It started out as any day did: boring. I was at school looking out the window when our history teacher slammed a ruler at my desk.
"Zutari," said Ms. Lee, " I will start with you tell me, which Fire Lord began the 100 year war?"
"Uh...Ozai?" I said not knowing or caring which dummy did. Ms. Lee's face turned red and I thought I saw steam roll out her ears. I see Ming, my best friend since we started school, hit her head with the palm of her hand. She shook her in a no fashion behind Ms. Lee's back. Looked like I was going to be facing the Head Master.
"You dare make a mockery of the Royals?!"
How was I making a mockery out loud about the royal dummies? Was my teacher a psychic?
"Ms. Lee, I am not exactly sure how I made a mockery of anyone?"
Ms. Lee turned red faced once again and before I knew it, I was headed to the Head Mister's office. The walk from my history class to his office wasn't long in reality but if you got sent there it felt like you are walking forever. I finally got to the office and went in. There was our short man of a head master glaring his cold eyes into my soul.
Jin Jong, aka Head Master, removed his cupped hands away from his mouth.
"Zutari, I hear you are poking fun at the Royals? That is a serious offense to our great nation."
What "great nation" was he talking about? One that had frightened all other nations? One that served as the reason for the century long war? My mother, Mai, had taught me what she lived through. Whether it was holding back her feelings as the governor's daughter or fighting alongside the merciless, insane princess Azula, I knew about it. The only thing she hasn't ever told me was who my father was and why they weren't together anymore.
"Zutari, I am talking to you! I am sending word to your mother that, until you can control how you feel, you are NOT welcomed back to school!"
I took the note to give to my mother that Head Master Jong wrote for her. As I walked home from school. I felt a tear slide down my cheek. I knew I was a fire bender but something inside me told me to be honest and give it to my mother. She was going to be broken hearted. I walked in my house and saw the last person I wanted to see...Fire Lord Zuko!
"Mom, what is HE doing here?!" I asked with irritation flowing from my lips. I stared at him with rage as he ate his spicy chicken and rice.
"Zutari please behave! Help me get your plate and mine ready." I help mom prepare our plates. I take my plate and sit down to eat at the table.
"Hello Zutari." The Fire Lord was talking to me but it didn't matter as I could care less.
"Zutari be polite!"
I sigh, "Hello Fire Lord Dummy." I couldn't think of a better insulting word than "dummy"? My mind was elsewhere. School was the biggest on my mind.
"Zut-," my mom said but the Fire Lord stopped her.
"It's ok Mai," he said with his stupid smile and his dumb eyes staring at my mother, "she just doesn't know who I am." I didn't know who he was? Of course I did! He was the monstrous child and grandchild of the worse people in our nation's history!
"You are the Fire Lord...everyone knows your ugly face when they see it." I said smugly.
"You are only half right...I mean about me being "fire lord" not my ugly face, " he said as he looked up, " I am also your father...Princess Zutari."
If I wasn't sitting in a chair, I probably would have fainted just then. Me? A princess? I sat there with jaw dropped.
"Um..." I said as I got up and ran to my room. I wanted to cry. I wanted to run away. I just sat there in my despair as I thought about my own family being part of a war. As all my dreams went down the river, or at least that is what I thought, I saw the spirit of an older man come through my bedroom window.
