The great dragon (Sokka X reader X Zuko Love triangle)

Bedtime story (prologue)

(I swear the story is worth it, it gets better I Promise)(1/15/23 it doesn't, the only updates I've made since this was first published were grammar checks)

          It's late at night in the fire nation's royal palace, but despite the time, a young Zuko and Azula find themselves restless.

          In one of the rare moments they decide to be civil, they leave their beds to pester the palace guards. "As princess of the fire nation, I command you to carry me to the kitchen!" a small four, (nearly 5) year old Azula orders a guard.

"Azula, you can't do that! you'll get in trouble if mom finds out!"
          "Quit being such a pansy Zuko, Come on! I heard that they made cookies for my birthday tomorrow!"

             Despite not wanting to leave his post, the guard begrudgingly picks up Azula, scared to see the tantrum she would throw if he didn't.... they were legendary for leaving rooms disintegrated. When he goes to grab Zuko, the young boy backs Away. "Nuh uh, I'm big enough to walk myself" Azula sticks her tongue out to her brothers cowardice.

"Doesn't matter Zuzu, I would have made him drop you down the stairs anyways". Zuko ignores that. He's started noticing Azula becoming more.. rude these past days, but he's decided to leave it alone.

          As the guard turns toward the kitchens, he stops in his tracks. Zuko peeks around the guard to see... "Mother!!!! Zuko made me do it! He woke me up to get cookies, but then he pushed me, and made the guard carry me!" Azula fake sobbed, trying to get out of trouble.

"What! No I didn't! I-"

"That's enough children, Torin, you may give Azula to me now, and return to your post." Relieved, the guard gently gives Azula to the queen, bows, and returned to where he belonged.

        "Mother, are you going to punish Zuko for what he did?" Azula asked through her fake sobs, hiding the smile that was forming.

"No Azula, I know Zuko would never push you down, but, if he did get you up to find cookies, I would completely understand that" the queen giggled, tickling Azulas belly. (leave me alone I feel like she was this kind of mother when the children were very young)

          Try as she could, Azula couldn't hide her giggles. Zuko just crossed his arms and pouted, clearly jealous of his mother's attention towards his younger sister. "Come on children, it's time for you to go to sleep". The queen secured Azula in her arms, and took Zuko's hand, leading them back to their rooms.

"But mother!!" Azula whined, "We cant sleep now, we aren't tired." Zuko nodded in agreement.

"Hmm, well that won't do. Well then, how about we all go to my room. I can tell you both a bedtime story, and you can sleep with me." the queen responded.

"Awwww, but bedtime stories are for babies!!" Azula complained, rolling her eyes.

"Speak for yourself, I for one would like to hear one" Zuko countered. Azula blew a raspberry, earning a sharp look from her mother.

(time skip, they are now settled into the queen's bed)

          "I still think this is dumb" Azula pouted, as she snuggled closer to her mothers side.

Zuko sent her a glare "SHHHHHH I wanna hear!!". The queen giggled, and wrapped her arms around her two children lovingly.

She began her tale, "Alright then, this is a legend told for generations in the fire nation, even though it's thought to have happened 100 years ago. Once, in a small fire nation village, a little girl had just been born. She had beautiful golden eyes, similar to ours, yet they shone like the precious metal itself, and her hair was as black as the night. Her parents however, did not want a daughter, and out of spite, sent her away. They placed the wailing baby on a small raft, and sent her off into the ocean."

       "Oh that's horrible!" Azula said, holding tighter to her mother. (1/15/23 I like how I went from "Azula a little brat" to "nah she's sympathetic")

"Yes, indeed it was terrible, however, it seemed to be a blessing in disguise. As she drifted out further, a great dragon flew past. Hearing her wails, he turned around, and hovered over the baby.

         "Expecting to hear the child's cries worsen, he  prepared to leave, only wanting to take a look at what was going on. As he got closer however, the child stopped crying, and looked up at the dragon. She smiled and laughed, reaching out towards the magnificent creature. Shocked, the dragon came closer, and gently picked the child up in his claw."

        "The child only laughed more, grabbing on to the dragon's claw. The dragon-"

"ATE HER??" Azula interrupted. "He ate her right??"

Her mother shook her head, "No darling, the dragon cradled the child gently, and flew back to his home. There, many dragons lived in harmony, hidden from the mortal world. The dragon brought the child to their king."

         "The king, unimpressed, asked if the child was an offering. 'No' the dragon said 'there is something special about this child, I've come to ask for your permission to raise it in our midst' the dragon king scoffed, 'Do as you please, but it's not my fault if she is eaten' the dragon bowed to the king, and took her to his cave. 'I suppose you deserve a name' the dragon thought aloud, gently placing the child in a bed of clouds. 'Hmmmm, how about Y/N, after the firebird of the west (go with it)' the child clapped, as if she understood what the dragon said. As she did this, sparks flew between her hands"

         "She's a fire bender like me and Azula!!!" Zuko exclaimed, yawning quickly after.

"Yes, yes she was. The dragon was startled, since he had found the child off the coast of the earth kingdom. Pleasantly surprised, the dragon curled up next to the child, in an attempt to keep it warm. 'Sleep well little bird' he said 'you will need to grow, I will need to show you how to control your sparks' as the years went on, the child grew, and was Taught by all the dragons of the kingdom."

         "As she aged she became quite beautiful, and even more powerful. Her skills were legendary, some techniques even seemed impossible to the common fire benders. Most famous of her tricks was her ability to change into a magnificent golden dragon. The dragon who had found her grew old, and he knew that Y/N would need to join the human world. 'Y/N' he called one day 'it is time we go down and meet your kin' Y/N was excited, and was more than happy to meet the other humans."

           "However, when they arrived, the dragon who found her was shot down and killed, and the humans began attacking her, as she was still in the form of a dragon. She transformed to her normal state, shocking the villagers. She went to the body of the old dragon, sobbing with each step. 'I'm sorry little bird' the dragon said, "I have failed my basic task, I couldn't keep you safe' the dragon said, breaths becoming more labored. 'No' Y/N said 'you have done more than you needed, you were a father to me' and as she finished her words, the dragon drew his last breath. In a rage, she turned to the villagers, engulfing herself in flames she became a dragon once more, and burned down the village, and those surrounding it.

          "In a rampage, she swore to kill all that were in her path, an oath to avenge the dragon who saved her life" the queen ended her story.

"THATS A LOAD OF HOOEY" Azula exclaimed, crossing her arms. "No one can turn into a dragon!!"

"I think it's a good story, and it was sad," Zuko said, curling up to his mother's side. At that, the children drifted into a calm sleep, with dreams filled with dragons, and flying cookies.

Late Into the night, while the queen was sure everyone was asleep, she krept out of the room, and toward a secret door. She went down spiral after spiral of stairs, past iron doors, and hidden corridors, carrying a large plate of food. Finally, she stopped at a thick door. She went in, and sleeping in the middle of the room, held down by heavy chains of fire and iron, was a beautiful golden dragon.