Freezing Lightning

By

Dragon Jadefire

Chapter 1: Hail, Fire Lord Zuko

Me: My latest drabble once again inspired me to write another story. This one is rated M for obvious reasons, plus I’ll through in some smut. It’s going to be very good, and my first time exploring Zuko’s darker side. Let see how it turns out.

---

Ozai toward over the boy, “You failed Avatar. I won,” the Fire Lord said. Aang looked up at Ozai, rage and pain in his eyes. “The world’s only hope, a twelve-year-old boy,” Ozai cackled. “Fails to defeat me! The most powerful man in the world!” Ozai grabbed the Avatar. “I won’t kill you, no, I still see the importance of the Avatar. No, what I’ll do is keep you alive, just barely,” Ozai dropped the boy. “Guards! Take him to the Forgotten Chambers,” Ozai ordered. The guards came, and grabbed Aang. The boy didn’t even protest as he was dragged away.

“Aang! Aang!” Katara screamed, trying to pull free of Zuko, but the airbender didn’t look up, his spirit was broken. Ozai gave a cold laugh.

“I see that you love him,” the Fire Lord mused.

“I care about him, yes!” Katara said, gave a defiant look at the Fire Lord as he walked towards her.

“I see you have much fire in you,” Ozai purred. “Which is strange for one of the Water Tribe,” he smirked. “You will warm my bed very well,” he whispered.

“Don’t worry, I’ll get you out of here,” Zuko hissed into Katara’s ear. “Just don’t waterbend otherwise he’ll kill you,” he added, allowing his father to take the girl. Katara looked back at Zuko, but the prince didn’t glance back at her. Katara was dragged off with Ozai.

---

Sokka looked at the palace. He didn’t know if they had won or not. He turned to Toph. “Do you think we won?” he asked. The blind girl shrugged. “I wish we knew if we won,” he grumbled. Momo came flying towards them. “Momo!” Sokka held out his arm for the lemur to land on. Momo landed and looked down at the ground. “What’s wrong Momo?” the warrior asked. Momo made a sad sound. “We…we…we lost?” Sokka stuttered. Momo nodded. Sokka felt his blood run cold.

“Sokka?” Toph asked.

“We better get out of here,” Sokka said, grabbing Toph’s wrist and running to Appa. They got on the giant bison.

“What about Katara?” Toph asked.

“We’ll worry about that later, right now, we need to get out of here before we’re killed,” Sokka said, watching Toph grab on to the railing. “Appa, yip-yip,” Sokka snapped the reins and the bison took off.

“I…I can’t believe it,” Toph whispered as they soared through the clouds. “We lost, after everything we did, we couldn’t defeat the Fire Lord.”

“Yeah,” Sokka said.

“Sokka, what…what do you think they’ll do with Aang?” Toph asked. Sokka wasn’t stupid; he knew that Toph and Aang had a special bond between them. He couldn’t crush the girl. “Sokka?” Toph called out.

“I don’t know Toph. I really don’t know,” he said softly. Toph nodded, feeling tears run down her face.

“Where are we going?” she asked. Sokka sighed, there were really only a few places left that weren’t controlled by the Fire Nation. The abandoned Air Temples and the Water Tribes; Sokka didn’t think it was wise to bring Toph to the Water Tribes. “The Southern Air Temple,” he said.

“Okay,” Toph muttered.

“I’m going to drop you off, before running back down to the Southern Water Tribe to pick up some supplies, okay?” Sokka said.

“That’s fine,” Toph voice was sad. Sokka sighed; he guessed that they were still trying to cope with the fact that they lost.

“Don’t worry Toph, everything will be alright,” Sokka said, trying to think positively. Toph just sighed as they flew.

---

Aang looked around him, as the soldiers led him into the dungeons. He was amazed at how large the dungeons were. He vaguely wondered which cell he was going to get. They went deeper into the dungeons until they came to a metal door. One soldier took out a ring of keys, and stuck one key into the keyhole. The door was yanked opened, making a horrid screeching sound. Aang was hit with the noxious smell of human wastes, rotting flesh, and insanity.

“What is this place?” he whispered.

“The Forgotten Chambers,” a guard told him.

“The Forgotten Chambers?” Aang gasped, as the guards dragged him into the dark opening.

“Yep,” the man answered. “A huge labyrinth of cells, you can get lost in here. Most of the time we forget about them, hence the name, the Forgotten Chambers,” the man looked at the Avatar. “Don’t worry,” he said as one of his fellows opened up a cell, “we’ll try not to forget about you.” He tossed Aang into it, while another guard chained Aang. “Enjoy your stay,” the man said as he shut the door. Aang heard them laugh cruelly. He listened to their boots scrap the floor and the whining screech of the door being slammed shut and locked.

Darkness engulfed Aang like a thick cold blanket. It was deathly silent, almost like a crypt. Aang sighed, fear slowly fading away from him. Suddenly, he heard a scream. He jumped, as he listened to the scream. It came from the depths of the chambers. It sounded insane and tormented.

“The darkness,” came a whisper. Aang looked around, seeing nobody, he made a small flame in his palm. He saw grey white bones in his cell as well as a small pile of rotting straw, a dusty water pool and a pile of smelly stuff that he didn’t want to think about. Slowly, he crept to the door of his cell. He peered out and saw a man.

The man was thin as a skeleton. His skin pale yellow, his green eyes were sunk deep into his skull, and the skin was stretched across his face. He wore rags, which were too big for his skeletal frame. His beard was long and white. He coughed, and it was ragged and wet.

“Were you talking to me?” Aang asked. The man nodded.

“The darkness,” the man croaked. “The darkness makes you go mad. That lack of food,” the man shook his head. “That you can deal with, but not the darkness. Men aren’t meant to be in darkness forever. It makes them crazy, it’ll make you crazy,” the man gave a gaped tooth grin at Aang. “It made me crazy. Mad crazy. Until your mind breaks. Can’t put it back together, no,” he shook his head. “You will go insane! At first, you think that death would be better than this, you long for death. Death will bring you freedom,” the man shook his head. “Then you realize that death won’t do you no damn good. You’ll be dead and it’ll bring you no freedom, only more darkness, only more cold,” the man coughed. “After awhile the cold gets to you. You long for the warm of the sun, you try everything to get warm, but nothing works, for the cold just seeps into your bones then into your mind!” the man gave an insane grin. “Then after that, you go mad. The darkness, the cold, the hunger and the thirst…it breaks ya. You forget you were human, you turn into an animal, doing anything to survive,” the man said.

“I’m sure it’s not that bad,” Aang said. The man laughed.

“Heehee, you have spunk kid. Last time I was fed, I bit the guard’s finger off, and ate the flesh until the bone was clean, before suckin’ the marrow out of his bone,” the man pulled out something from his rags. He opened his hand to show Aang a finger. “Kept it, so next time he comes, I’ll give him back his finger,” the man coughed as he laughed.

“I won’t go mad, I am the Avatar,” Aang said. The man gave a wheezy laugh.

“An airbender, heehee,” the man looked at him. “I think we have a few of them,” the man wiped his nose on the back of his bony hand. “Down in the deeper parts. ‘Em airbenders have the most haunting wails. Don’t know how they survived a hundred years in here,” the man looked at Aang. “But, I hear the guards talk about them. They call them wraiths. They like to scare the guards that bring them food, now and then. Use their airbending and give wailing screams,” the man cackled. “Made one guy shit himself,” the man laughed.

“I doubt that’s true, I am the last airbender,” Aang said.

“Oh, its true, but the guards won’t tell no one. They’re airbenders all right, but they don’t look like airbenders no more,” the man looked at Aang. “They changed.”

“If you say so,” Aang walked deeper into his cell. He sat down and killed the flame. He sighed and tried to block out the screams.

---

Azula rolled up the scroll and looked at Mai and Ty Lee. “It appears that my father was victorious in his battle against the Avatar,” the princess said. “We now have control over the world,” Azula smirked at her two friends.

“What about the Water Tribes?” Mai asked.

“What about them?” Azula turned to Mai.

“We haven’t conquered them yet,” Mai said.

“My father doesn’t care about the Water Tribes. They have no valuable land, just artic wasteland. Besides, they pose no real threat to the Fire Empire. The only Water Tribe that is able to attempt anything is the Northern Tribe, but they aren’t fully recovered from the failed attack by Admiral Zhao,” Azula smirked. “And the Southern Tribe is almost dead anyways. The Foggy Swamp Tribe has no desire to face the Fire Empire,” Azula said.

“What does Fire Lord Ozai want us to do?” Ty Lee asked.

“He wants me to return to the capital, while you two stay here and hold Ba Sing Se,” Azula frowned. Ty Lee and Mai both looked at each other. “I really don’t like the name Ba Sing Se. It sounds too…barbaric, too much like the former Earth Kingdom. I think I’ll rename it,” Azula said and stood up. “From this day onwards, there is no more, Ba Sing Se,” she looked around. “I’m renaming it in honor of my grandfather, the city of New Azulon,” she said. The Dai Li nodded. “Now that that is done, I think I’ll go pack,” Azula left. Mai and Ty Lee shrugged.

---

Katara whimpered, as she lay spread-eagle on Ozai’s gigantic bed. She was chained down to the bed, only in her underclothes. She was afraid to wonder what was going to happen to her. The door opened and in walked, Ozai. He was only in a pair of thin grey pants, and it was hard not to miss the bulge in the groin area. He was aroused and ready for her. Katara whimpered. “Don’t be frighten,” he purred as he crawled onto the bed. “I’m not going to hurt you,” he stroked her face delicately. Katara shivered. It was like being petted by a demon. Ozai’s other hand trailed down her body until it met her legs. He rubbed the inside of her thigh with his thumb. Katara whimpered softly. “You don’t know how lucky you are,” he whispered into her ear, his hot moist breath coating her earlobe. “The girls in my harem would kill to have a chance to lay with me for a night, to have me inside them. Even my late wife enjoyed it. She would moan and scream out my name, when I entered her tight warm tunnel,” Ozai kissed Katara’s cheek.

“Please let me go,” Katara whispered.

“And miss a chance to be with you? No,” Ozai shook his head as his fingers unwrapped her breast bindings. “Why are you so scared?” Ozai asked.

“Please, just let me go,” Katara whispered.

“No. I was my son’s age when I bedded my first woman. She was also your age. Royalty here were betrothed at twelve, and married at fourteen, at least the women,” Ozai tossed the white linen aside. “Such nice little breasts you have,” Ozai looked at her quizzically.

“Katara,” the girl whispered. Ozai smiled, though it would make even Azula run away in fear.

“Katara, what a sweet name,” he kissed her neck, sucking on her mocha skin. “For such a sweet girl,” he purred, his other hand was still on her thigh, and his thumb still stroked the soft flesh there.

“Please, stop.” Katara whispered.

“My late wife didn’t tell me to stop when we shared our first marriage bed,” Ozai said.

“But I’m not your wife,” Katara pointed out.

“You’re right, you’re not my wife,” Ozai looked at her. “You are my concubine,” he said.

“I’m not your whore!” Katara snarled. Ozai slapped her.

“Of course not little girl. You are my concubine,” Ozai smirked. “A pleasure slave,” he whispered. Katara’s eyes widened. “Now, be a good little girl,” he said and lowered his head to her breasts. He kissed them and Katara moaned softly. Ozai smirked. “Feels good, eh?” he asked. Katara didn’t say anything. “Answer me,” he whispered. Still Katara didn’t answer him. “Answer me!” he slapped her.

“Yes!” she cried out, whimpering softly. Ozai nodded.

“That’s more like it,” he said. “You’ll soon learn that I’m a very generous man. As long as you obey me, I’ll treat you well, disobey me and you may end up like my worthless son,” Ozai stroked Katara’s face. “Don’t make me hurt you Katara,” he purred. “I don’t want to mar that pretty face of yours, but I will if you don’t obey me,” he said. He grabbed a key and unlocked one of the shackles on her wrists. He grabbed her slim wrist and though she protested and struggled, he pulled her hand down to his groin, resting it on the lump there. Katara looked up at him with horror and surprise, a faint blush on her cheeks. Ozai smirked, and kept her hand there for a few more seconds before putting it back in the shackle.

“Please, I’ll do anything! Anything! Just let me go! Don’t take my honor!” Katara begged, squirming.

“Your begs and pleas won’t work Katara. Just ask my son. He begged me for mercy, to spare him, when he outwardly disrespected me. I didn’t give it to him; instead, I gave him what he justly deserved. Punishment,” Ozai pulled off Katara’s underwear and tossed it to the side.

“You…you gave Zuko his scar?” Katara asked in surprise.

“I’m surprise he hasn’t told you the history behind his mark,” Ozai smirked. “Besides, I’m taking what I rightly deserve. You are nothing more than the sweet spoils of war,” Ozai said.

“You bloody bastard!” Katara said.

“Such fire for a waterbender,” Ozai chuckled darkly. Katara spat in his face. Ozai frowned as he wiped the girl’s spit from his face, before slapping her three times. “You little bitch! I was going to go easy on you tonight, but I changed my mind. I’m going to use you long and hard, so by tomorrow your body will ach and the area between your legs were be painfully sore,” Ozai snarled.

“Go to hell!” Katara screamed. Ozai slapped her again, before getting off the bed.

“I tried to give you a chance,” he looked at her with mock sadness. “I told you, I was a generous man.”

“That is a bloody lie! You scarred and banished your own son!” Katara looked at him with hatred. “You are not a generous man, you are a monster!” Katara screamed.

Ozai shrugged. “He was a worthless weakling,” Ozai said, seconds before blood squirted out of his throat, spraying Katara. He gurgled in his own blood as he sank to his knees. The killed straggled Ozai, before bending down and stabbing the bloodied knife into the dying man’s heart.

Katara looked at the assassin, as he wiped the knife on Ozai’s pant leg. “I was a worthless weakling, huh?” the man said, before turning to Katara.

“Zuko?” Katara whispered.

“I told you, I’d come and get you,” he gave her a small smile, as he picked up her underclothes. He walked over to her and pulled out a soft cloth. Gently, he wiped his father’s blood from her body, before unchaining her. “Put your clothes on, but stay here,” he said. Katara nodded and put on her undergarments.

“Where’s my dress?” she asked.

“I don’t know, but that’ll do for now,” he said, walking back to his father’s corpse. Zuko knelt by his father, muttering as he closed the dead man’s eyes. He then took the knife and put it back into the hole in the dead Fire Lord’s heart. Somehow, Zuko was able to wrap Ozai’s fingers around the knife’s hilt. “Can you heal the throat wound?” Zuko asked. Katara nodded and Zuko got her a small amount of water. The girl healed Ozai’s throat wound. “Now, when the guards finally come, they’ll think my father killed himself,” Zuko said. He looked at Katara.

“Can I go?” she asked. He shook his head. “Why not?” she asked.

“Because,” he grabbed her wrists, slipping something cold and metallic onto them. “You are my slave,” he said.

“I’m not going to be your concubine!” she screamed.

“I didn’t say that,” he whispered. “I have no desire to make you my concubine,” he smirked. “Not yet at least. You are just my personal servant. Cleaning my quarters, laying out my clothes, bringing me my meals, washing me sometimes, and washing my clothes,” Zuko shrugged. “You’ll have a nice little mat to sleep on next to my bed,” Zuko said. “You will eat well and be taken good care of,” he looked at her before kneeling down and putting slave anklets on her ankles. “These anklets and bracelets have my crest on them, they mark you as mine and mine alone. You only take orders from me or a senior slave under my command,” Zuko said.

“I thought you were my friend!” she screamed. “I thought you changed!”

“I have changed,” he patted her cheek. “And no waterbending,” he said.

“Or what?” she asked.

“I’ll give you Jala’s Bane. Pure Jala’s Bane, actually. It’ll block your bending permanently,” Zuko shrugged. “But, if you behave and obey me. I’ll take you to the pond in the gardens and allow you to waterbend now and again,” Zuko said. “Does that seem fair?” he asked.

“Yes, it seems fair.” Katara muttered darkly. “What about my freedom?” she asked. “When do I get that?”

“Never. You won’t get your freedom. You are a slave. Only death will bring you freedom,” Zuko said, picking up the crown, the guards walked in.

“He’s dead,” they pointed to Ozai.

“Yes, my father killed himself. I don’t know why, and I doubt the girl knows either,” Zuko gave Katara a cold look. Katara hung her head and lowered her eyes. “I’m the new Fire Lord, since I am my father’s eldest and only male child, I am his legal heir,” Zuko said.

“Yes, Fire Lord,” the guards muttered.

“Tell the High Sage, that my coronation will be tomorrow at dawn,” Zuko looked at them. Their eyes fell to Katara. “This is Katara, my personal servant. You will treat her with respect and obey her for she works for me and her tongue gives voice to my command, and my word is law,” Zuko said. “Any questions?” he asked.

“No, m’lord,” the leader of the guards said.

“Very well, remove this body and get a few maids to clean this room, I’ll be retiring to my old suite,” he said, walking to the door. “Come Katara,” he ordered. Katara squeaked and trotted after the new Fire Lord.

---

They were nearing his old room, when he turned and looked at her. “You are a slave now, you must never raise your head. Never look into the eyes of a freeborn, and never raise your eyes higher than their ankles or knees, you are to be submissive and docile and emotionless, any display of emotion will bring you a swift punishment,” Zuko looked at her. She already had her head down and he knew she was frightened. He gave a small smile, as he raised her chin. Her eyes looked at anything but him. “Look at me Katara,” he ordered. She obeyed and stared him in the eyes. “I know you’re scared, but trust me. I’m a kinder man than my father,” he said before placing a chaste kiss on her lips, before continuing with a brisk walk towards his room.

Katara stared at the room. It was dusty but well kept. Zuko opened his closet and pulled out two pairs of pants, one for himself and the other for Katara. He also pulled out two shirts, and two sashes. “These are for you, for now, tomorrow you’ll get your actually attire,” he said handing her the clothing. She swiftly put them on.

“Don’t I get shoes?” she asked.

“Slaves don’t get shoes, at least the ones that work in the palace. The slaves that work outside the palace, like the stable slaves, they get reed sandals,” Zuko said, as he changed clothes.

“Those people in white…who are they?” she asked.

“Freeborn servants, they aren’t slaves. They chose to work in the palace. They do the things that slaves aren’t allowed to do, like cook meals and change the bed linen and wash the clothes,” Zuko said, opening another closet.

“Do I have to taste test your food and drink?” she asked.

“No,” he chuckled. “That’s for another set of slaves. Though if an assassin comes at night, you are expected to defend me,” Zuko said.

“How can I if I can’t waterbend?” she asked.

“There is always a pitcher of water in my room. That should be enough for you to defeat an assassin,” he said. “Don’t get any ideas though,” he warned, pulling out a bamboo mat. He laid it down at the side of his bed before pulling out a blanket. “That’s your bed,” he pointed to it.

“No pillow?” she looked at him.

“Slaves don’t get the luxury of a pillow, even the personal ones. Just a bamboo mat and a blanket,” he said crawling into bed.

“What if I get cold at night? Can I have an extra blanket?” she asked.

“No, that’s all you get. One blanket and one bamboo mat,” he said. “Though the concubines do get the luxury of a futon, if they are high in rank that is,” he added, watching Katara lay down on the mat.

“Won’t I get stiff?” she asked.

“You’ll get use to it soon enough,” he told her. “Now, go to sleep,” he said. Katara sighed as she pulled the blanket up around her shoulders. In didn’t even cover her entire body and her feet were cold. No matter how tight she curled up into a ball, the blanket wouldn’t cover her feet. She sighed and gently shook Zuko. “What?” he growled.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered.

“I wasn’t asleep,” he said.

“I was just wondering, if I could have a bigger blanket, this one doesn’t cover me all the way,” she said.

“No. That’s a typical slave’s blanket. Most slaves are happy to have a blanket anyways and would kill others for a blanket if they don’t have one. Be happy that you are one of the lucky ones,” he said. “Besides it doesn’t get that cold in the Fire Nation,” he mumbled. Katara sighed and lay back down on her mat. She tried to think of something positive, but could only come up with the fact that Zuko saved her from being raped by Ozai.

---

Katara somehow was able to fall asleep, and wasn’t really happy when a timid girl around Aang’s age looked at her. She held a candle, and wore slave bracelets. Her green eyes told Katara she was from the Earth Kingdom. “I’m sorry to wake you miss, but Lord Zuko wants his coronation to happen at dawn. Its about five hours from sunrise, and it takes that long to get him ready, you need to wake him,” the girl whispered.

“Why?” Katara asked.

“You are his personal servant, its your job to wake him,” the girl said.

“Why can’t you wake him?” Katara asked.

“Because, that’s not my job, and besides, I wouldn’t want to befoul the Fire Lord. Only you are pure enough, as a slave, to touch him,” the girl muttered.

“Then what are you doing here?” Katara asked.

“I was told by Old Mama to wake you,” the girl said.

“Who’s Old Mama?” Katara was confused.

“No more questions, just do as your told,” the girl said.

“And if I don’t?” Katara asked.

“The Fire Lord may beat you himself or he’ll have Old Mama do it. I don’t know which is worse, a beating by the Fire Lord or a beating by Old Mama. Besides, a beating isn’t the only punishment you’ll get for disobeying or ignoring an order. They won’t feed you for a day and they may even take away your blanket or your mat or both!” the girl glanced around. “No more questions,” she hissed before leaving the room. Katara yawned and stretched. She stood up and folded her blanket and laid it neatly on the mat. She then looked at Zuko. Sighing, she gently touched his shoulder. He woke suddenly.

“What?” he growled.

“Its time to get up,” Katara whispered. “You want your coronation at dawn, you have to get up now so you can get ready for it,” Katara said. Zuko nodded shooing her away. Katara backed up. Zuko yawned and stretched, getting out of bed.

“Follow me,” he said. Katara did. She helped him get dress in a lavish kimono. The kimono was a bright red silk with golden edges and dragons embroidered with golden thread. The claws and fangs of the dragons were pearl, while the eyes of the dragons were tiny rubies. The kimono was beautiful. The girl that woke Katara came back, Katara learned her name was Chen, and she helped Katara tie the complex obi. She also helped Katara paint Zuko’s face. When Katara asked why, Chen said it was tradition. Zuko’s hair proved to be more of a challenge. It was barely long enough for a good topknot, but the two girls somehow managed to make his hair cooperate and bend to their command. Afterwards, Chen ran out and she soon came back, beckoning Katara to lead Zuko out of the room.

Katara was surprise to see a sedan chair waiting for him. “Nobody must see the face of the Fire Lord as he makes his way to the coronation,” Chen hissed, pulling back the silk curtains. Zuko stepped in and sat down. Chen allowed the curtain to flutter close. Four strong eunuchs carried the sedan chair on the shoulders. Chen and Katara walked behind.

“Do they do this for all Fire Lords?” Katara asked.

“Yes, even Fire Lord Ozai had to go through the ceremony. It took place a few days after Fire Lord Azulon’s funeral. Though Ozai was crowned Fire Lord at the funeral, it wasn’t official until after the ceremony,” Chen whispered. “No more talking,” Chen hissed. Katara nodded.

---

They reached the Temple of Agni. The eunuchs set down the sedan chair and Zuko walked out, before he sat down again on a cushion. The Fire Sage walked out. “What happens now?” Katara asked.

“Just watch,” Chen hissed.

“People of the Fire Nation!” the sage shouted to the assembly of people. “As the sun rises, we see before us, the new Fire Lord,” the sage paused. “With the death of Fire Lord Ozai, he has passed the mantle of godhood upon his son’s shoulders,” the sage paused again. “As it has been for countless of years, the Fire Nation has been ruled by one family. These people are the descendants of Agni, the Father of Fire and the Sun. It was he, who in the beginning gave the world the gift of Fire. He made the sun, the source of all Fire,” again the sage paused. “When men came, he sent his dragon down to teach men how to bend fire! He watched as the men organized themselves. Soon war broke out among the different tribes. So, Agni punished them by asking his sister, Jala to send her daughter, Tui to cover up the sun,” the sage paused, his head bowed, “for seven days Tui blocked the sun and the firebenders cried out in anguish and begged Agni to spare them. Finally, Tui left the sun, and it shown brightly once more. To safe guard future wars amongst the people, Agni chose one woman. He sired a child with the woman, a firebender, named Li. The infant boy was then proclaim the First Fire Lord and all that shall follow in his bloodline will be firebenders and rule over the lands of Agni!” the sage walked behind Zuko. “Now, the cycle shall continue! With the placing of this crown,” the sage placed the hairpiece into Zuko’s topknot, “I proclaim that Zuko, son of Ursa and Ozai, the Fire Lord! May you gaze upon him! For he is Agni! He is the Sun! He is the Morning and Evening Star! He is Fire!” the sage backed away as he bowed. “All hail, Fire Lord Zuko!” the sage shouted. The crowd kowtowed down. Chen grabbed Katara’s arm, yanking her down. “Lord of Fire!” the sage proclaimed. Zuko stood up and gazed at the people before him.

Katara looked at him out of the corner of her eye. She saw the aura of power around him, his fierce scowl daring anyone to defy him. He truly did appear as a living god. For the first time, Katara was scared of him.

---

Me: Okay this is the first chapter. I decided that to make the story more interesting, why not treat the Fire Lord like a living god. Chen will appear throughout the story. She becomes Katara’s friend. You’ll find out about Old Mama later. And in case, you guys are wondering. No, Zuko does not love Katara at this point, though he cares for her a bit, though not in a romantic way or in a friendly way, he just doesn’t want to see her get hurt; the kiss as no meaning, I don’t know why he did it. Katara also does not love Zuko or even care about him. She actually kinda hates him right now. I think that’s it, if you have any more questions pleas ask, and I’ll try to explain them.

Zuko: Your other stories?

Me: Right. Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten about the Firefly or Autumn Fire. The Firefly most likely won’t get updated until the new season because it’s closely tied to the actual show. Autumn Fire, I’ve kinda hit a series of dead-chapters (aka filler-chapters) and I kinda don’t want to post them. I think that’s it. I may post the second chapter of this story today. Anyways, R’n’R!

Dragon Jadefire