Fireflies

By Lina Halim

Chapter 1: Illuminate

14 year old Zuko was thrown to the other end of the sparring ring by his younger sister, Zula. He turned his head to the side and spit out the blood that gathered in his mouth from the blow Zula gave.

It's horrible for a man, especially the older sibling, to think that his younger and smaller sister to surpass him. It hurts the ego, really badly. Not only Zuko's ego was severed, his relationship with his father was also damaged by this fact.

Zula had always been good in whatever she does. And that's something Zuko had always hated. She was a firebending prodigy, she was his father's favorite, she always had suitors lined up for her hand in marriage.

Zula, if anything, was perfect.

And Zuko hated it.

He gathered up his inner flame and stood up, firing a large ball of flame in Zula's direction. Zula spun and kicked the fireball down, launching herself at her brother's direction and kicked him down as well.

Zuko looked away as Zula prepared to release her final blow but only felt a surge of heat at the side of his face. Zula didn't blast half his face away. She stood up straight and got off her brother, smirking. She turned around and walked towards the other end of the ring, where their father had been standing.

Zuko stood up and brushed the dust off his pants. He popped his neck and walked towards the same direction, mumbling under his breath.

"Another day, another defeat, eh, brother?" Zula always loved rubbing in her victory at his face.

Saying he's sick of it is an understatement. He hated it like a plague. Male ego had always dominated him. Not only Zula was his little sister, she was a GIRL. And having a girl rubbing it in was not pretty.

"You were just born lucky," said Zuko, heading back to the palace.

"And you were lucky to be born," Zula called.

Flames shot out of his body as he turned around to face Zula. Then he felt a hand gripping his wrist. He turned his head to see his uncle, General Iroh.

"Don't, Prince Zuko. You fought well. Do not be bothered by your opponent's insults," he told him.

Zuko groaned and pulled his hand away from Iroh's grip. He stormed towards the palace and up to his room.

He looked out of the window at the ring where Zula and Ozai stood. Ozai looked so proud of Zula. He never looked that way with Zuko. To him, Zuko was always a failure. He tried everything to let Ozai see that he was the son he always wanted.

But maybe Zula was the only child he wanted.

xxxxxx

"I'm done." Zuko placed the spoon down on the table and pushed his chair back to stand up.

He turned to his father and bowed. He stood up straight and shot a scornful look at Zula. She replied with a smug. Damn would I love to slug her one in the face…

Zuko entered his room and sat down in the plush chair in front of the fireplace. He stared into the fire. He began to wonder where had he gone wrong. Why wasn't he his father's favorite? He was Ozai's only son and heir to the title of Fire Lord.

But why is Zula still ahead of him?

He heard a knock on the door.

"Who is it?" he demanded.

The door cracked open. A woman was standing at the door, bowing slightly. She had long black hair, her eyes were as golden as the jewelry she wore, her figure was slender and her facial features…

…were motherly.

She smiled softly at Zuko. "May I come in, my prince?"

"Yes, you may…" said Zuko, "…Mother…"

She entered his room and closed the door. She walked towards the empty seat next to her son and sat down. She turned slightly to look at Zuko and smiled again.

"It is not like you to finish dinner so quickly. Especially not when the cook made you your favorite dish," said his mother. "Tell your mother what's bothering you."

"It's…nothing, mother. Really. Don't worry about."

"Aha… but you see, worrying is a mother's duty. And I know that there is something bothering you, child."

"You talk as if you know everything about me."

"I should, Zuko. Because you are my son."

"But father does not see you as his bride, his wife; you are just a mere consort. A mother to his child."

"That is what I am. A mother to his child. And his child is also mine. Now tell your mother what's wrong."

Zuko fell silent. His mother had always been there for him, asking him what was wrong, worrying about him, tending to his bending practice wounds, comforted him whenever Ozai screamed at him.

This was his mother.

Although it was never shown, he loved her dearly. He always had.

"It's… Zula…" he finally gave in.

"Again with Zula. What is it now?"

"I don't understand. She's always so… perfect."

"You mean to say you are jealous of your sister?"

"I hate to say it… but yeah… I guess I am…"

His mother took his hands and kissed them. She placed a hand on her son's head and stroked the similar silky black hair she has. "You are my little firebender, Zuko. So is Zula. The two of you are my treasures. And the two of you are perfect in your own way. While Zula might be a good firebender, you are an honorable young man."

"I don't understand, mother…"

"You care about your people. Time and time again, I hear from your uncle that you want to enter the war chambers, to listen to the high ranking officers speak and plan."

"But that could mean I just want to go to war for the fun of it."

"It could. But I know it's not. You are more than that. You care nothing more but your people. Honor is something you have. Remember that."

Zuko sighed and looked down at his mother's hands gripping his own. He always loved her hands. They were the same ones that carried him, they were the same ones that comforted him. Many times he had wished that he could kiss his mother's hands just like she kissed his every time he was feeling down.

But he couldn't.

He couldn't find it in himself to do it.

"Now. You get some sleep. You've been training the whole day and I figure you must be tired. I am sorry to have taken up your time, my prince," she said.

'My prince' she always called him. He liked it. A lot.

She kissed him on the forehead and stood up. She made her way out of the door. Outside, Zuko saw her lady-in-waiting. It was normal for the Fire Lord's consort to have a lady-in-waiting, which consisted of any of the Fire Lord's concubines.

"Thank you, mother…" he muttered under his breath.

Zuko took off his shirt, untied his hair and crawled into bed. He twisted and turned around a bit under the soft red sheets and soon fell asleep.