Alright! Sorry for the long wait! This gives a little more insight into who Hikari is and why she is that way. This is a really long chapter so I hope you enjoy it! Thanks for reading and don't forget to review please!

{BURNING WATER}

"Hikari…" a gentle voice called.

I wanted to say 'not now' like a normal child, but what choice did I have. I rose out of bed and followed the lady in black. It was time for my training, part of my daily ritual since I was old enough to bend. She took me to the brightly lit court yard, and I wondered why today seemed a bit different. There were spectators today; finely dressed ones at that. Most likely some of the Fire Lord's close advisors, here to see his majesty's greatest achievement.

"Listen here Hikari." The sweetness in her voice made me sick.

A young boy, near my age, was led into the court yard. This was different on a huge scale; I had only used my bending on dummies. His fighting posture was horrific, and he shook terribly. His skin clung to his bones like a wet rag, and he was covered in dirt. But what I remember to this day is his eyes haunting and gaunt, sunken into his skull. I fidgeted under his blank stare.

"You will fight this boy, but not until that man finishes speaking. Now be quiet and stand still." The lady in black snapped.

"Welcome. I see that everyone is in attendance. The Fire Lord is pleased to know that his advisors take interest in his experiment." The man began, "She is quite a strong bender. We have trained and documented her progress. She is the first successful bi-bender. Both fire and water are under her control."

The group gave a chaste chorus of claps. That's all I had amounted to be, a sick hybrid.

"She is the ultimate weapon of the Fire Nation. If all goes accordingly, we will soon acquire an army of fighters of her stature. And think, she is merely eight years of age."

That's all I was, a weapon.

"Begin." The lady in black whispered in my ear.

I stepped closer to the boy, and the crowd took steps backwards. We began the circling, the dance that begin every fight. I lash out at him with a whip of water, accentuated with spiral of fire. The group gives pleased applauds. The boy land with a thump and I freeze his hands to the ground before he can move. I stung him with whip after whip of water. I was just a thing, not a person. I had not feelings. I was merciless, heartless.

"Well done, child." The speaking man said.

I don't even think he knew my name. Not that he would bother to use it.

"This way." She whispered, moving me inside. "It's time to get you cleaned up."

I looked down at my clothes, distinguishing dark spots on the red fabric. Blood. I looked back at my opponent, who still lay frozen to the ground. His blood had mixed with some of the melting ice, creating a disturbing scene. His blank eyes stared back at me, but I realized that this time it was because he was dead.

"Hurry now." The last look I stole was of a few fire benders gathered around the boy.

They did not bother with slowly melting the ice or picking it away. Instead they just lit the boy on fire. I could still feel his eyes on me as he was engulfed in flames.

{BURNING WATER}

I had not cried before that night. I could not forget the boy. I had nightmares, always with his eyes staring, pleading, to end him. Or to save him, I could not tell. I dreamed of what his life was like, free of what I had to bear.

I dreamed of what his family was like. What his mother would say when she got the news, that another child had killed her child? I dreamed of the Fire Nation's brutality. I wish I could speak to the boy, even to this day, and apologize. But some things are never possible.

I was woken early in the morning, apparently for a meeting with the Fire Lord himself. I had seen him many times, as he watched my training with a close eye. The lady practically pulled me by the hand towards the Fire Lord's chamber. But I was still plagued by horrifying images of yesterday's events.

The speaking man greeted us at the door, and took in my sleep deprived appearance. He exchanged irritated words with the lady in black, before she pulled me to the side, straightening my clothes and hair. When the speaking man seemed satisfied, he opened the door for us.

"My, my…" the Fire Lord began after we were seated, "You've progressed nicely. How did the fight turn out yesterday?"

He was addressing the speaking man. He cleared his throat before replying.

"Very well; she won without challenge. I hope to find her a stronger opponent to widen her skills."

The Fire Lord nodded, "I agree. She is simply marvelous. A fighting genius, but with societal manners."

It was at this time I noticed Azula seething not too far from us, obviously observing from the concealment of a column. Her eyes held a fire that frightened me, but I did not let that show. To do so would only give her an advantage.

The Fire Lord dismissed us shortly, and I was allowed the freedom of roaming the court yard. I loved the duck pond. Usually I was kept under close surveillance. They wanted to take no chances with me escaping. But at this moment, I was completely free. The speaking man had paper work to do, and the lady in black was called off to assist a royal family member. Not even a guard was posted in their absence. Maybe they had forgotten.

I sat quietly in the shade of a tree by the duck pond, enjoying the experience of being completely alone. But that experience was short-lived. Azula parked herself right next to me, and he menacing presence was nearly overwhelming.

"So, Daddy likes you. Let's hope it's not better than me. He's sure to like me better." She enlightened me.

"Really? It seems he's taken quite a liking in me. Feeling threatened, princess?" I rarely talked, but that was because I knew what I could say.

Most things would have me dead. She huffed and jumped to her feet.

"Damn you to hell!" She screamed, flinging a string of fire in my direction.

I had little time to react, leaping out of the way. I inspected my injuries: only a burn to the wrist.

"You're going to be sorry you were ever born!" She growled.

I ran to a more open space, and she grabbed at my shirt, ripping it open in the back. I kicked her foot out from under her and she collapsed in a dusty heap.

"Bitch!" I wondered how she got away with this language. I imagine she didn't.

I smiled victoriously, but she rose quickly and slapped me. She attacked me furiously afterwards, fire whip in hand. It stung, but I knew that I could not bend on the Fire Nation Princess. I would be punished mercilessly if I did. And it would be far worse than this.

I curled in on myself, wishing for the lady in black or the speaking man to come to my aid. But they did not come soon enough. I was burned, and scarred. The terrible sensation of her fire on my burning flesh is etched into my memory.

I woke with a start, causing Katara to moan and roll to her side, facing away from me. I sighed, pushing myself from the bed. I felt better moving around. I guess the ice had irritated my scars, bringing back unwanted memories from a life I wished I could forget.

My brown hair, which I highly prized because it was the most dominant trait I had received from my mother, was a curly tangled mess. It was always curly, which was unusual in the Fire Nation. It made me smile. It stuck to my sweat leaden forehead that I wiped with a damp rag. I lifted up the back of my shirt, inspecting the red scars. They stretched across my back hideously.

It had been six years since that day. But I never forgot it. I was a different person. I felt things now, didn't I?

"Those are some nasty scars."

I jumped at the new voice, yanking down my shirt. Aang stood leaning against the door frame. I relaxed slightly.

"That's the Fire Nation for you; Princess Azula to be exact." I said drily.

I didn't want him to know how much it bothered me.

"Really? How did it happen?" he questioned.

I made my way past him out of the bathroom, "You would like to know."

"Yes I would."

I froze and turned back to him, surprised that he did not catch the hint that I would rather not talk about it. What was wrong with him?

I frowned. "Look kid, there are some things that are just better left unsaid. Stay innocent, because there are some things in this world that will rip you to shreds."

"Like knowing it's entirely your fault that everyone you ever knew is dead, because you decided to run away?"

I wondered if he expected me to look away guiltily, but I held his gaze. I could see the storm raging within them.

"You might want to get to bed; we have lessons in the morning." He said to break the dense silence.

I nodded, thinking better of arguing about the idea of lessons. I slid back under the covers, releasing another long sigh. I would never forget the brutality of the Fire Nation.