Maple Fire

Chapter 1

A metallic citadel stuck out like a sore thumb in the autumn foliage, its oppressive charcoal shade contrasting with the yellows, reds, and oranges of the land. Put together with nuts and bolts, it looked like a huge square of iron connected to two smaller rectangles. The windows were the only thing that was bright on the outside of building since the evening sun was reflecting off of them. Normally the blinds were opened during this time of day, but for what was occurring within the building required darkness.

"And may the strength and power of Agni watch over you and keep you in the light that is Fire," the richly adorned priest solemnly exclaimed, swinging a container of smoking incense. Everyone in the room was silent and calm in reverence to the dead one. Well, all accept one.

"Zuko, stop sniffling!" Lord Ozai commanded in a harsh whisper, grabbing the seven year old, black haired boy by the hand firmly and giving a tight squeeze. The two royalties stood at the head of the congregation, along with the boy's uncles and aunts and cousins. Also, the royal counsel stood just behind them, dressed in their formal black robes and ridiculous hats that barely anyone could see over.

Zuko grimaced and shut his eyes tightly, feeling the squeeze nearly crush his young hand. He tried yanking away, but the father only grabbed tighter. The boy squirmed, but to no avail. The priest opened his mouth and began to drone on again.

"Lady Kata was, indeed, a powerful woman. She carried herself with dignity and honored her family and in-laws. She was an obedient wife and strict mother, however she was not without compassion and love for her young price," the priest said. Zuko momentarily stopped squirming to look over at his dead mother lying in the ornate, crimson coffin. The black-haired woman's amber eyes were closed and in her clasped hands was a bouquet of Cyclamens (resignation) and white Hyacinths (I'll pray for you). She was dressed in her most formal robes of dark crimson, midnight blue, and black, signifying a serious occasion.

"She will be forever missed by all of us. From the highest judge to the lowest peasant, all will mourn her passing," the priest muttered on, his monotone voice increasing the feeling of gloom that was settling over the young prince and everyone else in the room. "Let us have a moment of silence as we, too, mourn the death of this passing monarch," he beseeched, spreading his arms wide, in a circular motion while inhaling. He brought them to a praying position with both palms pressed together. The other people in the room followed suit and the room became totally silent.

Zuko remained staring at his dead mother. Her ethereal pale skin looked even paler in death and without her electric, amber eyes open she looked like a sleeping doll. The young prince glanced around the room to make sure that no one was watching him as he made his way over to his mother. Standing right beside her coffin, he examined her with cold and unfeeling eyes. Not one tear had fallen from his amber eyes since her sickness. Nor at her death. Not even now, at her funeral, the last time he would ever get to see his precious mother, would he cry. The prince's eyes narrowed and he turned his back on the coffin. He walked over to where he was standing and patiently waited for the prayers to be over.

"Powerful Agni: We plead that you take this soul into your fiery embrace and that she is accepted into you. Please grant us this wish as we are but mere, humbled mortals. In your everlasting name we pray…" the priest prayed aloud. He then turned and faced the wall he had previously had his back to. On the wall was a ceramic red dragon's head. He crouched onto his knees and bowed so that his long, white hair fanned out across the floor and his nose just barely touched the ground. Everyone in the room followed suit, even Zuko, and they bowed like that for several minutes. Then, slowly but surely, everyone in the congregation stood up again and calmly waited for the priest, who, by tradition, was supposed to remain praying the longest.

"I hate these religious types…such a waste of time and money," Zuko heard his father mutter under his breath, his eyes narrowed with disdain towards the priest. Zuko turned his attention to the priest and watched with him with curiosity and a bit of annoyance. How could someone sit like that for so long? Did he really believe that that dragon could hear him?

"Oh, brother, spare the poor man. His last days are approaching him, as it were," a mocking, soft, female voice interrupted. Zuko's ocher eyes diverted their attention from the man to the woman standing at his father's side. He recognized her instantaneously.

"Auska, you're too kind hearted. That's why you never inherited the throne," his father scoffed back, never bothering to look over to the woman standing next to him. The Fire Lord crossed his arms and chuckled, turning his back to the priest and his dead wife without a second thought. His long salt and pepper hair swooshed with the suddenness of his turn and some loose hairs fell out of his top knot. The woman clucked her tongue and followed her brother.

"Ozai, the only reason I didn't inherit the throne has absolutely nothing to do with my personality. I was second to last born. Naturally, I would not inherit it. You know this," she stated coolly, the long black robes of her dress sliding silently across the metallic floor. Her ebon hair was tied up in two elaborate buns on either side of her head, with black orchids pinned on either side of those buns. Her cool, dark orange eyes held little amusement, as were their usual expression.

"Never-the-less, I'm glad that I didn't inherit. It's such a meaningless post, really," she continued, casting a sly smile over to her brother. He whirled on her and fiery rage shone through his eyes. Zuko glanced around the room to find that no one had noticed the sibling rivalry going on between his father and favorite aunt. He timidly walked a few more paces closer to the two royals and stood behind an ornate pillar.

"Ozai, Ozai, Ozai, when will you learn to control that temper of yours?" Auska asked, contemptuously. She snickered and leaned in closer to her brother, "And besides, you know what I say is true! You're army walks all over you! What with your absence for the past 3 months due to your ridiculous search for the Avatar, the army has slowly begun to take more control of the war…and your campaign. Beware, soon they will be marching upon your palace," she whispered, her sly and devious smile never leaving her crimson lips. Auska's eyes sparkled with ridicule and mischievousness. Her brother's face was beet red with anger and his fists clenched up in a tight ball.

"Do not cross me, Sister. You know as well as I do that I could remove you from that pathetic spit of an island you call a home and kingdom. Don't forget: I am the Lord of the Fire Nation," he whispered harshly, his lips nearly touching her ear. She cast him a bemused glanced but showed no other reaction. Suddenly, her gaze locked on with Zuko's and she sneered.

"I must say, you are a disgraceful father," she said, matter-of-factly. Auska backed up a few paces and crossed her arms, her long, black sleeves folding over one another.

"What?" Lord Ozai demanded, startled by her sudden change of topic.

"You, sir, are a horrible father. Look at your son; he's on the brink of tears! And you've done nothing to comfort him. For Agni's sake, he's lost his mother and now he'll be stuck with you…poor dear." Auska sadly said, shaking her head. Ozai turned his head to look over his shoulder and spied Zuko clutching the pillar, watching with wide eyes the argument that had just taken place.

"We'll see if he stays stuck with me," the Fire Lord grumbled, making his way over to the prince. Zuko gasped and tried running away to the other side of the room, but the father grabbed his hand before he could get anywhere. Zuko squirmed, but stopped when his father squeezed his hand with the same crushing grip. Ozai lead his son over to where he was previously standing and then abruptly let go when he reached his sister.

"Price Zuko…" Auska smiled sweetly, but her eyes held sadness and pity in them. She bent down until she was eye to eye with her nephew.

"Hello, Aunt Auska. How are you?" he asked timidly, remembering not to meet her eyes, as was the custom in the Fire Nation. He looked down at the charcoal floor and studied a bolt in the floor that had come undone.

"I'm fine, thank you. But that's unimportant. What's more important is how you are doing. So tell me, how are you?" she asked, laying an alabaster hand on to his armor clad shoulder. His shoulder bent under the weight, but he quickly straightened it.

"I'm doing well," he answered quietly, staring at the bolt with a determined ferocity in his eyes. His eyes began to sting for some reason he could not figure out.

"Zuko, your aunt and I have agreed that it would be best if you traveled back to her kingdom with her and lived there…forever," Lord Ozai coolly stated, watching with a satisfied grin as his sister's head shot up and her amber eyes glistened with confused anger. Zuko remained staring at the floor but his father noticed the boy grow stiff.

"And when did we decide this, brother?" Auska icily asked, glaring at her emotionless brother with such hatred. Ozai chuckled and called a servant over to him. The servant came over and offered the lord a glass of warm wine. He took it without a second glance at the man and sipped it slowly, his eyes never leaving his sister's. He took a second sip and downed the drink. Licking his lips to remove the excess alcohol, he laughed bitterly.

"Well, just now!" Ozai chortled, shaking his head at his sister's idiocy. "If you think you can raise my son better than I can, well, I see no reason why I should keep him," the Fire Lord sneered. He watched as his sister stood up hesitantly. She wrapped her arm around the boy and drew him over to her side.

"Brother…" she started, before feeling Zuko grab at her black dress and pressing himself tightly into her. She stared down at Zuko with a worried expression and tried to release his grip from her.

"See! Look at that--he wants to go! Let him go if he hates me so!" the man laughed, motioning to his son with his empty drink. He threw his head back and laughed heartily. "Let the boy go! He's pathetic anyways. Hardly worth my time!" he retorted, glaring at his sister.

"You go too far, Brother…" Auska trembled, disgust causing her blood to drain from her face. She moved towards her brother with such speed and strength that Zuko hardly had time to catch his fall as he fell to the floor. The woman marched up to her brother, hand raised for a good slap in the face. However, Ozai was faster and caught her wrist in a pinching grasp. Bending it backwards, he caused her to bend under the pain he inflicted.

"I will go as far as I want to. He will leave with you immediately or you both can be disowned and stripped of your titles. How does that sound?" he whispered hoarsely in her ear, spittle coming from his lips. Auska laughed bitterly and nodded.

"Sounds fair enough, I suppose. You drive a hard bargain, Lord Ozai." She gasped as the pressure was released from her bent wrist. Rubbing it gingerly, she glowered at her brother, but retreated back to the boy.

"Of course it's fair! I said it!" Ozai snickered, waving over another servant. "Go collect Lady Auska's and Prince Zuko's things. Have them brought back to her ship. They will be departing in 20 minutes." He said to the richly adorned servant, simpering at his sister. The man nodded and bowed and then went to alert the other servants. Lord Ozai approached his son and laid a hand on his head. The boy's black hair shined with the reflected light of the candles and Lord Ozai ruffled it, mocking fatherly adoration.

"Be good to your aunt. She'll be the only one to be good to you," he said, disdain and disgust dripping from his words. The boy blinked back the same, unrecognizable sting from his eyes and bent his head further down. Zuko felt his father chuckling and the weight of the large hand leave his head. The man turned his back to the two monarchs and walked down the metallic hallway, people clearing the way for him with every step he took.

"Aunt Auska?" Zuko asked, turning his head to where his aunt stood. He was shocked to find that there was no one standing by his side. Turning around in a full circle, he could not find her anywhere. Zuko wandered around the room, hoping to find his aunt or someone he knew who could direct him to where she may be. However, everyone in the room was a complete stranger to the young boy and an overwhelming sense of loneliness overcame him as he desperately searched their faces. He made his way over to a low chair and fell into it, his back resting against it. Kicking the legs of the chair with his red boots, he sniffled again and frantically tried to restrain the stinging.

"It's not fair…" he whispered to himself, bowing his head onto his knee cap. He buried his head into his pant leg and closed his orange eyes. Never before had Zuko felt more alone than when he was surrounded by all these people. They had come to mourn the death of his mother, but to Zuko, if felt more like they were mourning his.