Chapter Text
The day had been long with the council meeting. She had spent hours sitting and listening to every matter that seemed important to require the attention of the Fire Lord—or, in this case, the Fire Lady.
It was not to her liking to spend most of the day in a room full of elders. Discussions, negotiations—it bored her. She would rather deal with things out in the field and fix them right then and there.
The Fire Lord was currently absent for three days now due to some diplomatic matters in Republic City, while Fire Lady Toph Beifong is two months into her third pregnancy. She wanted to go with her husband and all of their children to Republic City, but the Grand Royal Physician insisted that her pregnancy was still too early and fragile for traveling, which Zuko agreed with. At first, of course she refused to accept it and the whole palace knew she was furious about it, but then a few days later the morning sickness came. She became tired much faster, and it was different from her previous two pregnancies, more nauseous, sleepier. Eventually, she had to accept defeat and stay behind.
Before leaving, Zuko made her promise that she would take things easy and not overexert herself. He was worried that Toph would train until she was completely exhausted or satisfied that might put the baby at risk.
'You worry too much, Sparky! I’m the mother, and this baby is strong!’
She had said that before he left, but in the end, she agreed with him. She would never do anything reckless that could put their baby at risk. Besides, she wanted to keep his mind at ease while he was away, at least. And now there she is, attending council meetings that bored her, filling the empty seat of her absent husband.
The things I do for you, she thought of her husband as she searched for an excuse to end the meeting early.
It had been seven years since Toph had become the Fire Lady, and it still amazed her how Zuko had managed to convince her to say yes when he proposed, and even more so that she had taken on the role of Fire Lady simply by saying yes. Sometimes, when she thought about it, she realised just how ridiculously hard she had fallen for him. Hard enough to make her do things she had thought she would never do. Attending council meetings, ceremonies, officiating at facilities. The royal servants would even ask her which curtains and flowers would look best in each room, as if she ever cared about how things looked.
Her first pregnancy, which had resulted in twins, Izuro and Izumi, had made her think that two children were more than enough. They did not need another baby — they thought — and yet, when Lin, their daughter from her second pregnancy, was conceived, neither of them could wait to meet her.
Now, she was a Fire Lady with three children and another one due in seven months.
“A pregnant woman shouldn’t sit for too long, am I right Lady Yui?” she asked tiltling her face towards the Lady, cutting into the council’s discussion.
“Yes, My Lady,” Lady Yui, the Grand Royal Phsyician answered. She is one of the small council member.
“Well, then, I say we call it a day for now. My hips and feet are aching. We can continue this matters tomorrow, ladies and gentlemen.”
She stood, walked toward the door and hurried out of the council chamber. The council bowed to her without questioning anything. Toph could feel the vibrations of everyone’s heartbeats in that room, yet none of them suggested any annoyance at her abrupt decision to leave.
The first two years of being the Fire Lady had been rough, some of the council had not seemed to like her, some of the servants had talked behind her back, while the noblemen and noblewomen often acted as though she did not even exist. But after the twins were born, everything began to change.
An earthquake struck the region only two days after she gave birth to the twins, threatening to awaken the volcanoes surrounding the capital. Perhaps it was the earth reacting to her giving birth, a force strong enough to stir the volcanoes near them, but she shoved the thought away. Instead, Toph immediately sprang into action alongside her students and the Fire Nation forces. While she and her students used their earthbending to carve a path for the lava away from the capital, Fire Nation soldiers and rescue teams worked to evacuate the citizens and guide them to safety.
Zuko had obviously been worried, but there was nothing he could do to stop her from doing what Toph believed was right. So, during the eruption, he had commanded his men to listen and obey to every word that came from his wife. It was not the sort of thing that could be ignored. She had stood beside the people when they needed her most. After that, the people of Fire Nation began to accept her. They Royal servants and councilmen served her sincerely and treated her kindly, remaining loyal and respectful toward the Greatest Earthbender in the world who had become the Fire Lady.
Toph made her way toward an open field west of the palace. She needed some time alone to clear her mind before visiting her children in their chambers. Those little dragons and baby badgermoles would never leave her alone once they realised she was done with her work. Now she found herself alone in the open field.
The warmth of the setting sun touched her skin, while a gentle breeze greeted her. The air was beginning to grow cooler as summer slowly came to an end. Toph lay on the ground for almost twenty minutes. It was always nice to feel connected to the earth beneath her. Her hands gently caressed her belly, the little bump could barely seen. She was almost fallen asleep when she heard a rumbling roar from the sky. A small smile began to form on her lips before she felt the heavy thud of vibrations nearby. She sat up and walked toward the creature.
As soon as she reached him, he let out a soft purr.
“Taking an evening flight?” The creature answered with a low rumble. “I know, Druk. I miss him too.”
Toph caressed Druk’s snout, and the dragon leaned into her touch. “I’m sorry I couldn’t come with you. Not only because I’m blind, but because this baby is still too young for a dragon ride.” The dragon rumbled again with softness, and Toph believed that Druk agreed with her.
The red dragon was very gentle toward Toph and her children. Druk seemed to accept and allow anyone loved by Zuko to come near him. He let the prince and princesses touch and caress his snout, he even let them play with his tail and wings, and he never seemed to find it troublesome or uncomfortable. However, sometimes, when they got too loud and ran around tirelessly, Druk would give them a little hiss to discipline them.
The twins had ridden the dragon with Zuko many times for evening flights, creating core memories for them. The Fire Lord seemed to love taking every member of his family for a ride on Druk at least once. He also couldn’t wait to take Lin with them once she’s a little bigger.
The dragon was always protective of Zuko and his growing family. Druk would never let any danger come near them, almost as if he could sense it.
“I know you wouldn’t let anything bad happen to me, though.” She caressed his snout again, and the dragon lowered his head, sniffing and gently nudging her belly with his snout.
Druk was almost as large as Appa had been when Toph first met the flying bison. She had ridden the dragon with Zuko a couple of times. Even though Toph preferred traveling by airship or riding on Appa’s back because it was safer and more comfortable for her, she still found riding a dragon both fun and challenging, even when all she could feel was the wind rushing around her and the thrill running through her body whenever Druk took a turn in the air.
She also knew that riding a dragon must be a magnificent sight to behold and she loved the flattering remarks she received from people after each ride. Toph would never admit it to anyone, but it showed on her face.
Besides, Zuko seemed very happy whenever Toph agreed to go flying with him and Druk.
As she continued caressing his snout, Toph sensed a pair of feet approaching hurriedly. It was Seto, the Grand Chamberlain. She knew from his footsteps that always in a hurry. He stopped ten feet away from Toph and the dragon, seemingly hesitant to come any closer, perhaps afraid that the dragon would not appreciate his presence.
“I’m sorry to interrupt your evening, My Lady.” He bowed briefly to Toph before straightening again. “I’m here to inform you that we have a member of the family visiting the palace.”
“Hm? My parents are visiting? They didn’t mention anything in their last letter.” She did not turn to face Seto, her hands still caressing the dragon’s snout.
“Mm. It’s not your parents, My Lady.”
“Then who is it?”
Seto seemed to have difficulty getting the name past his lips, and Toph could feel his heartbeat quickening slightly.
“Are Kiyi and Lady Ursa already back from their holiday trip?” She finally turned to face Seto, her eyebrow furrowing at his lack of an answer. “C’mon, spit it out.”
“No, My Lady. It’s… Princess Azula.”
Now her eyebrows rose, her expression slightly surprised by the name.
It had been years since Azula had last visited the palace. Azula had escaped from Zuko and his men after they found their mother. She had caused some trouble along the way, but Zuko’s men had been unable to capture her again, as she had disappeared into the shadows. No one knew where she had gone or what she had been doing until several years later, when the twins had turned two and she suddenly decided to return to the palace.
Her visit was short. She said she missed the place and her family, even though she thought they might not want anything to do with her. It broke Ursa’s heart, of course, as she wanted to mend her relationship with her daughter, but Azula also stated that her condition was getting better, which brought some relief to her mother.
'My desire for the throne has long since faded, but I still want this nation to reach its greatest heights. It isn’t there yet, but your choice of Fire Lady seems to be helping it, Zuzu.'
Azula said this during one of the family dinners, of which they only had two during her visit.
Toph and Azula barely talked. Azula preferred training with her rather than talking, and their training sessions eventually began to look more like sparring matches. Toph would never say no to a good spar. They moved until they were both breathing heavily, their bodies drenched in sweat. A few streaks of blood appeared from the small cuts on their skin as they continued sparring. They continued until Zuko came running toward them and told them to stop.
Later that evening, Toph found out that she was pregnant with Lin. Zuko immediately ordered her not to train with anyone again until the pregnancy was far enough along for it to be safe.
The next day Azula was gone once more without saying a word. There were no notes, only a burned stuffed toy in the twins’ room—a little dragon doll and a badgermole-shaped one. The Fire Lord and Fire Lady were relieved that the twins had been sleeping in their bedroom since Azula’s visit, or they children might be on a great danger.
“Where is she?” Toph gave Druk’s snout one last pat and began walking toward the palace.
“We escorted her to her chambers, My Lady. She wishes to meet with you immediately, but we offered to have her wait while we came to inform you.”
Meet me immediately?
Toph did not know what had brought Azula home so suddenly or why she wanted to see her right away. Their conversations had been short years ago and had never meant much, consisting only of greetings and brief praise after sparring. Did she want another spar so soon after arriving? If that’s so, Toph would rather accompany her than have her wandering around the palace and burning things. Her mind flashed back to the last time Azula had visited the palace and burned her children’s toys. She needed to make sure her kids are safe, and she needed to do it quickly.
“Did she come alone?”
“To the palace, yes. But I heard from some palace servants who had taken the day off that they saw her in the plaza with a man,” Seto explained, trying to keep up with her pace. “Should we investigate?”
“Find out who he might be. Don’t get caught. Don’t do anything more than that.”
“I apologize if I am overstepping, My Lady, but Princess Azula’s visit is very sudden. We do not know what matters she may have brought with her.”
“I’m going to find that out now.” She continued walking.
“Her request to meet Her Majesty the Fire Lady is quite out of the blue, especially now, while the Fire Lord is away.”
Toph understood the Chamberlain’s concern. It did seem strange to her as well. Even though Azula had not harmed or threatened anyone during her last visit, she had still burned her children’s toys, leaving that as their final impression of her. But if Azula’s condition was somehow getting better, Toph did not want to ruin whatever progress she had made.
Still, she wanted reassurance that her children would be safe.
“This is her home. She can come and go as she pleases. Don’t treat her like an outsider or a threat, as it might trigger her condition.” Toph did not stop walking or even turn her head as the Chamberlain followed behind her. “But make sure there are always Guards around the children. I want their safety to be our highest priority.”
“At once, Fire Lady.”
Toph arrived at the door of Azula’s chamber. She had never been inside the room, even though it was not far from her own.
Her seismic sense immediately picked up Azula sitting in a chair near the window. Her heartbeat had not changed. It was steady and somehow demanding, just as it had been years ago, before she had lost the Agni Kai against Zuko. Azula’s posture was always stiff, and as far as Toph knew, her body language was always defensive, ready for anything that might challenge her. Yet this time, Toph sensed that she was relaxed and her breathing felt calm.
One of the guards who had been ordered to stand watch at the door pushed down on the handle to open it, and Toph stepped inside. Azula turned her face toward her.
“Hello, sister-in-law.” There was an attempt at kindness and warmth in Azula’s voice, something Toph had not expected. She greeted Toph while remaining seated.
“Sister-in-laws,” Toph said, greeting her with a smirk. A short silence settled between them. Toph took a few steps toward Azula. “I didn’t know you were coming. If I’d known you were, I’d have told the Chamberlain to plan a homecoming party.”
Toph’s words might have sounded simple, a sister-in-law trying to warmly welcome her husband’s sister into their home. They might even have sounded cute to some noblewoman out there. Yet, with Azula’s mental condition and the tension they might have at that moment her words could easily be misinterpreted by Azula. She might consider them a reminder that Toph was now the Lady of the Palace, the highest-ranking member of the family, a position that meant everyone in the palace would obey her and fulfill whatever requests she made.
Azula smirked, knowing Toph could not see it. “I don’t remember you being such a lady.” Her eyes traced over Toph. “So, how was it? Being the Lady of the Nation?”
“A different challenge, but nothing I couldn’t handle.”
“Good for you.” Azula said, a little smile trying to escape her lips, though she held it back.
Toph found it strange to have an actual normal conversation with Azula.
She had expected something much more sarcastic, or perhaps sinister. Instead, Azula was sitting there, talking to her without seemingly disliking her. It was proof, perhaps, that Azula really was getting better. So Toph finally let her guard down. She exhaled and walked toward the chair opposite Azula before sitting down.
“You wanted to meet me immediately? Want to continue the spar?” Toph asked, trying to tease her.
Azula shook her head slightly “There are things I want to discuss with my brother and mother, but before that, perhaps you first.” Her head tilted slightly. “Where is he, anyway? My brother?”
“He’s in Republic City. Some diplomatic matters.” Toph leaned back in her chair. “I could write to him if you really need to talk to him right away.”
“No. It can wait.” Azula furrowed her brow before looking at Toph again. “You? Writing?”
“Yeah. I learned how to do it.”
Azula only nodded. She didn’t ask how Toph had learned to write, even though she wanted to know how she had managed it.
It had been an invention by Sokka and Satoru, one of her coworkers who worked at her parents’ EarthenFire Industries. The invention had been funded by the Fire Lord himself when he felt the need to reach Toph by sending her letters without anyone having to read them for her, or for Toph to write back to him. It was one of the methods Zuko had tried to use to win and keep her heart.
“I, I want to get married, Toph.”
Toph froze.
Azula words struck her.
Even Toph own heartbeat seemed to skip. She tried to respond, but her mouth simply hung open as she searched for the right words. She slowly leaned back in her chair.
“That… wh—wow. That. Was. Unexpected.” She raised both hands, as if trying to find a better response, but somehow, out of all the words that might exist in the world, she could not find one. “H-How? Who?”
“Just an average soldier I met along the way,” Azula said calmly.
“This is what you wanted to talk to me about before talking to your brother and mother?”
“Because I wanted to start by telling a family member who would have a neutral position.” Azula paused. “Where is Mother?”
“Ember Island. With Kiyi and Ikem.”
There was something about Azula that always made Toph’s heart ache.
After everything she had been through—the betrayal she had felt from her mother and best friend when they left her alone, the hatred she carried toward Zuko, and having a father who had only ever seen her as a living weapon—Azula had been left heartbroken and mentally unwell. And yet, she had never stopped calling Zuko her dear brother. She had never stopped calling Ursa her mother, or Ozai her father, even though she now believed that he might have brought shame upon their family.
Toph felt that deeply.
Long ago, when she had decided to join the Avatar’s team to help end the Hundred Year War, she had run away from a comfortable home—a home that everyone else considered perfect. She had been her parents’ only child, and yet, after the war ended, when she tried to maintain her relationship with them, her father disowned her.
He had said it to her face in front of everyone.
He had said it to her face even when there were only the two of them in the room.
Poppy, her mother had even chosen to separate from her father, all because Toph had chosen to become someone who could do great things in her own way. She had become the Avatar’s earthbending teacher, she’s the inventor of metal bending and helped bring the war to an end, for spirits’ sake, and they disowned her for it.
After a few years she and her father had eventually tried to fix things, but their relationship had never been the same as before.
Then her mother had heard about Toph’s relationship with Zuko, and the relationship between her and her parents had changed drastically. It had taken time to repair their family bond, but they were certainly happy that Toph had ended up marrying Zuko, and things became easier with her parents after that, her mother and father then agreed to reconcile with each other and give a second chance for their relationship.
Toph didn’t like to think that their happiness might have had something to do with how her marriage affected their family’s influence and social status, keeping them among the highest-ranking noble houses in the Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom than it already is. She wanted to believe they were happy because the person Toph had chosen to marry was a genuinely good man — someone she had helplessly fallen in love with, even though she would never admit it to anyone except Zuko.
Still, Toph couldn’t deny that her marriage may had its perks. At the very least, it had helped ease things between her and her family.
“Where did you get this idea?” Toph asked her.
“Idea?”
“Of marriage?”
Azula’s mouth hung open. “Such a warm response, Toph. Thank you.” She raised both hands and roll her eyes. “Well, eventually I would get married too. Wouldn’t I?” Azula frowned. “So I guess the family should know, especially since Riyu wanted to have Zuko’s blessi—”
“Riyu?”
“My husband-to-be.” Azula took a long breath. “I’m not here to ask for Zuzu’s permission, or my mother’s. But Riyu thinks it would be better if my family knew.”
Toph tried to sense Azula’s heartbeat more accurately, but she remembered that one time Azula had managed to lie to her so easily. She was the only person who had ever managed to get past Toph’s lie detector. Yet now, Azula’s heartbeat seemed to grow slightly louder every time she talked about Riyu. It was also new information for Toph, revealing the identity of the man who might have come with Azula to the Capital.
Toph still wondered whether Azula was actually messing with her or planning something, but she was not one to judge. Marriage had never even crossed her mind before she and Zuko had gotten together, and look at her now. For all she knew, it could be the same for Azula. But whether Azula was truly ready for it was another question.
“Marriage is an entirely new path in life, Azula.”
Azula’s eyes traveled over Toph. “Seeing you right now, I know it is.”
Toph didn’t answer, and Azula studied her.
Toph’s appearance was very different from the teenage girl Azula remembered.
The rough little girl who barely washed her clothes. The one who always had dirt on her. A tomboy who could easily bend metal and didn’t care about her appearance now wearing the Fire Nation crown.
Her hair was braided in an intricate pattern by her personal attendants, the braid seemingly falling around her waist. She wore something that technically could be called a dress, though it was nothing like the flowing, delicate gowns Azula had seen other noblewomen wear. It was fitted, structured, practical.. It emphasized her figure without restricting her movement.
Toph wore a robe ensemble in deep charcoal gray, featuring a long, wrap-front coat with broad, overlapping lapels and a high standing collar. The upper shoulders were slightly structured and decorated with subtle metallic or embroidered details, giving the garment a commanding, warrior-like appearance. A wide, ornamental belt cinched her waist, creating a defined silhouette, while an inner garment with a deep crimson V-neck added a striking contrast.
The sleeves were long, and the lower portion fell into a long, skirt-like robe. Minimal ornamentation created an elegant, austere, regal, and battle-ready aesthetic, and Azula believe beneath those long sleeves were still Toph hard muscle that she earned from years of training.
“When did you meet this guy? How long have you been together? And I mean seriously together.” Toph asked her sister-in-law.
“I met him three months ago,” Azula said. “We’ve been in a serious relationship for about two months.”
“T-two…? Three?!” Toph’s eyebrows furrowed.
“Yeah.” One of Azula’s eyebrows rose. “Something wrong with that?”
Toph blinked. “That’s a pretty quick decision for someone you’ve only known for three months. Don’t you think?”
“I suppose.” Azula sounded surprisingly calm. “But I really want to get married, and he’s a good person.”
Toph couldn’t see a thing, but she was almost certain Azula was smiling from ear to ear like a child trying to come up with a reason to get more candy. She could hear Azula’s heartbeat, and it had sped up.
She wondered what it would take for someone to be called a good person by Azula, and what kind of person Azula had fallen in love with. Hopefully, he was as good as Azula said he was. Even though they rarely talked to each other, Toph always hoped that Azula would find some closure and meet people who could actually understand her and bring out the good in her.
“Well,” Toph said, clearing her throat, “you’re right. This is a family matter, and we need Zuko and your mother involved.” She stood. “I’ll write to him so he can come back sooner.”
Right before Toph was about to stand up, Azula asked her again.
“By the way… where are your children? I haven’t seen them.”
“Let’s have dinner together. They’ll be there.” Then she stood up and made her way toward the door.
“Toph.”
“Hm?” She turned her face toward Azula.
“I have changed. For the better. Not much, of course… but I’ve changed. I need this. I need him.” It didn’t sound like a plea, only a firm statement.
“We always hopes for the best for you. Even though, if there’s somehow a rumor that Ozai found a way to get his bending back, it’s probably going to be more believable than what you just told me.” Toph paused, choosing her words carefully. “The news would strike your dear brother hard, but he only want to make sure that the person you’re with is good enough for you.”
“I’ve been hoping too. For once, I hope everyone is happy seeing me happy.”
“Then I hope there is no problem pursuing it.” Toph said and ended it with a smile.
Azula nodded weakly and turned her eyes from Toph toward the view outside the window.
After leaving Azula’s chamber, Toph walked quickly back to her own room. She went straight to her desk and began writing a letter to her husband.
Dearest Fire Lord Zuko,
Your sister want to talk. We’re fine, I'm craving some Republic City snack so move your fine ass quickly.
- The Greatest
She needed Zuko to take this seriously, and she needed him to come home quickly. So she decided not to send the letter by messenger hawk. It would take too long for Zuko to receive it and return by conventional means.
Toph needed someone who could cross the distance much faster. She ran out of the palace and toward the open field where Druk usually rested. The dragon lifted his head when Toph approached. She quickly secured the letter to the saddle straps, making sure it was fastened tightly. Druk gave a low rumble and looked down at the earthbender.
Toph placed a hand against his side. “Go find Zuko and bring him home as soon as possible.”
Druk gave another low rumble before spreading his wings. A powerful gust of wind swept across the field as the dragon prepared for flight.