Adult-FanFiction.org : Cartoons

Borealis: A Zutara Story	By : jaded_priceless Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > AU/AR - Alternate Universe/Alternate Reality Views: 34026 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 4
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender, Avatar: The Legend of Korra, any historical figures or events, or easily recognizable persons, places or things. I make no profit from this work of fanfiction

Chapter List
- 154
- 155
- 156
Chapter 152
Katara followed Zuko to the other side of the ship. As they walked she realized what she thought was a solid wall was actually a door to his parent’s quarters. The Fire Lord’s chambers on the Ursa were just as intimidating as his throne room at the palace. They were below deck, but there were thick glass panels that let sun inside just as if they were outdoors. Another wall was on the outer portion of the ship; it too was glass and Katara could see fish and other aquatic life swimming by.
The room was decorated in furniture that appeared to be wicker but Katara knew the material was far more expensive. The walls were a pale yellow with vibrant red, orange, and blue trim that mimicked flames. The floor was an unknown wood that was soft and springy beneath her feet. Fire Lord Ozai was sitting on a lounge chair flipping through a picture book. He was barefoot and dressed casually in shorts.
“Come here. Sit beside me,” Fire Lord Ozai beckoned as he slid to the floor.
Zuko paused then slowly walked to his father and lowered himself to the floor. Katara was about to sit next to him but Ozai patted the floor on his other side. He waited until she was seated beside him to begin speaking, “This room was decorated by Ursa. She didn’t grow up at court. She grew up on a remote island removed from politics. She hated life at the palace. This ship is my wedding gift to her. She designed this room to remind her of home.”
Ozai closed the book and opened it to the first page, “I met her when she was five. I was seven years old and knew she was the only girl I’d marry. I gave her this for her sixth birthday. This sketchbook is the first gift I gave her. She filled it and sent it back. She was not thrilled to learn I wanted to court her.”
Ozai opened the book. Inscribed on the first page was, I ĦAŦE YØØ PRINCE PØØ- PØØ HED with an orange and red blob below. “This is a picture of me engulfed in my own flames.”
He turned the page and began pointing, “This is me falling into a volcano; me being trampled by a Komodo rhino, me being swallowed by a dragon.”
The first several books were like that. When she turned ten they began to change to landscapes and animals. Over time they began to include pictures of him, the palace, the turtleducks, a little boy he explained was Lu Ten and a younger Iroh.
There were several pictures of Lu Ten. Ozai looked at them, “Lu Ten challenged me to an Agni Kai when he learned Ursa would be my bride. He was five.”
Ozai showed them a picture of the little boy sitting on his back triumphantly pulling his hair, then another with the boy being held upside down and tickled. The Fire Lord’s expression softened considerably, “As you can see in the end I won.”
Katara watched the Fire Lord caress the pictures his wife had drawn. He wore the same bittersweet expression her father wore whenever he would touch her necklace or look at pictures of her mother. It was odd to imagine the person willing to sacrifice his people, who burned his son and told Zuko to hurt her was capable of feeling loss and sadness. Katara watched him out of the corner of her eye as he showed her a picture that Ursa had drawn of him holding a sleeping infant Azula in the crook of his right arm while Zuko dozed happily against his left.
He looked happy both in the picture and now sitting between the two of them. In spite of his good mood Katara was careful not to let her guard down. When she was in the Foggy Swamp Huu had taught them all about catgators. They’d lie completely still and pretend to be logs then pounced when it was least expected. She knew Fire Lord was about to do the same at any moment.
“Zuko, you love Katara, how do you feel about Mai?” Ozai asked casually.
Unlike Katara, the prince had been caught off guard. He sputtered, “She’s okay I guess.”
Katara stiffened realizing the trap had been sprung and Zuko had fallen head first into it.
“Mai is a very good friend. She’s beautiful, intelligent, and knows how to navigate court. She is from one of the highest ranking noble families and her lineage can be traced back several centuries. She is the perfect candidate to be Fire Lady and provide me with heirs,” Zuko added.
“But,” Ozai prodded.
“But, she is Mai. She has her eye on the crown rather than me. She keeps everything bottled inside like all noblewomen are taught to do so. It is rare for her to display any type of emotion. When she does, she apologizes for the outburst even if I was the one wrong. She voices no opinion unless it is the one she thinks I want to hear. She lacks passion. My children will be well behaved and properly educated on matters of court; the palace would run smoothly as a well oiled wheel. Everything would remain picture perfect at all times. She would defer to me as a proper wife should, we’d have mundane conversations about trivial subjects. We would have the ideal marriage according to the standards of upper level society but life would be very boring with her,” Zuko concluded.
“So you do plan on marrying her?” Ozai asked looking at Katara.
“Of course, she is my betrothed. It would be dishonorable to break the engagement and would bring shame to Grandfather Azulon’s name,” Zuko insisted.
The Fire Lord nodded pleased that Zuko hadn’t completely lost his mind, “I see, so what of Katara?”
Zuko face twisted in confusion, “She is my concubine. There is no reason for that to change once Mai and I are wed. Mai knows that I do not plan on discarding her.”
Ozai nodded; that too was the answer he expected. “What about children?”
“What about them?” Zuko asked. “I will produce heirs with Mai.”
“I did not ask about heirs Zuko. I asked about children,” Ozai said smiling mysteriously.
“Aren’t they the same thing?” Zuko inquired.
“No son. They are not. Heirs are what you create to carry on your name. Children are little people that you create to enjoy,” Ozai explained.
Zuko scowled, “I would enjoy all of my children regardless of birth order.”
Katara turned towards the aquarium and sighed. She knew what Ozai was asking, “Zuko, your father is not talking about Mai’s offspring. He’s asking about mine.”
“Father you told me not to have children with Katara,” Zuko said the confusion evident on his face.
“And yet you’ve already disobeyed me and gotten her pregnant,” Ozai chimed.
Zuko’s eyes widened.
“Don’t look so surprised Zuko,” Ozai admonished. “I read the transcript of your message as well as the argument. You told the girl’s brother not to worry about your bastards. You’ve already impregnated her and rendered her barren. What was the term you used? Ah yes, ‘perfect piece of pussy’.”
“I went to check her medical records but they’ve disappeared.” Ozai shrugged, “Luckily Bingwen has such a good memory. He did confirm she was in the early stages of pregnancy when you disciplined her.”
Ozai chuckled. “So tell me Son, since I told you not to get her pregnant and you did anyway what would you have done had you not killed the little half-breed bastard before you knew it existed?”
Zuko’s hands clenched and he shook with anger, “Do not refer to my child in such a manner.”
“In what manner? Half-breed or bastard?” Ozai pressed wanting to see Zuko’s reaction somewhat proud the boy was standing up to him.
“Both,” Zuko growled.
Ozai tsked dismissively before asking, “What would you have done had the pregnancy not been ended Zuko? It would have been your firstborn.”

“I don’t know,” Zuko replied.
“You don’t know?” Ozai snarled, “You defy me, plant a royal seed in this Water Tribe peasant and do not know what you would have done had it been allowed to grow? Don’t lie to me boy. What would you have done?”
“I don’t know,” Zuko repeated agitated. “What difference does it make what I would have done? The child is lost. There is a chance she won’t be able to have another. Why does it matter?”
Katara shook her head. Zuko was a fool. He was allowing himself to be baited and backed into a corner by his father. At this rate she’d be dragged back to the palace and thrown to the nobles.
“It matters because I want to know. What would you have done Zuko?” Ozai said tersely grabbing Zuko’s collar and forcing him to look at him, “What would you have done when the Waterbender told you she was pregnant? Would you have given her to the herbs to get rid of the abomination or would you have been happy to watch her belly rise? Would you have allowed a barbarian to have your firstborn? What would you have done?”
“I would have hid it,” Zuko yelled calling fire to his hands and pushing his father. “I would have hid Katara and the child until the time was right to reveal them. The Avatar cares for her. He would have been devastated to know the woman he adores has birthed my child and suckled it at her breast.”
“The Water Tribes have gone on the offensive. Katara is not like Mai or Azula. She is very protective of those she cares for. She would fight her own people if it meant saving the life of her child, the child I gave to her. I would have hid them. I would have hid Katara and my child somewhere well protected,” Zuko bellowed angrily.
“Would you have told me about my grandchild?” Ozai asked amused and proud his son was finally learning to think long term. Zuko did have a good plan. Use the child as a way to control the mother. Chu-hua had told him how the Waterbender almost sank the ship with her hands bound. He’d read the reports from the day of the invasion. She had been personally responsible for the downing of several airships. She would be a valuable tool in their arsenal.
Zuko leveled a cool glare at his father, “No.”
Ozai laughed, “Smart boy. I see you are finally learning what it takes to be Fire Lord. There is still hope I may one day officially declare you my heir.”
Ozai turned to Katara, “Well Waterbender, what would you have done with the child had Zuko not caused you to miscarry?”
“Dong quai, black cohosh, blue cohosh, cotton root bark and evening primrose to start,” Katara replied.
Ozai’s eyes widened. He recognized those herbs and their function. She would have gotten rid of it. “I see. So you have no interest in being the mother of my son’s firstborn?”
“I have no interest in being intimately involved with your son much less being the mother of his spawn regardless of birth order,” Katara corrected.
“But I thought all little girls wanted to grow up and be a princess?” Ozai teased quoting Katara’s earlier words.
Katara snorted, “That is true, but every little girl also knows there is such a thing as a demon kingdom. No one wants to be that princess.”
“Demon kingdom? Why would you refer to my beautiful nation as such?”
“Your soldiers wear masks decorated with skulls. They plunder, rape, and murder spreading destruction in the name of the Fire Lord. Your factories pollute your beautiful countryside harming your own people. You’ve burned and banished your own son. Lastly, I believe you’ve met your daughter,” Katara parried.
“So I would be the demon king?” Ozai smirked even though he was irked by the girl’s frankness.
“You said it, I didn’t,” Katara retorted with a shrug.
The smile fell from Ozai’s face, “You do realize I could kill you very easily without batting an eye?”
Katara’s lips twisted wryly, “You could but that would be a merciful act. Forgive me for assuming to know you, but you do not seem like the type to show mercy to your enemies.”
“Correct,” the Fire Lord agreed, “I could kill your brother and watch you despair afterwards.”
“I could kill your daughter, sink your ship, and watch you do the same,” Katara countered.
“Why not kill my son?” Ozai inquired.
“Because his death would be no great loss to you. Zuko has recently returned from banishment but as your favorite Azula has always been by your side. Her presence would be more keenly missed. Besides you’ve been expecting me to kill Zuko. If I killed him it would be seen as revenge for my virtue not a direct affront towards you. Just as letting him bed me shames the Avatar, killing Azula would shame you as everyone knows she is the Firebending prodigy of the two.”
“Shrewd assessment. And how do you propose to kill my little princess?” Ozai asked menacingly.
Katara folded her hands in her lap, “Princess Azula is secure and confident in her own strength. She believes that everyone is weaker and in most cases she is correct. She is accustomed to getting her own way. I only need to throw her off guard and strike before she regains her balance.”
“I see. Is that how you would kill me too?” Ozai inquired mildly perturbed. He too had noticed that trait about Azula. She wasn’t as resilient as Zuko.
“No, I would first destroy what you deem precious then attack while you are enraged or I’d simply use poison,” Katara informed him.
The Fire Lord shook his head and asked condescendingly “Do you really think I would allow you to poison me?”
“No, but Lady Sakura would allow me to poison her. She is very open and guileless. I could tell by the way she explained certain things during my lesson they were areas in which she is very knowledgeable. I’d find a way to poison her and you’d receive it as a matter of secondary contact,” Katara finished.
Ozai regarded her. The child made a valid point. He knew of several men who’d been murdered while in the throes of passion; most of the time the women were recruited to deliver the poison, not used as the delivery method, “Zuko, go get Mai. I would like to ask her something.”
“So Katara you would be willing to sacrifice Lady Sakura to reach your objective?” Ozai inquired mildly impressed.
“I would mourn her death and pray that the spirits intercede on her behalf so her time in their care would be better than she deserves,” Katara stated matter of factly.
Fire Lord Ozai laughed and patted her leg in a gesture of paternal affection, “My child, why are you not Fire Nation?”
- 154
- 155
- 156
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Borealis: A Zutara Story