This is part of the Secret Santa over at the AtLA Fanfiction Challenges forum. Merry Christmas Lee (siempie78)!
Azula sits on the Throne of Fire, lighting the room up orange with her fire. She exerts her will and the flames flicker blue, casting alien shadows in the room. Her throne, her power, her nation. She had such ideas for her country, her people. She had passed over two princes to get to this throne, such is the way of succession.
Perhaps she will let Zuko live, keep him around as a reminder to her enemies. Make him grovel and beg for her favor. She will have him sit at her feet like the most loyal mongoose-hound. Yes, all of those idiotic nobles will take notice. The Fire Nation will be better, stronger, culturally superior to all the other nations and she will use her words to convince the Water Tribe savages and the Earth Kingdom peasants.
"Azula!" Zuko tugs on her robe, his face pleading.
"What is it?" she looks down upon him in anger, how dare he interrupt her thoughts.
"It is my turn now, Azula. Let me sit on the throne for once," he whines, jutting his lower lip out further.
The pretend Fire Lord swings her feet, she was still years from being able to touch the ground. "Who was the one that found the servants entrance?"
"You did."
She smooths the wrinkles out of her nightgown. "And who was the one that made sure it was safe?"
"You did, Azula."
She casts her gaze around the blue lit throne room for a moment, then the ten-year-old princess hopped down from the throne to give her brother a seat. As soon as she set foot on the steps, she lets all the flames snuff out, plunging the room into darkness.
"Hey! What did you do that for?" Zuko trips up the steps.
"You're the Fire Lord now, light it up yourself!"
The room flickers orange as Zuko lit half the room in a weak flame. The fire curtains were a simple task for a master bender, but Zuko's bending has always been behind hers. She turns one last time to see Zuko sitting awkwardly on the throne, still struggling to get the full flame curtain lit.
An idea pops into her head and she slips out of the throne room, and purposely bumped into one of the palace guards. "Zuko is playing in the throne room. I tried to stop him, but he won't get off the throne! The throne is sacred!"
"Yes Princess," the guard snapped to attention and gestured two others to enter the throne room while Azula went to bed.
"Now Father won't let him attend the war meeting in the morning. Serves him right for rushing me."
She smiles as she falls asleep, Zuko will fall further out of favor and she will pass him over. The throne will be hers.