Firelady O-ren chapter 3

O-ren stepped out of her room, finished with her Zen meditation.

" I hope you don't intend to go to your next meeting dressed like that."

O-ren looked up and saw her Advisor, Koichi.

A rugged, yet sophisticated looking older man of 52 dressed in regal red robes with a dark brown top-knot with strings of grey hair,

Looked to his Queen with dark Amber eyes.

O-ren realized he meant her revealing outfit.

" Of course not, I was just trying to relax a little before I would be forced to deal with a bunch of condescending old men." O-Ren replied, annoyed.

An understanding smile appeared on the Advisor's face.

O-Ren's still getting used to her position as the Firelady, it must not be easy, hearing the endless praise of the people, and the deafening doubts of her elders, both pulling her in different directions,

Yet somewhere in between the self-doubt and bits of hopeful confidence, I think she just feels trapped within the tourniquet of royal obligation bestowed upon her by father. I suppose that I should cut her a little slack, just not to much... Koichi thought, realizing her plight.

He knew her far better then she realized.

He nodded. " Very well, I shall see you there." Permitted her to take a moment more to herself.

O-ren smiled." Thanks." She replied as she began to turn away to go into the castle's yard.

" Just don't be late!" Koichi added with a serious tone.

O-Ren slumped her shoulder's and heaved a sigh.

" Fine." She groaned, then hurried outside.

Koichi smiled as he watched her leave.

She was a brave and brilliant young woman, but she still had so much left to learn, if only she had the confidance to see it in herself as well.

But he'd see her through it all, just as he had promised.

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O-ren sat by the Turtle-Duck pond where her Father Zuko, and his Mother Ursa would feed them little pieces of bread together.

And he in turned did so with his children.

It was always O-ren's favorite pastime with her family, until the cruel hands of time took their toll on her Siblings...

She also recalled, that whenever she saw her Father sit by here, she could always see his eyes mist up from the memories this place brought.

For even a joyous memory can bring one to great sorrow from time to time.

O-ren herself had not lived long enough to know such pain as that yet, but she often wondered,

Would she be the same in remembering her Father in her Twilight years.

No, it would not be the same, for she would mourn both of her Parents, as she was blessed with two great parents who loved her, and the rest of her Siblings very much.

O-ren felt tears well up in her eyes at the realization of how her Parents were now very on in years, and were probably not long for this world..

And chilling fear that their presence in her life was the only reason her Brothers had not tried to dethrone her.

Well, to be fair, only 2 wished for my death, while the other simply does not deem me worthy and wants to seize powr on a more political stand point.

Her older brother, Asura, Age 32, was the youngest of the boys, and twin brother to her Sister, Junko.

A tall, handsome man who greatly resembled our father greatly, with long dark brown hair, with the top of his hair done in a top knot, with the rest hanging long and loose down his strong back.

He often wore traditional royal robes, but being trained by our mother's late friend Ty lee, he has been known in his younger years to wear a red color-schemed, and more masculine version of the Kyoshi warrior uniform.

But even though he didn't go onto the training grounds as he used to, being a General in the firenation army, he was still a very formidable hand-to-hand specialist.

He was very close with his twin Sister, though I think that even he'd think she's already crossed the line if he knew the truth about her.

The twins loved one another dearly, but their views on life could not be more different!

Where Junko cherished our father's ideals, to a most dangerous fault,

Asura did not!

He once did, when he was a young and innocent child who looked up to his father without question.

But as he got older, he began to doubt his father's ideals of peace, not because he's a violent tyrant like their grandfather, Ozai.

But because he finds the ideals naïve and foolish.

Due to this, their relationship is a bit strained.

All the same, he retains a deep level of respect for his Father.

But for within the hereditary violent temper of the fire nation royals, that even O-ren did not realize about her brother.

Was a deeper, more critical reason for her brother's actions and ways of thinking.

To O-ren, however, he was a cold, malicious man, not at all like the brother she once, and though it was stupid of her, still loved.

The second to oldest brother, Kinnosuke, age 37, was an utter madman!

A tall, leanly built man with jet-black hair pulled back into a long ponytail that hand over his shoulder.

And with unmatched skill in battle, and the mind of a brilliant strategist.

He was, though she hated to invite this comparison,

A lot like Azula was in her youth, he looked a lot like her, and he acted a lot like her, whether its like how she was able to calmly and precisely execute her plans, to how she was back she was a dangerous lunatic.

And like Azula, he tries to dominate everyone around him with fear, to control everything within his reach, being able to fit in anywhere he needs to, as to not let on to the venomous snake hidden within the regal cloaks of a dragon.

He wanted, she wasn't actually sure what he wanted, just that he wanted to dethrone her,

But by any means necessary...

Though she indeed feared him, a part of her still held out hope that like Azula, and even her Father,

He could be redeemed.

But it wasn't likely...

And her oldest Brother, Roku,

A damn shame that he was named for the late Avatar who was once a man of great wisdom and compassion,

He was not!

He, being the Eldest at age 42, was more akin to a beast then a prince in O-ren's opinion.

When Father had told everyone that he was to retire, we all assumed that he was going to choose his firstborn, as is traditionally done.

But when Roku found out that he was not to gain the Throne, he was infuriated!

In a spiteful act of vengeance, he had tried to kill me!

He actually broke into my chambers and attempted to strangle me in my sleep!

I couldn't scream, I could only await death in horror at the hands of one whom I once called brother...

Luckily my struggling made enough noise to alert her family and the guards!

With the combined efforts of my Father, who even in his old age could still fight as well as any younger man, Iroh II, Honoura, and and my 26 year old cousin Kazu, and Asakura and the royal guards,

They were able to stop him!

I had never been so scared in all my life!

My brother, my own brother,

Had tried tokill me, and over something as meaningless as the throne?!

I'd never have hurt him, never!

Especially not like this!

I never meant to take anything from him, I never wanted the throne, wasn't that enough?!

Father, though it killed him to do it,

Had no choice but to imprison my brother Roku to the Boiling rock.

Mother was comforting me, who was still shaken by my brush with death, was devastated to see this happen!

I don't think she recovered from it, even now, a whole year later.

I know I haven't, I still awaken in a cold sweat in the dark of night, fearing that he may lurk somewhere in the darkness beyond my eyes reach.

In remembrance of the brothers she once knew, the tears started to spill down her cheeks.

" Well, aren't you a sorry sight." A voice said playfully.

O-ren turned to see her Aunt Azula, who also lived here at the Palace as well with her Son, Kazu.

Now in her elder years, she may have not have the beauty of her youth, but her presence still instilled fear into those around her.

Whether she meant it to or not.

O-ren had always felt that fear, however, which led her to distrust her.

She quickly wiped away her tears and sat up straight!

" Good morning, Aunt Azula." She said formally, bowing her head.

Smiling still, in an oddly pleasant manner, sat beside her Niece.

Which led to O-ren to tense up slightly.

Taking notice of this, she chuckled lightly.

"So, "firelady" O-ren, how are you holding up?" She asked, even though she put emphasis O-ren's new title in a more mocking matter, she was indeed concerned for her.

" I am fine." She responded stoicly.

" Are you?"

" Yes."

"Are you sure?" Azula asked once more.

"Yes!" O-ren replied again, this time started to get irritated.

Then O-ren's expression softened.

" I apologize, Lady Azula, I'm just, well, I-" She tried to find the words to explain herself to her Aunt.

Without sounding pitiable or weak!

" Its okay, O-ren, I understand, your scared, it'd be strange if you weren't." Azula said, taking absolutely no offense to her Niece's unintentional display of disrespect.

O-ren smiled." Thanks." She was happy that someone else in her family besides Honoura who understood.

" Of course." The elder Princess replied.

There was a quiet pause between them as they watched a stray little Turtleduck paddling and struggling in the water, trying to find its Family.

It was a lot like O-ren.

She was like a stray little Turtleduck struggling against a world that she still struggled to understand, her disapproving peers, her treacherous brothers, her hateful and crazy sisters,

Trying to find a Legacy that seems out of her reach, to join her Father in the line of one of the greatest firelords of all time!

But what would always pull her back, always stop her dead in her tracks,

The very source of the tide that she fought against tirelessly.

Was her own self doubt.

She wanted to share this with Azula, but decided not to.

She probably won't understand. She thought.

Azula, as though reading O-ren's thoughts, spoke.

" The little duck is lost now, but it'll keep on persevering, and find its way home." She spoke with a wisdom her age and life of strife and struggle against insanity had brought her.

Neither women said anything, there was no need to, they just smiled.

Azula understood, and O-ren knew that,

And that was enough.

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Now dressed in her Royal robes, and taking a deep breath to calm her nerves, she stood before the large doors where the meeting was being held.

Holding her fear held up high where no one could see them,

She entered...