Note: Generally, 'hate' can be viewed in any part of the series, but is meant to be seen just before 'the Cave of Two Lovers'. It's what I think Zuko really feels about his father. Read all the way to the end, or you might get the wrong picture. Thank you for reading, and please review!

Hate

Hate,

Or maybe discipline.

Remorse,

Or possibly pride.

Sixteen years,

Of what I can't see.

Three years of confusion and anger.

And now,

A life of regret,

Separation,

And possibly,

Maybe,

Hate.

Resting my eyes, I lay on the soft grass silently. Uncle lounges around the fire, gazing into its burning flames. As I drift off my mind races to the past. I try all I can to stop these memories from biting me back, but they always find me.

'I didn't mean to disrespect you; I didn't mean to disrespect anyone. But so heartless, how could that man be so heartless, but it wasn't his life he was sacrificing now was it. And it seems I sacrificed my life, my birth, my honor for other men I had never met, never known. Yet you saw that I was a disgrace, a son unsuited to be Fire Lord, unfit to be prince.

Do you hate me? You must hate me, for all I do is to please you, to make you proud. But in your eyes it's not enough, it doesn't matter. Because I'm not yours, I couldn't be yours; Azula, she's your true legacy. She will make you proud. She won't disgrace you, she won't shame you.

You think that war is all that exists, all that matters. Fire is the only suitable element to rule this world. It doesn't matter about peace or balance. All you want, all you crave is power.

You are right; I am not your son, I never will be. I won't give in to your evil, your hate; because I will make a difference. I will not give up, not without a fight.

You've always loved Azula far more than me; you always made sure she followed in you footsteps, because she is perfect, she is a prodigy.

But I'll keep fighting. I'll keep learning. I'm not giving in to you. You don't know me. You don't know how I fight, how I strive to do what I know I'm destined to do. I may be surrounded by flames, but I am not evil. I know who I am.'

Sullenly opening my eyes, I gaze into the luminous, glowing stars. Uncle has fallen asleep. Propping myself up I glance around me; it seems I am alone in this solemn, silent forest. Trees rustle in the light, warming breeze as the air rests unstoppably. "I am not my father," I whisper almost inaudibly.

And yet my thoughts linger back, way before this disaster of life. I run through the rolling hills as he follows after me. Azula sprints along with me. We're young, too young to be caught up in this fiery fate. We all laugh joyously, peacefully as if the outer world does not exist, this war doesn't exist. Then I remember my father's face when She was gone. He stood without words in front of that graceful, golden pond. His eyes were empty and gray; blank and stiff. This couldn't possibly, even maybe be hate; not after this life we've been through. This is just another obstacle, another event, deafening our relationship. But this is not hate.