A/N: I've been wanting to dabble in Atla again for some time but I wanted a new project, something fresh that would keep me going. I'm trying to channel some Game of Thrones into this story, I never realised how similar they both were. Disclaimer: I own nothing recognisable, I gain no profit from this, just reviews (please?)

In the years that followed Avatar Roku's death, the nations experienced something which could only be described as endless misery. Dark days filled with fear and war became a way of life. Hope was a foreign concept to most, the people angered by the loss of their only protector. The Avatar had failed to return, to bring balance to a world that so desperately needed it.

It was after many months that the first true invasions began. King Sozin, Lord of the fire lands had planned for this very day for so long. He had seen to the demise of his once friend Roku, only to wait for the other nations to fight amongst themselves for control. For Sozin was nothing if not a strategist. Weaken their defences from the inside, he mused. Weaken their armies, their strength, and their spirit.

A conquest like such had never been seen before. One by one, the cities and kingdoms fell. The incident at the western air temple was still to this day his favourite, he remembered it fondly.

The monks preaching their peace had never foreseen his attack. A thick smoke hung in the air as ash fell from the skies, the only signal that something horrific was to follow.

Fire. Red blazing hot fire stretched from every corner of the temple. Desperate pleas and cries filled the air as children were rounded up and sentenced to their death. Guards clad in red armour expended little effort in deflecting the attempts of resistance by the airbenders.

A monk named Gyatso had the gall to approach the King.

"These lives mean such little to you?" he accused.

The Fire Lord sneered. "They mean nothing to me."

Taking a fighting stance, Sozin drew in the power he had gained from the comet; he released a glowing fire ball straight at the monk. The intensity of it shocked Gyatso as he watched it come hurtling towards himself, almost mimicking the comet in its actions.

Propelling himself immediately of the ground, Gyatso found himself only just being spared a charred fate. Gritting his teeth, Sozin sent wave after wave of raw fiery power at the airbender, showing no let-up in his attack. The battles stretched on before Gyatso began to tire. He was flung from the sky as a firewhip made contact with his chest. A loud thud resonated as the monk fell to the floor.

Wearily Gyatso tried to raise himself up from the ground, the monk looked up to find a gleeful firebender above him.

"The world should be thanking me for ridding it of your kind. Airbenders are weak and spineless creatures."

"You will not succeed" Gyatso managed, weakening under the pressure of Sozin's boot on his chest.

"I already have. The next avatar, he was to be an airbender correct?"

The fire lord was met by silence, a defiant glean in the monks eyes.

"How can there be an avatar when there are no airbenders left?" he cackled, sending fire shooting straight into the monks chest. A garbled scream followed as a thick red substance began to stream out of the airbenders mouth, pooling around the King's shoes. Once the body grew still Sozin kicked him out of his way, the blood caking the soles of his boots.

Within that day, there was not a single airbender that had survived the attack at the western air temple, its sister tribe following a similar fate only months before, while the southern and northern temples had remained uninhabited for some time.

A satisfied smile swept across the fire lord's face.

"Tonight we have conquered yet another nation" he declared triumphant, while addressing the soldiers.

"Long live the King!" they clamoured back.

Although he would be known as the phoenix king, in the dark alleyways, in the taverns of the poor, where war was not the only concern but survival, others knew him as the mad king. There would be murmurs, the beginnings of unrest in the years that followed. Many were not happy with the new king's rule. He was ruthless, inhumane.

Nothing would come about these whispers, for the people had long since lost hope. The avatar had not saved them from this fate. Those that spoke out were sentenced to death, a long drawn out process, where the victim would be made a spectacle of. Sozin was nothing if not smart. Fear controlled people. He would be feared.

It was a lesson that had been passed down amongst the fire nation royalty. Many would whisper their horror about how King Ozai had cheated his own brother, plotting his nephew's death thus sending the old General into great depression. The sages had agreed that Iroh was not fit to be a ruler of a country so great.

Some would talk about how the noble Prince Ozai had relieved the General of his duties so he could mourn in peace. The King was sure to put family first.

Some might even comment on how handsome he was, how he was the strong and rightful heir to the throne. That it was such a tragic yet unforeseeable end to the General's son's life. No one could have guessed that the barbarians would attack.

These were just the murmurings of the city dwellers, peasants. No one took great heed in what they said; peasants were after all of little significance.

Similarly no one took note when a boy disappeared, a boy who was foolish enough to challenge a father, bloodthirsty enough to rival Sozin. For what did the boy know of humanity's cruelties? He was but a boy. An innocent, voicing a view that should have remained silent, certainly not voiced amongst a room of political vultures.

So no one questioned when the boy went missing, his people thought him dead, his father wished him so. Scarred and confused, he crept quietly after his uncle, the darkness hindering his movement.

"Zuko we must hurry!"

"Uncle where are we going?"

"If we do not make haste, we'll never make the ship."

"Ship?" the boy questioned, his words faltering like his steps.

Grabbing his nephew's wrist, he forcefully pushed him into the shadows of an alleyway, gesturing with his finger to keep quiet.

After sometime the former General relented. "Zuko please try to understand me. Your father has his guards looking for you. "

"Why is that a problem?"

A frown ghosted Iroh's face, sorrowful at the child's naivety. "Zuko, your father wants you dead. It is why he challenged you to an Agni Kai in front of the council."

"Dead?"

"Hush" Iroh instructed as he glanced around the main street. "I promise we will discuss this later but my main concern is getting you away from here, so please keep close to me."

The scarred prince nodded his consent.

If one was to listen to the whispers of the downtrodden tonight, they could hear not only the voices of hope but change. Soon things would start to change.