A/N: Here is the first chapter of the story. And trust me, this one is a lot longer than the small prologue. Just a little note to readers: I am going on vacation and won´t have internet connection until mid August, so I won´t update the next chapters until then. I´ll have plenty of time to write though, so when I do come back, expect some chapters. Now, enjoy the chapter and please review!

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Chapter I: Desert of Memories

The harsh sun rained down upon the dry earth in waves of desert heat. The exiled Prince of the Fire Nation breathed heavily under the shade of his straw hat, fighting the glare of the punishing sun. The desert was silent around him, with only the slight whistle of the non-existent wind. The young man's mount shuddered violently in hunger, its steps slow and labored upon the cracked yellow earth. Zuko shut his eyes, trying to will away his thirst and gnawing hunger, trying to forget. But he couldn't forget. Every time he shut his eyes he would see their faces, see their disappointed faces staring at him. The pounding of the earth under him sang a lullaby and the yellow of the parched earth swirled around him meshing into a mosaic of bright sun.

The long black haired woman gazed lovingly at her son from her seat on a marble stone bench. The peaceful garden was lined with blooming cherry trees, their soft pastel colors blending with the budding green of the delicate grass. The young boy ran in the center of the grass clearing, kicking bursts of fire into the calm morning air. With a look of determination, the black haired boy cartwheeled cleanly into the air and released two neat arcs of fire from his fingers before landing solidly on his feet. The willowy woman clapped enthusiastically from her bench, laughing with joy. Her son shyly glanced up at her, a small smile of happiness forming on his face. The mother gazed adoringly at him, before something caught her eye behind the boy. Quickly standing, the woman called the boy to her, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder and leading him towards an approaching man. The lady's long black hair shifted forward as she bowed her head in respect.

"My lord, will you not join me and watch your son practice? He is improving significantly," she added at the end, looking down fondly at her son.

The man said nothing, not even glancing at the dark haired boy as he sat stiffly beside his wife. The woman gave her son an encouraging smile and the boy smiled hesitantly in return. He wiped his sweaty hands on his loose black pants and placed his feet in position. His father shifted impatiently on the bench. The boy sidestepped and began. The beginning was hesitant, the fire not as bright as before. Then his feet crossed as he heard his father yawn and he fell. Quickly he rose and nervously kicked three fireballs in procession. In a flurry of limbs he threw himself into the air. The young boy rose too quickly and had miscalculated his weight distribution. The ground quivered as he fell painfully to the sprouting green grass. A still silence reigned as the lord stood, and after staring at the panting boy sprawled on the ground turned to the black haired woman.

"This is what you wanted me to see?" the man hissed, pointing at the boy.

The woman flinched, but said nothing.

"He is an embarrassment to our family. Take him inside before someone should see him."

"Hey! Watch where you are going!" cried out an annoyed voice.

Zuko shook himself out of his daze and slowly raised his head. He must have fallen asleep while riding, for he didn't remember seeing a crossroad. All he remembered was the great expanse of yellow earth and scorching bright sun. His mount had collided with another mount at the crossroad. It isn't even a crossroad, he thought bitterly, just a slight change in earth color.

"Are you alright?" this time the voice was concerned.

Zuko looked up at the young woman directly in front of him.

"Are you dehydrated? It is very dry. I have some water. If you ran out, you can have some if you like," the girl continued.

Zuko felt anger stream through him. He hated being treated like he was weak, like if had to rely on others.

"I don't need your help," the young Prince uttered darkly.

The young woman continued to look at him for a moment and then descended fluidly from her mount, landing in a small cloud of dust. She rummaged carefully through her belongings in the pouches that hung off the side of the animal and produced a large water skin. Her steps sent up more clouds of dust as she approached Zuko. Once she was at his side she held up the water skin.

'Drink, it is dangerous to get dehydrated in such a place, especially since I can't see a town in the horizon," the girl ordered, her voice calm.

Zuko tightened his hands on the reigns of his mount, infuriated by the nerve of this girl. He couldn't comprehend why she would care if he drank or not.

"I said: I don't need your help," Zuko repeated once more.

The girl shrugged nonchalantly, "Just drink, okay? Think of it as doing me a favor."

Zuko's expression did not change, "I do not do favors."

"That's fine, but I warned you."

Then, without a change in expression except for a small, undetectable grin, the girl unbuttoned the water skin and promptly sprayed Zuko with all of the cold liquid.

He didn't know what to do. He just stood there, blinking stupidly, soaked through his black shirt. He had not expected that. Various solutions ran through his mind: he could burn her to a crisp and release his humiliation of what she had done to him, he could use his broadswords, or he could just accept the water she had given him. He already felt his senses returning and acknowledged that he had been very close to collapsing. Resigned, he accepted the water, and inside felt grateful that she had given it to him. The girl had already sat herself up on her mount. Zuko took this time to fully look at her for the first time. She was tall, but shorter than he was, and about his age. Her wavy brown hair was done in a set of elaborate braids at the back of her head, with loose strands of hair fighting the confinement. When she turned to look at him, he noticed that her eyes were a startling blue.

"Where are you headed to?" she asked, cocking her head lightly to one side as she waited for a response.

Zuko immediately felt defensive: he didn't know this girl, and there was no evidence to disprove that she was not another of his sister's spies, wanting to draw him towards certain death. He glared at her coldly through his golden eyes and kicked his mount forward, not bothering to answer.

The girl chose to go the same way he had gone. With such a great expanse of barren desert, the blue-eyed girl had chosen to lead her mount beside him. He could have broken off and rode away in another direction, but if this girl was in Azula's service, then Zuko could not arose her suspicion; she would most likely be an accomplished firebender and he could not fight her in his weakened state. Silence descended upon them. The overbearing sun washed the desert in heat and Zuko felt his skin get dry once more, the water the girl had poured on him dissipating into the arid air.

The young boy ran down the hall, his shoed feet clattering on the black stone. His amber eyes shone in delight as he ran faster around a corner. Finally the hall gave away to a large atrium, the ceiling rising into the sky. Scurrying across the large expanse, the boy dove behind the large statue of a majestic man, the red stone shaped into fire. The red atrium was silent. Only a joyful laugh echoing off the walls from behind the statue broke the still silence. The enormous wooden doors that stood as tall as five men were pushed open slowly to reveal a tired looking man, his grey sideburns cutting into his weary face. The doors shut solidly behind the man. There was a shuffle as the black haired boy scampered to his feet and rushed towards the man.

"Uncle! Uncle, you're back!"

The man turned around, and the sadness seemed to fade from his eyes as a small smile spread on his features.

"I hate silence," the girl commented, her eyes sharp as they sought out Zuko's.

Zuko shook away the painful memories away and turned to look at the girl. He hated silence too. Silence made one remember.

The girl analyzed Zuko thoughtfully before she asked, "What's your name?"

Zuko froze. And the shadows came rushing back to him, engulfing him in their unyielding embrace.

"My name is Zuko! Son of Ursa and Fire Lord Ozai! Prince of the Fire Nation and heir to the throne!" the young man shouted, his voice strong and powerful in the sunset.

A silence followed his words, betrayal and horror laced into it. Then came the whispers, as the villagers who had just been cheering the young man looked upon him with unbridled hate.

"He is no heir!" an old man shouted angrily, "He has been exiled; he is an outcast, a failure!"

Zuko looked up at the blue eyed girl, his expression unreadable, "…Azulo."

Zuko praised himself on his choice of name. It was perfect: if the girl was indeed in league with his sister than she would most likely notice that not only had he forsaken his name, but in favor a name only one letter different than Azula. His hands began to steam as he prepared himself for the quick attack. But it never came. Instead the girl smiled kindly.

"My name is Tienayu," she offered, brushing a stray strand of her brown hair back, out of her face.

Zuko looked at her suspiciously. Just because she had not attacked did not mean that she was not in Azula's service. She might even be cleverer than all the others Azula had sent before. It was impossible that she simply had not recognized him, the mark of his banishment was obvious to anyone who was Fire Nation born. His father had seen to that.

The young man cried out in pain as he struggled to open his left eye, to see what had happened. But he couldn't, his eye would not open, would not obey his struggle.

An impious laugh echoed in the air, and the young man tensed as he recognized the voice.

"Awww, poor little Zuzu," the voice taunted, void of compassion, "Does it hurt?"

The young man winced, his breathing ragged as he struggled to keep from drifting into unconsciousness.

"Go away, Azula," the injured teenager spit, his voice laced with pain.

The girl hummed with joy at her brother's suffering, "Who's going to make me? You? You wouldn't even defend yourself in an Agni Kai, how can you even think of fighting me?"

The youth did not answer, but felt around aimlessly around him, trying to gather his bearing.

Another cruel laugh split the air, "You should see yourself, Zuzu, the sad and pathetic sight you are. Just as pitiful as your dear Uncle. Now you both have something in common."

The young man stiffened visibly, and his voice was quiet when it came, "What do you mean, Azula?"

"You mean to tell me you do not know? Well, I'd love to tell you. You, my dearest brother, are banished, exiled. Father does not want to see you…ever again. You are a disgrace, a failure and everything you have ever done brings shame to our family."

The teenager's breathing was labored, and his expression fought the words that sliced into him.

The girl noticed this and her thin, red lips spread into a malicious smile, "You are no longer worth the title of Prince. Hence forth you are an outcast of the Fire Nation. Father hates you, and with that scar he has placed across your pitiable face he has marked you with the mark of the banished. This is no longer your home."

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