War Meetings, although taken seriously by the Fire Lord, were usually uneventful. In a time where War was raging through out the world, there was nothing much to discuss other than small rebellions or revolts. All the Generals and Admirals that attended these meetings were the Fire Lord's most trusted men. But in Ozai's case, they were all minions... tools to facilitate the strategy he required to win this war.

Ozai dressed slowly on the day of the War Meeting. He didn't know why, but he felt like something important was going to happen today, although he had no idea what it was. He adjusted his top knot and carefully placed the Royal Diadem where it belonged. He looked at his reflection in the mirror for a second. He sighed as he walked out of his room, silently wishing his father could see this...

On his way to the War Room, he ran into Azula, who looked positively delighted. Ozai gently draped his arm around her shoulders as he asked, "Excited about attending your first War Meeting?"

"Yes, I am!" Azula said happily.

"Now, remember... As my daughter, you have a reputation to uphold. Be on your best behavior and keep your ideas to yourself; or you'll regret it!" Ozai said in a flat tone, but there was no masking the serious warning.

Azula gulped as he said, "Yes, father."

"Good. Now come on in," Ozai said as he walked her to the chamber.

Many of the courtiers bowed to them as they passed. It gave Azula a strange feeling of power. But it always gnawed at her that she was second in line. She'd always strived to become the best... Didn't she deserve something for that? Hadn't she always been told by her father that she was so much better than Zuko? Yet he'd eventually become Fire Lord... not her.

"Something bothering you, Azula?" Ozai asked her.

"No, father," she lied. She'd confronted him about this before, and he'd made it very clear that he didn't want to talk about it again.

"We're here," Ozai said quietly. Then he led her inside to an intimidating sight. All the Generals and Admirals were sitting there waiting for him. Although she was the Princess, she felt a twinge of fear as she walked past them to a seat beside her father.

As Ozai settled in his throne, he heard a little bit of a shuffle outside, and hoped it wasn't something that would disrupt this meeting. He wanted to begin this meeting soon, but he realized that Iroh wasn't in yet. He groaned in frustration as he watched Iroh get in with someone else. Zuko.

"You don't have to do this, Zuko," Ursa told her son. She beseeched him not to go to the War Meeting.

"But... I have to prove to him that I'm not worthless! I'm the heir to the throne!" Zuko told her defiantly.

Ursa hugged him as she said, "You don't have anything to prove to anyone but yourself! Please understand..."

"You don't know how things have been here for me without you!" Zuko yelled as he squirmed out of her grip.

Ursa's expression grew from concerned to remorseful. "I'm sorry, my son... Whatever I did, I did to protect you!"

"Protect me? He doesn't care about me! Without Uncle, I'd have been all alone! Without him and Mai, I'd have no one else to care for me! You left me alone when

I needed you! Why now are you so concerned, mother?" Zuko spat, but regretted his outburst immediately. Ursa was leaving.

"I'm sorry, Zuko... I'm so, so sorry I left you alone," she said as she disappeared.

"Mom, no! Don't leave me again!" Zuko yelled, but he suddenly found himself falling into the endless abyss.

"No!" Zuko yelled as he sat up in bed. He realized he'd been dreaming. He groaned as he ran his fingers through his hair, trying to understand why hismother was pleading him not to go to this meeting.

He got up and got dressed as quickly as possible. He was going to be late otherwise. He waited as one of the attendants tied the strings of the breastplate he usually wore on formal occasions.

"Thank you," he said once he was done.

Then he made his way to the War Room as soon as he could. The corridor was dark and lit only by torches. He tried to think of ways to get into the chamber, but his mother's voice kept haunting him. Her pleading voice, asking him not to go through with this rang in his ears as he made his way to the chamber.

His eyes darted to the right as he saw a line of portraits. All his ancestors were there, forever frozen in time... remembered as great heroes. He'd be there, too, someday... He steeled himself as he walked towards the chamber which was being guarded by two masked guards. As he made his way to the entrance, one of the guards stepped in front of him, effectively blocking the entrance.

"Let me in!" Zuko ordered, but he didn't budge.

"Prince Zuko, what's wrong?" Iroh asked as he draped his arm around Zuko's shoulder and steered him away from the entrance.

"I want to go into the war chamber, but the guard won't let me pass!" Zuko said in a voice that clearly showed disappointment.

"You're not missing anything, trust me... These meetings are [b][i]dreadfully[/i][/b] boring," Iroh offered, trying to cheer him up.

"If I'm gonna rule this nation someday, don't you think I need to start learning as much as I can?" Zuko asked his uncle.

Iroh sighed at this, realizing that Zuko wouldn't relent. "Very well... But you must promise not to speak... These old folks are a bit sensitive, you know," Iroh warned.

Zuko's face lit up at this. "Thank you, Uncle!" Zuko said as he bowed gratefully. Iroh nodded at him as they walked into the war chamber. Zuko's smile faded as he saw where Azula was seated. He realized he wouldn't be granted that honor.

Ozai looked on as his son entered the room defiantly. He hadn't expected to see his son at this meeting. He'd [b][i]definitely[/i][/b] have to talk to him about it later. He had other things to worry about at the moment. He sighed as he looked at one of the Generals.

"General, your report," Ozai said.

"Thank you, Sir. We have assessed the situation at Gaipan as you asked, Sir. The Earth Kingdom defenses are concentrated here," the General said, pointing to the map that was built into the chamber's floor. "A dangerous battalion of their strongest Earthbenders and fiercest warriors... So I am recommending the 41st division," he finished.

Ozai's eyebrows shot up at this. "I hope you have something better than that, General," he thought to himself.

One of the other Generals seemed to have some doubts as well. "But the 41st is entirely new recruits! How do you expect them to defeat a powerful Earth Kingdom battalion?" he asked.

"I don't. They'll be used as a distraction while we mount an attack from the rear. What better to use as bait that fresh meat?" the General said.

Zuko had been listening closely. The minute the General had recommended the 41st division, his fists clenched. They were the ones who'd just joined the Army... New recruits who still believed staunchly in the ideals of serving their Nation. He kept reminding himself of Iroh's warning... He'd been told not to speak. But when the General referred to them as fresh meat, something snapped inside him. Abandoning all caution, he jumped up and glared at the General.

"You can't sacrifice an entire division like that! Those soldiers love and defend our nation! How can you betray them?" Zuko yelled.

He didn't notice the shocked look on his uncle's face or the anger in his father's. All he knew was that this man had no sense of honor... He was using loyal soldiers as mere pawns!

Ozai was seething as he watched what was going on. Zuko had spoken out of turn... and such disrespect from a thirteen year old? Something had to be done... It was time he taught his son a lesson.

"Prince Zuko, do you realize that it wasn't your turn to speak?" Ozai asked angrily. The flames around him grew dangerously large.

"Father, I... I just don't think it's right for us to sacrifice loyal soldiers so cruelly," Zuko said apprehensively. He'd noticed the flames... They were now so high that he could only see his father's face...

"So you stand by what you said," Ozai said flatly. His fists were now clenched. He looked at Zuko and was surprised that someone as emotional and dependant was actually his son... the boy who was supposed to take over from him... He wasn't ready yet.

"Father, you can't actually be supporting this!" Zuko said in a surprised tone.

"That doesn't answer my question, Prince Zuko," Ozai said angrily. "Do you stand by what you said?" Ozai asked.

"Yes, father, I do," Zuko said boldly.

He didn't flinch as his father stared at him. He knew what he was standing up for... and he hoped his father would understand.

"Do you realize that speaking against these plans is an act of disrespect?" Ozai asked his son.

No one else spoke. Everyone else watched with bated breath as father and son sized each other up. Zuko was trying to assess whether or not his father would understand; Ozai was trying to fund out how far his son would go to stand for what he believed in.

"I apologize, father... But I couldn't let him do that to our people! Our soldiers!" Zuko pleaded.

"Silence! Do you realize the ramifications of such disrespectful acts?" Ozai asked.

Zuko understood perfectly. He exhaled calmly and looked at the old General he'd insulted. "I do, father," he said slowly.

Ozai's lips curved into a malicious smile as he said, "Alright, then... An Agni Kai it is! Now!"

"But, Sir... The meeting;" one of the Generals began, but Ozai silenced him with a look.

"This has to be resolved now! If you're up to the challenge, that is," Ozai said as he looked at his son.

"I am," Zuko said resolutely. He was going to show his father what he was made of... that he wasn't as weak as he had been three years ago... He headed for the arena straight away. Ozai quirked an eyebrow at this and got up himself. This was going to be interesting to watch.

Azula had been watching quietly from the sidelines. Her temperamental brother was making one mistake after another. Starting from his outburst to the point where he staunchly stood up for what he'd said, he was destroying himself... and she had no intention of letting him know that. All her life, she'd tried her best to excel, and she had... But it pained her to note that Zuko would ultimately get the throne... because of tradition. She loathed that feeling. But what she was feeling now was different. She somehow felt that Zuko would pay for his behavior very soon.

Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Mai's father. He was watching with bated breath as well. And why shouldn't he? His daughter had chosen to fall in love with a Prince whose future now looked questionable. A small smile crossed her lips as she thought about this. He'd certainly tell his daughter about what happened here... It'd be interesting to watch her reaction.

Zuko knew perfectly well what his father had meant. In the Fire Nation, there was only one way to resolve conflicts like these... An Agni Kai... a Fire Duel. People even got killed in some of these... It was a dangerous tradition, but if that' what his father wanted him to do, then he'd do it. But a familiar voice kept ringing in his head...

"You don't have anything to prove to anyone but yourself! Please understand..."

Soon, he was at the arena. He exhaled calmly as he looked at it. Even under normal circumstances, this place had seemed dismal to him. The fact that they had an arena for this right inside the palace had shocked him when he'd seen it. Today he saw it in a different light. This was where his life was going to change forever. Fear crept upon him slowly... What if he lost? What would his father say then? Should he have apologized and requested a withdrawal?

"No! I stood up for what I believed in! I have to do this!" Zuko told himself as he disrobed and waited.

Then he heard the shuffle of feet. People were watching... His uncle and sister among them... Many of those who had attended the meeting were standing there... This seemed odd to him... Why was this such a big deal? This was a normal duel... Something that happened almost every single day! Zuko exhaled and turned around to face his opponent, assuming his battle stance. But the minute he did so, he realized why everyone was watching. His opponent was no ordinary man.

It was his father.

Ozai had known full well that Zuko didn't understand who he'd be fighting. This made it even more interesting to him, because he simply couldn't wait to find out what his son would do if he found out who his opponent really was. Iroh had figured it out and had tried to go to Zuko to even warn him, but he'd stopped his brother just in time.

"Don't do this!" Iroh pleaded. "He is just a boy!"

"If he's bold enough to speak out against me in a War Meeting, then he's old enough to face me! Now stop trying to warn him! He needs to learn some respect!" Ozai

thundered.

Iroh looked frantic as he said, "I'm [b]begging[/b] you, Ozai! Don't do this to your son!"

"No son of mine is a coward! He needs to be put to the test!" Ozai said and walked to the arena, leaving him behind. Iroh had no choice but to follow.

Now, as Ozai stood waiting for his son to face him, an image of Ursa leaving flashed before his eyes... It was because of Zuko that she'd left... When Zuko turned around to face him, the look on his face said it all.

He hadn't expected to duel his father.

"No!" was the only thought going through Zuko's head. "This can't be happening! I can't fight him! I just can't! He's my father!"

He felt nauseous... He felt like he'd been punched in the gut. But his father showed no signs of relenting... so he dropped to his knees. Everyone around him looked stunned, including his father.

"Please, father! I only had the Fire Nation's best interests at heart! I'm sorry I spoke out of turn!" Zuko pleaded.

Ozai didn't know what to think! This was the future ruler of the Fire Nation? A boy who was too weak to finish his battles? This was the reason Ursa left? So this weakling's life could be spared?

"You will fight for your honor!" Ozai said, giving him a chance to prove him wrong.

"I meant you no disrespect! I am your loyal son!" Zuko said in a shaky voice. This only served to anger Ozai more. He clenched his fists and waited.

"Rise and fight, Prince Zuko!" Ozai ordered, his anger rising.

"I won't fight you!" Zuko declared in the same, shaky voice.

Ozai completely lost his patience as he walked over to his son's crouched figure. When Zuko looked up at him, he was disgusted to see tears streaming down his face.

"You will learn respect! And suffering will be your teacher!" Ozai said as he looked at his son's tear stained face.

In Zuko's mind, everything seemed to be happening in slow motion after those words. He watched out of the corner of his left eye as his father's hand neared his face.

On instinct, he'd closed his eyes. But the searing pain he felt on the left side of his face told him that something horrible was happening to him. The pained scream that escaped his throat felt like someone else's to him... He wanted it to stop... to take it all back... He simply wanted to die... The pain was so intense...

"Let this be a dream... Let it just be a bad dream!" he willed to himself. Then the pain stopped... It was over... He exhaled in relief, then everything went black.