A Young Princess's Guide to Usurping The Throne | Chapter 12 (Patreon)

Laughter moved through one of the many large extensions of the Royal Palace, with walls still gleaming with lacquered red, gold, and black; the braziers still burning bright with fire; and the long windows still casting bars of moonlight across the polished stone floor. Laughter moved between the pillars, cups clinked, and musicians played in the corner beneath hanging banners embroidered with the nation's seal, their strings and drums striving to lend dignity to what was a victory celebration built atop blood and smoke.

Victory over the siege of Ba Sing Se had been expensive. Both in coins and in people. Tanya knew from the fragments of reports she had read while browsing through her father's paperwork. The reports were a chilling sight, unedited and stark, revealing the devastating loss of life and the staggering funds required to even begin to stabilize the situation; it was outrageous, yet ultimately necessary. The Earth Kingdom’s great capital had been breached. A strategic prize had been secured with fewer casualties than anyone had expected. In the language of generals and governors, it was a triumph.

In Tanya’s language, it was an opportunity.

She stood at the edge of the gathering with a cup in hand, swirling the dark drink inside in thought. It wasn't wine, but honestly, she couldn't really tell what it was. Some Fire Nation noble had offered it with a proud smile and a promise that it had been “aged in volcanic stone cellars." It was odd wording, but it contained enough bitter heat and faint stimulant bite to serve as a passable substitute for the caffeine she had grown increasingly dependent on. She took a small sip, winced, and then forced her face smooth again.

Over the past few months, she had discovered there were several ways to run a room without drawing attention to oneself. Other times it came from posture. Sometimes via stillness. Sometimes, with the deliberate placement of the smallest possible smile at exactly the right moment. Tanya would have liked to observe tonight. The party was full of noble families, military leaders, ministry officials, and a small number of women whose jewelry was valuable enough to indicate political utility, even if their husbands were not. If she so wanted, she could start discussions that might guarantee future patronage, affect colony logistics, or gather promises of labor and resources from people who would subsequently claim the ideas had always been theirs.

That was the sort of evening this could have been.

If she had not promised Mai she would hold back.

The promise had been necessary and irritating and entirely sensible. For months, Tanya had thrown herself into work with a force that would have impressed even the hardiest of Fire Nation bureaucrats. She had spent long hours in meditation, using the strange techniques of the Fire Sages as a scaffold to force open memory, dragging scraps of knowledge from her first life into the present. Machine schematics. Factory processes. Ventilation theory. Metalworking. Chemical handling. Logistics. A thousand practicalities that would exist in earlier years, progressing society to levels that would ultimately match that of her first life.

She was in the middle of another sip when she noticed her father.

Ozai stood near the central dais in conversation with a nobleman whose silk robes were too elaborate, whose rings were too many, and whose expression had the glossy confidence of a man accustomed to suffering no consequences for his appetites. Tanya knew him by reputation. He had profited handsomely from slavery in the colonies, or so the rumors went, and his name carried fear within the lower realms of the Fire Nation.

Ozai’s smile was thin and controlled. He said something low and polite. The nobleman laughed too loudly, leaning in as if they were secret lovers. Then Ozai’s expression changed by a fraction, his eyes going cold and hard enough to turn the air around him brittle. The exchange ended quickly after that. The man bowed. Ozai inclined his head without warmth, and as the noble withdrew, her father produced a handkerchief from within his robes and wiped his fingers with visible distaste.

Tanya found that unexpectedly comforting.

There were many forms of evil in the world, and some were more aesthetically unpleasant than others. Slavery was one of those things she intended to eradicate if opportunity ever placed the means in her hands. In the Fire Nation, it was not common in the way it had been in other worlds she remembered, but it existed in the margins: in certain colonies, it was practiced, usually as a way to cull the natives. If the Fire Nation was going to expand, it would do so more efficiently with free labor, productive incentives, and citizens with reasons to invest in the state.

She would not tolerate slavery, even if it meant burning each slave owner alive as their families watched.

She turned the cup in her fingers and let her gaze travel onward.

Her brother was near the musicians, speaking with a pair of young nobles whose parents hovered not far away, probably ensuring that no one said anything unbecoming. Zuko had abandoned the rigid little hairstyle expected of boys his age and let his hair grow longer, imitating their father and grandfather.

'It suited him,' she thought. He had always been too earnest for the kind of world that their elders ventured in. Even now he stood with his shoulders straight, trying too hard to appear composed, trying too hard to be something he wasn't.

Then his eyes found hers.

The shift was immediate. He said something to the noble children, excused himself, and made a beeline through the crowd. Tanya watched him approach with a neutrality she had forged in her time in the empire. Zuko stopped before her with his hands hovering uncertainly at his sides, as if he had not yet decided whether he should bow or simply flee.

“Sister,” he said.

His voice was careful. Not soft, exactly, but measured. It had the strained quality of a person speaking over a crack in ice, testing whether the surface would hold.

Tanya gave him a small smile. “Hello, brother. We haven’t spoken in a while, have we?”

Truly, they never talked much, and that was a fact. His face lost color almost instantly, and his gaze darted past her shoulder to ensure no one was listening too closely. Nearby, two ladies in heavily layered gowns were selecting slices of spiced roast from a lacquered tray. One of them giggled behind her fan. Zuko swallowed.

“I’m sorry, okay?” he blurted. "I know things aren't as they were usually before...everything."

“It was wrong of me to just push you away like that, but there really wasn't much of an excuse I could give, but come on. After what we saw, I really didn’t have a choice in the matter… especially since Mom isn’t the same anymore.”

He paused, tasting the words for a second before he spoke.

"Please, Azula, I want my little sister back. Mom also needs you..."

Tanya’s expression tightened, though not enough for anyone to call it anger. Young children, always children in the worst possible sense—seeing the world in instantaneous emotional fragments and confusing their suffering with the center of reality. She remembered, with unwelcome clarity, being younger and following Zuko like a shadow, asking questions and waiting for him to notice her. There had been a time when his affection for her warmed her heart in a way that felt foreign. She had never known the bond of a sibling; in her first life, she was an only child, trapped in the care of indifferent parents who, despite their efforts, could never provide the warmth she so desperately longed for. In her second life, she faced the torment of an orphanage, where endless nights were filled with despair and the gnawing ache of hunger.

That time was gone.

"I don't need an apology, Zuko," she said softly. "I need you to do better. We are a family. It is not the kind of thing that should become common knowledge or common place to suddenly ignore your own little sister; yet, Father had to handle the situation because of your actions. Silencing many of our guards and maids, no one else should have known of it."

His shoulders tensed. Tanya let that sit for a moment before continuing, her tone even. “I apologize for the condition our mother is currently in. If it would help you, I can arrange for some of the best healers in the nation to examine her.”

A shadow moved across his face. The mention of their mother always did that. It was a wound with too many layers to touch directly.

Then Tanya’s eyes sharpened. “Make no mistake, I do not regret what I did. I saved our grandfather, the Fire Lord, and foiled a plot for murder. To condemn a child for that is pathetic. I have had time to think about it, and our mother obviously holds no love for me anymore; it shows how she looks at me. All she sees when she looks at me is a continuous loop of a traumatic event. She couldn't care less that she ignores her second child."

"I couldn't care less about that. But Zuko, remember that we are united by blood. Do not do it again. It could cost us dearly if it is seen that our family is weak and divided.”

For a long moment he said nothing. Tanya could see the conflict moving behind his eyes, the instinctive urge to argue against the cold logic of what she had said, clashing with the harder reality that the argument was not wrong simply because it was unpleasant. Finally, he let out a breath and looked away.

“Alright,” he said, and the words seemed to cost him. “I just need to think about everything.”

He hesitated, as if the next part had to be forced out through pride and shame. “And I’m truly sorry for how I’ve treated you.”

Before Tanya could answer, he dipped his head and walked away.

She was one of many, expected to fall in line behind her numerous sisters. Individuality felt like a curse, yet she craved it more than anything else; she longed to be different from her siblings. She loved them dearly, but there was a suffocating feeling that came from always being surrounded by them. So, Ty Lee often found herself in a corner by herself. She smiled and greeted many her own age, but even then, her bubbly personality served as a shield, a mask used to conceal her genuine sense of loneliness.

She had a family and sisters she cherished, yet she still felt alone. Was she secretly miserable? Perhaps. She had many friends, but those she called friends were often only present for a moment before disappearing.

They sometimes found her strange for her conversations about auras, but who could blame her for such thoughts? She didn’t know why, but throughout her life, she had seen the truest forms of people. As she observed the surrounding nobles, their auras were disgusting, reeking of greed, lust, and opportunity, which made her want to vomit, though it would have been unbecoming of her.

She adjusted her smile, the familiar expression settling back into place. She should feel happy, right? It was a celebration, after all. Determined not to dampen the spirits of those around her, she navigated through the crowd, exchanging greetings and polite bows. Her gaze landed on Prince Zuko moving along with quickened haste, who appeared to share her somber mood. 'He’s cute,' she mused, feeling a flutter of nerves. It wouldn’t be wise to let her quirks affect the prince, but perhaps she could lift his spirits. After all, if anyone deserved to be cheerful, it was a prince.

With the grace of her acrobatic training, she glided through the throng, feeling a sense of freedom that came from her passion. Acrobatics had become an integral part of her identity, allowing her to escape the constraints of the world around her.

As she continued, she noticed the prince slipping away from the festivities, heading toward one of the many balconies. Curiosity piqued, she followed him, but a wave of anxiety washed over her, causing her to hesitate. Was she really going to approach him? What if she made a fool of herself? Just as doubt began to creep in, she shook herself free from those thoughts.

“Are you going to stand there, or do you have something to say? I’m not in the mood,” a voice cut through the air.

Ty Lee suddenly realized she was on the balcony, alone with Prince Zuko, who regarded her with a hint of irritation as he assessed her presence.

“I-uhm... h... umm—” Her mind faltered under the pressure, words slipping away as her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Her heart raced, and her thoughts swirled chaotically, leaving her momentarily speechless.

Zuko raised an eyebrow and let out a dramatic sigh. "Take a moment to breathe before you suffocate on your own words. It wouldn't be ideal for you to perish in such a ridiculous manner, my lady."

Ty Lee paused, her nervousness evaporating as she burst into giggles, catching Zuko off guard. It was oddly refreshing. She had expected to be dismissed, but the prince seemed genuinely surprised by her presence.

"You’re funny! I doubt I’d die like that, and by the way, calling me 'my lady' sounds so formal. Just call me Ty Lee!" She flashed him a warm smile, her eyes sparkling with delight.

Zuko blinked, taken aback by her sudden shift in energy. Was this girl a little off her rocker? Or was she just another one of those girls pushed by their families to cozy up to him for a potential marriage? "Hmmm, Zuko," he muttered, contemplating the situation.

A grin spread across Ty Lee's face as she bounced on her heels, invading Zuko's personal space. "Soooo, what are you doing out here? You’d think a prince would be thrilled to be at a celebration, right?"

Rolling his eyes, Zuko replied, "Oh yes, absolutely! I’m just overjoyed to be surrounded by a bunch of adults who seem more interested in matchmaking their daughters with me than actually celebrating. Or they just want to ignore me because I’m still a kid."

Ty Lee tapped her finger thoughtfully against her chin, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Ohh, that makes sense! But you really shouldn't let something like that bring you down, Zuko. Life's too short for frowns!"

With a sudden burst of energy, she flipped gracefully, landing on her hands with a flourish. In one swift motion, she playfully bopped the prince on the nose with her foot, leaving him momentarily stunned. "Why did you do that?" Zuko asked, his confusion evident as he blinked at her.

Ty Lee giggled, her laughter ringing like a bell. "To make you laugh and feel better, silly! You looked like you needed a little pick-me-up!" She bent again, showcasing her incredible flexibility as she transitioned into a one-armed handstand, her hair cascading down like a waterfall.

Zuko couldn't help but chuckle at her antics, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. "I don’t think anyone else would dare to poke a prince in the nose, but it seems you've surprised me, my lad—Ty Lee."

"Well, someone has to keep you on your toes!" she replied. "Get it?" flipping back to her feet with a grin. "Besides, I think you need a little fun in your life. All this royal stuff can be so serious. What do you even do for fun, Zuko? Do you have any hobbies?"

He scratched the back of his head, a hint of a smile creeping onto his face. "I train a lot, you know, firebending and swordsmanship, and I've taken an interest in plants as of late. But I guess I do like to draw sometimes. It helps me relax."

"Drawing? That’s awesome! You should show me sometime! I love art!" Ty Lee exclaimed, her eyes lighting up. "I can’t draw to save my life, but I love watching people create. It’s like magic!"

Zuko raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Really? I never thought of it that way. I just do it to clear my mind."

"Exactly! And you know what? We should totally have an art day! You can teach me how to draw, and I can show you some acrobatics!" Ty Lee suggested, her enthusiasm infectious.

Zuko chuckled, shaking his head. "Hmmm, I honestly wouldn't mind it…if it's truly okay with you?"

"Of course!" Ty Lee exclaimed dramatically, "Why couldn't I be alright with it? You are my friend!"

Zuko smiled, feeling lighter with each passing moment. 'Friend? Well, that was faster than I thought. She seems lively enough, and it's a breath of fresh air.'

"Oh, and we can paint each other's nails and braid each other's hair!" Ty Lee declared, her excitement bubbling over. "And I promise, no more nose bops—unless you really need one!"

Zuko laughed, the sound genuine and warm. "I think I’ll pass on that for now, but thanks for the offer."

Ty Lee beamed at him with that, and Zuko grinned as they carried on talking. It was good; Zuko never had such a period. Usually he was training or looking after his mother, and then his sister's conversation had given him plenty to consider. Now, though, it was pleasant to be free from considering all those things.

Unknown to the prince, Ty Lee beamed as she watched his gloomy grey and blue aura transform into a brilliantly lit flame, radiating a golden warmth like never seen before.

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