Chapter 8: The Reward

Kaizar's POV

I awoke several hours later in a daze. I remember passing out from pain. I looked to my right arm and saw a cast. I was back in the hospital ward…..that took me back. I remember being three right after the ceremony and waking up here. I thought back to that day and how far I'd come. I beat a fully fledged earthbender. It was more luck than anything, but still I survived. When I started this whole process I wouldn't have lasted a second.

I dream of the botched ceremony often and wonder who I was destined to be….I probably should look into the myth, ceremony, and legend of Agni more in depth. Maybe if I learned I could uncover the mystery of my destiny myself. Though being a guest of the fire lord hardly meant I could dig through the fire sages ancient archives. It was a problem for later.

The nurse came by and told me she needed me to stay to be sure my arm would heal right. Still as worrisome as ever, but I did notice the last 4 years had not been kind to her. She sure had aged probably from the stress of her patients.

I decided to take a nice long nap before I was awoken by someone clearing his throat. I woke up with tired eyes and saw Iroh. I smiled, Iroh was great! Unlike his brother he was the nicest guy and always supported Lu Ten and mine's friendship. He even showed us some of the advanced dragon style moves. We couldn't do them, yet but it was fun to attempt and Iroh always encouraged us to push our limits. He even spoke of a technique to increase his inner energy for a short bit called the Kaioken. He said even he hadn't figured it out, but it was the final move in Dragon style that made the style so powerful. If done correctly it would supposedly give you the power of 10 firebenders like Sozin's comet, but with the drawback of when you finished the technique your body would just break down under the stress of using your own inner fire to power it…it was a true last resort.

However, I digress. Iroh stood above me with a slight smile of appreciation and slight sadness to to his face. "Welcome back young Kaizar. The nurse has informed me you are allowed to leave whenever you feel healthy enough. My father has requested your presence at your earliest convenience." He said.

"I'd be honored" as I sat up and put on my clothes and shoes to walk with him.

He guided me out as he spoke again walking through the halls, "I must thank you my young friend, the assassin was clearly skilled and had take out ten nearby royal guards by stealth and a knife alone. If it wasn't for you I and Lu Ten would not be here right now." He then looked sad, "I must also apologize, you should not have been in that position. Adults and myself should have taken care of the threat before you felt the need to investigate. When I opened the door I did not react fast enough, and it forced your hand….literally. For this I apologize."

I felt horrible. He had felt like he failed and he clearly hadn't he was just caught off guard. "It isn't your fault sir you couldn't have known what was happening. It was an honor to protect the crown princes and my friends" I said we looked and smiled at each other.

"Well here we are. Remember this is not a dinner you were invited to this is an audience you have been requested to. Do as I do, and do not speak unless spoken to. This is my father in his highest capacity. I do not know why he brought us both here." He said with a serious tone.

I had never been into the fire lord's throne room before, but it was crazy hot. The fire lord sat with flames behind him making it hard to see his face in the shadow. Iroh got to his knees and bowed with his head to the floor. I had never seen him bow to anyone before but I quickly followed.

The fire lord spoke, "thank you for coming Prince Ozai and Kaizar. I have brought you here to discuss the very important matter on the recent attempt on yours and Lu Ten's life Iroh. The royal guards failed their duty and will be…re-educated. Kaizar however," he looked to me with happiness in his eyes, "Kaizar went above and beyond the call of duty for a guest, citizen, and a child of the fire nation. I heard the tale of your encounter with the earth bending assassin Kaizar. I am supremely impressed. I also heard of your ability to crush a boulder with your bare hands. You wouldn't happen to be the avatar would you?" He questioned me.

"No my lord that is the pure result of my training." I replied.

"Explain" he said.

"Remember when we first met and I told you about the physicians book that said how to train the body? It also spoke of how to make your body as strong as rock. I have been breaking my fist on the ironwood trees for years and rebuilding them to make them stronger. Using this tactic, my hands, barely feel pain anymore. However, I guess there is room for improvement since I did break my wrist. I will have to train harder and make sure that that doesn't happen again. The theory behind the training is that if I break my hands down enough, I can make them as hard as boulders and if I train my body hard enough, I can break them. I am no earth, bender, nor am I the avatar." I replied respectfully.

"I see. It is good that you have proven your drive and ambition beyond your assigned training and classes. The mark of a true master is the training they create for themselves, and yours has saved your life and the lives of my son and grandson. For this I thank you. Though it was not your duty you defended both with great courage and honor. I believe this deserves a great reward." He loooked to Iroh, "my son how do Lu Ten, yourself and Kaizar get along?"

Iroh replied, "Oh quite well father, I thoroughly enjoy his company and hard work as does Lu Ten. He has become a close friend."

"I am glad to here this. Kaizar, my reward to you shall be great. Talent and ambition such as yours cannot be wasted as a common soldier. You have earned and worked for something greater yes? Then I shall give it to you. Next week you shall be adopted by Iroh erasing your existence as an orphan, and by becoming his son as well as my grandson, you shall be a prince of the fire nation." He smiled when he noticed I was too shocked and stopped to speak. "Yes it is shocking I know, but I have been thinking about doing this for sometime and yesterday you proved your worth as being part of this family. Mind you blood is still important so you will be last in line for the throne it will go Iroh, Lu Ten, Ozai, Zuko, Azula, then you. There is nothing you or I can do about it. What do you think would you like to be a part of a family again….my own?"

I couldn't believe what I was hearing I was going to be a Prince? How did breaking a rock from hitting my friends even compare? I was in shock but looked to Iroh or I guess my soon to be father. "I would be honored to have you as a son Kaizar. I have considered you one for a long time now and I know Lu Ten talks of you as a little brother. I wish to welcome you to our family if you would have us." He said.

Finally my mind caught up to the shot, "Fire Lord Azulan, Prince Iroh…I would be honored to join your family." I replied as if I had a choice. I didn't, but I still wanted this. Iroh was my male role model and Lu Ten and I were close. I felt there would not be much difference.

The fire lord stood up and clapped his hands together, "oh what a happy day it is when my family grows in one way or another. We shall announce your adoption tomorrow and have the coronation next week. You will be the first non-Agni bloodline adopted into the family in nearly 700 years. Feel honored for this for you have earned it. You are dismissed son and….grandson." He said.

I smiled having a warm feeling spread through my stomach as I now had a family again, and this family was kinder, closer, and more loving that any I had ever known including my father.

Next time Kaizar will get a reward, but is he worthy? I own nothing. I am doing this for fun and am trying to do 1-2 chapters a week. I am motivated to work faster when people like my work. And I improve when people give me constructive criticism and feedback. I am doing this chapter by chapter and hope you like it! Please leave suggestions for what you'd like to see and I'll consider putting it in. Though it is still my story so please understand every suggestion won't make it in. Thanks and enjoy.