If Only

Part Five

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He was Prince Lu Ten. Son of the Crown Prince. Nephew. Grandson. Cousin. He was a soldier of the Fire Nation. He was still a young man.

Yet he was dying.

Lu Ten had grown up in a world of protection and grandeur. In the seclusion of the royal city, he had had everything he could have ever wanted. His mother had died to give birth to him and for that his father had treasured him above all else. His father….his father was a good man. Someday he had hoped to be like him. That was why he had come to serve under him in the siege, to prove to him and to himself that he…

That he was brave.

That he was honorable.

That he was good enough to call himself his father's son.

Lu Ten had not fought in the war because of the war. He had done it merely because it was expected. He was still young and not filled with dreams of grandeur. Though his father was the Crown Prince, he knew he would have the throne one day, but that would hopefully not be for years. That was not going to happen now…not with….

He wished he could have known his mother. Yet…that did not matter anymore….

He thought wistfully of his little cousin Zuko. That irksome child had been the closest thing he had ever had to a brother. And Ursa…she had been like his mother. Lu Ten knew his family was messed up and had problems. Those two…they were good. Azula….her father….his grandfather…it was all a repetitive cycle that had started down from Fire Lord Sozin. A cruel cycle twisted by power and envy. He had wanted to change that one day.

That did not matter now.

He felt heavy and distant, knowing somehow that his lungs had been crushed by boulder. The heavy sounds of his unit surround him, growing to a distant din in his ears. His father's face filled his vision and he knew he had failed him.

He was too young!

It was not fair!

He…he had not ever had the change to love someone, to marry, and to have children. Lu Ten knew that he had barely touched the world with all of its treasures. Lu Ten had aspired to travel the world like his father had. Even…even to one day become a member of the White Lotus.

No one wants to die.

He did not.

In those last moments, his young thoughts were…

If only….

If only I had been a better fighter….

It's not fair!....If only….If only….

A/N: This one was short and hard to do for Lu Ten's character is not much established. What do you think readers? Well, thanks for reading and please review. I plan to do Zuko and Azula.