he had into his own fire and letting it burn under his
skin in that all too warm and comforting way. Her gaze moved slowly up his frame and
settled on his chest before widening in awe.
The two were so busy looking at each other, testing each others sight and what they could or
could not see, that they had not noticed the sudden quiet of the room. They only realized that
they had gained any attention at all when a loud clearing of a throat echoed. Both children
jumped and spun to face the council, flushed at being caught not paying attention on a matter
that involved them.

“As I said.” That shaky man spoke once more, clearly upset with the children. “The terms are
agreeable, for now. The children are to be promised and marked as such today. On the first
full moon, after the youngest of them turns thirteen, they will be evaluated once more. If it is
agreed upon then, they are to exchanged betrothal stones. They will wed the full moon after
the youngest turns sixteen, as per the Northern tradition.”

Zuko blinked in surprise. He had thought they would be following the Fire Nation traditions
for this and be betrothed at sixteen, not married! Fire Nation stated that weddings for treaties
were at eighteen, after the minimum of two years military service! Would he be expected to
not serve his country? He looked towards his uncle in a panic.

“Are the terms agreeable?” The shaky man asked slowly. Zuko jumped at being caught in his
moment of panic and nodded. Last thing he wanted was to cause any more upset.

“Good. Then the marks of promise shall be agreed upon now.” He said and clapped loudly.

“Marks of promise?” Zuko whispered in question but watched as Azula shrugged. If she
didn’t know, he was doomed.

“Ribbon.”

“What?” Zuko turned just enough to look towards the hushed voice and saw princess Yue
staring straight ahead as if she had said nothing. Her glance towards the siblings and smile
proved otherwise.

“Ribbon. The mark of promise is a choker necklace with no beads. Don’t worry, it is not as
scary as they are making it sound.” Yue smiled again and turned back to face the men
approaching with two small boxes.

Zuko turned back towards the new men and eyed the boxes cautiously. A necklace was not a
common symbol in the Fire Nation, so it was going to stand out no matter what. He was not
even sure he would put it on correctly, this was not something he had studied for!

The box was opened to his uncle while he continued to panic and he only noticed the change
when a small hand whipped around and rudely pinched his ear. Zuko hissed at his sister who
rolled her eyes and looked up to see that Iroh held a thin strip of Fire Nation red leather. The
leather had no embroidery or fancy markings around it, just solid red with only a single
golden button with the smallest fire symbol pressed into the metal.

“Prince Zuko, may I?” Iroh held out the necklace and Zuko hard swallowed. That was the
thing that would seal his fate. It looked so small and fragile, but with it held the weight of
two nations. Held his future. Tied him to another forever.
His heart began to pound in his ears as he slowly forced his head to move. He had nodded
and felt himself go as stiff as stone. Felt more than saw the smooth and cool leather touch his
neck. The moment he felt that small golden button snap into place it felt like the ice under his
feet had fractured. Like he was back in the icy waters. He was drowning while standing.

A hand landed on his back and pulled him forward into a warm mass, yet his eyes were no
longer letting him see. Everything had gone dark, as he tried to pull in a breath into lungs that
were very much not willing to expand. A voice was trying to break through the bright spots
that had started dancing in his new darkness but it was too far away to really listen to.

It was the hot, almost burning, point of contact on his arm that gave him something to focus
on. It was small, burning through the coat and helped thaw the icy feeling on his veins as he
pulled the too hot feeling in deep. When his lungs relaxed enough he breathed out some of
the extra heat, letting his ears pop and the spots faded.

“That’s it, breathe, nephew. I got you. You are safe.” Iroh was muttering and continued to
hold him close.

Zuko did as he was told, taking in deep breaths and letting them out as best he could. Each
breath caused the leather on his neck to rub lightly as something new on his skin always did.
The unwillingness to the leather to fully give made it feel far tighter than it was and made
him want to rip it off. It was rough, new, and wrong feeling. He did not touch it.

“Everything alright?” Chief Arnook’s voice reached the small group and cause Zuko to
flinch. He nodded into his uncle.

“We are alright. I believe it would be a good time for something to eat, and a good cup of tea.
If you have no further need of the children I would be more than happy to escort them to the
dining area and out of your hair while you finalize things.” Iroh said as he scooped his
nephew up like he weighed no more than a bag of rice.

Zuko buried his face into his uncles shoulder, unwilling to see the reactions his little moment
had caused. He felt the weight of something tug his boot but didn’t so much as kick it away.
When he moved just enough to look down he was met with Azula’s calculating stare. One
she wore when she was solving a problem or planning an attack. Either way, he wanted
nothing to do with it and didn’t see how either reaction factored him into it.

It was only a few minutes of walking, feeling the rooms warm as they ascended the stairs and
away from the stage. Zuko soon found himself in a large chair. He fingered the leather strap
around his neck and sighed heavily. It was done. He was marked, literally, and even when he
was home for winter he would be wearing the collar of the North.

A cup of steaming liquid was put into his hand and drew his attention to the room. It was
blue, like everything else, and cold feeling. There was so little color that it felt like a new
world. Like a new prison. Devoid of the warmth he knew so well.

Slowly, he realized he was in a simple dining room. A large table was in the center with
chairs around it. They were sitting in a far corner, angled to be able to see the door. A small
coffee table was beside the large chair Zuko currently shared with his sister.
Across from him sat the ice princess, a thin blue leather strip around her neck the only change
to her being. She was holding her own cup and watching the fire siblings closely. When she
noticed Zuko’s gaze, she smiled.

“Hey.” Yue whispered.

“Hey.” Zuko parroted.

Azula rolled her eyes. “Wow, you two are amazing at conversation.”

“Azula, be nice.” Zuko hissed.

“No, no. She is right. Forgive me, I’ve never met any other royal children before. I’m Yue,
it’s nice to meet you.” Yue smiled and twisted to dip her head slightly.

“Yue? That’s a weird name.” Azula snorted as she watched the slight bow.

“Lala! You can’t just say that!” Zuko shot her a warning glare and flushed at her words. She
was going to get them all into so much trouble.

Yue, however, chuckled. “Lala, was it?”

“It’s Princess Azula, to you.” Azula puffed up and glared.

“Of course, my mistake.” Yue giggled and looked towards Zuko.

“Oh! I uh- I’m Zuko. Nice- uh- nice to meet you.” Zuko fidgeted with his cup.

“Zuzu, you suck at this.” Azula snorted.

“You don’t have to make fun of me for it.” Zuko huffed and pulled the steaming cup closer to
his chest.

“Yes, I do. Sisters rights. Besides, you need a lesson if you are ever going to talk to her.”

“I am talking to her.” Zuko hissed and flushed at the giggle that came from the other chair.

“You will have to forgive my brother, he really is bad at this kind of thing.” Azula mock
whispered towards Yue.

“Oh, I am too, I fear.” Yue chuckled.

“Made for each other, then. You two can sit in weird silence together.” Azula rolled her eyes
and leaned into her brothers side to steal his cup of tea. Zuko let it go willingly.

“I am sorry.” Yue dipped her head to focus on her own tea.

“For what? You have nothing to apologize for- ow! Lala, no pinching.”

“Listen, if she says it she feels a reason. Listen for that before you write off her words. If
anything, you can use the reason behind it to benefit you, dumb dumb.” Azula huffed and
drank his tea.

“I am sorry for how the men here treated that whole thing. They insulted you both, talked
like- like…” Yue was struggling to find words to her feelings.

“It’s fine-”

“They were acting like privileged old men. Fire Nation has them, too. We usually ignore
them. Well, most of us do. Zuzu has always had thin skin and sucks in everything like a-”

“Don’t you dare-”

“L-E-E-

“Lala!”

“C-H” Azula sang every letter as she avoided her brothers attempt to silence her by climbing
the back of the chair.

“I am not!”

“Sure you are! You leeched the heat right out of that room and threw it back into those old
fools faces!” Azula squealed as Zuko pulled her back into the chair.

“That was you?” Yue asked, far more wonder than anything.

“What- no! I mean, maybe.” Zuko blushed hard.

“That was so impressive! I’ve never seen bending like that.” Yue’s eyes seemed to sparkle
like the stars as she took in the fire siblings.

“You ever see firebending?” Azula scoffed.

“Well, no, that was a first time for that too I suppose.”

“Makes sense. It was pathetic.”

“Lala!”

“What!? Didn’t even reach the top of the shelf! You need to work on your aim.” Azula huffed
and kicked to shove Zuko off of her and away.

“I wasn’t going to hit anyone! I didn’t even mean to let out any fire!” Zuko defended.

“Then your sister is right.” Iroh cut in as he entered the small room.

“Uncle?” Zuko settled and turned to watch the man walk towards them.

“If you had not meant for any flames, then that rather large display is concerning. You are
undisciplined with your fire and fire left unchecked is a danger to all parties. You will
continue your studies.” Iroh looked between the children and his stern look melted into a
smile.

“Yes, uncle. Forgive me.” Zuko ducked away from any further judgment and flinched when
he felt his uncles hand land onto his shoulder.

He tensed, expecting to be shaken, shoved off the chair to bow properly, or fed fire and
threatened the towers pit. When all that came from the touch was the gentlest squeeze Zuko
slowly looked back up. Azula’s calculating look was locked onto the hand still holding her
brother, while her uncle wore a complicated expression. It morphed into something close to
sorrow or pity and Zuko twisted out of the hold.

“What does fire training look like, sir?” Yue asked as she took in the interactions before her
with confusion.

“Meditation at dawn, for one. But no matter, there will be time for that later. For now, we are
to head out to the great feast and join in the party of the day.” Iroh smiled wide and turned to
pull the bag he had brought with himself up.

Azula latched onto the bag with a squeal as she made quick work with opening it. She pulled
out the Fire Nation red puffy coats and giggled excitedly. With a huff and the smell of singed
cloth later, she was out of the old blue coat and snuggled into the new one. Zuko had to
admit, red really did suit his sister far better than the dark blues had.

With less enthusiasm, Zuko slipped from the blue borrowed coat and threw on the red one. It
made no difference to him really, a coat was a coat. If he had a choice, he’d have kept the
blue one, at least it made them stand out less. The red one was a perfect fit, however, which
meant that no wind got up or under the too big spots.

“Ready?” Iroh asked as he watched Azula spin in place to check out her new coat in the icy
reflection of the far wall.

Yue chuckled watching her, agreeing with every question the other little princess asked about
how good it looked. She was far too willing to praise Azula in Zuko’s opinion, but that was
probably for the best.

Zuko glanced towards the wall and saw his own reflection. His borrowed flame pin was
proudly pinned into his high bun. The gold glinted in the torch lights and stood out no matter
what color he wore. The Fire Nation marks embroidered throughout the coat felt warm to his
skin even if it was just threads woven into fabric.

The gold of his eyes reflected back like mini torches and caught sight of the thing that he
feared would never look right. The thin, red leather, tightly strapped around his own neck.
Despite the color, it stood out in stark contrast to everything in his world.

He let his eyes drift to take in the ice princess, and saw her watching him in turn. Yue gave
him a knowing look. Her hand traveled to her own choker and he took in the deep blue
leather. He shadowed her action and touched the red leather around his own neck. It was such
a small action, but it meant so much.
 She was just like him, tied to another for the peace of her people. They were in this together,
like it or not, and that strip of leather sealed their fates and bound them forever.

Chapter End Notes

Fun fact: Yue's mother is unnamed. Any suggestions???

Things are happening! Let me know any thoughts, questions, guesses and reactions!
I love all comments and engagment more than the moon itself (sorry Tui) <3
 Chapter 14
Chapter Notes

Dinner and a show!

See the end of the chapter for more notes

“Wow!” Azula screamed out.

“Lala, inside voice!” Zuko growled back as he tried to tilt his head away from her face.

She had demanded that she was too tired to walk. That her brother should carry her like the
royal she was. He had no doubt that she was actually tired, the little yawns she tried so hard
to hide gave that much away, but he had refused to carry her. He was going to demand that
she walked like a royal should until she had stomped a fiery foot into the ice of the dining
room floor in one of her normal fits.

The splash from the newly formed water had snuffed out her argument, but ignited a new fear
in Zuko which had him relenting instantly. Princess Yue may have found it amusing, with a
quiet gasp at the fire and a giggle as the siblings scrambled away from the water as if that was
what could burn. She could laugh about it, Zuko would be killed, or worse, if she melted the
palace to nothing.

That was how he found himself now, giving his too heavy for this kind of thing sister a piggy
back ride, and nearly losing the hearing out of his left ear as she screamed everything she
said. For some reason she just could not seem to remember that ice echoed. That, or she
loved hearing her voice bounce back.

“But it is so big!” Azula screeched and giggled.

“Lala, shut it, you are going to get us into trouble.” Zuko hissed.

They had just entered what was to be the main hall for their welcome party. It was a massive
space, with a half moon shaped table raised a good bit above the rows of other tables. The
space looked ready to house almost every person from the tribe in one great hall, with layers
to the tables going downwards like stairs. The icy white that had steadily become the main
color of the north was reflecting the late sun, as the whole area had no ceiling to protect it
from anything. The wind was blocked by large walls, all with different carvings of great
figures from the tribe, symbols that meant nothing to the fire siblings, and so many different
versions of the two fish that had decorated the chiefs castle.

“Why are the tables layered like that?” Zuko glanced towards Yue. She blinked in surprise, as
if she had not expected to ever be asked something, and looked out to see what he was
seeing.
“They are to represent placement within the tribe. Those who are in the court sit in the moon
with us. Their family is the layer connected as well as the master water benders. From there
the layers break downwards.” Yue explained, nodding to each layer as she spoke.

“So, who are the rat-moles of the North?” Azula asked as she nearly choked Zuko to look at
the other princess.

“I’m sorry?” Yue blinked, clearly taken by surprise.

“Forgive her, I think she is asking who is the bottom of the tiered tables.” Zuko knocked the
back of his head into his sisters face in warning and got a growl, followed by an awkward but
no less painful punch in answer.

“Oh, uhm. Well. Unmarried women, children who are without family, and trade workers,
mostly.” She looked towards the last few tables and flinched. “I can’t say I have ever liked
them.”

“Cold, I like it.” Azula snickered.

“I-I meant the tables! I have never liked them. The layers, they only serve those at top. Even
if the food shared between layers is even, the people will still feel the divide.” Yue flushed
and fidgeted with the seam of her sleeve, avoiding eye contact with Azula which Zuko agreed
was a smart thing to do.

“So? Why not say such things?” Azula was losing focus in the conversation, choosing instead
to watch the servers place countless plates and lite the candles along the many tables.

“I have, but I was reminded that women are to be seen and not heard or that I would find
myself at the far tables when father was away.” Yue sighed heavily.

“What!?” Azula screeched while Zuko exclaimed the same protest, within a reasonable
volume. Both reactions had Princess Yue shrinking away from the siblings.

“Who would dare talk to a princess like that?” Azula all but snarled, spearing her sharp heels
into Zuko’s sides.

“Ow! Lala, get down if you are going to freak out.” Zuko yanked at said feet.

“Master Pakku. He is the master waterbender of the north and many think he may be gifted
by the ocean herself, that is, if her gift is still alive.” Yue nodded towards an old man as her
words were laced with doubt.

Zuko instantly recognized the man. He was the one who had tried to silence Yue’s mother.
The one who was focused on tradition and the right way for the Northern Water Tribe. He
was indeed a master bender, and had made it very clear that he was not welcoming to those of
the Fire Nation any more than Zhao had been towards the Water Tribe. The man was
currently barking orders to a bunch of younger men as they worked to create extra tables off
to the side, most likely for Zuko and his people, and seemed completely unimpressed by their
skill.
“He looks like a waterlogged seagull-rat.” Azula snorted and rolled her eyes. “And one who
would absolutely work hard to keep the status quo tipped in his favor.”

“Don’t let him hear you say that, we wouldn’t want to start a war.” A mans voice drifted up
towards the huddled group of royals.

Zuko tightened instantly and spun to face the new voice. He let his sister slowly slide of his
back, thankful she had not protested the action, and moved to be in front of the two
princesses just enough to give them space. The man approaching slowly dragged his fiery
gaze over each royal child, settling his look upon Zuko. The smile he wore drooped slightly
into a snarl as he looked at the small amount of red leather visible from just under the fluffy
collar of Zuko’s new coat.

“Lieutenant Zhao.” Zuko greeted.

“And what would be the reason that three of the most important children would be hidden
where no one is watching or guarding them? You should be with the guards, or at least near a
Fire Nation soldier, at all times. We wouldn’t want an incident before things even get started,
now would we?” Zhao’s words were slow, quiet, almost predatory as he looked between the
group and settled on Princess Yue. “Princess, you should not be alone with Fire Nation. It
is… unwise.”

Zuko felt a flash of panic turn to a protective rage as he better placed himself between Zhao
and the princesses. The action was a clear warning, Fire Nation style, as he let fire flick from
behind his teeth for only Zhao to see and clenched his fists.

“We were on our way because we were told we were late.” Azula scoffed. “Clearly we were
misinformed. Why is it that a bunch of important children were able to sneak away without
the notice of either nation, I wonder? Looks to me like this is less our fault, and more your
poor-”

Zuko slapped his hand over his sisters mouth quickly to cut off her statement, but the words
were clear enough. The fire had been started. Lieutenant Zhao stood silent for a moment, fire
in his glare, before he bowed with his fists forming the national flame.

“Forgive me, my princess. You are right, and it is a shortcoming that is not to be repeated.”
Zhao promised and Zuko shuddered. “Allow me to escort you all to your seats. The festivity
should begin shortly.”

The three followed behind Zhao as far back as they could be without aggravating the man. As
they walked up towards the top moon table they glanced over the sea of blues and purples
that were the coats of people. There were just so many people already, and so many more
were supposed to show. All of them were here for one reason. To observe the Prince of the
Fire Nation who was going to take their beloved Princess away from them.

Zuko hard swallowed and tried to fall back a bit further to avoid the searching glares he could
feel on his back. His neck burned and the leather around his neck suddenly felt so much
tighter. A hot hand gripped his own and he looked to see Azula leading him along in case he
got too lost within his thoughts and his heart squeezed. He doesn’t say it, probably should,
but he really did love his sister.

“Who was that man?” Yue whispered once they were standing by the main table. Zhao had
seen to it that the number of guards scattered were enough to warrant his leaving before he
left to finish something. He had not left without the lingering warning that they were to ‘stay
where they were told to be.’

“Lieutenant Zhao, high ranking in both military and within the Fire Nation courts and royal
kiss ass to our father, second Prince Ozai.” Azula said, sounding every bit like the man bored
her to death.

“He’s really scary strong and quick to attack, too. Best to just do as he says. He will tell my
father and the Fire Lord otherwise.” Zuko sighed.

“Where’s your backbone, dear brother?” Azula rolled her eyes.

“You broke it years ago.” Zuko muttered only to smile a little at the bark of a laugh the
statement earned.

“He sounds like a problem.” Yue nodded and glanced at the man in question.

Any further conversations were cut short by the sudden arrival of the Water Tribe court. A
blast from what could only have been some kind of animal horn hollowed out had all
gathered rushing towards the seats and standing to face the moon shaped table above them.
Yue gave a quick shove to the fire siblings to get them into place by their chairs before she
stood to look blindly out towards the crowd.

Zuko glanced from her before he followed her gaze out and over the gathering of people. So
many faces, all mixed in their emotions to the sight of even one Fire Nation citizen standing
within their homeland. Many were blank faced, emotions hidden away like the ice hid the
land. Some were open and curious, though those were mostly children and young people on
the lower levels of the table tier. The others, well, if looks could kill then Zuko doubted
anyone with a hint of red would have survived the night.

The air around the moon shaped table turn cold as fear settled within Zuko’s core at just what
those below thought of him being there. He swallowed hard and flinched when a hot hand
gripped his elbow too tightly. Azula shot him her warning glare which meant she was well
aware that the new cold was not the result of the lack of ceiling. With a few deep breaths, and
a shocked look from Yue, Zuko released as much heat as he could into the air. This was,
admittedly, not a lot as the outside zapped it way almost instantly but the small hand
relinquished its hold regardless.

There were speeches done by the chief and court members, most of which chose to speak in
their own language. A glance towards the Fire Nation soldiers showed that many wore
matching looks of boredom at not being able to understand the words spoken. A few,
however, clearly were taking the exclusion personal.
Among them, lieutenant Zhao wore a look that begged for a reason to ignite anything ablaze.
For a challenge. From Zhao to the others scowls and disapproving glares it was all enough to
make Zuko shuffle towards Azula. If a spirits brawl started over the exclusion he would be
sure to grab her and the other princess before making a run for the back exits.

Zuko jumped hard as Chief Arnook clapped loudly before motioning towards the dying light
of the setting sun. He let his words, which sounded much more like a song, drift over the
open banquet hall. Towards the end of whatever he was announcing other voices began to
join in until the sound was booming and echoed off the icy walls like a wave reaching
towards the sky. It sounded warm, welcoming, and like a love song to the moon.

The song, which was now being sung by all who knew it, felt like an icy lullaby for the sun.
Yue’s voice drifted through the sounds of the old men around them and her words seemed to
seep into Zuko’s core. Her words felt like they drained his very being with every rise in pitch
and his body felt heavy with every moment he stood listening. As the final note rang out, the
last of the sun’s body dipped below the horizon and Zuko about fell with the usual snap to his
core energy. It was only the hot hand in his own that kept him standing, even if he felt
disconnected from his own body.

The royals were introduced, one by one, and they bowed to those of the North. Zuko was
more than grateful to his uncle for doing all the talking. He was also grateful to his sister for
nudging him when it was his time to bow. That was something he could do, even if the world
felt so far away. After, they all moved to sit and wait for the next part of the great welcome.

The party began with a loud and terrifying display of waterbending. Rows of benders stood
lined all along the tiered tables so that every person could see some form of the display.
Those at the bottom watched and cheered the newer benders as they worked through the
display with shaky footing and uneven control. As the benders towards the front began, it
was clear that they were masters, and that they were using the display of beauty as a threat
against the firebenders who sat on edge during it all.

Zuko felt frozen. While the waterbenders twisted and froze the ice before him he felt nothing
but fear. It would be so easy for them to weaponize every part of the place. From the walls,
floors, icy windows and even the streets there was nothing but material for them to bend. It
would take seconds, if that, and Zuko knew those attacked may never be found again.

He was to live here, be one of them, and his very element begged to be separate from them.
They were the cold nights, ice and ocean. He was the sun and warmth. What was grandfather
thinking, sending him of all people to do this?

Once the display finished everyone clapped, some more enthusiastic than others. Yue showed
genuine joy and smiled wide towards the fire siblings. Neither clapped, nor did they look
happy with what had been shown. Their uncle loudly cheered for the benders, but the
children looked as though they had been threatened personally. One particular glare for a
certain fiery princess had her blinking in surprise.

“Was it that bad?” She whispered as food started to be passed around.

“It was crystal clear, if that is what you are asking.” Azula huffed and turned her nose up to
the grayish liquid passed before her.

“What do you mean?” Yue looked outward, puzzled.

“We are in your element. One wrong step and fire would meet water, they showed how that
would play to their advantage while here.” Azula grabbed for a sweet smelling dish and
dragged it towards herself without a care.

Her words were registering slowly in Zuko’s mind as his body grew colder. He felt so heavy
as the suns last few rays pulled away any remaining warmth. His brain and body were
becoming sluggish and even the movement of food was hard to focus on. When a large heap
of the sweet smelling stuff was piled onto the plate in front of himself he jumped slightly.
The unexpected movement burned away some of the remaining energy he was desperately
trying to reserve. It was only a matter of time before he would lose his battle against the
moons domain as he felt every muscle twitch send him further into the cold blackness
fogging his mind.

“Prince Zuko?” Yue’s voice was close, yet he dared not glance towards her. The day had
taken a greater toll on his reserved energy than he had thought and he was paying the price
for defying his need for sleep.

“He’s fine. Look, if you are going to be around my brother you need to learn some things.
Crash course, you ready?” Azula huffed and dragged Zuko’s hand up to the table to force a
piece of silverware into his grip.

He would have to thank her later, as he slowly moved to bring spoonfuls of whatever she
placed in front of him to his lips. It took a great deal of focus to repeat the motion, only
continuing as the food fueled the next action and helped prolong the inevitable.

“He looks so cold.”

“He is, usually, and if he is in a cold place he looks like this weird husk of a person. Kinda
creepy, but that’s just Zuzu.” Azula rolled her eyes and shoveled another pile of mystery food
in front of her brother as he moved with single focus.

“He’s asleep?” Yue asked and looked towards Zuko’s open eyes.

“Not quite, but he will be soon. He is kinda in that in between. You all may rise with the
moon, but Zuzu dies without the sun. I’m allowing it this time given that this is a welcome
thing, but after tonight you learn to die with the moon or you keep him away from these late
nights.” Azula shoved a spoonful of meat into her mouth and let her eye twitch.

“Is this every night, or only those with a full moon?” Yue looked to the moon, her eyes soft
as she took in the fullness.

“Most nights. It is especially bad if he has been inside, cold, stressed, or used a lot of fire.”
Azula grabbed for a glass and huffed a puff of smoke as it was pulled out of her reach by an
adult who didn’t so much as look back towards the children.
“That list, that was all just today was it not?” Yue asked.

“Yup.” Azula popped the ‘p’ and moved to shove Zuko’s hand away from his plate. “You ate
everything, dumb dumb. Give me a second and quit moving.”

“‘msorry.” Zuko mumbled as he sat obediently while Azula moved some cake like thing to
take the empty place on his plate.

“You really are good at looking out for your brother.” Yue smiled.

“Yeah, I know. He needs me. That’s why I came. You can’t possibly know just how hard it is
to look after the idiot.”

“No, but I will do my best. Teach me, oh wise one.” Yue giggled.

“Dragon.” Azula said around a mouth full of bread.

“Dragon?”

“Yup! My fire core. It is that of a dragon. I am, therefore, the dragon princess and you will
call me such!” She grinned.

“Not how zat ork.” Zuko muttered, words slurring.

“Shut it, you are sleeping. You know nothing, summers day fire.” Azula huffed and shoved
another too large bite into her mouth.

Yue’s giggles cut through the siblings bicker. “Sorry, just, you two are so cute.”

“Not cute, dangerous.” Azula huffed more smoke and Yue only smiled in response.

“Yes, yes. So scary. Alright, great dragon princess, I promise to protect your summers day. I
do understand what he might be feeling, maybe.” Yue said.

“How could you understand? Even I don’t get it.”

“I do, at least I think I do. He is tethered to the sun like I am to the moon. With the full moon,
like tonight, I find myself full of life and stronger for it. Like the night is where I can truly
live. Come the phases down to the new moon it is like my own energy is drained every day
downward. Once it is a new moon, even standing can be too much as I feel so empty. Without
the moon, I am nothing.” Yue sighed and looked once more to the sky.

“Huh. Weird. A match made by the spirits then. You two can be weird, energy from the
spirits things, together.” Azula rolled her eyes and looked towards her uncle. She had no
doubt he had been listening in, even if he had said nothing.

As the night continued Zuko slowly lost his battle to stay with those around him. The call to
sleep had become a scream and his body stopped obeying his push to move. He was still
listening to what was said but the words became harder to work out. Most of it was nothing
 important, which made it harder to focus. Azula was explaining why he was the way he was
in her own way and then they were talking about the most bizarre things.

He had heard the bit about dragons, which he knew to be Azula’s own fire, but then it moved
to something about spices. That was quickly followed up with a complaint about some drink
that was apparently extremely bitter and salty. From there he caught the word tea, probably
uncle. Something warm was placed in his icy hands and it took a moment for the warmth to
travel through his being.

For a moment, he felt alert and awake. He had glimpsed the moon and thought it beautiful
and far bigger than he had ever seen it before. The next moment he saw nothing but black and
felt so unbelievably heavy. His head had landed on something soft yet firm that tensed as he
leaned further into it. It was warm, whatever it was, and smelt like the warm breeze on the
ship that Zuko had come to enjoy.

Before he could fully slip into nothingness a hot little point latched tight to his shoulder and
he was dragged up and away from the warm ocean breeze. Within seconds he was bent
downwards in an awkward way while his face rested on something a bit too warm to be a
natural heat. Small, warm fingers began working their way a bit too roughly through his hair
and the smell of ash and fire filled his senses. Azula.

He relaxed and sighed as he let himself finally slip into nothingness.

Chapter End Notes

Been awhile! This chapter was tricky as I kept reworking some spots. Might change if I
ever comb through this series later, but here we are.

Let me know any thoughts, feelings, or just say hi!

(I live for comments a bit too much)

 Chapter 15
Chapter Notes

Long time no write.

Sorry for the delay, this story really is a piece that heavily relies on motivation: Of
which I would like to request more of, thank you.

I promise it is not going to be left unfinished!

See the end of the chapter for more notes

The sunrise against the ice reflected in a ray of colors. The glitter of the land was a dazzling
yellow and orange with streaks of pink. All colors grew in strength and intensity as the sun
rose further over the horizon.

It was breathtaking and like a scene from a magical story. The ice glittered like diamonds
scattered through the ever brightening colors and painted the Norther Water Tribe. The
buildings all seemed to glow under the light in whites and yellows. The sun painted the lands
in colors of the spirits dreams and not a single person seemed to care in the slightest at such a
blessed sight.

That was fine. He had been awake for an hour by now, having felt that familiar tug on his
own fire, and was fully willing to soak in this view for all those who missed it. The lands, so
white and cold, looked like they were burning and dancing with new life.

“Thought you’d be up.”

“Lala!” Zuko jumped and spun to face his rooms door. He had made his way to the balcony
the moment he had woken, wanting nothing more than to feel the sun for the first sunrise in
his new home. He had forgotten that he was not the only firebender for a moment while he
was lost in the absolute beauty below.

“Morning to you too, dear brother.” Azula snorted and rolled her eyes as she took his silence
as an okay to enter.

“What are you doing here?” He knew it was a stupid question the moment he asked it and the
look she shot him felt deserved.

“Can’t a sister check on her brother?”

“Not without wanting something.” Zuko said without thought and watched Azula flash him a
knowing grin.
Whatever comment she had wanted to say cut short as the sight of the suns light in the snow
caught her attention. “Whoa.”

“I know, right.” Zuko chuckled and moved to help his sister lean on the railing of his rooms
balcony to get a better view.

“It’s like, an invisible fire. The buildings look like they are burning, but it’s cold! This place
is weird.” Azula said, eyes locked onto the street below that led out towards the center of the
city.

“It’s like a painting, but one by the spirits.” Zuko agreed.

Azula snorted and pinched his arm. “Silly Zuzu, always thinking about weird art stuff.”

A knock on the door had the siblings spinning around. Azula seemed to be more curious than
anything, but Zuko could not help but worry. Was it bad that he had fallen asleep at the
welcome feast? He had not thought about it, the sunrise erasing most thoughts from his head,
but now he felt worry pull all heat towards himself as the door opened.

Princess Yue peeked into the room. Her hair was pulled into a large but loose braid that fell
down her back, a white and blue night gown hidden under a light shawl. Her blue leather
necklace was not out of place with the colors she wore but it still drew Zuko’s attention as he
touched his own. He’d almost forgotten that little bit about yesterday.

“What are you two doing up?” Yue asked around a large yawn that seemed to take her by
surprise. She flushed and Zuko couldn’t help but snort a laugh as he relaxed.

“Sorry if we woke you, princess, you should go back to bed. We don’t have anything till after
breakfast according to the scroll left on my desk.” Zuko said as he helped to lower Azula to
the ground, her pout making him snicker.

“No no, you didn’t wake me. Princess Azula told me you rose with the sun, so I wanted to do
the same and greet you. Did not know just how literal she meant that.” Yue said as she
worked hard to stifle another yawn.

“Firebenders. We are tied to the sun, and to Agni. They give us and our fire energy and life.
When they are awake and in the sky, you’d be hard pressed to find a healthy firebender not
following that pull to wake as well.” Zuko glanced back out towards the rising sun, noting the
purples that were now mixing into the sky.

Yue noticed the siblings inability to look away from the open doors and made her way inside
the room. She looked over the glistening snow with little interest and focused more on the
sky above.

“Looks like snow.” She said around another yawn.

“Snow?” Zuko and Azula both asked.

They turned their attention towards the sky. Zuko noted that there were a good few fluffy
looking clouds but would have assumed them to just make it a cloudy day. Nothing about
their color said storm, or rain, or even that they would not just break apart and disappear.

“Mhmm.” Yue nodded. “Kinda late for snow, but it has been unusually cold the last few days.
Probably won’t add any layers to our area so don’t worry.”

“I hate the cold.” Azula grumbled but watched as the clouds moved lazily together.

“What do you mean ‘layers?’”

“Snow that we will have to move or use. You know, the stuff that makes travel tricky.” Yue
rubbed her face and when she looked over towards the fire siblings she froze. “Wait, do…
does the Fire Nation not have snow?”

“Of course it does!” Azula said.

“Some of the colonies get a good deal of snow from what I have heard from my tutors. It’s
just, we are from Royal Caldera City, and it never snows there.” Zuko corrected.

“You.” Yue paused and looked between them in shock. “You’ve never seen snow.”

“That’s what Zuzu just said. She listens as well as you do, dumb dumb.” Azula turned back to
the open door to watch the sun creep higher.

“I’m sorry, it’s just, I’ve never met someone who has never seen snow. We will have to go
out during! I’ll make sure the others know and we can see it in person instead of behind a
window! If there is one thing I must show you, it’s snow.” Yue grinned wide, she nearly
bounced at the idea of it all.

“What’s so special about snow? It’s just frozen rain.” Azula huffed.

“Oh, but it’s so much more. Trust me.” Yue smiled in earnest and Zuko couldn’t help but
believe everything she said.

“I don’t, Ice Princess. I have no reason to trust you.”

“Ignore her, she’s just a-” Zuko hissed and slapped the hot hand off of his side and glared at
his sister who seemed to find the window curtains fascinating.

“No matter, I’ll see to it that we are outside today either way. You really must see it.”

“If you think it is something we should do, we’d love to go.” Zuko grinned.

“Oh, I do! You two wait here, I’m going to inform father of the change to our afternoon!”
Yue all but sprinted out of the room.

“She’s just as odd as you are.” Azula muttered.

“Be nice, Lala. Is it really that hard?”

Azula hummed a non answer and looked back over the village below. Zuko sighed, suppose
that was answer enough. No matter, he at least had something to look forward to. He knew
Azula was just as curious as he was, even if she did not say as much.

“Do we really have to take the polar bear dogs again?” Zuko groaned as he followed the
group out of the castle.

“They are the fastest, and strong enough to defend in the case of an emergency. So, yes.”
Chief Arnook chuckled.

Zuko groaned again and tried to not let his stomach twist itself into the worlds tightest knot.
They had gotten on these things when he was asleep last time, so he had only just sat there
and slide off to run away after. He had not actually approached the dogs. Now, standing
outside the stables and staring down the beasts that towered over him, he was ready to just
call the whole snow adventure off.

They were stark white, the color of everything around them and it took little imagination to
see them vanishing into the background to hunt. The men around the three massive dogs were
working fast to strap them into harnesses as the dogs snacked on whatever hung in the
buckets. If they were anything like the komodo rhinos, then that snack was all the time those
men had to complete their task.

“I want one!” Azula squealed.

“They would not be happy in the Fire Nation, princess.” Iroh chuckled. “Though I agree that
they are beautiful.”

“And scary.” Zuko added as he watched the dogs snap at each other over a dropped
something. He missed his rhino, Blaze, at least she never tried to eat him.

“Zuzu is just a coward.” Azula said as she danced away from his grab.

“Children, please, you’ll excite the dogs.” Arnook grunted as he pulled one dogs head up and
slipped the harness over its face. The dog gave a whine but nothing more as the man
whispered to the beast.

“They are gentle souls.” Yue said.

Zuko spun to see her enter the stables. She wore a long, deep blue over coat with a white fluff
along any outer openings. Her smile was open and he could not help the grin in return as she
walked to join the siblings.

“That’s no fun.” Azula pouted. “I don’t wanna have one anymore.”

“Alright! Everyone ready? Should be any moment now and the snow will start so we should
try to get to the outer flats quickly.” Arnook said.
Iroh wasted little time scooping Zuko up first, who only squawked a normal amount at the
sudden man handling. With one solid swing, and a guided grab from Arnook, Zuko was
settled into the saddle of the largest dog. The thing had not so much as twitched at the added
weight, and Zuko wondered if it even knew he was there at all.

“Sorry, nephew, you are just the one most likely to back out. Best to get you settled first.”
Iroh said as he moved to scoop up the fire princess next.

“I-I am not!” Zuko shrieked and immediately clammed up at the glare he received from the
dogs.

Azula laughed as she knocked him back with her foot to make room. “You super are. Zuzu
always runs!”

“Do not.” Zuko muttered through the burning feeling of his face.

Once Iroh settled behind the siblings and the dogs were let loose they trudged through the
back part of the city. It looked busy enough, but no one seemed to give them much thought as
they went about their day. Zuko still caught the side glances and swallowed hard regardless.

Once the dogs had cleared the outer gates, however, that slow trudge changed instantly.
Azula squealed in delight as Zuko did not scream, nope, not even a tiny bit. The dogs had
taken all but two steps and broke out into the fastest run Zuko had ever felt. They were being
rocked back and slammed forward with every step, bounding over the icy shelves as if they
were nothing more than a tiny open valley. The city wall had dissolved away in the matter of
minutes as they continued further into the vast nothing.

Princess Yue rode with her father, and both looked like they were moving as one with the
dog. They clearly did not feel like every step was an act to throw them and leave. Zuko had
little time to wonder about that as he clung for his life as the icy snow sprayed him. He
momentarily realized that this was why they had insisted that they all wear gloves, despite the
fact that firebenders were usually warmer.

Just as fast as they had burst into the open run, the dogs abruptly halted. Their claws scrapped
across the ice and it was the fast hands of Iroh that kept the siblings somewhat on the dogs
back. Azula was still a mess of giggles as Zuko worked to un-clench his entire being.

Once he was able to kind of feel his legs he slid off the dog and landed in an ungraceful heap
on the powdery snow. Azula’s snorted laugh followed his struggle out of the cold white
nothing and he sent a glare her way. Iroh only offered a hand to help stand him up and helped
to dust off any lingering snow.

“You alright there, lad?” Arnook chuckled.

“Yep, just fine! Why would I not feel like my worlds still spinning? Not like I was just shook
up like some baby rattle or anything.” Zuko huffed smoke as he dusted the last of the snow
off his pants and froze. “I-I did not mean- I’m so sorry!”
“Rise, child. It is quite alright. I asked a question and you simply answered.” Arnook shared a
questioning glance with Iroh as Zuko rose his head from his bow.

“I don’t…” Zuko scrunched his nose. He had spoken in a disrespectful way towards the
Chief, in front of the princesses, and with his uncle present. Was no one really about to
address that?

“Relax, no harm done.” Arnook said. He took a moment to help Yue to the ground. “Now, we
came here for a reason. Looks like we are right on time.”

Zuko wanted to ask just what that had meant when something white floated past his face. It
had looked like a flake from a campfire, but there was no warmth in the air to be felt. Instead,
more of the ghostly white flecks of cold floated down and Zuko’s head snapped up to look
towards the gray sky.

Snow. Real snow. Small, perfect flakes of frozen ice yet they were white and not clear.

Zuko watched as Azula slid from the dog to land on her feet beside him as she too watched
the sky. Her face was scrunched as she tucked closer to Zuko as if she did not trust the falling
water for a second.

Zuko, however, ripped off his gloves and held his palms out as he tried to catch the little
beads. They fell through his spread fingers as if they knew he was there. In ways that rain
never would. Like they were alive. The ones that landed on his hands weighed nothing. They
were not even wet until they eventually melted with his normal body heat.

Zuko breathed out a long breath, and heated the space around them. Azula had purred happily
at the heat and moved away from his front on reflex as she continued to glare at the falling
white. He slowly pulled the heat from his hands, starting with his fingertips, to make them as
cold as he could. The flakes that had once ignored his hands slowly settled against his skin
like glittering crystals.

“How’d you do that?” Yue asked.

Zuko jumped and stuffed his hands under his arms as he crossed them tight to his chest. He
flushed, heat pulsed into the open air, and looked to the princess standing far closer than he
had thought. She was staring at where his hands had been still and looked almost sad that
they were hidden away.

“Wh-what do you mean?” Zuko stuttered.

“The flakes. How did you catch them?” She asked. “I’ve only ever seen them catch on
clothes and fur before. How’d you do it?”

“I, uhm, I don’t know.”

“Liar.” Azula snickered.

“Shut up.” Zuko hissed before he caught Yue’s sad look and sighed. “I can, sometimes,
control my body temperature. Figured that snow liked cold surfaces so I tried to make one.”
“Really? That sounds amazing.” Yue smiled wide and reached to tug at Zuko’s arms. “Do it
again?”

“I shouldn’t-” Zuko started to object but froze at seeing just how sad that rejection had made
the snow princess.

With a deep sigh he slowly let her unfold his arms and placed his hands, palms up, into her
own gloved ones. He took in a few deep breaths and pulled the heat once more from his
fingers inward. Within seconds the falling flakes gathered over them. They grouped up far
more than they first had as the snow became heavier.

“Wow. I’ve never seen anything like this before.” Yue bent closer to the hands to observe
each flake.

“Well, I’ve never seen snow before. At least I could show you something new in return.”
Zuko said and smiled. The princess had flushed slightly, but that was easily the result of the
ride they had taken to get there, and returned the smile.

“Yeah, yeah. All nice and fun. Pretty. Are we done yet? I’m cooooold.” Azula moaned. She
kicked at the loose snow that had gathered around her boots.

“Lala, we just got here-”

“Cooooooooooold!”

“You could firebend and just-”

“CoOoOoOLD. Zuzuuuuuu!” Azula sniffled and stomped a foot.

Zuko sighed and flashed Yue an apologetic smile. He knew that they would not last outside
much longer. Honestly, he was surprised how long Azula had lasted to begin with. She had
not liked the cold, and this was just standing in nothing but falling bits of it.

“We will go in on one condition.” Yue said as she dropped Zuko’s hands.

Azula glared at the other princess but waited. Her slight shiver was the only indication of
how ready she was to object.

“You must catch a snowflake.”

“What? Zuzu caught, like, a bazillion! Not fair!” Azula whined and kicked again.

“Not with your hands, no. I mean you must catch one on your tongue. Everyone must catch a
flake at least once, or it was not a proper first snow!”

“Princess Yue is right, you know.” Iroh chuckled and opened his own mouth. He stuck out his
tongue, moved around like a weird baby bird, and caught a flake.

Azula stared at her uncle in clear horror as she watched him. “No way. I’m not doing that.”
 “Hm, then I guess you don’t wanna go back.” Yue chuckled and stuck out her tongue. She
had not had to do the baby bird bob that uncle had to catch a flake, and it melted instantly.

“Is it really a rule?” Zuko asked.

“Unwritten, but yes.” Arnook chuckled.

Zuko shrugged and nudged his sister. “Together. Then we can go back to the castle.”

“No!”

“That or you freeze.”

“NooOoOOooo.”

“Lala, just one.”

Azula scrunched up her face, ready to argue.

“And I will carry you any time you ask for the next day.” Zuko added and watched his sisters
mouth snap shut. Her little mind mulled that bit over and the huff of smoke was answer
enough.

Together they tipped there heads back, opened their mouths, and let their tongue hang out like
no proper royal ever should in good company. Zuko had thought the flakes would have been
easy to catch, but they turned out to avoid his tongue like something dangerous. Instead, he
was getting pelted in the face. Some even went into his eyes! At his sisters growl, he knew
she too was having the same struggle.

With a quick change in tactic, Zuko moved to try and catch one only to have it move like a
polar opposite magnet. Azula had resorted to biting the air at times and squealed loudly when
she finally ‘caught’ one. Zuko pulled the heat from his tongue, quickly caught a few, and
smiled wide at his sisters victory hops.

Once they had finished catching at least a dozen more, Azula finding the ‘death of the evil
cold things’ to be far more entertaining than just watching, they packed up. The run back was
bitter cold but the snow continued to fall and Zuko felt more at peace than he had since he
left his cozy little turtleduck pond.

Chapter End Notes

First snow!! Loved the idea that this was something the fire kiddo's have never seen
before.

Let me know your thoughts! I'd love to hear from you all <3
Please drop by the Archive and comment to let the creator know if you enjoyed their work!