Demon'Verse, Round Two

[beckyh2112]

Now that I've got a better idea of the history, I can take more free-ranging prompts. Plus I've got some surprises tucked away that I want a chance to spring on people.

Two requests, four to suzukiblu, dark_puck, spyridona, gigabomb, and floranna. I reserve the right to fill one and call it done. If I don't like a prompt, I'm just going to skip it entirely.

Have at.

MEME IS CLOSED.

Comments

[spyridona.livejournal.com]

Zuko; How he got the scar this go around.

Azula; to be the apple of his eye.

Bonus! - How Haru Happened.

Song/Long Feng; not the man you thought I was

How Haru Happened

[beckyh2112.livejournal.com]

Epina goes to the shrines less and less. After the first years of their marriage, when they couldn't conceive a child, she went every week in the summer, near every day in the winter. She offered and prayed to Heaven for a child.

But the years ground on, and no child grew in her womb.

She goes less and less, and Tyro grits his jaw so he won't shame his wife by cursing Heaven.

But if the gods won't answer heartfelt pleas, there are others who will accept honest offerings.

***

"This is unusual," the demoness says, her claws prickling against Tyro's shoulders. "I don't think I've ever met a man who doesn't want sex from the Ministry of Lust. I'm not actually sure we do children at all..."

"Who else?" Tyro asks gruffly. "You're Lust, you deal in sex. Sex creates children. Surely one of them is unwanted."

"Ah," she murmurs, "but they're not unwanted. You want one."

***

The child is crying. It's a wrenching wail that makes Tyro's spine crawl.

The demoness looks harried as she thrusts the infant into his arms. Her wings are flared back, strands of hair loose from its intricate knot.

He looks the child over. Tiny wings flex and spread, pale green inside and dusky brown outside. Tiny tail lashes and curls around Tyro's wrist, little claws slide in and out of toes and fingers. The child's skin is the color of clay, and soft chestnut down covers its skull. The feet are backwards, and when the child opens its eyes, Tyro sees they are brilliant green with only a thin ring of white and slit pupils.

The child sounds and looks healthy enough. Good. He's not sure if the child is male or female, though. But he cradles the infant, supporting the child's head with his hand and holding it close.

The child quiets, and the grip its tail has on his arm tightens.

The demoness beams. "That's a very good sign. Tailed babies like to hang onto their protectors."

"He's a full demon," Tyro notes, settling on the child being male. He won't call his child an it.

"It was all that was available to fit your needs." The demoness smiles. "Now there is the matter of signing the contract, Tyro of the Earth Kingdom..."

Zuko, how he got the scar this go around

[beckyh2112.livejournal.com]

Ursa greeted her nephew with a certain fondness as Lu Ten stepped out of the summoning circle. Over the past thirteen years, they had come to something of an understanding. She would not live forever and even any time she might spend in Hell would be necessarily limited by the nature of the afterlife. Lu Ten would still be there long after Ursa was gone.

The patience of demons could be legendary, and she certainly appreciated it working in her favor.

"Where's the little prince and princess?" Lu Ten asked, tail waving gently. "Mama sent some gifts along."

"Azula is playing with her friends and won't return until the evening, but I think Zuko is studying in his apartments." Ursa smiled; she was glad to hear from Zolena, even in this little way. Lu Ten's mother was one of the few demons besides Ozai who seemed to genuinely like her, and the feeling was quite mutual.

Lu Ten waved a clawed hand negligently. "All right. I'll bring Azula's up later, if she doesn't return before I go."

Ursa nodded, then broke a line in the summoning circle to release Lu Ten. After he left, she closed the line once more, then set about refreshing the entirety of the circle.

It horrified her brother that she knew this. Sorcery was the province of wicked people who dealt with demons, and she had not the heart to tell Daiki of some of the things she had asked from Ozai.

But their family was safe from Hell, if not from the vagaries of war.

***

Lu Ten found his nephew out on the training salle instead of in his apartments. Zuko was resolutely going through firebending kata - punch to ignite, heel-strike to burn, leg-sweep to scatter flames.

The kicks weren't quite right, though, at least not to Lu Ten's eye. It took him a few minutes to figure it out; they'd taught Zuko to kick as if he had human feet. Well, that was a waste.

He grinned, and guards blanched. Then Lu Ten leapt into the training salle and swept aside the blast of fire Zuko had just released. Blue flesh scorched, but it was merely painful and no demon of war stopped for simple pain.

Zuko broke off his katas immediately. "Cousin Lu Ten!"

"Zuko. Mama sent you and your sister gifts." Lu Ten pulled out the package from beneath his jacket and unwrapped it, letting the diaphanous paper fade away. He shook out a long red cloak picked out with gold designs that proudly declared Zuko's descent from War and Lust, Azulon and Ilah. It was thick and sumptuous, as befitted an item hand-made by a lady of Wealth.

Zuko could not hide a crushed expression, though he did his best to suppress it. "It's... very nice, cousin. Thank you for bringing it."

Lu Ten's eyes narrowed. "Let's see how it looks on you, eh? Mama wanted to be sure it'd fit you while you're still so small."

Zuko shook his head, eyes darting all around. "I can't wear that, Lu Ten," he hissed. "Everyone already thinks me and Azula are monsters!"

"You are monsters," Lu Ten pointed out. "That's what people like us are to humans."

Zuko crossed his arms and turned his face away. "Maybe it's all right for you. You've got a family who cares about you. Azula and I have Mother, and the rest of the world hates us. They hate us, they isolate us, they whisper about us and Mother, they do every petty little thing they can to make us suffer. I wish Mother had married a Water Tribe man rather than a demon! At least then I'd be human!"

Rage slammed through Lu Ten as he listened to the mewling half-breed, and his tail flashed up and hard.

Lu Ten had gained his tail from his mother, but he was a war-demon through and through. Acid and poison coursed through his tail, ready to be released from a strike by the heavy barb at the end.

Acid sprayed across the half-breed's face, and Zuko screamed.

Azula, to be the apple of his eye

[beckyh2112.livejournal.com]

Azula saw it perfectly in the mirror: Zuko was more attractive than her. The scar and shaved scalp, the demon-gold eyes in perfect Fire face, the innate grace and the scent of cinnamon. He drew eyes, insipid human eyes that lingered and desired.

She drew eyes, too, but they always looked at her with fear.

The bone-crest over her hair was no longer so pretty and smooth; it was knotted and spiked. Her fire burned blue, the color of Lu Ten's skin, and lightning flickered across her fingertips in her dreams. Her claws were long and sharp, heavy enough to pierce leather if she struck with half her strength.

Her reflection's lips peeled back, baring black-lacquer dragon's teeth.

Zuzu might take after their father, but she took after the grandfather she was named for.

[moonys-autumn.livejournal.com]

Lu Ten, Ozai, scars
Jee, Zuko, meeting

Lu Ten and Ozai, scars

[beckyh2112.livejournal.com]

This is a direct follow-up to how Zuko got the scar this go around (http://beckyh2112.livejournal.com/454825.html?thread=5607337#t5607337).


"Well." Ozai drew a lacquered claw down Lu Ten's cheek. "I do hope you're pleased with yourself."

His nephew snarled and jerked his face away. Burns yet covered his flesh; no doubt his mother would dispatch him to the Ministry of Epidemics to get them looked at before they scarred.

"Banished from the mortal world for a hundred years," Ozai continued, slinking closer to his nephew.

As expected, Lu Ten jerked away from him, too much weakened by Ursa's furious attack and subsequent banishment to resist the fear and darkness lurking in Ozai's outstretched wings.

"Your father taught me to pick my battles," Ozai all but purred, and he was entirely gratified as the reds of Lu Ten's eyes showed in a ring all around his gold irises. "Surely he taught you the same."

Lu Ten snarled wordlessly, tail whipping out as if to strike.

Ozai caught it just behind the barb and smiled. "That was my son too, Lu Ten. Not just hers. But I'll leave the matter of revenge to him when he finally grows tired of the mortal world."

Jee and Zuko, meeting

[beckyh2112.livejournal.com]

There was a demon on the ship.

The men were whispering about it. Fearful glances slid towards him - the demon who looked like a youth. An ugly scar surrounded his left eye, and his scalp was shaved save for a long phoenix-tail. He dressed in the armor of a prince of the Fire Nation - he was the prince of the Fire Nation.

Zuko kept his chin up and his shoulder straight. He had been whispered about his entire life. He would not be bothered by them again. He was just going to go to his cabin and figure out what to do next on this difficult task.

He would find the Avatar. He would be seen as worthy of his position in the royal family, in the Fire Nation itself. He would be accepted.

"Prince Zuko!" A man stepped into his path, bowed. His eyes lingered on Zuko as he straightened, gaze intense and too-warm. "I am Captain Sadao. Lieutenant Jee here will get you settled into the ship."

The man Sadao indicated as the lieutenant had shorn grey hair. His arms were crossed, his expression irritated. "I'll show you to your cabin, princeling."

Zuko blinked.

The last person to call him princeling was Uncle Iroh.

[dark-puck.livejournal.com]

Katara and Haru; inspiration

Haru; balance

Zhao; afterlife

Yue and Zuko; opposites

Haru, balance

[beckyh2112.livejournal.com]

Wrap the tail around his leg before he pulls on his pants.

Fold his wings down close and tight before he pulls on his shirt.

Look in the polished bronze mirror.

If he squints-

No, he still doesn't look very human at all.

From a distance, it's good enough.

But the Fire Nation is here, in his village, and 'from a distance' isn't good enough anymore.

Katara and Haru, inspiration

[beckyh2112.livejournal.com]

Katara stands atop the pile of coal, urging them to fight back. It's enough to stir the heart of a damned man; Haru sees it stir the warden's heart, sees the anger in him as Katara challenges his control.

This is new.

His wings settle around him in a shroud. This isn't new, this hiding; it's the first thing he learned how to do as a boy, even before all of his other tricks and crafts.

He sneaks forward as the warden mocks Katara, mocks his people, mocks his father. His hand closes around a piece of coal-

He shoots upright, wings flaring and spikes slashing out of the tip of his tail. His throw is neat and sure.

The warden whirls and catches the slap of Haru's spiked tail across his face.

The spikes are new, too, but he thinks he likes them.

Yue and Zuko, opposites

[beckyh2112.livejournal.com]

The girl has hair the color of moonbeams and eyes like moonstruck-pearls. She is pale, ethereal, whole.

"You can't take him," she whispers. Her tears are like diamonds, and his blood on her opalescent claws is obscene.

"You can't stop me," Zuko husks, fire licking from his mouth. Tiger-stripes show on his skin, and the cheek opposite his scar oozes blood. Silver teeth flashes as he smiles.

He smells peach-blossoms as her eyes flash, but in the end, she is only water and survival, while he is fire and life.

[gigabomb.livejournal.com]

I get four prompts? Cool! Now I just have to think of some...

Zhao and Zuko, how things are different between them when Zhao has a demon patron and Zuko is disliked in the Fire Nation for other reasons.

Zuko and Azula, family dinners (or meetings, or parties, or whatever) with the demon side of the family (+ Ursa, of course, if possible).

Iroh and Azulon, Iroh becoming the Jade-Eyed Emperor (... if he does; I think it is implied somewhere in your writing, but I'm not sure)

Ozai and Aang, somehow I don't think Aang defeating the Fire Lord in this 'verse goes down quite the same way it does in canon (or at least if it does, Ozai certainly has a different opinion on the whole Avatar deal)

Thanks!

Family dinner wth the demon side of the family (1/3)

[beckyh2112.livejournal.com]

Ursa stepped through the veil of worlds, holding her children's hands tightly. As always, the translation to Hell made her stomach heave and her vision go black.

When she came back to herself, her knuckles were white as she gripped Zuko and Azula's hands. They looked around curiously at the antechamber in Ozai's mansion. This was their first visit to Hell, now that they were old enough to understand it and withstand the strain of translation.

The doors swung open, and a golden demon waltzed into the room. For the briefest of moments, Ursa thought it was Ozai, but-

Well, Ozai never had tits like that.

There were other differences- Ozai was nearly half a head taller than her, but this demon looked to only come up to Ursa's chin. She wore her copper hair in a thousand small braids, beads at the end of each. Gold wings trailed behind her, and brilliant topaz eyes sparkled with delight. She was opulent with jewelry, hardly wearing more than that and a few wisps of silk to preserve modesty.

"Darlings!" The demon called gaily, dropping to her knees to envelope Zuko and Azula in a hug. "Oh, look how adorable you are! Such pretty reds to bring out your eyes!"

Azula squirmed uncomfortably, fire puffing from her mouth. Zuko looked up at his mother with wide, panicked eyes.

"Hello," Ursa said simply, trying to keep an edge out of her voice.

The demon released her children from the hug and stood. "Hello. I'm Ilah the Golden, Ozai's mother. You must be Ursa."

"I am," Ursa said, "And these are my children, Zuko and Azula."

"My grandchildren," Ilah said fondly, her wings flexing. "It's so good to meet you for the first time. Ozai has told me a bit about you, but he never says anything important."

Ursa relaxed her grip on her children, and Azula pulled away. Zuko, however, just grabbed onto her hand harder. "Like what, Ilah?"

"Like how pure you are," Ilah said, one wing flicking out absently to block Azula from leaving the room. "Tainted with the Fire Nation's war and your own choice in lover, more than a little wrathful, but most women who deal with Hell are vile. Most men are, too."

"A side-effect of what they're dealing with, I'd expect," Ursa said cooly.

"Indeed," Ilah said with a too-sharp smile. "Now, you should join us for dinner. Come along, darlings! Who wants to help their grandmother finish making the cookies?"

Both Zuko and Azula perked up at that, and Zuko finally pulled away from Ursa to trail after the gold demon.

***

Outside the antechamber, Ozai caught her by the elbow. "How was it?" He asked in a low voice. "Did she do anything to hurt you?"

"No," Ursa said, gently trying to tug free so she could follow the children. "She seemed... decent enough. As demons go."

Ozai's wings fluttered, and he nodded. "All right. Ursa, about the dinner..."

"Ozai, the children-"

"They'll be fine. You probably shouldn't eat anything; I don't think most of it will be appetizing at all, and it might make you sick."

Ursa turned a glare on her husband. "If it makes me sick, what will it do to the children?"

"I don't really know? I've never had half-demons over for dinner."

Ursa broke away from her husband. "Show me where she took the children, Ozai."

[gigabomb.livejournal.com]

... never mind on prompt 3, I just realized I was remembering wrong and Iroh becomes the leader of the ministry of war, not the Jade-Eyed Emperor. Um...

How about Iroh and Ozai, when demonic politics and demonic family issues start interfering with each other.

Iroh and Ozai, when demonic politics and demonic family issues start interfering with each other

[beckyh2112.livejournal.com]

"The siege of Ba Sing Se goes well for the Fire Nation," Iroh mused, studying maps more intricate and detailed than any made by mortal cartographers. "They'll penetrate the Impenetrable City soon."

The Greater Lords of War mutter agreement. Clawed hands, tentacles, pincers, hoof-hardened fingers, all touch the maps to turn them this way and that.

"The war will end if Ba Sing Se falls," Greater Lord Two pronounced. "Not immediately, but the end will be in sight. The Earth Kingdoms will lose hope, and the Water Tribes are easily vanquished."

"Bad for us," Lu Ten, Greater Lord Seven, noted. "Ba Sing Se must not fall."

"We have clients involved," Greater Lord Four reminded him.

"No one of particular importance in the Fire Nation, though," Greater Lord Three said.

Greater Lord Six added, "We have clients on both sides; to favor the Fire Nation will lose us credibility in the Earth Kingdom."

"None of the Earth generals involved, however, are clients," Greater Lord Five murmured.

"Neither is Colonel-Prince Kazuro," Greater Lord One said out of both sides of her mouth.

***

"Her family was supposed to be protected," Ozai gritted out, wings flared to their full-span. The effect of the threat display was diminished by the scent commanding desire and fulfillment that wafted from him.

It was, Iroh sadly noted, an unfortunate side-effect of being a lust-demon instead of simply an employee of the Ministry of Lust. Ozai reacted to threats by seducing them rather than making them afraid.

"Whatever agreements you may have with your princess, little brother," he said, "do not bind me."

"You agreed-!"

"I agreed not to touch her or her children. The nephew, however, was not covered by any agreements between the two of us."

"You helped me save the niece." Barbs sprang out along the joints of Ozai's wings. "Will you kill her when it's convenient?"

"It was not convenience," Iroh rebuked. "The death of Colonel-Prince Kazuro broke the Siege of Ba Sing Se. The Impenetrable City did not fall, and the war will go on indefinitely. You know how much good the war has done for Hell."

Ozai hissed, "I know how much good the war has done for the Ministry of War!"

[gamiel.livejournal.com]

Zuko and Jee - respect is earned not given

Mai and Ty Lee, what is there relationship with Azula and Zuko and how dose there families and the rest of the Fire Nation react to it

Zuko and Jee, respect is earned, not given

[beckyh2112.livejournal.com]

Zuko ran away.

Jee woke one morning to find the prince gone with their ostrich-horse and half the supplies. He cursed roundly, made himself some of the strongest tea he'd ever drank, and set about rigging a carry for the supplies.

Zuko could either catch up with him or not. He was going to Ba Sing Se. After what he'd done during the Siege of the North, the Fire Nation would hang him high.

They wouldn't forgive the prince either, but he wasn't sure Zuko quite realized that yet.

A few days later, Zuko found him again. He looked exhausted and said nothing about where he'd been.

Jee cuffed the boy, and Zuko stared with wide eyes.

"Did you learn anything or was it a waste of time?"

"Yes," the prince muttered.

Jee cuffed him again on general principles.

[silverhunteress.livejournal.com]

Zuko and Aang's first meeting HOMG!Demon reactions from Water Tribe onlookers optional.

Zuko and/or Azula demonic puberty, much different from the human variety.

Zuko and Aang's first meeting

[beckyh2112.livejournal.com]

Aang chokes as the penguin plows into the Fire boy's legs, and his grin is just a bit shaky as he climbs to his feet. The Water Tribe kids cheer him on, but-

He has never been that close to a demon.

The demon-boy stands up, tiger-stripes forming like bruises under his skin. Fire flares around his fist, and Aang feels sick as he realizes the boy can't be a true demon.

Demons, like celestials, can't 'bend.

He's the Avatar. He's celestial power made human with all the limits of a human. He can 'bend all four elements, but that's it as far as special abilities go. If just a part-blood demon makes him feel like this...

He doesn't want to meet a true demon. Ever.

[flowerflute.livejournal.com]

Zuko and Lee (the earth kingdom boy) ashes to ashes, dust to dust.
Blue Spirit/Jee, limits
Thank you <3

[beckyh2112.livejournal.com]

*headtilts at the Blue Spirit/Jee prompt* *pokes it gently with a stick* Any particular reason why the specific of "Blue Spirit"?

[weirdlet.livejournal.com]

Azula meets Ty Lee- blithe spirit

Azula meets Ty Lee

[beckyh2112.livejournal.com]

Ty Lee paused in the door of the classroom. She's late, coming in over fifteen days after the start of the term. Her oldest sister had a wedding, though, and her family thought that was more important. She agreed, but it was still a bit daunting to look at the classroom and know everybody already knew everyone else already.

There weren't very many free seats, and all of them were around one girl in the center of the classroom. But they were the only free seats, and Ty Lee didn't want to stand up here any longer.

"Hi!" she said as she slid into a seat next to the girl all alone.

"Hello." Gold eyes looked back at her, and a crest of bone-like spikes curled over ebony hair. The girl smiled, revealing sharp teeth, shiny and black as Mama's prized lacquerware.

Ty Lee blinked, her eyes unconsciously flicking down to the backwards feet of the girl who had to be Princess Azula.

Demon-blood, half-breed; her sisters' tongues had been wagging ever since they'd returned to the Fire Nation. All about Princess Ursa and her children, how unnatural it was, how decadent some of the other nobles were for thinking it was fashionable to have a demon-lover.

They'd never seen a girl their own age sitting all by herself in a crowd of people, she thought.

Ty Lee shoved all their fearful whispers back in her head and mustered up her brightest smile. "My name's Ty Lee. What's yours?"

[danatheleseus.livejournal.com]

What is Jet like in this? Demon, demon hunter, or just like in canon? Alternatively, Zuko in Ba Sing Se.

What is Jet like in this?

[beckyh2112.livejournal.com]

"I want you to understand," Jet said, weariness in his voice like he was carrying a mountain. "I thought your brother would understand..."

It tore at Katara's heart to hold onto her anger. She didn't want to be angry at Jet. He'd been hurt by the Fire Nation, and his methods were a bit extreme, but didn't you fight fire with fire?

("You met a demon, huh?" Jet asked. "You should be careful of them, Katara. It's their nature to deceive and harm."

She nodded, falling into the silver-flecked brown eyes.)

Katara bit her lip nearly hard enough to make herself bleed. "Where's Sokka?"

"Katara," he said, reaching out to cup her cheek.

(Haru's tail flicked against her calf, and she playfully swatted his tail near its base.

It wasn't until she pulled her hand away that she realized how- how that must have looked, and her cheeks grew hot.

Haru blinked, then looked ashamed. "Sorry," he muttered. "I let it get away from me."

Something shifted between them, and she found herself not so caught up in his inhuman beauty. But he was still such a kind boy, and she wasn't sure if...

"Do all demons do that?" She asked.

"Not all." He tilted his head slightly. "And not only demons.")

Pearlescent claws pricked against her cheek, and Katara yanked water out of her waterskin.

[spyridona.livejournal.com]

Jeong Jeong - What is he?

Jeong Jeong - what is he?

[beckyh2112.livejournal.com]

"No."

"No?" Iroh drummed claws against the bone-covered surface of his desk. The bone, unlike most of his furniture, did not scar under casual use. "Need I remind you, Jeong Jeong-"

"You need remind me of nothing." The ghost drew himself upright, death-wounds skittering across his form, chased by the admiral's armor he had forsworn. "I am already damned; the only thing you can do now is make me suffer."

"Heaven really did ruin you," Iroh sighed. Stoicism. Such a bane to his efforts. His whiskers twitched with sudden amusement. "Even if they didn't save you."

The ghost said nothing, death-wounds and admiral's armor both replaced by the rough robes of a hermit.

Jeong Jeong really had been a fine admiral, Iroh thought. One of the finest humans he had ever supported, and they'd done such beautiful things in the war-effort together. Then the man had been so kind as to direct several of his students to deal with the Ministry. What more could Iroh want from such an exemplary client?

Then Heaven started to whisper poison into Jeong Jeong, which culminated in the admiral abandoning War for a life of asceticism.

Regrettably, Iroh had to send forces to kill him before too much of that went on. It wouldn't do at all for Jeong Jeong to slip from Hell's clutches, or worse yet, find enlightenment.

His whiskers curled up as he considered the problem. Pain couldn't sway the ghost. But Iroh had so many more options than pain.

"There's a young man just recently joined the Fire Army. A touch of Sun Warrior blood, a few bastard lines from the nobility, no knack with firebending. The Fire Nation doesn't see him as very important, but there's a few other bloodlines in him than just human."

Iroh let his whiskers flicker with seeming disinterest as Jeong Jeong's death-wounds became more apparent.

"Heaven has been trying their best to sway him, but he idolizes Commander Zhao. I expect he'll come to the good commander's notice in a year or two, and then..." Iroh shook his head with mock sadness. "But I expect someone like the legendary deserter could sway him."

Jeong Jeong's eyes were bright as sin and his death-wounds dripped gore onto the floor of Iroh's office. "Tell me more."

It truly fascinated Iroh that the ghost likely wasn't giving even the slightest thought to how saving the boy would shorten his own stay in Hell.

"His name is Chey. If you'll do this mission for me, I'll see he crosses your path."

"Before," the ghost demanded. "You'll just drag me back as soon as I deal with the Avatar."

"Before," Iroh agreed with a twitch of his whiskers. "Do you agree?"

"I'll lead the Avatar into a fear of fire," Jeong Jeong promised. "He'll never firebend when I'm done with him."

[floranna.livejournal.com]

Okay, what's with it that people are starting to give me extra prompts? Is not like I am complaining about it or something...

Zuko, trying to make friends.

Zuko and Aang have a conversation.

Hakoda and zuko meet for the first time.

Ursa dealing with people who insult her children.

Zuko, trying to make friends

[beckyh2112.livejournal.com]

It's not until Zuko is nine that he realizes Colonel Kazuro is the Firelord's eldest son. Only son. Uncle has had other children, but they never seem to live long. Little Tian is the only other one of Uncle's children Zuko knows of still alive, and she is sick and pale almost all the time. In the winter, she coughs and coughs.

It makes Azula snicker.

Kazuro is twice Zuko's age and never around. But the winter Zuko turns nine, Tian does not cough so much or so hard as she usually does.

Sometimes in the night that winter, Zuko wakes up to hear the rustle of leathery wings and lowered voice. Father, he thinks, and lets the talk wash over him, half-heard and barely-remembered scraps of conversation about the Ministry of Epidemics, favors called in, and how much Father loves Mother to do this for her.

That summer, Tian is five years old and bright-eyed. She sneaks away from her nursemaids and gets lost in the palace, she gazes in awe at the kitchens and the foods, she roams the gardens tirelessly. Her laugh is bright and bubbly, and Mother smiles so much when she sees her.

One morning, like every other morning, Zuko takes bread down to the turtleduck pond. It's Mother's pond, and she loves it, and the birds love her. Sometimes they like Zuko, but sometimes tiger-stripes crawl across his skin, and no animals will come near him.

Today they like him, and he throws bits of bread to them.

"Hi!"

Zuko startles, nearly falling into the pond, and twists to see his little cousin looking at him from the path. She is all alone, and he knows people are going to be upset when they find her again. Princesses aren't supposed to be alone.

Azula is alone a lot of the time, but Uncle says she isn't really a princess. Not in the ways that matter.

"Hello," Zuko says.

They stand and stare at each other, then Zuko tears off another piece of bread and throws it to the turtleducks. Tian's eyes brighten as the birds quack demandingly for more.

"Can I do that?" She asks, and Zuko wordlessly hands her a piece of bread.

She tosses the whole thing in.

"Not like that," he says, as the turtleducks poke at it until it sinks below the surface. "You've got to tear it into small pieces."

"Ohhhh!"

The nursemaids find them a little while later, Tian giggling with delight as she feeds the ducks and Zuko running out of bread. They sweep the princess into their arms, twin expressions of dislike on their faces as they look at him.

The next time Tian sees him, she squares her shoulders and turns away.