Mark_Ward
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Chapter 4: Grandfather
🕑 Added 2021-12-24 20:38:10 +0000 UTCWaking up the next morning as the sun shined brightly through his window. Magnus was feeling very merry this morning, and why wouldn't he after last night's success. Getting out of his blankets and covers, he was greeted to the sight of a dozen maids fussing over him. All he had to do was raise his arm or pick up a foot as they bathed, groomed, and dressed him up.
At first, long ago, he tried to resist it, but then he quickly tossed aside his 21st century mentality. He was in a whole new world and as the saying goes; when in Rome do as the Romans do.
Anyways it was pleasant enjoying all these niceties. Since he was such a kind and pious person in his life who so selflessly sacrificed himself, whatever god was watching him reincarnated him as a prince for all his past good deeds.
Magnus chortled at that, if the people that knew him from his last life heard what he was saying, they would be lamenting the unfairness of it all as he deserved nothing more than the life of a beast.
"What's so amusing, your highness," one of his maids asked. She was a cute buxom little thing and he couldn't wait to grow up so that he could learn her a bit more intimately.
"Nothing," Magnus grinned, trying his best to hide his perverseness.
Suddenly the doors to Magnus quarters swung open, his mother entered with a brilliant smile. He could guess what had her in such a happy mood, her belly was very much swollen as if she had stuffed a pillow or more accurately had someone in there.
Magnus was very happy to note that he didn't interfere with his little sister's birth. He worried that he might have screwed with the timeline so much thanks to popping into this world when he clearly wasn't part of the tv show and that Yue would be wiped out of existence.
Or maybe his character was born, it was just that he died and that meant he would too, so... Okay, if thought like that then he would be driving himself crazy, best not to think along those lines.
"How are you doing sweetie?" his mother asked as she hugged him.
Magnus returned the hug with the same affection shown. He was sort of starting to accept that this was his new mother. For someone who never had parents back in his old life, he was more welcoming to the new change than someone who grew up with loving parents that didn't abandon you at an orphanage.
"Are you ready to meet your new sibling soon? The Wise Ones are pretty sure it would be a girl, and they say it would be any day now."
"Very much," Magnus replied with a vigorous nod of his head. He wondered how it would feel like to have a younger sibling in his new life. A smile crested his face, maybe his dream could finally be actualized and he could have a little brocon sister.
Hehehe!
Just the thought of it had a leer on his face.
Unbenounced to her son's thoughts, Magnus's mother smiled and asked. "Do you want to hear the baby, sweetie?"
“Sure,” Magnus nodded his head, humoring his mother as he rested an ear on her belly. “I think she might have just kicked!”
“She is happy to see her older brother,” his mother smiled as she rubbed her belly.
“Come on, let's go and have some breakfast. We can’t keep your father waiting all day,” his mother said, holding out a hand and leading him downstairs.
Coming down to their private dining quarters, Magnus' father nodded his head at them from the head of the table once he saw them coming up. He had aids surrounding him while he ate his food presenting him all sorts of paperworks that needed his approval.
Also waiting for them was Grimm who started licking up his face joyfully and Magnus laughed while scratching behind his ear.
“Leave us,” the chief said with a wave of his hand once they took their seats.
“How are you doing?” his father broke into some light conversation with him. “I heard from the Captain that you have been up to your usual trouble. And the Head Librarian tells me that you are still bugging him for water bending scrolls.”
Tossing some food to Grimm who sat underneath the table, Magnus played into his toddler’s role. “It isn’t my fault the guards are slowpokes! And would it hurt that measly old man to give up one scroll.”
Rubbing his head playfully, his mother shook her head at him. “Your guards only want to protect you and keep you safe. And the Head Librarian is right in not giving you any water scrolls to practice on. Bending can be very dangerous and you will need a master to oversee your training.”
Magnus made no comment on that. If they knew he was secretly practicing all on his own, they would have a fit. Better to keep it all on the downlow.
“I have some surprising news,” his father announced.
Turning to look up in curiosity, Magnus wondered what had the chief in such a good mood. Never did he see the man all excited and what not like today.
Unable to hold his curiosity he asked. “What’s the good news, father?”
“Your grandfather is coming,” the man declared. “His arrival shall coincide with the delivery date.”
“Oh, really that is such good news,” his mother happily said.
Magnus was looking between the two of them with a confused look on his face. ‘Who was this grandfather they were talking about?’
He tried his best to examine all his memories on the show, but there was no mention of this elderly man. To be honest he wasn’t surprised, a show could only go so far. There is a big difference between fiction and reality. And he was living it.
His parents must have noticed the puzzlement on his face, because his father addressed him. “Ahh, sorry son. I must have forgotten that you haven’t met your grandfather until now.”
“He really wished he could have seen you, sweety. But he had been very busy at the frontlines making sure all of us are safe.” His mother thinking otherwise, tried to comfort him.
Magnus made no comment, but this casual mention of the war just went to show how regular this has become.
“What do you plan to do today?” his father asked.
At that Magnus decided to set aside all his future worries and smiled. “Ohh, I don’t know… maybe play hide and seek with my guards.”
***
It’s been 3 months, and time flew by fast. Days quickly turned into weeks and weeks became months.
Before he knew it his little sister’s delivery date was upon them. And the palace had seemed to transform, there was decorations set out everywhere, and there was a happy atmosphere about.
Magnus was surprised to see all this for one man. His mysterious grandfather must be held in such high regard if the people worship him like this.
It wasn’t long before Magnus knew why all this hero worship was going on when he peeped in on a conversation. His grandfather was tried like a war hero because he was one!
He fought in countless battles too numerous to even count, defended against the relentless Fire Nation threat, was the Master and teacher of the Four Great Generals including one he had already met General Zoanok. Fought Fire Lord Azulon to a standstill, and so much more!
He was known to the people as the Old Chief. And they loved him!
After hearing all that, Magnus couldn’t wait to meet this old man. And he didn’t have to wait too long at all as one day the bellows of giant war horns woke him up.
At first he thought they were under attack, and a giant Fire Nation war fleet was right at their door steps. But when he ran up to his window his worries were put to rest.
Yes, there was a massive fleet heading towards the city, but it was made up of their own ships.
Long, slender light ships with countless oars being rowed by warriors were dashing across the icy water. Looking at them, Magnus was reminded of Viking Longships from his world. He could count hundreds of these longboats carrying countless warriors and water benders.
At the helm of it all was the flagship, a great massive ship that dwarfed all others and held a dragon shaped figurehead at the bow.
Another reverberating sounds of war horns echoed out as the giant gates that guarded the city slowly opened wide for the fleet to come enter.
Watching everything unfold, Magnus would have felt proud of his nation if he didn’t know how backward they were compared to the Fire Nation. Forget those little driftwoods they called ships, even the flagship barely compared to any of the Fire Navy’s ships.
They were so far behind it wasn’t even funny!
The Fire Nation mostly reminded him of Europe back home, mostly WW2 Germany. Europe was just like every other part of the world until firearms and the Industrial Revolution came about.
With the advent of such technology, history showed what could happen. You could steamroll everyone into paste. You had things like one company enforcing its will upon a whole nation of hundreds of millions of people, a group of soldiers chasing god, glory, and gold bring the downfall of a whole empire, a ragtag bunch of nations conquer a whole continent for themselves.
In this example, his people would be the unfortunate Native Americans fated to get their land stolen and their heritage to slowly die out. The Earth Nation would be China already on its path to its century of shame. And there was no need to mention the Air Nation.
The only thing he could be thankful for was the Fire Nation and the whole of the Avatar world later on never discovering the use of gunpowder. Bending is a more effective alternative to firearms. Still he wondered to himself if he should take that genie out of its bottle since it would be too easy to make it with the Fire Nation and Earth already popping out those fireworks in celebration.
Plus this was the start of the Fire Nation’s Industrial Revolution, so they weren’t too crazy ahead.
Regardless if they don't play catch up soon. His old world had many examples of what would happen to them in the near future.
Just then as he was absorbed in his thoughts his maids came rushing in. “My prince, you must hurry! Your grandfather has arrived and they are waiting for you downstairs.”
Busying themselves, Magnus didn’t need to lift a finger as they dressed and groomed him up. Once again he was put in some gaudy tribal outfit looking like some little doll, but at this point he didn’t mind. It came with the position he guessed.
Heading downstairs, Magnus paused when he saw where they were going, outside. With some vigor in his steps he hurried along, almost beating his maids and guards to the finish line. He stopped right outside the grand doors, then for the first time he walked outside.
He looked around almost as if he was expecting trumpets to sound out, but nothing. He sort of felt disappointed and almost wanted to head back inside.
“Come here, sweety,” his mother called out to him. She was also dressed up in a fine, elegant gown but there was no hiding the massive baby bump. She was due any day now. Already he saw the baby room set up and everything.
Joining his parents, they stood waiting patiently on top of the long stairways that lead up to the palace. From here Magnus could make out the city down belows. There was a military parade going on to of course display the apparent military strength of the nation.
And the people were eating it up! He could hear the loud cheers from all the way here as flowers danced in the air and the army was on full display.
It wasn’t long before the procession finally made it into the palace courtyard and the warriors stood at attention from a shout of a military officer.
“At ease,” a voice called out. Then Magnus finally got to see his grandfather.
The older man came riding in on a polar bear-dog who looked menacing as fuck with a ghastly scar runing across one of her eyes blinding her. And she looked much much bigger than any of the white furred beasts he had seen.
The man who rode the creature was something else, there was a massive contract between the very deadly creature and the calm, gentle man on it. His hair and beard had long turned white with only a hint of blue dye in them as they flowed long and smooth.
He smiled brightly when he saw them, a kind grandfatherly one that lit a twinkle in his eyes. He smoothly got off his mount and came up to them.
“Ahh, my boy,” the older man said as he held out his hand.
His father laughed out loud and gave the man a tight manly hug. “It's good to see you father,” the Chief nodded his head.
“It's good to be home,” the old man returned the smile. Then moving on, he turned on Magnus’s mother.
“My dear girl, you look lovely!” He exclaimed, taking her in.
“Thank you,” the chieftess said with a bow of her head.
“No, no, none of that,” the old man hurried to stop her.
“I see the little one is due any day now?!”
“Yes,” his mother nodded her head as she rested a hand on her belly. “She is a strong one. Kicking nearly everyday to announce her arrival.”
“Haha, good, good!”
Then the old man finally turned to him. “And who is this?” he asked with a smile.
“Greetings, grandfather,” Magnus politely bowed his head. His motions were made awkward with all the heavy clothing he had on, and it came out to look funny and adorable. But his bearings held something else.
“Aah,” a surprised look entered his grandfather’s face. “He is quite mature for his age!”
“Yes, it is by the blessing of the Ocean Spirit,” his father nodded his head proudly.
Nearly everyone chucked up his surprising maturity to his blessing of the Ocean Spirit. If only they knew better. Nevertheless, Magnus was glad for the excuse, he didn’t want to be seen as some creepy demon possessed child.
“I heard about that,” his grandfather said as a gleam entered his eyes which Magnus quickly caught on to. It seems like his grandfather wasn’t just your kindly old man, but a very cunning and smart man.
“This is a first you know,” his grandfather said, speaking more to himself than them while he stroked his beard. “Never before was our bloodline so sanctified and elevated beyond all others!”
Then as if on a drop of a hat, his contemplating look changed into a very happy one. “I expect much from you, little one,” the old man said while patting his head. “You might even be the one who takes us out of this wretched position.”
Taking in all at the older man said, Magnus understood he was a cunning fox who might quickly catch onto his antics. So best to play it safe, he thought.
“Where is my gift?” Magnus asked in his most childish voice.
The old man paused as if he was caught by surprise.
“Mother always says guests and family should bring gifts on special occasions.”
“Sweetie,” his mother said, very affronted.
“It's alright, my dear,” the old man chuckled. “He is right, and he knows what he wants!”
Reaching towards his neck, the old man pulled off something, “Here you go!”
“Father, you can’t mean…” his father asked in surprise.
“It’s alright. I don’t plan to leave anytime soon. And it would have better use on the next generation, then on these old bones!” he smiled. “Now come on and take it!” the old man shook the object in his hand.
Taking the offered item, Magnus looked down at it. It was an amulet with the water nation symbol on it, and for some reason it sort of attracted him like something was whispering for him to put it on.
And he did which he quickly found to be very foolish. This item totally had the feels of a curse item or something. But that couldn’t be right. His own grandfather wouldn’t hope for his own death. And he wore it with no issue for how long.
He had many questions about this item, but this wasn’t the sort of moment to ask.
His grandfather turned to the soldiers, and shouted. “Now why don’t we get this party on the road!”
A wild cheer answered him, and as if on queue servants came ladened with food and drinks, then set them out on the tables brought out. While musicians and dancers came up to the center stage.
“Come now,” his grandfather roared. “Eat, drink, and celebrate to your heart's content!”
Magnus knew they were in for a wild night.
