Chapter Text
Roku arrived at the palace with a swing in his step. He was excited to see Sozin again after so many years. His best friend.
But when he entered the throne room, it was not Sozin who was sitting on the throne.
It was Ta Min.
Baffled, Roku strode closer to the throne to find his childhood crush wearing the Fire Lord’s regalia… adorning the royal headpiece…
Ta Min smiled when she saw him, “Avatar Roku. The Fire Lord and her nation welcomes you. It’s great to have you back.”
Roku was speechless.
“What’s the matter?” Ta Min’s eyebrows raised in concern.
Roku stopped blinking foolishly and spoke up, “Well, I wasn’t exactly expecting to see you… on the dragon throne.”
Ta Min scoffed a laugh, “Why of course! Silly me! I forgot to send you a letter with the updates…”
“What updates?” Roku asked tentatively.
Ta Min replied cheerfully, “Let’s just say, last year, Sozin and I got into a bit of a scuffle. We decided to settle it by Agni Kai. Poor old Sozin thought he would win for sure… but nope! I did! By right of law, the throne goes to the winner – making me Fire Lord, Ruler of the Fire Isles.”
She seemed quite pleased with herself and giggled at the news as she said it. Holding her pretty hand to her face in mirth.
Roku was gob smacked, “And what happened to Sozin?”
“Oh?” Ta Min smirked, rubbing her hands together, “Would you like to see him?”
“Yes...?” Roku didn’t like her expression. Not one bit.
Ta Min cried to a waiting servant, “Bring in the ex-Fire Lord!”
“Yes, Your Majesty!” the servant sprinted out the room.
Ta Min made a smug little noise and kicked up her feet on a lavish footstool. She glared at him with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Roku was chilled – this must be a bad dream.
The servant sprinted back into the room carrying a plate covered with a metallic cloche.
“I’m not hungry,” Roku clarified softly, “I just want to see Sozin.”
Ta Min cackled, holding a finger up, “Precisely!”
The servant took off the cloche, revealing Sozin’s head on the silver platter. Dried blood circled his neck and his eyes had been pecked out by birds.
“He kept cheating in Pai Sho,” Ta Min sniffed irritably.
Then a loud thud reverberated through the palace.
The Avatar had fainted.
“Oops,” the Fire Lord said.
Just then, a non-decapitated Sozin appeared from behind a door to the left of the throne and ran over to a (literally) floored Roku. Sozin kneeled down and put his head to Roku’s chest. He let out a sigh of relief.
“His heartbeat is fine.”
Ta Min rolled her eyes, “I told you this was too much.”
“Hey! This was all your idea!” Sozin scowled.
“I wasn’t going to cut your head off!” Ta Min muttered, “But I’m starting to get the appeal…”
Sozin got up and held out his hand imperatively.
Ta Min had her arms folded and pouted, but nonetheless acquiesced, “Fine!” she undid the pin and gave Sozin his crown back.