Prompt 10: Destruction
"Zuka, Azulon, your Uncle Iroh sent you gifts from the Earth Kingdom," Ursa called to her children while scanning the letter that accompanied the chest the crown prince had sent.
"Uncle sent presents!" Zuka cried excitedly, picking up her skirts and running as fast as she could to her mother. She smiled at the guards as she passed them, fitting her mother's image of the perfect princess.
Zuka knelt in front of her mother and waited patiently for her brother. Of course he was late. He always took his time when Mother called. She shot him a very un-princess-like glare for making her wait.
"For Azulon, a knife from one of the generals of the Earth Kingdom army." Ursa held up the ornate sheath towards her son. She did not smile, and Zuka could feel the cold tension between them.
Azulon took the knife and unsheathed it, then tested the blade. "Thank you, Mother."
"And for Zuka, a doll," Ursa pulled the fine porcelain doll out of the chest and handed it to her daughter.
Zuka smiled, holding the doll close. She loved her uncle, he had always doted on her, giving her small gifts during his visits. "I love her, she is so beautiful."
"What good is a doll anyway? They have no use," Azulon said, looking at her with unguarded disdain.
"They are beautiful. They are art." Zuka replied.
"Ahh, so they're just as useful as princesses!" He laughed and turned, leaving to go to back to the training grounds.
Zuka sighed and looked over at her mother, whose face held the frown that was always associated with the young prince. "She is lovely, Mother. Will you help me find a place for her in my room?"
Princess Ursa smiled down at her daughter. "Yes, of course."
Zuka went to sleep that night, the doll sitting prettily on the shelf near the window. When she woke up the next morning, all of the doll's hair had been cut off. Zuka screamed and screamed until three guards entered the room.
"Azulon! He ruined my doll!" She held the doll in hand and ran to her mother, crying. "He destroys everything!" She sobbed into her mother's skirts.
"Shh, Zuka, I will make sure that Azulon is punished for this. Please don't cry. I am sure that Iroh will send you another doll soon."
"I don't want another doll. Azulon will just break it," she sighed sadly and returned to her room, clutching the doll close to protect her from more harm.
She could hear Azulon getting scolded. Mother had enlisted Father's help. Stern words from him always cowed Azulon for a time. But it would never last. He would do it again. Destruction was his very nature.