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It started off as a joke... that turned into a serious notion.... that SOMEHOW ended with the Fire Sages prostrating....
LITERALLY ON THEIR KNEES!! AT FIRE LORD ZUKO'S FEET!
Zuko had heard from a few staff members of the royal palace that the Fire Sages caught whim of his complaints... They ALSO managed to discover a voting pool among the staff that many were offering THEIR opinions regarding his complaint, a feat Zuko himself hadn't discovered. (AND THAT'S SAYING SOMETHING!) Zuko prided himself in knowing the in and out of his palace grounds but here he was, facing a horrible act of defiance among the most religious people of his country.
"W-What's going on here?" Zuko spluttered, his face growing twenty shades of red in embarrassment. He never did like his people lowering their heads to him but this was on a whole larger scale. "P-Please!!! O-On your feet!"
"Your Majesty," one of the Fire Sages began speaking, ignoring a direct order from the Fire Lord himself. "I must sincerely apologize for pressuring you but I must beg you to consider your notion of removing the sacred shoulder pads from your royal garment!"
"THAT'S THE WHOLE REASON YOU'RE ON YOUR KNEES?" Zuko screeched, his embarrassment rising on a whole new level. He was okay with the rumors that the Fire Sages did spend their free time at bars and service stores. He wasn't mad that they were acting human at times of need but for the entire sake of those dumb- well, annoying -shoulder pads is a disgrace itself in a whole new level.
"Please, your Majesty! You don't understand the holiness displayed in those shoulder pads alone!" another Fire Sage bravely stated, pressing his forehead deeper into the concrete floor. "You mustn't remove them at all cost!"
Zuko could feel his nerves skyrocketing and he held everything back from roaring at them to raise their heads and just accept the fact he didn't like them. But they were his top advisors (not at the same level as Sokka, of course) and he couldn't push them away since they're sacred to the Sun Spirit, Agni. He took a deep breath, calming himself and sighed loudly. 'Why am I surrounded by idiots?' After noticing that they wouldn't give in, he finally groaned in frustration while rubbing his nose bridge.
"Fine! I'll keep those stupid shoulder pads!" He snapped in anger, ignoring how they visibly relaxed at his words. "Now go leave before I change my mind!"
"O-Of course, Your Majesty!" They said in unison before all hurrying out like little turtle-ducklings.
Once they were out of sight and out of mind, Zuko leaned into his throne and huffed. 'This is gonna be a long day....
---
Zuko stared at what used to be his best friends. Now, he was thinking of replacing them with someone who had more than one brain cell shared among them. 'Like Jee... or Chief Hakoda... at least they didn't cause me this much headaches...' The Gaang had somehow caught word of the fact Zuko was keeping those shoulder pads despite their consent of saying against them and decided to rush back to the palace to discuss any possible usage of them.
"I'm telling you, using those large-ass shoulder pads as a weapon concealer is a brilliant idea!" Sokka huffed while showing his idea while placing his own boomerang at his own broad shoulder. Suki giggled at how stupid he would actually look and did nothing to hide her mirth.
But even the Kiyoshi Warrior wasn't as subtle as the great metal bender, Toph, who simply roared with laughter while adding, "We could ask Mai for her throwing knives! Maybe even a few darts coated with poison!"
"I am not going to wear any hidden weapons in my war rooms, thank you very much," snapped the Fire Lord while sipping the Jasmine Tea sent specially from his uncle. His uncle had managed to make a new blend of spices with his favorite flavor and it was worth it. "Come on Katara, Aang... Back me up here!"
Aang for one was considering the scribbled ideas on a scroll with a serious look before adding on the list; 'Bison Whistle'. The sheer stupidity made Zuko chock on his drink and he argued, "WHY would I even HAVE a bison whistle, Aang?"
"So you can call Appa!" Aang replied like it was the most normal suggestion in the list. (well, that and the dumb idea of rotten eggs)
"And HOW would that help me in any way possible?" He questioned while rubbing his temple, feeling a headache building up. "H would be with you somewhere at the opposite side of the world when I blow that whistle so there's not much usage!"
"Sure there is!" Aang explained before leaning back to snatch a fruit from Momo's pack. The lemur hissed in displeasure before hurrying up Zuko
s lap and snuggling there. Zuko absent mindlessly patted the poor animal.
"Katara... Why are you so quiet?" Zuko asked, feeling the worse was yet to come.
With his luck, the worse was far more than what he anticipated. The mom of the Gaang, the queen Katara herself, eyed the list in interest before adding to the list, 'Button-controlled flame throwers'. That was the last straw as Zuko stood up and snatched the list before ripping it to shreds and burning them n a heartbeat. He ignored the dismay looks of his so-called friends and huffed, "I'm leaving! I need to head for the royal seamstress to remind her to not exclude the shoulder pads in my new Fire Lord outfit for this upcoming summer festival..."
As he strutted away, the Gaang shared looks of mischief that would bring the Hittachin Twins to shame.
-----
Zuko smiled at the sight of his new outfit. A week had passed since the Gaangs' sudden visit and the Fire Sages prostration and now it was set. The shoulder pads weren't as large as before, simply there as a small patch of armor and the color was delightful. In a rush since he woke up late due to his lack of sleep the previous night, Zuko didn't seem to inspect his outfit closely. That was his first mistake of the day...
As he exited the palace gates, he was greeted by many smiles and cheers. The Caldera was opened for merchants of any level to visit and he liked how they went along with his notion easily. The poor fishmongers managed to make a fortune here, seeing how they always prioritized land meat in the past. Famous tea stalls have also reopened after his uncles tea store went nation wide and even trinket stores surrounded the palace, bringing joy and smiles around his lonely building. He was happy to be surrounded by all the noise, it being proof he was doing the right thing as their ruler.
Zuko walked down the streets alone, having dismissed his guards so they could spend the day with their families. He smiled at how free he felt at tthe moment and began to eagerly eye the street vendors. 'Perhaps I'll find an interesting ornament for the Gaang as an apology gift... or a nice necklace for-'
His line of thought came to a halt as he felt a sharp glare pressing into his shoulders. He took a small glance at the corner of his eye, not showing he actually noticed he had a follower but he didn't catch anything out of the ordinary. Zuko simply shrugged it off, but he kept his guard up with his hands gripping onto his robes. He regretted not bringing at least his uncles gifted knife for protection. 'Push comes to shove, I'll have to use my bending...' He thought to himself bitterly, hating the idea of fire bending around the many wooden stalls which were eager targets to be settled on fire.
As he continued his walk in annoyed silence, he caught sight of a bunch of nobles. Zuko recognized them as old generals he had argued with months prior regarding the money shift among the higher ups and the underling foot soldiers. They had planned to use the money for their own amusement and Zuko put his hand down quickly, knowing he couldn't let them waste money anymore. Zuko remembered how bitterly they glared at him as they trailed out his room but he don't think much of it.
'I wonder what caught their eye there?' Zuko wondered while deciding towards them to check out the vendor they stood in front of. But before he could get any closer, he heard hurried approaching light footsteps and Zuko only managed to turn slightly before he could eye a jumping assassin holding a raised knife at him. "DEATH FOR OZAI!" The man roared, letting gravity pull him down to stab Zuko's neck.
Zuko hadn't been quick enough to interfere and move out of the way. Instead, he braced himself for the future pain. Instead, he heard a snap and a familiar cock of a metal contraption by his ear before something set off, smacking the assassin at his chest squarely and pushing him away from the Fire Lord. Zuko blinked owlishly in confusion, trying to make sense of what happened and eyed the contraption on his shoulder.
Apparently his shoulder pads had been modified with something courtesy of Theo and his father (if the happy sticker smile made any indication otherwise) and Zuko noticed the jumble design he could only imagine Sokka of planning out. He noticed that the contraption had vaulted its bullet using steam and that was triggered by a pressure button set for any soft wind pressure, work of his dear Avatar friend. The bullet itself was a mixture of metal and stone, Zuko noticing the familiar sparkle design of the Kiyoshi warriors fans and the familiar spike shaped by none other than his creative pal. Toph. The mere idea he had wind pressure-trigger rock launching guns at his shoulders made him stiffen and he could only think of one thing to yell at....
"SOKKKAAAA!!!!!!"
----
"Have you heard of what happened in front of the palace gates just now?" Head Maid Kyoka asked Captain Izumi of the Fire Lord personal guards.
"Why? Was there an attempted assassination I wasn't noted of?" Izumi questioned, concern welling for her young lord. She knew Zuko asking them to take the day off was a bad idea. She had tried to reason with him but he didn't budge, wanting freedom and their time spent wisely with their families.
Kyoka shook her head vehemently before replying, "Apparently he had guns attached to his old shoulder pads to shoot rocks at any incoming assassins! He's currently taking to the Avatar and his friends, most probably discussing who sent him the assassin!"
"The Fire Lord... had what now?" Izumi questioned, raising a brow behind her helmet. She felt of dejavu happening at the moment but thought nothing much of it. "You're kidding, right? Who started this rumor this time?"
"It's true! Just check out the throne room!" Kyoka urged while pushing Izumi towards the doors.
"Fine...ONLY a peek," the captain gave up, her own curiosity brimming at the very idea.
As the duo opened the door by a mere slit, they heard the loud voice of their young master scream; "YOU'VE GOT TO BE FUCKING ME WITH THOSE GUNS, YOU-" They immediately shut the door to avoid hearing him cuss anymore and shared well-restrained laughs.
"Well, we know who gave the initial idea," Izumi chuckled before lifting a palm towards the maid.
Kyoka huffed and passed a few bronze coins before muttering under her breath, "I was so sure they were planning on putting flame throwers..."