Prologue Part 4

This one is the 3rd or 4th last one.

Time skip brought you by onii-sama Lu Ten. The next day.

Today is a beautiful day. We are all outside, Zuko, Azula, their mom and myself. Both Zuko's mom and I sat in front of the fountain, Zuko's mom sat on a bench while I sat on the grass, on her left. Zuko and Azula are running around playing, they did invite me to play along, but I was too tired to play because I stayed up til late making the treaty gift for Zuko.

"Did you mange to make the treaty gift for Zuko?" Zuko's mom asked in a whisper. "I was able to finish it late last night." I replied back in a whisper.

"May I see it?" She whispered while her eyes sparkled. Without saying a word, I stood on my knees and took out a small parcel, wrapped in cloth, out of my pocket. I slowly past it to her, she took it from me gently and unwrapped it.

"Wow, its beautiful." Zuko's mom whispered. "Thank you. My mom taught me how to make flowers in different kind of materials." I smiled and blushed while thinking of my mom.

"She has taught you well." Zuko's mom closed up the material and gave it back to me.

Zuko's mom suddenly looked up to her right side. I followed her gaze and I saw a guard walking towards us with a scroll in his hands. He went on one knee and presented the scroll to her, and she took it from him.

She open it up and read it. She slowly got up from her seat still reading. I quickly got to my feet and stood in front of her. She slowly lowered the scroll as a single tear escaped her eye.

"What's wrong mam? Did something happened on the battle field? Pleas tell me." My voice started to shake.

"Iroh has lost his son." She looked away from. "WHAT?!" I almost shouted but couldn't keep the shock from my voice.

"Your brother/cousin Lu Ten did not survive the battle." She said.

Both my mouth and eyes opened up huge. 'How can this be? Why is this happening to me?' The same question kept running through my head over and over again. I looked down at my feet. I was too shocked to cry. My legs feels like jelly, like it might collapse underneath me. Something soft and warm grabbed my hand and started dragging me away.

We were walking very fast for a few minutes, and I did not once looked up to see who was dragging me away. We came to a complete stop before I heard the doors open up, and the same person dragged me inside.

Once inside the safety of my room, only then my heart finally decided to break as I broke down crying, and my legs gave way from underneath me. But two strong caught me before I completely hit the floor.

The strong arms pulled me into a flat chest, so that I know the person is a he, as I cried hard into his chest. He one hand held me head while other rubbed circles on my back to try and calm me down.

"Shhh, shhh, shhh. Everything's going to be okay. I'm here for you (Y/N)." Zuko voice whispered into my ears. 'It can't be Zuko. I thought he was angry with me' I thought to myself.

We stayed like that for a few minutes before my sobs calmed down a bit. I slowly snaked my arms around him. He must have notice, because he stopped rubbing circles on my back and hugged me tight, which I gratefully returned.

"I'm so sorry (Y/N)." Zuko whispered into my ears. "Why... are... you... saying... sorry?" I manage to get out between sobs as I started to cry all over again.

He didn't say anything and started to rub circles on my back again, and continued to try and calm me down. We stayed like that for another few minutes, before I slowly stopped crying, as I started to run out of tears.

I put my fists on his chest and slowly pushed myself away from him. "I'm sorry for breaking down like that." I said as l looked at my fists, one being empty while the other held the peace treaty gift.

"You don't need to say sorry." He said. I looked up at him, a bit shocked. Isn't he angry with me for what happened at the fountain. He continued. "I understand. Even though he is my cousin, you loved and cared for him as a big brother. So I understand that it's a lot harder on you." He let go of me as he rub the back of his neck with his left hand nervously while he gave me a closed eye smile.

I couldn't help but smile at him a little, before I remembered his peace treaty gift. I took the back of his free hand with right hand and turned it, so that his palm faced me. "Here. This is for you." I said as I placed the small, little material package in his hand, before I let go of his hand.

"What's this?" He asked, not opening it up. "A peace treaty gift. To make up for whatever I did, on that day, of the fountain incident." I said as I looked down at my fidgeting hand.

"Why?" Was all that came out of his mouth. "Because you are angry with me are you not." I felt my cheeks heat up a little.

"No I'm not, and never was." His tone of voice held a little bit of sadness in them. "Then why did you ignored me and only spoke to me when you needed something?" I asked.

"Because I thought you were angry with me for accidently stealing your first kiss." He said as he looked down.

'What! Are you kidding me? He thought I was angry with him.' I was so shocked that I couldn't help but laugh at him. 'I'm so glad he is no angry with me and glad he was my first kiss.' I thought to myself. "I wouldn't got mad at you for that. I'm fine with it." I smiled.

Now it was his turn to be shocked, as he looked up with his eyes wide open. "Really?" He asked. I nodded my head. "Really." I replied, giving him my closed eyes smile.

I opened my eyes and pointed at the gift in his hand. "But I still want you to have that gift." I stated. "Are you sure?" He asked me, as his eyes went back to normal. "Yea, I'm sure. I made it myself you know." I held up my hands as I wiggled my fingers.

"Then who am I to turn down a hand made gift. Thank you." He said as he opened up the cloth to reveal a green rose that I made out of thin material.



(Sorry no pic. Pic on Wattpad.)

"You really made this?" His eyes were as wide as saucers. "Yip, I did." I smiled. "You are really good." He picked up the rose gently. "Thank you." I felt my cheeks heat up a little, once again.

"Why don't you rest a little? You have been through quite a lot today." He said. I just nodded my head, feeling a little tired because I was a bit emotional today. He took me by my hand and led me to my bed, which was a few steps away.

He picked up Kat my doll and gave her to me. I wasn't in the mood to be covered up, so I decided to just lay on top of my covers. As Zuko was about to leave, I grabbed his wrist to prevent him from leaving me by myself, because right now I'm a bit too scared to be alone.

Zuko turned to look at me confused. As if reading my mind, his expression soften and sat on my bed next to me. "Would you like me to sing to you?" He asked.

I just nodded my head, before I turned onto my side, holding Kat close to my chest, as I curled up into a ball.

Zuko sat a bit closer to me. He started to stroke my hair as he began to sing. His voice was soft and gentle, at the same time, as it helped me to relax.

"Leaves from the vine

Falling so slow

Like fragile tiny shells

Drifting in the foam

Little soldier boy

Come marching home

Brave soldier boy

Comes marching home."

His voice lulled me to sleep before he got to the end of the song, which I was gratefully for, to welcome sleep.

Time skip brought you by stoic Mai.

It's been a few days after the death of onii-sama, and it still hurts me a lot. I miss him so much, and I still can't believe he is not here anymore. I am with Zuko and Azula in a big hall, with very little chairs in it.

Zuko is playing around, slashing the air with his dagger, while Azula was just sitting on the chair, looking really bored. And me, I'm just standing near the door, next to a pillar, just watching them.

Then Zuko stop and pretended that he got stabbed in the chest, as he put his hand over his heart and fell backwards and made sounds, like he was dying. I couldn't help but giggle a little bit, at his action.

"You waste all your time playing with knives. You're not even good." Azula mocked, which was just really rude. Zuko stood up and looked at his sister.

"Put an apple on your head and we'll find out how good I am." He said while going into a weird fighting stance.

"By the way." Azula said, while jumping off the chair, and started walking to Zuko. "Uncle is coming home." When she said that I felt very happy. 'Yes papa Iroh is coming home.' I smiled a little bit to myself.

Azula stopped right in front of her brother. "Does that mean we won the war." Zuko asked.

"No." She leans a little forward. "That means, uncle is a quitter and a loser." She walked away from Zuko.

'How dare she say that.' I thought as I tried to keep my cool. "What are you talking about. Uncle is not a quitter." Zuko said as his eyes followed his sister as she walks away.

'Thank you Zuko. At least I'm not the only who thinks so.' I thought.

"Oh yes he is. He finds out his son died and he just fell apart." She went around the pillar and looked straight at Zuko. She then leans on the pillar. "A real general will stay and burn Ba Sing Se to the ground. Not lose the battle and come home crying." She said as she turned her head to face Zuko.

'How dare she, how dare she speak like that. She has no idea how painful it is to lose someone you loved dearly.' I screamed in my head as a tear threatens to fall out of my eye.

"How do you know what he should do!" He yelled at Azula a little, before calming down. "He is properly just sad that his only blood kid is gone." He slowly turned and looked at me with sad eyes. "Forever." He looked down.

*Clackety-clack.* I pulled my eyes away from Zuko, and turned towards the door.

"Your father has requested an audience with fire lord Azulon. Best clothes. Hurry up." Their mom said as she is standing by the doorway. I turned around to Zuko and Azula to see them run up to their mom.

"Fire lord Azulon." Azula said as she stopped almost in front of her mom. While Zuko has already left the room. "Can't you just call him grandfather. His not exactly the powerful fire lord he used to be. Someone will properly end up taking his place soon." Azula said with no care at all.

"Young lady. Not another word." Her mom said a little upset. With that Azula also the room, leaving just me and Ursa, their mom.

I just continued to stare out the door after Azula has left. "What is wrong with that child." I heard Zuko's mom say softly. I removed my eyes from the door, to their mom, to see her staring out the door as well.

"Well, you can definitely say she is Ozai's child." I said as I looked away from her, crossing my arms.

"What do you mean by that. Are you suggesting Zuko isn't." she asked. "No. I know Zuko is his child because of the little bit of resemblance they share. I just mean Azula is so much like Ozai, from her personality to her attitude."

I turned to face her, while I uncrossed my arms and put my hands behind my back, as I continued to say what I mean. "And with Zuko, I'd say he is more your child, and less Ozai. Because he is sweet and kind hearted. I just hope he never changes." I smiled my closed eyes smile.

"I hope so too." Zuko's mom replied. "Well, since servants aren't allowed to be in the audience, I'll be at the kitchen, helping out." I bowed a little.

"Good day mam." I said. "Yes good day, to you too (Y/N)." I straightened up and left the room and headed to the kitchen.

Word count: 2265.