A Young Princess's Guide To Usurping The Throne | Chapter 17 (Patreon)

Reentering the party proved to be simpler than Tanya had anticipated. With just a few warm smiles and noticeable nods exchanged, she found herself back at her designated spot, a gentle smile gracing her lips as Mai stood by her side. It was astonishing how complacent these people were; if anyone had the audacity to stage a coup, it would have been all too easy to hold certain families for ransom, or even to eliminate the royal family entirely.

This was the arrogance that came with wealth. No one seemed to suspect that a murder had not only occurred but also that it had been committed by two children. Security was a pressing concern, and Tanya knew she would need to have a serious discussion with her father, subtly dropping hints to ensure her desires were met. The increased security would also help alleviate Zuko's worries regarding their mother.

In the recesses of her mind, Tanya berated herself for losing control, for having reduced a man to ash in a moment of rage. It appeared that trauma lingered, regardless of reincarnation. The smile that had reminded her of Schugel reeked of a twisted ambition that bordered on madness. While it wasn't as deranged as that of a mad scientist, it was disturbingly close, triggering alarm bells in her mind that compelled her to lash out in both anger and fear.

She needed to regain her composure. Taking deep breaths, she focused on her chi to soothe her racing heart. Chi was truly remarkable; akin to Mana, it could empower both body and mind while alleviating pain and heightening senses. Tanya pondered why so few seemed to harness this potential, attributing it to a lack of education in certain areas. This was precisely why she had confided this secret to Mai.

Those without bending were not as powerless as benders often believed; they still had access to chi, albeit with greater difficulty in harnessing it, as Mai had explained. Nevertheless, she had reaped all the benefits, which had satisfied her.

Mai remained steadfast at her side, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the crowd for any suspicious glances that might herald unwelcome surprises in the future.

With renewed determination, Tanya pressed forward. Standing still accomplished nothing; she glided gracefully through the throngs of people, her gaze catching the subtle gesture from her cousin, Lu Ten. He approached with an open embrace, extending his sole remaining arm. Physical affection was something Tanya had come to cherish in this life; in her previous existence, it had felt foreign, but here it forged connections with family and friends that made them the most treasured individuals in her life.

“Tis a joy to see you, little cousin! Even in my absence, I see your smile has not faded,” Lu Ten exclaimed warmly.

Tanya chuckled lightly, “Never, cousin! It’s a splendid day for all. Your safe return, along with Uncle, was my greatest wish when I learned of your departure. I trust my little gift proved useful?”

Lu Ten affectionately ruffled her hair, prompting a playful huff from Tanya. “Indeed! That contraption surprised even me. Without it, I might have met a grim fate in a ditch somewhere. It’s astonishing what it can do! It saved my life, and for that, I owe you my gratitude. If you desire anything at all, I shall procure it for you, no matter the cost. Nothing is too great for my beautiful cousin.”

She smiled at this, though it was kind of pointless proving how she already was one of the wealthy individuals with the Fire Nation; it was still relieving to see she still held support within the family and it came from a place of genuine affection.

"I'll hold you to that, cousin, but for now, let me introduce you to someone special," Tanya said, gesturing toward her friend. "This is Mai."

Mai froze at the sudden attention, her eyes wide as Lu Ten turned to her. His face bore healed scars, remnants of battles fought and survived. He flashed a warm smile and extended his hand. "Hello, dear. It's reassuring to see my cousin hasn't let her father change her so much that she can't make a friend."

Mai shot Tanya a silent glare, earning a playful roll of the eyes in return. Accepting Lu Ten's hand, she replied, "N-nice to meet you! But let's be honest, if Azula ever tried to make friends, she'd probably scare them off with her endless rambling."

Tanya's eyes widened in horror as Lu Ten's smile widened at that comment. "Ahh, quite right! Little Azula tends to... how should I put this?"

Mai jumped in, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Mouthy? Too serious? Chaotic? Crazy?"

Lu Ten laughed heartily, glancing at Tanya, who was now blushing a deep shade of crimson. "You know, I think you might be onto something there, Mai. I mean, who else could turn a simple introduction into a monologue about the intricacies of firebending etiquette?"

Tanya crossed her arms, feigning indignation. "Hey! I can be charming when I want to be!"

Mai smirked, leaning closer to Lu Ten. "Oh, I don't doubt that. But sometimes, I think your charm is just a cover for your chaotic energy. It's like watching a firework show—beautiful, but you never know when it might explode!"

Lu Ten chuckled, nodding in agreement. "Exactly! And here I thought I was the only one who noticed. Azula, you might want to tone it down a bit before you set off any more fireworks."

Tanya laughed, shaking her head. "Alright, alright! I promise to keep my rambles in check. But only if you both promise to keep the teasing to a minimum!"

Mai raised an eyebrow, a playful smile on her lips. "No promises there, Azula. You bring it upon yourself!"

Lu Ten added with a grin, "And besides, it's too much fun to resist!"

Mai chuckled, much to Tanya's dismay, who pouted in response. Observing his cousin on the brink of a meltdown, Lu Ten decided to ease the tension. "As much as I would love to stay, I must take my leave before little Azula has a temper tantrum. It was a pleasure meeting you, Mai. You are always welcome at the Royal Palace; it would be beneficial for Azula to have some friendly company."

Mai nodded, "Of course, my prince. She won't be rid of me so easily."

Lu Ten smiled, ruffling Tanya's hair affectionately before quietly departing. Tanya's eyes blazed with barely concealed vengeance as Mai suddenly realized her blunder. "No pay for a month."

Mai's eyes widened in a mix of horror and amusement. "B-but..."

"Two months," Tanya replied, her smile growing as she took in the flabbergasted expression on her friend's face.

Fire Lord Azulon and the royal family stood resolutely as they assembled, each child positioned beside their parents while Azulon took his place at the forefront. His gaze swept over the crowd, a testament to the royal family's enduring unity and strength.

A profound silence enveloped the room for several moments, and when he began to speak, his voice resonated with the deep, measured authority of a ruler who had governed longer than most in attendance had lived.

“Soldiers of the Fire Nation. Lords and ladies of the court. Children of the flame.”

He paused, letting the titles settle over the hall.

“Tonight we gather not in mourning, nor in mere celebration of a single battle, but in recognition of a victory that will be remembered for a thousand years. Ba Sing Se has fallen. The city that stood as the heart of the Earth Kingdom—the city whose walls were said to be eternal—now flies the banner of the Fire Nation. The siege that began in blood and uncertainty has ended in triumph. The Earth King’s palace is ours. The inner rings are ours. The Outer Wall lies broken, and the stubborn pride of the Earth Kingdom has been brought to its knees.”

A controlled murmur of approval moved through the ranks. Azulon raised one hand, and the sound ceased at once.

“There are those who will claim this victory belonged to the army as a whole, or to the will of the Nation itself. They are not wrong. Yet history demands more than generalities. History demands that we name the men whose courage and sacrifice made the impossible possible.”

He turned slightly, gesturing toward the two individuals of honor marked with the personal banners of a prince and a general.

“I speak first of my grandson, Prince Lu Ten.”

The name alone drew a collective breath. Many in the hall had known the young prince only through reports and letters. Others had fought beside him in the early months of the campaign. All of them knew the price he had paid.

“Lu Ten marched towards the walls of Ba Sing Se when the first serious breaches were forced. He did not remain in the safety of the command tents. He led the charge through their internal systems, moving through pipes when lesser officers counseled delay. When the Earth Kingdom’s forces closed around our advance like a closing fist, it was Lu Ten who held the line long enough for reinforcements to arrive. It was Lu Ten who refused to abandon the wounded when retreat would have been the easier path. And it was Lu Ten who, in the final push through the Inner Wall, gave the order that turned a costly stalemate into the decisive breakthrough.”

Azulon’s voice remained steady, but a colder note entered it, one that spoke of personal loss as clearly as any open display of grief.

“He did not walk out unharmed through the conquered city. That is a truth we will not soften with comforting lies. The Fire Nation does not hide such scars. We honor them. Lu Ten’s blood watered the stones of Ba Sing Se, and those stones now belong to us. Let no one in this hall or beyond these walls forget that the victory we celebrate tonight was purchased, in part, by a prince of the royal blood who chose duty over keeping his limbs. His name will be spoken with the names of the greatest heroes of our nation. His sacrifice will be revered as the throne itself. From this day forward, the western barracks of the capital will bear his name, and every cadet who trains there will know the standard to which they are held.”

He allowed the words to settle, then shifted his gaze to the second empty place.

“And I speak of my son, General Iroh.”

The reaction was quieter and more complex. Iroh’s name carried much weight, the crowned prince who shall sit upon the throne is due time, and the newer weight of a commander who had returned from the brink of defeat with a victory few had believed possible.

“General Iroh helped plan the siege that broke Ba Sing Se. He studied the city’s defenses for years. He understood its strengths and its hidden weaknesses better than any Earth Kingdom general living or dead. When the campaign faltered, when supply lines stretched thin and the walls seemed endless, it was Iroh who refused to abandon the field. It was Iroh who adapted the strategy when the Outer Wall proved more stubborn than expected. It was Iroh who coordinated the simultaneous assaults that finally cracked the city’s heart. And it was Iroh who, even after hearing of his son scarring, did not break.”

Azulon’s golden eyes swept the hall, daring any present to look away.

“There were those who whispered that such a thing would've broken such a man. They were wrong. He let not knowing his son's sacrifice be in vain. It had ignited a flame in him to carry on. He did not withdraw. He remained at the front, directing the final stages of the siege with a clarity and ferocity that will be studied by every commander who follows. When the Inner Wall fell, it fell because Iroh refused to let it stand. When the Earth King’s forces scattered, they scattered before the army Iroh had held together through fire and pride.”

He advanced confidently to the forefront of the dais, his gaze fixed intently on both Azula and Zuko, who both advanced as well. Their legs were positioned firmly apart, grounding them as they began to sway rhythmically. As they extended their fists outward, vibrant blue and orange flames intertwined spectacularly, swirling together in a mesmerizing display that captivated the audience. The flames flickered and danced, casting an enchanting glow that illuminated their determined expressions, symbolizing the unity of their powers and strength.

“Let the record be clear. This victory belongs to the Fire Nation. It belongs to every soldier who fought and bled and died behind those walls. But it belongs first and foremost to Prince Lu Ten, who fought with his men, bled for them, and was maimed for them; and to General Iroh, who refused to let such things go unanswered. Their names will be spoken together for as long as the Fire Nation endures. The conquest of Ba Sing Se will be remembered not only as a triumph of strategy and strength, but as a triumph of will—the will of a prince who would not yield and the will of a father who would not break.”

Azulon’s voice dropped, becoming quieter yet somehow more powerful.

“I have ruled this Nation for many years. I have seen campaigns rise and fall. I have seen glory won and glory lost, and from this day forward, the banners of Ba Sing Se will fly beneath the banner of the Fire Nation. The Earth Kingdom’s heart is ours. And the men who made it so will never be forgotten.”

He raised both hands. Zuko and Azula continued their movements, smoothly releasing shimmering sparks of blue and orange.

“Hail Prince Lu Ten, The Immortal Sun whose flames refused to be extinguished! Hail General Iroh, The Dragon of the West, a beast like no other! Hail the Fire Nation, whose destiny is now written upon the walls of the greatest city of the Earth.”

The hall erupted. The roar of voices rose like a living flame, crashing against the stone and rolling outward into the night. Outside, the celebration fires burned brighter. Inside, Fire Lord Azulon stood unmoving upon the dais, his gaze fixed ahead as he looked upon his subjects as he watched the nation he had shaped for decades roar its approval of the victory that had finally, and forever, broken the walls of Ba Sing Se.

\o/