Flames of Burden
Prologue
An elderly woman strode through the halls of her manor, her heels clicking on the marble floors as the sound echoed through the hallways. The metal clang of her shoes reminiscent of her younger years, taking her back to the days she spend travelling. Finally when she reached the garden, the princess came to abrupt halt, golden eyes blinking twice as she stared at in man reclining next to the water.
“When my servants informed me that the Firelord was waiting for me in the Western Gardens I expected to see my niece.” Azula said slightly surprised as she gave Zuko a hug as she sat down next to her brother in front Turtle Duck Pond identical to the one in Royal Gardens. “I missed you, Zuzu. How’s life outside the Fire Nation?”
“Would you fancy a trip to Republic City, sister?” Zuko spoke quietly as he stared at the scroll in his hands.
With a sole glance Azula recognized the familiar handwriting of an old friend and rival who now lived at the South Pole and should be busy guiding the new Avatar. “Does our purpose in Republic City have to do with the contents of that letter in your hands?”
“Katara contacted me about the dire situation of the United Republic of Nations. According to letters she received from Tenzin and Lin the situation Republic City is dire.” Zuko said as the paper in his hands began to smoke slightly although with a swift swipe of Azula’s hand in the budding flames disappeared. “And it seems it will escalated into a full blown civil war with arrival of the new Avatar.”
“So the Avatar has come to Republic City for her Airbending Training, already?” The elderly princess took her a moment to study her sibling, her golden eyes moving over her brother’s posture and taking in everything. “Are you going their? As ambassador.”
“We fought for creation of the United Republic of Nations for our people Azula,” Zuko answered as looked at his sibling for the first time since they arrived and noticing for the first time that Azula like him had become old and grey. “and now this Amon and his Equelists threaten to destroy it with their anti-bending revolution. I agree with Katara that perhaps the presence of the young war heroes might raise the people’s moral a bit.
“Or throw things in greater turmoil… but I agree we fought the Harmony Restoration Movement for our people.” Azula agreed as she leaned forward holding a bit of left over bread for the turtle ducks. “The United Republic of Nations is as much our legacy to the world as it is Aang’s. And perhaps the three of us can help the next generations one more time before we die. Besides I have passed on the tasks of Shu Jin’s Governor to my son, to tell the truth life has been terribly boring at least you have been traveling the world like we did when we were young.”
Zuko released a soft, short chuckle at the former princess words before elaborating. “Being a ambassador for the Fire Nation is not the same as being on the run with mother.”
“One of my few remaining joys here Zuko, are my grandchildren and teaching them firebending.” Azula said as she looked at her brother a tired and sad expression on her face. “Life hasn’t been the same since Haku died, I just didn’t want to acknowledge it. You did… isn’t that why you relinquished the throne to your daughter and retired a few months after Mai passed away.”
“Perhaps…” Zuko replied, half to himself, half to his sister. “the world has changed Azula so few remember what the Hundred Years War was like and now some fool is going to send the world into another war.”
They had grown up seeing cruelties of war, “I think mother did the right thing when she took us away all those years ago.”
(Information ←| Flames of Burden |→ 01. A Mother’s Love)
Author’s Note: Flames of Burden’s Prologue will only be found here, I’ve finally making progress with my first AtLA story. Must be because TLok has begun airing her in NL.
mitsuki0tennyo 