Edited (6/05/2017)
Prologue
In the second year of the lotus era the fire oracle spoke:
O prince of fire hear the moon spirit cry for her loss,
A water maiden fair gone missing from her shores.
O princess of water consumed by the heat,
Hear the cry from the sun in this strange land.
O prince of fire the moon searches for her revenge,
O princess of water don't surrender to the sun.
The battle of sun and moon is old as the world itself,
How I ask you, can the young once understand?
War is upon them in a blink of the eye,
But worry not my young once!
Fire and water, lighting and ice.
Their difference will be their strength.
Listen well my young once,
One day peace will return.
The moon tears dry,
The sun screams die.
When blue flames rule the throne of fire,
When orange ice melts the snow.
There will be peace like never before!
Look for these signs my young once!
And never give up hope!
The sun stood high in the early morning sky. Its warm golden rays gently touched the roofs of the houses in the city bellow. Despite the early hour the temperature had already gone up to an almost tropical heat. Seemingly unbothered by the warmth citizens rushed through the narrow streets. Unaware of the black haired youth watching them.
Standing on his balcony the golden eyed prince of the fire nation studied his people as they made their way through the maze of allies and roads that formed the capital of the fire nation. From his high position he could easily overlook the upper ring of the city without being seen by the people bellow.
His gaze lazily drifts over the awakening city till a group of playing children catch his eye. He smiles as he watches them chase each other around. None off the kids know about the importance of today. And if they do it doesn't seem to trouble them in any way. All that matters is their little game, in their own little world. Somehow this makes him jealous. He wishes to go back to the innocence of a child. The worry free days of an endless summer. He remembers these days vaguely as a beautiful dream that is slowly fading from his mind. The memories are like sand, the tighter he tries to hold them, the faster they slip through his fingers and fade into the reality of today. The reality of adult life.
The smile on his face changes into a frown. The scenery of the playing children, that first seemed so peaceful, now leaves him uncomfortable. No longer desiring to watch the children he adverts his gaze to the market place in an attempt to distract himself from his thoughts once again. Wasn't that what he came to watch for in the first place?
His eyes drift to the marketplace in the middle of the upper ring, searching for something or someone to keep his thoughts busy. For a moment he succeeds when his gaze falls on a short brown haired women with dark skin. The brunette strides over the market place with determinant steps. Her amber coloured eyes are locked on her target: a market stall selling a variety of vegetables. To him she looks like a warrior ready for war.
A war fought to feed her family. A battle for cheap dragon fruits.
This thought makes him chuckle lightly as images of the slender girl in armor fill his mind. She would make a hell of a soldier. His lips curl into a smile. I wouldn't mind serving under her. He smirks when his mind is filled with images of a whole different kind of battle.
His eyes search for the petite woman again. By now she reached her destination. The raven haired prince watches as she approaches the merchant. He holds his breath when the girl makes her move, rooting for her in silence. The woman's strike is fast and efficient. The poor earth kingdom merchant is no match for his fierce opponent.
The ebony skinned prince inwardly cheers for the mysterious woman's victory. He is proud how she stood her ground. I wish I could stand up for myself for once. The thought strikes him as lightning. His smile turns into a frown. He shakes his dark head in an attempt to stop the thoughts from coming. But it's like a dam has broken and the thoughts enter his mind with the force of a crashing waterfall.
Why am I such a weakling? Why can't I make my father proud? Why am I such a dishonour to my family? Pale hands grip the rail of the balcony in a search for support. His amber eyes are clenched shut.
He stands like this for what feels like hours. The answers to his questions never come. Finally the prince regains the little bit of self-control there is left. Golden eyes open to be met with a flash of red.
He stumbles backwards in shock when the red banners made for his birthday meet his gaze. Despite the heat of the morning his blood runs cold. Sweat starts to form at his hairline and his heart beat fills his ears.
Before the fire benders mind registers it his feed are moving. He flees into the cover of his bedroom. He runs like the coward he is always made out to be.
By the time he reaches his bed he is panting uncontrollably.
The pale dark haired concubine in his king size bed turns around in the maroon coloured sheets. For a moment he is afraid that his loud entry has woken her up. But instead of opening her eyes she sighs happily. ´Zuko´ she mumbles content before turning over once more. His whole body goes stiff in an instant. He wonders if she knows what today will bring.
Her peaceful dark face tells him she doesn´t.
Softly he reaches out to cares her porcelain cheek. The heavy reality of today is forgotten for a moment. A smile tugs on the corners of his mouth.
He loves this woman. He always had, always will. But live is cruel they cannot be. He is destined for someone else. All their happiness will end tonight. The sacrifices he has to make to become a man. The sacrifices I have to make to please my father. He thinks grimly.
Tonight at the party he will become a man. Tonight his quest to bring honour too his family, his country and his people will begin. Tonight he will impress his father and sister. Tonight he will lose the person he loves most.
I want her to know how much I care. But the dark haired youth has never been good with words. So when his love opens her eyes, he does the one thing that comes natural to him and makes love to her, all morning long.