Wild Fire

The White Emperor watched calmly as Kai surrounded him, like a wild animal waiting for the right moment to strike. For him, it wasn't a real threat because the younger dragon was seriously injured, but an injured animal could be so dangerous and unpredictable.

Kai lunged forward with his four paws, trying to grab Hana's brother's neck, but before he could react, the huge 50-meter dragon disappeared in the blink of an eye and appeared on top of Kai, using the weight of its body to immobilize him.

The dragon was practically on top of Kai, taunting him.

- So, can you rationalize or do you want to kill me? - The white dragon asked curiously.

- ROOOOOOORRR! - Kai roared and tried to bite the dragon on top of him.

- I'll take that as yes. - The White Emperor took flight when it sensed the change in the energy Kai was using.

Kai rose from the ground angrily, spitting out the dark flames he had learned from his duel with his old predecessor. The White Emperor returned the blow with his white flames to counterattack and easily nullify Kai's attack, leaving him looking confused.

- You may not know it, but dark flames only have a certain fixed temperature. A hotter fire like the white flame, which has the ability to increase its temperature indefinitely, can cancel it out. - The White Emperor sneered.

Kai roared angrily again, although he didn't understand what the giant dragon was saying, the tone of his voice made him furious and he instinctively realized that he was being disrespected. Although he felt his body was almost at its limit, he couldn't tolerate another dragon appearing just to eliminate him, so even if it cost him his life, he would do everything in his power to kill the insolent dragon.

Kai raised his head and opened his mouth, revealing a sun of his own creation, powerful enough to destroy a small town in an instant.

The White Emperor remained silent, just patiently watching his sister's successor, as if he were just having fun, more precisely, having a déjà-vu in his mind, being seized by nostalgic memories of when he and his sister were teenagers.

Realizing that he wouldn't be able to maintain the stability of his attack, Kai decided to fire at his new opponent. The newly created solar fusion traveled violently towards the White Emperor until he unexpectedly used his tail to push back the sphere of power, isolating it on the horizon and causing it to explode in the sea a few kilometers away.

- You'd better stop playing with Kai before he accidentally kills himself! - warned La, worried about the future king's injuries.

- Okay, okay, okay... let's take this more seriously! - The White Emperor spread his wings and reached his maximum speed in microseconds, grabbed Kai by the neck and took to the sky.

Kai tried to free himself from the giant dragon's grip with his claws and jaws, but his weakened strength was useless, he couldn't even scratch the surface of the White Emperor's skin.

- Believe me, Kai, this is going to hurt me more than it hurts you. - With these words, the White Emperor threw Kai into the sea like a ball, and he fell into the water like a stone.

- Do you really need this aggression? - La asked, incredulous.

- Kai is now a wild animal. You can start healing him. - The White Emperor flew into the sky, arms crossed, waiting for Kai to try to fly again and attack him.

Just as the White Emperor had predicted, Kai leapt out of the water in a rage, flying with a bloodthirsty look on his face. His crimson eyes shone like a star, and his forelegs reached out to tear at the veteran dragon's skin.

In the few seconds he was in contact with the seawater, Kai felt his body grow stronger and his wounds less painful, but enough to recover well and return to battle.

- I'm really going to have to put a collar on you when this is over. - The White Emperor grabbed Kai with his tail and threw him back into the sea with even more force, trying to prolong his healing time. - That's really nostalgic.

Countless times in the space of a few minutes, Kai was used as a ball, thrown into the sea each time he tried to fly again, in an attempt to counter his older relative. The White Emperor, on the other hand, took the necessary steps to analyze whether or not Kai was corrupted, and was relieved to confirm that it was just a case of the bestiality of numerous draconic personalities in a single being.

***

Pov Azula:

I looked at the horizon and noticed how calm it was, as if all the storm and fury of the sea had just calmed down. I still wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not, but I hoped that everything had gone well.

It had been at least two hours since I was separated from Kai by the Eternal Dragon's Tail. I looked at my hand and felt it shaking with fear. I took my hand with the other and massaged it, trying to distract myself from any negative thoughts. I closed my eyes and sighed slowly and calmly, concentrating on feeling Kai's energy.

It took a few seconds, but luckily I could feel his energy, which meant he was alive, and that was more than enough to calm me down. However, I was impressed, his energy was abnormally large, easily surpassing his previous power when he fought Aki.

I concentrated even harder and felt another unknown energy, one that surpassed Kai's power. Perhaps it was that giant dragon that my soldiers and I saw flying around. Because of my fear, I couldn't even analyze and feel what was happening in the battle, my mind was going through a whirlwind of things.

- Princess. - Said a soldier who approached and bowed respectfully. - Because of the storm, we may be able to reach Jang Hui Village ahead of schedule.

- Very well... - I looked at the horizon and saw a heavy cloud of smoke. I would have liked to change the ship's course and go back to help Kai, but I knew he would be very worried. - Let's keep going.

- Yes, Princess! - The soldier walked away quickly, not wanting to disturb Azula's thoughts.

I stared at the ocean for a few minutes, occasionally massaging my stomach and giving a few subtle, involuntary smiles.

- Be patient, my child, Daddy will come back to us soon. - I whispered, letting out a tired sigh, feeling my body asking for a break from the stress.

Just as I was about to head for my quarters, I heard a thunderous roar that sent a shiver down my spine. The next thing I knew, several soldiers were preparing their catapults to fire at the source of the roar.

I looked up in the sky and saw a large dragon, about 14 or 16 meters long, flying towards my ship. I quickly recognized the dragon thanks to my experience with the fire sages who had revealed the origin of Kai's family.

- Hold on! Don't attack! - I ordered quickly, noticing how confused the soldiers were by my order. - Don't worry, it's not an enemy.

The dragon quickly used its wings to cushion its landing on the ship, but as the dragon was a few tons heavier, it was impossible not to damage the ship's structure a little.

- Azula, I'm glad you're okay. - Aki said, causing many of the soldiers' mouths to drop open, and some even fainted at the sight of a giant monster talking so casually.

- Aki, are you? - I asked, surprised, recognizing the dragon's voice, even though it was deeper.

- Yes, I'm glad you recognized me, even in my true form. - Aki smiled, amused by the soldiers' astonishment. - Azula, I need your help.

- Kai, is he all right? - I asked quickly, holding the ruby necklace tightly in my hand.

- Physically, he's fine... I hope so. - Aki whispered the last part. - Azula, I need you to come with me, we need to get to the battlefield quickly.

- What's going on?

- I think I'd better explain while we're flying. - Aki lowered her head, allowing Azula to climb up her mane.

- Attention, soldiers, I want you to go to Vice-General Huzo and tell him what's happened! - I ordered, watching as my soldiers felt their heads.

For the soldiers it was almost divine to see their future queen on a giant dragon, some of them practically renewed their vow of loyalty to the royal family, others knelt down in worship.

Aki spread her wings, careful not to propel herself too much and capsize the ship with her strength. The dragon flew back with the princess on its back, releasing enough speed for her to hold on without risking falling.

Halfway through the journey, Aki recounted everything that had happened in the battle, every detail to satisfy the princess's doubts.

I was relieved that Kai had emerged victorious, but even more surprised by the revelation that he was the next candidate for King, the future Fire Spirit and Lord of the Element. However, knowing that my fiancé was practically out of control scared me, as even Aki herself was worried about his mental health.

- Is he like this because of his true form? - I asked, holding Aki's mane tightly and feeling the wind become even more aggressive.

- I'm not sure, my grandfather seemed to know why he was so aggressive. - said Aki, anxiously. - I'm worried about how he'll fight Kai, he's almost as strong as Hana.

- Do you think I can calm Kai down before it turns into another intense fight? - I asked anxiously.

- To be honest, I just hope La can keep them under control until we arrive. - Aki began to accelerate her flight, causing Azula to hold on even tighter.

As we approached the huge cloud of smoke, I realized that in the middle of the sea was a gigantic hole, easily the size of a city, like some kind of portal to hell itself.

Although we were only a few kilometers away, the air stank and it was difficult to breathe, something that didn't seem to affect Aki at all.

- I forgot that you can't stand this accumulation of smoke. - Aki watched as Azula was affected by the thick smoke that rose from the ocean floor like a giant chimney. - We have to move this battle to a place that is minimally breathable for you.

Aki let her body fall towards the sea, using her wings to glide to an area where the smoke wouldn't endanger the princess. When Aki touched the water, an ice shelf immediately formed at her feet, causing the temperature of the area they were in to drop.

- How cold! - I whispered and took a deep breath to let the air reach my lungs and warm my body with my power.

Aki lowered his head, a sign for me to descend from his head to the block of ice that had mysteriously formed. I turned my head and saw a female figure materialize in seconds, startling me with its sudden appearance. I quickly manifested my fire in my hands, ready to consume the ice woman at any suspicious movement.

- Don't worry Princess, I'm an ally. - La spoke in a soft voice, like a mother trying to calm a child. - My name is La, but I'm also known as the Spirit of the Ocean and Life.

- A spirit? - I said unconsciously, surprised by the woman's appearance. - So you're the original spirit of the Water Benders.

- Yes, but I think we have more important things to do than answer your questions. - La gave her an affectionate smile while showing concern.

- La, where are Kai and my grandfather? - Aki asked and searched the sky for the energy of the two dragons.

Before La had a chance to speak, two dragons came out of the water like a great leap, both Celestial Dragons falling onto the newly created ice platform, almost breaking it with the force of the impact.

Kai roared fiercely at the White Emperor, with parts of his body covered in flames, like an incomplete transformation of the true strength he had shown in his battle with Hana. The White Emperor, on the other hand, had a cut on his face, a wound inflicted by the uncontrolled Kai, with some golden blood falling as a result.

I had lost my balance due to the sudden jolt of the platform, and if Aki hadn't used his wings to support me, I would probably have fallen through the ice. Immediately, I looked in the direction of the roar and saw the same dragon I had seen a few moments before, and another with parts of its body covered in flames.

With just one look at the flaming dragon, I knew it was Kai, and I couldn't deny that I was frightened by the savage look on his face, his exposed teeth ready to bite into flesh. Those beautiful scarlet eyes now seemed opaque to me, like an empty stare, as if Kai was some kind of monster without any motivation to fuel his willpower.

Kai stood up in a fighting stance, looking at everyone like an enemy to be exterminated, with saliva falling from his mouth, so hot that it melted the ice like volcanic lava.

La and Aki quickly placed themselves in front of Azula as if they were both a shield for her, a warning line, so that Kai wouldn't advance on them with his blind fury. Draconic instincts mixed with murderous instincts surged at the mere breath of the aspiring king, but the White Emperor didn't seem to care about the threat Kai posed, only seeming to approve of the savagery that was displayed.

- Kai. - I spoke unconsciously.

The dragon responded to Azula's voice with an irritated grunt and shook his head several times as if he were suffering from a migraine.

- Kai! Can you hear me? - I took a few steps forward when I saw him walking away, looking confused and bewildered.

Aki tried to get closer to Azula in case Kai attacked because of his instability, but he felt his tail being trampled by the White Emperor as a way of reprimanding any action her might take. The elder dragon's simple nod was enough for everyone to understand that they shouldn't interfere until Azula finally got Kai to regain control of his body.

With every step I took, I could feel the air getting hotter, seeing those suspicious eyes with every step I took made me feel an emptiness in my heart, but I had faith that my fiancé was stronger than this savagery that was taking over him.

- Kai, I know you're scared and tired, don't worry. - I spoke calmly, not wanting to scare him. I raised my hands so that he could see them clearly. - It's okay, I'm here for you.

Kai hit the ice hard with his front paw, emphasizing the size of his claws, his mouth shone in an orange glow that alternated with blue and his scarlet eyes fluctuated in intensity.

With Azula only a few feet away from Kai, he began to roar violently into the sky, causing an electrical storm above everyone, immediately alerting them to a possible attack, until Kai suddenly collapsed to the ground, finally overcome by the exhaustion of his awakening and his fight to the death with his predecessor.

Azula watched her fiancé breathe heavily and touched his head with her fingers, feeling his skin, which still gave off heat from his power. The princess's caresses confirmed that the new king candidate was practically asleep, a sign that the long day was finally over.

- Rest, darling, you've done more than enough for today. - I cuddled Kai's head and gave him a soft kiss, feeling how my body also seemed to be contaminated by the day's fatigue.

- You have done very well. - The White Emperor praised Azula, pleased with her composure in such a tense situation.

- What do we do now? - Aki asked his grandfather, knowing that his teacher's brother was now leading the herd.

- Let's go home, it's time to reunite the family. - The White Emperor turned to the Sea Spirit. - Thanks for your help La, I have to admit that the outcome of this battle would have been different if it wasn't for your intervention.

- No need to thank me, we're practically relatives when you analyze our roles in the universe. - La smiled from ear to ear.

- So you won't mind repairing the damage from this battle, will you? - The White Emperor raised all his wings and glowed golden, teleporting the entire family of heavenly dragons to another dimension, leaving the Ocean Goddess alone.

- Wait... that can't be... - La was perplexed by the Elder Dragon's brazen attitude of putting all the responsibility on her. La turned to the huge crater spewing smoke and boiling lava with an unfriendly expression. - I promise that when I return to the spirit world, I will plunge the Dragon Kingdom into the Ice Age!

Next Chapter: Family Reunited