Sokkla Saturdays 2025
A Princess sent on a mission by her family. A Crown Prince ready to defend his loved one‘s till the end. Will the broken-hearted Princess follow her families routes or will she choose to mend her heart and finally find peace? Will the Crown Prince choose fear or listen to his heart and soul?
This year, I take a different course. Instead of stand-alone entries, I tried something new and wrote a whole story. Every week I will post a new chapter. The main insipration of the theme was one of my favorite books. As the header says, the title of the story is Oasis In Your Eyes. Once you read, you’ll understand why. I'm pretty excited and hope you guys will like it!
Happy Sokkla Saturdays!
Chapter 1: Crown Princess
FF.Net & AO3
Princess Azula of the Fire Nation.
Soon to be Crown Princess of the Northern Water Tribe and its islands.
Grew up trained by her father in fighting. Took education by the best teachers in culture, manners, and geography.
Her biggest mission awaited her on an island far away from her hometown.
Waiting for her father on the royal barge was nerve-racking. Azula has always been nervous around her father. Always thought she was never good enough as a royal.
Fire Lord Ozai arrived alongside his highest ranked friend Admiral Zhao. Azula has always had mixed feelings about that man. The Admiral was warmer to her than her own father, which made her feel more comfortable to be just herself around him.
Zhao gave her a small smile and a light nod upon entering the deck. Azula nodded back and greeted her father.
"Azula, I know this is a sudden happening, but as your uncle said, you are our only reliable chance at finding what we and your grandfather has been looking for decades."
Reliable chance her father was saying. Not daughter or woman, or simply a person. But a chance. She always felt like the royals were no humans but objects.
“King Hakoda has been strict in his trade and communication with the Fire Nation. The new Crown Prince, who now rules Kyoshi Island, is even more stubborn and took the seriousness of protecting his kingdom on another level. .”
The new Crown Prince. Her soon-to-be-husband.
"However, Crown Prince Sokka arranged more security and a new project that seems to make the Northern Water Tribe unreachable for outsiders. That guy is known to be a mastermind." Ozai explained.
"The water tribes, specifically the royals, are family orientated people. Although I hate to admit it, they are honorable and loyal people. Spouses never split up because they have respect for each other. When you become his wife, you can win his trust. And in doing so, you can find a way to enter the Northern Water Tribe." Zhao said.
"Kyoshi Island is as far as people can go. Only one ship ever entered the waters beyond that island. And you know what happened to it."
Lu Ten. Her cousin entered their waters, and his ship was immediately sunken. Iroh wanted vengeance. It happened when she was a child. She didn't think her cousin deserved to be killed just like that. But she wasn't sure how entering their land would bring him back or take away Iroh's sorrow. Though she wasn’t sure her father genuinely wanted vengeance. All he wanted was to build trust. By Fire Nation laws, Iroh has a good portion of right to voice out decisions, because he is older than the Fire Lord himself.
She would try her best to make the right decision, but part of her was scared. Although she was a trained fighter, she never had to use her skills outside the training field, for which she was thankful. The thought of entering an unknown kingdom, a kingdom that killed her cousin in his youth didn't help keeping her fear at bay.
"Remember child: You are our only chance to keep trade with the Northern Water Tribe and to find the Spirit Oasis, so we can also live without fearing our health." Ozai said, “It’s a wonder of the nature. And we believe we have a right for it too.”
He put her hands on her shoulders and squeezed them lightly. Like affection. Then he turned around and left Azula standing there frozen.
When was the last time her father showed physical affection? In truth, she couldn't remember anyone touching her with affection.
..........................................................................................
A week of travel on the ship and the air grew colder.
In the Fire Nation Academy, her teachers said that some people believed that snow lay on the Northern Water Tribe and its islands all year round. But that was not true. The islands had warm seasons and lots of green. More often than not it rained.
Azula saw the proof with her own eyes once they docked at the harbor of Kyoshi Island. The “capital city” of the Northern Water Tribe. Her heart skipped several beats when she laid eyes on the green scenery from the window of her room on the royal barge.
“You look so beautiful.” Ty lee said, her hands pressed together. Her father allowed her close friend to sail with them. They didn’t know if the royals of the north would accept her to their island yet. Azula was glad her childhood friend was here, since the week on the ship had been much lighter.
“I envy you Azula!” she said.
Azula raised her eyebrows at her comment. “Ty lee, you realize that this is duty, right?”
“It’s so adventurous and romantic.” she replied.
“There is absolutely nothing romantic about this. It’s a mission, don’t forget that.” Azula told her seriously. “Besides, it’s still not too late for you to change your mind. It could be dangerous.”
“Are you kidding me?” Ty lee said taken aback. “No way I’m leaving you! Who’d you take advice from about how to seduce your husband.” she giggled.
„Ty Lee!“ Azula hissed.
Despite herself, Azula smiled. She had no idea how the Crown Prince looked like. Even if this was „a marriage for peace-mission“, she hoped for the best still.
A knock on the door startled her out of her thoughts. Zhao entered the room.
„Princess, as we were fearing, the wedding ceremony is going to take place on deck of our ship. They’re not allowing us to set foot on Kyoshi Island. As much as we maintained a good friendship for a while now, they still don’t trust us enough yet.“
„Not surprised.“ Azula huffed. A wedding on deck of her royal barge. With a blue strapped dress. The color is a tradition of the Water Tribe culture. But her bracelet, a wedding gift from her father, was one fitting for a Fire Nation royal.
„It’s time Azula. They’re waiting.“ Zhao said. He took a step forward. „As much as we want to use their resources, as much as we hate his uncle and grandfather, we also know that Sokka is an honorable man. Women are treated respectfully here. Otherwise, no way your father would’ve allowed this.“ he reassured her.
Zhao has been more of an uncle to her and more of a brother to her father than Iroh. She really wanted to believe his words. She nodded and took the arm he offered to lead her on deck.
Water Tribe soldiers were standing all over the shore. Not one spot was left empty. Her father only allowed two Water Tribe Royal Guards and Princess Katara, her sister-in-law, on their ship.
Azula greeted her father first and then turned around.
There he was standing. The Crown Prince of the Northern Water Tribe and its islands. And her soon-to-be-husband. He was at least a head taller than her. Broad shoulders, muscular arms, with scars on tanned skin. Proof that he was a fighter himself. She slowly lifted her head to see the features on his face, and he was already looking at her. Did he see the way she looked? His eyes were the classic Water Tribe blue. His cheeks had stubbles, which grew longer on his chin. Deep brown hair that was bound into a wolf tail. He took care of his looks that was clear.
„Welcome to Kyoshi Island.“ he said. His sister next to him repeated. They nodded, as a way of greeting.
„Are we really welcome?“ her father asked. „I expected to witness my daughter’s wedding ceremony on the Island your majesty.“
Sokka just shrugged his shoulders. „Security reasons.“ he said leisurely.
He looked at her again and bowed slightly, only for her. There was nothing soft on his features, but he showed courtesy. He took a step forward and reached out his hand towards her.
„Princess Azula.“
Azula looked at his steady hand. She feared, Her’s wasn’t as steady. Besides her she felt her father’s tension because Sokka’s hand was still stretched out, which made her more nervous. With slow motion and inner control, she took Sokka’s hand. Her hand felt sheltered in his strong one once he closed it around Her’s. Weirdly, she liked the feeling of it.
Gently, Sokka pulled her to him, then turned sideways slowly letting his hand slide away from Her’s. He lifted his palm as one of his royal soldiers came to stand near them. Azula, again slowly, put her palm on his. She learned in her lessons that this was the beginning of the wedding ceremony. Zhao gave the Royal Guard, who stood in the middle, a dark red and gold ribbon which the guard bind around their pressed hands.
He started talking and she looked at him once, then at Sokka, who didn’t tear his gaze from her once. She watched him with the same intensity he watched her.
The guard asked them to promise, to only cherish each other, to stay loyal, to fight side by side and respect each other.
„Do You, Princess Azula of the Fire Nation, daughter of Fire Lord Ozai and Fire Lady Ursa, accept these vows and do you take Crown Prince Sokka as your husband, become his wife, become Crown Princess of the Northern Water Tribe?“
„I do.“ she said, still looking at Sokka. There was a slight change in his features now. As if he got his confirmation that she truly accepted this.
„Do You, Crown Prince Sokka, son of King Hakoda and Queen Kya, accept these vows and do You take Princess Azula as your wife, become her husband and protect her as long as you breathe?“
„I do.“ he said, with such determination that she shivered.
Zhao loosened the ribbon around their hands and held it out for Azula. She took the ribbon and Sokka turned slightly so that she could reach his right upper arm. This was the Fire Nation part of the ceremony. She binds the ribbon around his arm, painfully noticing the flexing of his muscles. Did he by any chance do that on purpose? She pulled the knot tighter than necessary. He smirked with mischievousness.
Princess Katara arrived with a box next. Sokka took out the betrothal necklace, which by his culture’s traditions, he crafted it himself for her.
He leaned towards her, and very gently slid the necklace around her slender neck. She purposefully didn’t take her hair to the side, so that it wouldn’t get easier for him. His knuckles grazed her skin, and she blushed, hoping he didn’t see it.
“I now declare you husband and wife!” the royal guard said. “Our Tribe has a new royal member: Crown Princess Azula!”
Several soldiers on the shore played the drum with a loud beat, followed by claps. It was official now. She was Crown Princess and his wife.
For the first time since the ceremony started, Sokka looked away from her to talk to her father.
“Fire Lord Ozai, Admiral Zhao, thank you for keeping your word. You needn’t worry. I will take good care of our Crown Princess. Her comfort will be my top priority.” he told them.
Ozai nodded and Azula saw relief in her father’s eyes.
„I expect you to leave soon? The storm won’t make it easy for you if you don’t sail as soon as possible.“ Sokka said.
„You needn’t worry Sokka, we’ll be gone soon.“ her father said.
He stepped towards Azula and gave her a soft hug, which surprised her. „You’ll be fine my daughter. Remember, we’re always there for you. And Ty Lee is accompanying you, so you won’t be alone.
„She won’t be alone, your majesty. I am there, our tribe is there.“ Sokka reassured.
Sokka urged her to walk with him to leave the ship. Azula was still surprised, still touched. She watched her father for a moment. Saw Zhao nod behind him with a smile as a goodbye to her. Her father didn’t smile. He watched them walk away, with an emotion in his eyes, which broke something inside her.
Maybe her father did love her after all…
Her fear of this island, of Sokka seemed to disappear , when her father nodded to her one last time, encouragingly, before she turned around, for Sokka waited until she was ready.
Hand in hand, they entered Kyoshi Island.
Her new home.
