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Fandom ATLA: New Age Of Fire [Closed]

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Lucyfer

I made something that'll love me even when I won't
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Capital Island, in the Fire Nation Capital City, was lit up all around with torches and fires. The stars glittered up above, as children and adults alike found something new: they found a festival. They found stalls selling goods, they found stages with performers giving plays, singing songs, teaching tricks, or even teaching skills. The scents of spicy cuisine and sweets tinted the air in an oddly tantalizing aroma.

For once, it wasn’t war that was involved for the celebration, either.

Four years since the 100-Year War ended, and Fire Lord Zuko was holding a festival to honor their history, to instill a sense of pride into the Fire Nation, for what it had been, and could be again – as well as the feats it had accomplished even during the war, from the powers of industry and innovation.

He knew, some of the other kingdoms might think this was ‘too soon’, but they had to find a way to move on, and celebrate themselves. They couldn’t always be beaten down by all that they’d done. They had already spent four years trying to fix it, and were still fixing it – they needed a reason to fix it.

A reason to be better.

Although the tension of it all still weighed on Zuko’s shoulders as he looked down upon it all, in all his royal regalia. ‘Bit heavy.’ There was so much metal and armor bits with the attire, but he had to look the part. At least his hair was back the way he liked it, pulled up into his hairpiece.

He left the palace with some guards following at a distance. He could never be alone anymore, one frustration of being Fire Lord, but he was getting better at ignoring their presence. Toph had a few good lessons on that, amusingly enough.

He moved through the festival, giving awkward smiles to those who greeted him, bowing or inclining their head. A few gasps came; people didn’t really expect to see him just walking about like the rest of them. It was another thing he wanted to change, too. He didn’t want to rule by fear. So, he wanted to seem approachable.

The first thing he wanted to approach, though, was his uncle’s performance, which was a show of Fire-bending talent, those who were learning to use the art without the rage and anger that predominated the practice before. These students would also inherit dragons, in time, to remind people of the old ways. ‘Those are safe, thankfully.’ And expected to hatch at the end of all of this.

He was anxious about that.

He and Iroh both would have a dragon, but he worried about how that bonding experience would actually go.

Those thoughts left him as he saw the stage that Iroh had set, and people starting to arrive, anticipating the show. Zuko easily moved around the stage, to see the performers garbed and moving about.

He caught sight of his uncle Iroh, speaking with one of the performers, a short woman who he was sure he’d seen around before, but couldn’t place her name. “Uncle Iroh—”

His uncle just held up a hand to silence him, apparently wanting to finish his conversation with the woman first, and so Zuko sighed, but waited, folding his arms across his chest as he did so. Only Iroh could put him off this way.

~***~

Yina stood out amongst the Fire Nation guards as she moved through the festival to her first ‘post’. Unlike the other soldiers in heavy plate of red, she moved in lighter armor of black, a more clothe-and-leather blend than anything metal. Metal wasn’t the best idea anymore, with a metal bending school starting up in the Earth Kingdom.

Not to mention it was heavy, and hot.

And Yina needed mobility more than the others. She couldn’t just throw a fireball at anyone who upset her. Not to mention, she was more of a ‘private guard’, rather than employed directly through the Fire Nation army. ‘A wonder we’re still allowed to have that.’ She’d try not to think too hard on that.

Just as she’d try not to consider the way Saso snubbed her when they were getting their marching orders from the festival director. He would hardly look her way, or answer anything with more than a single syllable, or a grunt.

‘At least this should take my mind off of it, a bit.’ She thought, as she found the first place she was set to watch, a stage with plenty of open space around it, that would be re-introducing Fire Nation dances to the community.

Much of that had been lost as the Fire Nation cracked down on such things, so music and dance were now returning at the festival. Some of it had been preserved in the Earth Colonies, a blessing in disguise for them not being watched as much. Yina did wonder how ‘true’ to the history of the Fire Nation it could be, though.

She greeted a few people who came to the area with smiles, and nods, but kept to her post to one side.

Well…at least until she got hungry, and the show hadn’t started yet. ‘Just five minutes.’ She told herself. She could grab something from a stall, and get right back to her post.

At least, she hoped it would be that easy. There weren’t too many lines at any one stall, so she slipped into line at one for the chocolate sizzle-crisps. Someone had discovered how well chocolate went with spicy fare, and made it into various delectable treats that, well, Yina wasn’t about to say no to anytime soon.

Thankfully, it was no problem getting her bag of treats, and returning to the staging area – and on time!

There was no worded greeting, just the sound of drums, and music, before a couple danced out onto the stage to applause, and then silence, as the crowd observed what had once been forbidden. Yina, also, watched it – but also watched for anything suspicious or that may threaten this clandestine event.

Ozai’s supporters weren’t entirely gone.
 
Amongst the crowds gathering on Capital Island, a young woman bounced on her toes anxiously as she peered through the a crack in the curtains. The stage was one of the biggest features of the festival. It had massive, weighted, red curtains with intricate gold designs mimicking flames, separating at back stage goers from the people gathering. Anxious dancers and trainees busied themselves in the chaos, making sure every inch of their outfit was perfect. Everything had to be perfect, without a fault. That reality weighed heavily on Kaia's shoulder as she took in a deep breath. This festival, this show, it held so much importance for her nation and everything they had been working towards. She had heard the rumours about how risky such an event could be, how it could be misinterpreted. It wasn't a show of power, though, it was ... well it was art.

Kaia held her breath as she put her weight back onto her heels, taking a few steps away from the curtains. The more she looked at the crowd, the more anxious it made her. She needed to stop and breathe, maybe meditate, or drink some tea. Tea sounded great in that moment.

A flurry of movement to her side caught the young woman eye. She looked over to see her mentor, Iroh, waving her over. Kaia cleared her throat, clasping her hands together as she made her way over. She bowed her head slightly in respect, looking at her mentor, puzzled.
"Yes, Iroh?" She questioned. Iroh had always been rather informal with her, never asking to be called anything formal or titled. Just Iroh. They had known each other before he took her on as a trainee, but she still appreciated his kind attitude towards her.

"You are in your head again, Kaia. So tense, you need to relax yourself." Iroh said with a smile, his voice familiar and comforting. Kaia exhaled loudly, nodding as she let a ghost of a smile grace her lips.
"Yes, I know. I'm just anxious about... all those people, watching me. It's different than training with you and the others," Kaia said honestly.
"It is no different," Iroh chuckled. "You're just as tense in training sometimes, but sometimes, you relax. And that is how you must be today, fluid and graceful like the flame."

Kaia was about the respond when someone interrupted the two, she glanced over agitated only to go slightly pale. It was Fire Lord Zuko. How had she not noticed he was back here? He was decked out in all his royal gear after all. She quickly rushed a respectful bow, cheeks heating up as she realised Iroh had silenced the Fire Lord with just the wave of his hand. Maybe Iroh being informal wasn't the greatest, she knew Zuko wasn't Ozai, but by the spirits she was going to get executed because of that old man one day.

"What were you about to say, Kaia?" Iroh asked her. Kaia stood in stunned silence for a moment, mouth open and face growing redder. After a moment of panic she cleared her throat composing herself.
"I... uhm, thank you. I will meditate on your words, I'm sure it will all go well. I am an over thinker, as well all know." She gave the two men a smile, silently kicking herself as she gave the two another bow.
"Fire Lord Zuko, Iroh," she said in polite departing.

Without another word she slipped away, getting into her position next to the dancers and other trainees. She was up in a few moments, she could already hear the music starting as the crowd clapped. Fluid and graceful as the flame, right? She rolled her shoulders, mentally praying that Iroh would keep Zuko busy enough so they didn't watch her. Her poor heart wouldn't be able to handle the anxiety of a crowd and the Fire Lord. With a deep breath she stepped out onto the stage, forcing herself to smile as the crowds clapped. As if on instinct, she fell into place, feet turned into the first stance, flames already warm in her palm.


------------


Azula had a look of disgust on her face as she looked upon the crowds shuffling their way through Capitol Island. A scowl no one else could see, as the woman was wearing a large hood to conceal her identity. She figured the guards were feeling lazy when they let her slip past, usually a faceless visitor was considered an intruder. With a sharp sigh from her nose, she got looked around from her vantage point to see what details she could pick up on.

Azula had seen the flyers, heard the talk about this festival for months. Months. She couldn't help but make an annoyed sound just thinking about the praise Zuko was going to get for this one. Should've been her on that throne, not little Zuzu. She wouldn't have held such a festival anyway, she had seen people from different nations present, how cute. Azula knew they should be fearing the fire nation, instead of pushing and shoving their way to watch them perform like clowns. Disgusting.

The young woman stood atop a bridge, just on the outskirts of the main festivities. People pushed past her and stood on their tippy-toes to see past the crowds. Azula just stood, and observed. They probably thought she was part of the guard or something, she had heard Zuko was hiring non-benders as guardsmen. How pitiful, unless they were trained by the likes of Ty Lee or the Kyoshi Warriors she doubted they would do much damage. Her lip curled in annoyance just thinking of those girls, her friends had really betrayed her for what? This?

Grumbling, Azula moved from her vantage point into the crowds. While she was here she might as well try to see what was the situation. Hopefully one of the dancers would fall over... or set someone on fire. But really, the real reason she was here was because of the talk of dragon eggs going around. Now, Azula knew that dragons were supposedly returning. She had just never anticipated Zuko to make such a move so fast. She knew that such talk would bring supporters of her father. She planned to hunt them down.

Azula zig-zagged her way through the crowd, finding a nice spot leaning against a post in front of the main stage. She wanted to see what all this performance talk was about, see how stupid they looked. Apparently they were refining bending into some show-and-tell art, instead of the true power it was. She just wanted a quick glimpse, then she would hunt down some people. She knew where the usual victims usually hung out, sulking in the shadows sneering at the joke the fire nation had become.

Pulling her hood back a tiny bit, so she could see with more ease, Azula crossed her arms over her chest. The sound of drums had began, dancers moving out from behind the curtains as the crowd cheered. Azula frowned as she watched, Iroh's new trainees weren't too bad, if she said so herself. Maybe if they weren't doing stupid dances they would look better, powerful, feared even. She sucked in a sharp breath, pushing herself off from where she leant.

It was much easier to push through a standing crowd, people weren't fighting to get to the front so she moved through with ease. She didn't really pay attention to if any of the guards were watching her as she slipped past the food stalls, there was such a massive crowd they wouldn't zero in on her. Clicking her tongue she strutted up to a group of hooligan looking teens.
"Hello boys, haven't happened to have seen the likes of Rozain around? Tall, strong, dark hair, fire nation? Carries a sword with a red pendant on it, has a scar on his cheek? No?" The teens shook their heads, Azula sighed.
"I'll be on my way then." She said sharply, turning to walk down through another row of food stalls where the crowd had thinned.
 
In spite of the way Iroh had handled him, the student he was speaking towards was quick to show respect, even before continuing her conversation with Iroh. Zuko gave a slight inclination of his head to acknowledge her greeting, though he wouldn’t speak to interrupt her and Iroh. It seemed they were more or less done, anyways, as the woman was quick to dismiss herself to go prepare for the show.

“That was Kaia,” Iroh said as he turned back to Zuko with a smile, “She is a good bender, just tense.”

“I suppose she needs more calming tea?” Zuko said it drily, but there was enough humor to it for Iroh to catch. He smiled.

“Perhaps,” he said, “You look like you could use some,” he noted, and Zuko sighed, lifted his shoulders in a shrug. “You should be relaxed, happy. This is four years worth of work to get us to this point,” to where they could again celebrate what they were, and what they would be in the years to come.

“I know, I’m not unhappy,” Zuko was quick to clarify. “I’m just tense. Anything could go wrong….”

Iroh gave a nod of understanding, “Yes. Something will go wrong.”

“Uncle!”

Iroh didn’t rise to Zuko’s tone, just kept that calm expression on his face, “It is inevitable. It may be something small, or it may be something large. We cannot anticipate what it will be, we simply have to be prepared to react.”

Zuko sighed. He knew that Iroh was right, and he wouldn’t argue with him over that. Neither of them could truly anticipate what was going to happen. “So, come with me, let’s watch this show,” he said, patting Zuko on the back before leading him around to where they could watch with the rest of the people.

Both of them missing Azula, never aware she was even there as they stood near the front to observe the new art of Firebending that was going to take precedence over the old.

~***~

When the dance had concluded, the couple on the stage began to explain what they had done – the name of the dance, the type of music, the origin as they understood it – to the crowd that had forgotten such history. They promised to begin instruction on it, and stepped right into it, directing people to find a partner.

Yina wouldn’t venture close enough to even be considered someone they could ask, but she noted all those that partnered up, and those who moved to the outskirts to avoid that. To watch with interest, rather than partake. The instructions continued from the stage, and Yina’s attention drifted a bit from the show, to her surroundings.

There were still people moving about, though this area had thinned a bit with activity, most of it coalesced on the dancing floor. It allowed Yina to more easily see someone flitting through the food stalls. That wasn’t unusual, of course – what was unusual was the fact they were covered from head to toe.

That wasn’t expressly forbidden, but it was a warm night, made worse by the fires all around.

Not to mention, it hid a person’s identity only too well. They’d already had some troubles years before with people in masks pretending to be spirits, disrupting Zuko’s rule. ‘Not more of this shit.’ Well, she supposed she should at least go get a look at who this was, and make note of them.

She moved from her post silently, moving around stalls and within the shadows, though never overtly hiding.

She just knew where to step to blend, and how to keep it casual, by keeping behind a figure. Their hood would, in theory, hinder their ability to notice what was around them anyways.

“Excuse me,” when Yina was close enough, she’d reach out to catch the person’s arm and grab it, in the hopes of catching them off guard to turn them around. She wouldn’t follow that with a question immediately, though she had plenty at the ready – whether they needed help, whether they were lost – first she’d see if they reacted with hostility or not when grabbed out of the blue.
 
Kaia could already tell Iroh was going to tell her she was too tense. To be fair, it wasn’t exactly her fault that she had a bit of stage fright. She was a naturally quiet girl, it made her a good trainee. She listened and she tried, she would get worked up but she would keep it to herself. She never really considered herself one for crowds, or any kind of big social event for that matter. Regardless, Kaia tried her hardest. With luck, she wasn’t the centre of attention. She had her fellow trainees who also joined her. She was always careful to treat them with respect and kindness, her being one of the newest students of the group.

Kaia tried to let her shoulders drop and relax as she moved in beat with her companions, fire swirling in her palm and dancing around her body. Sometimes they would send controlled waves of fire near the crowd, just so they could feel the heat. The crowds would ‘ooo’ and ‘aah’ as the students worked together as much as they did by themselves.

The moves mimicked elements of the dragon dance, Kaia had heard the stories of how Zuko and Aang had done the proper dance themselves. Her version was a mix of the old and the new, the art and delicacy of what fire bending once was, and the determined wit of what could have grown into. No violence, no war. It traded all fear and death with elegant, yet strong, leaps and moves. As much as it was a dance, it was a fighting tactic.

Finally, Kaia paused near the left side of the stage, exhaling slowly. This was the risky part, this was the part that made her the most tense. Facing opposite of her was one of the older students, another lightning bender. Kaia has always been cautious of her abilities, she never really tried to think about why…just knew that she would have to push past it. Iroh had taught her how to control her lightning, and how to redirect lightning from other sources. A lot of Iroh’s teachings were not only about the history of bending, but taking inspiration from other nations.

Kaia lifted her hands, positioning her feet in the right angle. She was the first to act, as practiced, sending a strike of lightning from her fingers. She heard the crowds scream in a mixture of fear and delight, then erupt into cheers as her fellow bender caught the lightning. He was quick to redirect it, using that water bending technique that had been a core of Kaia’s training.

The lightning returned to her with a fizzling sound, holding out her hand as it ran up her arm. Her hair raised along her entire body. The feeling of lightning moving through her system was hard to explain, exhilarating as it was terrifying. It didn’t hurt, but she could feel the crackling of electricity in her veins. It didn’t tickle, but somehow it always made her skin twitch.

With an arc of her hand, she sent back the lightning. The two students would continue this a couple more times, trading the lightning as if it were a sport. Then finally, her companion shot the bolt into the sky where it finally disappeared. Kaia stopped to bow briefly to the crowd as they clapped, disappearing backstage her arms and legs shaking. Rubbing her face for a moment she smiled to herself, quickly congratulating her peers for their part. She was about to go speak to Iroh, when she saw he was still with Zuko. Instead of interrupting, she stood back near the exit to the back stage. She hoped to speak with Iroh about how she could improve further, even straight after an achievement she was quick to learn more. She just didn’t want to interrupt his time with his nephew.

———

Azula was still on the prowl as she stalked through the quieter stalls. There were often little rats, as she liked to call them, crawling around. Sons and daughters of known Ozai supporters that could lead her back to their parents. It was a tricky day though, tricker than she was expecting. Ozai supporters would want to see what was happening without getting too involved in the festivity’s…where would they be?

Azula couldn’t risk being spotted going into their homes where she knew they lived. No, she needed to find them on the street. Or even in a bar once the sun set. It was no surprise Ozai supporters were heavy drinkers, Azula had always been annoyed that she ended up with the deadbeats. She supposed you had to be rather dodgy to get away with being associated with her, considering she could be arrested the moment she was recognised. Still annoyed her though, she managed to be… well clean, and still fight for her own agenda.

Although, what Azula was not expecting was to be trailed. After she left the teenage boys, she realised a short-haired woman with a sword was following her. A guard perhaps? Maybe one of Zuko’s mutts. She wasn’t wearing a traditional fire nation uniform, implying that perhaps she wasn’t one. Yet she was allowed to have a sword. Interesting.

Regardless, Azula played oblivious. She continued walking down the quickly emptying pathway. She made sure to check her knife was well hidden behind her clothing. She wasn’t usually one for non-bending weapons, but having a backup option was always helpful. Or just a good item to have on you, locking picking, threatening people, all sorts of advantages.

Good things she did, as the woman decided to step out and speak to her, reaching out. Azula mentally rolled her eyes as she turned.
“Hello there, are you alright?” Azula asked, making sure to make her voice more high-pitched and recognisable.
“Oh, dear. You have a sword? Are you one of the guards? Did you see those young boys back there?” Azula asked, she always made sure to pretend to act as friendly, yet clueless as possible. The more questions and chatter the less likely the guard would be to care. Usually the more you talked their ear off, the less they would want to talk to you.

“They’re begging anyone who walks past for money, I think they wanted to buy food. Is that appropriate? I felt bad for the kids, gave them a few coin. I’m sure there isn’t a problem here, but they’re so young. I would feel awful knowing they were hungry!”
 

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