Chapter One: The Fire Lord

His father loved Azula. Maybe the word loved isn't the right one, but maybe valued, or appreciated. His father was incapable of love, but he was a genius tactician and strategist. Just like Azula is. His father has been blinded for years by his daughter that he failed to notice his son. His son was no less than his daughter. Zuko was a powerful bender and a clever strategist. Ozai, however, was too invested in Azula to notice, and Zuko didn't try to make him. At first, before he came to master the art of fire bending, he was jealous of Azula. She got all that he ever wanted: his father's love. But the more he trained, and the more powerful he got, the more he realized that what Azula had wasn't love. He understood that his father saw in Azula another powerful tool to win the war and not a daughter worthy of love. He understood that if his father was to notice his talent, he would seek to use him as well. Zuko has been hiding his true abilities for years, but now, he has no choice but to put them on display. As he turns to face the general from the war meeting, he catches a glimpse of his rival's face, and it is not the general; it's the Fire Lord!

"Father!" Zuko said, frightened. His face expressions went from surprise to fear to determination in a matter of seconds. "I will not fight you!" He declared, keeping his defensive stance.

"You disrespected the me." Ozai hissed at his own son coldly.

"I didn't mean to disrespect, father." Zuko said, trying to keep his voice steady. "I only had the Fire Nation's best interest at heart."

"You will fight for your honor." Ozai declared, as he made his way towards the prince.

"I will not-" Zuko started to say again, still in his defensive position though.

"You will learn respect!" Ozai interrupted him. "And suffering will be your teacher." He hissed the rest of his sentence as he raised his hand to land the first shot.

"You leave me no choice." Zuko sighed. He blocked his father's fire, starting the Agni Kai.

It was an epic duel. Ozai showed no mercy, shooting fire at his son relentlessly. Zuko, too, put up a good fight. Even Azula couldn't take his father's full wrath. Both of them were shooting, dodging, rolling and jumping around; it was one of the most epic battles that this hall has witnessed. The crowd gasped and cheered as the fight went on. Ozai, as everybody else, was surprised by Zuko's bending. He always thought him to be a failure, a disappointment. He was caught off guard. This Agni Kai wasn't going to end quickly.

Two days and four hours later, the Agni Kai was still ongoing. Several times one of the two opponents would be thrown to the ground and then rise to keep going. This fight has been taking so long. Ozai performance has been heavily affected by his lack of sleep and hunger. Zuko, too, is having a hard time keeping up now that he so desperately needs some rest. Ozai unleashes fire at Zuko, but Zuko jumps up, avoiding it. Ozai redirects his fire at Zuko, and this time Zuko doesn't avoid it. He bends it around, and turns it back at Ozai. It hits him in the chest, throwing him into the ground. Ozai tries to get up, but he's too exhausted to do so. He tries to collect his energy to stand up and carry on, but he doesn't make it. He gives up, and stays at the ground. The Fire Lord has been defeated. The crowd is silent. This means-

The High Sage walked in, the sound of his steps filling the void left behind the battle noises and the crowd cheering. "Fire Lord Zuko." He declared and knelt before him. The rest of the crowd followed suit. Even his sister knelt, reluctantly of course.

He is Fire Lord Zuko.