(no subject)
Title:The Women Who Hold the Earth
Part: 5/5
Rating: K+
Characters: Fire Nation, Earth Kingdom ensemble, originals
Summary: In which life moves inevitably on.
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4
--
They introduced him as Regent, meant to rule until the Earth King returned from his extended vacation with his bear. The generals and the courtiers all looked flustered, but with the thirteen wives standing regally beside him and the Dai Li lurking in the corners of the throne room, they bowed and greeted him as ruler of Ba Sing Se.
“It’s just to manage the daily details,” the courtiers assured each other, smiling easily, “those troublesome little decisions. Life must go on, bear or no.”
“He was a soldier himself,” the generals mused thoughtfully, “he could do no worse concerning the war effort than the Earth King.”
Iroh sat on the throne smiling benignly. Once upon a time, he would have given anything to be in this position. And now, after he had given everything up, all he had wanted was handed to him on a silver platter.
“Ba Sing Se,” he chuckled under his breath. The city that had destroyed him now gave him new hope. It was a most mysterious place.
Then he looked over to where the thirteenth wife stood. She still looked pale and slightly weak so Iroh signaled her over; it was with an appreciative smile that she sank to kneel beside the throne.
“Are you sure you don’t want to go rest?” he asked kindly.
“It’s more important that I’m seen here,” she replied. “And really, it’s not so bad. Prince Zuko knew what he was doing.”
“He surprised me too,” Iroh admitted. “My nephew was never good at deception.”
“It took some practice,” Sun Lee agreed with a small laugh.
“But I think he’ll be all right,” Iroh speculated, hoping he wasn’t getting ahead of himself. Agni knew Zuko had his faults, but the boy was learning, he was trying - his future wasn’t so bleak at all.
“So what now?” Iroh said briskly. “We send messages to your husband and the Avatar, telling them to return, and then there’s still the matter of the Fire Nation…”
“I’m sorry, we can’t advise you there,” Sun Lee apologized. “The business of war belongs to you men. But we trust that you know the proper way of doing it. If not, we’ll tell you.”
She smiled knowingly at him and patted his arm, then returned to join the other wives in socializing. Iroh resisted the urge to laugh out loud.
These tiny fragile women, he thought, watching them circle the court. They were so lovely and soft and charming, with the world in their hands.
--
Mai woke up smelling cold salt and hot sand and something strangely smoky. Turning over, she found herself pressed against Prince Zuko, and she froze. She could wait and see his reaction upon waking; it would provide her with a few moments entertainment. Or she could move away before Azula woke and avoid the imminent devious plot that would certainly ensnare her and Zuko later.
Mai rolled away and sat up, brushing sand off her sleeves. They were already neck deep in plots, she didn’t want to deal with another one.
“Huh? Are we at the beach?” Ty Lee yawned, sliding to her feet. She looked around, blinking blearily. “What happened after the sleepy powder bomb went off?”
“Don’t ask useless questions,” Mai sighed.
Azula and Zuko woke up at the same time, the princess immediately assessing their situation, the prince looking slightly bewildered and hurt.
“I can’t believe this,” Zuko mumbled. “He never even cared, just went and restored his own honor. I can’t go home like this.”
“Uncle betrayed us both, Zuko,” Azula said sympathetically, taking a moment to place a hand on her brother’s back. “We’re in this together. Don’t worry, things will be okay.”
Mai looked down the beach to avoid the touching scene. Azula being kind was just unnatural and gave Mai chills. And she didn’t need to see to know Zuko was eating it all up. Sometimes, Mai wondered what she had ever seen in the prince.
While she was ignoring, Mai noticed something else. Behind a nearby outcropping of rocks were the edge of a red pennant and a corner of cold red steel - the beginnings of the Fire Nation fleet.
“Oh look, our reinforcements have arrived.”
Even as she spoke, men in Fire Nation armor were tromping towards them. Mai glanced at Azula, waiting for her directions.
The princess seemed to be drawing herself up to face the men, Mai blinked in surprise. She had never known Azula to balk at addressing the army; Azula swept through the ranks like a scythe through a wheat field. It seemed Ba Sing Se had unnerved the princess more than she would ever admit.
“Well, let’s go,” Azula ordered, starting across the sand with her head held high. Zuko followed, with Ty Lee trotting alongside.
Mai paused. They were four teenagers without the city they had promised to capture, the only thing that awaited them was a fast voyage home, and home was boring.
But now there was Zuko. And between him and Azula, sparks would definitely be flying.
Mai felt a smile flit across her lips as she caught up with the others, falling in place on Zuko’s other side.
Part: 5/5
Rating: K+
Characters: Fire Nation, Earth Kingdom ensemble, originals
Summary: In which life moves inevitably on.
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4
--
They introduced him as Regent, meant to rule until the Earth King returned from his extended vacation with his bear. The generals and the courtiers all looked flustered, but with the thirteen wives standing regally beside him and the Dai Li lurking in the corners of the throne room, they bowed and greeted him as ruler of Ba Sing Se.
“It’s just to manage the daily details,” the courtiers assured each other, smiling easily, “those troublesome little decisions. Life must go on, bear or no.”
“He was a soldier himself,” the generals mused thoughtfully, “he could do no worse concerning the war effort than the Earth King.”
Iroh sat on the throne smiling benignly. Once upon a time, he would have given anything to be in this position. And now, after he had given everything up, all he had wanted was handed to him on a silver platter.
“Ba Sing Se,” he chuckled under his breath. The city that had destroyed him now gave him new hope. It was a most mysterious place.
Then he looked over to where the thirteenth wife stood. She still looked pale and slightly weak so Iroh signaled her over; it was with an appreciative smile that she sank to kneel beside the throne.
“Are you sure you don’t want to go rest?” he asked kindly.
“It’s more important that I’m seen here,” she replied. “And really, it’s not so bad. Prince Zuko knew what he was doing.”
“He surprised me too,” Iroh admitted. “My nephew was never good at deception.”
“It took some practice,” Sun Lee agreed with a small laugh.
“But I think he’ll be all right,” Iroh speculated, hoping he wasn’t getting ahead of himself. Agni knew Zuko had his faults, but the boy was learning, he was trying - his future wasn’t so bleak at all.
“So what now?” Iroh said briskly. “We send messages to your husband and the Avatar, telling them to return, and then there’s still the matter of the Fire Nation…”
“I’m sorry, we can’t advise you there,” Sun Lee apologized. “The business of war belongs to you men. But we trust that you know the proper way of doing it. If not, we’ll tell you.”
She smiled knowingly at him and patted his arm, then returned to join the other wives in socializing. Iroh resisted the urge to laugh out loud.
These tiny fragile women, he thought, watching them circle the court. They were so lovely and soft and charming, with the world in their hands.
--
Mai woke up smelling cold salt and hot sand and something strangely smoky. Turning over, she found herself pressed against Prince Zuko, and she froze. She could wait and see his reaction upon waking; it would provide her with a few moments entertainment. Or she could move away before Azula woke and avoid the imminent devious plot that would certainly ensnare her and Zuko later.
Mai rolled away and sat up, brushing sand off her sleeves. They were already neck deep in plots, she didn’t want to deal with another one.
“Huh? Are we at the beach?” Ty Lee yawned, sliding to her feet. She looked around, blinking blearily. “What happened after the sleepy powder bomb went off?”
“Don’t ask useless questions,” Mai sighed.
Azula and Zuko woke up at the same time, the princess immediately assessing their situation, the prince looking slightly bewildered and hurt.
“I can’t believe this,” Zuko mumbled. “He never even cared, just went and restored his own honor. I can’t go home like this.”
“Uncle betrayed us both, Zuko,” Azula said sympathetically, taking a moment to place a hand on her brother’s back. “We’re in this together. Don’t worry, things will be okay.”
Mai looked down the beach to avoid the touching scene. Azula being kind was just unnatural and gave Mai chills. And she didn’t need to see to know Zuko was eating it all up. Sometimes, Mai wondered what she had ever seen in the prince.
While she was ignoring, Mai noticed something else. Behind a nearby outcropping of rocks were the edge of a red pennant and a corner of cold red steel - the beginnings of the Fire Nation fleet.
“Oh look, our reinforcements have arrived.”
Even as she spoke, men in Fire Nation armor were tromping towards them. Mai glanced at Azula, waiting for her directions.
The princess seemed to be drawing herself up to face the men, Mai blinked in surprise. She had never known Azula to balk at addressing the army; Azula swept through the ranks like a scythe through a wheat field. It seemed Ba Sing Se had unnerved the princess more than she would ever admit.
“Well, let’s go,” Azula ordered, starting across the sand with her head held high. Zuko followed, with Ty Lee trotting alongside.
Mai paused. They were four teenagers without the city they had promised to capture, the only thing that awaited them was a fast voyage home, and home was boring.
But now there was Zuko. And between him and Azula, sparks would definitely be flying.
Mai felt a smile flit across her lips as she caught up with the others, falling in place on Zuko’s other side.