Deep in the silent night, Fire Lord Azulon sat high upon his throne.
Before him burned a wall of flame that seemed as though it would never go out.
It was a tradition left behind after Fire Lord Sozin began the Hundred Year War, a symbol of the Fire Lord’s supreme authority and power.
Ozai knelt before the throne and said in a low voice, “Father, this is my daughter.
She possesses extraordinary talent in firebending.
“I named her Azula in your honor, to commemorate your greatness.” Azulon’s gaze fixed on this son of his, too young and far too ambitious.
The aging Fire Lord said nothing for a long moment before speaking mildly.
“My children, who among you can tell me how your great-grandfather, Sozin, won the Battle of Han Tui?” The Battle of Han Tui was famously celebrated as one of the Fire Nation’s greatest victories against overwhelming odds.
While Zuko remained hesitant and uncertain, Azula spoke up with absolute confidence and composure.
“It was the climate and the terrain.
“Although the enemy army had greater numbers, they were positioned below.
It was the dry season at the time, and Great-Grandfather used that to his advantage.
He used fire attacks to break through their defenses and wiped them all out.” Hearing Azula’s answer, Azulon nodded in satisfaction from his throne.
“Correct.
You’ve learned well, child.
Will you show your grandfather your firebending?” Ozai shot a meaningful look at Azula.
Understanding her father’s unspoken prompt, Azula rose and offered a respectful bow.
“Grandfather, I will show you the firebending technique I recently learned.” With that, Azula dropped into a flawless lunge and delivered a succession of high kicks, her blazing flames condensed and perfectly controlled.
As the Fire Lord, Azulon might have been old, and his strength might have declined, but his eye had not dulled.
After watching Azula execute a fluid, seamless sequence of forms, he nodded approvingly.
“Not bad.
She truly is a genius.” The corner of Azula’s mouth lifted.
After bowing respectfully, she returned to kneel beside Zuko.
She shot him a provocative glance and whispered, “You’ll never surpass me.
This is the difference between us.” Zuko was unwilling to back down.
He immediately stood.
“Grandfather, I’ve learned a new set of dao blade techniques—” Before Zuko could finish, Ozai snapped at him.
“Enough.
Sit down.
You are a firebender, not some street acrobat showing off with blades.
“Do you have no dignity as a firebender at all?” Seeing Zuko scolded, Azula could not help covering her mouth to hide a laugh.
Being rejected by his father again and again, Zuko’s face flushed red.
He could only give up on demonstrating his twin-dao techniques and say, “I’m sorry, Father.
Please give me another chance.” Ozai secretly glanced at Azulon.
Seeing no objection from him, he said reluctantly, “Do whatever you intend to do quickly.
Don’t waste your grandfather’s time.” “Yes, Father.” With his father’s permission, Zuko let out a fleeting sigh of relief.
He centered his body, drawing upon the chi within his core, and thrust his fist forward with a sharp grunt.
Pffft—!
Seeing the tiny, pathetic spark that sputtered from Zuko’s fist, Azula, who had been struggling to contain her amusement, completely lost her composure and burst out laughing.
Zuko stood entirely bewildered, failing to comprehend what had gone wrong.
He had meticulously followed the orthodox firebending forms during his training, yet his efforts yielded absolutely no results.
Zuko raised his leg high, bringing it down in a vertical axe kick, but this time, he didn’t even spark a single ember.
Azulon’s expression grew increasingly grim.
He glared down at Ozai, waving his hand dismissively.
“Tell me, Ozai, what exactly do you want?
Everyone else, leave.” Ozai’s face turned as black as a thundercloud.
He sharply instructed Azula, “Take your useless brother away.
He is a disgrace to our entire family.” Azula smiled and nodded.
“Don’t worry, Father.
I’ll take Zuko away now.” Azulon did not ask them to stay.
Or perhaps he simply did not care.
In Azulon’s heart, there was only one creation he had ever been truly satisfied with: his eldest son, Iroh.
Even though Iroh had suffered a defeat at Ba Sing Se, Azulon could not bring himself to punish him.
As for the rest of them, let alone Azula, he didn’t care in the slightest about even his second son kneeling directly before him.
After Azula led Zuko out of the great hall, she did not actually leave.
She was far too restless by nature, and she was deeply curious about what her father intended to discuss with her grandfather.
When she realized neither Ozai nor Azulon had noticed her, she slipped behind the curtain and watched in secret.
Zuko did not think much of it.
This was his own home, after all.
Besides, he was weighed down by his thoughts and in no mood to let Azula mock him, so he returned to his room before long.
The wall of fire separated father and son, burning away the last remnants of family affection.
Azulon rested a hand on the arm of his throne.
His voice was cold as snow in midwinter.
“Ozai, what is the meaning of this display today?” Ozai did not bother hiding his ambition.
He lifted his head to look at Azulon and gritted his teeth.
“Father, Iroh’s son is dead.
“After that, he completely collapsed.
He fled Ba Sing Se like a coward.
“But you saw it yourself.
I am still alive, and your granddaughter Azula is such a perfect creation.
I should be the one to inherit your throne!” “Insolent!” Azulon’s voice thundered with uncontainable fury.
He roared, “How dare you say such a thing?
Your elder brother has just lost his beloved son, and you dare suggest that I strip him of his position as Crown Prince?” Ozai tried to say more, but the flames before him suddenly surged higher.
The scorching heat forced even him to stumble back two steps and raise an arm to shield himself.
Seeing that cowardly display, Azulon looked at him with contempt.
“Ozai, your brother has suffered enough.
“As for you… your punishment has only just begun.
“I want you to know the exact pain of losing a firstborn son.
I command you to execute your eldest son with your own hands!” Ozai knelt heavily upon the floor, his hair falling slightly loose to veil the dark, murderous intent pooling within his eyes.
He slowly replied, “Yes, Father.” Behind the curtain, Azula felt a sudden shock rattle her core.
But as the realization settled in, a wave of sheer delight washed over her.
Zuzu is in deep trouble.
Though she took immense pleasure in his misfortune, Azula didn’t genuinely want to see Zuko executed, no matter how much she disliked him.
However, a permanent exile sounded perfectly acceptable.
Without Zuko in the picture, she would be her father and mother’s only child—the sole, uncontested heir to the Fire Nation throne.
Furthermore, Zuko would never be able to steal anything away from her ever again!
Immensely pleased, Azula skipped and bounded her way all the way to Zuko’s room.
When she spoke, her voice carried the cheerful, melodic cadence of a songbird.
“Father is going to execute you!” Azula leaned against the doorframe, her singsong voice filling the room.
Through the pale window, flashes of lightning split the darkness outside, followed by rolling thunder, just like Zuko’s current situation.
Zuko was startled awake by Azula’s words.
Or rather, burdened as he was, he had not been able to sleep in the first place.
“Azula, that joke isn’t funny at all!” Zuko sat up, snapping irritably.
“Oh, really?” Azula walked over and sat on the edge of his bed, locking her brother in a deeply amused, mocking stare until Zuko felt a cold shiver run straight down his spine.