Post by Teяa253 on May 25, 2008 1:44:47 GMT 1
well, we know that Iroh is a Fire Sage now...
so now you know what this chapter is gonna be about.
Oh, and jsut a pointer for anyone who might not catch it, this chapter is a flashback... to the day Sanaki became Firelady.
THE SAGE AND THE FIRE LADY
“Of course,” said Iroh, “it wasn’t my fault, neither was it Sanaki’s. Perhaps the best way would be a recollection of the event itself.”
Iroh had invited me to sit next to him up where he was giving his abdication speech. Being the carefree, curious woman I was, I happily accepted. Additionally, he said he had something special for me. I went not to receive, but because Iroh was also my good friend. I could understand why Toph was fond of him.
After Iroh finished his speech, he was about to announce the name of the person who would be succeeding him.
“My successor, citizens of the Fire Nation, “is the greatest and fastest firebender in the world. My good people; your next Fire Lady is Sanaki Altina Li Chan!”
My jaw dropped. Iroh had chosen ME to be ruler of the Fire Nation? I was just a blind woman who led an easy-going life. Sounded to me like a difficult task. However, I heard Iroh continue his speech and say that he was becoming a Fire Sage. I heard some tumult in the crowd. I guess not everyone wanted me to be their ruler. Iroh however, managed to partially convince them by saying he would help correct any of my less-than-satisfactory ways, if I even had any. Iroh then said I was to say something to the crowd—to give them encouragement. I was so glad I was blind and couldn’t see the people below me.
“People of the Fire Nation,” I said, “as your new ruler, my primary desire will be to restore this nation back to its former peaceful glory, and restore its reputation among the other three kingdoms. No longer will the earth kingdom and the water tribes look down at us for the deeds of Sozin, Ozai, and Azulon. Who’s with me?”
I got a much louder cheer than I thought. I could feel Iroh smiling at me behind me. However, I also heard some people talking bad about me. Among them was a man named Zhao, the son of another Zhao, who seemed to hate me anyway. This probably just worsened our relationship. Nonetheless, I was the Lady of the Fire Nation now, so I had to do my best to please the people and to make the Fire Nation a better place.
After a few days, my theory was right. I hated this place. I felt so confined—so miserable having to tend to so much Fire Nation business that I never got a moment to go outside and sing and dance like I used to. I was so glad I had Iroh as my counselor, because right now, I needed it, and it was only my 4th day here.
“Iroh,” I said, crashing through into the room, “why did you do this to me? I hate this place, I hate this job!”
“Really now,” Iroh exclaimed, “was I mistaken in putting you in charge of our wonderful nation?”
“Yes,” I replied bluntly, “I never have time to do what I want anymore. I can’t even go outside. This place feels like a prison. I want my old life back. Tell them you’re becoming Fire Lord again.”
“I am afraid I cannot do that,” Iroh replied, “for once a Fire Lord abdicates, they cannot return to the throne again.”
“But I don’t want the Fire Nation throne,” I pleaded, “I want to get out of here—I want to sing and dance again. I’m so lonely here.”
I broke down crying into his shoulder.
“I am deeply sorry then,” said Iroh, “I have done a very selfish thing. Can you ever forgive me?”
“Yeah,” I replied, “but I need a solution. If I can’t even do the things I love to do, I’m going to lose it. I mean, why did you have to pick me? I’m not Fire Lady Material. I’m just a blind woman who likes to dance and sing.”
“Sanaki,” said Iroh gently, “I chose you because when I saw you I knew you were the one. Besides, you’re the Fire Lady. You can do whatever you want. If you need alone time, you just have to demand it.”
“But this place is a prison,” I replied, “The only thing I can stand about it is the throne room.”
“I knew you would like that,” Iroh chuckled, “but again, if you just need some time to get out, I can help you arrange that.
“I’m talking about a whole week perhaps,” I replied, “I’ve been so depressed. When I don’t dance or sing or laugh or play for a ling time, I get sad—really sad. And I feel so down—so depressed.”
“Then what’s stopping you?” Iroh replied, “You don’t have to do this all day. These first few days have been a little hectic just because of our current situation. If you want an entire town to evacuate so you can burn it down, it awaits your command. Sanaki, you have absolute power. Such are the ways of the Fire Lords and Fire Ladies. However, the wiser ones will always let the people have some say in what goes on, and I’m pretty sure you’re not the type who does something unless you have a reason to.”
I nodded, and smiled. I embraced the old sage. “Thank you, Iroh,” I said, sniffling away my tears, “I... I want to do good... it’s just when you’ve been deprived of your favorite activity for so long, it does things to you.”
“Well, my Lady,” Iroh replied, “if you want a day off, just tell me and I shall watch over matters until you return.”
“You will,” I exclaimed, about to cry again, but this time from happiness, “Oh thank you. Thank you so much!”
We embraced and then I left. I was finally outside of the palace. I may have been blind, but I didn’t care one bit. I loved being blind—being who I was—and now, being back outside, I just had to go return to my usual place where I would dance and sign. I would just go there and start doing my own thing. People would gather around to watch me, and I didn’t mind their company. This time, however, when I went there, there were architects removing the statue of Iroh that stood in the center of the plaza. I overheard them also saying they were removing the statue that stood in the nearby town (this nearby town is where Iroh is at the current time).
“Excuse me,” I said to what I assumed was the chief architect. “Why are you removing the statue of Fire Lord Iroh?”
The man turned around.
“Oh,” he exclaimed, “my Lady, what brings you here?”
I repeated my question, this time a little more bluntly.
“Well,” he said, “it is tradition that the centerpiece of the plaza be a statue of the current Fir Lord or Lady. This statue is going to be moved to the other side of the mountain, where it will join the other statues of former Fire Lords and Ladies. Right now we’re trying to figure out what pose to make your statue in. You wouldn’t by chance have an idea or suggestion, would you, My Lady?”
“Well,” I replied, “dancing has always been something that described me, and this is my traditional dancing spot, which is why I came here… so how about if you find a pose of me dancing?”
“That can be arranged,” the architect replied, “can you hold a pose for about 5 minutes?”
“I’ll do my best,” I replied, “If I can’t, I’m sorry.”
“You don’t need to be sorry, my Lady,” they said, “It will be us who are sorry for not sketching your picture fast enough.”
I shrugged and began dancing. I held a pose where I was standing on my right hand, my legs were pointing opposite directions, and my left hand was pointing forwards and to the left. They captured this pose, and a few minutes later, earthbenders had brought the statue to life. I felt it and smiled. I crawled all over it throwing fire into my statue’s let hand, both feet, and mouth. After I did, the statue shot fire from these places.
“We hope you like it,” the architects said, and I danced my night away.
I was glad the being Fire Lady was not as hard as I thought. I actually became very popular and loved by almost everyone. People still loved my dancing, but when the world heard of The Dancing Fire Lady, people from other tribes would watch me as well. I enjoyed my life again, except for one factor—a rival of mine named Zhao.
~Sanaki~
so now you know what this chapter is gonna be about.
Oh, and jsut a pointer for anyone who might not catch it, this chapter is a flashback... to the day Sanaki became Firelady.
THE SAGE AND THE FIRE LADY
“Of course,” said Iroh, “it wasn’t my fault, neither was it Sanaki’s. Perhaps the best way would be a recollection of the event itself.”
Iroh had invited me to sit next to him up where he was giving his abdication speech. Being the carefree, curious woman I was, I happily accepted. Additionally, he said he had something special for me. I went not to receive, but because Iroh was also my good friend. I could understand why Toph was fond of him.
After Iroh finished his speech, he was about to announce the name of the person who would be succeeding him.
“My successor, citizens of the Fire Nation, “is the greatest and fastest firebender in the world. My good people; your next Fire Lady is Sanaki Altina Li Chan!”
My jaw dropped. Iroh had chosen ME to be ruler of the Fire Nation? I was just a blind woman who led an easy-going life. Sounded to me like a difficult task. However, I heard Iroh continue his speech and say that he was becoming a Fire Sage. I heard some tumult in the crowd. I guess not everyone wanted me to be their ruler. Iroh however, managed to partially convince them by saying he would help correct any of my less-than-satisfactory ways, if I even had any. Iroh then said I was to say something to the crowd—to give them encouragement. I was so glad I was blind and couldn’t see the people below me.
“People of the Fire Nation,” I said, “as your new ruler, my primary desire will be to restore this nation back to its former peaceful glory, and restore its reputation among the other three kingdoms. No longer will the earth kingdom and the water tribes look down at us for the deeds of Sozin, Ozai, and Azulon. Who’s with me?”
I got a much louder cheer than I thought. I could feel Iroh smiling at me behind me. However, I also heard some people talking bad about me. Among them was a man named Zhao, the son of another Zhao, who seemed to hate me anyway. This probably just worsened our relationship. Nonetheless, I was the Lady of the Fire Nation now, so I had to do my best to please the people and to make the Fire Nation a better place.
After a few days, my theory was right. I hated this place. I felt so confined—so miserable having to tend to so much Fire Nation business that I never got a moment to go outside and sing and dance like I used to. I was so glad I had Iroh as my counselor, because right now, I needed it, and it was only my 4th day here.
“Iroh,” I said, crashing through into the room, “why did you do this to me? I hate this place, I hate this job!”
“Really now,” Iroh exclaimed, “was I mistaken in putting you in charge of our wonderful nation?”
“Yes,” I replied bluntly, “I never have time to do what I want anymore. I can’t even go outside. This place feels like a prison. I want my old life back. Tell them you’re becoming Fire Lord again.”
“I am afraid I cannot do that,” Iroh replied, “for once a Fire Lord abdicates, they cannot return to the throne again.”
“But I don’t want the Fire Nation throne,” I pleaded, “I want to get out of here—I want to sing and dance again. I’m so lonely here.”
I broke down crying into his shoulder.
“I am deeply sorry then,” said Iroh, “I have done a very selfish thing. Can you ever forgive me?”
“Yeah,” I replied, “but I need a solution. If I can’t even do the things I love to do, I’m going to lose it. I mean, why did you have to pick me? I’m not Fire Lady Material. I’m just a blind woman who likes to dance and sing.”
“Sanaki,” said Iroh gently, “I chose you because when I saw you I knew you were the one. Besides, you’re the Fire Lady. You can do whatever you want. If you need alone time, you just have to demand it.”
“But this place is a prison,” I replied, “The only thing I can stand about it is the throne room.”
“I knew you would like that,” Iroh chuckled, “but again, if you just need some time to get out, I can help you arrange that.
“I’m talking about a whole week perhaps,” I replied, “I’ve been so depressed. When I don’t dance or sing or laugh or play for a ling time, I get sad—really sad. And I feel so down—so depressed.”
“Then what’s stopping you?” Iroh replied, “You don’t have to do this all day. These first few days have been a little hectic just because of our current situation. If you want an entire town to evacuate so you can burn it down, it awaits your command. Sanaki, you have absolute power. Such are the ways of the Fire Lords and Fire Ladies. However, the wiser ones will always let the people have some say in what goes on, and I’m pretty sure you’re not the type who does something unless you have a reason to.”
I nodded, and smiled. I embraced the old sage. “Thank you, Iroh,” I said, sniffling away my tears, “I... I want to do good... it’s just when you’ve been deprived of your favorite activity for so long, it does things to you.”
“Well, my Lady,” Iroh replied, “if you want a day off, just tell me and I shall watch over matters until you return.”
“You will,” I exclaimed, about to cry again, but this time from happiness, “Oh thank you. Thank you so much!”
We embraced and then I left. I was finally outside of the palace. I may have been blind, but I didn’t care one bit. I loved being blind—being who I was—and now, being back outside, I just had to go return to my usual place where I would dance and sign. I would just go there and start doing my own thing. People would gather around to watch me, and I didn’t mind their company. This time, however, when I went there, there were architects removing the statue of Iroh that stood in the center of the plaza. I overheard them also saying they were removing the statue that stood in the nearby town (this nearby town is where Iroh is at the current time).
“Excuse me,” I said to what I assumed was the chief architect. “Why are you removing the statue of Fire Lord Iroh?”
The man turned around.
“Oh,” he exclaimed, “my Lady, what brings you here?”
I repeated my question, this time a little more bluntly.
“Well,” he said, “it is tradition that the centerpiece of the plaza be a statue of the current Fir Lord or Lady. This statue is going to be moved to the other side of the mountain, where it will join the other statues of former Fire Lords and Ladies. Right now we’re trying to figure out what pose to make your statue in. You wouldn’t by chance have an idea or suggestion, would you, My Lady?”
“Well,” I replied, “dancing has always been something that described me, and this is my traditional dancing spot, which is why I came here… so how about if you find a pose of me dancing?”
“That can be arranged,” the architect replied, “can you hold a pose for about 5 minutes?”
“I’ll do my best,” I replied, “If I can’t, I’m sorry.”
“You don’t need to be sorry, my Lady,” they said, “It will be us who are sorry for not sketching your picture fast enough.”
I shrugged and began dancing. I held a pose where I was standing on my right hand, my legs were pointing opposite directions, and my left hand was pointing forwards and to the left. They captured this pose, and a few minutes later, earthbenders had brought the statue to life. I felt it and smiled. I crawled all over it throwing fire into my statue’s let hand, both feet, and mouth. After I did, the statue shot fire from these places.
“We hope you like it,” the architects said, and I danced my night away.
I was glad the being Fire Lady was not as hard as I thought. I actually became very popular and loved by almost everyone. People still loved my dancing, but when the world heard of The Dancing Fire Lady, people from other tribes would watch me as well. I enjoyed my life again, except for one factor—a rival of mine named Zhao.
~Sanaki~
