Author's Note: New story! New story! New story! This is a story containing Zuko and my very own OC! Read and enjoy!
Chapter One: Age 10
They say before the dawn we will always face our darkest times. Six years of darkness wasn't what I had in mind. Six years ago, I a ten year old girl was taken by the Fire Nation soldiers. They took my brother first and then came back a year later for me. I was supposedly the Northern Tribes secret weapon against the Fire Nation. By the age of six I had already mastered waterbending and was bred purely to take out Firebenders, but they never said anything about having to fight off more than one.
Despite my jaw-dropping excellence in waterbending I was a child first and foremost. I cried when they put the shackles around my wrists and ankles. They were taking me away from everything I knew: my friends, my family, my nation. I sat in that dark, cold cell screaming for two days. I was so enraged and I hated myself for losing. I was trained never to lose.
Two Fire Navy men opened the dirty cell after a week of me residing there. Dragging me out onto the deck, I caught my first glimpse of it. The Royal City. That's when my true hatred began, not to mention it was drilled into my young mind that anything Fire Nation was evil. One of the men snapped me out of my admiration ( if I could even call it that) of the Fire Nation architecture by smacking me hard in the back of the head. They continued dragging me along to the center of the city where the Royal Palace stood.
As I was forced through the ornate corridors I heard whispers and received stares. I heard the words Fire Lord's Chamber and they continued to echo through my head. I tensed up just thinking about it.
At the end of the hall I saw the huge double doors inscribed with the Fire Nation insignia on it. The hallway was narrow and on either side of me were glass walls. I had a full view of the beauty that was the royal garden. Funny seeing something so beautiful in this ugly world.
I saw my reflection...I hadn't seen what I look like in awhile. Even at ten I prided my looks. My blond hair was matted and all over my head and my light brown eyes looked drained, as if someone took the life out of me. The doors at the end of the hall flung open, my heart stopped as I was shoved inside the dim room. I stood to my feet upon seeing the faint figure towering over me in a chair. I heard a patronizing laugh.
"This is it! This is the Water Tribes most powerful bender! A mere child!" the Fire Lord chuckled but nothing was funny too me at this point. I had lost everything! How dare he laugh! I stood straight looking back at him with scorn in his eyes. "Bow to me Peasant."
"No." I sternly stated
"Bow, NOW."
"I refused to bow. You are not even worthy of any kind of authority. How could you even call yourself a man?" I snapped, finally breaking. The flames surrounded the figure of the Fire Lord erupted around him. He was pissed and I was perfectly okay with that.
"You infidel! Obey or die!". I could hear my own heart beat against my chest. I knew I was scared but my pride wouldn't let me admit it to myself or him for that matter.
"I'd rather die than listen to you."
"Prepare to meet your doom." I winced, closing my eyes tight as I felt the heat from the fire coming near. So this how I'm going to die, in absolute vain.
Before I could endure the fire even touching my olive skin a voice came from behind me.
"Dad. Stop." the young prince came to my rescue. He was short with black hair and golden eyes like his father. Young Azula came in behind him baring the same resemblance to Ozai. She came in chuckling and skipping, what am odd pair.
"No Dad she deserves it for disrespecting you." Azula chimed
The Fire Lord grumbled in aggravation. "Since my son has seemed to take an interest in your life I will spar you, but not without punishment. You will be Azula's playmate."
I cranned my neck back to take a look at the girl. She gave me back a mischievious smirk. We weren't going to get along. I scanned my eyes to right and look and the prince he looked relieved, as if he were hoping his father would change his mind. I smiled at him, mouthing the word thank you. I owed the boy my life.
"Dismissed. Get your new toy out of my prescence Azula!" Ozai yelled with raged filled in his tone.
Reduced to being a servant girl and scrubbing the floors of the palace like some kind of slime, while still being the play mate of a devil child took a lot out of me. It would break any other person, especially a young child, but I reminded myself never to forget where I came from.
Still something inside of me wanted to thank Prince Zuko formally. He was one to keep to himself and never participated in Azula's games ( I don't blame him.). He spent most his time with his mother in the royal garden feeding the coy fish. I became curious about this boy named Zuko more and more throughout the days. He saved my life afterall.
"Crystal! Come and place this apple on top of your head!" Azula's annoying voice broke through my only minute time to myself. I siged and dragged my feet over to the grassy field.
Author's Note: So how'd you like? Should I continue?! Comment!