Empress Of The Old World {Legend Of Korra}

Bandit

Sukara was stood watching Iroh dance with Voya when she spotted a familiar face. She had sent him an invitation but she had no idea that he would actually get it, let alone turn up. He seemed to be hiding off to the side probably to stay out of Lin's eye line. Sukara made her way over, he almost jumped out of his skin when she spoke.

"Ozah," she said as she approached him.

"Oh hey," he panted, clutching his chest as he regathered himself.

"You made it," Sukara smiled, "I wasn't sure if you would."

"I wouldn't miss it for the world, did miss out on being a bridesman though," he sighed, looking out at the reception, "on account of being a fugitive. And with the Chief of police walking you down the isle and all."

"Yeah, that'd do it," Sukara nodded with a soft chuckle, leaning on the pillar next to her.

"Didn't think it was the best idea to stand up front."

"No," Sukara chuckled, "but you were there in spirit. Anyway, how are you? How's being a bandit?"

"It's good, got a couple jobs lined up," he said, putting his back to the pillar, "life has been great, got to go to my first wedding. What about you? How's being married?"

"I'll tell you what, these past few hours have been some of the best of my life," Sukara told him, "and I've won wars that gave me an Empire. But this, this happy warm feeling, its just so nice and secure. And I've got a daughter now, we adopted her a couple of months ago and she's just an  angel."

"Really?" he exclaimed, moving to look around the pillar, "which one is she?"

"Blue dress, over there with the general of the United Forces," Sukara said, pointing over to where Voya was.

"Aww she's adorable," he smiled, hugging the pillar, "how old?"

"Three."

"So cute."

They stood watching her for a moment, her smile wide across her face as she jumped with Iroh swinging her arms back and for.

As they watched, something made a clanging sound at Sukara's feet. She looked down to see a small metal canister that was hissing small amounts of white smoke from each end of it. Sukara frowned, not sure what it was. She went to reach down to get a better look at it but Ozah grabbed her in a panic.

"No! Don't touch it!" was all he could get out before it exploded in their faces.

A blinding flash threw them back into the wall behind them. Their backs hitting hard on the stone. The ringing in Sukara's ears made everything sound muffled as she tried to rub away the flash that was seared into her eyes. Once she managed to get her eyes open and push herself up off of the ground, the scene wasn't the nightmare, it was the lack of one. She couldn't see anything. Everything was engulfed by white smoke.

End of part one