A/N: This is my first story. I appreciate constructive criticism. I have read quite a few of these so I get the gist. Well here it is, my take on an Avatar: the last Air bender AU.
He had finally done it. His father was dead and the throne was his at last. Nobody could stop him now, with the comet returning after almost one hundred years he could finally finish the dream his grandfather had started. First he needed to clean up some loose ends his father had been incapable of handling. Or perhaps he had left them there to test his successor. It didn't matter though. Right now he had to take care of his biggest issue, one of the Fire Nations highest nobles was a traitor. His first act as Firelord, Ozai would make it a point that treachery would be dealt with swiftly and justly.
A man in his late forties perhaps, his wife and two young children no older than ten, were brought to him in shackles by armed guards in the dead of night. They were all still wearing their decadent robes after being roused from sleep. The father, a high ranking nobleman, was the first to speak. "Ozai, what is the meaning of this!" The expression on his face grew cold. He knew that disrespecting Ozai, now Firelord, was probably a death sentence for his whole family. "Qin, you very well know the meaning of this meeting. Or perhaps you think I am stupid enough to believe that you had no idea what was going on with your own funds." Ozai replied, a malicious glow on his expressionless face. "My lord" Qin replied "I can explain" he stuttered "You see..." "The fact that you can explain only proves your treachery more!" Ozai was furious. No, furious does not even begin to describe this feeling. "Take them back to their cells. They are to be publicly executed tomorrow, the world will learn to fear to fear me." The weight of these words was disrupted by the emotionless tone of the smallest child who, until now, had been completely silent.
"Firelord Ozai, I request a private audience with you." The child coolly announced. The entire room was dead silent. Qin sat there eyeing his youngest son with the oddest expressions flashing across his face. "Very well child." Ozai gestured to have the rest of the terrified family from the throne room, glowing only by the light of the magnificent flames that usually cloaked the shadowed form of the Firelord.
After it was clear that the rest of the family was gone, the child spoke, ever so calmly, as if speaking to a close friend and not the head of his country. "My name is Kai, I am the youngest son of former admiral Qin." Ozai was impressed, the child knew standard protocol for identifying oneself to the royal family, perhaps Qin had enough civility towards the Fire Nation to teach his children this much. "I have and always will be loyal to the Fire Nation and the Firelord, I had no involvement in my families treachery to the crown and I am willing to prove it to you tonight. Anything you want done will be done to prove my loyalty." Ozai was very impressed and was going to see just how far this child would go to prove his loyalty. "Very well young Kai." Ozai was smirking at the idea of the task he was about to impose on this child. Calmly he reached into his robe and drew the dagger. It was small, perhaps only five or six inches in length. Handing it to the child he simply told him "This dagger is yours for the night, do with it what you will and perhaps when you return it your life will be spared." The child took it without a moments hesitation and, looking the Firelord directly in the eyes, gave a nod. It was a small nod, it could easily have been missed but it wasnt and the messsage it gave was clear. Ozai knew when that child returned, he would spare his life. For he was about to declare his true loyalty to the Fire Nation.
It was several hours later that the hooded figure emerged from the shadows of the hallway. As he neared the throne Ozai could smell the bitter sting of fresh spilled blood. As the light flicker of the flames danced onto the face of the guest. They were not alone, the shape of a young girl, perhaps eight or nine was also there. Dressed in her pajamas and washed over with the look of tiredness. She had been awoken by a young servant who told her that he father wanted to see her. As the hooded figure emerged, the dagger held tightly in his blood soaked hand, he spoke only several words. "Thy will be done." Ozai, a bit surprised to see the figure back so soon, greeted him as a member of the royal family. He had earned the right and would now be staying in the palace, in the room directly across from Princess Azulas. The young girl now eyeing him a bit coldy, he had been greeted by a servant who took him to get washed up and into bed before a long day training with the now Fire Nation Princess.
Neither of the two young children really knew why Kai was being allowed to stay in the palace and live amongst royalty, but neither dared to question the Firelords decision. Kai didnt mind it, it really wasn't that different from the life he had previoulsy known. Servants to dress and tie up his hair, chefs to prepare whatever food he desired and fire bending training politics and history classes. He was given a private tutor for said subjects with Azula. In fact, they spent most of their day together. He had found himself being friends with her friends Mai and Ty Lee. He liked Azula the best though. She was always in step with him. They were equals no matter what they did. Even in fire bending, which Azula prided herself in being the best at, was a stale mate. She found it more interesting than always training by herself. Mai was his second choice. She rarely spoke and when she did it was always something worth saying. Ty Lee was his second least favorite. She was always jumping around and hugging and kissing him. She was always weird like that. It didnt matter who you were, Ty Lee could find a reason to hug you. And then there was Zuko. The Eldest son of the Firelord. He was a poor bender, he lacked any real skill other than his compassion, which was viewed as a weakness in the eyes of the Firelord.
The years passed rather uneventfully, other than Ozai calling on Kai's inablility to feel regret for killing people. Whenever someone was deemed a traitor the Firelord called upon Kai and tasked him with the job of putting an end to them. It was amazing really. He could kill any one he wanted and never have the slightest hesitation in doing so.
By the age of twelve, Kai had been sent on more than enough "errands" and was becoming quite skilled at bending. One of his greatest moments was spent with the Princess.
It was late. The sun would be rising in a matter of hours and the bustling Capitol city would awake with it. The Princess was asleep in her chamber when the door began to creep open so as not to make a sound. He snuck in very quietly under the cover of night. As he approached her he reconsidered. She was a very powerful bender and waking her in the middle of the night dressed in all black was a very bad idea but the anticipation was killing him. He reached over very slowly and tapped her shoulder with this wrist. She was at his throat before he could even breath. "Who are you and why were you trying to snap my neck!" He can barely breath with her hand crushing his wind pipe. Very roughly he responds. "Azula. Its Kai." She drops him very weerily as he pulls off his mask revealing the ever emotionless face that is Kai's. "What were you thinking. Sneaking in here at night dressed in all black. I was going to kill you!"