Chapter 1 : Scars of your Spirit
A Fire lord's family has, for generations, bared a mark to prove their identity. This mark though seemingly just another tattoo is very special, not a entity in the world, spirit nor human is able to copy it, if attempted those who tried will be forever unable to bend. Sadly, citizens who were full of greed and ignorance believed that they, who are not benders, would be completely protected from this. One thing they didn't know though is that even those whom don't bare the gift of bending still have the energy used to bend, if this energy is taken from those who, unlike benders, are incapable of regenerating that energy will lose something far worse, their lives.
Even for those who attempt and have their lives intact the tattoo is not copied correctly; it is deformed and looks much like a scar given by a spirit.
As for how spirits are affected is much the same as benders for spirits use energy of one of the four elements (Earth, Water, Air and Fire) to fight and defend themselves, just as benders their energy to fight or "bend" is taken away if they attempt such as this.
One of the greatest mysteries of the two worlds (spirit and human) is how exactly this mark came to be, and another how this mark will ever be removed.
Even after exile the mark still stands and though only one had tried it, it is said to be impossible to remove the brand of the lord's family.
"You're a disgrace to this family!" The fire lord bellowed at the trembling boy in front of him, "Never should a noble far less a prince be so weak! Until you are able to make a flame at least near the level Azula was able to make when she was a 5 year old I will never even consider letting you out." With that the man stormed out the room, steam rising from his clenched fists.
Shocked still the boy let out a heart breaking wail and collapsed to the floor in a heap of tears, burned from an Agni kai that took place less than an hour before and broken from the reprimanding he was forced to endure mere minutes ago.
The boy, Zuko, had spoken out in a meeting that his teacher had allowed him to join, the Fire lord decided that, rather than having an Agni kai with the teacher he disrespected, he should have to face the Fire lord himself.
Usually a boy of 10 shouldn't be of legal age to fight in an Agni kai; sadly the fire lord could make an exception and permit this action. As for why he took the place of his teacher it was merely a way to threaten Zuko, if it had been any other soul they wouldn't have paid as much as Zuko did.
That fact though was unknown as it is believed that there is no prince only a princess, the only ones that knew of who he truly is are family members the rest think that he is a stupid and stubborn orphan.
The Fire lord had deeply scarred prince Zuko, not only with the physical one he place across the teenager's left eye but also the scar he had left in his spirit.
Being scarred in your spirit is very dangerous; spirits are constantly looking for a chance to connect with a human (why is unknown) and the people spirits can do that with the best are the one that they can heal and connect to mentally. By healing a human they gain a bond of friendship that only one such as the avatar could ever achieve with them.
How the people they connect to get effected, though, depends on how strong a will they carry, most don't survive the action because they weren't strong enough to carry multiple energies in their being.
Every spirit carries at least two different energies and usually attach to those with similar ones, just as every spirit has at least two energies every scarred soul can bond with at least one spirit. Though many spirits can bond with one person they commonly don't because multiple energies can easily fry a person.
Zuko at only ten years old is likely prey for a lonely spirit looking for a companion of some kind, whether it is a friend or an apprentice or some will even look for a son to raise as their own. Broken as Zuko is he won't be able to fight if a vengeful spirit comes to take him over in a weakened state, if one did no one would notice until it was far too late.
Zuko, however, doesn't know that anything could happen to him, he isn't even aware that his spirit is scarred. If he did know though it would make little difference because he wouldn't care, he's far too exhausted and hurt to even dare thinking of something like that.
Finally Zuko let his tiredness wash over him and drag him into a deep sleep that unknown to him will change everything.
That night Zuko was found by a sprit, not just any spirit but a golden dragon spirit, children's stories often tell the tale of this magnificent creature,
"When a fire lord is born they are gifted with a dragon partner that watch over them but when a dragon child is born in the fire lord's line it is said that a golden dragon place a gift upon them.
Gifted with the golden eyes of the royal blood and fierce and unbreakable claws of a pure blood dragon (similar to the royal line, they are the top commanders) the child is destined to change the world forever and reveal ancient power that only they hold. "
The destined partner of a pure blood dragon is able to transform into a dragon themselves, connected by a bond of family and friendship they have an incredible will and determination.
Usually a child is allowed to stay with their parent while being trained by their partner, Zuko however is different his father was the one who scarred him while both his mother and sister didn't bother to help him at all.
The dragon, Avalon, was furious at this family's behavior and would have ended their precious lord in seconds if Zuko hadn't wished for him to do otherwise.