-8 YEARS LATER-
Zuko sprinted through the palace, trying his best to get to the training ground as fast as his legs would carry him. He was sure to catch some grief for being so late to Yuudai's big day, but he had a feeling his recent meeting with his grandfather would change their minds quickly. It had taken some serious begging, as well as additional pushing from his uncle, but Fire Lord Azulon had finally relented and given them permission to leave the palace grounds for one night! As long as they followed his rules, such as no Firebending unless someone's life was in danger or concealing their identities, they would have free reign of the city until sunrise. He'd been running ever since, too excited to think straight. Finally, he reached the testing grounds and fell into the seat next to his sister.
Yuudai had grown strong through his time in the palace, standing nearly six and half feet tall. His body was a two hundred and seventy pound fortress, muscles rippling under his skin like liquid steel. His entire life had been spent crafting his body into a living weapon, all leading up to this day. Azula watched him pace around the testing ring, like a predator stalking a kill. A hulking, dashing, extremely handsome preda-FOCUS AZULA, she inwardly hissed to herself. She felt her older brother practically fall into the seat next her, breathing heavily from running through the palace halls. She smiled at him, thankful that he had been on time, but was a little miffed he had pushed it so close.
"Where in Agni's name have you been?" She huffed, "You know this is his big day! How would you have felt if you had missed it? How would he have felt?"
"I know, I know, I cut it way too close, but trust me it was worth it! I have a surprise for the two of you when he passes!" She could tell from the excitement her brother obviously couldn't contain that Zuko was telling the truth, so Azula decided to forgive and forget for now. They both fell silent as Yuudai stopped his pacing and came to a halt in the center of the ring, falling to his knees gently in a meditative posture. Iroh stepped into the light from the shadows outside the ring, dressed in the flowing ceremonial garb of a Fire Sensei, stopping in front of his son with a proud smile.
"Prospect Yuudai Agni, today is a glorious day for any Firebender!" Iroh boomed, sounding once again like the mighty warrior of his youth, "Today, you prove if you are worthy of carrying the title of Master Firebender!" Iroh gestured towards the shadows and continued, "You have elected to show your prowess through a demonstration of combat. Name your terms, and I will determine if I deem them worthy." Yuudai stood at his words and answered in his own deep, rumbling voice.
"My terms are as follows: No weapons, only the use of bending for combat. The test will end when one party yields to the other, is pushed from the training circle by force, or is physically unable to continue."
"I find your terms acceptable! Choose your opponent!" Five warriors stepped into the ring with Iroh and Yuudai, each seasoned fighters in the Fire Nation ranks who earned their Master Firebender titles years ago. Zuko and Azula looked at each, finding the individuals they faced during their own trials. Azula had faced the largest, using her speed and grace to her advantage, ending the contest in seconds. She'd been the youngest Master ever, barely thirteen years of age. Zuko had chosen a smaller opponent, using his strength and prowess as a hand-to-hand combatant to physically overwhelm the soldier. His test had been little over a month ago. Neither sibling knew why Yuudai had waited so long to go through his own test…until he made his decision that is.
"I wish to face them all together, Sensei!" Azula and Zuko both balked at his decision, shock evident on their faces. Only one Firebender in recorded history had ever chosen to fight multiple opponents, and he was standing next to his son in the ring with a bewildered look of his own. Even then, Iroh had chosen two soldiers to fight, not all five. The squad of soldiers laughed at the boy's arrogance until they were silenced by a wave of Iroh's hand, who questioned his son's tactics.
"This is certainly a bold and unprecedented move, Yuudai. Tell me, why have you made this decision?" Yuudai took a deep breath, steeling his growing nerves.
"Since I have come here, since I have joined your family, I have been questioned as to whether I belong. People have always seen me as the child General Iroh saved, never as General Iroh's son. I intend to prove to everyone that I do belong here, that I am worthy to be in this family, and that, above all else, I am your son, blood or not." That sent the royal family reeling, though it undoubtedly made sense. This was a test of dual meanings now: Yuudai's prowess as a Firebender, as well as his legitimacy in the royal family.
"As you wish, my son, I wish you luck," Iroh proclaimed, regaining his composure before exiting the ring. The squad of soldiers surrounded the young man, who seemed to have gone from predator to prey in a matter of seconds. Yuudai stripped his shirt, revealing his chiseled physique to the eyes of all. Azula involuntarily felt an eyebrow raise, obviously intrigued by what she saw, but forced her focus on the match at hand. Once all fighters were in position, Iroh stood and bellowed at the top of his lungs,
"BEGIN!"
The team of five closed in on Yuudai rapidly, who smiled, like he was the only one in on some fantastic joke. His eyes began to glow with a fiery intensity, when suddenly his entire body was engulfed by flames! Azula screamed and stood, both her and her brother ready to come to their friend's aid, until the fire moved, waving the two of them off. The five Masters stopped, confused by this new development, until the fire attacked them. Fear replaced confusion, and the wild brawl began. In less than ten minutes, the figure handedly bested all five, sending them from the ring bruised, bloody, and humiliated. Once the last was dispatched, the walking body of flame walked back to the center of the ring and extinguished, leaving an unscathed Yuudai standing there with a huge smile on his face. The judges, his father, and his friends all stood in shock, completely speechless. Nothing of this magnitude had been seen before. An outside voice was required to break their trance.
"OUTSTANDING!"
All eyes turned to the entrance, where none other than Fire Lord Azulon stood, advancing toward the ring with a determined pace. Yuudai instinctively dropped to a knee in respect to his grandfather, but Azulon immediately beckoned him to rise, clapping him roughly on the shoulders.
"The Fire Aura is a technique that hasn't been practiced in almost three centuries, Yuudai. What you just did was magnificent! I believe I speak for all when I say that you have more than solidified yourself as a Master Firebender, and you have certainly proven your worthiness in this family." The Fire Lord turned to all those in attendance. "Does anyone object to my decision?" When silence followed his booming question, Azulon turned to his oldest son, who was nearly overwhelmed with the emotion and pride he felt.
"Then Master Iroh, I believe this is where you come in."
"Of course, your majesty! By the power instilled in me by the gods of men, I proclaim you, Yuudai Agni, Master Firebender! Take your place among the elite, my son, for you have most certainly earned it!" Unable to hold back any more, Iroh embraced his son, tears flowing freely from his eyes.
"I'm so incredibly proud of you son. You have done more than I ever could have hoped for." Yuudai felt his knees grow weak at his father's words, grateful for his father's tight embrace to keep him from faltering.
"Thank you, Father. I promise to continue making you proud for the rest of my life," he stammered, fighting back his own tears, "I love you so much."
"And I love you son, more than words can describe." They broke their hug, both men on the verge of losing control of themselves, just as Azulon began to speak again.
"Congratulations Yuudai, you have done exceptionally well. Now, I must return to my throne room, but I want you to enjoy this moment, as well as tonight. Your friend Zuko will explain." Without another word, Azulon departed just as quickly as he had arrived. Before Yuudai could question his grandfather's meaning, he was nearly tackled by a tiny, feminine frame. Azula didn't concern herself with etiquette, wrapping her arms around her friend's neck and planting a more-than-friendly kiss on his cheek, turning Yuudai a shade of crimson brighter than the fire he controlled. Thankfully, Zuko saved him from further embarrassment by taking control of the conversation.
"Yuudai…that was…absolutely amazing. I'd always imagined the Fire Aura as a legend, not even remotely possible! That was the greatest display of Firebending I've ever seen!"
"Oh please, that's such a load!" Yuudai exclaimed good naturedly, grateful to joke around, "Your sister mastered Lightning-bending as a new teenager and your fighting skills are more than impressive. I just had to find a way to keep up!" The trio shared a laugh and went back and forth for a few minutes, diffusing the excitement in the air and calming themselves down before Zuko finally spilled the good news.
"This calls for a special kind of celebration!" the prince declared over-dramatically, drawing a laugh from Yuudai and rolled eyes from Azula, "I've already spoken to grandfather about this, so save your doubts and questions, for they are useless! Tonight, we finally do what we have dreamed of for years: We explore the capitol!" The excited eighteen year old relayed how the conversation with Azulon went, what Grandfather's rules were, and all the things that they were going to try that night. The more he went on, the more Yuudai and Azula found themselves unable to contain their own excitement. The tired ache of his test seemed to disappear from Yuudai, fresh energy invigorating his limbs. Azula, always the master planner, finally saw the opportunity she had been waiting for with their large friend.
Azula had been in love with Yuudai since they were children, going as far back as she could physically remember. She knew he felt the same way about her, yet a combination of his honor and her overbearing father's desire to make him miserable at every available opportunity stopped him from ever making it known. She knew his biggest fear was not being worthy for her; she also knew tonight was the night to prove otherwise. Coincidentally, she wasn't the only one present having these thoughts.
The trio split up to prepare for the evening, but Yuudai was stopped by his father before he got very far. Iroh knew how his adopted son and blood niece felt about one another, but it was like his son refused to make a move in the right direction. Perhaps a little push of guidance would help that process along.
"Come, my son. Let us have some tea while you get ready for your evening. I have something I would like to talk to you about." Yuudai bowed and followed his father obediently, if not more than slightly confused by his words. The only time Iroh wanted tea was…actually, scratch that, his father always wanted tea.
Father and son made their way back home, where Iroh had the servants draw a bath and pick out a suitable outfit for Yuudai. The large young man quickly stripped down once he was alone and practically collapsed into the tub, enjoying the heat on his aching body. He finished washing himself just as he smelled his father's tea finish brewing, and he quickly dressed in the outfit laid out for him. Once he joined his father, Iroh poured him a cup and began speaking.
"Son, tonight is a special night for you and your friends. I know this is your first time outside the palace walls, and I know you will be responsible and always on guard. However, there is one thing I want you to let your guard down for." Yuudai set his cup down, questioning his father's meaning. Iroh took a sip of his own tea before continuing.
"I know how you feel about Azula."
The silence in the room at that very moment was more deafening than the roar of a thousand battles. Yuudai was struck speechless, unable to fully comprehend his father's words. Taking advantage of his son's twisted tongue, Iroh continued.
"Yes, I know you love her Yuudai. I know you want her to be yours more than anything on this planet. I know that she loves you just as much, and that you've felt that love for a long time. I know you feel unworthy to court her, that you feel she is far too good for you. I know, son, that you are dead wrong to think so about yourself." That final statement snapped the young soldier of his trance. He had expected rage, shame, even pity, but never acceptance and support. Struggling to form coherent sentences, he finished his tea in one large gulp, the burning pain in his throat clearing his head enough to form a single question.
"How long have you known?" he hesitantly asked.
"Oh, since you were about ten years old, when she kissed your cheek for the first time," Iroh answered with a smirk, obviously enjoying his son's discomfort. That answered broke the flood gates within Yuudai.
"EIGHT YEARS?! YOU'VE KNOWN FOR EIGHT YEARS AND DIDN'T ONCE THINK I COULD USE THIS TALK?!" He fumed, screaming at his father for the first time in his life. Iroh sat in his chair with a smile on his face, calmly pouring them both a second cup of tea as his son finally let out all the frustration that had been building up for almost a decade. For close to ten minutes, Yuudai raged, unleashed everything he had held back until he finally collapsed back in his seat, breathing heavily. Iroh motioned to his cup, which Yuudai almost blindly grabbed and drank. Once his son had calmed down, Iroh explained his reasoning.
"Son, if I had told you this information all those years ago, do you really think you would be the man you are today? Because you were so focused on improving yourself, you are now a Master Firebender, you have mastered a Firebending technique long forgotten with zero help from anyone else, and you have become an expert with jian swords. You've become incredibly intelligent and fluid with your words. Above all else, though, you have grown into an honest, kind, loyal, remarkable young man. A few years ago, you were right in thinking you weren't good enough for her. Now, there is no one in the four kingdoms better for her. That is why I waited, son." Iroh put both hands on his son's broad shoulders, never breaking eye contact. "You are one of the best the fire nation has to offer. You are my son, my only heir, and on equal or greater stature with any noble or royalty in our realm, despite what your jackass uncle believes."
Yuudai laughed, finally, as his father's curse, glad that he wasn't alone in his dislike for Ozai. The tension lifted with the joke, and Yuudai was able to think clearly for the first time in what felt like years.
"Thank you, Father. You have, as always, been most helpful."
"Please, I'm just being selfish. I want grandchildren!"
