Sun Child: Refuge

[weirdlet]

The AU:  Sun Child, in which Princess Zura was pregnant when she was banished from the Fire Nation.  Now she roams the world, seeking the Avatar as the key to redemption for herself- and her daughter.

The Prompt:  What happens during The Avatar State?

The Fic:

It was the anniversary.  She’d known it was coming for some time, but only after reaching the spa-town’s shore had Zura been able to find a calendar that confirmed it.

Three years ago today, she had been banished from the Fire Nation- becoming a princess without a crown, a traveler without a country, and no place she could call her own.  She had lost her honor, her reputation, and her inheritance in one fell swoop, and she wanted it back with a burning vengeance verging on ashen despair.

Her daughter had wanted to go to the beach, though, and so she’d put that aside in order to watch her splash happily in the surf, pulling her back when she strayed too far.

…

Zura was patting Lan Min dry with a towel as she stepped into the shady beach house, trying not to smile through her grimace.

“How you managed to get sand there I’ll never know…”

“San’!” Lan Min agreed, and waved the shell Uncle had let her pick out.  The rest of them were being poured out onto the table by the man himself, delighting Zura’s wriggly daughter with the noise and clatter.

“Look at these magnificent shells!  We’ll enjoy these keepsakes for years to come!”

The princess glanced over at the spread of beach effluvia, and had to smile.  “Maybe one or two- we don’t know if we’re going to have anyplace to put them.” 

They were adrift in a tiny town with no boat, no money and no one to call on, but at least they weren’t adrift in the middle of the ocean.  Most of the men who’d served with her were alive and having a good time on the town.  The sun was shining, the cherry trees were fluttering with blossoms, and she hadn’t felt this good in a long time.

“Hello, sister.  Uncle.” 

And like a leaf in the storm, the good times were gone.

“What are you doing here?”

“In my country, we exchange a pleasant ‘hello’ before asking questions.”  The boy rose out of his chair and stepped into the light of the window, smiling.  Azulon had grown some since she’d seen him last, gaining muscle and form.  He was still distressingly petite, though, and Zura knew it had to bother him to take after Uncle rather than Father.

“Have you become uncivilized so soon, Zu-Za?”

“Don’t call me that,” she snapped automatically, shifting Lan Min on her hip.  Azulon picked up on the movement, tilting his head as he stepped closer.

“And is this my- nephew?”

“Niece.”

“Niece,” he repeated, seeming to turn the word over in his head, and smiled beatifically, bringing his hands from behind his back.  “I have a gift for my- niece, although now it seems hardly appropriate-“  He had a soft, stuffed doll, a high-quality piece, shaped like a komodo rhino in full parade cavalry gear.

“Do you think she’d like it anyway?”

Judging by the way Lan Min was eyeing the offered toy and starting to make grabby motions, she would indeed.

“To what do we owe this great honor?” Iroh said, reasserting his presence in the room.  Zura glanced back at him, then to Azulon again, whose expression had not changed.  The grip he had on the stuffed toy didn’t change either, although she was certain if he were really in a pointed mood, there would be smoking holes where his fingertips had been.

“So quick to get to the point- well.  I’ve come with a message from home,” Azulon said, reaching up to fiddle with his hair.  “Father has changed his mind- he wishes you home.  Family is suddenly very important to him.”

“…what?”

“He’s heard of plans to overthrow him- to end his line and destroy his family.  There have even been attempts… as I’m sure you well know.”  Zura stared at her brother, trying to read him- Lan Min was starting to demand down, and so she knelt to set her on the floor, but still held on to her.

“Flung so far distant across the empire, we can be picked off, one by one.  Together we are strong- untouchable.  It’s the only way to be safe,” Azulon continued coolly, gazing down at his sister.  A pause, and then-

“Father regrets your banishment- he wants you to return home.  You, and his only grandchild,” the prince said, leaning down and offering the stuffed rhino across the gap between them.

The toddler strained, and Zura finally let her go, to walk the few steps between herself and her brother.  Azulon was smiling, and it looked- happy, not like he was about to eat someone’s head.  Lan Min was all over the rhino, and then ducked her head and looked up at the prince with shy adoration.

“…usually she doesn’t like strangers,” Zura said faintly.

“Well I’m hardly that, am I,” Azulon retorted, picking up the girl without a word of protest from either.  “-oof- hello there, Princess- an honor to make your acquaintance…”

Iroh set his hand on her shoulder, and she tried not to pounce.

Lan Min was settled into Azulon’s arms as easily as she might be in Zura’s, tugging on his sidelocks the way she did on her mother’s ponytail. 

“I still haven’t heard my thank-you, by the way,” Azulon said casually, still smiling as if this were the most natural thing in the world.  “I’m not a messenger- I didn’t have to come.  But- there’s time for that after I spoil this lovely girl…” he cooed.

Am I this nauseating when I get like that?

…

The word went out- the prince had come to collect his sister, and had made it sound very like a royal homecoming was in the offing.  Sailors and soldiers out of uniform gathered in the different taverns of the town, muttering together over the news.

It looked like decision-time was about to come sooner rather than later.

No one off the royal vessel had been allowed shore-leave so far- that indicated a swift cast-off was expected, and Jee didn’t like that he had no way to talk to those soldiers.  If they were under orders not to say anything, of course that would indicate plenty on its own, but there was plenty to glean if only they were here.

The old general had come down to his particular watering-hole, and frowned as he nursed a drink across the table from him.

“You don’t like it either, sir.” 

“No, I do not,” the general agreed, setting his cup aside and grasping his chin in narrow thought.  “Azulon claims to have been ordered to bring his sister home.  I have no doubt that is his mandate- but I distrust the intent.”

“What would you like us to do, sir?”

The silence lingered for a long moment after that.

“How long have you been in the navy, Lieutenant?”

“I’m a twenty-year man, sir,” Jee responded, knowing about where this was probably headed.

“And what earned you this post, traveling with the princess?”

“I- managed to go around a particularly stupid set of orders rather than right through them.”  A most egregious crime indeed by some standards, Iroh understood.  Just the sort of enterprise he needed.

“There is no evidence of- wrongdoing, in your fortunate retreat from the North,” the general said carefully, renewing his cup and gesturing with it.  “I do not know what will happen tomorrow- we may very well walk onto that ship and go home.  But I would ask- a certain caution to be aforethought…”

…

Zura was bustling about the small vacation cottage, packing the few belongings they’d collected in their time here.  She’s been tense and nervous as a wet owlcat until Azulon had left, but that seemed to have melted away.

Iroh could swear he heard humming.

It was enough to make hand meet forehead, safely out of view, before coming in.

“Home, uncle- after three long years!  We’re going to see home!”  The younger princess was sitting on the floor playing with some of the shells that Zura wasn’t packing, and his niece paused to lean over her, stroking her hair.  “It’s unbelievable!”

“It is unbelievable,” he muttered, and his niece continued to bustle, an edge to it that was almost frantic even though she wasn’t moving in a rush.  “I have never known my brother to regret anything,” Iroh cautioned uneasily, and was met with a glare. 

“Father’s realized how important family is- he wants to see his granddaughter.”

“Zura-“

“Uncle- I have to see.  If it’s true- then that’s everything I want for her.”  He grimaced, and watched his niece turn around to drop her armful of clothing.  She paused after, resting her hands on the table, long phoenix-tail draped over her shoulder.

“I’m tired, Uncle.  I want to go home.”

“I understand- I just don’t know if this will be the homecoming you wish it to be.”

“I’ll take what I can get- I can win glory another day.  If I can call the Fire Nation home, see my family, show Lan Min where she comes from for the first time- that’s good enough.”  I can handle Azulon for that.

Some things just had to be seen for themselves, and he could not cushion all blows.  Would that he could.

Why, spirits, must I ever watch my children march off willingly into danger, sure that it will not touch them?  Why must it hurt even though the blow is expected?

…

…

Azulon did not mention when to come, but Zura knows the morning tide and is up at daybreak, gathering her things.  Her men are outside and Uncle has them carry the baggage, and, once they get closer to the shore, her daughter, who is happy amongst her many half-uncles.

“If you are going back to the capital- you should begin to practice the etiquette for an Imperial princess.  On formal occasions, and this being exactly that, it is not fitting for you to be seen carrying anything, even your own child.”  He’s right, of course- those are the formal rules, although she remembers them being relaxed a time or two, before…

Well.  It’s not something she’s comfortable with, and it’s not going to be a very big sendoff, but it’s her sendoff and she’s going to do it properly.  She kisses Lan Min, and settles her in the Lieutenant’s arms, where she is kept very well. 

She still glances behind, though.

There are Imperial firebenders lining the docks, a salutary gesture she did not expect.  Her own, unofficial escort forms ranks and marches between the rows behind her and her uncle. 

Azulon stands at the head of the gangplank, smiling sweet enough to choke on.

“Sister- uncle.  Welcome!  I’m so glad you decided to come.”  The Imperial benders turn about from parade rest, enclosing the more ragged escort that has tailed behind Zura.

“Are we ready to- depart, your highness?” the captain falters, and Azulon nods graciously.

“Set our course for home, captain.”  Zura glances behind once more, at where Jee had stepped back to the second row with her daughter in his arms.

Home, she murmurs as she feels her heart fall, and wonders if she’ll truly see it again.

“You heard the prince, raise the anchors!  We’re taking the prisoners-“ and everything stops.

Why did I ever let myself think otherwise?

“Your Highness-“ the captain isn’t faltering anymore.  He still gets pushed aside as Zura surges forward.  Betrayal burns all the more for being half-expected.

Uncle is shoving and kicking aside guard after guard, red uniforms splashing into blue water.  “Zura- let’s go!” he shouts.

She gets past the first set of guards, and Azulon’s simpering smile is now that of a fiend.

“You know, Father blames Uncle for the loss of the North Pole- and he considers you a miserable failure for not capturing the Avatar.  Why would he want to bring you home except to lock you up where you can no longer flaunt yourself to the world and embarrass him?  You, who couldn’t even name the father of your bastard when called upon!”

Zura roars.

“YOU’D KNOW, WOULDN’T YOU!”

There is fire, and flashing daggers made of same, and Azulon may be a prodigy and a perfectionist but Zura is mad and lightning is little deterrent to getting to mar that perfect, pouty face that everyone adores.

Uncle grabs his nephew’s crackling hands before he can blast his sister into oblivion and sends the blazing energy out to sea, followed shortly by the boy himself.  Zura wants to follow and strangle him but the lack of her child’s weight in her arms pulls her back down the gangplank, racing down the docks where her escort has scattered in the confusion, just as panicked as the rows of Imperial firebenders that had flanked the pier and are now bobbing in the water. 

They are good soldiers.

Unquestionably loyal.

They have neither hampered the prince in his endeavors, nor gathered behind the princess’s personal banner against Imperial will.  Such a thing is death without permission from the Firelord, and not to be asked of such good men.

Doesn’t stop Lt. Jee from showing up about halfway to the creek with a cut brow and Lan Min in his arms, having stepped back from the ranks as soon as things started going to hell in a handbasket.

“Hurry- they’re working on fishing him out of the water.  Won’t be long before I’m missed.”  That’s twice they’ve saved her in the last few weeks and uncountable times more when they were at sea and there’s no time to thank them more.

Lan Min is crying loud and hysterical and Zura doesn’t take the time to soothe her, just straps her on as tight as she can and runs. 

They make it to the creek and she and Uncle are kneeling, panting- no one’s following yet, and they can’t make it much farther as they are.

She doesn’t want to ask it.  She knows it already, but she doesn’t want to.

He was never going to bring me back, was he.

The knife is sharp.  She’s kept it honed and sleek in all the time since Uncle gave it to her, and Lan Min squirms on her back as she carefully arranges her hands above and slices away her daughter’s favorite toy.

She holds it in her hand while Uncle repeats the process for himself, a sleek black horse-tail that’s all she permitted herself to keep, after her public disgrace.  It was the mark of nobility- an honored follower of the warrior tradition, those who fight so that those who farm may stay safe.  Before, she has never actually disobeyed an order from her superiors.  Before, they were still members of the hierarchy, both bound and protected by the rules.

No more.

Now it’s just her and her screaming child and thudding heart and her uncle who is strong and wise but mostly aged.

The black strands float away on the stream, and Zura feels naked as they make for the West.

 

 

Comments

[redrikki.livejournal.com]

This is crazy and beyond creepy, but is Azulon Lan Min's dad? Just the pauses before saying "niece" and the random hits you've dropped throught the other chapters totally make me think that might be the case.

[weirdlet.livejournal.com]

http://weirdlet.livejournal.com/29821.html?thread=32893#t32893

There's a night that Zura can't remember, and she's just scared enough of her little brother's intentions that she thinks it might be possible. She was fooling around with Mao, and Azulon did not like that, jealous thing that he is.