Author's Notes: I'm currently working on an ATLA fanfic when I encountered a big problem. Certain flashbacks are wrenching the story, making it confusing. I try to remove it at first, but the characters (especially from the Fire Nation) will lack a good back story. So yeah, this is the result. A separate story, sort of like a prequel for that one. Anyways, please tell me what you think of this. Your opinions are heavily appreciated. XD

Disclaimer: No. I. Do. Not. Own Avatar: The Last Airbender nor its characters no matter how much I wish it was.

Zuko is four years old. His father always takes him to the gardens together with his mother and his baby sister and an elderly man with a long, grey beard and funny grey side burns. Sometimes his uncle and cousin Lu Ten comes along as well. It's an activity that always occurs on the same time too: noon. The elderly man tells him during those meetings to mimic his every move. Zuko obediently does so. He is a good child. A good son. I am good as long as I obey my elders.

He punches the air. He kicks the nothingness. He does everything the elderly man does. This lasts for hours and hours and hours…until dusk arrives. When it ends, Zuko wheezes and gasps, completely deprived of air. He feels icky and sticky and dirty because of sweat. He hates that he smells too. His whole body aches since he keeps doing the weird combination of kicks and punches over and over again without rest.

What am I doing any way? Is it a game? If it is, then it's a stupid game.

Zuko will always feel his mother's warm hand on his forehead. She always whispers "You've done good." Or "You were great." Or "You did your best. I am proud of you." Sometimes he hears Azula's cooing or feels her chubby hands tug and pull on his hair or shirt.

Zuko sees his mother's gentle eyes and his sister's curious gaze and then smiles. He's happy since he made his mother happy. He's happy since his sister looks like she's having fun watching him …More like she's having fun hurting me…ow …Azula my hair... Despite of that Zuko is happy. But when he looks at his father and the elderly man…he sees and feels something different and he does not like it. Not one bit.

His father does not smile. He does not talk to him either. He does not even come near him. There is something in his eyes that Zuko cannot understand or know. The elderly man also has it in his eyes Sifu…he told me to call him Sifu…Sifu…That's a very weird name. He cannot understand it. Did I do something wrong? Sometimes his uncle looks at him that way too but at least he's talking to him, invites him to have tea, telling him someday he will be successful. Uncle says he just have to be patient and determined. Patient? Detemined? What does he mean?. Zuko always frowns whenever his Uncle uses words he cannot comprehend. Lu Ten also looks at him like his father and sifu does, but then he will always smile and tell him "It's okay. Maybe next time you'll do it."

But do what? I cannot understand. What do they want me to do?