(A/N: CHAPTA 1!! The first couple of chapters are going to take place exactly during the Crossroads of Destiny...With some changes made to fit this story. It is a great turning point for all the characters, but VERY different to what happens in the show. It's a somewhat "what if" situation I thought up if my character had been involved. There will be a lot of flashbacks so, please keep up and/or let me know if something doesn't make sense. Feedback Encouraged!!)
Edit: the flashback is revised.
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(Oh, yeah! Avatar does not belong to me! But my OC, Kasai is MINE!!flails)
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Chapter 1: Dreams
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Golden eyes flared opened as he gasped for air, shuddering. Despite all this he felt no anxiety what so ever. Instead he felt…calm.
It was the same dream again.
In the dream, he was the Fire Lord faced with a dark resolution. He saw so many things… His mother, his sister, his home…Images flashed across his vision in instances, along with the sentiments they held. During the dream two dragons were at his sides. The blue dragon tempted him toward power and all he desired. The red dragon begged him not to trust the other; that he should start again anew. He could not remember making a decision. He remembered being confused and uneasy.
Then suddenly a golden star shone ahead of his vision. In the immense darkness, the star seemed to grow larger. It was then Zuko realized it was coming toward him and the two dragons. The golden light drew closer and closer until he could see it much more clearly. The golden star coming toward him was a bird: a Phoenix.
As the phoenix approached, its fiery wings spread out; it sang a beautiful melody as is soared toward him. The fire bird approached him gazing at him with soulful burgundy eyes. Its ocher feathers' luminosity matched that of the sun. It floated in front of him, the two dragons just as shocked to see the magnificent creature. The great bird flew right in front of Zuko's face, its expression serene and warm. He stared perplexedly back at the phoenix, awaiting an explanation.
A voice came from the majestic bird although it had not moved. Its eyes piercing.
Fear not, My Lord, the voice said, Do not forget. No matter your decision, you must always be true to yourself…
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Every time he would awaken with the feel of that warmth radiating from the phoenix, filling him with a familiar sensation that he could not identify...
It was with this very same consciousness that Zuko awoke having this morning. It was always the same. It made him feel calm and warm and safe, and he never wished for it to leave him.
He reluctantly rose out of bed, wincing as the sunlight pierced his eyes and dressed for the day. He could already hear his uncle shuffling in the kitchen of their apartment preparing breakfast before work. Sighing, he walked in the room and his uncle greeted him amiably.
"Good morning, Zuko," he said, "You are looking well today."
Zuko merely mumbled in groggy response, not up for conversation. He ate breakfast quietly, pensive in the dreams that haunted him. Outside the window the sun was rising above the sky in such a way that its rays danced over the rooftops of the city. The sun was like a small flicker of hope upon a dreary horizon that was enough to wake him up each day. He would watch the sun often back in the Fire Nation, what with the Sun being the very symbol of his country. There was something different about this sunrise, something urgent, crucial. That was impossible, nothing would change today. They would run the tea shop, come home sleep and the very next day would be no different. He knew this. Was this really the fate of the Prince of the Fire Nation? Was this his destiny? To serve tea for the rest of his life?
He refused for it to be so…
There had to be something more.
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A ten year old Zuko stood ready in the middle of the Royal Gardens, drawing his Uncle's dagger from its sheath. He wore it on him all the time, since his mother's disappearance. He preferred not thinking about it.
Azula had only made things worse.
He used swift movements whirling the dagger around with notable speed: jabbing, ramming, slicing. His anger ignited inside him and settled into his stomach, aching. Tensing, Zuko moved even harder, more aggressive.
His anger only burned his insides further, until finally he thrust the blade into a nearby cherry tree. It sank into the pale wood with a sharp thunk… and a gasp?
A young girl his age stood adjacent to the tree he had thrown the dagger into, missing her narrowly. She stood and stared alarmed, at the dagger then at him. She had the darkest red-brown eyes and long black hair. He gazed back at her with equaling shock…then hostility.
"What are you doing here?" he demanded, standing defensively, though his cheeks reddened.
The girl did not answer right away she only blinked at him rapidly, looking rather flustered herself. She took in a breath.
"You could kill someone like that, you kn – "
"Were you following me?" He pressed. She frowned, her elegant little nose wrinkling.
"I…I wasn't!!" She protested. Zuko sighed, folding his arms.
"Then why are you here?" He asked resignedly. The girl hesitated, fiddling with her long, windswept hair.
The cherry tree leaves swirled beautifully around them, but neither child took notice.
"Look, I felt about what happened at the ceremony," she said quietly. "I didn't know it was like that for you."
"I don't need your sympathy," he retorted, "I never asked for this…"
"Well, neither did I..."
Silence.
The girl turned to the tree with the dagger, approached it and pulled it out of the trunk. She read its inscription.
"Never give up without a fight." She held it out to him, and he frowns at her. She gazed straight into his eyes, her eyes unsettling. Then, surprisingly, she smiled.
"Wh-what?" he asked. Her smile widened as she looked away.
"Nothing…Just thinking," she murmured. She handed him the blade, bowed, and turned to leave.
"I will see you again, Prince Zuko."
"Wait!" He said sharply
But she only dashed off, leaving him with the dagger in the swirling petals.
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Zuko stood and tied his apron setting up the shop for the grand opening. Iroh began boiling the water in the kitchen while he cleaned the tables. He did so robotically, lost in thought.
There had to be more.
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Meanwhile,
"It's terrible when you can't trust the people closest to you," the Kyoshi warrior said smoothly to the Earth King. Her unusual golden eyes shifted surreptitiously to the other three warriors who kneeled at her sides.
"Not to worry", the Earth King explained, "Long Feng is locked up and the Avatar and his friends have led us information about a Solar Eclipse approaching the Fire Nation."
The female warriors exchanged significant glances.
"My," the head warrior prompted, "that is very interesting."
"It is so good to welcome the four of you here," the unaware king said happily,"please stay in the palace as honored guests."
"Nothing would please us more, your highness," the leader of the warriors said coolly. The foursome bowed and went to their chambers, silently cheering at their greatest victory…
Deceit.
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(A/N: READ AND REVIEW!! I will be posting Art from this story on Deviant art soon!)