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Borealis: A Zutara Story	By : jaded_priceless Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > AU/AR - Alternate Universe/Alternate Reality Views: 33555 -:- 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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Chapter 292
A messenger hawk arrived as they were breaking camp the next morning. Chu-hua sighed as she contemplated the message from Huang. The Water Tribes were on the move once more. The capture of their comrades had made them more active and if possible more violent. Eight more ships and two more colonies had gone missing. The Ursa was too large of a target to bring down the strait southeast of the Ruins of Taku and meet at the Great Divide as planned. They would instead send smaller Resilient class vessels to carry them North to the fortress where the Ursa was docked - Fairy Land, home to the Scientific Research and Development branch of the Fire Nation War Department, where War Minister Qin would be waiting.
The only good news in Huang’s letter was that with Full Moon Bay once more compromised they would not be going to Ba Sing Se at this time. Knowing the proximity at which he kept his mistress Chu-hua really did not wish to see her husband. She was not looking forward to seeing Bong Cha’s either. War Minister Qin would most likely send her to Ba Sing Se after leaving his wife to govern her new city. He’d traded in a significant amount of favors to ensure no others candidates were submitted for the honor of commanding the Ursa. It was well known Chu-hua was the favorite considering her performance at the North Pole and close relationship with Princess Ursa but Fire Lord Ozai was a man who believed merit could be bought and there were other candidates whose family’s had much deeper pockets. Qin knew of Bong Cha’s true identity and Chu-Hua’s role as her protector. The appointment to the Ursa was a way for Qin to safeguard his wife after what Bong Cha called “her little North Pole adventure.”
Smoke curled from Chu-hua’s nostrils as she sighed once more. There was a chance she’d be lucky to be sent to Ba Sing Se. She could once more be honored with the task of guarding Fire Nation waters. The War Minister, formal second in command to Fire Lord Ozai, was not a frivolous man. It was a very realistic possibility he would send her home to her mother. She wouldn’t put is past him to assign her to the waters around her home island where she could be a dutiful wife and mother while under the watchful eye of Mahoja. Her own mother was proud of her accomplishments but believed as heir, Chu-hua’s time would be better leading their clan and teaching her own daughter to lead in turn.
Mahoja was also firm in her belief that Qin was a nice respectful young man so she wouldn’t use her influence to sway Ozai to overrule the decision of that dear boy. Unlike most in his position that lay with any and every woman who caught their eye while caring for none; his love and faithfulness was split equally between two women: Tsubaki, his mistress of forty-seven years and Bong Cha his wife of fifty. After growing up with a clan matriarch who exercised the same rights as male clan heads, fidelity was something her mother treasured.
Despite Bong Cha’s capability as a Firebender, Qin was far more protective of her than the non-bending Tsubaki. Bong Cha’s ideas and inspiration had propelled him to greatness. If not for his wife he would never have met his second great love nor acted upon it. Tsubaki was the daughter of the man whose factory was the only one capable of mass producing the revised armor that Bong Cha proposed. Tsubaki was a teenager at the time and over the course of the next year he came to appreciate the young girl’s clever mind. She was already working on the metal coating that would revolutionize Fire Nation ships by making them lighter and more resistant to rust. A substance which also improved the strength of Bong Cha’s armor while reducing the weight and chances of rusting.
As an only child, Tsubaki knew her future was limited. Her only chance at freedom was to gain autonomy or everything she worked for could be ruined by some rich or noble fool her father selected. The sixteen year old approached Qin with a logical written business proposal stating why he should take her virginity and become the unknown unacknowledged father of her heir instead of some nitwit more interested in money than the variable compounds of iron ore; he immediately refused. That refusal sent him home earlier than expected and he found his wife naked with another man. He never saw the man again but Bong Cha’s quiet justification of “Qin, it’s been months since you were home” worried him. He had not yet risen to any significant position in the War Ministry and family was important to him. Qin’s father supported him, his siblings and several cousins so he grew up believing in the integrity of familial bonds so he made peace with his lonely wife’s transgression.
However, his duties meant he would be spending more time away from his wife and their home. Qin worked hard to save his marriage during their next separation but Bong Cha’s refusal to leave the capital and her own work made that increasingly difficult. The months passed and Bong Cha’s replies to his personal inquiries became infrequent. Her scientific correspondence remained steady and one day he received an anonymous inquiry in Iroh’s recognizable left handed chicken scratch asking if his fidelity was prudent. For a friend as honorable as Iroh, who knew of his family situation and indebtedness to Bong Cha, to send such a letter meant only thing. Qin’s relationship with Tsubaki remained platonic until that point but he slowly began to encourage Tsubaki’s awkward attempts at flirting. He resisted her more overt logical advances until he returned home and found his wife in the arms of a different man.
The next time Tsubaki presented him with a businesslike presentation of why he should give her an heir he accepted. His first children with Tsubaki were born eleven months later – a set of triplets, two daughters and a son - proof Agni approved of their union. Qin’s belief in family meant he refused to be one of those men who were afraid to admit their own misdeeds only to have them come to light later when a legitimate child had relations with a hidden sibling. High General Bujing, his youngest son’s father-in-law, was rumored to have once murdered his own illegitimate daughter and former mistress when he learned of a tryst that occurred when one of his legitimate sons was stationed in the Earth Kingdom.
Qin raised and acknowledged all of his children and with their mothers’ blessings encouraged them to develop a relationship as siblings.
His sons with Bong Cha followed his footsteps into the military and their daughters married nobles of good standing. They were the perfect little sheep expected from such an advantageous union but his children with Tsubaki were the ones who carried his dreams forth. Qin’s children with Tsubaki were without his formal name and the socio-political expectations of Bong Cha’s children but they flourished nonetheless. They had the finest education in the land; most of them didn’t attend the Royal Academies but opted to go to the co-educational scholarship school which bore Lady Ilah’s name. They had teachers who could teach and discipline without fear of upsetting some noble or general and classmates who had a true desire to learn. They practically grew up in their parents’ workshops and traveled abroad to witness practical field testing.
Tsubaki brought out the philosopher in Qin so their children were taught the world ran on power and power brought out the ugliness of men. For everything of power they unleashed, they should also strive to create a thing of equal beauty and goodwill to balance it. For every life one of their inventions took, they should seek to change another for the positive. Most of the denizens of Fairy Land had been located by their children. Chu-hua knew that if Qin had gone there in anticipation of their arrival Tsubaki was not with him. He was waiting on Bong Cha and truly wished to see her.
As the years passed, their ideas brought his wife and mistress into contact; surprisingly Bong Cha and Tsubaki had formed a grudging respect for the other. While both were able to push aside their shared man for professional and scientific reasons it became awkward in social settings. Bong Cha knew of her place as his wife and commanded the respect owed to her title. Tsubaki knew of her place in his heart and despite the years, love and highly accomplished children as well as her own merits, she also knew a gathering Fire Nation Upper Level society was no place for a mistress. It was all too easy for the women who’d come to her home bearing gifts of thanks after one of her inventions had saved the life of her child to be reminded the title of wife was precarious. It meant only as much as the man who called himself her husband allowed it.
In these settings where Tsubaki and Qin were normally welcome as a couple, the kind brilliant woman was shunned when Bong Cha made an appearance. The scandal became greater when Bong Cha made a point of greeting Tsubaki and inquiring about her children’s health after before giving kisses of greetings and farewell on both cheeks. While most observers considered it bitterness and a sharp reminder of station it was no secret among those that truly knew her Bong Cha preferred Tsubaki’s children and grandchildren over most of her own and asked out of genuine love for them.
Admiral Chu-hua’s nervous anticipation grew worse with each passing day. Their overland escort would take them very close to a village that was a two hour air balloon ride away from Ba Sing Se. Her mother was head of the clan and the most powerful woman in the Fire Nation, her father, youngest son of a fallen clan, dared not cheat on her so she knew she had no outside siblings. She could not say the same of her own husband. She married a minor nobleman, a third son from a military family in good standing instead of choosing a man from the Kumanshi retainers whose loyalty would be absolute. This town, so close to her husband’s base of operations, housed his latest mistress and thus far the only one to have granted him children.
Chu-hua’s anticipation lessened when they were half a day’s ride from the meeting point; an escort led by her own hand-picked First Mate approached her. She had ruffled quite a bit of feathers by picking a lowly commander to be her second in command aboard the Ursa instead of a Vice-Admiral or someone who’d at least retained the rank of captain, but Huang was as special to her as he’d been to Ursa. The young boy had been the favorite of Lord Zhuán then cruelly cast aside when his body showed traces of approaching manhood. By that time, Ursa was old enough to realize why her father insisted upon having so many young beautiful boys to serve him and understood why Huang was so heartbroken. He was cast aside during the time she found Ozai in bed with another woman. The two of them kept each company at the bottom of their pool of heartbreak and misery.
Ursa was able to resolve her misunderstanding with Ozai but Huang who’d been trained in the art pleasuring his lord and little else didn’t know what to do with himself. Ursa had brought him back to the palace and forced him to take lessons with her. Those lessons placed him under the guidance of Bong Cha, Li, Lo, Chu-Hua and Mahnaz when the latter two’s military duties allowed them to come home. It was Huang who joined the navy just to serve under her so he could warn her of the latest gossip at home. Her husband had found a woman, a common farmer’s daughter to favor.
That was twenty years ago. Huang knew everything about her, things she had never shared with Ursa and things she never could; seeing his smiling face when there was smoke billowing in the Northwest was a relief that only Agni could know.
The journey was slower than Chu-hua would have liked but she fully agreed with Mu’s decision to go at a pace that was comfortable for the animals. They would be traveling from arid dry lands bordering the desert to snow covered lands with high altitudes. It would be foolish to risk their lives and the lives of her soldiers because she wanted to know the status of her husband’s children and mistress.

It was late afternoon when they reached the smoldering remains of what was once a town.
Katara clenched her fist and pressed her lips together to keep silent as Chu-hua ordered them to stop in the heart of the small village. The admiral appeared unaffected until a smiling Azula approached her. Before the princess could speak Chu-hua’s palm crashed into her mouth and the admiral warned, “If you are not expressing remorse do not speak.”
Azula stepped back, visibly shaken. Chu-hua had often spoken harshly to her and chastised her behavior but her mother’s cousin had never placed a hand on her unless they were training.
The other officers from the Ursa were equally somber as they dismounted and began searching for remains. Katara clutched her stomach as one by one they were brought out and carried to the town square. Most of the bodies were small; even the larger ones had a diminutiveness to their stature – women. The Fire Nation had exterminated a town full of women and children.
Zuko shook his head when Katara turned a hate filled glance toward him. His words were low and despite the slowness of his speech it was hard to understand him. “We didn’t do this Katara. I swear to you this wasn’t us.”
“Well who was it? Who else would burn a town full of women and children? The Earth Kingdom?” Katara replied sarcastically.
Zuko closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. He had been to this town several times before. One pitiful corner and a burned out tower that had once been a chimney were all that remained of the home he and his uncle frequently stayed in, “Katara, please.”
“Please what? Pretend to believe that you actually care what happened to these people when your countrymen did this?” Katara yelled.
Before Zuko could respond Katara felt herself being jerked from Korhi by her arm and dragged to the skeleton of a different building. Her captor kept a tight grip on her arm and forced her to her knees in the easternmost corner of the room. Katara’s eyes widened and she saw the small flame that was carved in the foundation of all Fire Nation homes.
“We did not do this. This city was one of ours. I built this house with my own two hands for my heart’s wife and our children. I brought them to New Ursa shortly after we arrived there. I left them after Governor Bong Cha made her declaration. I am lucky I know my children are breathing. My brother is not!”
Zuko placed his hand over the one holding Katara’s arm and squeezed, “Let go of my concubine. I will forgive you this one time as I know you are upset over the loss of your brother’s children but I will not hesitate to act appropriately if you ever forget yourself around her.”
The man let go and tearfully apologized “Forgive me Prince Zuko. Tali, my niece was three, Kengo my nephew had just turned two. The youngest was a newborn. His upcoming birth is why they could not travel to New Ursa when I retrieved my family. My woman offered to take his children with us but their mother insisted their place was with her. We received news of his birth the day of the second battle. Shiori did not give him a name. She wanted his father to name him after they met. He died without a name. Agni will never know him.”
Katara looked up. Her attacker was one of the men who’d come from Lt. Colonel Wen’s division as guard detail. She couldn’t remember ever seeing him selecting a woman from the Pussy Garden but often saw him visiting a woman and her children at an older couple’s house when she collected the water.
Zuko helped her up. He placed his arm around her and steered her four houses down on the left. “The woman who lived here told me to call her ‘Aunty’. She was kind to me and I know she loved Uncle. She made tea cakes for me every time we came. I never understood why she called them cakes when they were cookies. They were dry and crumbled when I bit them but they were sweet and tasted of vanilla. She said it was a family recipe only shared with female members but told me if I ever found someone I wanted to bring here she would teach them how to make them.”
His arms tightened around her and his voice trembled harder, “This place was chosen because there is no war here. It’s too far inland and away from any strategic place to be of use to either country. The only men here were retirees or soldiers on rotational leave. They were defenseless and someone came in and slaughtered them. They didn’t even respect the bodies enough to properly burn or bury them. Aunty and everyone else were supposed to be safe here.”
Katara turned around and wrapped her arms around Zuko. He didn’t try to hide the fact that he was crying. Out of habit Katara looked around to see if anyone was around to witness his moment of weakness and noticed many of the battle hardened soldiers were affected. Several were holding decomposing bodies in their arms and were openly weeping. Katara had dreamed of this moment since she was eight. Seeing Fire Nation men distraught over the loss of their loved ones did nothing to soothe the memories of seeing her strong invincible father completely broken after the loss of her mother. These dead Fire Nation children were so small; the bodies of her friends had seemed much larger when they were being held by grieving fathers. Seeing these dead women; their decomposing bodies where they’d been murdered and left to rot did nothing to erase the image of her own mother burning before her eyes.
It felt empty.
Watching these soldiers who’d raped and murdered in New Ursa grieving over their lost families felt empty. There was no great sense of satisfaction or the vindication that she’d been expecting. Seeing a man that she knew had raped at least four women wailing over a corpse whose state of dress and mottled skin told exactly what had been done before her head was bashed in her brought her no sense of vindication. She felt nothing seeing the man ripping his hair out after removing his shirt and covering his daughter with it.
She closed her eyes and listened as Zuko’s quiet sobs mingled with the others. Even hearing him cry over the loss of someone precious felt empty to her. She ran her fingers over his cheeks and felt nothing but the warm wetness of his tears sliding along her skin. Not even the usual anger, pity or unexpected kinship; nothing but wetness. She rose to her tiptoes and smelt nothing but the hint of saltwater against the smokiness of his scent. She parted her lips inadvertently tasting his tears. They were warm against her tongue and the brief wetness made her realize she was thirsty. She’d been thirsty the day they buried her mother also; she’d been unable to eat or drink after her mother’s death and the snowflakes falling against her lips had been her only nourishment. His tears felt like that inside even though the physical sensation was the complete opposite.
Katara rose higher until her lips were against his ears and she whispered, “Let’s find something of hers to take with us so you’ll always have a part of her near you.”
He shook his head, “It’s bad luck to take something of the recently dead. We should do something to soothe her spirit. She loved this house and everyone in this city. We can use the bricks to build an altar for them. Aunty made everyone feel welcome in her home. It would make her happy to know her walls still provide shelter for them.”
Zuko placed Katara in the cage with a gagged Sokka and heavily shackled, blindfolded, and similarly gagged Aang while he joined in the search for bodies. She saw several soldiers in wagons take a small fuzzy creature that appeared to be part dog and part bird into the surrounding area. Mu had called them Sniffalongs and said the calm gentle creatures made good pets but were useful only for tracking. She sat silently, watching the Fire Nation mourn their dead. Each passing moment made her grateful for Sokka’s muzzle as it hid the smile she knew was there. He’d smirked in her direction several times, tilted his head towards the bodies and wriggled his eyebrows. He’d begun to frown when she refused to laugh alongside him and glared venomously when she shook her head for him to stop.

She knew she should have been just as happy as he was but the atrocities she’d witnessed in New Ursa were too fresh to see beyond more dead women and children.
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Borealis: A Zutara Story