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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
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Disclaimer: I do not own Trung Trac or Trung Nhi and make no profit from the use of their names or likeness. The Trung sisters in this story are based on the Vietnamese heroes who sought to liberate their people from the Han Dynasty.
Chapter 202
Chu-hua was still pondering the best way to handle the situation while preserving Zuko’s life when someone knocked at her door. She ignored it but after a while the light raps became more insistent.
“Didn’t I tell you I wasn’t to be disturbed?” the admiral growled angrily while snatching the door open.
“They told me, but I was hoping you’d have time for an old woman,” her visitor replied.
Chu-hua sighed and forcibly suppressed her anger, “Come in Lady Bong-Cha. It is always a pleasure.”
The ship’s third engineer laughed as she entered, “I see you are still a skilled liar.”
Chu-hua made no comment but in spite of her initial displeasure was relieved to see the older Firebender carrying a tea kettle. Instead of quickly heating the water and pouring it Bong-Cha performed an elaborate tea ceremony forbidden to all but the royal family. The two women sat drinking the bitter tea in silence until Bong-Cha inhaled deeply both to savor the tea’s aroma and steel her nerves. She smiled, “The more time changes, the more we are haunted by our actions. It seems like yesterday you were at your wits end due to the actions of another impulsive younger cousin.”
Chu-hua lifted the tea cup and admired the fading design, “Yes, but his mother was a different type of trouble. I fear this time it will take a higher a power than me to save him.”
Bong Cha sighed reluctantly, “As do I, Chrysanthemum, as do I. Perhaps it is time for the Red Orchid to make her gambit.”
They finished the tea in silence. Once the beverage was consumed, Chu-hua bowed deeply to her former mentor and sworn master mouthing the words so the guards wouldn’t hear them, “Princess Bong Cha, Trung Chu-hua of the Kumanishi clan awaits your orders.”
Bong Cha laid a hand on her guardian’s shoulder signaling Chu-hau to rise, “I hope it will not come to that.”

Chu-hua removed her shoes and lay in bed contemplating Bong Cha’s words. The situation was worse than she initially thought if Bong Cha was willing to come out of hiding. She curled her hands into fist and shook with frustration. It was not their place to protect Zuko; as oldest daughter and his sister that duty should have fallen to Azula. Ursa’s disappearance and Ozai’s preferences had ruined centuries of tradition as well shattered the bond between brother and sister. Ursa should have been the one to teach Azula her duties as a female member of the Kumanishi clan. Ozai should have respected them and allowed Chu-hua to teach her in Ursa’s absence. Instead Azula was robbed of her birthright and taught that her brother meant nothing.
The women of the Kumanishi clan had been the silent blade and true protectors of the Fire Lord since before the nation existed but Ozai refused to honor that part of Azula’s heritage. As his sister and Kumanishi female closest to him, Azula should have been bonded to Zuko as his protector. The first true Fire Lord and first Trungs had also been siblings. The first, a set of twin daughters, born to Boudicca of the Sun Warriors and her mortal husband were the results of a political marriage. Neither could best the other in battle so they according to the rules of warfare they wed. He had no faith in her son’s leadership abilities nor shared the belief Agni fathered him but she had raised their daughters to love and protect the son Agni had given her. Most people forgot that Fire Lord Abelio conquered all of the islands of the Fire Nation with his younger sisters at his side.
Back them they were not called Trungs; they were known as Heavenly Guardians. Trung was term given to the female protectors of the Fire Lord centuries later by Fire Lord Zho Zhen. After the successful coup, Trung Trac and Trung Nhi, the protectors of Shokudai, his younger cousin and rightful heir to the throne were all that stood between his uncontested reign. They evaded capture for several years. Each warrior, mercenary, and assassin he sent after them was defeated by the two women. He personally led the army that defeated them. It was a victory granted due to the sheer number of soldiers who followed him. The group led by the two women were better trained and fought with the ferocity of two mother dragons each desperate to protect their offspring. At the end of the bloody battle the two women were surrounded and only 500 of his 2,000 soldiers remained. The sisters stood back two back with their thirteen year old charge between them. They were able to kill ten more of his personal guard before he decided to reason with them.
He offered them land, jewels, riches, and titles including concubine, chancellor of the realm and finally the unheard of title Fire Lady if they would hand the child over to him. It was only when he offered to spare the child’s life did Trung Nhi slowly approach him. If not for the sudden movement when she twisted her arm to reveal the blade hidden in her sleeve spooking his mount she would have killed him. The large animal fell on her leg when the razor sharp sword severed its limb. She watched from beneath it as first her sister then the child they’d sworn to protect were murdered. He raped her on the battlefield, declaring her their nation’s first Fire Lady and proclaimed the first son she bore to him would be his heir.
She was hung for treason five years later after the last of the three the children she was forced to bear was weaned. On the way to the gallows Zho Zhen offered her a chance to preserve her life. Train the daughters she birthed to protect their younger male sibling. She refused as doing so meant she acknowledged his illegitimate reign. He kissed her as he tied the rope around her neck. She bit his lips and spat in his face. He shed tears while pushing her from the platform.
Zho Zhen trained his daughters himself to be his youngest son’s protectors and gave them the title of Trung out of respect and admiration for their brave mother and aunt. He taught them the truth of his reign, how he had killed his grandfather, aunt, uncle and cousins, anyone could legitimately claim the throne. How their mother and aunt had fought so hard against him. That they were the children of rape and how he killed their mother after forcing her bear them. He was one of many Fire Lords murdered by his own children but the only one known to have died with smile on his face. His children proved to carry the strength and loyalty he wanted them to inherit from their mother.
As the years and generations passed the level of kinship changed, but the title of Trung remained in place for the women tasked with being the royal family’s protectors. Occasionally the Fire Lord and his protector were siblings. In those instances their nation had times of good fortune. Kozulon’s Trung, Ayumu, was the daughter of Irohulon’s, Ayame. The Fire Lord had bedded his protector in hopes the strength she carried would give him a son. Instead she gave birth to his 95^th daughter. Unlike the other daughters, Ayumu had no desire for the throne. Being the child of a Trung meant she had learned how to fight, spent the most time with her father, and accompanied him on all of his travels. She was the most knowledgeable about matters of politics and state subsequently her name was at the top of the list to inherit. Kozulon removed that possibility and she loved him all the more for it. She had immediately taken a liking to her younger brother and looked out for him when Nini was unable to do so.
As the Kumanishi female closest to Ozai’s age, Ursa had been chosen and trained as his protector. The first time they met was during the ceremony to bind her as his blade. She pushed him in the mud declaring she’d never accept him as master and he fell in love. Initially it was thought to be a case of puppy love but the years passed and the prince’s feelings never wavered. Ursa was sent to the capital to learn what it meant to be a female in the royal household under the guidance of Bong-Cha. As her mentor Chu-hua accompanied her to assist their aunts, Li and Lo, with her battle training.
The time was also a period of learning for Chu-Hua. She grew closer to aging Fire Lord Soizin and learned many family secrets – both his and hers. Ta Min was one of the women who had been chosen as a potential Fire Lady. If not for Soizin’s feelings for Roku she most likely would have been Fire Lady. Soizin did not have a preference for any of the candidates but Ta Min understood him. She was the only person who saw he loved Roku in a way he knew would never be returned.
Instead of dismissing her to the convent where potential brides were kept in case the nation ever needed a replacement Fire Lady he kept her at the palace to help him select a bride. When Roku returned he declared her mole unsightly and declared her an unsuitable future royal companion. He pushed aside his own love for Roku to play matchmaker for his friends. Roku cared for Ta Min and he knew she would be able to see the Roku that he saw and love him just as much.
Fire Lord Soizin also revealed the truth behind Grandfather Roku’s death. It was not just callous ambition that let him die but anger and a fear of his own feelings. Unlike the girl’s schools, the boy’s schools did not encourage them to sexually experiment with their classmates. It was discouraged but as the lessons on sexuality grew more in depth to coincide with the emergence of hormones many boys realized the orifices a woman could be taken for pleasure without fear of pregnancy were shared by both genders. He had swallowed Roku’s first seed, received Roku’s first sowing and Roku had received his. His status of crown prince and Roku’s undisclosed status of Avatar exempted them from the standard marriage arrangements.
They had gone together when his father, Kozulon, opened the doors of his harem to him. They had selected two girls, went into the same room and together had their first women. That was the first of many similar experiences. After that day Roku had no use for him other than friendship. Roku’s attentions would always be on the woman pleasuring him. Soizin’s attention would always be on Roku wishing he were the woman the Avatar was bedding and imagining that Roku was the person beneath him.
The night of the volcano he had not seen Roku in decades but found him just as handsome. He had married, had a child with his wife, children with several concubines and bedded countless male lovers but none of them made him feel the way Roku did. He had so much but his life remained empty. Roku was happy with without him while Soizin had secretly pined for him. Roku had built a life with Ta Min and their children; a life he was giving to protect them.
Shortly after their marriage Roku confessed he wished he’d saved himself for Ta Min. He was the recipient of her first everything and wished he could give her the same gift. He bemoaned squandering his first seed and first sowing with some royal whore instead of saving it for the woman he truly loved. He didn’t even consider all the times they’d kissed, touched and made love. Soizin couldn’t forgive Roku for that; for leaving him, for forgetting him so he let him die. He regretted it afterwards and began searching for the new Avatar. If the part of Roku present in the new Avatar recognized him, he would have been willing to spare his people.
All he learned was Roku’s new identity – Aang, male, age 12 – and that he wasn’t at the temple; he’d run away after learning he was the Avatar. Soizin had confided it wasn’t his original intent to eradicate the Airbenders. His original order to “slaughter every last one of them until the Avatar surrendered” was meant to flush the Avatar out of hiding. The Avatar never made an appearance so the bloodshed continued. It was one of his greatest regrets that the entire race was lost. It made it so much harder for him to find Roku’s reincarnation without having a definite place to look. He searched; he searched for Roku’s reincarnation for decades. All he found was a young author who’d once known the missing Avatar that who was also seeking him and that Roku had great- niece, Kokoro, living in the capital. He sought her in his stead.
The woman he found had none of her uncle’s beauty but possessed his wit and sense of humor.
Women had never excited him but he lay with them because he was expected to. He was beyond the age where others held that expectation for him so it was thought she was merely a companion. Kokoro was in her forties, past pleasantly plump and big-boned leaning more closely towards obese; her spine was twisted and she walked with a limp. She was well educated, a brilliant conversationalist, a talented musician, and a much sought after tutor for young women. She made him laugh, she made him think and she was the first woman who truly aroused him. Even at that age she was virgin when he lay with her.
The doctors thought the accident which twisted her spine and broke her leg had left her unable to bear children. She was from a high ranking noble family and no one wanted to take a chance of her father or brothers learning of a dalliance and forcing a marriage with a barren woman so she remained untouched. No one was more surprised than she when at the age of forty-six she began to have bouts of sickness, her ample breasts grew larger, and so did her already rotund stomach.
Soizin was astounded. The news of her pregnancy brought a level of bliss he’d never felt with any woman carrying any of his children. The fact he had gotten a pre-menopausal woman thought to be barren pregnant at age 116 was proof his friend Roku had not forgotten him. Orgasm was a gateway into the spirit world. The little death allowed a couple entrance into the maze where unborn children were held. Roku had to have selected this child and carried it to the edge for it to be so easily found.
Everyone thought the changes in her body were due to the abundance of rich food at the palace. The two of them did nothing to dispel those rumors. Nine people knew she was pregnant, even less she birthed twins. Two beautiful girls who captured the best of them: his beauty, her brains, his fire, her gentle nature, his shrewdness, her curiosity. Even fewer knew the children of such unlikely parents survived infancy let alone made it to adulthood. Chu-hua was the sixth living person to know Fire Lord Soizin’s second love had passed on several years prior but his daughters continued to be a source of great joy in his old age.
During one of their many chats Soizin informed her that her mother, Mahoja, and Mamoru, Ursa’s mother, marriages to the sons of Avatar Roku were at his urging. They were to be a permanent spy in the household and report any suspicious activities back to him. It was not love and friendship that led her mother to do so or kept her mother so close to her father and his siblings but duty.
She had known her grandmother briefly but never developed the close relationship Ursa had with her. Her mother, Mahoja clan heiress, and Ta Min did not get along. Their coolness towards each other was no secret. She wondered if Ursa knew the reason for the animosity and why Ta Min had encouraged the friendship between the two girls in spite of the mistrust she had for her mother. The admiral turned her gaze to the Avatar. Perhaps Grandmother Ta Min knew this day would come. A day where the lives of the grandchildren she shared with a former friend turned enemy would hinge so greatly on her husband’s reincarnation. A day where the once close families were physically united but the selfishness and greed of one Fire Lord once again threatened to rip them apart.
Chu-hua rolled onto her back and sighed. Unlike Boudicca, Zho Zhen, and Soizin, Ozai had been so hell-bent on creating the perfect heir he forgot there might come a time when his children may need each other as brother and sister. Even Azulon understood the value of siblings; after learning she knew of their existence, the Fire Lord also gave Chu-hua her own charge – the favorite of his younger twin half-sisters. As a father, Azulon tried to encourage a relationship between Iroh and Ozai but Ozai took every opportunity to destroy Zuko’s and Azula’s bond. The competition he fostered had grown to the point Azula thought nothing of her brother’s demise. Even without the threat of her brother’s life and the Avatar’s limbs the Waterbender he’d captured, raped and beaten seemed to show more concern for him than Azula. She was beginning to wonder if Ozai’s machinations had even affected the way Zuko valued his own life.
He had possibly signed his own death warrant by using his mother’s name to appease the whims of the Waterbender. Azula had been one of those who heard the girl crying for Zuko to help the other women less than an hour before he announced the Ursa House had been established.
Chu-hua closed her eyes trying to forget the grim look on Zhao 1’s face as he confirmed one of their messenger hawks had been dispatched to the Fire Nation carrying a letter Azula had written to her father.

Author's Note: One of the things about ATLA that bothers me is how much power and longevity was attributed to Soizin as a result of the comet but he only lived to age 102. Azulon was murdered at 95 and Bumi is 113 so shouldn't Soizin have lived much longer? In this story Soizin died at age 171; Zuko was 4 and Azula was 2. I also found it strange that he was the only one to have been strengthened by the power of the comet. Shouldn't all the Firebenders alive at the time have been benefited with long life as well? Never fear, I slapped a little AU fanfiction spackle on that conundrum as well.
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Borealis: A Zutara Story