Phoenix Fire

Chapter 1

Pass the Crown

Zuko

Tonight was another sleepless night. I just stared with wide eyes into the darkness around me. For normal people, their bed is a safe place of comfort and rest; for the only male heir to an emperor's throne, sleeping is life threatening. Every time I closed my eyes I would hear a noise that would force them open again. Uncle says eventually I'll grow too tired to care whether I've been murdered in my sleep or not, but I doubt that. Although it wouldn't be unexpected if I was killed in the middle of the night.

Eventually I gave up on sleep. I threw off the covers and ignited a ball of fire in my hand. The room around me was very small, just like I had requested. There were fewer places for someone to hide, and if there was another person in here, I could hear them breathing.

The room could only fit a small twin bed which I had chosen to make room for the wider bookshelf, and a desk. Even with just these three pieces of furniture the room was cramped and claustrophobic. There were no windows which was a mental comfort, but with the hot weather of Kinada it was stuffy. However, I surprisingly didn't have a say with the windows, they were unnecessary in such a small room.

I grabbed a worn book from the book shelf. It was old and its pages were full of journeys and places that I had never been to. I found my place and began reading the adventures of Tandum.

It's funny how envious a prince could be of a bard like Tandum. Tandum could go anywhere, nothing tied him down. The moment I walked out of the palace, everyone would recognize me. Not that I had left the palace recently, I hadn't been allowed out of the east wing for the past four years, and I hadn't been allowed outside for two. My father told me, no one should have to see my face unless they're getting paid like the servants. It's not that he wanted to keep my shame hidden, no, he had the best artist paint posters of me to place all around the city.

"That way," he said, "If you try to escape, you can't hide anywhere."

I tried to keep my mind on the words of Tandum, but my hand flew up to the side of my face like always. The rough skin underneath my fingertips was numb. How bad is it? I thought. I had never been allowed to see the burn my father had given me four years ago. Naturally my imagination ran wild with what it looked like. After I was dishonored, all mirrors were removed from my presence. I just knew I had dark shaggy hair and brown eyes, or maybe they were gold I don't remember. I knew the scar covered my eye, my vision had been a little wider before. I didn't know how severe it was, maybe it shouldn't matter so much. Still, I wondered how much I had changed since I was twelve. Ten years from now I'd be wondering how different I am form what I was now, maybe by then I would have the strength to escape.

I was barely allowed to fire bend or train. Exercise became limited too, even with the sit ups and pushups. Father was careful not to give me enough food to gain muscle or strength. I only had enough to barely sustain myself.. He wanted me to be easy for my sister, Azula, to kill and for the throne to pass to her with hardly a problem. If only he knew that I would be glad to be out of the way.

The sun must have come up because I heard footsteps of the guards coming towards my door. I rushed to put away the book and extinguished flame in my hands. I dashed to my bed, pretending to be asleep.

The door opened and the torches on either side of the door were lit. I opened my eyes, faking grogginess, and saw three guards guiding in a servant woman with silver hair.

The woman brought in my meager breakfast on a tray. I sat up as she set it on my lap. She bowed before backing up to the wall, waiting to clean up after me. I looked down at the bowl of gruel and remembered the feast of sweet fruits and meats my father used to allow me to go to. I always remembered the extravagant banquets come meal time. The smells of the rich food lingered in my memory, but the tastes had gone long ago. I gobbled down the mush as quickly as possible under the watchful eye of the guards.

Once I finished the servant woman took my bowl, and began pouring the wash basin full of fresh hot water. Someone had to be visiting today. Maybe it was my father's weekly visit, he always visited on Wednesday I think. I had lost count of the days a while ago, and I wasn't allowed to talk to anyone to find out. Everything was on a schedule and would be given to me when needed. If I broke that the schedule I would get a beating from the guards, and my food portions would be cut in half.

I looked up to the servant woman, waiting for her to explain today's events. She was careful not to look at me as she spoke, "Your father shall be visiting you in an hour, along with Princess Azula."

That was unusual, Azula never announced her visits. My sister and father also never visited at the same time. I wondered what the occasion could be.

The woman continued, "Your uncle will be spending the rest of the day with you after that." She bowed again and walked to the guards.

I tried to hide the joy I felt, but I hadn't seen Uncle for too long. He was the only one who allowed me to talk, and he brought me things from the outside. He treated me like I was his real son, not his dishonored nephew.

The guards departed with the servant and left me alone to wash up after that. I scrubbed my skin raw, trying to get a week's worth of grime off. I knew, no matter how much I scrubbed, my father would still complain about the smell in this dank closet. He insisted that our visits take place in my room now. It seemed like my leash was getting shorter by the day, but Uncle would help. He had too.

When I was done washing and changing I hid all of the books on the shelf in my desk drawers. Right as I closed the drawer my father's servants came in and began cleaning and reorganizing the room as best they could. The bed was flipped over into a table, and chairs were placed around it.

The servants announced my family's arrival. They were an hour later than expected, which was usual. Trays of food were brought to the table for them, and them only. I bowed as my family sat down in front of me. Father hardly bothered to look at me as he took his seat and used his chopsticks to fiddle with the food before him. Azula, however, was always one to strike up conversation; specifically the type she knew bothered me.

She smirked, "Well Zu-Zu, you seem awfully happy today."

I just shrugged and watched her eat the steaming shrimp off her plate, my mouth watering all the while. Azula's smile grew larger when she caught me staring at her food for too long. I struggled to keep myself from reaching across the table and grabbing the food from my sister's plate.

"You look like a dog staring at us like that Zu-Zu. Haven't you eaten already?" she teased as she popped a shrimp into her mouth.

Father wasn't eating, his face was scrunched up as he looked around the room. Azula noticed his expression and asked, "What's wrong father, isn't the meal good enough?"

"The stench in here is ruining my appetite," he said pushing his bowl away with a look of pure disgust on his face.

"Yes, the smell in here is quite bad," she said sniffing the air. She looked back at me, her eyes narrowing, "Did you even bother to bathe? You smell like a dead rat-skunk."

I bit my tongue to hold back the words, 'Maybe you shouldn't bother coming.' I had learned long ago, that back mouthing my little sister was a much bigger mistake then asking questions.

She pushed her bowl away, "Anyways I thought you would both like to hear about the new technique I'm developing with my soldiers. You wouldn't guess that the best are actually non-benders, but they are excellent warriors. They are two girls, one is an archer, and the other has skill with a blade. Now the only problem I have is finding out which is the better warrior.. I've been searching for a personal guard, and I prefer to have only one, as two would just get in my way. Anyway back to my technique-,"

She continued to babble on about her techniques, giving me a smug glance every now and then. Jealousy was something that had died in me a few years ago. Now I basically knew what to expect from my sister; pure, cruel insanity which is surprisingly predictable if you are around it enough.

I kept my eyes locked on my desk, thinking of the many stories hidden there. I imagined the story of the Dovahkiin, protectors of Skyrim and slayers of dragons. What I would give to see Skyrim, to see the skeletons of the fallen northern dragons. They weren't like our eastern dragons with their bodies long and coiling like a serpent. The northern dragons were stronger looking, with large barrel chests and massive bat like wings. I wondered who would win in a fight between a northern and eastern dragon. It was something I strangely found myself frequently writing about. In the end I guess it really didn't matter, Dovahkiin would kill them both.

"Prince Zuko!" a voice shouted, jolting me out of my thoughts. I turned to see my father glaring at me.

"Azula, I believe our company isn't appreciated here," He said, raising his hand to his chin, making the sleeve of his robe slide down his arm, revealing the Phoenix Dragon. The golden interpretation of a dragon covered in feathers, was wrapped tightly around my father's wrist, his skin fusing to the fine gold. Legend has it the one who wears the tourniquet can transform into the powerful beast that plagued our lands. Its soul was trapped in the cuff long ago by a wizard, the wizard wore the cuff until he was killed by the royal family. Apparently death was the only way to get the thing off. It has been passed down to each new emperor since the royal family appropriated the cuff many years ago.

Azula sighed, "Well I wish I had time to stay, Zu-Zu, but I have training to get to." She got up from her chair looking genuinely disappointed. She left, leaving me alone with the Emperor.

"If I were you I would be groveling at our feet," he said in a harsh tone. " If you think your life is miserable now, it can get worse."

"Then what's the point?" I asked, unable to keep quiet any longer, "Why not just kill me now? What's the point of keeping me alive?" I felt my anger bubbling up inside me, about to burst.

Then I was on my feet staring down at him, "Why not just do us all a favor, and kill me now?"

I feared death on most days, who doesn't? But at times when there is no way out, death is always an option. Sometimes the only option.

The emperor gave me a devilish smile that made my skin crawl.

"If only things could be that easy," he said picking up his bowl and throwing it at my head. I lunged left, but it was a trap. A blast of fire shot from his hand, and I ran right into it. The flames ran along my side and back until my body collapsed to the floor. The scent of burning flesh filled the air. When I looked up I saw him standing over me.

"Unfortunately your mother had to complicate things," he said before leaving me on the floor, clutching my side. The pain was familiar, but that didn't make the burns any more comforting. Everything faded to black.