Hello and thank you for reading! This is my first fanfiction and I hope you like it! I am going to try and create stories that would fit into the existing canon, so I will try not to contradict anything that happened in the show Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra. I also won't do anything like add myself in or anything like that. I hope you like it!

-Darthlane

Chapter 1

50 Years After Genocide

Ozai grinned maliciously as he swung his fist at his brother. Iroh dodged the blow by the slightest of margins. "Don't get cocky, little brother." Iroh said. "As powerful as you have become, I am still stronger."

Ozai growled as he struck again. Still his brother avoided the attacks. Iroh dodged with the grace of one of the revered dragons. No movement by either brother was wasted; even the slightest of twitches was a part of tiny battles that would impact the overall duel. It was obvious that they were both masters of the martial arts.

Iroh switched with impossible speed from defense to offense, and attacked his brother with ferocity unbecoming of him. Ozai was helpless against the assault and was knocked down with a series of mighty blows. Iroh stood over him, fist directed at Ozai's throat in a perfect example of the final strike.

Iroh's face was a stone. Not a single shred of sympathy could be found for his brother. But it didn't hold. A smile emerged onto Iroh's face, erasing the malice from before. "I win again, Ozai. Looks like you still have a lot of work to do." He helped is brother up from the Palace courtyard. "Maybe you should spend some more time training instead of playing those simple games with your friends."

A frown crossed Ozai's face. "What are you talking about Iroh? Flame tag is much more than a game. Of course you wouldn't know; you spend all day playing Pai Sho and watching clouds. You don't even try to talk to people anymore. Do you even have any friends?"

Iroh was approaching fifteen years of age he was already quite tall and was handsome enough already that several suitors had approached him. It also didn't hurt with the ladies that he was the Prince of the Fire Nation. Despite the attention he received from just about everyone, he was very solitary and carefree. This often angered his grandfather Sozin, who had a reputation as a strict military genius. His father Azulon didn't mind as much, but he still didn't approve and had let Iroh know on several occasions. He had even threatened to send Iroh to the war front to learn respect for his father's wishes. Iroh hoped they were just threats. He didn't know if he wanted to fight people for a living.

Ozai was still young and therefore not quite as tall as Iroh. At nine years old he was only beginning to develop his firebending but he was already far ahead of where he should be at that age. His talent was often compared to his grandfather, his father, and his older brother. But unlike Iroh he had impressed their father and grandfather with his determination and ambition to become powerful. They hadn't said as much, but Iroh knew they considered Ozai to be an even better version of him. A true prodigy.

"Can we go again?" Ozai asked enthusiastically. "I know I can beat you this time!" He was bursting with energy, wanting to fight with the true passion of a firebender.

Iroh laughed. "Of course, Ozai. Let's try again. But" In all honesty he didn't want to practice fighting, but it was a good way to spend time with his brother and maybe even learn some new things himself. Time spent bettering yourself is never wasted.

Ozai backed away, then assumed the familiar starting pose. Iroh nodded to his younger brother, indicating that he was ready. Ozai grinned as he charged again.

Iroh stood completely relaxed as he was attacked. Ozai was wary, knowing that it was just a ruse to get him to lower his guard. Right as he was close enough to strike Ozai's right fist flew at his brother's face almost without conscious thought. He knew Iroh would dodge so he used the momentum of his punch to spin and strike where he believed Iroh would be with his left elbow. He thought it had worked- until Iroh caught his arm.

"Good, Ozai! That was well done!" Iroh was pleased with Ozai's attack. "Good form, good technique, good power, good speed, and excellent misdirection. It was almost flawless. You just forgot three things, brother. One must never turn your back on your opponent." As he said that he pinned Ozai's arms to his sides. "Two, always maintain your roots." He swept Ozai's legs out from under him. Ozai landed with a thump on the grass. "Three, know better than to fight me."

Ozai groaned and covered his face with his hands. "Why can't you ever just let me win, Iroh?" He didn't bother getting up.

Iroh chuckled and sat down next to his little brother in the soft grass. "Why don't I let you win? Why don't you ask questions that aren't completely stupid? Ozai, if I just hand you victory, how will you have earned it? If I were to let you win you wouldn't have put in the same effort and experience to get there. You would be a weaker version of yourself, and you would come to expect that same mercy from others as well. If you face an opponent someday that wishes to take your life you need to be powerful enough to defeat him. More importantly, however, is that you need to be smart enough and determined enough to defeat him. Because you do not know just how skilled this opponent may be, you must improve yourself as you can to remain assured of your victory. You aren't going to be able to ask him to let you win, so I'm trying to prepare you for that. Struggle makes us stronger, Ozai. Remember that. I'm trying to make you as strong as you can be because I love you and I don't want anything bad to happen to you." He stood up and extended a hand. "Do you want to try again?"

Ozai grabbed his hand and was lifted up. Iroh noticed that the fire from their first two bouts had returned to his eyes. For the third time they prepared to spar. "Hey Iroh!" Ozai called to his brother. "If you aren't going to hold back then I won't either. You won't beat me this time, brother." As fast as a prickle snake Ozai attacked again. As he drew close he suddenly stopped, surprising Iroh. His fist turned into an open hand and flames burst out. Iroh was able to block it, but barely. Even then, the sleeves of the royal robe he was wearing were singed off. Momentarily blinded by the fire, Iroh was struck several times by his younger brother in the midsection. He shoved Ozai back, trying to increase separation and recollect his chi.

"Wow, Ozai. That was just incredible. I can't make any excuses; you caught me completely by surprise."

Ozai was grinning confidently. "It seems I'm not the only one with things to learn, brother. You should know not to underestimate any opponent, no matter how small." He was sporting an even cockier grin than he had worn before and was strutting around like he owned the place. Which he technically did.

"I'm just a little surprised you used firebending in a hand to hand fight." Iroh admitted. Ozai had gotten a lot better than Iroh could have ever believed. He wasn't sure if he could have pulled off the same thing at that age.

Ozai shrugged. "That guy in the future that wants to kill me will probably be a bender and he won't hold back. I need to be ready to use any resources I have available to defeat my enemies." His eyes narrowed. "Let's finish this, Iroh."

Before either of them could move a crowd of people entered the courtyard from the Palace. They were mostly nobles and politicians along with a few guards. Leading them was their mother, Azulon's wife Ilah. Their mother was elegant and beautiful while also being smart and charismatic. She was the perfect match for the Fire Lord. Her dark hair and sharp features were already apparent in Ozai. Iroh just hoped his brother wouldn't inherit her cold disposition as well. "Iroh! Ozai! Come here immediately." They approached warily, unsure of why she was there with so many people. She didn't really make a habit of watching their sparring and rarely spent time with them in general. When she did there was usually an ulterior motive for why.

"What's wrong, mother?" Iroh asked. "Is it news from the war? Have we finally conquered Ba Sing Se?" He had a feeling he wouldn't like whatever she was about to tell them.

"No." She said. "It has little to do with the war, my son. I'm sorry to tell you that your grandfather, former Fire Lord Sozin, is now dead." She spoke with no emotion despite the graveness of what she said.

It was as though someone had poured a bucket of cold water on Iroh. How could Grandfather Sozin be dead? He had always been so strong and indomitable, like the Earth Kingdom warriors he had heard stories about. He had always thought his grandfather was too tough to die. "How could this have happened?" He asked quietly.

"My father-in-law perished in his sleep." said Ilah quietly. "I suppose we are blessed that he passed on quietly. The spirits know he deserved it. For all the greatness he brought to the Fire Nation he will be remembered forever as one of the greatest Fire Lords to ever live."

"That's not fair!" Ozai exclaimed loudly. He tugged at his mother's skirts. "Grandpa was one of the best men alive. He didn't deserve to die. Why couldn't it have been someone else?" He looked around for someone to have something to say, some answer. Ozai kicked at one of the soldiers, a well trained man that didn't react at all to the child's attacks. "Why didn't you save him? He can't be dead!" He yelled loudly.

"Ozai!" His mother scolded. "You stop that right now!" She grabbed him and he began to squirm violently to be free from her grasp. "I don't know what's gotten into you but you are going to pay for your misbehavior later." She turned to the guard he had kicked and ordered, "Take him to his room. I will come for him later." The soldier carried the struggling child back the palace. Ilah turned back around. "Now Iroh, your father wanted to spe-" She paused when she noticed that Iroh was gone, vanished like a ghost. "Iroh?"

If you have made it this far I can assume you read it and thank you! Please favorite and follow me if you like the story and leave a review about your thoughts! And don't forget to come to the dark side(we have cookies!).

-Darthlane