If Childern Ruled the World

"Today's the day. I've worked too hard for it not to be. I'm finally going to see it," thought Zuko.

He was six years old and today was the monthly fire bending examination. Both he and his sister would show the new skills they had learned in front of their father and all the noble men of the court.

Zuko knew he would get the one thing he had craved his entire life. He had trained hard for hours getting lots of burns and bruises while Azula had been off playing with her friends.

He couldn't wait to see that slight upper curl of his fathers lips to show approval. He had never seen it yet. Azula had, every single time! However, today would be his turn. He could just feel it.

When Zuko was told to go in he didn't hesitate. He stood tall and confident like only a six year old could and walked to the center of the examination arena. He faced his father who sat higher then the rest as was the custom and Zuko bowed low to him. Ozai nodded to his son in a gesture that told him to begin.

Zuko started with the new basic fire bending moves getting more complicated as he went on and he had to resist the urge to smile at himself. All the moves were done flawlessly. When he got to his last move he took a deep breath before continuing. It was a more impressive move, he had begged his Uncle to teach him. It all went perfectly until he almost fell on the landing. It could hardly be notice, so Zuko was still confident as he looked up at his father.

Ozai's lips had curled. But, in the opposite direction that Zuko had been hoping for. Zuko mustered up all of his strength to step aside and watch his sisters flawless performance and the smile his father had for her.

He walked back to his room with a terrible ache in his heart. He was greatly disappointed and confused, Azula was a year younger then him and practiced about an hour a day. How was she so good? How did she always have father's love? Never one to give up Zuko started changing into his training uniform.

Just as he was putting on his shirt his door burst open to reveal Fire Lord Ozai. " Father," Zuko greeted with a deep bow.

"You shame me Zuko. That performance was ridiculous. What kind of Fire Lord will you be one day if you don't even apply yourself in your fire bending?" He yelled as he circled his son's still slightly bent body.

"But, father," started Zuko.

"Don't speak. You don't get to speak," demanded Ozai. He shook his head slightly in disappointment. "How could I have had such a useless child." He shook his head one more time before walking out of the room.

Zuko just stood there with the heaviest heart he had ever felt. He was beyond mortified when he felt a drop of liquid fall from his eye. What would his father think if he saw this? He couldn't let anyone know he was weak enough to cry. There was no lock on his bedroom door. So, he ran quickly to his bathroom and locked that door. He curled up in the corner in heavy embarrassment and set his head on his knees.

It was about a half an hour before Zuko heard a soft knock on his door. "Zuko, It's Iroh. Will you come out, son?" came from the other side of the door.

Zuko quickly wiped his cheeks with the back of his hands hoping his uncle wouldn't notice. He opened the door slowly and peeked out at Iroh and attempted a smile. "Hi uncle, he said in what he hoped was a cheerful tone.

Iroh knew the young boy too well to not notice his sorrow. "Oh Zuko. Don't pay any attention to what your father thinks. You did amazing out there today and I know one day soon your going to be a true fire bender."

"I can't be Fire Lord," Zuko choked out. When he saw Iroh's confused look he continued. "I don't feel the same pleasure Azula and father do when someone is hurt, I'll never be a good fire bender no matter how hard I train, I bring shame to my family and I can't even be lectured by my father without cri..." Zuko couldn't even say the shameful word in front of his Uncle. "I'm too weak!"

Iroh smiled at him in understanding. "I know you don't understand this now. But, I know one day you will. The things that you have been taught are weak, are your greatest strengths. I know that you will grow up to be a great Fire Lord someday," he said with his hand on the boys shoulder. Zuko wasn't convenced.

"Your father is in a very important meeting at the moment and I am off to find some new tea at the market. Your already in your training uniform. Why don't you go let off some stream," suggested Iroh.

Zuko nodded and the two parted ways when they reached Zuko's door. He had never been so grateful for the short walk to the training arena. He didn't run into anyone the whole way there.

The training arena was a circular room with only one entrance covered with a curtain. It had torches all along the walls for light and for fire bending and one bench against the wall across from the opening. There were barrels of water in a few places in case of emergencies.

He started just the same as he always did, by walking into the center of the room sitting down and meditating. The flames in the room followed along with the breaths he took falling and rising. After awhile he stood up and began his fire bending. Today was not for training. Today was simply because he wanted to. Fire bending had always help him get his emotions back in order. He could feel his sadness and disappointment flowing out of him just as the flames flowed out and disappeared.

So focused was he that he almost missed the little body watching him from behind he curtain. But, once he noticed he stopped. His anger rising again. He knew it was Azula, for she was the only one in the palace that size. What he didn't know was why she was hiding. Maybe she was planning to prank him. He mustered up two fire balls in his hands and yelled, "I know your there, show yourself before I burn that face of yours," There was no response. "I'm in no mood, show yourself, before I drag you out." he shouted at her.

He was started when he saw a pair of blue eyes poke out from behind the curtain. "I'm sorry. Please don't hurt me. I'll just go back to my room," came a quiet voice.

Zuko immediately extinguished his flames and called back when the eyes disappeared. "No, wait, I'm sorry I scared you. I thought you were my sister about to prank me. Please come in. I wont hurt you." The two eyes appeared again looking scared but curious. Zuko offered her a smile and gestured for her to come in. She did and Zuko saw that in addition to blue eyes she also had brown hair in a long braid down her back and brown skin. She was also wearing a blue dress and brown boots that didn't look like they were built for the warm weather of the fire nation.

"I'm Katara," she said.

"My name is Zuko," he replied. Where are you from Katara? I've never seen you around the palace before," he said.

"I'm from the southern Water Tribe. My father, Chief Hakoda, come here hoping to negotiate a truce," she replied.

"Oh," replied Zuko," That explains why you look so different."

"What?" she asked startled.

"No," he said while looking more closely at her unique blue eyes. "A good kind of different."

Katara relaxed and a hint of a smile started to appear on her face. "Was that fire bending you were just doing?"

"Yeah," Zuko said as his shoulders fell. "I know I'm not very..."

"It's not as terrifying as my tribe says, its beautiful," she said finally seeming to have enough courage to walk up to him. "Can I see it again?"

Zuko was about to say no, not wanting her opinion of fire bending to be tainted by his lack of talent. But, the moment he looked into her begging eyes, there was no telling her no. "Sure, he said. You can watch from the bench over there," he said pointing to the one his uncle usually sat on. He started out with basic fighting tactics. But, when he glanced at his audience he noticed something he had never seen before. It was awe. She was amazed at his fire bending, Zuko grinned. Soon he was doing less fighting and more of a show. He would swirl the fire around and make odd shapes with it. Occassionaly he would do something that made the young girl giggle and clap. He of course did these things over and over again.

The two children were having so much fun that time went by way too fast for either one. "I have to go," Katara finally said. "My father will be getting back soon and I'm not suppose to leave the room."

"You'll come back tomorrow, wont you?" asked Zuko. Zuko had grown up with Azula and her two friends as his only play mates. Now that it seemed like he may have found a real friend his own age he didn't want to let her go.

"If I can sneak away again," was her reply as she dashed for the door.

"So, I'll see you tomorrow then," he yelled back.