He never found himself the poetic type, waxing about the wondrous beauties of the world with trite metaphors, but in the silence before the storm, he wanted to say that thunder rolled. The breeze picked up, and Zuko was always in awe of the softness before a loud thunderclap would shake the palace walls. He wasn't afraid, he told himself countless times that mother needed him to be brave so he could protect her. But the way the silence would envelope him, it was suffocating, and he found himself anticipating the breaking of the storm.

When the rain fell, it came in torrents, breaking against the windowpanes in staccato cracks. Zuko shivered as a wind drafted in through the window. He was a firebender, it was unacceptable that even the element of life could not shield him from nature itself. Lightning shot across the sky and his mind briefly wandered to the turtle-ducks in the pond. Were they afraid? Zuko could imagine the little turtle-ducks huddling around their mother, knowing that she would protect them. He missed his mother. It had been exactly one year since she disappeared. He still remembered her voice, smooth and soothing, always there to comfort him. Whenever he had no one left, his mother would always be there.

Clenching his jaw, he rose from where he lay in bed and removed a blank piece of paper from a drawer. A brush and inkpot lay scattered at the edge of his desk. Gently picking up the brush, he gathered up his sleeve so that it would not mar the still-wet ink.

Dear Mother,

Father has never stopped glaring at me since you left, and I dread dinnertime when Azula brags about her firebending training and her excellent grades at the Academy. She's good at everything! It's not fair! And she's crazy too! Sometimes I find her trying to set Ty Lee's hair on fire, and one time she even melted all of Mai's knives!

So far, Uncle Iroh has been the only one who's shown me any kindness. He invites me for tea with him and Lu Ten whenever they come back to the Fire Nation. His stories are crazy! Did you know that Uncle once fought a platypus bear by himself without using any bending? Lu Ten doesn't tell any stories though, he just laughs. I'm going to miss Uncle Iroh when he's gone next week.

I was training with Master Piandao today and he taught me how to use the zhanmadao and I perfected my jian skills! He says that if I keep training like this, I could be a master! Father doesn't really care though. I'm not a good enough firebender. Swords are for the weak. Father says that strength must come from the fire within us, not from the aid of other devices.

I miss you mother. It's lonely here without anyone to talk to. Nobody wants to anger father, so everyone just avoids me. I miss you. Please come back.

Love,

Zuko

He read over the letter once more, before bringing his hand up and a small flame flickered at his fingertips. He blew softly and the fire bent towards the paper. It caught, and Zuko watched as the white paper charred into black ash. The storm had ceased and only a damp breeze found it's way through the window. All that was left was silence.