The night was warm. Then again, what else can you expect from living in the Eastern Fire Nation? Yes, the nation that is my home was split long ago, for fear of rebellion. Though, I don't think anyone would dare go against the Firelords now. My father is Firelord Urukhai. So, yes, I am a princess of the Fire Nation.
My name is Amara, and tonight is the celebration of my sixteenth birthday. I am excited, but also a little nervous. You see, with the war still going on between the Fire Nation and the other nations of this world, a lot of people have threatened the Fire Nation. So, sadly, we have been in danger many times, though my father has never attacked any nation and does not plan to and shouldn't receive any of the blame.
Many people consider me lucky to be a Fire Nation Princess. I consider it a curse. Every night before bed I stare out at the open ocean and wonder what the world would be like if all of this madness stopped. But, then I see the palace of Firelord Ozai, and it makes me doubt any peace would come to our world. I mean, the man banished his own son! Does that sound like a peaceful guy to you?
Yeah, me neither.
Sometimes...in fact...a lot of times, I think about Zuko. I haven't seen him since we were kids, and that was back when Azula and I were "friends". That changed after I realized how much of a bitch she really was. It sometimes makes me laugh when I think of my childhood memories that involve Azula and Zuko. Zuko because I almost always ended up blushing around him. Azula because I'd always get so pissed off at her, but I would never do anything about it.
"Yeah, I wonder what Zuko is doing right now."
"Amara!"
I snapped out of my thoughts and turned around slightly embarrassed.
"Father, I didn't see you," I blushed.
"Of course you didn't. You were daydreaming again," he rolled his eyes. "You're not even ready yet!"
"I'm sorry, I'll get ready in a flash!" I smiled sincerely. "I promise!"
"Good, because there's a lot of people downstairs who want to see you," he said, exiting my bedroom.
As soon as he was gone I immediately started to change into my outfit. The top was a red button-up vest that showed my stomach a little. It had a little bit of a v-neck and was so cute. My skirt was silk and it almost reached the ground.
"Shoes..." I looked around for my silver high heels. I eventually found them by the balcony doors and put them on quickly. When the straps were secured, I walked over to my dresser and took my mother's old necklace out of my jewelry box. It was shaped like a raindrop but had the red, orange and gold color mixture of a flame.
I looked at my reflection in the mirror and sighed.
"You look just like your mother."
I turned around and saw my father smiling at me from the doorway. He came over to me and grasped my shoulders looking at our reflections in the mirror as well.
"I'm glad you remembered her necklace," he said.
"Father, have I ever forgotten before?" I asked him, brushing the necklace softly with my hand.
"No, I suppose not. Come now, everyone awaits you," he said, holding his arm out for me to take.
I linked my arm with my father's and we both walked out of my bedroom and down the hallway to the staircase. The halls were empty except for a few occasional guards that were standing against the walls occasionally. Together we walked down the stairs that led to the front hall of the castle. There were the two entrance doors to the castle. Around the corner were the red double doors that led to the ballroom. Two guards held the doors open for us.
The ballroom looked amazing. Tons of decorations gave the place an extra impressive touch. Entertainers were all over performing tricks for people with their firebending skills. There was tons of food and a ton of people were all over the place. The room looked amazing. I thanked my father and kissed his cheek for such a beautiful night.
I saw all of the people inside the ballroom and quickly realized I barely knew some of them. Most of the people there were smiling up at my father and I. Others were conversing and sipping their drinks and laughing with each other. My father led me into the ballroom and told me to go join my friends. I was amazed to see those that I haven't seen since I'd been in school. A few hours passed as I caught up with old friends, who I'd discovered all had boyfriends. I also danced with a couple of guys that seemed decent. After a guy named Ino and I had finished our dance, I wished him well and walked over to where my best friend sat.
"Hey Nina," I smiled at her. Nina had been my best friend for years, even after school. We almost looked alike. We both had black hair, blue eyes and almost the same skin. Though, I was a little more tan that she. The only major difference seemed to be our height. She was almost six inches shorter than I.
"Hey Amara!" she smiled back at me.
"I see you didn't wear heels again," I giggled at her. Nina never liked wearing heels, despite the fact they would greatly help her height problem. I, on the other, hand love wearing heels.
"I see you did," she stuck her tongue out at me in fake anger and we laughed together. More time passed as I caught up with my best friend. We'd written to each other over the years, but it still doesn't compare to talking and actually laughing with her. We were able to catch up and dance with each other before it got late. When the song that we were dancing to ended, my father stood up and raised his glass, beckoning me to come to him.
"Today has been a blessing on the Eastern Fire Nation," he smiled down at me. "A welcoming of a girl becoming a young woman, and a celebration with everone that we've come to know and love. May many years remain ahead for all of us!" People began to clap and yell 'Hear, hear!' at my father's blessing. After it died away, he continued. "You've all been wonderful company, and I'd like to-" but my father's speech was cut off.
A muffled sound has interrupted him. It had sounded like something had exploded outside, too far away to be heard from inside the palace. However, I was wrong when I thought this. For we all soon heard a struggle coming from outside the ballroom doors. I looked nervously at my father, and he just stared at the doors.
CRASH!
The windows seemed to all shatter at once. People started to scream and run for the ballroom doors. I looked frantically around and saw men dressed in red suits that covered their whole bodies and their faces climbing through the windows. My father started to tug on my arm frantically. I ran after him as fast as I could. We met some guards at the opposite ends of the ballroom. I could hear people screaming, and I could hear fighting and breaking glass. The guards were trying to protect my father and I. All I could do was try to spot Nina, hoping she'd made it out in time.
"Princess!" I heard a guard yell my name, holding out his hand for me to grab. "You must come with me! Hurry!" I looked nervously at my father. The guards were going to take us to the ships waiting at the docks. I had to go on a seperate one than my father. There would also be decoy ships. We've never had to do this before. I've never had to leave my home without my father there at my side.
"Amara, go with him, I'll meet you. You'll be safe!" My father ordered. I had no choice but to grab the guard's hand and follow him to the secret passage behind a suit of armor that stood in the back of the ballroom. My father and two other guards went a different way. Our castle had many secret passages. There were many ways to escape incase of an attack.
I continued to follow the guard down the narrow staircase that led to a tunnel underground that came up right next to the docks. I had to hold my skirt because it was so long, and I was afraid and wanted to get to the boats as soon as possible. It was dimmed in the passage. All that kept it lit were small torches that ran along the walls. Finally we came to the small ladder that led to the trap door. The guard watched behind me as I climbed up and unlatched the door. I climbed out of the trap door and ran to the nearest ship. Two more guards were waiting for me there, and they ushered me onto the ship. The guard that I followed here climbed up and told the captain to leave. I stared at the shore, praying my father would pop out of the ground somewhere and head to the next ship. I didn't see him anywhere. I turned to the guard next to me.
"Where is my father?" I asked nervously, not sure if I wanted to know the answer to my question.
"He left just before you did. They took a different course," he told me. "He's safe Milady."
"And the others?" I asked. "Those who were in the ballroom? Did they all escape?"
"I'm sorry Princess, I don't know," he said solemnly.
"Nina can fight, she's okay," I thought to myself. "She has to be."
"Is there any place I can get some sleep?" I asked the guard. I hadn't realized how tired I'd become until now.
"Of course, Milady, right this way," he said. He led me across the deck and down some stairs to a hallway that was lit by torches against the walls. Doors lined the walls between the torches as well. The guard led me to one that was a room that I could stay in.
"Your father made sure that extra clothes be put in there for your comfort Princess," he said, blushing a little. He was probably thinking of me, a beautiful teenage girl, changing into more comfortable clothes. Typical, but at least he kept it to himself.
"Thank you, you've been a great help to me," I said, smiling a little. The guard blushed more as I entered the room. I closed the door and rolled my eyes, a little annoyed at his reaction.
I looked around my new bedroom for who knows how long, and saw a small bed on one side, and a dresser on the other. Against the back wall there was a small window where I could see the ocean. I approached the dresser and opened the drawers to find them stocked with clothes. I looked for the one that held some shorts and a simple shirt. I slipped them on and climbed into the small bed. For some reason, the ceiling of the room drew my attention. I stared at it and thought about everything that had happened. Who could've done this? What person would have the heart or the courage to try to kill such a gentle, caring, fair, peaceful ruler as my father?
"Firelord Ozai would have the heart," I thought angrily to myself. Who else could it have been? Who else would be able to hire that many guards? Who else would've been cowardly enough to not kill my father and I themself?
With my heart full of anger and my mind full of worry, I fell asleep in that small bed.
