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Borealis: A Zutara Story	By : jaded_priceless Category: Avatar - The Last Airbender > AU/AR - Alternate Universe/Alternate Reality Views: 33965 -:- 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 38
Disclaimer – The characters Ku K'ai-chih and Yuliang are both inspired by Chinese artist. They bear no resemblance to the actual historical figures. I make no profit from using them. I do not know them nor do I own any rights to their names or artwork.

The portrait session was different from all of the rest Zuko had ever attended. In addition to the royal portrait artist Ku K'ai-chih all of the assistants were present. He and Katara were posed in several positions: standing and sitting side by side, with her kneeling while he sat and stood, and with her sitting on a bench with him standing behind her. Even when they were told to relax it seemed as though they were still being studied and someone’s brush was still moving
They finished the portraits and Zuko advised Katara not to change clothes. There would be another parade through the city on their way back to the ship. When they arrived back in his room, the servants had packed several trunks of clothing for them and Katara had no idea of what was in them. She didn’t have that many clothes in her pack when she had been shot down and had no need for elaborate dresses and robes.

Ku K'ai-chih and his entourage bowed before the Fire Lord. The artist showed him the pictures the official portrait then one by one called on his assistants to display their renderings.
Ozai looked at the pictures to the apprentice kneeling at the back behind the others, there was something familiar about the girl, “You there, what is your name?”
“My name is Yuliang, Fire Lord,” the said bowing her head even lower.
“Are you one of Ku K'ai-chih’s apprentices?” Ozai asked.
“Yes, your majesty. I am honored to be his student,” she replied.
“Come here, girl. Show me what you have drawn,” Ozai demanded.
“Forgive me, Fire Lord Ozai, but her work is inadequate. It is nothing more than the scribbles of a fanciful woman and not fit for the paper she has wasted. Perhaps Kao’s work will be more to your liking,” the older male said condemning his only female student and promoting that of his son.
“If I wanted to see Kao’s work I would have asked for it old man. Girl, come forward,” Ozai said brusquely.
“Yes sir, Fire Lord Ozai,” Yuliang said as she picked up her sketchbooks and ran forward almost tripping over her long robes.
Ozai’s eyes narrowed when he saw the books. The covers were basilisk lizard leather and they were bound with sinews from the same animal. They were too expense for a mere painter’s apprentice to afford. He took one from her hand, “Where did you get this sketchbook?”
“It is a gift from Princess Ursa, Milord. I am the daughter of one of her attendants. Milady saw me drawing in the dirt when I was younger and took me under her wing before recommending me to Master Ku K'ai-chih for instruction. She requested that the palace parchment makers send me the books that were not suitable for official uses to encourage my talents. They still continue to do so in honor of her. Princess Ursa was a kind and generous lady whose grace and mercy is surpassed only by Agni. I am blessed that she would go so far for a lowly servant like me,” Yuliang explained with tears in her eyes.
Ozai opened the book and lightly fingered the work. His wife had grown lonely when their children began meeting with their tutors for formal studies. She had told him about a young servant girl who kept her company and had mentioned that the girl could draw. He flipped through the book until he came to one of the pictures that she’d drawn of the stables, “I can see my wife’s influence in your work. Where are the pictures that you drew today of my son and his concubine?”
“Fire Lord sir, I …” Ku K'ai-chih began.
“Where are they?” Ozai repeated impatiently.
Yuliang showed him the book and the pictures that she’d drawn. Each one had a large X placed over them.
Ozai smiled predatorily, “These are magnificent. Can you reproduce them?”
“Yes sir Fire Lord Ozai, I can!” she answered excitedly.
“Good. Come with me. The procession will be leaving soon. I want you make a portrait of them leaving. Guard, prepare one of the large dirigibles. Yuliang, when the procession leaves you will go with that guard and draw pictures of my son and the Waterbender. The rest of you will go as well as draw the procession and settings. This is excellent work girl, excellent. I’m going to have these printed for distribution. Yours will become a household name,” Ozai informed her.
The older painter and all of the other apprentices literally bit their tongues to keep from protesting. Her paintings had none of the pomp required for an official portrait. Having served under Azulon, Ku K'ai-chih was the one who found the words to ask what everyone was thinking, “Fire Lord Ozai, what would you have us do with the other renderings?”
“Keep them. I will select the ones best suited for historical purposes,” Ozai advised.
“Thank you Milord, may I ask what quality in Yuliang’s portraits that you found to your liking so that we may recreate it and better be able to produce works in a similar manner?” Ku K’ai-chih wheedled.
“You can ask, but it is nothing a man can recreate. Yuliang has the romantic heart and starry eyes of a young woman; that viewpoint is present in her drawings. All of you drew the same thing – a stern warrior and his cowed prisoner. She drew a hopeful young woman and a prince showing her a bit of tenderness. It is pure whimsical rubbish and normally I would agree with your assessment,” Ozai explained.
The girl flinched.
“It looks like something in one of those ridiculous romance scrolls that are so popular with women; however, this is perfect for waging psychological warfare against the Avatar’s supporters. The Waterbender looks happy. Her companions sit behind bars while she wears a crown and makes googly eyes at the Prince of the Fire Nation. Ku K'ai-chih, continue to instruct the girl as my wife requested, but do not destroy any more of her work or attempt to warp her manner of perception,” Ozai ordered.
“Yuliang, when you return I want you to focus on recreating those drawings he destroyed,” Ozai smirked as an idea began to form, “Can you take their images and place them in different settings and positions?”
“Yes, Fire Lord Ozai, I am able to do that,” she nodded.
“Very well. All of you go outside and take positions to draw the procession leaving,” Ozai said waving his hand dismissively. Zuko had come up with a wonderful idea. Use the girl to splinter the Avatar’s group and his supporters but he would be the one to further it.
Those supporters would be nonexistent when millions of flyers were circulated throughout the Water Tribes and Earth Kingdoms showing the Waterbender picking out the ring in the prince’s vault that would make her an official concubine or her among the riches in the two vaults Katara of the Fire Nation now owned. Even her own friends and family would doubt her when they saw the picture of Zuko’s arm around her waist with her head resting against his shoulder with her eyes closed.
If Ozai didn’t know better he would think there was actually affection between them.
For the second time that day, Ozai found himself summoning Lady Sakura for something other tending to his desires. She was a patron of the arts. He would send her to Ember Island to find one of those Agni-awful playwrights to create a story to go along with the drawings. It would be a great romance indeed. More importantly, it would create gossip that would spread like wildfire and destroy the Avatar and his group’s credibility.
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Borealis: A Zutara Story