Borealis: A Zutara Story

Chapter 78

When Lady Sakura arrived at the palace with Sei Fire Lord Ozai was waiting for her in a newly converted work room.

“Lady Sakura, you have done well. I am very pleased.”

She blushed when he greeted her even though his eyes held their usual coldness.

Ozai’s lit with mirth when he saw the young woman with his errand girl. Sakura had sent samples of her writing by messenger hawk and it was just the type of disgusting drivel he wanted.

“You must be Sei. I am very pleased to be in your acquaintance,” he said warmly.

“Fire Lord Ozai. It is my utmost honor to meet one so noble and judicious such as yourself.  I do not deserve to be in the company of one so great,” Sei babbled dropping to her knees and lowering her forehead to the floor.

 “You may rise,” Ozai said clearly amused. 

“I am sure Lady Sakura has told you that my son has charmed the Avatar’s Waterbender; lovely girl, very feisty. Although I do not understand the allure of barbarians she could even be called beautiful. I believe their story is one that must be shared with the world.  You are the one most suited to do so,” Ozai watched as the girls eyes grew rounder and her face lit up as if she had been set on fire.

“Fire Lord Ozai, I do not deserve such kind words. It is beyond anything I ever imagined I would be blessed with when I asked for Agni’s guidance.  To think that the mere daughter of a small town mayor’s prayers would reach the ears of Agni incarnate and be granted is more than I could have ever hoped for! I will do my best to write the story of how our brave and handsome Prince Zuko seduced the dastardly Avatar’s beautiful and exotic Waterbender to the righteous side of the Fire Nation,” she said clutching her hands in front of her heart.

Ozai sighed. Sakura had warned him the girl was eccentric, but she was starting to give him a headache. It was best he introduced her to Yuliang and left before he incinerated the nitwit. “Sei, you will be working with an artist named Yuliang.  Her drawings are what made me realize my son’s taking of the Waterbender was not only a victory for the Fire Nation but an epic tale to be shared amongst mankind. Yuliang, come meet the writer who will be adding words to your portraits.”

The rice door slid open to reveal and even larger workroom with drawings hanging on clotheslines from the ceiling so they wouldn’t get smudged. Yuliang bowed respectfully, “Greetings Fire Lord Ozai, how may I serve you today?”

Ozai smiled. The girl had grown up in the palace and her training had kicked in shortly after she returned from drawing the royal processional. “Yuliang, this is Sei. She is the author Lady Sakura found.  Please take her under your wing and teach her everything she will need to know to get along in the palace.”

“Yes, Fire Lord Ozai. Sei, it is nice to meet you. I look forward to working together,” Yuliang said in a friendly manner. She bowed to Lady Sakura but did not address her as that would be acknowledging she held importance other than a visiting noblewoman.

“Fire Lord Ozai, may I have permission to update you on the progress of the first prints?” Yuliang asked politely.

“Yes child, speak freely,” Ozai commanded.

Yuliang returned to the work shop and brought back a box.  She handed the picture to Fire Lord Ozai and he smiled, “This is magnificent. Have you looked at each one?”

“Yes, Milord.  There were only a few that were smudged.  I saved them for you because one of the smudges provides an interesting effect that may be suitable for the book,” the artist replied blushing and handed him the marred artwork.

Lady Sakura gasped and Ozai smirked, “Yuliang, you are truly a gift sent to me from my beloved Ursa. Find out of the printer can reproduce this smudge. If not I am certain you can draw it. This would be an excellent addition to the book.  Sei, can you describe this scene?”

The young author blushed and gasped as well. Her voice was trembling, “The barbarian knelt anxiously before the Prince; fearful yet captivated by the arousal straining his pants. Her lips parted slightly as he caressed her cheek; the gentleness of his touch made her all the more eager to-.”

“That is enough,” Ozai laughed. He had been in the room for that portrait. It had been posed with Katara kneeling while Zuko stood behind her. He had stepped in front of her briefly for the head artist to adjust the curtain behind them. Yuliang had captured the moment Zuko placed his hand on her chin to lift her head and wipe away a tear with his thumb.  His son had smiled proudly and told the Waterbender, “The world will see you crying and know that I am the source of your tears.”

The words were missing, but Zuko was still smiling and Katara’s teary eyes were shining. Yuliang had captured the setting sun behind them and softened both of their expressions. The smudge ran from Katara’s mouth to Zuko’s pants making it appear the newly crowned Waterbender was happily sucking his son’s penis.

Ozai took one last look at Sei and Yuliang. They were holding hands and grinning like a pair of recently united political prisoners after a prison transfer, “I look forward to seeing the work two you produce.”

He turned to Lady Sakura, “I would like a reenactment.”

“Yes Milord. I await your company.” Lady Sakura bowed demurely and exited without looking at the other two young ladies.

It was a privilege to be chosen by the Fire Lord so she wanted to maintain the appearance that status came along with the position. She pretended that hearing Yuliang was a gift from his beloved wife but saying she found Sei did not make her feel slighted in the least or that being told to he wanted a blow job in front of them was not an assault to her dignity.