Chapter Text
A harsh dry wind blew over the Fire Nation's largest desert. A lone figure trudged across the sand. A teenage girl, dressed in a green outfit from the Earth Kingdom. She had a yellow scarf around her head and face to protect her from the desert sand. Only her blue-green eyes and freckled cheeks showed.
She looked at her map. She was close to the Royal Palace. She had about a month until the coronation of Prince Dash. That gave her plenty of time.
She lowered her head against the wind as she kept walking. She kept her mind focused on her plan. She would speak to Dash himself first, and try to scope out his weaknesses. Then she would talk to the Fire Sages, if Dash refused to go quietly. Surely, they would be on her side, once they heard where she came from.
She approached an oasis. Vibrant trees surrounded a sparkling pool of water. She stopped for a drink. She knelt down and scooped up some cool water. A light breeze blew past, cooler this time.
Another traveler looked at her. “Where are you headed?”
“The Royal Palace.” A tingle went down her spine at the words. If everything went to plan, that would be her new home.
“On business?”
“You could say that.” She wiped her hands dry, then lit a flame on her palm, staring into the flickering red light. “I’m gonna take what’s mine.”
~~~~
Prince Dash paced around his room. He wasn’t trying to run, but his natural airbender instincts were taking over, air currents pushing him faster and faster. Papers and pai sho pieces swirled around the room, but he didn’t notice.
He couldn’t believe his coronation was coming up so soon. For the past year, he had been taking classes in politics, history, and etiquette, to prepare him for ruling, but it didn’t feel like enough. The Fire Sages criticized every move he made, treating him like he was a complete idiot.
He hated dealing with them. He’d never paid them much attention when he was younger, but now they were constantly in his face, making snarky remarks at him and insinuating that he wasn’t fit to be Firelord. Would he have to deal with them every day for the rest of his life as Firelord?
It wasn’t fair. His knowledge was decent enough. He felt like most of their problem with him was that he was an airbender and not a firebender, which wasn’t exactly something he could help. It wasn’t his fault he’d been taken in by the Fire Nation Royal Family. It wasn’t his fault there were no other heirs.
His older sister Violet walked in. “Is everything okay in here?”
He didn’t hear her over the wind. She cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted, “Dash!”
He stopped.
“Dash, what are you doing?”
He sighed. “I’m freaking out here, Vi! I’m going to be Firelord in a month! I don’t know what I’m doing!”
“Calm down,” Violet said. “Your classes are going fine, aren’t they?”
“I don’t know. I guess. But the Fire Sages keep turning their noses up at me and acting like I’m not good enough to be Firelord, and it’s getting in my head. And I’m only thirteen!” He threw his hands in the air. “Who decided a thirteen-year-old could rule a nation?!”
Violet put her hand on his arm. “Sulley will still be around to guide you.” Sulley was Dash’s regent. Everyone loved him for ending the war between the four nations. He would help Dash make the right decisions.
“I know,” Dash said. But that didn’t comfort him much. He would still be the one taking all the blame for bad decisions. And people might resist his orders because he was young, or because he was an airbender. Whatever decision he made, even if it was with Sulley’s guidance, could be wrong in their eyes if they just didn’t like him.
Dash sighed again. “I’m not ready, Vi.”
“No, you’re not,” a chilling voice behind them said.
Dash groaned. He didn’t need to turn around to see who that was.
“Fire Sage Anton,” Violet said. Dash could hear the restraint it took for her to remain polite. “What are you doing here?”
Anton Ego, the leader of the Fire Sages, looked at Dash. His long, gaunt face had always reminded Dash of an ancient lizard. Or a turtle. “I’m just checking in on the Firelord-to-be.” His critical eye looked Dash up and down, his mouth tight with disapproval. “So it looks like our attempts to shape you into a suitable Firelord have been for nought. It’s a shame our next Firelord is going to be a sloppy, undisciplined, emotional airbender. The people of the Fire Nation need a leader who embodies our values.”
Dash bristled. Those were the same things Firelord Syndrome used to say to him to control and belittle him. He was messy, he wasn’t stoic enough, blah blah blah…
Thankfully, at that moment, Sulley walked in. “Enough, Ego. Don’t you have Fire Sage business somewhere else to attend to?”
“Protecting the Fire Nation from harmful outsiders is our business,” Anton replied.
Violet tensed. She didn’t like the implication that they were “outsiders” or a threat. Especially when the Fire Nation had been the threat to the rest of the world until Firelord Syndrome’s defeat a few years ago.
Sulley held the door and motioned for Anton to leave. With one last disdainful glance at Dash, Anton walked away.
Dash growled. “The first thing I’m gonna do as Firelord is fire all those old bastards.”
Sulley shook his head. “You know I already would have if I could. The council of Fire Sages can only be disbanded by themselves, so…”
“You mean I can’t sack them when I become Firelord?” Dash asked.
“I’m afraid not.”
“Then what’s the point of being Firelord?” Dash muttered, crossing his arms. He knew he didn’t mean that. He did want the position. Just not now.
“Dash is a bit…stressed about his coronation,” Violet explained to Sulley.
“Why can’t you just stay Firelord, Sulley?” Dash said. Everyone loved Sulley. Another reason he didn’t want the throne right now. He’d never live up to Sulley’s reputation.
“Because you’re thirteen now. It’s your turn,” Sulley said. Throughout history, all Firelords had ascended to the throne on their thirteenth birthday. Personally, he’d always found that a bit young to be a ruler, but he didn’t make the rules. Technically, he did now, since he was Firelord, but some things went beyond law. It was rooted in centuries of tradition, and that wasn’t so easily changed.
Sulley put his hand on Dash’s shoulder. “You’ll be fine, kid. Breathe. Your sister, me, we’re all here to help you.”
Dash closed his eyes and breathed in deeply. He exhaled, sending out a powerful gust of wind. He nodded and opened his eyes. “Thanks, Sulley.”
Sulley smiled at him. “Now go get ready for the feast.” Tonight was the first in a series of celebrations leading up to the coronation.
Dash followed Violet out of the room. Sulley went to the throne room to get some work done before dinner.
His best friend and right-hand man Mike walked in. “Hey, Sul. Are you coming to the feast?”
“Yeah, in a minute. I’m just…thinking.”
“About what?”
Sulley sighed. “Untangling the effects of the Fire Nation’s colonization is a mess. I don’t know what to do with our colonies in the Earth Kingdom.” He couldn’t relocate them back to the Fire Nation, since they’d made families and homes there. But the original Earth Kingdom residents didn’t want them to stay. Should he look out for his own people? Or should he act in benefit of the Earth Kingdom, as a symbol of the Fire Nation’s new cooperation with the other nations?
“Soon enough, it won’t be your problem anymore,” Mike joked.
“That’s the thing. I don’t want to leave this mess to Dash.”
“So you’re gonna solve it in a month? Be realistic here, Sulley.”
Sulley sighed. “I know, I know.”
“Come on, let’s go to the feast,” Mike said. “They’re waiting for us.”
They went to the dining hall. The clink of dishes and the low roar of conversation echoed through the giant room. Glittering chandeliers hung over the long table, the light glinting off the polished silver utensils.
Sulley sat down at the head of the table. Mike sat on Sulley’s right, and Dash sat on his left. The Fire Sages sat at the other end of the table, their watchful eyes looking around. Avatar Jack-Jack—Violet and Dash’s eight-year-old brother—wasn’t present. He was off training in the Earth Kingdom.
Violet walked in, holding hands with her boyfriend Alberto. A winged lemur perched on Alberto’s shoulder. Mushi. Alberto had bought him for Violet, to remind her of her home at the Air Temple, but the creature spent most of his time with Alberto. Violet didn’t mind. Having a pet was good for Alberto. Taking care of something made him feel useful. And Mushi didn’t judge or ask for anything except food and head scratches.
Non-judgmental people were hard to find in the palace. Case in point, Violet immediately noticed Anton’s eyes on them as they walked in. He always glared at Alberto when he was around, and made cutting comments she knew bothered Alberto even when he pretended they didn’t.
She knew Alberto’s loud, messy personality rubbed a lot of people at court the wrong way. Especially the conservative, traditional Fire Sages. He wasn’t afraid to speak his mind. He swore and told dirty jokes and laughed too loudly. He dropped things and tripped on his own robes. He sneezed too loudly during ceremonies when they lit too much incense. She didn’t mind; she loved those things about him. But Anton made it clear how inappropriate and uncouth he found it all. And his feelings seemed to go beyond annoyance into something darker. Violet could see it in his eyes. Quiet, simmering hatred.
They sat down next to Dash as the servants passed out the first course: steamed rice and vegetables for Violet and Alberto, and fish for everyone else. Anton glared at Mushi and muttered something about filthy animals at the dinner table.
Violet looked at Alberto nervously. This was the first feast he’d attended since having a panic attack at Sulley’s coronation feast three years ago. He’d suffered some trauma that had severely affected his relationship with food. This was the first time in years he’d tried eating food cooked by someone who wasn’t himself or her.
Alberto picked at the rice a little—using the wrong fork, which got an eye roll from Anton. Violet noted the way Alberto’s hand shook just the tiniest bit. She opened her mouth to tell him that it was okay if he wasn’t ready yet. Then he put some rice in his mouth and chewed it slowly. He swallowed it and went in for more. Violet smiled. She was so proud of him, but she didn’t want to make a scene.
Alberto fed some rice to Mushi, who ate it eagerly. Then he turned to Violet. “Hey, Violet. I got a letter from Luca today. He wants me to come visit him at the North Pole.”
“That’s great, Alberto,” Violet said. Luca was Alberto’s best friend, but they didn’t get to see each other very often.
“He said he needed my help with something,” Alberto said. “I don’t know what, but it didn’t sound good. I’m thinking of leaving tomorrow.”
“All right,” Violet said, nodding. She couldn’t imagine what Luca needed help with.
Anton stabbed his fish with his fork. “A true Fire Nation citizen wouldn’t leave the Fire Nation in a time of transition like this.”
Alberto rolled his eyes. He was tired of Anton’s constant criticism. And his tendency to butt in on conversations that didn’t involve him.
“In case you haven’t noticed, Ego,” he said, bending some water out of Anton’s cup, “I’m not from the Fire Nation.” He flicked the water in Anton’s face.
Dash snorted with laughter. Violet covered her mouth to quiet her own sounds of amusement.
Anton didn’t even flinch. “And yet you live in our palace and hang around the royal family. So maybe you should think about if you really want to be here and continue to take advantage of us, or go back to your primitive life in the Water Tribes.”
Alberto glared at him. Violet put her hand on Alberto’s arm. A little pushback against the Sages was fine, but she didn’t want him doing or saying something rash. That was what Anton wanted, to provoke a reaction.
”He’s not a parasite, Anton,” she said. “You act like he just sits around not contributing anything. But he sits in meetings, and advises Dash, and trains the young guards in combat.”
“Ah, yes, worming his way into a place of power where he doesn’t belong,” Anton said. “Corrupting the royal family. Very useful.”
Alberto looked down. Violet could see his fists clenching under the table. She took his hand, working her fingers between his, and squeezed it. He squeezed it back gratefully.
Anton tapped his glass with his fork, getting everyone’s attention. “Today, we gather to mark the end of an era in Fire Nation history. The end of prosperity, certainty, and tradition.”
Dash seethed.
“You don’t know what the future will bring, Anton,” Sulley said. “Dash will be more than capable of ruling.”
“Will he?” Anton said. “Syndrome never wanted him to be the Firelord, so he never received the proper training until recently.”
“True…but neither did I,” Sulley said.
“At least you’re from the Fire Nation,” Anton said. “You have our best interests at heart. What are you planning to do with the colonies, Prince Dash? Will you keep them for the Fire Nation, or let go of our most precious territories?”
“I don’t know,” Dash snapped. Why did he have to think about that now?
“There’s also the question of marriage and children,” Anton said.
Dash choked on his food.
“Anton, he’s thirteen,” Sulley said.
“And ideally, a Firelord should be married by sixteen, in order to start preserving their bloodline as early as possible,” Anton said. “Syndrome never had real children unfortunately, which threatens the Fire Nation’s claim to their own throne. You need to start looking for a nice Fire Nation girl to settle down with, to restore the Fire Nation connection.” He eyed Violet and Alberto. “Preferably, your immediate family should be with Fire Nation citizens as well…”
Alberto’s face went red. “Now hang on a minute—”
Sulley stood up. “Enough! If you’re going to keep causing trouble, Anton, you can leave. This is a joyous occasion. A celebration.”
Anton bowed his head. “Apologies.”
The rest of the meal went by without incident. Afterwards, Alberto and Violet went to their bedroom to talk.
“I’m so sick of those Fire Sages,” Alberto grumbled as he shut the door.
Violet sighed. “Tell me about it.”
Alberto immediately undid his tight collar and kicked off his shoes. He ran his hand through his hair, mussing up his curls, and sighed with relief.
“Would you want to come with me to the North Pole?” he asked, putting his hand on Violet’s cheek. “It’d be a nice break from this place.”
“That does sound nice,” Violet admitted. “But I should stay with Dash. He’s dealing with all this coronation stuff. I need to be there for him.”
Alberto nodded. He sat back on the bed. Violet snuggled up next to him. Mushi curled up on Alberto’s shoulders, purring.
“So what do you think Luca wants your help with?” Violet asked.
Alberto shrugged. “I have no idea. But it must be serious.”
“What makes you say that?”
Alberto hesitated. “Well…I’m assuming he wants me to…bloodbend.”
Violet felt a chill go down her spine. Bloodbending. The ability to control another person by manipulating their blood. Alberto hadn’t bloodbended in years. She didn’t like it, and neither did he. It was a huge violation of people’s autonomy, something he knew way too much about. Using it made him feel just as evil as the deranged waterbender who had taught it to him.
“He wouldn’t bother me unless he needed my…special skills. And he wouldn’t ask me to do that unless it was serious,” Alberto reasoned. “Also, the fact that he didn’t just tell me in the letter makes me think it’s bad.”
“I guess you’ll find out soon,” Violet said. “Just don’t…do anything you don’t want to do, all right?”
He nodded. Violet knew Luca would never try to force him into an uncomfortable situation, but she still worried that he’d end up in one nevertheless. If he chose to bloodbend again, what kind of dark places could that take him to? She didn’t want to find out.
Alberto seemed nervous, too. Violet could feel the tension in his shoulders.
As always, Mushi could tell, too. He nuzzled Alberto’s chest and purred. Alberto smiled, relaxing a little.
The next morning, Violet saw Alberto off outside the palace. She made sure he had all his things, then hugged him. So did Mushi.
Violet pulled away. Mushi whined and clung to Alberto’s neck.
“You can’t come,” Alberto said. “Hold down the fort here, okay?” He untangled Mushi from him and put him in Violet’s arms. He scratched Mushi’s chin. “I’ll miss you too, buddy.”
Violet wasn’t sure if it was a good idea to leave Mushi behind. He and Alberto had basically been inseparable for three years, and he provided Alberto so much comfort during bad days and panic attacks. But Alberto would probably be fine. He hadn’t had a panic attack in a few months. And he would have Luca with him to help him.
Violet took Alberto’s hand and squeezed it tightly. “Will you be back for the coronation?”
He grinned. “Of course! I wouldn’t miss it.”
“I’ll see you in a few weeks, then.” Violet kissed him. “Write to me every few days, okay?”
“I will.” He climbed into the waiting airship and waved as it took off. She smiled, a little sadly. She’d miss his warmth and goofy nature. She could use it right now, with everything going on.
She jumped when Anton’s voice spoke from behind her. “Don’t you think you should be with a more suitable partner? Someone from the Fire Nation, perhaps?”
She glared at him. “That’s none of your business.” Why did it matter who she dated?
“Like it or not, you’re the sister of the Firelord,” Anton said. “Your relationships and life decisions will be scrutinized just as much as his. Hanging around with a commoner from the South Pole—a bloodbender, at that—doesn’t look good for our nation’s image.”
Violet bristled. Why should her decisions reflect on the Royal Family when she wasn’t even part of it? Unlike Dash, she hadn’t been raised by Syndrome. She hadn’t signed up for any of this when she’d reconnected with Dash and come to live in the palace.
“Alberto is a mess. That boy can’t even eat without having a meltdown,” Anton continued.
“He was fine at the feast yesterday,” Violet said, feeling a surge of anger in her chest. This man knew nothing about Alberto’s trauma. He was doing so well, and hearing Anton discredit that made her want to punch him in the face.
“I’ve seen him the past few years. We all have,” Anton said. “He’s had his ups and downs. Any second, he could have another panic attack, or lash out in anger, or something else. He’s unpredictable.”
“And so what?” Violet snapped. “There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s part of being human.” She was done with this conversation. “And that’s why I’d never be with someone from the Fire Nation. You all act like soulless machines, not like people.” She knew this was an unfair generalization, but she was sick of his prejudice and felt like throwing it back at him.
“Careful, young lady,” Anton warned. “Someone might think you were anti-Fire Nation. And we wouldn’t want that.” He walked away. Mushi hissed at him.
Violet told herself Anton was just making empty threats. But she couldn’t shake the bad feeling in her stomach. The Fire Sages had real political power, and Anton seemed like he wouldn’t hesitate to use it against them if need be. Plus, all his remarks were making her feel very unwelcome here. The Sages had always been cold and aloof toward her, Dash, and Alberto, but now they were starting to become downright hostile. It made her wonder if she even had a life here, or if she should leave before it got even worse.
No, she reminded herself. That was what they wanted. It would bring Anton nothing but joy to know he’d driven her out of the Fire Nation for good. Besides, Dash needed her. She had to remember that.
She went inside and tried to go about her day as usual. Training, helping Dash with his lessons, attending policy meetings. But the entire palace felt too empty without Alberto’s presence. She noticed it everywhere, but especially in their bedroom that night. The bed felt too big.
Mushi curled up on Alberto’s pillow and looked at Violet forlornly, his ears drooping, his fluffy tail tucked around his body like he was trying to console himself. His large eyes looked wet with unshed tears. Violet wasn’t even sure if lemurs could cry, but Mushi certainly looked like he was about to.
Violet patted Mushi’s head. “I miss him, too. He’ll be back soon.” She put out the lantern and closed her eyes. They were one day closer to the coronation. One day closer to Alberto’s return. One day closer to whatever the future would bring.