The palace, for all its many rooms and long halls, was small. Fear and isolation made it smaller. When Zuko was born, he was fourth in line for the throne. His uncle was forty-nine, already a widower, and with a grown son of his own. Azulon, the reigning Fire Lord, was eighty-three and had no intention of abdicating. Ozai was a second son, born to a second wife, and kept inside of the palace as the obvious spare. Born just in case the worst happened to his older brother, the great Dragon of the West.

Even as a small child, Zuko had felt the tension that lingered over dinner. Ozai obviously wanted more, but was consistently denied military appointments or even a governorship in the ever expanding colonies. The only thing he had succeeded in was his marriage to Ursa. Their child was supposed to fulfill a prophecy; the blood of the infamous Sozin and the Avatar Roku in one superior Firebender child.

When Zuko proved to be a less than satisfactory Firebender, his father was immediately disgusted. A prodigal Bender was known with an early onset of ability and be able to innately protect themselves when faced with their element. Zuko's hands were burned when he was four, after Ozai tried to force his bending. It wasn't until his sixth birthday, an average age, when Zuko was able to summon fire.

Azula, on the other hand, called her first flame at three. And Ozai began to wonder about the succession of the second born.

Still, nothing really changed at the palace. Iroh was often away on a campaign or a dragon hunt, and once Lu Ten had begun his officer's training was also gone for long stretches of time. Ozai, in an attempting to make Zuko good at something, hired the Piandao to teach him swordsmanship. It was a backhanded offer, since Piandao was not only a legendary swordsman, but also an infamous deserter. He had defeated a hundred men sent to arrest him, but came when the Fire Lord summoned him. In exchange for his freedom, Piandao was tasked with training the small prince. An insult to both of them.

Piandao, however, proved to be a compassionate teacher and Zuko was a loyal student. The former soldier taught him a different philosophy than what had been expounded by firebending teachers. Zuko learned to move, to hold himself, and to strike with more grace. His firebending improved as much as his swordsmanship did.

Ozai seemed content that his son was no longer an abject failure, though a disappointment nonetheless. He saw Ursa's attention as coddling and often contrived ways to bring down both of his children. Azula, as a toddler, began to act out around Ursa, going so far as to strike at her. But at night, when the nightmares came, Azula clung to her and howled. Once she started attending the Girls' School, she became distant from all of them, drawn more to her friends Mai and Ty Lee. When the three of them were in the palace, they swarmed on Zuko more, but at least Azula's pranks were more frustrating than cruel.

The routine continued. Tension would slowly build and Zuko would avoid his father, Azula would antagonize him, there would be a fight, Ozai would have them both beaten, and then things would settle back into the usual state of affairs.

In between episodes there were family visits to Ember Island where it almost seemed like they loved each other. Zuko had clear memories of Ozai bending over Ursa to kiss her gently. He remembered playing with Azula on the beach, or having Lu Ten teach him how to swim in the gentle ocean. Iroh would go for a walk and return with fruits he would steam and they would watch the sunset, rinsing off in the surf before they rode back to their estate.

Zuko knew they were all so desperate for happiness that they each played their part in the farce. Yet still there were nights, when Zuko's backside was raw and his body pulsed with pain, when he would think of those days. He would silently plead for them to always feel like that.

Everything changed the day Lu Ten died.

The Fire Lord kept the most rooms in the palace. Then the crown prince had his apartments, which had been empty for almost two years. Finally, there was Ozai's suite. Their rooms were clustered together and shared one large garden. When he was anxious, Zuko often sneaked out to the garden when he couldn't sleep. After a family dinner where Ozai not only didn't show up, but called Ursa away, Zuko was extremely anxious.

Just as he tossed off his blankets, he heard the shaking rattle of a door being slid open. He paused, one leg halfway off the bed, listening. After a moment, the door closed and Zuko heard a pair of voices in the garden.

Although they were muffled, he could pick out his mother and father. Gliding carefully out of bed, Zuko lightly stepped onto the floor and padded over to his interior door that opened to the garden. Sliding it open by painful inches, he held his breath till he had a gap wide enough to peer through. Laying on the floor, Zuko spied out into the moonlight garden. Ursa wore her summer jinbai with an open kimono draped over her shoulders. Ozai was still dressed in his kimono but his hair was down and wet.

"Lots of sons die in wars." Ozai said dismissively and Ursa raised her shoulders, turning her back to Zuko's door.

"His only son." Ursa stated and Ozai raised a hand.

"More importantly," He said and pointed at her. "His heir."

"That's disgusting." Ursa said darkly and Ozai smirked.

"My father had me when he was fifty-three. Iroh is what, sixty-one? He could have another son." He retorted. Zuko felt the shock of dread. Lu Ten was, dead? Clenching his fists, Zuko dug his fingernails into the palms of his hands.

"I can only wish that my brother finds happiness again." Ursa demurred and Ozai let out a bark of laughter.

"He's a coward. One unhappy marriage and he swears off women for the rest of his life. His son dies and he immediately calls a retreat from the single most impressive siege of history." He said.

"An unhappy marriage can be very damaging." Ursa said sharply and Ozai turned to her, his eyes narrowed and his mouth pulled into a thin line. Then, with a slow smile, he advanced on her. Grabbing her chin roughly, Ozai pulled her face toward him. He examined her and then reached back to unpin her hair. Taking the long pin in his fingers, he ran the tip along her jaw and down her throat. Zuko couldn't see what happened, but Ursa gasped lightly.

"You have done what you needed to do, and you have done it so well." Ozai said. Ursa flicked up her arm and knocked the pin out of his hand. Laughing lightly, Ozai took his free hand and wrapped it around Ursa's middle while the other went to the back of her head. He grabbed a fistful of her hair as he pulled her to him.

"Wouldn't you like to see your husband on the throne?" He asked.

"Whatever makes you happy Ozai." Ursa replied. Ozai's face softened as he looked down at his wife.

"Do you really mean that Ursa?" He asked, not seeking an answer. When Ursa stayed silent, he dipped down and kissed her. When he released her, she swayed slightly.

"I had thought, in my vanity, that I deserved a beautiful bride. Now I can see how beauty is a trap." Ozai muttered and turned away from her. They stood, silent, and Zuko could feel his heartbeat thundering in his ears.

"I am going to petition Azulon to disinherit Iroh." Ozai continued abruptly. Ursa straightened and her arms fell rigid by her side.

"You're already your brother's heir." She said.

"At this point, Iroh may pass over me completely and name that insignificant brat you coddle as his heir." Ozai took a few steps away from her and held his hands behind his back. "No, I'll not wait for both my father and my brother to die before I take the throne."

"This is immoral Ozai." Ursa countered.

"This war has been raging for ninety-four years Ursa. Three generations of children have been born into a world of constant war. I will end it. Sozin's Comet returns in six years and I will end everything." Ozai said and turned his face toward the sky. "The century of generals will end, and I will rule."

"This is treason and madness." Ursa said. Ozai turned his head to glance at her over his shoulder. Zuko flinched and receded a from the gap.

"And what will you do my little wife? What is your duty here?" He questioned. Zuko held his breath again as he watched his mother's back. It took only a few seconds, but the hesitation was noticeable. Then, she fell gracefully to her knees and bowed her head.

"My duty is to you, husband." She answered softly. Ozai turned fully and walked to her, putting a hand on her head.

"Come to bed wife." He said and walked back to the door for their room. Ursa rose in a fluid motion and walked after him. Zuko curled around to watch them. Ozai held Ursa's hand as she stepped up onto the low porch and kissed her hand as she slid off her sandals. Zuko watched until they both went in and the door slid shut with a firm clack. Counting the minutes, Zuko waited and strained to hear any sign that his parents were still up. With only the sound of the night breeze and a faint hooting from a roosting owl, Zuko edged the door open more till he could slide out. He kept his eyes on his parents' door as he darted out into the garden, barefoot, and went to where his father had dropped the hairpin.

Finding it, Zuko was suddenly rooted to the spot. He held the long pin in both hands, watching it glint in the moonlight. Like many of Ursa's hairpins, it was weighty and had a sharp tip. Zuko remembered a lesson with Piandao. How, when wielded with enough force, almost anything could be used as a weapon.

Even something with such a basic use and seen as nothing more than decoration.