Summary: Feeling left behind by prince Zuko, you must face on what is up ahead alone. A road of solitude and torture where even the tiniest drop of water can be a blessing. [series]
Squeezing your face against the bars, you hoped to get a glimpse of your destination. Eyes widening at the massive building rolling up on the horizon. Build sturdy in square forms. Fire nation banners presented with an ominous feeling.
The carriage riding over a gravely path, leading you straight to it. A bump in the road, made you fall back. Your back hitting the hard wood firmly underneath you. Three loud knocks on the wood made you gasp loud. "Keep it down!" One of the fire nation escorts roared out.
Exhaling softly, you rubbed the pain area, seating yourself better. Dropping your hands on your lap. Mind swirled back to the moment in the palace. Deep down you might have always known it.
It was uncommon for a marriage between nations. You had hoped you'd be the benefit of the doubt. For a long time you thought it was, till the Firelord's words demolished it all. You were a fool to think so. It was never his intention to let the marriage proceed.
Giving false hope to your people, only to extort them of their riches and knowledge. Like a naive child, your clan believed him. Or they simply knew, but wanted to avoid war at their doorstep at any given cost.
No matter the sacrifice. A sacrifice that included you. The chief's only daughter. Brought in for a union with the fire nation, that...would never happen. Forced into banishment with the fire prince. Ozai never intended for you to survive.
What had he hoped? That his son would kill you off in a fit of rage? He didn't intend his son to form attachments to you, neither did you, but it happened. Zuko's lack of interference tasted bad in your mouth.
A sort of betrayal you couldn't speak off. You had hoped despite everything he would defend you. Fight for the love you shared. When the moment arose, he did nothing. Still hung up on his father's approval. Presented like a hidden poison. From what you saw, the firelord would never approve of his son.
Scoffing loud, you were met with a fire nation's welcome. What did you expect from a nation that finds itself superior above others? What stung the most was Zuko's betrayal. You would've stood by his side no matter what. Fight your way through it.
Seeing the lack of fighting lust within him, tore everything down. For why should you continue to fight, he wasn't ready to fight for you. Pulling your knees up to your chest, you rested your chin down. Exhaling deeply. Whispering apologies for your father, that you had failed to honour your words. A shadow fell over the carriage due to the lack of sun.
Blocked out by the massive building. Slowly it came to a stop. Moving closer to the bars, you tried to have a sense of what was going on. Glancing to the side, you couldn't see much from the front. Listening in to give yourself a sense of that. Heavy footsteps walked around. Not one but a few pairs.
A pair of boots came in your vision, standing by the side of the coachmen's seat. Catching him receive a note from the corner of your eye. You gasped loud, pulled back the moment a soldier came in view. Knocking a weapon against the metal bars. "Well, well." He said grinningly. "Get accustomed to your new home, princess." His crooked smile enough to make you gulp.
He stepped away, swinging the weapon above his head to rally up the others. "Open the gates, prisoner walking!" Metal locks moved as the heavy doors got pushed open by several people. Heart thumped in your throat, your destination suddenly clear.
Prison. The carriage got in motion once more, riding you in. Through the bars, you saw the soldiers passing by. Staring quietly your way. Grabbing onto the bars, you pressed your face against it once more.
Letting out a shuddering breath when the doors creakingly closed behind you. Locking you in. The carriage stopped as the suspense weighed heavy on your shoulders. The door opened, letting in some sunlight. A guard stood fiercely before you.
He stepped aside for two more guards, reaching inside the carriage for your arms. Locking them tight in their embrace, dragging you out. Your knees hit the ground hard with a huff. Feet dragging on, they carried you inside.
Lowering your head to let it all wash over you. Inside they stripped you from the fire nation clothing Azula had provided you. Burning them before your eyes. The water tribe's necklace clutched sweatily against your skin. Eyes wide with horror, you shook your head in protest when a hand reached for it.
"No-no- please no!" Begging them to not take it from you. The hand formed around the necklace, tearing it loose with one hard pull. You gasped breathlessly at the release of touch. Head falling forwards. The guard grinned, tossing the necklace up in his palm.
"What do you think we could get for this?" He asked a fellow guard. You gritted your teeth when they tapped it against the table for sturdiness. The fellow guard shrugged his shoulders. "A piece of junk like that? The very least." He answered.
"If you don't want it, give it back then!" You shouted at them. Both of them shared a glance. "Prisoners are not allowed personal artifacts." He dictated, tugging the necklace away in his pocket. He neared you, patting your head in a patronizing way. "For that is what you simply are." Having kneeled before you. You tore your gaze away from him.
His fellow guard tossed you the prisoner's attire. Simple and plain, rough around the edges. After that, they dragged you towards your cells. Cold, empty with minimum light falling through the small gap high above, sealed with steel bars.
Accompanied by silence, you sat against the wall. Feeling naked and stripped of your personality. Wondering who you were without any reference to your nation. Who you would become behind these bars. Most likely your final resting days for you had lost all hope that anyone was going to save you.
The first time they came was a nightmare. You had been calling out to them you were thirsty. You simply wanted to drink water. You didn't even think about bending it...for what was the point. Three men approached the bars of your cell.
One carrying a grip holder. Shoving it through the bars, aiming for your wrists. The grip holder clutched tightly around your wrists, binding them to the ground, apart from each other. Forced to lay on the ground, you called it out in pain.
A third guard moved a cup on a long stick through the bars. Shoving it against your lips. Forcing you to open your mouth. Pouring the content in. Not caring if any of the water went to waste. Nearly choking, your throat held the water back.
Once at release, you coughed loud. Spitting a bit of water out. The grip around your wrists let go as they pulled the grip holders back. Walking off without a say. Coughing loud, you laid broken down on the ground. Slowly moving your wrists to you.
Rubbing the pain away at the red circle that had formed. It almost made you reluctant to ask for more if this was the way they were going to do it. Too afraid to have the waterbender touch a bit of water. Little daylight you had seen for the past time.
Unaware that much time had passed. It didn't seem to matter anymore. With each moment suffering by yourself, the more distant you become. Any chances of hope you had left behind in the palace when Zuko didn't step in. He didn't back you up then, he sure as hell wouldn't do now. Left with nothing but a shim of yourself.
Weakly you lifted your head up to a guard approaching. Unlocking the doors to your cell. "Today's your lucky day, prisoner." He called out. Making way for two other guards to come pick you up from the ground. "You get to smell the air." Laughing tauntingly when you got dragged out of your cell.
Lead outside to a courtyard full of prisoners. The guards dropped you off, your body rolling over the ground. Coughing loudly, you barely had the energy to push yourself up. The sun hurts your eyes, causing you to squeeze them shut.
Pulling your knees up to your chest, wrapping your arms tightly around it. Just wanting to dissapear. You don't know how long you laid down on the ground, but you were pleased no one came to bother you. Perhaps too occupied with themselves. There had been a few curious prisoners that walked around you.
Whispering to each other, deciding to not interact. Your eyes squinted more shut when a shadow came blocking out the sun. "Need any help?" A girl's voice spoke. Moving your chin up from against your chest, you slowly opened your eyes. Vision settling on a hand right up your face. "Go away." You groaned out, slapping the hand away. The other girl gasped, dropping to her knees.
"Princess Y/n?" She blurted out frantically. It was at the mention of your name, that you moved your head more up. Pushing yourself up, the girl rushing in to help. "Do...do I know you?" You questioned, furrowing your brows at her. The girl chuckled. "You might recognize me more with make-up." She added cheekily.
The girl moved a bit back when you came up close. Trying to recognize her. Then your eyes widended. "Suki?" You let out, remembering the Kyoshi warrior from Kyoshi island. She hummed loud. "What...what are you doing here?" You asked. "The better question is why are you here?" Suki answered with slight concern.
"I..I..." Moving your fingers through your hair, you weren't even sure where to begin. "Let's just say I've been a fool." You sighed out. Suki helped you up to your feet, guiding you to a more comfortable place in the courtyard. You explained to her what happend, not trying to get into too much detail, for it still hurt.
Suki shook her head with a loud scoff. "Next time I see him, he get's a punch to the throat." Suki called out, it kind of made you laugh. Your smile faded away, bringing your hands to your lap.
Suki reached for your hand, taking it in hers. "I...I don't want to say it but..." She began as you knew what was coming. "team Avatar might benefit you more." Her words made you tense your jaw. Pushing her hand away, getting up roughly.
"It was never about benefits!" You called out to her. "I chose to stay by Zuko's side. I watched him grow, show kindness, mercy, affection." Letting out in a fury. "I staid by his side no matter what..." Your lip trembled as you tried to stop it. "Because you love him." Suki filled in for you.
"You may think I'm a fool!" You spoke, turning your posture away from her. Suki got up, touching your shoulder to have you face her once more. "No...no I don't find you a fool." She responded.
"I find you admorable." Brushing her hand up your arms. You sniffed loud with a laugh. "That is not how I feel." Saying with a saddened smile. "I know..." Suki pulled you in close for a hug. Wiping a hand over your cheek, the wetness on it surprised you.
Making you pull back, staring at the back of your hand where a tear of yours held ground. Suki stared at it as well. Both sharing a quick glance. "You crying genius." Suki called out, pulling you against her hip. Sheepishly you laughed.
She pulled you in close for another hug, whispering by your ear. "We are not going to wait for rescue, we are busting ourselves out." Throwing you a wink. Reaching for your chest you could feel it again. That small warmth one would call hope.
ok I'm sure this has been said but Sokka striding into a fucking Fire Nation school as Wang Fire is incredible & has swagger, considering that the origin for Wang is "King" in Old Chinese. I know most of this website is usamerican, so, I'll try to put this in a slightly lopsided, mostly vibes-based, and thoroughly unserious analogy:
The year is 1968, the height of the Vietnam War. A young Vietnamese dude and his sister walk into a conservative Christian school in Texas, United States to meet the principal. Not even batting an eyelash, the guy goes "Howdy, my name's President America, this is my wife Miss America, and we're here about our son, Jimmy."
(Later, it turns out that Jimmy is Jesus, and he threw a hippie party in a cave for the school kids. He was enrolled for two days.)
Random ATLA screenshot ft. Sokka and a gang of enemy birds🐧🌊
Not really a fan of this one because I didn't capture his exasperated face and the bad attempt at drawing a bg🥲 (First day of school ended and instead of studying i drew this XD)
