𝓐𝓬𝓬𝓾𝓻𝓼𝓮𝓭 𝓒𝓻𝓸𝔀𝓷 {𝓐𝓣𝓛𝓐}

Part 14: Stale Ass Wheat Bread

NOTE: Not a fan of this chapter, did not enjoy writing it. I don't trust nor really like genuine kind people. 

She felt the ship come to a halt, digging into the land before dropping the metal plank with a loud thud. Her fingers fiddling with one another as she looked at the door, her nerves were at high alert, waiting for the door open and filling the room with fire nation soldiers.

Seeing her so nervous, her father places a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, dear. It'll be just a meeting to sort out a couple things, we'll be home once we're done."

Wordlessly, she nodded her head, sparing her father a meek smile. By her father's side, they walked out of their room to the dock. The fire nation soldiers that escorted them to the fire nation stood by in files. As guests of the royal family, one would expect them to receive all the prestige and respect from all those who serve their hosts, yet, as Yue looks around the men that stood by her sides, she couldn't help but grimace at the bored, yawning faces of those soldiers. They were haphazardly swinging their arms, whispering to one another, shifting and bouncing on the balls of their feet, no military bearing in sight for as far as the eye could see.

Her eyes then trained off to her side, to see her father's reaction. He stood firm, face stoic and cold as an ice sculpture as he moved along by her side.

Following his lead, she held her head high despite the urge to retreat back to their room. Walking off the plank, they were greeted by yet another soldier, though compared to the one that flocked around the ship, this one had no helmet on. Dark brown hair and a sharp face to match.

The man bowed with much unneeded force. "Greetings, Chief Arnook and Princess Yue of the Northern Water Tribe. I am Lieutenant Zhao, I shall be your guide till further notice." He stood up with a huff, "Now, if you would, please follow me."

Yue shared a look with her father before doing so. They climbed up what she believed was over a thousand sets of stairs. The closer they got to the top, the closer she believed they got to the sun.

If she were to describe the palace in one word, she would say "suffocating." Similar to the element that their hosts bend, everything was yellow or red, and similar to how fire use up all the air, it was suffocating.

Their guide, Zhao, visibly brightened when they made it at the front gates of the palace, where there stood four individuals. Once they made it to the top, they saw a stark contrast to how those four were compared to the others that stood in line. While the workers and staff, Yue assumed, had their heads low in a bow and dressed in similar outfits with minor differences.

The four at the centre stood tall. Their dresses were made of the finest of silk, she could only guess how expensive they were. Two children, around her age, maybe a couple years younger, and two adults, one of which was more youthful than the other.

"I greet the Princesses and Prince of the Fire Nation." Her father bows to the four. She was quick to echo in after him, keeping her eyes closed as she bowed.

When they looked up, her father got into an exchange of pleasantries with the oldest of the four, Princess Ursa. She assumed that she was the mother of the two younger ones, who were busy tugging on the sleeves of the fourth person. Prince Zuko and Princess Azula, she recalled hearing about them from her father and his advisors. She then looked towards the stoic faced one, you. With the branded number on the cheek and tired, distant eyes.

076, an adult, she concluded. There were many whispers going around you, they say you were the bastard of the prince prior to his engagement to Ursa and angered by his son's conduct, the Fire Lord had sent out a hunt for you and your mother to erase all trace of your existence. At her last ditch attempt to save you, your mother had sent you to the child soldier program where your abilities thrived. So much so the royal family could no longer ignore your achievements, and as if you had proven yourself, the Fire Lord had called you to the palace to better serve their cause in expansion.