Iroh calmly carried Cadence back towards the main part of the Palace once she had accustomed herself to being carried. She seemed fascinated by everything around her, which confirmed Iroh's suspicions that she was a creature from another world. The way nature seemed to react to her presence - he'd seen flower blossoms open at her approach so she could sniff, only to once more close once she'd moved on - seemed to confirm a strong connection to the Spirit Realm. Concluding she was a Spirit creature of some sort seemed more and more viable as he watched her. And the more he tended her, the more he would swear he could see her growing.
Still, he couldn't help but feel nervous about introducing Cadence to the rest of his family...especially since he had accepted the directive that he stand as her father. He wasn't entirely sure how many of them would respond to that. Then again, it had also been a while since he'd seen Ozai, Azula, or Zuko. He had no idea how much the three of them had changed...or been changed by recent events.
Thankfully, the first member of his family he encountered was Zuko, who was sitting outside by a fountain, plainly lost in thought. Iroh could understand. To lose his cousin, his grandfather, and then his mother in such quick succession...it was no wonder he would seek solitude as Iroh had. "Zuko!" Iroh called out softly.
Zuko's head snapped up, and a nervous smile managed to force itself onto his face. "Uncle!" he called back, standing up to walk towards him. As he approached, he paused, plainly struggling to figure out the appropriate thing to say.
Iroh smiled softly, deciding to step over the formalities and awkwardness. "There's someone I'd like you to meet, Zuko," he replied, kneeling slightly so that the filly in his arms was at eye level with his nephew. She looked over at Zuko with interest.
Zuko's eyes widened. "Uncle? What is she?"
Iroh chuckled softly at Zuko's immediate identification of the pony's gender. "She is a Spirit creature," he explained. "She came to me earlier today when, like you now, I sought solitude. Her name is Cadence, and she has decided - whether by her own choice or Spirit directive - that I am to act as her father."
Zuko looked up in shock. "But...after you just lo-" He stalled his words, looking down in shame. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't speak so freely of it-"
"If we do not speak, the poison of grief cannot bleed from the wound," Iroh interrupted, his compassion for his nephew helping him to push back his own grief for a time. "And...I think that may be part of why she has come. Perhaps...to help me move past what has happened. To help me...love again."
"I...I see," Zuko replied, plainly confused. Iroh smiled, knowing his nephew was not the most learned of children.
Cadence, for her part, seemed absolutely fascinated by Zuko. She stretched her neck towards him, sniffing at him. Zuko, for his part, seemed equally fascinated. Reaching his hand up, he gently stroked her mane. This caused her to giggle happily, wriggle out of Iroh's arms, and leap at Zuko, who barely managed to catch her as she proceeded to nuzzle him under his chin.
Laughter bubbled its own way out of Iroh. "It seems she likes you!" he pointed out. "You have a way with the ladies, young warrior. I expect you'll be quite the heartbreaker when you are older. I hope Mai doesn't get jealous."
Predictably, Zuko's cheeks colored. "I-I don't know what you're talking about, Uncle," he replied, looking away. Cadence, for her part, gasped happily, her forehooves coming together as her eyes lit up.
"Brother! Where are you?" a voice called out. "Father wants to see us!"
Iroh was confused by Zuko's wince, but he didn't show it as Azula approached. Of course, the first one Azula caught sight of was Iroh. "Oh, Uncle," she replied with a soft smile. She lowered her head, placing her hands together. "You have my sorrow and sympathy for the pain of your loss. May their spirits rest easy, and may your grief pass swiftly, to once more bring glory to our people in their name."
Iroh did his best to suppress the bile that welled up in his throat as he heard those words. Azula had always been a...strange, determined child. Almost single minded at times. However, when she spoke the formal words, it was more than them being in bad taste or feeling empty, presumably the reason Zuko had hesitated to speak them. When Azula spoke, her voice was...empty. There was no true sympathy to the words. It was less an offer of comfort - however badly phrased by ritual for the Royal Family - and more a recitation, necessary but without care. "I thank you for your offer of comfort, Azula," he replied.
Azula's smile in response was empty, her eyes calculating. Iroh supposed this might be her own means of dealing with grief, to shut down her heart, but it was unpleasant to witness. And it rubbed him raw when she turned that gaze on Cadence. "What a lovely creature," she stated, reaching towards her. "I want-"
Her words were cut off as Cadence hissed, her neck reaching out to snap her teeth at Azula. Had the young girl's reflexes not been so good, she likely would have lost a finger, if the hard clack of Cadence's teeth snapping together were anything to go by.
"It would appear she does not care what you want, Azula," Iroh stated, gently lifting Cadence out of Zuko's arms. "It is unwise to anger a creature of the Spirit World. They do not tend towards forgiveness."
Cadence continued to glower towards Azula, hissing spitefully but quietly now that she wasn't so close. Azula, for her part, frowned at Cadence, on the verge of a sneer. "She's obviously a bit spoiled already," she stated petulantly.
"You would know," Zuko murmured under his breath, causing Cadence to let out a giggle.
"What was that?" Azula demanded, rounding on Zuko.
"Nothing," Zuko replied, not meeting his sister's gaze.
Azula glared at him for a time, then turned away with a huff. "At any rate, Father wants to see us." She glanced back over her shoulder at Iroh. "He wishes to see you as well, Uncle, whenever you are ready."
Iroh watched the two children go for a time. "That went about as well as could be expected," he murmured. He looked down at the filly in his arms. "You seemed rather fond of Zuko rather quickly."
Cadence smiled, touched her nose with one hoof, then put that hoof to Iroh's chest, over his heart.
"He smelled like me?" Iroh asked. Cadence shook her head, drawing a shape in the air. "His heart?" Cadence nodded. "His heart smelled like mine?" Cadence nodded eagerly, making Iroh chuckle. "You are surely tied to the Love Spirit, to perceive things thusly. Though what was it you perceived in Azula?"
Cadence's ears went flat against her skull and she whimpered.
Iroh wasn't sure what caused that reaction, but he could tell Cadence was distressed. He gently stroked her mane. "Hush, little spirit," he comforted. "Don't think about it now. Just relax." He waited as Cadence calmed down. "After all...meeting with my brother is likely to be far worse."
Oh, I can't wait for someone to make a cover for this! (Though I wonder if we even have any canon footage of young Iroh to work with.)
Anyways, keep up the excellent work! ^_^
Maybe Cadence can change Azula but not likely. There is no cure for sociopathy
You know I have an idea for a LOK one, Amon raising Starlight Glimmer. She had to have the idea of equality from somewhere right?
6389717 I think that would be too obvious of a connection, the same reason why we don't have a Daring Doo / Indiana Jones one.
And far worse it will be.
I agree with you, Cadence. Azula, even at this age, is a bitch where any kind of killing is too good for her.
6389758 Okay, I can see where you're coming from on that. Speaking of Daring Do why not have her raised by Lara Croft instead?
And thus Cadance and Azula are now rivals.
I'm going to need more popcorn.
...this is why I can only take your AD stories in small doses. I'm about to get diabetes from all this sweetness! Couldn't stop smiling and chuckling at the more adorable parts.
Okay, that aside, I think you did good here. My only real criticism is that Zuko seemed to be too submissive to Azula, but that could be because he was grieving himself and wasn't up for another onslaught of bickering.
Anywho, tone down the cuteness. You're gonna give me a heart attack here
if you don't have any ideas for Spitfire I have one,but first a question.have you watched the CGI Star Wars the Clone Wars? Because I was thinking of the captain of the Wonderbolt getting raised by the captain of the Clone army Rex.
Awwww, that's so cute. Cadence is such a flipping adorablene ball of fluff wrapped up in die-a-bee-tus inducing cuteness!
Good show!
I pictured her hissing and I lost it XD
hahaha
I just hope Cadence would provide a good support for Zuko so that by the time Aang awakens he won't be so much of bitter young man he is in season 1.
6389758 actully someone has one up but its currently on hiatus
Can we have Cadence play with the turtleducks?
Well I guess cadence can sense evil.
XAENA PREPARE THE DAWWW SHELTER WERE GONNA NEED IT
6389787 Commander Firebrand, fancy meeting my favourite analyst here!
This is definitely one of my favorite stories on this site.
6389968 Bleach most likely, as her personality tends to make people sick to their stomach.
6389787 is this really the Fiery Joker, Josh Scorcher; or is this just some other Brony who took his OC's name?
6389787 We all are, because when Ozi and Cadence meet, there WILL be fireworks.
Hang on, Iroh should reassess his thoughts on her being a spirit creature. We've seen that (at least in A:TLA) only Iroh and Aang can truly interact with spirits. Iroh saw Aang riding Roku's Dragon in spirit form while none of the soldiers did.
... Then again, in the same episode, the whole village could see Hanbei. Eh, food for thought, at least.
Cadance is perceptive as always. I actually felt a little sorry for Azula. I mean, she's villainous to the core and vile beyond belief, but having Ozai as a father can do that. I really love what you're doing so far and I see little Cadance is starting her shipping ways~ Oh, I can't wait to see her start pairing others up. I do wonder if she could help Azula in any way, since there is a slight possibility of at least turning her around at some point. Eh, I'll leave you to it because you've captured them brilliantly.
This is shaping up to be one of your best works ever! I want to see more NOW!
Meeting Zuko went as good as expected. He's a bright, eager young boy who wants to please his family. And Cadence, as we know, loves kids.
Meeting Azula... I think I know why Cadence reacted so badly. She's an empath, like Counselor Troi from Star Trek, and she can sense emotional states as a result. So to sense someone who feels nothing at all... to Cadence, Azula must be like some sort of aberration.
6389787 Well at least we'll only need the kernels I expect that things will get heated enough to not require a microwave.
6389715 I beg to differ.
6389758
Actually there is a Daring Doo/ Indiana Jones My Little PWNY fic
6390002
There's a difference between a Spirit and a Spirit creature.
That Owl thing in the library is the Spirit of Knowledge. The fox assistants are his Spirit creatures. They're basically mortal animals with heightened abilities and extended lifespans.
Iroh's come to the conclusion that Cadence is one of the Love Spirit's creatures, either gone astray or deliberately sent to him.
6390076 meh, all I know is going through the portals at either pole, like in LOK, gives spirits a more physical form.
Cadence the firebender......Dayum Tats you scary
Hmm...I wonder how the ladybug dance will end up being incorporated in this...
Another enjoyable chapter. Good job.
6390119 Sunshine, Sunshine, Ladybug's awake.
Clap your hooves and DESTROY THAT BITCH AZULA!!
6390166
And went from new member to Grand Lotus in three years?
My logic is that he did all this not for personal glory (thus, not caring if he actually became Fire Lord), but to put himself in position where he could influence future events to restore the Balance of the world as the Order sought.
Wait.... Is this an 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' crossover?
6390264
Yes.
6390064 that would be me.
6389758 right here.
6390034 sorta like Kristen Stewart!!!
I really enjoyed this chapter hope for more in the future. Personally I can't wait when Cadence can finally speak. When will this happen though?
Keep up with that amazing skills of yours
6390315
Right that k you for reminding of your username MrAquino
fandom squeeeeeeeeee
6388673 The song is actually from the Avatar series.
It is note-worthy for sounding cheerful while being a horrendously sad song, which he sings to mourn his son. (See the link.)
It's one of the reasons Iroh is a fan favourite, actually. One of many, many reasons. Many, many, many, many reasons.
Why do I feel like Cadence is going to be almost burned by Iroh's brother and Zuko earns his scar coming to her defense?
6389862 Yes, but it's not written by Tatsuro, is it?
6390002 Keep in mind that Roku's dragon was a living, breathing animal at one point, whereas Hei Bai was always from the Spirit World. I imagine those who die pass over into the spirit world, but cannot be sensed by most of the physical world. Spirits are essentially just creatures that reside in the spirit world, but can be seen when they appear in the physical world.
6390827 Not to mention the lead up to it. What a friggin' shocker.
For some reason now with this my mind pictures Shining Armor ending up in Skies of Arcadia
Man I love this story. And cadence is my least favorite character!!!! I can't wait to see the impact cadence has to the avatar universe. Please continue!!!
6390892 correct but its almost like his writing its that good
6390235 Pretty good point. I figure the White Lotus is just a group from around the world that doesn't let their nation define them.
A thought just came to mind. Melody of the Future seems to be set in the same universe as Wiley's Wittle Wubs, so why not do something similar here? I could imagine an old Katara taking in Sunset Shimmer, then sending her with Korra to Republic City. Or Tenzin finding somepony.