12 ASC

He sat quietly as his father made his announcements in the War Room. Azulon remembered the first time when he snuck in here; what was he, eight? He remembered his first time seeing the map of all the nations, the throne without any flames. Now, his father invited him. He never expected to be here at such a young age. Here he was, Prince Azulon of the Fire Nation, sitting among generals and war veterans. And of course, his father Fire Lord Sozin. He knew he was only here because his mother was no long around – she would never let him be exposed to the secrets of war this early. Being an important occasion, he decided not to think of his deceased mother today. He'd be proud, sitting among these professionals, absorbing all their knowledge, at the age of twelve.

And what a curious age that was.

He listened to everything as expected, but he was questioning it all in h is mind. Why did they have to bring down Ba Sing Se, weren't there innocent people there? And the South Pole, what was so special about the water-benders that they had to be captured? He bit his bottom lip as his the flames cracked to his left. The general was still explaining his strategy.

"That sounds disgraceful to the peasants who call the Earth Kingdom home…" Sozin started from his seat behind the fire; Azulon smiled to himself. His father was honorable even in war. "I like it…get an army together, let's go!" He got to his feet and Azulon cocked his head up curiously. Maybe not, he felt a strange tinge inside. He wouldn't acclaim it to be disappointment; a boy could only be proud of his father after all.

"We're on it, milord." The room turned to chaos in the blink of an eye. Azulon nervously got to his feet, noticing how the men made sure not to bump shoulders with him. He wondered why the veterans left, too. Maybe they didn't serve much purpose after the decision had been made. Wearily, he looked over to his father; a silhouette of fire. He knew his father was grinning, even before the flames lowered and he could see his face.

"See son? That's the most successful war meeting we've had in ages!" Sozin chuckled as he stepped down the steps discretely hidden at the side of his father's stage. Azulon simply nodded, never questioning what his higher power said. He'd seen his father's punishments before and didn't hold any desire to experience them.

"Father, why do all the nations need to be brought down?" Azulon asked with a stern expression, one that made Sozin's smirk go flat. He placed a hand on his son's shoulder and guided him out of the room and down the royal hall. Azulon admired his father's mural until they walked by it and Sozin began speaking.

"We need to pass on what we know; the Fire Nation is exceeding every other nation with its intellect and technology." He sighed and could feel Azulon's urge to ask more questions. Instead of waiting, he explained. "They won't take it as a gift, so we must force our ways onto these people. In the end, Azulon, force is what this world comes to. The other nations will crumble without our guidance."

"Oh." He nodded, not sure if he believed it. It sounded like the same things he learned in school. He hoped his father would have new teachings for him. Azulon was a little thrown off when his father led him down a hall that had he had been banned from since he was an infant. Sozin lit the candles in the room and Azulon stared in awe.

"We've mastered everything in our great nation, you see. Even the art of overcoming the original fire-benders." He stated proudly, gesturing his arm to the preserved dragon. It was like nothing Azulon had seen. "They haven't even begun to realize our power and here they are-" He was cut off, the sound was familiar. Instinctively, Azulon went to tend to his crying three-year-old sister. Sozin grabbed his arm at such a speed he could feel every muscle in his body tense up.

"She's scared…I just…I wanted to make sure…" He stopped, how pathetic he must sound. Here his father started what would be the greatest war in history and he couldn't even handle his baby sister crying.

"The maids will tend her; you have so much to learn. Men raise boys, women nurture girls." Though Azulon would normally heed such advice, or ruling, but he picked up the darkness in his voice. He remained silent, knowing he didn't want to hear again how his mother gave her last breath giving life to Lian. He went back to the dragon, something he was sure his father would take pride in talking about.

"How many have died?" He whispered, Sozin smirked to himself.

"Died? Son, they don't just die, they're brought down. It's a graceful art, dragon hunting. It's starting to spread through the land, too. Only the greatest fire-benders get the opportunity to kill or be killed."

"But you said….but how many?" He changed his mind; he wouldn't question his father's logic. He wasn't brought up that way, and so it wasn't in him. Especially without his mother to back him up.

"By now, I'd have to say at least a hundred. I suppose I can't speak for every person, but as far as I go, a solid twenty-three." Of course, his smugness was back. Azulon wished he was older, so he could impress his father as much as his father impressed him. "I'll be gone in the morning." He said dryly.

"But you just got back. Why do you have to go now?" Azulon frowned; this was the longest his father had been home in ages – two and a half months. Sozin kept his gaze forward, into the nothingness in front of him.

"Azulon, I have to find the Avatar. If I can break the cycle, then the Fire Nation will forever be safe. If not…he could attack at any time. I'll be back soon; I know where he's hiding." He assured, but his face was so serious Azulon could tell even he was doubting himself a little, just a little. "You look after things here, don't worry so much about me."

"Be careful…" Azulon murmured, feeling too emotional to say much else. Who knew what pitiful words would escape his lips. Sozin patted his shoulder and gestured for him to leave the room with him. Azulon was sure he'd never see that room again; he didn't know he was right.

"It's like I said, kill or be killed. That's what this journey is for, to stop the Avatar before he destroys us all." Suddenly, Azulon felt like he was the son of a hero.

Ugh. A new story? Not again. Yeah, sorry, this is something I've always held interest in but haven't done anything with – the Fire Nation royal family. I wanted to write for Azulon and develop into the other characters as I go in (sorry, Sozin doesn't get much time). Eventually it'll go into Ilah and then Ozai, Iroh, the family everyone knows really.

My notes for this story? Well here's the story background: Azulon ruled for 75 years, from when he was twenty onward. He was said to be born the year of the comet, ASC means 'after Sozin's Comet'. So it should be easy to go by for him, he's with the years and all. Lian is an OC of mine; I figured corruption with the family would start way before Ozai's time so I'd throw some of my own in. Sozin was said to search for Aang throughout his rein, and eventually he attacked the Air Nomads, convinced he'd find him in the temple. By then, Aang had runaway from pressure of being the Avatar and was frozen (you see it in the flashbacks).

It's hard with Azulon because you only see him late in life; it's harder doing the relationship between him and Sozin because there's absolutely no information about it. I figured Azulon must have admired his father for filling his shoes so well, but at the same time every child has a time of innocence. I kind of felt like I was writing a quieter Zuko, but it should all change soon. Review? I'd love you for it.