Writer's Note: Written especially for Floranna, who wanted me to play on the ever-favourited "missing twin" trope – with a twist: this twin isn't lost, nor secret – in fact, he's a thorn in the side of the world. Ah, I love delicious AUs. Enjoy =3.

Prologue

The long-awaited birth of Princess Ursa's and Prince Ozai's children had come late at night. It was the kind of thing the sages were fond of, especially when it was easy to see omens everywhere. It was no secret that Ursa was pregnant with twins, but most of the Nation speculated that at least one of them would die in the birthing process, something more common than sunrise.

What they didn't take into account was that the royal physicians were the best, and that Ozai was quite adamant on ensuring the health of both of his children and his wife, all in one go. He would accept no less, to the point of making death threats on anyone who tried to oppose him. He may have been the second prince, but he was still able to carry out his threats.

So in the end, the twins were born unscathed, and mother Ursa was able to live another day to hold her sons in her arms.

They were both sons, their births hours apart. The first came without much fight, during the late hours of the night. His first cries were loud wails, followed by content cooing. The second took longer, much longer than the first. So long, in fact, that he was born in the early hours of pre-dawn the following day – an unusual even, the sages gleefully observed. His cries were low, confused, and when he was placed upon his mother's breast, he clung to her like there was nothing else in the world.

Ozai hadn't cared what sex his children were, as long as they were healthy and strong. Upon seeing his two sons, his mind swirled with plans and plots, his eyes glazed over with intricate designs for his heirs.

Ursa, somehow, knew that at least one of them would be male, and when both were, she found herself still smitten all the same. She held them close to her, vowing to protect them both, no matter how different they may be or how chaotic their lives may become.

The older one was named Kohaku. The younger, Zuko.