Previously on Avatar…..

Sokka: I haven't seen her this happy since our mom died.

Suki: Can you blame her? She has a family now. The most amazing family ever if you ask me.

~~~~~…..~~~~~

Katara: "Sokka and I suffered so much. It still doesn't seem fair"

Ta Min: "Do you think you were the only ones who suffered?"

~~~~~~~~~DUNDUN~~~~~~~~

I silently counted in my head, waiting for the burning to leave my skin.

Thirty-eight, thirty-nine…..

I felt the comforting coolness nip my skin as the flames died. I opened my eyes, just realizing that I had clamped them shut, and looked around my new surroundings. We were in a lavish bedroom, much like the one I had woken up in…..sorta. It was beautifully decorated, gold and scarlet finishing covered everything. A man sat at a large desk. His head was buried in his hands. He looked up and growling in frustration. Standing abruptly, he knocked the chair back. He turned and began pacing the room. I caught a glimpse of his face and felt my heart rate pick up. I recognized him from the noodle portrait Aang had brought back when he went a Fire Nation school.

"Firelord Ozai," I hissed.

"Prince Ozai," Ta Min corrected, dropping my wrist. I looked at her curiously. "This was years ago, just before his coronation. Not long after the end of the siege of Ba Sing Se by Prince Iroh."

"How does this explain what Roku did?" I grumbled, watching the evil mastermind pace the room.

"Your life was not the only one to be affected by my husband. Though it killed him to do it, he has changed all of your friends' lives. He sent frightening dreams to the Bei Fong's about their daughter, causing them to become overprotective of the Earthbender. Her rebellious nature would cause her to runaway to the badgermole caves, where she learned true Earthbending. And your friend, the Kyoshi Warrior. While on vacation with her family, she fell in love with Kyoshi Island. But, when it was time to leave, she refused to return. She claimed she had dreams where Kyoshi herself would come and train her to become a Warrior, and the Avatar would tell her that she would play an important role in the war." I stared at her amazed.

"Roku planned all that?" She nodded.

"He was gifted at planning strategies. Something he learned while spending time in this horrid place. For, you see, Avatar Roku and Firelord Sozin were-."

"The best of friends until Sozin suggested increasing the size of the Fire Nation. When Roku refused, Sozin went along with his plan anyway. Yeah, I know." She nodded, clearly impressed. Suddenly, I remembered something. Rather, someone. "But, what about Zuko? I know some pretty bad things have happened to him but, did Roku cause any of them?" Ta Min sighed.

"Yes, it pained him the most though. To bring such pain onto family." She shook her head sadly. My mind blanked upon hearing the last sentence.

"Wait. Family?" Before she could answer, the door to the bedroom swung open and a woman barged in. I immediately recognized her from the golden statue in the courtyard-dream.

"Ozai, you can't go through with this." Zuko's mom cried rushing over to her husband.

"What are you talking about?" he snapped.

"Azula was just taunting Zuko," she growled her gold eyes flashing. "She said you were going to kill him."

'Wow,' I thought. 'Even as a kid, Azula's making Zuko's life a living hell. Who tells somebody that?'

Ozai returned Ursa's harsh glare. "You can' do it. You can't kill your own son." She said darkly. I blanched. Azula hadn't been lying? Ozai was really going to kill Zuko?

"I can," he said, his voice was emotionless as he turned away from her. "If the Firelord commands me too." Ursa's eyes brightened as she held back tears. She fell silent for a moment, biting her lip, as though she were trying to make a decision.

"What if you don't have to?" She said eventually. Taking a deep breath she whispered, "I have a proposition to make."

Her husband turned back to her. "I'm listening."

"You don't have to follow Azulan's orders," she hesitated before adding, "If you're Firelord."

"Are you suggesti-?"

"I'll take care of Azulan." She breathed. "You will become Firelord. And my son will live." she growled the last part.

"You do understand the consequences, don't you?" Ozai said coldly. "You will be tried for treason and-."

"Banishment is the least of my problems." She mumbled. She turned on her heel and walked towards the door. "By tomorrow evening, you will be Firelord." After she left, Ozai was silent. Suddenly he gave a small cruel smile that sent shivers down my spine. He got up and left the room.

"He was going to kill Zuko?" I cried turning to face the Avatar's wife. "His own son?" She nodded.

"You sound surprised. Didn't you always believe he was a monster?"

"W-well, yeah." I sputtered. "But killing your own child? That's unimaginable." I rushed out of the room and down the long hall. I spun the corner and saw Ursa entering a room. I quickly followed her inside. This room was very similar to Ozai and Ursa's, but its owner had added their own personal touches. Two swords were mounted on the wall closest to the large bed. On another hung a lavish picture of a red and a blue dragon. Next to it, hung a blue mask that was trimmed with white. I knew it from a wanted poster - the one of the Blue Spirit.

"Hey, mom." I spun around to see a boy sitting at his desk, bent over a piece of parchment. His long black hair was pulled back into those stupid Fire Nation ponytails. He examined his mother and I blinked in surprise. It was odd. I knew the boy was Zuko, but without his scar- it didn't seem like it was the right Zuko, the good Zuko. I guess that was true, considering his transformation.

"Zuko," Ursa smiled sweetly. "What are you doing?"

"Writing a letter to Uncle Iroh." he said brightly. He showed her the piece of paper and his mother scanned its contents.

"It is very nice. He will love it. Where is your sister?" Zuko made a face, and I smiled. He reminded me so much of Sokka sometimes.

"In the courtyard. Ty Lee and Mai are with her. She's showing them some of her bending."

"She's only supposed to do that in class." His mother said.

"When has Azula ever listened to rules?" He huffed, continuing to write. He looked up at his mother and I examined the left side of his face again. Than, something caught my eye.

"Golden eyes," I whispered. I turned to head back to the other bedroom, but Ta Min stood in the doorway watching my curiously. "He has your eyes. He's-Zuko's- and than-." I stuttered, unable to relay the information. Ta Min chuckled softly.

"Yes, child. I am Prince Zuko's great-grandmother."

"And that means- Roku is his great-grandfather." She nodded patiently. I was astounded at the thought that Zuko really was half-good, half-evil. 'Well, that explains all the conflict mood-swings.' "That means," I made a face as the thought struck me. "Aang and Zuko are related in a creepy Spiritual way." That sounded so weird.

"Yes," Ta Min smiled.

"Do they know?" I whispered. I could vaguely imagine the look of horror on the two boys' faces when I told them.

"Of course."

"Wait-and they didn't tell me?" I blinked; hurt that Aang would keep this from me.

"Well," Ta Min chortled, reaching a hand out and grabbing my shoulder. "Its not a discussion you have over tea, now is it?" And with that, I was pulled back into the flames. I ignored the unbearable heat. I was really hurt that Aang hadn't told me about him and Zuko. He told me everything. Didn't he?

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Ahhh, don't you just love foreshadowing?