.This is a journal entry from Lu Ten detailing his regrets ,fear,and hope for the future.

I do not own Avatar The Last Airbender. It belongs to its creators and Nickelodeon.

Lu Ten's POV:

Crown Prince Lu Ten, Journal Entry #1, Year 95 of Great War.

I do not know why I am writing this. Maybe it is because of my regrets, maybe due to feeling isolated, or maybe I am just board. However I feel compelled to write this, for my own sanity and peace of mind.

It has been only three months since the death of my father, Crown Prince and General of the Fire Nation Army, Iroh, during the 600 day Siege of Ba Sing Se, the Earth Kingdom capital. It has also been three months since the banishment of my uncle, Prince Ozai by my grandfather, Fire Lord Azulon, for trying to covet the thrown with my father's death. It insulted grandfather and it ended with Uncle Ozai being banished from the capital city and stripped of all royal titles, with no idea if he was ever allowed to return unless grandfather allows it.

I think back to that day, the day my father had been killed. We had just advanced past the outer wall when an elite earthbending squad had ambushed us. My squadron and I were outmatched and outnumbered, some were killed, and others captured.

My father had received word of the battle and came to assist, worried for my safety. He had arrived as I was the last one standing against the squad of earthbenders. I was bruised and one of my arms limp at my side, broken. But I kept fighting on, as that was the honorable thing for any soldier of the fire nation, especially a royal, to do.

However I was sadly out of energy and could no longer summon the energy to stand, let alone fire bend. I looked up and saw them preparing a move a I had only heard in horror stories.

A rock dagger barrage. Basically breaking down boulders into tiny sharp shards and launching them at great speed, impaling the target and killing them in a bloody mess.

It is as everything moved slowly as the daggers raced towards me, as my father raced in front of me and put up a wall of fire to try and burn the rock.

The barrage had stopped as soon as it begun as my father dropped the fire wall. I was happy, thinking my father stopped the barrage.

That is until my father collapsed on the ground….

I suddenly jumped forward and caught him. I looked him over and was horrified to see that while he had put up the wall and stopped the barrage, some had still gotten through and impaled my father in the stomach and chest,

I tried to figure out a way to get me and my father out of there and get him some medical help, but my father raised his hand, cupped my cheek, and made me look at him.

Even in his last moments, my father was concerned with me. Making sure I was alright, he spent his last moments say how much he loved me, and how I would make a great Fire Lord one day. I begged him not to go, but he shushed me and started to sing a tune. It was Leaves from the Vine, a song he would sing for me as a child, and even during the war as we fought in the Earth Kingdom.

He sang it and finished as he took his last breathe.

I was crying until the earth benders around us, who stood in shock and were quiet, started to laugh with pride, at how they had killed the great General Iroh.

I stood up with some renewed energy, and told them to shut up. They just continued to laugh and mock me.

This just pissed me off, and I with the last of my energy pulled my father's signature fire-breathing technique and this sudden burst scared the soldiers off. That is when I collapsed.

I awoke a few days later with my arm in a splint. I was told the siege was being called off and that news of my father's death had reached Grandfather via messenger hawk and he had called me back to the capital with my father's body in order to attend the ceremony and talk with me, now that I am crown prince.

The journey took a week to get home. My father's body was kept preserved in cooler, like the ones used at the boiling rock. He had been cleaned and dressed in ceremonial clothing. It looked like he was just sleeping peacefully and would wake up any minute, ready to hug me and go off about tea, but he never did, nor would he ever again.

When we docked, we were greeted by the Fire Lord himself, as well as the rest of the royal family, except for uncle Ozai who was nowhere to be found.

Zuko and aunt Ursa were in tears, while Azula just looked furious and gave me the stink eye. As my father was being carried away to be prepared for the ceremony the next day, grandfather put his hand on the cooler looking at his oldest son and heir and did something I never would have expected from my grandfather, the harsh and stoic and revered Fire Lord.

He shed a few tears, which he quickly wiped away. This showed despite everything, he did have some affection in him for his family.

Zuko came and looked too, and unlike grandfather, couldn't restrain himself and launched himself towards me for a hug, burying his face into my chest. I was shocked, and grandfather was going to scold Zuko but I stopped him.

I, along with my father, have always been close with Zuko ever since he was a baby. He was like the little brother I never had. I always wanted a little brother or sister, but my mother had passed away when I was little, and despite my grandfather's insistence, my father refused to remarry, seeing my mother as his one true love. So when Zuko was born, I was always there for him, and I always protected him from uncle Ozai and later on Azula.

I had asked my father what was wrong with uncle Ozai and why he was the way he was. Father didn't really know. He and uncle never had a good relationship growing up. Father theorized it could be many things, from wanting to show grandfather he was more worthy of the throne as he could be more like him, or Ozai was just born without any love or compassion at all, but he never could know the true answer.

That was why I wasn't surprised to not see him there when we arrived at the dock. Why would he care about his brother?

I looked down at my young cousin at the time and told him it would be ok as I wrapped my good arm around him and patted his back to reassure him. I did ask why Uncle Ozai wasn't there out of curiosity though.

Zuko froze and looked up at me, with a ghostly expression. I was shocked and confused at the time.

I was even more confused when grandfather dragged Zuko away, but surprisingly gentle and told him to go with his mother and sister, as he had to talk to me along. Zuko obliged and he left with Aunt Ursa and Azula. Grandfather told me to follow him to the throne room for a private chat that was serious. I followed without hesitation.

This is when I found out about Uncle Ozai's banishment and how he tried to usurp the throne just after the new's of father's death reached the palace. This angered grandfather and with this, he banished Uncle Ozai from the Fire Nation, seemingly forever.

This did anger me and thought I didn't voice it, I was glad Uncle Ozai was gone.

Father's funeral was the next day and it was a grand spectacle, with his achievements being named and how he was a great general and prince and how he will be missed. It was at this time I also took my rights and was officially declared the new Crown Prince, heir to Azulon.

And that is where I am now. It had only been three months and so much has changed.

I have been doing a lot. I have been doing my training and duties of what is expected of the Crown Prince. I have been spending time with Zuko as we have rekindled our bond. I check up on Aunt Ursa and make sure she is ok. Azula on the other hand wants nothing to do with me. She was close to Ozai and enjoyed his praise, now she is only just scolded by Aunt Ursa, grandfather, and I. I don't know what to do about my youngest cousin.

One issue that has come up from grandfather was the topic of marriage, and he suggested something I didn't expect.

HE WANTS ME TO MARRY AUNT URSA AND ADOPT ZUKO AND AZULA AS MY OWN!

I was stuttering and told my grandfather he was nuts, for which I apologized for being disrespectful.

Grandfather understood the hesitation but said it would be happening.

I asked why and how this would help. Aunt Ursa would be forced into yet another marriage, with her nephew no less, while still grieving her husband who she stil loved despite everything, and her brother in law. Azual misses Uncle Ozai and would burn the palace to the ground if this happened. Zuko might be ok and even happy about this, but he still loved Uncle Ozai despite everything and would be hurt that his father was being replaced. He was such an innocent boy.

Grandfather says it will have to be me as the unifier for the family now. He said Uncle Ozai was a stain, and while he was removed, some spots still continue to fester, and with Father gone, it would be up to be. As for him….

He says he fears his life will becoming to an end soon. While he feels healthy physically, he feels that his spirit is wavering, and soon his body will follow. He doesn't know when but he thinks it would be anytime in the next few years

I was shocked but it made sense, he was in good health but he was also 95 years old. With father gone and him to follow in a few years, I would be the only one to keep the family together.

I reluctantly agreed.

That talk was just yesterday, and even now I cant believe it. He will be telling Aunt Ursa and the kids tonight in their own meeting and I am nervous about that.

I wasn't expecting this. To go from heir and son of crown prince Iroh, not expecting to be fire lord for many years, to being crown prince and maybe Fire Lord in just a few years, to also go from nephew and cousin to husband and father. From soldier to leader of the whole nation.

It weighs on me. I fear for how I will do. I regret that my father sacrificed himself for me and wish I had been stronger.

But I also had hope for the future, that I can lead my nation to glory and most importantly….

Unite and save my family.

This is it for now

Signed,

Crown Prince Lu Ten

Well there we go. This is a one shot for now. I will continue it if there is enough interest.