Why, hello there, reader who stumbled upon and/ or hunted down this fic. My name is Chloe Knightshade. Why do I feel like announcing this when my pen-name's at the top? *shrugs*. Anyway, thanks for lookin at this. This Avatar story is going to be ZukoXOC. I would like to say that I am not killing off Mai. I don't hate Mai. I think that as a character, she's very nice, well constructed. BUT, Mai has very little emotion (which I know is sort of her point, but…), and I dunno… I never really liked her with Zuko. And so my little idea began. NOTE: this will not be a fic that destroys Mai! I LIKE her! On another note, I wanted them all to go to the same school, that way they can all meet. Yes, I am fully aware that Mai, Ty Lee, and Azula all went to the Royal Fire Academy for GIRLS. I'm changing that in my story. Their school will be co-ed, and Zuko will go there as well. And since they didn't elaborate much in the episode where Aang goes to a Fire Nation school, I'm pretty much making quite a bit of that up. Basically, this is what you need to know: 1. Mai, Ty Lee, and my character Xia are all the same age, seven, which is what I'm making the first year of formal Fire Nation education. I know Ty Lee is a year younger than Mai in the series, but I needed them all in the same grade, and I couldn't think of any reason why Ty Lee would be allowed to skip a class and enter early (no offense, but she isn't the brightest cookie in the box). 2. Zuko is one year older than the other girls (eight), making him in his second year. Azula will be six, let into the school early because of her prodigy at bending, her familial status, and she's pretty smart. SO lemme recap: Xia, Mai, Ty Lee: seven. Zuko: Eight. Azula: six, but in class of seven. 3. All classes are taught in the same room. This is a very elite school, about fifty or so kids go there. Each age is given its own separate work of different levels. … OH! And this will be in third person, unless it bugs me too much. I'm pretty used to writing in 1 And now that I have finished my first (and I'm sorry, but VERY long) Author's Post, the tale shall begin. Disclaimer: me no own Avatar =( But me wishes me did.
"Sister Linn, do I have to?" the seven year old pouted as an elderly priestess attempted to style the squirming girl's hair.
"Once again Xia, you must." Linn replied, trying to intricately braid her hair, but sighing as she fidgeted again. "Stop moving, you'll wrinkle your nice uniform." Her patient fingers wound her hair into a simple long braid.
Xia made a face. "But I don't wanna go back to school. I don't like it."
"It's only your second day, I'm sure it won't be that bad."
"The other kids made fun of me." Xia grumbled, still looking grumpy as Linn stood her up and handed her the uniform's black shoes. She fumbled with them and continued. "They say my hair's funny and that I'm a temple kid."
"There's nothing wrong with being raised at a temple." Linn assisted her with her shoes. "I was myself. And your hair's unique. Very pretty."
"I know there's nothing wrong with it, they're just mean." Xia stood up. "I don't like them either."
Linn stared back into the girl's golden eyes. "Don't worry. Once they get to know you, you'll make friends."
"That or they'll pull my braid again." Xia mumbled, but pecked Linn on the cheek and began walking quickly toward the school. She didn't want to get in trouble for being late.
___________-__-__-___---_________-___________________________________
"Do I have to?" Zuko asked his mother as she handed a servant his uniform to begin dressing him.
Lady Ursa nodded. "Of course. School is a great opportunity for you. And your father requires it."
"But the other kids still stare at me funny." Zuko complained, ducking his head through his shirt.
"The other kids aren't the Fire Lord's grandson." Lady Ursa countered with a slight smile. "Give it time, and you'll learn to enjoy school. You liked it last year."
Zuko snorted as his hair was wound back into a topknot. "It's boring."
"And Azula's there with you," Lady Ursa continued, ignoring his comment, "You should be thankful she was allowed to attend a year early."
Zuko grumbled as he picked up a leather book and walked outside to the carrier where Azula was already sitting primly. The servants hoisted them up rather easily and began walking toward the school.
When they arrived, Azula lowed herself out quickly and calmly walked into the room. Zuko followed sulkily, pausing while the other students bowed to them before sitting down themselves.
Xia was in the seat across the aisle from him, and a couple of students were staring at her, the others staring at Zuko and Azula. She smiled at them with a hint of sarcasm, and lowered her head to examine her scrolls. The priestesses had already taught her how to read, so she was glad that she at least knew what was going on.
"Come to order class." the teacher called out sharply after they had recited the Fire Nation's credo. "Stand when I address your name for role call." He held up a scroll and made his way down the list. "Xia." She reluctantly stood, greeted once again by an outburst of whispers before she sat down again with a sigh. She heard someone mutter 'temple brat'. Xia grit her teeth. This was going to be a long day.
_________-____________________---____________---_____________________At recess, the students stood mostly in pairs or in groups, talking quietly. Off in the corner, Azula had already formed a pack that consisted of her, a thin girl with a brown braid who had stood up to the name of Ty Lee, and a bored looking little girl with dark black hair called Mai. Ty Lee was in a handstand, Mai was leaning against the wall, and Azula was playing with a red flame in her cupped hands.
"You're not supposed to bend at school without permission." Zuko informed her from where he was sitting.
"You're just jealous." Azula smirked slightly, but extinguished the flame.
"Am not." Zuko muttered.
"What do they expect us to do then?" Azula sighed, looking around with distaste. Zuko shrugged, looking at the ground. He was getting tired of being stared at.
"Oh, look." Mai said flatly, speaking for the first time that day. "A fight." They all glanced up and looked over to where a small girl was sitting alone, looking up at the sky with an air of boredom. Zuko recognized her as one of the girls from Azula's class. She was sort of hard to forget. She had a braid of reddish gold curls, very unusual. He'd never heard of any nation with a tendency to have hair with such a color. A large third year had approached her, wearing a sneer. He was by first year standards, completely massive. He was followed by a pack of other boys who were grinning as well.
He walked over and tugged on her braid. "Where'd you get hair like that, temple brat?"
"Leave me alone." Zuko heard the girl say firmly, barely even glancing at the bully.
"Oh, so she's a brave charity case." he chortled.
"Yeah, and you're a stupid basket case." was the wry reply. Zuko found himself smiling slightly.
"You gonna let her talk to you like that, Lao?" one of the other boys taunted him.
"No." Lao replied quickly, glaring down at the girl. "Apologize to me know, temple brat." She ignored him, concentrating intently on the sky instead. He tugged her braid again, harder.
"I said, apologize." Lao repeated, his face turning red either from anger or embarrassment. He pulled her braid roughly backwards, nearly tipping her over. She whipped around, her whole arm suddenly igniting with white and gold flames. Lao backed away, flinging himself out of the way as a jet of flames spiraled toward he'd been standing. He scrambled up and ran off, his friends sprinting after them.
He turned around and shouted at her from a safe distance, "Freak!"
The girl turned back to look at her arm where the fire had once been, rotating her wrist and not seeing any burn marks.
"Wow." Zuko muttered. "She'd good." he turned away to talk to Azula, but she wasn't standing there anymore.
_____--________-_________--______________-___________--_____________ "
Xia glanced up from examining her forearm. She immediately recognized her as Princess Azula, the Fire Lord's granddaughter. Everybody knew what the Royal family looked like. "Xia." she replied simply.
"That was quite impressive." Azula said casually, sitting down on the ground beside her. "How long have you known that you're a bender?"
"Um… for about half a minute, actually." Xia said truthfully, still slightly confused.
Azula smiled slightly. "Once again, impressive." She paused for a moment, surveying her. "You don't have to sit alone you know… how about you eat lunch with us?" Azula arched one of her eyebrows.
"Are you sure you wouldn't mind sitting with the freaky temple kid?" Xia asked, raising an eyebrow as well.
Azula smiled almost genuinely. "I'll risk it." She stood, grabbing Xia's hand and helped her up before walking her back to the corner. "Everyone, this is Xia. That's Mai, Ty Lee, and my older brother, Zuko."
Xia nodded, bowing her head at Zuko slightly. He was smiling at her kindly.
"Zuko's in his second class and the rest of us are in yours, but I'm a year younger. And you don't have to bow at him, he's just Zuko." Azula said with a hint of pride at being there already, though six. Zuko rolled his eyes.
"Hi, then." Xia grinned at him._________--________________--__________________--____________________
"Got you!" Xia shouted, springing onto his back from no where.
"Darn it." Zuko muttered from underneath her, his face against the dirt. "You were guarding the base." he accused her.
"Was not." she smirked, still sitting on top of him. "I just let you get this close before taking you down." her eyes were a bright green instead of their original gold. For a while though, in the winter, they'd been blue. When asked her why she'd merely shrugged and told him they tended to do that. He never really questioned it.
"Can you get off of me?" Zuko grumbled, pretending to be angry even though his smile gave it away. School had just finished, and had been playing assassins next to the trees.
"Maybe. It'd probably help if you begged." Xia replied with a mischievous grin. Somewhere along the year, they'd become best friends. It was sort of an understood thing, never really said out loud, it was just acknowledged. It seemed to make sense. She was one of Azula's friends as well, so Zuko saw her everyday and at one point they'd joined in camaraderie of a sort. And when they were together, they sort of forgot how people stared at them- which was becoming less frequent anyway.
"I'm not begging!" Zuko protested.
"Then, no."
"Hello Xia… why on earth are you sitting on Zuko's back?" they both looked up to see Azula, who was followed by Ty Lee and Mai. Zuko started blushing ever so slightly.
"I pinned him." Xia shrugged calmly as she stood up and brushed off her uniform. Zuko quickly stood as well, his hand rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly like he did whenever he got nervous. Xia smirked at him slightly.
"So you won again." Azula grinned slightly.
"Mhmm." she beamed. Zuko shouldered her lightly, and she shouldered him back. "But he nearly got away this time." she teased.
"Yeah, before you sat on me!" Zuko retorted.
"Either way, Zuzu, you ended up with dirt on your nose." Azula snickered. Zuko rubbed his nose, glancing quickly at Mai.
"I feel like going someplace." Xia announced, looking bored.
"Really? Where?" Ty Lee asked excitedly, her eyes widening.
"Just around." Xia answered vaguely. "Like the docks and the market, I guess."
"We're not supposed to go without an escort…" Ty Lee began, but Azula cut her off.
"That would be the fun of it." she grinned. "I'll come."
Ty Lee thought for a moment, and then beamed. "Okay!"
The girls all looked at Mai, who eventually shrugged and nodded, before turning to Zuko with expectant faces. He sighed. "Fine. But how do you plan on getting past the guards? Azula and I are supposed to be going home."
"I walk to school. I know every back alley and short cut in and out of this place." Xia said briskly.
"This is the most secure school in the Fire Nation. There's no way you can sneak us out." Zuko crossed his arms.
"Oh, you underestimate me." Xia grinned. She looked around for a moment. "Okay, follow me." She began walking casually across the yard before ducking behind a pillar and standing with a grin in front of a statue of Fire Lord Sozin.
"Well, this is nice…" Ty Lee said in an unsure voice.
Xia rolled her eyes and walked to the back of it, pulling herself up onto the platform and climbing around to the side of him that was facing a wall. "Back here- there's an evacuation tunnel. It comes out at the beaches near the town." She went down a flight of stairs. "Well, come on."
Azula followed first, an impish grin on her face. Zuko climbed up after her. "How did you find this place?"
"Oh, so now you don't doubt me." Xia called over her shoulder, not really answering his question.
They walked for only a short while before he stepped out on the rocky beach cliffs, blinking a couple of times as his eyes adjusted.
____________-___________________________-_________________-________
"How many times have you been here?" Azula asked Xia when they were in the busy market place.
"I'm not sure. Quite a few times."
"Alone?"
"Mostly." Xia nodded. Azula looked slightly jealous, probably about the freedom she had. But it didn't last long.
"Ty Lee, you're going to dislocate your jaw if you smile any harder." Azula informed her dryly.
"It's so nice out here!" Ty Lee said brightly, ignoring the jab. "Oh! Necklaces!" She was suddenly over at a booth. Mai walked over quietly beside her, not really looking at the jewelry, but at the case of daggers next to them.
Xia cocked her head at Ty Lee. "It sometimes amazes me how short her attention-span is." she commented.
"What attention span?" Azula giggled quietly.
"Stack up those boxes carefully!" a storekeeper shouted at a couple of laborers carrying a large box on top of the store's roof. "It's coming straight from your salary if you so much as dent the crate so that a single grain of rice comes through!"
"Lay off, it must way as much as an Elephant Koi." one of them grumbled back, so agitated that he lost his footing on the roof and slipped. There was a loud skidding noise as the box tumbled and slid down the roof, right above the spot where Zuko, Azula, and Xia were standing.
Zuko immediately tensed and turned to run as Azula rolled neatly out of the way. He sprinted over to Azula's side and turned to see Xia still standing in the same spot, her eyes slightly unfocussed and hazy. His eyes widened. "Xia, MOVE!" he shouted.
Her head snapped up to where the box was speeding downward, now off of the roof and falling in the air. Her muscles in her legs tensed and she instinctively flung herself into a back flip, one foot outstretched and the other tucked. Her outstretched leg whipped upward at the crate and a large gust of air seemed to come up with it, slamming into the box and sending it flying past her. Xia landed and spun, staring at the soaring box. It halted in midair and landed with a light thud on another roof.
Xia stood shakily, and for once, the whole marketplace went completely silent. And once again, everyone was staring at her.
********************stupidlines***************************************
Xia sat on the bed, swinging her feet back and forth in the air. A couple of guards had escorted her after a moment to the Royal Palace, locking her in one of the hundreds of rooms. She guessed they didn't really know what to do with her.
The door creaked open and she kept staring at the wall. Zuko came in and sat down in a chair across from her. They both remained silent for a while.
"My grandfather and his counsel are trying to figure out what you did today." he said quietly. When she was still silent, he decided to elaborate. "You did airbending."
"Yeah, I got that." Xia flopped down on the bed, looking at the ceiling.
Zuko sighed. "I guess you're the Avatar."
She looked up at him and rolled her eyes. "Do I look like a hundred year old monk to you?"
"Well, no… But how do you explain something like that? You can firebend, really well too. So you're not just an air nomad."
"And I'm still not a monk."
"And there's that."
Then they were silent, both thinking.
====================sorry==========================
"I asked only for the priestess in charge of the girl to come, your presence is not necessary." Fire Lord Azulon said to a woman in a golden robe.
"I apologize for coming when not summoned, Fire Lord, but I felt my being here was necessary." the woman replied firmly.
"Very well. Enlighten me about the child then." Fire Lord Azulon sighed.
"Xia was not cast upon our doorstep as an infant as we've always told her." the woman began. "Xia's mother was a minor priestess who served along us in the temple. As you know we've all sworn to remain maidens in our service. However, her mother became pregnant, and died in child birth. If the truth of her birth had been discovered, we would have been shamed. The decision of casting out the babe was given to me."
"And you kept her." Fire Lord Azulon said in a slightly bored tone. "Out of the goodness of your heart."
"No." the woman retorted. "As High Priestess I know where my duties lie. Such a child would dishonor the Temple of the Sun Spirit forever. I was prepared to cast her out."
"But…" the Fire Lord began.
"But," she continued, ignoring him, "I noticed the babe's odd hair color, which you must have been informed about by now. And later I noticed her eye color cycles perfectly with the seasons." He nodded and she continued. "And upon examination, I noticed she has a scar the shape of a sun on the back of her neck. Newborn babies do not have scars without injury. It was a mark."
"Of?"
"Of her parentage." the High Priestess answered.
"Are you saying…?"
"That is what I believe. I have never told a soul why I kept her. Sometimes I have doubted it. But she has shown such innate skill at firebending… and at such a very young age… I believe she is a daughter of the Sun Spirit."
"But the airbending? How do you explain that?"
"The sun is the start of energy." the High Priestess began. "Through it life is given, without it, all would die. Recent ideas have shown that the sun has more affect than just bringing that life. Air. Air is dominated mostly by the category of wind, which is caused by the heating and cooling of air currents. That heating is caused by the sun."
"So you're saying the child can bend air?" Azulon sat forward in his chair with interest.
"More accurately, she can bend wind, but basically, yes. And I believe she can do more. Water is affected by the sun. Evaporation, its continuing cycles, all driven by the sun. Earth, earth is affected by the other elements. By having the ability of the others she may have the ability to bend it as well. Granted, it wouldn't be as strong as normal earthbending…"
"So she has the ability of an Avatar." Fire Lord Azulon stated with a smile forming.
"Not as powerful, but yes. I believe she might."
The Fire Lord thought for a moment. "She'll be raised in the palace from now on. My youngest son has children of her age. I have heard they are already friends… We want her to be close to us, to our Nation. That way we can be certain that we have her loyalty and her talents."
"So they will adopt her?" the High Priestess asked.
"No. Not quite. When she is of age certain assurances may have to be made…"
The High Priestess nodded in understanding and was dismissed.
Fire Lord Azulon brought in his son Ozai and told him of the greatest alliance in the history of the Fire Nation.
So… like it? Hate it? I promise it'll get better and funnier as it goes on! DON'T HATE IT! =D But seriously, review and tell me how you feel. And sorry about the lines, my computer and I have a communication problem. oh, and this is not supposed to be spiritual in anyway. My Sun Spirit is not real, blahblahblah. I hope that it's pretty obvious. I just thought that since there were moon and ocean spirits in the show, hey! There should be a sun one! What if he had a daughter? WAIT?! Sun affects all elements in some way… OH! ZUKO! So! Review, and don't lecture me about the minor differences from the series please. Don't tell me I stink cause I don't like Maiko. Don't tell me they shouldn't know about air currents and evaporation and weathering. They're just smart. And don't flame me too hard. Constructive criticism is always appreciated, compliments are always loved. PLEASE! But just in case…
*Grabs Zuko and Xia and places them in front of me* Do your bending stuff and fend of the bashers' flames, kiddies. Zuko: You do know that right now we're eight and seven and have basically no training, right?
Me: Good Point… *picks up Zuko and replaces him with Azula* Go nuts. I love Azula! Yes, she's evil, cunning, heatless, is mean to Zuko, is power crazed, and eventually becomes a mental patient, but besides that, she's AWESOME! I mean, really? Her fire's BLUE! =D squee! ~Chloe Knightshade