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“No way Sokka! We won’t turn the Palace into a zoo only because you cannot resist your little Fire Lily.”
The voice of the Fire Lord was an ultimate warning. Sokka was pouting at his friend but only earned a deadly glare from Zuko and Mai who were walking arm in arm beside the ambassador and his smirking wife. Azula was gently rubbing her baby bump. Azula was already five months down in her second pregnancy. Her little snicker at Sokka’s disappointed groan caused the baby to kick a bit. The four were on a walk towards the royal gardens. Ilah’s second birthday was about to come in a few days and Sokka had big plans for his daughter’s present. They were passing long lines of pillars which were framing the corridor leading outside to the wide garden areal. The preparations for the birthday celebration were in full swing and their friends and their children had already arrived during the last days.
“No one is talking about a zoo, Zuko and by the way I don’t need your permission to gift Ilah a polar bear dog puppy as a birthday present.”
Sokka was gesturing wildly to support his statement but Zuko and Mai remained unimpressed. Azula noticed the brief glare from her brother which seemed like an ask to make an end to this but the Princess only rolled her eyes while biting her lip. Sokka was persistent and she loved him for that. Beside it was quite amusing to witness him arguing with her brother. Zuko pinched the bridge of his nose for a moment.
“I do talk about a zoo because you’re keep turning the Palace into one. It has been you who has bought a second komodo-rhino so Azula’s would have a friend and you two could make trips together and now we had to keep the calf of them because you gifted it to Izumi without talking to us before.”
Sokka was about to protest as Mai’s glare sealed his lips.
“And what about the fire ferret? You have gifted Azula one of these rascals as you found out she always wanted to have one but never got one and only three weeks later Zuko bought Izumi a little fire ferret too to stop her whining.”
The ambassador took another breath to start arguing again but Zuko continued Mai’s speech.
“We’ve been lucky that Izumi accepted that we cannot have some penguin otters for cuddling and sledding since we don’t have snow here. If I recall it correctly it has been you who came up with this idea after our last visit at the South Pole as you returned with the kids from penguin sledding. What do you think will happen when you’ll show up with a cute furry little puppy for your daughter?”
Sokka’s face fell for a brief moment until his lips started to form a dangerous grin. He stopped suddenly to point at Zuko in triumph.
“AHA!!”
Zuko and Mai jerked a bit in surprise and looked baffled at the smug smile of the ambassador. Azula did her best to suppress a bursting laugh but failed to some degree. It only doubled the confusion of Zuko and Mai. Sokka’s grin got devilish.
“It seems like I’m not the one who keeps failing to resist his little Fire Lily.”
Zuko’s eyes narrowed and he leaned closer to Sokka’s face.
“What are you trying to tell me?”
Azula couldn’t hold back the laughter anymore and she walked beside her husband to lay her arm around his waist.
“My dear husband only points out, Zuzu that you seem to have troubles to say no to the puppy eyes of your little daughter.”
Sokka beamed at Azula and placed a long kiss on her lips while pulling her closer to him. Both smiled smugly at the Fire Lord. Zuko’s face had taken a deep read color. Mai only released a sigh while rubbing her forehead.
“I know, that’s why I ask you to keep that in mind before you’d cause my dear husband a new fight he wouldn’t win.”
Azula chuckled amused as she and Sokka resumed to leave the building followed by a slightly smirking Fire Lady who ignored the protesting groan of her husband who was close behind.
The Princess leaned her head against Sokka’s shoulder. The last years had been the best of her life and Ilah’s birth had only doubled her luck. Sokka was helplessly fallen for his ladies and he let her know this every day. He’d get her the puppy.
The warm sun kissed Azula’s face as they left the building and the scent of blooming roses and lavender greeted them with a warm embrace. The pregnant woman stretched herself with a pleasant sigh… … … and froze on spot with a frown. Sokka noticed Azula’s confused face. His wife shook her head a bit and her eyes narrowed while she was focused on the blue sky above the line of the rooftop from the building on the other side of the garden.
“Azula? Are you alright? You look like you’ve seen a 400 foot tall purple platypus bear with pink horns and silver wings.”
Mai’s voice was filled with a slight amusement as she and Zuko stopped beside the Princess. Zuko chuckled as well but since Azula kept frozen and focused on the sky he stopped chuckling and his face got a bit worried.
“Is everything okay? Do you feel unwell? Should I call for…”
The words died in his throat as he noticed Azula’s eyes jumping wide in terror. The color instantly drained from her face as she pointed at the sky with a shocked shriek. All of them followed Azula’s pointing finger and their hearts skipped a beat or two only to start racing in panic a moment later. Their eyes witnessed a child flying up higher and higher in the sky. It was a little girl and she was obviously a firebender since they noticed the jet-streams of fire emerging from little fists to gain even more height. The shocked group noticed the high pitched screams of joy as the kid found out that the fire could also be used to make spirals in the air. The child seemed to hover for a moment midair as the kid reached the highest point. It was enough time to notice the robes of the little girl which was giggling and cheering in pure joy. Princess Izumi’s eyes found the scared group and she waved her hand until the gravity started to pull her back down with an ear-spitting shriek of joy. The girl disappeared behind the rooftop.
The group stared at each other in pure shock as a new giggling and screaming toddler flew up in the sky. Not as high as Izumi before but still high enough to be higher than the rooftop. Sokka nearly faded out as he recognized Ilah’s well known screeches of joy. It was the signal for Azula to get out of her stasis. The Princess was on her way through the garden with rapid speed. Sokka had seen the murder in her eyes and followed his wife instantly. Zuko and Mai were also sprinting towards the opposite building of the garden. Sokka’s mind was racing. What in Raava’s name was happening here? He had to struggle to catch up with Azula and he was sure he’d never reched her if she wouldn’t be pregnant as more he had gasp in shock and surprise as he noticed that his wife wasn’t heading for the doorway. He saw her making fists as she ran towards a stature which was near the building.
“Azula! Careful! Your baby bump! You cannot…”
But Azula could. He saw her jumping and her blue fire pushed her high instantly. She used the stature as platform to propeller herself on the rooftop with ease ignoring the combined cursing and warnings from Sokka, Zuko and Mai for her hazardous stunt. The Fire Lord was on her heels too, probably to secure his pregnant sister and Mai and Sokka followed them with skilled jumps and climbing moves.
New screams of joy cut through the air. This time louder and clearer since they were closer now. Azula had already reached the highest edge of the rooftop as a cheering Bumi passed her level while waving his hand. Lin only followed short by with a wide grin.
“Hello auntie Zula. Hello uncle Zuko.”
Azula, Zuko and Mai had stopped on the rooftop as a panting Sokka finally reached them while he leaned himself against the Fire Lord. Meanwhile the two kids fell back down and so the group could witness the “madness” at the other side of the building.
Aang and Katara were using their bending with wide smiles to pick Bumi and Lin carefully out of the air. Izumi and Ilah were standing beside Toph at the trainings ground and readied themselves. The Earthbender waved her hand towards the group on the rooftop with a devilish grin… and stomped on the ground.
“YEET!”
Two pillars of stone emerged beneath the little Princesses and the girls got catapulted high in the air with joyful screams. Izumi beamed at her parents.
“MOM! DAD! LOOK WE’RE FLYING!”
Sokka had to grab Azula to prevent her from jumping to catch their daughter and Mai did the same with Zuko. The faces of the Fire Siblings were masks of pure terror much to the contrast of the wild smiles of their children. Like before Aang and Katara skillfully caught the two rascals. The Avatar and his wife laughed along with the kids who were hugging them tight begging for a new round.
“THIS MADNESS STOPS NOW!!!”
Zuko’s furious voice rolled like thunder over the trainings ground. The face of the Fire Lord regained its color rapidly but it was a deep crimson one as he jumped down from the rooftop to rush to Izumi followed by Azula who nearly ripped Ilah out of Aang’s arms ignoring the whiny protest of her daughter. Sokka and Mai followed their partners checking up on their daughters as well before they glared in anger at Toph, Aang and Katara. The Earthbender was grinning from ear to ear as she ruffled Lin’s hair. Aang’s smile was a bit ashamed but Katara was already crossing her arms in front of her chest while holding her brother’s glare.
“ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MINDS? HOW COULD YOU DARE TO…? I SHOULD GET ALL OF YOU BANISHED FOR…”
Zuko was trembling in hot rage and anger while he switched pointing from Katara to Aang and back to the Waterbender and the Earthbender who was now standing beside the Avatar’s wife laying an arm on her shoulder to smile innocent at the raging Fire Lord.
“Zuko relax. This is an most honest Airbender tradition and we only played it earthbender style today.”
Zuko gasped for air at Toph’s explanation. The woman had sounded like she was taking about a simple round hide and seek. He was about to raise his voice again as Azula took a step forward. Her golden eyes were filled with a cold fire.
“What kind of tradition?”
Her look was burning holes into the Avatar’s skull. Sokka gulped heavy. He was mad as well but he could feel the static electricity glistering in the air around his wife. The Avatar smiled nervous and picked up Bumi who was grinning as innocent as Toph did before. The boy was faster than his dad with the answer.
“Child throwing. Dad said it’s an old and honored tradition to make throwing contests with the little children of the Air Temple’s so they can make their first experiences with the freedom of the element.”
Azula’s face darkened dangerously as she raised an eyebrow. Mai just hid her face behind her hand while shaking her head in disbelief. Zuko only managed a pitched “What?” but now it was Sokka who turned red in pure anger.
“Katara! And you took part in this madness? Miss I-Am-The-Only-Reasonable-Person-Who-Looks-Out-That-No-One-Ever-Does-Anything-Stupid?”
The dangerous silence hung between them for some painful long seconds but the color of Katara’s face changed as well. It got red in bubbling anger. The waterbenders made a step forward until she was only an inch away from Sokka’s face.
“You are only mad because you cannot throw Ilah as high as Aang, Toph or I can do with our bending.”
Sokka was about to protest but his words died in his throat at the warning glare of his sister. He also felt Azula’s burning eyes resting on his neck as well. The ambassador’s sister huffed in anger.
“Don’t play the innocent Sokka, I’ve seen you yeeting all of the kids already every time you thought no one would see you.”
Sokka’s mouth opened and closed twice but no word came out. He blushed madly and Katara smirked dangerously.
“But Sokka didn’t throw them high enough to catch a flying messenger hawk.”
Mai’s voice was also filled with a sharp edge but Katara’s eyes narrowed instantly. Her hands disappeared in her robe and she tugged out two sharp throwing knifes.
“Says the Fire Lady who hands these to her five year old daughter.”
Mai only shrugged shoulders and ignored the shocked look of her husband.
“She wouldn’t have them if she couldn’t handle them.”
Izumi waved her hand towards her baffled dad with a shy smile. Azula’s questioning eyes found Mai’s and the Fire Lady placed her hands on her hips.
“What? She has seen me training with my knifes and wanted to try it as well. She’s talented.”
The Princess turned back to Katara and both returned to a staring contest.
“It might accept the weak try to address this as an Air Nomad tradition but may I remind you that none of these kids are an airbender so unlike the little nomads none of them would be able to stop their fall.”
Aang was about to answer but Katara only raised her finger to silence him.
“That’s why we’re the ones who catch them and bring them down safe. And beside, you should start to come down from your high ostrich-horse or may I remind you that you’re the one who keeps setting up quite questionable tests for the kids whenever possible. What was the last one?”
The waterbenders rubbed her chin dramatically ignoring the warning glare from Azula.
“Oh yes. You’ve set up a maze to find out who’d be faster to find the treat Bumi, Izumi, Ilah or your fire-ferret.”
Azula huffed in anger.
“At least I don’t risk to deal permanent damage to the kids and beside, why are you so mad. Bumi won.”
“ENOUGH!”
Zuko’s shout made all of them turn to the Fire Lord. The man stared in total anger and disbelief at each of them. He was panting heavily and had to take a moment to compose himself.
“I cannot believe it. How can you dare to do this to our kids? All of this?”
Zuko’s angry look only found irritated faces. All of them were staring at the Fire Lord like he had said the most ridiculous thing ever. Toph’s annoyed groan ended the silence.
“For Raava’s sake get rid of these tight pants you’re wearing Zuko. They do make you just grumpy. You’d just pack them all in wadding if possible. They’d never have any fun.”
She got down to place a kiss on Lin’s forehead and her voice fell a bit.
“We had everything under control. The kids had so much fun and I cannot play this yeeting game alone. I can only throw them but cannot catch them proper since I can’t sense them anymore when they’re up in the air. That’s why I asked Aang and Katara to help me. Lin has told me that Aang used to play this with her and the other kids. I wanted to gift her the same fun at least once.”
A sad silence followed as Toph’s daughter hugged her mom tight followed by Bumi, Izumi and Ilah. It was like the anger and tension faded like snow in the summer sun. Zuko shared looks with Mai, Azula and Sokka. Azula only rolled her eyes as she laid an arm around Sokka who just shrugged shoulders before he kissed his wife and lead her towards a bank to sit down for a moment. Mai gave her husband a little kiss.
“Do you remember our races over the rooftops of the Palace. Your mom always got an heart-attack when she spotted us.”
Zuko pinched the bridge of his nose with a frustrated groan.
“Alright… but please start carefully. I’m not used to see my child being yeeted.”
The Fire Lord didn’t notice the cheerful screams of the children but he could see the faint smirk of Mai as she lead him towards the bank. Zuko was sure that he should better take a seat before the show would start again.