Children Of Agni

Chapter 1 the Beginning

Zuko could remember the beginning when his little sister had been brought into his life. He had been very young but he could still remember how he had felt, he had adored her she was such a cute baby. When she got older they began to play together, and they were nearly inseparable. On dark stormy nights when Azula would get scared she would sneak into Zuko's room crawl into bed with him and Zuko would stroke her hair until the fear was gone and she fell asleep. Uncle Iroh would come and visit the children would always rejoice he always brought the best of gifts from the war, new little toys, trinkets, and bobbles. The came the day when Azula was sent to the fire academy when she was 8 and Zuko was 10.

She came to him the night before and said to him "Zuzu why are they taking me away"

Zuko turned to her and blew warm air over her shivering form before he replied, "Because father wants you to go and become powerful"

"Why can't they train me here?"

" They have their reasons I suppose." Zuko replied weakly, his little sister snuggled into him and they both drifted off into a deep sleep.

Zuko awoke the next morning to the feeling of his sister's warm breath on his cheek. She looked so pale and innocent, her heart was like the purest of rubies. He got up out of bed and went out onto his balcony to watch the sun rise. The sunrise was a beautiful crimson, the sky mourned with him, he was about to lose his best friend. Running his hands along the intricate grooves in the rail Zuko felt a warm hand on top of his; he looked at Azula, and she was crying, Zuko pulled her to him.

Azula left late that morning, Zuko mourned her absence, but his parents then intensified her training schedule. Not only did he learn firebending, but also math English, politics history, duel broadswords, and espionage. Zuko had little time to think at all, much less mourn.

Three years later Azula returned to the palace, but she did not return alone; four women accompanied her in addition to the royal procession, they were her instructors Li and Lo, and her friends Mai and Ty Lee. As Azula and her companions departed the entourage Zuko and Ursa stood waiting to greet them.

Azula spoke in a sharp exacting tone "Prince Zuko" she spat, bowing "Lady Ursa" repeating the gestures. "Please escort me to the Fire Lord"

Zuko gestured for them to follow, as he led them to the Throne Room. Zuko was lost in chaotic confusion of how much his sister had changed. How could three short years of training change someone so much. His fears were confirmed at dinner when she ate in complete silence and then left to spend time training with her new "friends". Two months later Azula left for the academy again; but this time Zuko wasn't sad to see her go; he only feared what she would be like when she returned next.

Nine more months of training and advancement, hard work definitely paid off Zuko's fire bending improved greatly; soon he would start the advanced set. He was training under Master Kezon. In the month of July his sister returned again for a summer break of sorts with her friends. Zuko refused to break his schedule to reacquaint himself with the cruel twisted shell of a human his sister had become. He only saw his sister five or six times during her entire stay, she teased berated and humiliated him five of these times, the exception is when they performed before fire lord Azulon and even then she tried to make him seam inferior.

When Fire Lady Ursa disappeared Zuko was devastated, however Azula was just satisfied that her father had become fire Lord and the war would go on. She held no pity and no remorse, her heart had been frozen into stasis and without love she had become crueler than ever.

Then at the end of her stay she saw the Agni Kai, she watched with quiet anticipation. The fear and shame pouring out from her brother; she lapped it up and savored its lovely taste, her father's look of terrible cruelty as he raised his hand to deliver the devastating blow that would forever scar Zuko in more than one way. She would never forget that scene, the scene that marked her ascension to crown princess. For the first time the bittersweet smile crossed her face.