A/N: Okay, this is a repost. I reread and reedited the first three chapters I had written, decided I had made a few errors I couldn't live with, and had to redo it. So this is it! It's my first, so please don't be too cruel, and if you are cruel, at least be cruel in a way that's helpful. Thanks!
This is dedicated to my mom, who, although she is overbearing at times, loves to read what I write.
Disclaimer: I'd laugh if the Avatar creators wrote fanfic and spent a lot of their time coming up with witty disclaimers. I, however, do not own avatar. So sad.
Chapter One: What Really Happened
"Concentrate, Sandria, this is not difficult. Just keep your arms up and attempt to not bring them down."
" I'm trying, Uncle Iroh, but it's not going too well." I sighed and resumed the stance I had been working on, this time with my arms up, guarding my face. I stood there, waiting for my uncle to critique and correct it, but after a minute or two of standing still, I looked over at the man trying to teach me advanced firebending. "What is the matter?" I asked, seeing a hopeless and worried look on his face.
He sighed. "Zuko, what else?"
My bewilderment must have shown on my face because he sighed again and said, "You really don't keep up with what goes on around here, do you?" I gave him a pointed look and replied, "No. I'm here to learn firebending and the day I turn eighteen, I intend to leave and never come back."
"There is to be a Fire Duel today." He explained.
"So? Ozai has those nearly everyday. Why should that worry you?"
"This one has required attendance." He said. My eyes widened. Required attendance was reserved only for the fights between those who had been shown extreme disrespect and the offenders.
"I do not understand." I said. "What does this have to do with Zuko? What did he do?" I stopped the stream of questions I wanted to ask when I saw the look on my uncle's face.
"I am afraid this is my fault." He said in a quiet tone. I waited silently for him to continue. "Zuko wished to go into a war council, but, of course, he being underage, the guards would not allow him in. He came to me, asked to be let in, and I'm not sure why, but I let him join me as I went in, with only a warning not to speak."
"Oh, no." I said, seeing where his story was going. "He didn't."
"He did." Iroh affirmed. "One of the Generals suggested a plan for distraction that involved using new recruits as live bait. Zuko, of course, spoke out against it. He was right, but he should not have spoken."
"Oh, no." I repeated, "And then…"
"And then Ozai told Zuko that he had shown the ultimate disrespect and that there was only one way to solve it. Zuko looked upon the general and claimed he was not afraid to duel the old man."
"Idiot." I said. "Did he know?"
"That he would be dueling his father? No, apparently not. To my knowledge, he still does not know. They took him away to prepare before I could tell him of his mistake."
"God above." I whispered. "What time does it start?"
"In about ten minutes. We should probably be leaving now."
"Uncle," I said, "Is there nothing we can do? He won't win. There has to be a way for us to help him."
"No!" he said sharply. "Trying would only earn you a duel, also."
"But Uncle Iroh! He's my brother!"
"Yes, but the rest of the fire nation doesn't know that. They will see only a half br- someone of who is not of pure fire blood attempting to interfere. They will not allow it. You could be killed."
I glared at him. "Someone who's what, Uncle?" I said, my voice deceptively calm. "A Half-breed? Is that what you were going to say? Well, guess what? I am a half- breed. Half water tribe, half fire nation, and a better firebender than most of them ever will be. So what if I am half Water Tribe? I'm still half Fire Royalty and they will do well to remember it." Little tendrils of flame licked my hands, betraying the anger behind my calm façade.
"How can they remember what they do not know? You forget, the Fire Nation does not know of your existence. They only see a, to use your term, Half-Breed servant lucky enough to work in the palace. Your father has-"
"Do not call him my father." My voice dripped with venom. "He doesn't deserve the title."
"Fine then." Iroh corrected himself, "Ozai has not exactly announced his affair with a water tribe woman, nor has he publicly claimed you as his daughter. You will be made to face him if you attempt to help your brother, and as talented as you are, that is a fight I do not think you can win." He looked at me. "Promise me you won't interfere."
I looked down. "I promise." I said, crossing my fingers behind my back. I would not leave my own brother to fight a battle he could not win against an opponent that he wouldn't face. Looking at my hands, I sighed and extinguished the flames.
"Good." Iroh, taking that as a sign of my defeat, stood and prepared to leave. "Come, we must hurry. It would not be very good if we are late."
The arena was huge, built to put all Agni Kai on display for the public to see. I walked through the grand entrance with Uncle Iroh to a spot near the front next to my half-sister Azula, who looked far too excited at the possibility of her brother being humiliated. I remembered the words of Ursa, my stepmother, "What is wrong with that child?" and I wondered that myself as she turned and "slipped" knocking me into one of the great pillars in the hall. My face burning with embarrassment, I picked myself up, cursed Azula under my breath, and awaited the chimes of the clock that would signify the start of the hour and of the duel.
As the last chime struck, Zuko dropped his banner and turned to face his opponent, and in all of my twelve years I had never seen anyone look so frightened as he did. He quickly realized his mistake and dropped to his knees to beg for mercy. Ozai, of course, had none to give. Ruthlessly, he attacked his fourteen-year-old son who remained on his knees bowing to the mighty firebender, with only the comment that Zuko was to learn respect from suffering. I could not look away. Uncle Iroh turned and tried to make me turn also, but I couldn't force myself to, so I watched with tears running down my face.
When the attack finally ended, Ozai announced to Zuko that he was banished and the only way for him to regain his stature was to return with the avatar. After hearing the announcement Zuko collapsed and was carried, unconscious, off the platform. Ozai turned to leave as I whispered, "Sorry, Uncle," and jumped up onto the dais. I heard my uncle gasp as I shouted, "You coward!"
The Fire Lord turned and looked at me. His gaze was terrifying, filled with hatred and a small token of fear that I could not place. I shook with terror at that look, but kept my voice strong. "You send your own son, whom you almost killed off on a mission that you yourself could not complete. You are filth! Worse than it! You are a monster!"
It was so silent in the hall that my words echoed. Then, from the audience, I heard a voice say, "You dare question the firelord? I see this as extreme disrespect! I say she should duel the firelord in Zuko's place!' Ah, Azula. I heard murmurs of agreement from the audience. I turned, looked my father in the eyes and said with a conviction I didn't feel, "I am not afraid."
My opponent turned slowly and, then with sudden speed, fired a huge ball of fire right at my head. Thanking my uncle silently for training me so intensively, I threw myself out of the way and attacked with everything I had. It wasn't enough. As I turned around to begin a final attack, I was hit with a great bolt of lightning. I screamed as I felt the back of my neck catch fire and burn. The world turned black, and then I felt no more.