The hallways were swathed in dark red draping and dimly lit as he hastened through them. The flames jumped momentarily in the torch braziers as he passed before settling back into a quiet burn. Servants scattered in his path but it did not bother the Fire Lord. To his people he was known as the benevolent ruler, the first to truly care about his people in a hundred years. To his palace staff he had many other titles. 'Infuriating' 'Ruthless' 'Depraved' were a few that he had actually heard. It didn't matter though, he kept the country in check so who cared if he took out his frustration on the guards and cooks?

They all knew why he did it though. All right they probably just thought he was spoiled royalty but that's okay. His mother would be rolling her grave or wherever she was if she could see him now. He realized he was a monster when he slapped a servant girl the other day. She brought tea when he specifically asked not to be disturbed. Now he had to ring for a servant whenever he wanted aything. He was atrocious and he knew it, he might as well get a cell next to Azula and he could fall asleep listening to her bleating like baby cow. A baby cow that breathed fire he remembered. Zuko had visited her a few weeks ago; watched as she screamed with fat tears sliding down her dirty face. The drugs they gave did little to calm raging forge in her soul, she couldn't express herself anymore and would lash out in a huge rumination of feelings. Sad and angry, scared and lonely, they all mixed together in violent displays that had left her more than half mad. She rarely spoke these days, he wouldn't be surprised if he went to see her and she had forgotten all together. And it would be all right, with one less person there to speculate to him. He recalls the heat as a plume of fire was bent in his direction and missing his shoulder. Never let your guard down around Azula. When she did talk her words were not merely spoken but thrown at him. Every word dripped with malice and malcontent.

"She never loved you, you know," says a voice from the dirty figure on the floor.

Zuko pinches the bridge of his nose, "Mother always loved me more you wretch and don't forget it."

"Not mother Zuzu, the stupid whore of a sealcow in the furs. You could never have her, not with the Avatar already spreading her legs."

'Azula always lies, Azula always lies...' The mantra wouldn't work when he knew it to be true, at some level at least.

"You probably couldn't love her any way, call her exotic for a few months and then make her a concubine."

"You know nothing!" The truth hurt the worst from the most unlikely source.

He hadn't gone to see her since. Because she was right. Because he wanted to prove her wrong. Because he hadn't. He had no queen, no other would do. She was magnificent and no rival would present itself. Or he was so shallow to think so, when Katara left for the South Pole he had asked through the whole North Pole for a waterbender of equal fierceness and spirit. He had promised the world and more for such a woman not knowing they kept their women docile and simple minded in the north. The men were scared of their potential and kept them cloistered away in the healing pavilion under the guise of 'tradition'.

Zuko believed himself cursed. He had tried to talk Katara about staying. Used all the sweet words he possessed and all the soft feelings that he didn't when he went to her room, offered her love, power, passion.

He had put his hand around her waist and drew her close. Lips pressed together in a flurry, Zuko felt quenched as their lips moved together. He tried to deepen the kiss but was shoved away. He felt the heat left in his face from the encounter and observed the pink flush creeping up her cheeks.

She had knocked the token of affection he had brought out of his hands. The rubies and gold glinted in the light from the room as he stared at the bracelet from the balcony.

A fool, she had called him. A fool that did not understand the balance of how things as supposed to be even now. They echoed in his head constantly. Her words stung, she may as well have branded the other half of his face with the phrase.

Whether true or not, he couldn't recall a kind thought he had had since then. It was polluting him and making him as evil as the servants thought he was.

...

He stood on the same balcony starring at Yue, turned mostly away like the shy maiden was prone to do. "I'm sorry, you know I am. I need to know what to do."

Zuko turned away and sighed heavily. His hands gripped the balcony ledge and singed the wood as he saw a figure moving through the inner gardens.

Tan shift dress with red embroidery around the collar with a plain cap covering her head, he had known the signs of a lower level servant since he was old enough to order them around.

'How dare she come to the inner sanctum!' Only the most respected, dignified and well mannered servants were allowed in this part of the castle. He pulled the heavy robe over his head and flung it back inside the room; loose pants and a tunic sufficient for the game he wished to play. He hoisted himself over the railing and dropped the short distance down into the garden. Zuko stalked his prey towards the center of the garden. When he caught up to her he was going to drag her out by her ankles and listen as she screamed mercy for her transgression.

He had her now, standing over a lily pond, he hoped she was smiling. It was better if it came as a shock. No firebending, he was going to scare her not mutilate her.

The grass was smooth and quiet underfoot as he made his way closer. Ever the stealthy hunter he circled downwind as he synchronized his breath with her. Deep, heavy breath in, slow, easy out. He went for it, hand darting out to grasp her ankle and uproot her.

And it stopped. His hand was frozen mid path before her realized it was actually frozen. His eyes opened impossibly wide as he met hers. The water from the pond was drawn up in an icy trail that culminated at his hand. Her eyes were blue, the same blue.

He moved his other hand to try to grab a hold of her, his motives completely changed.

The girl gave a frightened shriek and ran towards the opposing exit.

"No wait!" Zuko yelled.

She slowed momentarily, throwing a cerulean glance over her shoulder at him.

"You're incredible," were the only words that would slide off his tongue.

She came to a halt and regarded him with lips pursed together.

"I've been waiting for you," was the next ridiculous phrase out of his disobedient mouth.

A gentle smile plays across her features.

"I'll make you my queen," he falters. It was scary because he knew he would.

Those lips turned to a frown, a curious calculating look, before turning and running away, escaping into the labyrinth of the castle.

"Spirits, I really am cursed."

It was only then he remembered he could melt the ice and yell for guards. But it didn't matter. The spirits had their wills set against his. He had displeased the Spirits.

...

AN: Thanks for making it here, please read and review.

Next chapter: The Chaos That It Brings

... Zuko turned and faced his advisors, "Yes, I wish to throw a festival for the sun and the moon on the equinox. This is not up for discussion."...

... He took a deep breath to calm his nerves, "I saw a girl the other night, she had blue eyes. I want you to bring her to me." ...

... Zuko covered his ears trying to block out the gruesome poem. Azula giggled the awful syllables pleasing to her twisted mind. These were from the stories Ozai had told them when Ursa had asked him to read to his children. ..