A man with too much ambition cannot sleep in peace.
~Unknown.
Zuko had come back to the garden hoping to find the girl waiting for him but she wasn't. He had forgotten to take his knife back from her and he was not in a happy mood. His father had been right, peasants only did know how to steal. He decided to use his firebending to let off some of his frustration but it wasn't working and allowed his body to collapse on the grass.
He wondered what he would tell Iroh or Luten when he got back to the Firenation. It had been specially made for an earth Kingdom General who surrendered during one of his Uncle's siege. He gazed up at the sky and his thoughts reverted to her, the blue sky reminding him of her blue eyes that stood out to him.
A hand appeared to help him and he looked up to see who it was. It was none other than his sister Azula with a wild grin on her face. He reached out to take her hand, but she immediately retreated it, causing him to stumble and fall flat on his face.
He scowled up at her, while she burst out in snarky laughter.
"Oh Zuzu" she giggled. "What are you doing lazying around? You aren't even playing with that stupid knife"
"It's not stupid! Don't you have other places to be?"
Watching as her brother stood up glowering and dusting off his tunic she replied
"Well since we are miles away from home, I have nowhere else to be."
Azula was right. As soon as they set foot in the palace she had explored all the area the family was residing in. From the five kitchens to the royal hunting grounds, the two ballrooms, three libraries and storage rooms. There was plenty of restricted access that she was prohibited to enter especially the Earth King's residence, but with the hidden passage, vents, and tunnels she discovered last night, her adventure would have to continue.
"I just came to tell you that father requires our presence immediately on the training grounds"
Zuko's eyes widened, of course, he had forgotten that his fire bending exhibition to his father was today or even in the Earth Kingdom. He had been excited to think that coming here would be a kind of holiday for him with no work.
"You forgot didn't you Zuzu?" Azula smirked in satisfaction.
"I did not" he shot back "And don't call me by that name"
He snarled and walked past his sister to get ready for the dreaded assessment.
Azula suddenly called out to him.
"Zuzu, guess what I learned?"
Zuko turned back to his sister wondering what she had to brag about this time. His eyes caught a blue flame illuminating on Azula's palm. She began closing and opening her fist and the fire changed from the cold looking blue flame back to the normal orange. Wide-eyed he rushed back to his sister to get a closer look at the flame, but she extinguished it and placed her hand behind her back.
"Where did you learn that?"
Azula looked at her brother innocently feeding off his reaction. It carried shock, anger, and fear. Fear that father was going to be disappointed with him again like he always was and anger at his sister for mastering such an advanced firebending technique before him.
"Maybe instead of being a lazy slothtortise, you would know" she smirked and began to walk away, but Zuko grabbed her wrist.
"Azula, don't show father"
"And why not? You don't want him to think that I'm a better firebender?" She giggled, "Which is true."
She looked back at her brother who held a pleading look, he really didn't want his father boasting about Azula being born lucky to him once again. He had gotten better at his form and yearned to receive praise from his father.
"Fine, I will think about it." the princess smiled innocently and began to make her way to the palace's exhibition grounds with her brother following behind.
Prince Ozai,
I'm afraid that your absence in the palace, has allowed for Iroh the opportunity to take on tasks to further strengthen his position. Not only has he invited earth Kingdom ambassadors to the first council meeting, he also invited Pakku of the Southern water tribe.
If I may speak freely, these actions lead me to question why he sent you to the earth kingdom to discuss treaties but invited most of their ambassadors and officials into the Fire Nation.
Additionally, I have recently discovered that the prince's coronation will be occurring in less than five days. I'm assuming the Firelord plans to make it a small ceremony, since not that many people are aware. Including your family.
Zhao
Long Feng quickly spotted the Fire Prince standing on the edge of the training grounds overlooking the big ring. Inside sat his children meditating under their celestial ancestor.
His eye caught the young girl, sitting in such a regal and poise position. Although her eyes were closed, her smile silently reminded him of his late cousin. He frowned at the sight of the boy, he would for sure be an obstacle if he sought to pave a path he sought for his niece. If she had been born a boy, it would've been easier, but first, he needed to get what Ozai wanted to get what he needed.
"You called me?"
The prince only nodded in response and returned his attention back to the children. They stood up and bowed to each other in Fire Nation style, and took their sparing positions.
He then gestured for them to begin. As usual, Azula delivered the first blow. Leaving Zuko on the defensive. She was very flexible in her forms, delivering her blows with swooping precision. This made Ozai beam with pride.
Long Feng decided to break the silence.
"She is gifted"
"Indeed, just like her grandfather Azulon"
"Although I can't speak for your son though. "
Ozai frowned, Long Feng knew he struck a chord with him. To be honest, Ozai's son wasn't lacking in skill, but compared to his niece it made him look like an amateur.
Ozai shifted and turned to sit under the canopy. Long Feng chose to stand beside him to make the prince feel authoritative. Long Feng tore his gaze from the royal children and watched the Prince curiously. He noticed a piece of parchment in the Prince's hands and before he could ask, the prince gestured for him to read the letter. As he scanned it, Ozai began to speak.
"I have thought about your offer and I will take it." He continued to look straight ahead at his children as he spoke.
"However, I will like to hear what you want".
Of course, Long Feng thought silently, the Prince needed to know who he was dealing with.
"I would like to be an ambassador for Ba Sing Se when you become Firelord." Ozai turned to look at the man, certain that definitely was not the only request he had.
"My second request involves your daughter."
The prince quirked his brow in response.
Long Feng chuckled.
"Well she is my niece after all, and in honor of my cousin's death Lihua. I pray you to make Azula your heir when you take the throne."
Funny, where had he heard that request before?
Ozai turned to him remembering the promise he made to Lihua, just as she was about to have his daughter. It was the exact same request and was not surprised. He would've loved for Azula to be his legitimate heir if it weren't for Ursa and Zuko. There was also another problem.
"That would be a difficult task. Not only is she not my first born, she is also the daughter of a concubine. A concubine whose mother is of Earth Kingdom Heritage."
He had met Lihua in the Fire Nation during one of Azulon's ceremonies. Her father had been a Fire Nation colonial general in the Earth Kingdom and had brought his family despite backlash of marrying an earth Kingdom noblewoman. Lihua was a beautiful woman. She had brown eyes that held conviction and long straight dark hair that flowed to her hips. Azula's smile was just like hers and every time he looked at his daughter he was grateful for what Lihua gave him.
Even though he did not love her, Lihua had been an escape for him after days of worrying about his sickly newborn son. Ozai had been having a few drinks that night leading to their steaming night together and after finding out about her pregnancy he had no choice but to take her as his.
Princes could hold concubines if they wished even Azulon had a few but killed them as soon as they got pregnant. However, that also meant Ursa would be viewed as an unsatisfactory wife, which did not fare well with his image. With fate on his side, Lihua passed away during childbirth and Ursa assumed responsibility for his daughter.
"You request will be considered, so long as your side of the bargain is kept".
If he was about to snatch his brother's birthright, it wouldn't be that hard to break other traditions once he was Firelord.
Long Feng seemed satisfied enough.
"Trust me, when you become Firelord and I become the ambassador, other Earth Kingdom officials will not be as hostile as they are to your brother".
One thing Ozai's father had taught him, was that there was no trust in politics. It was only a game of survival. A dangerous one.
Iroh still held the loyalty of Fire Nation officials, except one.
Ozai stroked his bearded chin in thought. He suddenly smirked and looked at Long Feng with delight.
"My brother still has the loyalty of various officials in the palace. All I have to do then is to have them question his power. He may have their trust but his son doesn't"
"So we use his son to overthrow him?" Long Feng asked.
Ozai smiled smugly as if he had just solved a puzzle.
"No, we find a way to make sure that son of his does not stand in the way. Since my brother is too old to have more heirs his place on the throne will become jeopardized.
He then chuckled
"And I know just who can make it happen while we stay here and avoid suspicions"
This trip had become more interesting than he had expected.
"The children are sparring really well; wouldn't you say?"
Both men turned to the feminine voice and it belonged to none other than Ursa. Long Feng's eyes widened while Ozai narrowed his eyes suspiciously. She casually approached them and took a seat beside her husband. His eyes flared dangerously at her and he watched her like a hawk. Instead of her to look away like she normally did, she met his gaze unflinching, letting him know she heard every word. Long Feng immediately took his leave with a quick bow leaving the couple alone to watch their children in a tense silence.
Anger boiled inside of him as the prince looked out to his two children, his eyes narrowed dangerously at the boy whose mother sat beside him. Angry hot steam escaped his nostrils as he sat beside his wife. She was completely loyal to Iroh and Ozai knew exactly what he had to do to if he wanted Ursa to stay by his side.