So I'm a big fan of the Avatar series and i found myself wondering about Zuko's family. I know that in the Legend of Korra that Zuko is dead and that it is uknown if he had any children and grandchildren but this is just my idea. I'll follow the Legen of Korra series plot as best as I can and tie in my own plot and twists with my character Akira. This chapter is set before Korra travels to Republic City and begins her airbending training. This is set when Korra first begins her firebending training two years before her journey begins.
The palace halls were extraordinarily silent today. I move through the halls trying to not to make any noise that would distress the silence that I always looked for. I was heading for the training areas for the day, I wanted to get in enough fire bending practice with my father in before he would move into the Southern Water Tribe to train Avatar Korra in the art of fire bending. I sigh having mixed feeling about my father leaving.
He was the younger of the two children my Grandfather Zuko and Grandmother Mai had. My father, Iroh, wasn't and would never be the Fire Lord but we were still royalty and my father was also one of the best benders taking after the man he was named for.
I stop in the hall with the portraits wanting to catch a glimpse of the past Fire Lords that used to walk these halls. Fire Lord Ozai and Sozin still hang on the wall as a reminder of what our family should never return to. Even a picture of my great Aunt Azula hangs on the wall, her picture terrified me as a child and whenever I would follow my Grandfather down here I would hide behind his robes in fear of her striking eyes.
"What are you doing in here Princess Akira?" My grandfather's voice calls to me. I hadn't noticed he was standing in front of Uncle Iroh's portrait.
"Good Morning Grandfather." I say moving over to his still tall and strong frame. Although he's older now I still see the teenage boy from his stories, the one I wanted so desperately to take after. "I was just taking a detour before heading down to get one more training session in."
He nods his head and turns back to his Uncle's portrait. Both Uncle Iroh and my grandfather were men I looked up to. I always tried to follow in their ways, in spirit and bending. My Grandfather Zuko always standing by proudly whenever I mastered a skill, but always making sure the power that I had didn't go to my head. My father and Grandfather taught me the balance that a firebender needs to have, that firebending wasn't destruction but energy and life.
"Will you be accompanying your father in the Southern Water Tribe?" Grandfather Zuko asks turning away and nodding for me to follow him into the training area outside. "Master Katara will be there and I know how fond she is of you."
"It's too cold in the Southern Water Tribe." I say looking up at grandfather and smiling at him, studying the wrinkled scar that covers his amber eye. "Besides I like it here, its home." I continue, I honestly didn't want to leave grandfather even though he wouldn't be alone, his old age frightened me and I wanted so spend as much time as I could, gaining all the wisdom he would teach me.
"Akira" he begins and I furrow my eyebrows and open my ears because I knew he was going to tell me something important. "You aren't going to reach your full potential here in the protected walls of the palace."
"But Grandfather" I begin to protest what he's about to tell me.
"Listen Akira" He says cutting off my protests and silencing me. "You are my only granddaughter and I know that I should be telling you to marry and become a governor's wife like a good princess but I don't see that in your destiny."
I look up at him waiting for Grandfather Zuko to continue on about destiny, he knew most about it. "What do you see in my destiny?" I ask securing the top knot on my head since we would be arriving to training soon.
"What do you see?" I ask again starting to picture myself becoming someone great like him.
"I see you following in my footsteps in continuing the friendship of our family and the Avatar." My grandfather stops upon reaching the training area; my brothers, cousins, and their friends already filling the mats. "Look at me Akira" I break away from the people on the mats and meet the amber eyes of my grandfather.
"You cannot become great sitting around, the palace will bring nothing to you since you are the last grandchild in line for the throne. Get out of here, see the world and start your own story since you've heard all of mine. Learn from the mistakes of our ancestors and continue to bring peace into the world. I cannot tell you what your destiny will be; you need to figure that out on your own. "He shows a slight smile and pushes the loose bangs out of my face. "I'll be waiting here for your return home since I would love to hear someone else's adventures for a change."
I smile and bow low to Grandfather. He open his arms allowing me to hug him and then he pushes me towards the mat before turning to the chair on the side to watch us train.
…..
I laugh at my brother knocking him to the ground for the fifth this session. He growls and starts to throw fire angrily at me but I dodge each blow and knock him to the ground once more.
"Ugh" He growls and glares at me "How do you do that?" He asks after a few deep breaths through his nose.
"I take my time" I answer helping him up "I also do breathing exercises and listen to father and grandfather's tips. Something you lack of doing." I say turning to the targets to practice my aim.
I watch my large family practice and go over drills with my father. I was always last to be helped personally by my father, it used to anger me but now I'm used to it.
"Iroh" My grandfather calls from the side. I was surprised he was still watching us since we've been in the hot sun for almost three hours. "Come here."
My father nods and travels over to Grandfather. By the ways grandfather is standing and the way my father is looking down I can't help but feel as if my father is being scolded. My father nods and meets eyes with me, I turn away quickly ashamed for trying to eavesdrop on a conversation I was not a part of.
"Practice is over." My father says gruffly and he waves us all off. "Not you Akira." He says and I cower down because I feel as if I'm in trouble. My father waits for everyone to leave before turning on me. My grandfather makes it over to his side looking down to me with indifferent eyes.
"Your bending has strengthened Akira." My father begins and I can hear a hint of pride in his voice. "I can proudly say that out of your brothers, cousins, and friends you have mastered the art of firebending with ease and great skill in not only the physical but the mental."
I nod and continue to sit crisscross in front of my father and grandfather waiting to see where this conversation is going.
"You will be taught the last technique that I know." My father says looking at my grandfather for the right words. "You will be taught how to shoot and redirect lightening."
I gasp in shock because I had only see lightening bended one time in my life. A firebender who didn't agree with my grandfather's ways had attacked us. My father and Aunt were able to hold him back but it was my grandfather who ended the fight by redirecting the man's lightening into the sky. Even as a little girl I knew this power was strong and dangerous. I honestly wasn't ready to try this technique out.
"I'm not ready." I state meeting eyes with my father and then grandfather. The two were identical the only thing separating them was grandfathers grey hair, scar, and wrinkles.
"You are Akira" my grandfather answers "I can see it." He nods for me to stand and I do so reluctantly.
My father coaches me through each stance and breath. By the end of the two hours the only things I'm able to produce is a strong flame of fire. I slump onto the ground defeated and annoyed.
"Iroh" my grandfather's voice breaks my pitying moment "Let me work with Akira." My father nods and pats my head giving encouragement.
"Akira, you are like me." He says sitting crisscrossed on the mat next to me. "I too am unable to bend lightning but I am able to redirect as you saw when you were younger."
"How can I know if I can redirect it? It's not like Uncle and Father will shoot lightning bolts at me to practice with." I say snapping my figures to produce a small flame.
"You will be able to when the time comes, just trust in yourself." He answers me standing up slowly and patting my head once more.
I stand up too but I don't follow grandfather instead I practice every technique I've mastered. Remembering my grandfather's words about continuing the peace in the word, I would follow my father to the Southern Water Tribe and befriend Avatar Korra.
….
"What do you mean you're not going to the Southern Water Tribe?" I ask,my hopes of continuing in my grandfather's path going down the drain. "I wanted to go." I say looking desperately between my Father, Uncle, and Grandfather.
"You will go Princess Akira." My Aunt, the current Fire Lord, answers me trying to calm me down. "You just won't be going with your father; instead you will be going with Master Lin." She says nodding to the older man to his left.
"Why?" I ask looking at her and then my father because they weren't telling me everything.
"I need to handle things here Akira." My father answers still avoiding the whole truth.
"That doesn't explain anything to me." I say looking now at my grandfather hoping he will explain things to me.
"You do not need to worry yourself with our problems Akira. Now please leave here and pack your belongings for your trip in two days." My grandfather answers and I huff annoyance a small flame leaving my mouth.
"Akira." My father says scolding me for being disrespectful and showing firebending in the Fire Lords Chamber. "Apologize now."
I stand there weighing the pros and cons of leaving without being dismissed and apologizing but I decide against it and bow low to the three people in front of me. "My apologies Aunt Lu and Grandfather Zuko." I say not meeting their eyes until they allow me to.
"Your apology is accepted Niece Akira, now please follow what your grandfather has told you and leave now." I nod and turn on the balls of my feet to exit the chamber.
I walk down the many halls to my bedroom in the East wing. I pack all the warm clothes I own into my small bags. It wasn't much but I'm sure the Southern Water Tribe would have things I could wear. I sigh slumping onto my bed and pushing my three packed bags onto the floor. A big reason I wanted to travel with my father was to get more focused lessons with him, but now that wasn't an option.
A few hours pass before my mother comes and collects me for dinner. "What's the matter Akira?" She asks her blue eyes full of concern as she brushes my messy black hair out.
My mother was half Water Tribe but like her father was a firebender as well. She continues to brush out my hair as I look for my voice that is lost somewhere in my tears.
I explain to her what happened in the war room, letting her know I was ashamed for the way I acted.
"Don't you worry Akira" She says placing my hair into a topknot. "They know you meant nothing by that, your grandfather especially. You know he sees much of his spirit in you, that's why he's so keen on you becoming friends with the Avatar. You do know that was one of Avatar Aang's wishes before he died, that the Royal Family would continue that friendship."
"No" I answer wide eyed "I didn't."
"Well it's true." She says helping me to my feet "Grandfather knew you were special in the beginning. Being the only granddaughter made you very special to him; even Master Katara saw how important you were."
I smile lightly remembering the old water master's gentle ways. I nodded standing up, realizing that this was a part of my destiny but not the full thing, because if my grandfather believed that I was special then I wasn't going to fail him.
Let me know what you think! Please review!