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Ember Island is a magical place.
Kya wasn’t totally sure where her mama had heard that but she’d apparently heard it from somewhere because she said it to her and Lu Ten a thousand times as they were traveling to the vacation destination from the palace. Kya really didn’t know why her mama thought it was magic either. It didn’t seem much different than the other beaches they had in the Fire Nation, just more crowded.
“It’s magical because it’s the only beach with two dragon princesses on it.” Her mom told her.
“Then why isn’t every beach we visit a magical place?” Kya asked.
Her mom just laughed, “It’s just a saying, Kya. Your mama just wants you to have fun.”
“It’s true though. I always had an amazing time on this island because it’s such a beautiful and peaceful place.” Her mama said.
“And magical?” Kya asked.
“And magical.” Kya giggled when her mama planted a kiss on her forehead.
Her mama was Princess Azula of the Fire Nation and her mom was Master Katara of the Southern Water Tribe. From what Kya heard, they got together after the war when they began sparring together for fun which turned into getting dinners together which turned into dates which turned into marriage which turned into marriage and children. Thus, she and Lu Ten, her baby brother, entered the picture.
According to her uncle Sokka, their arrival has been a pretty big deal. Azula was gifted, in more ways than just her bending. When she was a toddler, she transformed into a dragon for the first time. Her parents took her to see the Fire Sages but even they had no idea why this was happening and Ozai wasn’t willing to get rid of a potentially valuable weapon so Azula was trained. Her dragon form has always been a last-use resource because Ozai drilled it into her head that it made her a beast, not a real princess but a wild animal. After the war, Katara helped Azula start to embrace her dragon form more and more. To the point that Azula could often be seen flying over Caldera.
This was really important because it made Kya and Lu Ten’s births even more interesting. Everyone was wondering if the children would get their mama’s skill or follow in her dragon paws. Kya did. When she was four, she sneezed too hard and tumbled into her dragon form—a small dragon with dark blue scales. No one knew about Lu Ten yet, but that was probably because he was only two. Katara and Azula watched him closely, but they didn’t force him into transforming if he wasn’t ready or couldn’t yet.
Most of Kya’s life involved school and an understanding never to shift forms unless she was sure she was safe. That meant she could never change at school or during a tutor lesson but most other times were fine and Kya took full advantage of that to run around and play whenever she wanted. It was ten times more fun to play as a firebreathing dragon than as a normal human. And she carried that mentality with her to Ember Island which was why she was leaning against the edge of their boat and staring at the dock.
“Kya, remember the rules.” Katara warned.
“I know, I know. No shifting.” Kya sighed, “Not even in the house?”
“You can do so in the house but be careful. Every item you break is one day of grounding when we get home.” Katara warned.
“Mom-”
“Listen to your mother.” Azula warned, scooping up Lu Ten, “We just want you to be safe, Kya, and safety does not include you accidentally setting fire to your bedroom because you were trying to light a candle.”
“That only happened once.” Kya mumbled, “Can I at least go explore by myself?”
Azula and Katara shot each other a look. Kya was eight, a decent firebender and a dragon, so it seemed like it was okay to let her go look around by herself. But she was also their baby and a princess—kidnappings and assassination attempts were nothing to mess around with. Katara looked down at Kya, who was still staring up at her mom and mama with big eyes.
“Fine. You can explore, but you need to be home an hour before sunset. If you’re late, I’m sending an angry mama dragon after you.” Katara warned.
“Thanks, mom!”
The second the boat docked, Kya ran off. She had clearly seen the not too far off town from the boat because that was exactly where she was making a beeline for. Azula, still holding their two year old son, went to stand by her wife.
“How long before she sets something on fire?” Azula asked.
“Have a little faith in your daughter.”
“I have faith in her. She’s got a very good head on her shoulders that came from me-” Katara glared at her, “and you.” Azula quickly added.
“So what’s the problem?”
“She’s eight. Do you remember what stupid stuff Sokka was doing at eight?” Katara winced, “Exactly and he’s a genius too. I’m just saying that sometimes smart people make stupid choices too.”
“Genius is a stretch.” Katara grabbed their bags from the boat, walking off and towards the house. Since Zuko kind of destroyed the old family beach house, Azula had it renovated into one that still slightly resembled her and Zuko’s childhood beach house but now had far more space and room. Room for their family and friends and not just for the royal family.
However, due to it not being in use all the time, there were no guards or servants who stayed there. Meaning that Katara and Azula had to bring everything up to the house themselves or, more specifically, Katara did because Azula was holding their lighter bags and son.
“Genius!” Lu Ten repeated, “Uncle Sokka!”
“And now you’ve corrupted our son.” Katara chuckled, “Azula, she’ll be fine. She’ll go exploring, realize she’s hungry or tired and then come back.”
“It doesn’t freak you out at all to know how daughter is out there and we don’t know where?” Azula asked. She set Lu Ten down and knelt down on the floor, showing off colorful blue firebending to entertain him while Katara started opening their bags.
“Of course it does, but Kya deserves freedom. Just like we had.”
“Babe, we fought in a war.”
“But we still had freedom.”
“Genius!” Lu Ten chirped again.
Katara chuckled, taking a seat on the floor next to her wife and son, “We still have this one to worry about for the next few years if you’re feeling bad.” Azula smirked. That was certainly true and Lu Ten wasn’t ready to leave Azula’s side anytime soon, “Now we just have to get him to not think of his uncle as a genius and we’ll be all set.”
“And how do you plan to do that?”
“Bribery.”
“You’re going to bribe the two year old?”
“Yes.” Katara’s simple response was enough to make Azula laugh, “With your mochi.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“I would.”
“Why did I marry you?” Azula sighed.
Katara leaned forward, kissing Azula and resting her head against her shoulder, “I think I tricked you.”
“Must be it.”
—-----------------------------------
Kya had been to Ember Island before but most of those times were summers when she was too young to really remember anything. This was the first time she’d been to the vacation spot when she would actually remember something from her trip and Kya wanted to make that count. Plus, it was her first time exploring an island by herself. Without her mama or mom leaning over her shoulder, Kya ran from vendor to vendor to explore what they had to offer. She couldn’t buy anything but no one could stop her from smelling and making a mental note to come back later when her mama gave her some money.
It also didn’t take her long to notice the forests that surrounded the town. The Fire Nation wasn’t really known for their large forests so Kya took the opportunity to explore them whenever she got the chance. Plus, whenever there was an overgrowth of trees like this, it was highly likely no one would be around for miles: the perfect place to transform without anyone seeing her.
Kya’s dragon for at eight was a decent size but not an apex predator by any means. She was about ⅙ the size of Appa and incredibly skinny for a dragon which only made her look smaller. Her mama told her that was common and the same thing happened to her but Kya still didn’t like being so small. However, in the forest, Kya was easily one of the biggest predators around and she could have fun with that.
Like now when she was chasing fire ferrets through the grass.
“Gotcha!” Kya chirped, pouncing on the small animal. The ferret cried out in alarm but Kya just laughed, lifting up her paws so the animal could escape, “You can go. You can go.” The ferret wasted no time running for its home.
Noticing a nearby broken branch, Kya tilted her head back and opened her mouth. Her stomach and neck glowed with the distinctive orange color of fire as she shot out a fireball and knocked the branch off.
“Yes!”
If Lu Ten was here, he would run over and pick up the broken branch, waving it around like a prince would. Kya decided to grab the stick and take it with her, holding it in her mouth. Lu Ten would like having it when she returned to the beach house.
The day continued to wear on and Kya wasted hours that day playing in the forest and walking through the town. She blew smoke at some people passing by and then hid in the forest, laughing when they said there was probably a smoke monster nearby. By late afternoon, the animals all knew to run from her so chasing them wasn’t so much fun anymore because they would flee the second they saw her.
With nothing else to do, the baby dragon stretched out her claws and turned her attention towards home. She was almost there when she heard voices behind her. Three teenagers, all wearing typical Ember Island clothing, emerged from the forest.
“Wow! Dude, check it out! Is that a baby dragon mongoose lizard?” One of them asked.
“No. I think it’s a dragon moose cub.” Another said.
“How is that a dragon moose cub? It doesn’t even have any fur!”
“The fur can come in later, idiot!”
“No, it can’t! She’s not a dragon moose cub!”
“Then what is she if you’re so smart?”
“…..Well she’s not a dragon moose cub!”
Kya let out a loud chirp noise. One that she hoped would get her mama’s attention. Although she might be too far from the house for her mama to hear her. What if they grabbed her? She couldn’t shift back because then that would cause chaos and her mom and mama would never let her leave their sight again if they had to cut their trip short because Kya was causing problems.
“You’re scaring it.” The youngest boy said, “Look at the twig in its mouth. It’s obviously starving.”
“Let’s bring it back to town then. We can keep her as a pet!” Another chirp. This one louder.
“Come here, girl.” The older boy knelt down, his hands getting closer and closer, “It’s okay. Papa Chan won’t hurt you.” He whispered.
“Mama!” Kya chirped again. The older boy scooped her up, not noticing or maybe not caring that she was trembling in his arms, “MOM! MAMA!” The boys couldn’t hear her words but they did hear her chirping and roars.
“Awww. She’s happy she got rescued.” The younger boy smiled, “I call naming her!”
“You can’t name her! I’m older! I get to name her!”
“That’s not fair. I’m the one who’s gotta carry her back home.”
Suddenly, there was a rush of wind that swept over the three boys. They didn’t think too much of it although it did cause them to stop looking at the baby dragon and turn their attention towards the sky. Along with the powerful wing came wing flaps that sounded like thunder.
“Is that a-“
“Holy-“
Azula’s dragon form was humongous. Easily double Appa’s size and with her wings puffed out, she looked much bigger. She landed directly in front of the boys and growled at them. That one growl, with a showing of Azula’s razor sharp teeth that could rip metal apart, was more than enough to send the three running.
“She-She’s your baby, huh?” The oldest boy nervously chuckled, “Here. Here, you go. Gonna put her down nice and gently.” Kya bolted the second she had her chance and hid behind her mom’s leg.
“See? We mean no harm. You got your baby back and we’ll just leave. No harm, no foul, right?” Azula grabbed Kya by the scruff of her neck and flew off, leaving the boys to nearly faint from relief.
“I think you made one guy pee his pants.” Kya whispered.
She didn’t miss her mama’s little smirk.
————————————
“Are you okay, baby?” Katara asked.
Back in human form, Azula had told Katara everything while Kya got dressed in her pajamas and showered after spending nearly day in the forest. Azula had just finished putting pajamas on Lu Ten when Kya came into the living room and plopped herself down on the floor.
“I’m fine, mom. They were annoying is all.” She said.
“They tried to take her.” Azula growled, “This is why-“
“Why she needs the experience.” Katara finished, “Now she’s been in that situation and won’t freeze again.”
“I didn’t freeze.” Kya mumbled, “I just thought that if I turned back you’d be mad at me cause everyone on the island would be talking about us and you’d have to deal with that instead of being on vacation.” Lu Ten whimpered a little whether it was because of what Kya said or his own discomfort the family didn’t know.
“Oh, Kya.” Katara knelt down to her daughter’s level, “Sweetheart, you never need to worry about that. All we care about is you being safe.” She ran her hands through her daughter’s hair. Kya slowly laid her head against her mom’s side, her eyes closing while she felt her hair gently fall against her face.
“Okay.” She whispered.
“So next time you can bite those guys.” Azula told her.
“Azula.” Katara warned.
“Bite them! Bite them!” Lu Ten cried.
“That’s my boy.” Azula grinned. She could still see Katara glaring at her though out of the corner of her eye, “What? If she’s too nervous to shift back then biting is the best alternative. I did it to servants and would be assassins and it did wonders for me.”
Katara let out a sigh, “Kya, don’t listen to your mama. She’s insane.”
“Nope! Declared mentally sane actually.” Azula grinned, “Remember? That’s why we got together and had two children.”
“I still don’t know why I agreed to this.” In response, Azula set Lu Ten down in Katara’s lap and took a seat next to her—on the opposite side of Kya—kissing her wife’s cheek, “Oh. Now I remember.”
“I love you so much.”
“I love you too.”