Its done! Oh god my butt hurts from sitting so long! In sight on life as children for characters is always good to have in a story.


It was War Year 1085, and the royal family of the Fire Nation celebrated the birth of Prince Ozai's first son Prince Zuko.

The Fire Nation now had four Prince's but Fire Load Azulon was already set on giving his oldest son and first grandson the next titles of Fire Lord.

Even though the Fire Nation was happy at the birth of the new Prince, a small farming village near the ocean celabrated the birth of a baby girl.

The village was happy over the birth of the Prince, but the little girl was a joy.

As the man hoped for a safe birth as they worked in the farms an at sea, the woman of the village tended to the newborn.

"I can't believe how beautiful she is Mao." A middle aged woman said.

"She's so adorable." A younger woman added.

The woman in the room crowded round the bed where a woman with long brown hair,Mao, sat holding her new born daughter in her arms.

"She looks just like her father." Mao said.

"I bet everything I have that Yoh is so proud." A elder woman said.

"Yes, I know thats ture. I only wish she could have met him." Mao responded.

"Have you though of a name yet for her Miss. Mao?" A little girl asked.

Mao held her daughter close.

"Mariah."

The woman in the room all talked quietly to each other as an elder man wrote something on in a book.

It was information on Mariah's appearence at birth, the last thing he wrote was a "a flaming heart shaped birthmark on her right rist.".

Five years went by slowly for the village, and Mariah grew up with out a care in the world.

The village treated her like a princess, even though she would help with everyday things when ever possible. But she was still a little girl.

It was soon that year that Mao died. Mariah was alone and no matter what the villagers did they couldn't calm Mariha down.

It was then that her eyes glowed bright and a pillar of light was seen from a great distance away.

The pillar was gone, but Mariah's eyes were still glowing. She boxed herself up in the village shrine, and thats were the soilders found her.

They came to get the avatar alone with three Fire Sage's. But they found Mariah instead.

"Idiots stand clear!" The Captian ordered.

The sage's appeared and walked in to the room there mouths opened.

"Is she?" The Captain nervously asked.

"Yes she is.." The sage closest to Mariah answered.

"The Priestess."

It took a few days, but soon the sage's had returned to the palace of the Fire Lord.

It was late sunset when the were called to the Fire Lords chamber.

On either side of the room sat the royal family. Prince Iroh and his son to the right, and Prince Ozai sat with his wife Princess Ursa.

The sage's knelled in the center on the room in front of Fire Lord Azulon.

"Our Fire Lord. We have brought the Fire Nation a great treasure." The oldest sage spoke.

"What treasure could be greater then the Avatar Sage's?" Azulon asked.

The sage's stood as the doors opened behind them. Soilder surrounded a little Mariah, now dressed in fine red and white robes.

The sage's brought her to the front.

"Fire Lord Azulon we give you the girl we've waited for." The sage began.

"The Priestess?!" Azulon was in shocked.

"Child. What is your name?" Azulon asked.

"Mariah,oh great Fire Lord." She answered nervously.

Azulon stood.

"This is a great day history! This girl is an answered pray! Sage's she is in need of training, I exspect notting less but perfection." Azulon annouced.

"Yes Lord!" The sage's bowed, and approached Mariah, but she was terrified. Her eyes were filled with tears.

"Child come along!" A sage demanded.

Mariah shook her head in protest.

"Sage how old is the girl?" Princess Ursa asked.

"Princess? She is five I believe." The sage answered.

"Isn't it stated that the Pristess must be at least eight years of age before her training begins. " Ursa stated.

"You are correct Ursa. I leave her in your care as of this moment." Azulon stated.

"Yes Lord." Ursa answered with a bow.

In another part of the palace was a lovely courtyard bathed in the light of the setting sun.

Beside it was a building, wear a little boy ran out, the young Prince Zuko.

"Azula knock it off already!" Zuko annoyingly demanded as he walked down the stairs.

"Your not the boss of me. Father is, Zuzu." A four year old Azula replied exiting the building.

"Now whats going on here?" Princess Ursa's was heard asking very motherly.

The sibblings looked to see there mother stand with little Mariah.

"Mom! Huh? Who's that?" Zuko asked.He meant Mariah,as she was hidden behind Ursa's gown.

When Mariah felt Ursa's hand on her head she looked up to a kind face, and with a little help Mariah moved out from behind her and infront of Zuko.

"Zuko,Azula,this is Mariah. Mariah,these are my children. Prince Zuko and Princess Azula."

"Mother what's she here for?" Azula asked.

"Little Mariah is the new Priestess of the Fire Nation. She will be in our company for sometime."Ursa answered her daughter.

"Excuse me your Highness?" A maid spoke.

"Yes,I'm coming. Make friends and be nice to each other. I'll be right back." Ursa said and walked over to the maid.

"Can't you talk?"Zuko asked looking at Mariah.

"ah..yes..prince.." She said nervously in a soft tone.

"Oh goodie she can speak. Not as well as me,but atleast she trying." Azula spoke.

"i..can talk just..fine!" Mariah said,this time with more feeling.

"Azula just leave her alone, and me to whall your at it!"Zuko said.

"Fine I will go then. I'ts time for my bath anyway." Azula stuck her noise in the air and left with two nurse maids.

"I'm sorry for my sister. You talk fine. Do you want to be friends?" Zuko asked.

"Sure!" Mariah smilled with a little laugh.

"Well I see you to became fast friends."Ursa's voice was heard.

The children look and saw her standing in the door way.

"Come along, it's time for your baths." Ursa contiued.

Zuko walked towards her, then stopped in front of Mariah, and held out his right hand.

"Come on."Zuko said.

Mariah shyly took Zuko's hand. Ursa had begun walking and the two new friends followed after her happily.

Two days later Azulon addressed the Fire Nation of Mariah.

She was then on that day known as The High Priestess of The Fire Nation.

Five years Later...

War Year 1095...

The courtyard of the palace was lovely that day. A young eight year old Azula along with another little girl, Ty Lee, played happily.

Azula began to set up for a cartwheel.

But after making several successful flips she falls at the end. Ty Lee executes the move flawlessly and with incredible grace.

She lands on her feet, as Azula knocks her over and laughs, pointing at the fallen girl.

"Azula!" She sighs in malice.

Near a tree sat another little girl, Mai.

She looked to her left to see Zuko and his mother walking down the path across the courtyard Zuko had a look of determination on his face as he walked. Mai looked away, her cheeks blushing red and a small smile stealing across her face.

This Azula notices.

"Watch this." She whispers to Ty Lee.

She runs over to catch her mother and brother as Ty Lee laughs quietly.

"Mom, can you make Zuko play with us? We need equal teams to play a game."

"I am not cart wheeling." Zuko said emphatically.

"You won't have to. Cart wheeling's not a game, dumb dumb. "

"I don't care. I don't want to play with you. I have something else I have to do!"

"We are brother and sister. It's important for us to spend time together. Don't you think so, mom?" Azula spoke, her voice becoming sickly sweet.

"Yes darling, I think it's a good idea to play with your sister. Go on now, just for a little while. "Ursa walks off, leaving Zuko.

What Azula had in mind was a prank. Picking an apple off a tree branch she placed it on Mai's head. A Fire Nation version on William Tell.

Azula wanted Zuko to try to knock the apple off Mai's head, who was unhappy about it.

Azula fired a blast at the apple, whose stem caught on fire. Mai was surprised.

Zuko instantly tried to help the girl not wanting her to get burned as Azula looked on smugly.

Zuko stampeded over to Mai. Tripping , knocking the burning apple off Mai's head, but also knocking them both into the fountain.

As Azula and Ty Lee made fun of them Zuko got up, he knew something like this would happen.

Princess Ursa come out of one of the buildings near by as Zuko walked past her, dripping water.

"I was just coming to get you. Uncle Iroh sent us a letter from the war front. You're soaking wet." She stated.
"Girls are crazy!" Zuko told her with a gesture of frustration.

"Am I crazy too young Prince?" A girls voice asked.

Zuko looked up and blushed as an ten year old Mariah in her full covering white and red robes and gown stood in front of him.

"n..No! Your not crazy Mariah! Just Azula and..." Zuko said nervously and embarresed as he walked up to her.

"Oh poor Zuko! Your all wet! Please bring Prince Zuko clean cloths and a towel!" Mariah called.

Princess Ursa watched happily. Mariah was like the daughter she always wanted Azula to act like.

She was loved, gentle, took care of Zuko, and had taken to royal life like cindeling to a flame.

If things went well Mariah would be her daughter in time, and that made her smille.

By the time Zuko was taken care of, Ty Lee and Mai were gone, and the little family read Iroh's later from the battlefield.

"If the city is as magnificent as its wall, Ba Sing Se must be something to behold.

I hope you all may see it someday, if we don't burn it to the ground first." Ursa began,pausing to laugh at the comment with the children.

"Until then, enjoy these gifts. For Zuko, a pearl dagger from the general who surrendered when we broke through the outer wall.

Note the inscription and the superior craftsmanship." Zuko ran over and picked up a dagger offered by a servant on some sort of tray.

"Never give up without a fight.?"He read.

Another servant walked to Mariah beside Ursa and handed her a box.

"For our sweet Priestess Mariah, silk cloth to be made in to fine robes and gown." Ursa continued.

"It's beautiful!" Mariah said.

Azula standing in front of another servant, who offers her something on a tray.

"And for Azula, a new friend. She wears the latest fashion for Earth Kingdom girls.?" Ursa read on.

Azula picks up a doll wearing Earth Kingdom green. The Princess makes a face of disgust.

"If Uncle doesn't make it back from war, then dad would be next in line to be Fire Lord, wouldn't he?"Azula spoke.

Zuko ran around practicing with his new blade.

"Azula, we don't speak that way. It would be awful if Uncle Iroh didn't return. And besides, Fire Lord Azulon is a picture of health."

Ursa told her disappointed

"How would you like it if cousin Lu Ten wanted dad to die?" Zuko said.

"I still think our dad would make a much better Fire Lord than his royal tea loving kookiness. "

She said as she held out the doll its head burst into flames.

Several days later in the garden of the Fire Nation palace Zuko, Azula, and Mariah ran by laughing and playing as a servant approached Ursa who sat by the pond.

He hands her a scroll. She opens it and stands up. A tear rolls down her face. And Zuko approaches her with Mariah.

"Iroh has lost his son. Your cousin Lu Ten did not survive the battle." Ursa said in tears.

In Zuko's room in the palace,he plays with his sword. He plays dead and falls over, revealing young Azula and , Mariah behind him seated in chairs.

"You waste all your time playing with knives. You're not even good." Azula stated.

"Put an apple on your head and we'll find out how good I am!" Zuko said getting up, his cheeks flaming.

Azula got up and walked over to him.

"By the way, Uncle's coming home." She said.

"Does that mean the war's over?" Mariah asked.

"No. It mean's Uncle's a quitter and a loser." Azula answered.

"What are you talking about? Uncle's not a quitter."Zuko replied. As Azula leaned against a nearby pillar.

"Oh yes he is. He found out his son died and he just fell apart.

A real general would stay and burn Ba Sing Se to the ground, not lose the battle and come home crying."

"How do you know what he should do? He's probably just sad his only kid is gone, forever. " Zuko said with his head down.

Mariah appearing beside him as Ursa appeared.

"Your father has requested an audience with Fire Lord Azulon. Best clothes, hurry up.Mariah you too." She tells them.

"Fire Lord Azulon. Can't you just call him Grandfather? He's not exactly the powerful Fire Lord he used to be. Some one will probably end up talking his place soon." Azula spoke.
"Young lady! Not, another, word." Ursa said crossly, as Azula ran past. "What is wrong with that child?" She asked herself.

Fire Lord's throne room was a place the children hadn't been in sometime. The chamber was filled with dark, ornate pillars holding up the roof. The center aisle leading up to the dais clear and easy to see. The Fire Lord siat on his thrown up on the dais, separated from the rest of the hall by a trench of fire.

Seated on the floor below were Azula to the far left and Zuko besides his father.

Ursa sat to the right with Mariah beside her.

Ozai was givining what seemed to be a schooling test on royal family history.

Azula get the questions correct, Ozai even had her show off Firebending.

A task that was no where close to matching Mariah in style and grace.

When Zuko tried his hand at it, he was evidently less skilled then his sister and friend.

After a few moments, he chokes on the routine and falls on his backside. He recovers and finishes the routine as his mother looks on in concern. Azula looks on her brother's failure with glee. Ursa rushes over to him along with Mariah.

"I failed." Zuko said dejected.
" No, I loved watching you. That's who you are Zuko.Someone who keeps fighting even though it's hard." Ursa told him.

"I bet you'll be a master of it in no time Prince." Mariah said.

"Prince Ozai, why are you wasting my time with this pomp? Just tell me what you want. Everyone else go. Priestess I am happy you are doing well."

Azulon said frustrated and angry at first, then calm with Mariah.
"I am also happy with your welbeing Fire Lord Azulon."Mariah answered with a bow.

As Ursa,with the children were exiting the chamber, Azula grabbed Zuko by the hand and takes him behind some curtains.

Ursa and Mariah leaving with out noticing.

"What are you??"Zuko asked, but Azula only shushed him.

They run behind the curtains and then peak out near where Ozai now addresses his father.

"Father, you must have realized as I have, that with Lu Ten gone, Iroh's bloodline has ended. After his son's death, my brother abandoned the siege at Ba-Sing-Se, and who knows when he will return home? But I am here, father, and my children are alive." Ozai stated.
"Say what it is you want." Azulon said.
"Father, revoke Iroh's birthright. I am your humble servant, here to serve you and our nation. Use me."Ozai spoke.
"You dare suggest I betray Iroh? My first born?Directly after the demise of his only beloved son? I think Iroh has suffered enough. But you, your punishment has scarcely begun!"

Scared, Zuko breaks from Azula and runs away. Azula turns back to the spectacle, a cruel smile on her face.

It was later that night and Zuko was asleep in his bed. The door opens and Zuko awakes. Azula leans against the doorway.

"Dad's going to kill you. Really, he is."
"Ha-ha Azula. Nice try."
"Fine, don't believe me, but I heard everything. Grandfather said dad's punishment should fit his crime. You must know the pain of losing a first born son, by sacrificing your own!? Azula imitating her grandfather.
"Liar!"
"I'm only telling you for your own good. I know, maybe you could find a nice Earth Kingdom family to adopt you."

"Stop it, you're lying. Dad would never do that to me."

"Your father would never do what to you? What is going on here?" Ursa asked as she appeared in the room.

Mariah sticking her head in the doorway.

" I don't know."Azula said sweetly.
" It's time for a talk." Ursa said taken Azula's rist and leading her out the door. Mariah rushing to Zuko and claiming on to the bed.

"What ever she said to you, it was a lie." Mariah told him leaving the bed she left and closed the door on her way out.

"Azula always lies? Azula always lies?" Zuko said almost chanting.

It was very late now. But in the darkness of night something was happening.

As Zuko slept in his bed he awoke,still hafe asleep.

"Mom?"

Zuko sat up, his mother silhouette in the dark near him.

"Zuko, please, my love, listen to me. Everything I've done, I've done to protect you. Remember this Zuko. No matter how things may seem to change, never forget who you are." Ursa told him with a hug.

She lets him go and walks down the dark hall out of his room. Pulling a hood over her head.

The next day Zuko got up out of bed and ran down the hall as he calls for his mother.

"Mom? Mom, mom!"

"Azula who leaned against a pillar somewhere in the palace, played with Zuko's knife. She stepped out from behind the pillar as Zuko passes.

"Where's mom?" Zuko asked slightly panicked.
"No one knows. Oh, and last night, Grandpa passed away."
"Not funny, Azula. You're sick. And I want my knife back, now."

He grabs for the knife, but she dodges and holds the knife out in front of her, taunting him.

"Who's going to make me? Mom?"

He grabs the knife and runs out of the room. He runs into the garden where Ozai looks out over the pond.

"Where is she?"
His father does not reply. Zuko looks down in despair."

That day Ozai was given the title of Fire Lord. Still in white ceremonial cloths Zuko found Mariah in her room crying.

He walked to her and sat beside her on her bed.

She began the cry on him as he huged her.

"Don't cry Mariah. I'm still here with you.."

The childhood of Zuko and Mariah was sweet and sour. They grew for the next three years watched over by Iroh, and there happiness returned.

But it was short lived.

Now three years later Zuko looked apon the wall of Ba Sing Se, no longer in Fire Nation cloths, his ponytail replaced with newly grown hair.

He was with another younge man, named Jet. But it seemed Zuko was not in the mood for friends.

He returned to his Uncle to see him tearing.

"Nephew look! It's a miracle! Iroh said.

There beside him was a girl dressed in simple Earth Kingdom cloths. Her hair up in a ponytail.

"I can't believe Mao's alright. Can you Lee?" Iroh stated,calling Zuko by his fake name.

It was a new start. The girl in front of him in tears,called Mao,was in fact Mariah.


Like I'd realy kill her off! Very funny! Review time people!