Chapter 46 - A Coming Together
---Avatar World, Several Days Later---
"You're engaged!?", I gasped in shock, "Where did you meet the lucky lady, Lu Ten?"
"I would also like to know.", Iroh laughed, "I thought you said you were focused on your military career. This woman must be quite special to make you change your mind."
Sipping the tea that Iroh made, I could tell Lu Ten regretted telling us. Giving him a minute to collect his thoughts, he admitted who it was.
"She...she was the nurse that took care of me.", he said clearing his throat, "I...I asked her on many dates since I recovered. Her father gave his blessing to me, and...I am going to marry her!"
"Oh!!", Iroh snickered with a mischievous grin, "You take after me alright, you know your mother was also very curvy. You know, she and I-"
"DAD!!", Lu Ten shouted covering his ears, "I don't want to hear about your honeymoon again! I know all about the mistake you made with the tea leaves!!"
"You say that like it was my fault!", Iroh protested, "Telling the difference between the White Dragon Bush and the White Jade Bush is very difficult!"
'So that's how he knew how bad it was in the series...', I thought remembering the reaction he had to it.
Listening to the two of them argue over things, I couldn't help but smile. These moments were ones that Iroh would never have had if Lu Ten died. I was happy I saved him from dying, and was still able to talk sense into Iroh to end the war. As I was thinking about that, I felt Azula pinch my thigh in annoyance. It was clear she mistook my smile for me thinking about curvy women.
"Just give me time...I will get there...", she said looking at her still developing chest, "Ty Lee will too."
"What does she have to do with this?", I asked.
"You plan on having three wives, don't you?", she inquired with a smile.
"Three?", I stated fainting ignorance.
Staring at me, she wasn't buying my acting. It was clear she had picked up on what my plan was, and was calling me out on it now.
"Yes Ty Lee, that Waterbending girl, and myself.", Azula reminded me, "The three of us are the ones you are wanting to court, right?"
"You can't say her name?", I questioned with a sigh, "It's Katara by the way, also I haven't even asked her parents for permission yet. I haven't confirmed whether or not she is even interested either."
"Fine...Ty Lee, Katara, and I...", she huffed in annoyance, "Also, I know she has an interest in you. I can see it in the way she acts around you, and treats you. She's obviously trying to keep your attention."
Pulling her closer to me, I said she didn't need to get jealous. I promised to make time for all three of them, but she quickly told me that wasn't her issue.
"One of us has to be the First Wife, I am not giving that position up.", she snapped.
"Does it mean that much?", I asked, "I'm asking because I really don't know."
Letting out a sigh, she looked at me with a straight face. I could tell this wasn't some childish joke, she was really concerned about this.
"When you are married to multiple people, it's customary to have the First Wife enter the room alongside the husband. The others follow after and only interact with people if asked too.", Azula told me, "The First Wife is the one that helps her husband with negotiations and is the face of his harem."
"Ah...", I replied, "Have you discussed this with Katara?"
"...no, but I know she wants that position!! I can tell by the way she acts!!", she argued, "She is always clinging to your arm!!"
"How about you sit down with Ty Lee and Katara to talk about it? I want to make it clear that the customary tradition is bullshit.", I stated with a serious look, "If I marry all three of you, I want the three of you treated equally. Anyone that treats one of you as a second rate individual should be roasted alive."
Seeing a smile pop up on her face, she calmed down and said she'd talk with Katara and Ty Lee because I was so insistent. Tuning Iroh and Lu Ten back in, Iroh was handing Lu Ten a book with a firm nod and a grin. Seeing the title on the book...it was immediately time to leave. While being a royal was nice, I didn't like how everyone was always saying having an heir was the most important job of a royal.
Taking Azula by the hand, I got out of the room just as Lu Ten started shouting at Iroh. Glancing back to the room then to me, she asked what that book was. Telling her it was similar to the one she found under her mother's bed, she gave me a smirk. Wrapping herself around my left arm, she looked up at me trying to be seductive.
"I can show you what I read in the book.", she teased me.
"I am sure you can, but I can wait a bit longer.", I said.
"You have said that the past few months now...you realize everyone else I know is already intimate with their partner. Even Zuko and Mei are further along than we are!!", Azula hissed, "Am I not good enough!?"
Stopping in the hall, I turned to look at her with a serious expression. I understood she was being pressured by a lot of nobles to have children with me, but I didn't want to do that too her. At this point in her life she wanted to be an asset for me, not a stay at home mother. She had aspirations of her own, but was throwing that away because she was a Royal.
"Do you want a child that badly? If we have one, you'll be stuck here caring for the child while I am off working to restore the balance to this world. I haven't done anything with you because I enjoy having Katara, Ty Lee, and you accompanying me everywhere. Once things settle in a few years, I promise you will be the first woman on this world I give me affection too.", I said holding her hand firmly, "I know you don't want to stay here like a bird trapped in a cage."
"I see...", she replied closing her eyes, "You are doing this so I can maintain my freedom a bit longer. I...I apologize, I thought you were upset with me. A lot of the girls have been saying that you see me as a burden, and unattractive..."
"You are one of the most beautiful women I know, and you get even more beautiful everyday.", I assured her, "Don't listen to those people, they are just jealous."
"I suppose I can wait...I don't want to be forced to stay here.", Azula said crossing her arms, "You aren't getting rid of me that easily."
Telling her I had dinner reservations for us tonight, I asked her if we could head out to eat. Grabbing Ty Lee from her family home, I flew down to the South Pole to get Katara before taking us to Omashu.
---Omashu, Earth Kingdom---
"Oh wow!!", Ty Lee gasped looking at the carts sliding up and down designate ramps, "Can we go sledding on those!? I bet you those are a lot of fun to play on!!"
"Yeah, it does look fun.", Katara admitted, "Is that okay with you...Your Royal Highness."
"It is fine...you can call me Azula.", Azula said trying to be civil for me.
Doing a double take, Katara was shocked she didn't say something smart back like usual. Looking at me for a sanity check, I told her I would explain later. Landing outside the city, we drew quite the crowd of people. It was well known only I flew around on a Flying Bison at the moment so I didn't need to introduce myself. Waving at everyone with a polite smile, I suggested to the three women we go to the restaurant before it got busy.
"So what sort of restaurant are we going to?", Katara asked as we entered the city.
"It's a really famous noodle shop, it's called Earthen Wok.", I said leading the way.
"Never heard of it.", Ty Lee stated.
"It's really famous in the Earth Nation and Air Nation.", I chuckled, "They have several different noodles and even more different types of meats to choose from."
"Sounds good to me.", Katara admitted as her stomach growled.
Getting us a table before the dinner rush, we got seated and started looking over the menu.
"Psst...", Ty Lee whispered, "We are going to ride the carts after this, right?"
"Of course we are, that's dessert.", I replied.
"Good job!", she laughed with a smile.
Placing our orders, Azula wasted no time in talking with Katara and Ty Lee.
"So, do you want to marry Mael?", Azula said to them.
Getting their attention with that, Katara and Ty Lee looked her in the eyes.
"Mael has done a great deal for our village, and for my family directly. He spent many afternoons training me in Waterbending, and never once asked for anything other than to spend time with me.", Katara spoke up, "I do want to date Mael, then marry him when we are a bit older."
"I want to marry him because we get to go on a lot of adventures together, and...he is the only boy to ever pick me out of a line up of my sisters and I.", Ty Lee said looking at me, "You don't know how much that means to me...to be recognized as my own person, and not as one of my siblings. People don't realize it, but...it hurts why they just call you by your last name because they can't recognize you."
Giving her a soft smile, I patted her on the head. I knew she had always had issues with feeling that there was nothing special about her, but I could see what others couldn't...her soul. No two souls were ever alike, no matter where you look there is always a slight difference.
"Very well, there are some things we need to talk about.", Azula said, "Mainly, who is to be the First Wife."
"Count me out of that running.", Ty Lee laughed, "I don't want anything to do with politics unless I absolutely have too."
"...Alright that leaves you and I.", Azula stated.
"You'll have to forgive me, are you saying you want to marry him first?", Katara asked completely unaware of the Fire Nation political system.
Explaining to her what the position was, what was expected of them, and what the consequences were of failures...Katara nodded her head.
"How about a compromise?", Katara suggested.
"I am listening.", Azula replied.
Suggesting that at Fire Nation events Azula would be the First Wife, and at the rest of the events they just be a normal family. Looking at her in shock, Azula realized that the other nations might not have the same tradition. She had only been raised in the norms of the Fire Nation...she just assumed it was the same everywhere.
"I don't believe it matters that much to us.", Katara said, "If it's just a political position, I am fine with you taking the lead. I don't know anything about the Fire Nation political system, it's probably best if you lead that. We will do what we can to support you, however...how do you see this working Mael?"
"As far as I am concerned all three of you are equal. No one is more important than the other, and therefore no one should be treated different from another.", I told her, "I fully intend to treat each of you with the same amount of love, kindness, and understanding."
"I am absolutely fine with that.", Ty Lee said with a smile.
"Same here, but you will still need to talk to my parents. That is customary in our tribe, the man has to ask for permission.", Katara stated with a smile.
"Oh is that all? Your grandma has been telling me to take you away for the past year now.", I snickered.
"Gran Gran!?", Katara gasped, "You are kidding right?"
"You should just take Katara away and elope, she's been waiting for you to take her hand for over a year now!!", I said mimicking her tone.
"I told her not to tell you!", she pouted with a sigh.
Telling her it was fine, I promised to talk to her father when we went back this evening.
Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
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