AUTHORS NOTE: Okay all, welcome. If you're new here, welcome. If you didn't already know, this is going to be a Zutara story, and it will remain as such. If you pay attention while reading this, you'll come to realize that this takes place twenty three years after the war has ended. This is mainly centered around Zuko and Katara, as well as their daughter, Zarah, and son Koda.

This is also going to be a "then" and "now" type of story line progression (every other chapter will be a "then" which means a past chapter. That means chapter 2 will begin 6 years after the war) so that the past ties up with the future as the story progresses. That also means more time for early on Zutara so we can get a feel for them post war. Also a means for more mature rated themes, so that's always a plus, am I right?

Zuko (41), Katara (39) Zarah (18), Koda (16) (Yeah, the ages sound gross but do you remember what Hakoda and Ozai looking like at those ages? Yeah, they're still really hot, don't worry.)

Trust me, you're going to want to hold on tight because this is going to be one wild ride.

Now, for some warnings before we begin. This story is and will remain rated M. If I gave you specifics on the whole story, it would give a lot away about the in between and ending, so I will just apply warnings as needed.

I have put a lot of blood, sweat and yeah, lot's of tears into this so take into consideration all the hard work it takes to put out fanficiton! I had a lot of help with editing from my friend over on tumblr ( theadamantdaughter) who also has a story of her own, called The Rising. You should really check it out, it's definitely worth the read. I'll like it at the end of the chapter. She's been there to see lot's of these tears so definitely kudos to her for keeping me sane throughout this writing process.

With this first chapter, I'm going to add a warning for: violence, blood/gore. Read with care.

Now, without further ado, I give you An Embers Prodigy.

An Embers Prodigy — Chapter One — A New Awakening

They say the calm before the storm can rattle bones, but it's the silence in between that's the worst.

The sun was stained glass; a royal palace sat upon the heart of its nation. Twenty three years had gone and passed since the end of the hundred year war, and the new world had been on an inelegant mend. History repeats itself, or so they say, and it's always the hardest to keep away.

It was on the eighteenth year of her life that her parents had decided to throw a party in honor of her birth. It was midsummer— the Summer Solstice— that she'd been born unto the royal family. Zarah— the daughter of Fire Lord Zuko, and Master Katara; heir to the throne and a Princess to her nation. Alone, she had been enough to set a new precedence of peace for the world. And it was alone that she would throw it back away.

("Now", twenty three years post war)

Zarah POV.

He was fast— but she was faster as she missed yet another dry kick from her brother. Having decided that it was the perfect opportunity for a counter attack, she struck, hurtling a fireball hurtling straight towards him. He ducked, but just barely— in time for the flames to lick across the side of his face.

"Zarah!" he exclaimed, stumbling momentarily before regaining his balance. "Watch it!"

"Don't tell me to 'watch it!" she exclaimed. "I told you— watch, and listen. You have to be ready for anything. You have to be prepared for your enemies next move!" She had never intentionally harmed her brother, but her patience had been wearing thin from the beginning of their morning spar. "Remember what dad said? Breathe, listen, attack."

Koda's dao swords swung low to the ground, his fists balled white due to his iron grip. His eyes remained trained on hers, examining her, studying her. She watched as his eyes trailed her as she shifted positions, her arms raising an attack. And finally, after three deep breaths, they were at it again.

Koda attacked first, his twin swords swinging once, though she was able to deflect them by falling to her stomach. She then, with all the force she could muster, swung her legs from beneath her and sent a circle of fire in her brother's direction. Blue flames lapped at his skin, sending him reeling backwards onto the ground.

But he was back on his feet in an instant, swords slicing through the air fast enough she could hear them cutting. She dodged, ducking beneath his arms to round his back. He whirled around, then, swords narrowly missing the side of her face as she went to deliver the final blow.

He wasn't weak, that much she knew. But what she didn't know was that he had been practicing, a lot from the looks of it, with their father.

It was said long ago that he had become a master at the dao swords. Whatever purpose they served for him she couldn't be sure, for what would a bender need with swords? Half of their parents' lives were kept secret from her and her brother, so neither of them really knew the half of what happened during the war they'd fought in.

"For your protection," they'd said.

Zarah moved to punch towards him but he was too fast as he trapped her against his chest, swords crossed behind her and keeping her locked against him. She struggled but it was no use, he was stronger, in that moment.

"It seems I've underestimated you," she muttered, glaring into his golden eyes. "I suppose you're not as pathetic as I'd thought."

His eyes smoldered, his grip loosening slightly. But it was just enough, and she made her move.

He took her elbow to the chest, stumbling backwards a few steps before toppling onto his back— his swords clattering to the ground. She took the opportunity to pin him, one knee on the ground beside him, the other digging into his abdomen right below his ribs. She lowered her face just close enough so that she could whisper into his ear.

"Never let your guard down."

With a triumphant smile, she hopped up, offering her brother a hand in the process. He was reluctant, however, brushing her aside and standing on his own before swiping his swords from the ground.

"Oh, come on. Don't be bitter, Koda."

He glared at her, then, before turning to walk away.

"Easy for you to say. You're the one with all the bending— all the magic." She grimaced, recalling the last time their Uncle Sokka referred to her bending as crazy spirit magic. "And I'm not being bitter. I'm just…I just worked really hard with dad yesterday and I thought— I thought maybe this time I could beat you."

She almost felt sorry for him, she did. But at the same time she knew that if she didn't go hard on him, there'd come a time where he wouldn't be prepared enough to face an actual threat. And she couldn't bare the thought of him defenseless. It was something they were both raised on— the same principle they're taught every single day they're alive to see the sun rise.

"Never let yourself become too comfortable with the now, because there will come a time where the now becomes the past, and the future becomes nonexistent."

"Koda?"

They both whirled around as soon as their mother approached, both hands folded along the abdomen of her blue dress. She went to Koda first, her eyes widening as she cupped the side of his face in which revealed a small burn along his jaw. Their mother's eyes flicked to her own, something deeply rooted boiling to the surface.

"Zarah, did you do this to your brother?" she asked, her tone firm, accusational.

"We were sparring, mother. I didn't—"

"—didn't mean to burn him?" she asked. "There's been a lot of that happening lately."

Her mother pulled water from thin air, allowing it to coat her entire hand before pressing it gently to her brothers jaw, the burn disappearing almost instantaneously.

"Go find your father, he should be making a few last minute preparations for your sister's party this afternoon." Koda glanced to herself, both of them sharing a knowing look before reluctantly walking away. She knew she was about to get "talked to", and she really didn't want to deal with her mothers passive aggressive hostility.

"Zarah," she said firmly, grabbing her by the arm. She yanked herself free from her grasp, blue eyes challenging gold. Her mother knew she didn't like to be touched like that. She wasn't a child needing to be scolded any longer; she was an adult.

"You know what I told you about sparring. You need to be more careful with your brother. He's not like you, okay?"

"Not like me?" she asked, dumbfounded. "Just because he can't bend doesn't mean he's weak, mother. If anything, he's stronger than any of us." She took a deep breath, clenching her jaw. "He doesn't need to be babied."

"I didn't mean it as if he were weak, Zarah. Just because I am concerned for his safety does not mean—"

"Concerned for his safety? I'm his sister, what does he need to be safe from? It's not like I purposefully hurt him!"

"But you do hurt him, and that's just the same."

Having her mother stand there, glaring at her and thinking she'd actually harm her family was what eventually set her off. She was tired of being treated as if she was different, somehow more harmful just because of how she was born. She was a powerful firebender— more powerful than most— but that didn't mean she was going to harm her family.

"I'm really tired of you treating me like I'm some kind of problem," she spat, stepping away from her mother. "I love Koda, I would never hurt him. I would never hurt any of you, I love you." She found herself looking to the ground, no longer wanting to meet her mothers' gaze. "I can't help how I was born."

Finally, she sighed swallowed thickly before dragging her gaze up to her mother's. "I didn't ask…for any of this."

Legend would say that she was born lucky. "Born with the power of a thousand suns," her late Uncle would once whisper to her. "But with great power, comes great responsibility."

She didn't feel lucky, however. Luck had nothing to do with it. Being born unto Fire Lord Zuko and Master Katara wasn't as prestigious as one would make it out to be. Not when it came to living— not when it came to living a normal life, at least. It was with a great deal of heavy security, a guard at every turn, and absolutely no leaving the palace grounds that she went about growing up within the palace.

That's why, today, of all days, she was surprised to see the amount of people that had been allowed onto the palace grounds. The palace itself was like a city all of its own, filled with guests from what she assumed to be at least half of the Fire Nation.

Some wore dresses of bright blues and royal greens, royalty, no doubt— and an alarming amount of men.

It was only mid—afternoon, judging by the high sun in the sky casting fluid shadows upon the ground. It was only mid—afternoon and she was already ready for the day to be over. She'd met with almost every man of marrying age within the Fire Nation and she was ready to be done. She never understood the point, anyways. Meeting with men for whom she knew she'd never marry. Although she knew her parents had the best intentions— for the Council had been hounding them about her finding a suitor— she was disappointed to find out that this had been the sole reason for her party.

"Having any fun yet?" She practically jumped at the voice from behind, turning her head to meet the eyes of her brother. "Mom asked me to come find you. She says dad has someone he'd like you to meet."

She rolled her eyes, heaving a deep sigh before folding her arms across her chest out of disinterest. "Tell him I'm not interested in meeting anymore of his advisor's sons."

Her brother stepped to stand in front of her, the golden glint of her father's old headpiece gleaming against the high hanging sun. "Look—" he began in a hushed whisper. "—the sooner you get this over with, the sooner you can be done with all of this." She knew he was right, but that didn't make it any more pleasing. "Trust me, if there's anyone more upset about all of this other than you, it's me."

"Wow, you almost sound as if you care about me, Koda," she laughed, watching as his golden eyes squinted with laughter of his own.

"Of course I care about you. But you're going about this day all wrong," he said. "Listen, all dad wants is for you to pretend that you at least care about any of this. I mean, this is your future, you know."

"I know," she muttered quietly, her eyes drifting from his and finding purchase on the ground. "I wish it wasn't."

"I know."

She knew that all of this came with the territory of being the heir to the throne. She knew that this is what her future would consist of; being the face of the Fire Nation. But that didn't mean that that's what she'd wanted— born into it or not.

"Hey." She looked back up into her brother's eyes as he spoke. "Don't worry about earlier, alright? I know mom can be…overwhelming."

She broke their eye contact, no longer wanting to watch his expression turn to that of pity. "It's fine. It's over, don't worry about it."

"Is it, though?" he asked, his hand now on her shoulder. "You know you don't have to lie to me. We're in this together, are we not?" His words echoed in her mind. Words once spoken between them many years ago.

She had been turning thirteen, that day, and something about everything suddenly felt different. Be it the tension in the air or the fact that she was no longer allowed to go outside without two guards, then, she couldn't be sure.

Her brother, then only eleven at the time, had suddenly become very ill once again and she'd heard the rumors throughout the palace. "The prince has fallen ill again." "Do you think this is the time for his passing?" "It can't be known, but he isn't looking too lucky."

There that word was again, she'd thought. Lucky. It was always something about luck in their family that she couldn't put a finger on why it was so heavily focused upon.

And as she snuck into her brother's room later that afternoon, scared that she'd never see to him again, she'd made him a promise that neither of them would be able to forget.

"I'm going stay with you, is that okay?" she asked. She could feel the heat from his body radiating off of him in waves as he lied there. "You're going to be okay." She didn't know if she was saying that for his sake, or for her own. But nonetheless, his eyes fluttered open and she finally saw the once golden irises, once so gleaming and full of life, fall pale.

"We're in this together, me and you." She'd told him. She grabbed his hand from its spot on the bed and almost jumped at its temperature. Not wanting to worry him further, however, she acted as if there was nothing wrong. That's all she could offer him in the moment. "Together."

Suddenly she felt as she did all those years ago as her eyes ventured back up to her brother's.

"I lied, I'm not fine," she admitted. "But there's nothing we can do about it at the moment so may we please move on."

He only nodded, removing his hand from her shoulder gently before backing away slowly.

"I suppose it's time for me to go find dad."

"Good luck, alright?" he'd said, and she found herself smiling. "Don't fall in love."

She laughed, then, really, truly laughed for the first time in what seemed like a lifetime as she playfully smacked his arm. "I'll do that," she said before they parted.

She'd almost forgotten how crowded the palace gardens were. Many people from all over the world loitered about, talking of such simple of things as to what color dress they were going to wear the next day, or how their son was going to impress the Princess.

She rolled her eyes internally as she watched her father come into view. She'd been hesitant to go after him, after all, though she decided it would be for the good of her father if she'd actually try for once— for the sake of pleasing the Council.

"Zarah, so nice of you to join us," her father spoke softly, motioning to his left. "This is General Kozin, Admiral Ryon's son. I invited him to your party today in hopes that maybe he could keep you company while I was tending to the other guests."

She grimaced; trying her best to hide her distaste— though her father could see right through her facade. He always could. And she never could deny her father anything— she was too proud— so she had decided to go along with whatever plan he was withholding.

Her eyes found Kozin's. How hers were a gleaming gold, his had been more muted, almost brown against his pale skin.

"Kozin," she introduced formally, nodding her head once. He returned, though bowing a few moments before returning to full height as he stood well above her. Something about him intrigued her. She couldn't be sure, but it was almost as if he was studying her behind those long lashes.

"Princess," he whispered, taking her hand in his and lowering his lips to her palm.

She grimaced, trying her best not to blanch in person. She couldn't be quite sure what she despised more, being called Princess, or him kissing her hand. All she knew for certain was that she wanted to get this over with as quickly as possible.

"General," she replied, plastering her widest, fake smile across her lips. "So nice of you to be here today."

"Oh, the pleasure is certainly all mine."

She watched out of the corner of her eye as her father snuck off with one of the members of the Council, the Council members' face holding a look of pleasure. Good, she thought, her father had managed to get that grimy looking filth away from her— for the rest of the evening, hopefully.

Then, she noticed two men standing off a few feet away, pretending to be reading an inscription on a stone when their eyes had met briefly. The man flicked his eyes away from her immediately before walking away, tapping the other man on the shoulder before he, then, followed him away and out of her line of sight.

She felt strange, suddenly. She felt as if she were missing something. She felt like she'd seen those men before, but she couldn't quite place their faces.

"So, how are you enjoying your party so far?" a voice asked, and she was suddenly reminded that she was still affront General Kozin. Her eyes flicked back to his, the muted color watching her carefully. He appeared to be no older than herself and she'd wondered what his father had to do in order to get him a private "date" with the Princess.

"It's going fine, thank you," she muttered, losing interest almost immediately. She knew nobody here yet she had no desire to meet anyone new. But when he implored for more, she figured she'd allow him at least a small amount of her time. A little walk and light conversation couldn't hurt anyone. "Walk with me?"

"Anything," he replied, following her footsteps and out of the way of the crowd—away from those men.

They walked in silence, momentarily and she found herself actually enjoying his quiet company. She didn't know why, however, for most men interested in marrying her were only interested in the throne. People were vile creatures, she quickly learned.

"So, how long have you been working for my father?" she asked, deciding that politics seemed to be a safe topic to start off with and he turned to her as they walked.

"I actually just joined the first new fleet of the United Forces," he said. His demeanor changed to one of a more relaxed state as he was able to talk about something he actually cared about with someone who was willing to listen. "My dad is the new Admiral for the Western Fleets, so when I turned eighteen a few months ago, I decided to join."

She thought about her father and how he was definitely trying to make this into a date with his Admiral's son. She rolled her eyes, then, trying to ignore the obvious set up and just trying to enjoy her free time. And it's not as if Kozin was unpleasant to be around, it was actually quite the opposite. She felt as if she was being treated as a normal person instead of royalty. She liked that.

"But anyway, my father wanted someone he could trust with the shipments between here and the Earth Kingdom. Since my Fleet in in charge of—"

"—keeping the Western Seas safe from money laundering pirates, I know," she smiled as his face twisted into a smirk and his eyebrows raised.

"You seem to know your stuff. I guess the rumors are true."

She raised an eyebrow. "What rumors?"

"The rumors that you're not just another pretty face— some dumb Princess who's too high up on her pedestal to know what's going on in the world. You're smart."

She stopped their walking, turning to face him with her arms crossed neatly across her chest. She studied him, then, from head to toe. He didn't seem like he was trying to suck up to her, didn't seem as if he was flirting, per se. But his face held a stupid grin and she found herself wanting to wipe it from his face.

"What's your aim?" she asked.

"My aim?" he asked incredulously. "I don't have an aim. I'm just having a conversation. Do you not have a lot of conversations?" he asked, and almost sounded as if he regretted his tone. Almost.

"Not with the likes of you," she muttered. "I attend actual important matters with people who are imperative to keeping this nation thriving. I don't have time for these…frivolous affairs." He stared at her, blankly, before his mouth widened into a smile, and then a laugh bubbled up from his throat.

"What's so funny?" she asked. "Why are you laughing?"

"Frivolous affairs? Pardon me, Princess, but I thought we were just having a nice conversation. I didn't mean to ruffle your royal feathers."

"Are you actually going to stand there and talk to me like that?" she asked, her mouth agape. "I cannot believe you would talk to your Princess in such a manner." But she couldn't help the smile that fought to tear her lips. She hadn't been challenged like that in a while and quite frankly found it hilarious.

"You're treading on thin ice, General Kozin." She decided to mock his title as he did with hers. She was thrilled at his scoff.

"You're a lot crazier than I thought," he muttered, turning on his heels to leave. "Are you coming?" he asked and she huffed, walking to align herself with him on the path.

"I'm not crazy, you know," she said, kicking an invisible rock as they walked back towards the gardens.

"Oh, yeah, you're not crazy at all. You only almost threatened my life back there."

"I didn't— I didn't threaten your life," she argued. "I could, though, if you wanted me to."

"Is that an official threat?" he laughed and she found herself laughing as well. She felt…different, free. When she was alone in the palace she found herself stuck in meetings with her entire family. It was always meetings, followed by tutors and private luncheons before sparring with her father and then Koda. She was rarely able to have any fun.

Sometimes she would spar with her mother, but they'd stopped sparring together a while ago. Both of them just…drifted apart as she got older. On one hand, she didn't mind because she was being left alone, but on the other hand she missed it because she was experiencing a different kind of challenge. Sure, there were deities that could spar using waterbedning within the palace, but nothing was of comparison to the heat her mother brought.

Then, she had a thought. "Have you ever thought about sparring a master firebender?" she asked and he turned to her with a dumbfounded grin.

"Are you claiming to be a master?" he chuckled, crossing his arms against his chest. "I don't know, I haven't seen you bend yet."

"Haven't you heard? I'm a prodigy." She smirked, and although she was trying to joke, something about the way the words came out made her feel as if she was actually trying to intimidate him.

"Oh, I'm sure," he jabbed, rolling his eyes. "If you were really so great, why hasn't anyone seen your bending before now?" he asked, and she had to actually ponder the thought. She guessed she never really felt the urge to show off. It was just firebending, it wasn't anything special – at least not to herself.

"I'm not really one to cause a scene," she answered, feeling as if that was a simple enough answer. "I'm sure I could schedule in some time to spar with you, at some point."

Great, her father would be thrilled.

They walked the rest of the way back in silence. She couldn't believe she had actually enjoyed his company. The thought made her irritated yet she couldn't help but be filled with a sense of happiness. It was a weird, new feeling and she didn't know what to make of it. She decided it didn't matter what she felt, as long as she was having fun. It was her birthday, after all. She was allowed to have a little fun.

But as they approached her father, something felt off. She could sense it— could feel it deeply rooted within her bones. There were far too many people crowded among her and her father and she began feeling uneasy. Pulling herself away from Kozin, she headed in the direction of her father and when he saw her approaching, he grasped her forearm firmly between his hand with a curiosity filling his eyes at the sight of her and Kozin returning together. She ignored his questioning stare as she looked behind her.

"Do you see those men?" she asked quietly, watching her father's eyes follow her own in the direction of the same two men from earlier loitering just a few feet from them. They appeared to be talking to each other, though their eyes darted to her and her father periodically— almost too often. "They've been watching me throughout the last hour."

"Are you sure?" he asked her and she nodded. She may have been slightly paranoid, given the circumstances, but she wasn't anything if she wasn't her father's daughter.

"They were over near me and General Kozin, earlier. I think they're following me. I can't be sure…but something is off about them."

"I'll see what I can do." Their matching eyes met briefly and he gave her arm a firm squeeze. "Why don't you go find your brother while I go find your mother. I'll see if I can find the guest list and see who's in charge of security. Both of you just…stay inside until I find you."

Her mind was already thrumming with thoughts as she walked towards the archway leading inside. Nobody else was allowed into the palace unless granted access by a guard, but she was curious as to if she was going to be followed. And when she was sure she wasn't, she pushed her way inside.

Pushing through the door she waited, looking around the corners in both directions before heading towards the family's study. She could always find Koda there, always studying some kind of history book. She never did get that thrive for learning as her brother for she had always been more of a child of action. Guess she took after her mother in that aspect, after all.

"Koda?" she called out, passing a couple of guards on her way. "Have you seen my brother?" she asked one of them, peering behind her to make sure she hadn't been followed.

"Yes, he was just in the study. I'm sure he's still there, he looked as if he was looking for something important but I didn't question him."

"Thank you," she nodded, walking rather quickly down the long hallway. Once she'd rounded the corner at the end she found the hidden door.

Pulling a candle from the shelf towards her, a large portion of the wall opened, revealing the hidden study before her. The passageway closed and she was encased within books— rows and rows of just…books. No wonder he brother basically lived in there— it was a historian's dream.

She called out for her brother against the quiet. "Koda? I know you're in here!"

"I'm over here!" he called after a moment and she followed the sound of his voice until she saw him rifling through an old chest.

"What are you doing?" she asked. "That's dad's stuff. You can't go through that, are you crazy?"

He threw his head over his shoulder and rolled his eyes at her. "Do you see how old this is? My guess is that dad hasn't been through this in at least a decade and there's important information in here that I need."

"What information? Koda, what are you looking for?" She crossed her arms against her chest; leaning over his should to watch him sift through a bunch of documents. He pulled out paper after paper, lifting each one to his line of sight before giving a growl of frustration and tossing them back into the chest when none of them fit what he had been looking for.

"It's not here. It has to be here." He pushed away from the chest, standing from his kneeling position in the process. His eyes found hers briefly before looking away as he stalked towards another row of unopened chests.

The one he approached next was tall, taller than either of them and lined with drawers. Each one appeared to have a lock in place and Koda let out another desperate cry.

"Ugh, I need into these," he muttered, looking around for any sort of key. Though when it became apparent that nobody would just leave a key lying around for a locked chest, she sighed.

"If you would just tell me what you're looking for, I may be able to help."

He ignored her, then, kicking the metal chest before giving a groan of pain. "There's no use. If I can't get into these, none of what I need to tell you would make any sense."

"How do you even know that what you're looking for is in there? If it were that important, I don't think dad or anyone else would just keep them here. He'd keep really important documents in his private study— his office— or hidden away somewhere only he knows about."

"You're right," he whispered, already heading towards the exit. "I have to look somewhere else. I—"

"Would you stop?" she practically demanded, reaching out and turning him around to face her. "You have to tell me what's going on. What are you looking for? What are you keeping from me?"

He looked off to the side, his eyes tightly closed as his face took on one of pain, frustration. "If I tell you, you're just going to think I'm crazy."

"Koda," she began. "I won't think your crazy. Whatever it is— I'm willing to listen. You just can't keep things from me like this. I thought we agreed not to keep secrets?"

She knew he knew she was right by the way his eyes flicked back to hers before he sighed, deeply, shaking his head. "I know, I know, okay? I just— It sounds crazy even to me, but…" he trailed off and she raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to continue. "But you and I both know that mom and dad haven't been completely honest with us while growing up. And…And I think they've been hiding something that we both deserve to know."

She was confused, then, even though she knew he was telling the truth. Their parent's kept so much of their past from them, so much that they felt they deserved to know. And although they both realized that maybe, at the time, they'd just been too young to understand—maybe they were just meant to be protected. But it had always felt like pieces of history were missing and they didn't understand why.

They didn't understand why they didn't know too much about their father's past. They didn't understand why their mother would sometimes look to him in worry when he grabbed his chest during spars. They'd been kept in the dark so long about so many things from their past and all for their protection, or so they were told.

"Well, what is it?" she pressed. "What do you think you know?"

He took a deep breath before crossing his arms against his chest. "Do you remember dad telling us about his sister?" he asked and she nodded, remembering the vague description they got in regards to her death a few years ago. He hadn't seemed too distraught at the time, but at the same time it felt as if he lived in a state of distress the months following the announcement.

"Azula?" she asked. "She died right after I was born, right?"

"Supposedly," he muttered and that caught her attention.

"Supposedly?"

"I think she's still alive."

At his words, she stilled, not exactly knowing what to make of his proclamation. Azula, alive? It was impossible. Their parents wouldn't lie to them about that, would they? With what vague information they've received about her over the years, what reasons would there be in hiding the truth from their own children— and especially about something to this degree?

"Mom and dad wouldn't lie to us about that, Koda," she whispered quietly. "What purpose would that serve?"

"I don't know," he admitted. "That's what I'm trying to find out."

She sighed, looking at him in seriousness. "You still haven't told me exactly what you are looking for."

She watched him cross his arms across his chest as he looked around as if someone may be listening before leaning in close. "I'm looking for an "official citizenship document". It should include an official death certificate from the prison she was being held. If it doesn't, then it means she's still alive."

"How so?" she pressed, and he continued.

"Because, Zarah. Don't you see? If there isn't an official death certificate— but she was pronounced as deceased to the public— then that means something worse happened."

"Something worse than death?" she asked.

"It would have to mean that she escaped."

"What?" she exclaimed. "Are you insane? You think she escaped? I mean, where is your logic in all of this, Koda? What are you basing this off of? How did you even come up with this supposed theory?"

She was appalled, to say the least. The fact that he would actually claim to know anything about that set her mind ablaze. It wasn't just that, but nothing added up. None of what he had said was making any sense.

"If I told you, then you really wouldn't believe me," he murmured, flicking his gaze away momentarily before meeting back with her intense stare.

"I already don't believe you, so you might as well tell me."

"Fine," he muttered. "I…I saw it in a dream."

"You saw what in a dream?" she asked. "What are you talking about?"

"It's hard to explain," he began, scrunching his brows together. "I don't even really understand it myself. But it's been bugging me for days now and I'm asking for you to understand. I'm telling you this because I know I can trust you. I can't trust anyone else with this information. I need to know that you're on my side."

"Of course I'm on your side," she whispered, letting out a breath. "I just don't understand how any of this could make any sense to you. You're telling me that you think our father's deranged sister faked her own death just to escape prison? And you think she's alive— somewhere here?" she asked. "And you gathered all of this from a dream you had?"

"I'm just having a hard time grasping why you think mom and dad would lie to us about this—lie to the entire Fire Nation."

"Well, I didn't want to go solely off of this, but mom and dad have been having meetings with the guard. Secret meetings— one's they don't want us knowing about. I don't know what's happening, but I think something is— and I'm going to find out."

"And you think that just because they're concerned for our safety that it means a psycho ex—convict has escaped prison and for what— revenge? Do you think she has a motive?" When he didn't answer her, she continued. She didn't need an answer for she already knew what was creeping throughout his mind. "You think she's after dad. Even after all these years?"

"Or us." There was a bit of silence before his eyes reached hers once again. "I don't know," he admitted, his shoulders hanging. "All I know is that it has to mean something. I wouldn't be telling you all of this if I didn't think it was important."

"I know," she whispered. "So, what are you going to do now? If you don't know where to find what you're looking for, what are you going to do?"

He stalled as if he was pondering the thought. "I guess I'll start looking somewhere else— maybe dad's office, if I can manage to get access."

"He keeps a key in the soil of the plant to the left of the door," she sighed, smirking when his eyes widened. "What? I pay attention to things, Koda. Maybe you should start, too— it could save your life one day."

He laughed, rolling his eyes. "Thanks, I'll keep that in mind," he muttered, turning to walk towards the door. "Are you coming with me?"

"No," she said. "I think I'm just going to hide out in my room until everyone leaves the party. Maybe sneak out and train alone for a while. I don't exactly feel in the party mood."

"Come on, Zarah, it's your birthday. Don't be so down about everything. Have some fun, enjoy your party," he mumbled, drawing out the words for effect. "Maybe you should go hang out with your boyfriend," he teased, and she had half a mind to burn him alive where he stood.

"He's not my boyfriend." Her voice came out agitated, annoyed as he stood there with a smirk on his face. He looked exactly like their father when he did that and it made her hate him even more, in that moment because it felt as if he was mocking her. "I hate you."

"No you don't," he laughed, pulling the lever for the secret entrance.

She didn't respond, only followed him out into the hallway until it was time to go their separate ways. "Don't get too caught up in your conspiracy theory, Koda," she whispered, patting him on the back.

"I'll be sure to tell you if I find anything more out, alright?" he said, and suddenly there was a shift in the air. It felt sudden, strange and she didn't know what to make of it. It wasn't as if anything had happened to cause the shift, it was just a feeling— a feeling that lingered far past the time he'd already begun walking down the corridor and disappeared around the corner.

She shook her head, shaking off the feeling. You're probably just confused, she thought to herself. Koda just got into your head.

The truth was, she didn't know how she felt. She didn't know if what he had told her was mindless prattling, or if he had actually been onto something. It bothered her that she couldn't tell herself if she believed him or not.

She decided not to focus too much on it as she approached her bedroom, turning the knob and pushing her way inside. She was exhausted, depleted. She wanted to curl up in bed and not leave for the rest of the day yet she felt as if there wasn't a chance in hell she was going to be that lucky. It was only a matter of time before her mother came looking after her, bugging her that she needed to come spend time with her family.

But, she'd taken barely two steps into her room before the door slammed behind her and she was knocked down from behind.

Scattering to a stand, she whipped around— one of the men from earlier, she noticed— was standing before her. Then, there was another thud as another man came rushing out from behind the curtains. And in a mess of red and gold, they charged her.

She dropped to the floor, first, and not expecting it, the two men almost ran into the other. They both shared a look and she pushed up, already forming a steady flame within her palm as they rounded her carefully, slowly, as if they were studying her— the way she moved. The way their eyes scanned her body made her sick, and she made her move before they could even blink twice.

She sent the blast in front of her, aiming for both of them but one of them was able to dissipate it with a wave of his hands. Great— they were firebenders, too. Now knowing she no longer had the upper hand, she ran, ducking around the room and sending flames in her wake. They dodged with each attack sent their way and she growled in frustration as they appeared seemingly unaffected.

"What do you want?" she yelled, and although they didn't answer, they slowly approached her. "You should watch where you step. Don't come any closer," she warned, her flames growing stronger until she had a wall before her. But it didn't work, and there was a scuffle as one of the men launched themselves at her.

They rolled, then, and she struggled against his weight as she punched fists of fire at his face. He yelled out in pain when she managed a shot to the jaw and she kicked up, rolling him off of her when he hurtled to the ground. She wasn't done yet, however, as he was already back on his feet.

That's when she noticed the other man was missing. She looked around frantically, assessing the room. He couldn't have left for the door was behind her.

She didn't have any more time to think as the man she'd just burned was already throwing fire balls at her, narrowly missing as she rolled out of the way. But his movements only grew in intensity as his caught her between his arms, a hand encased over her mouth as he began dragging her towards the window.

She kicked back, then, elbowing him in the gut until he released her with a yelp. His bloodied form launched at her again and she screamed, throwing another wall of fire in his direction. He tackled her, again, and had her wrapped around his body when a fire gloved hand wrapped around her forearm. She yelled out, the pain almost blinding but it was also as if she was barely feeling it at all after a moment. Her blood was pumping fast throughout her body and she was suddenly aware of everything all at once as his hands wrapped around her neck. Thunder rumbled in her ears and she could hear every single breath she took— could feel the fire coursing throughout her veins.

She was suddenly overcome with a feeling— a feeling she couldn't place but it caused her to act out of pure instinct. It was as if she wasn't herself as she launched herself back. She didn't even realize what she had been doing until it was too late. Until the flamed dagger at her fingertips slipped across the mans throat after she'd caught him 'round the neck, twisting it so that the blood spilled from his throat in a rush. His body clamored to the ground in a heap of his own blood ad she stared in horror at what she'd done.

Her body shook yet she didn't have time to react when the other man took her by surprise when he suddenly appeared, a wavering flame already in hand. She moved to step back, hands up in defense as he raised an attack.

She thought, then, back to her father. Back to everything he'd trained of her. She thought back to what she'd told her brother just earlier that day. "Remember what dad said? Breathe, listen, attack."

Taking a deep breath she was able to side step him, narrowly missing his blast of flames and she was suddenly hyper—focused. She was suddenly aware of everything. Aware of every breath, every step he took as he circled around her.

She didn't want to do it— she didn't. But if she didn't act fast, she was sure she was going to die. She could already feel the burn on her arm weakening that arm and at that moment, she'd made her decision.

Locking eyes with the man, she waited for him to come to her. She waited, and waited until he was right in front of her before acting swiftly, grabbing the man by the throat with a fire gloved hand, essentially burning his airways down to the core. She watched him struggle, watched him claw against her arm but it was no use—it was too late. The damage had been done and she watched the gleaming gold of his eyes fade to grey and suddenly, she was aware of the other presence in the room.

It was with wild eyes and two hands locked around a surly mans throat that she turned to him, a brief moment of horror flicking across his features before diminishing completely. There was something about it— be it the wide eyes or empty stare, she couldn't be sure. She was sure, however, that she had completely, and utterly underestimated herself.

She was covered in blood yet still managed to shine like a beacon of innocence.

"I…" Kozin began. "I was sent to rescue you."

The Princess stood frozen in her spot, a small sign of a faint frown tugging at the corners of her lips. "You weren't exactly what I was expecting when I heard "rescue"," she uttered incredulously, amusement leeching through her wavering voice.

"Well, you weren't exactly what I was expecting when I heard "princess"."

The smile fell from her lips the moment the man slipped from her grip, falling to the ground in a pool of thick crimson at her feet. She could feel the flash of horror dust across her features as she became witness to what she had done, her golden eyes shimmering against the dull sunlight filtering in through sheer curtains.

Kozin's eyes met with hers, a faint glimmer of horror held within wide eyes and he stepped, carefully, approaching her as if she had been a wild creature. Perhaps that's how she appeared; wild, feral, yet she was filled with something more grave hidden deep in her belly. A feeling someone would get after harming an innocent animal.

But those men were not innocent, she had to remind herself. They were vindictive, malicious and they aimed to take her life. She couldn't, wouldn't, allow them to take the life of another.

"Are you okay?" Kozin's voice snapped her out of her own mind, for she seemed as if she could have been trapped between a wakeful dreamland and reality. "I promised your father that I would return you to him unharmed."

She stared at him, expressionless, trying her best to avoid looking down at the scene for which lay beneath her. "My father sent you?"

"Yes. I was with him when the attack began. He was with your mother when he sent me off to find you."

"And my brother?" she asked, fear bubbling up within her chest. She thought back to the last moment she saw him, spoke to him. It couldn't have been mere moments before the attack began that they'd last departed. He would have still been in the study.

"He's alive," he addressed, nodding his head slowly. He still spoke to her as if she was a wounded animal. She wasn't wounded, however and his implications drove a wall of frustration within her. But at the mention of her brother being alive, safe, she was able to release a breath she hadn't known she'd been holding. "He's with your parents, now. Everyone is alive, luckily. They're all just awaiting you in the throne room."

She nodded her head, swallowing thickly as she reached toward his extended hand. Her boot knocked against a white washed, lifeless hand as she stepped towards Kozin and she had to fight the bile rising within her throat as her eyes trained on the man's unmoving body.

The bottoms of her boots bled slick lifeblood, blood for which belonged to two dead men. Men for whom she'd killed. Men whose blood was now permanently etched upon her skin like a burning scripture. She'd spilled blood, now she was forced to live with that upon her conscience.

"Zarah—" There it was again, his voice bringing her out of a state of almost imagination. She was able to pull her eyes from the ground in an attempt to meet his own with a wavering gaze. "Let's get you out of here. I think you've been through enough—we should get you back to your family."

She didn't respond; yet let him lead her away from the scene with a firm hand gripping her wrist. She wasn't sure why he'd need to keep ahold of her, unless he thought she'd possibly try and run away. She wished that were a possibility—wished it were that simple— though running away from her problems was never something she'd been known to do. She was her mother in that way—at least that's what she'd been told.

Time passed in a blur as they approached the throne room and she only vaguely remembered him glancing back at her with those watchful eyes a few times—making sure she was still there, although she felt as if she were in another dimension altogether.

Was that what happened to someone after they took the life of another? Did they suddenly become devoid of all time and reality? She felt as if she weren't even at home, in the palace where she'd been for the entirety of her life. She felt as if she were living outside of her body, somewhere she didn't belong. The feeling came unwelcomed, unwanted.

She was brought out of the depths of her inner mind, however, when she felt herself transported through a pair of large double doors. The grip on her wrist released and she felt beside herself as her eyes scanned the busy room. Guards milled about frantically, although that wasn't out of the usual, as she looked for any sign of her family. Finally, her eyes landed on a pair of matching golden ones and she found herself flying into the arms of her brothers'.

"You're okay," she sighed, tightening her arms around his neck. She felt his arms encircle her waist, holding her against his solid body and they embraced for what seemed like a hundred, a thousand years. She wasn't complaining, she'd never complain. She was only glad that he was okay, that he was safe.

"Are you okay?" she asked, pulling away and letting her hands fall to his shoulders.

"I could ask you the same thing," he countered, looking her over. His eyes fell down to her arm where the glaring burn had burned through her sleeve, leaving her skin branded of the dead mans' hand. "You're hurt."

"I'm fine," she muttered, pulling her arm away. And as his thumb traced a drying rivulet of blood down the side of her cheek, he frowned.

"It's not mine," she whispered, no longer able to meet his stare.

"What do you mean?" he asked. "What happened? All I remember is you leaving me in the study, and suddenly there were guards rushing in and taking me away."

She kept her gaze focused upon the ground, the points of her brothers' shoes becoming far more appealing than the sorrowful look she knew he held within his eyes. But then her eyes found the blood encrusted on the sides of her own boots and she forced her eyes to a close.

"Zarah, what happened to you?"

"I…I killed them," she whispered, her voice barely audible but she knew he'd heard her from the gasp for which emitted from his lips. "I—I—"

"Shh," he voiced, suddenly pulling her back against his chest. She hid her face in his neck, no longer wanting to focus on what had happened, what she'd done. She felt like a monster, a sick being. She felt powerless against her own mind yet she'd possessed the kind of power many feared, the kind many longed for.

Was that why those men had been sent to kill her? Was she already too powerful for her own Nation that she'd been ordered off? She didn't want to think about it for she had to remain strong. Her family needed to know that she was okay, that she could handle something to that extent. Their Nations' future Fire Lord needed to be able to handle such affairs.

Though she wasn't sure she was going to be able to wipe the memory of their lives slipping right from her grasp as she watched their life fade from their very eyes.

"Zarah? Koda?"

Koda released her from his warmed embrace and she found herself being pulled into the arms of her father. The familiar scent of embered wood and pine washed over her and suddenly she was able to breathe.

"Are you alright?" he asked her first, wiping at the same trail of blood from her face her brother had just moments ago. She gently pushed his hand away, no longer wanting the feel of anyone's touch against her skin as the visions swam before her eyes.

"I'm fine," she muttered, swallowing thickly. "I—I think I just need to be alone right now, if that's alright."

"Wait," her father spoke sternly, his tone firm as he gripped her forearm but she yanked herself from his grip. His eyebrow raised and she challenged his stare, yet felt a twinge of guilt at the clear affirmation that he was only trying to help her.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, he eyes momentarily flicking to her mother who was at her fathers' side, then. She wasn't able to hold her mothers' gaze, however. She felt like she could already read what was going on inside her head as she saw the burn on her arm. "May I please be excused?" she asked, looking back to her father. "Please, I just need to be alone."

"I know what you're thinking," he voiced lowly, pulling her off to the side for a moment. "Will you please tell me what happened? Don't shut me out, Zarah. I'm your father, I only want to help you."

"You wouldn't understand," she muttered, lowering her gaze back to the marbled ground. "I did something today, just a few minutes ago yet it feels like it keeps happening over and over and over."

She heard her father sigh deeply before her eyes trailed back up to his. Expecting disappointment, she was only met with something that could only resemble a firm understanding.

"Something I'm not proud of."

"You can tell me," he whispered, and she knew he was right. She could tell him, she could always tell her father what was bothering her yet in that moment she felt as if she was suffocating, not able to reach the words she so desperately needed. She felt helpless among herself and she hated it, hated feeling as if there was nothing she could do.

"I killed those men," was her simple reply. She didn't look at at him, didn't leave him with any further explanation as she walked away from one of the only people that could possibly understand what she'd been going through yet felt as if he'd hold it against her if she'd allowed it to come to that.

Pushing passed her brother, she exited the throne room and walked out into the empty hallway.

"Princess," one of the guards interrupted and she stopped in her tracks, not aiming to face them as they spoke. "The palace is under a lock down. I cannot allow you to exit this room."

She turned, then, slowly on her heels as she came to face the man. His eyes peered down at her through the slits of his helmet and she seethed, only wanting to get some air as she felt she was drowning amongst her own thoughts.

"I just got word from my father that everything is very much okay, and I'm sure he would appreciate it if you'd let me by."

She challenged the mans' stare as she stood her ground. This was the palace, her home and she wouldn't allow someone to tell her where she could or couldn't go at the risk of her own safety. She didn't care about her safety, she just wanted to get out.

"Let her by."

She turned her head, meeting the eyes of her father as he approached them slowly. The guard gave him a firm nod before stepping out of the way of her path. But before her father could grab her, she ran. She wasn't sure to where she would be running, but she knew she'd know when she arrived.

Pushing through a door leading outside she stumbled when cobblestone met grass and her vision was almost blinded by the sun casting shadows upon the ground.

She collapsed onto her hands and knees before the pond, a newfound family of turtle ducks swimming along the shore. For the first time in a long time, she felt a smile creep unto her lips before she felt them tremble.

She felt weak, pathetic. She'd never felt like this in her entire life and she was having a hard time understanding why she was feeling like she was losing control. She'd always had a firm grasp on reality; always felt like she'd known who she was. But now, staring at her jagged, bloodied reflection in the pond she felt as if she'd lost her identity.

The thought made her want to cry, even felt tears well up in the corners of her eyes but she'd be damned if she let them spill. Wiping away at them furiously, she felt the dried blood come off with them onto the palms of her hands and she was reminded, yet again, of the demons holding possession of her.

"Zarah," a voice called out and she didn't even have to look up to know it was her father. She felt his presence as he kneeled beside her, glanced up as she watched him, too, staring at their shared reflections within the pond. "I knew you'd be here."

"How?" she asked, irritated that she was being bothered with. She wished she could just be left alone like she'd asked. She was an adult, now. She could handle being alone for a little while.

Her father sighed deeply beside her and she watched out of the corner of her eye as he folded his hands into his lap. "Because this is where I would go when I was feeling overwhelmed; when I felt like the world was against me." His words came out slowly, gentle yet it only seemed to further anger her as she felt the tears well up inside her eyes once more. "At your age, I had been the Fire Lord for a year, already. I'd faced so much loss, so much hardship. And believe it or not, I was facing the exact same things you are."

Biting her lip she finally raised her eyes, her gaze meeting that of a matching gold. "Were there people trying to kill you, too?" she asked and he chuckled.

"If it were only that simple," he sighed, looking back to the pond. For a moment, she thought he was finished as they sat in silence, just watching the water ripple against the warmed breeze. A single cherry blossom fell from the tree for which cascaded above them and her father caught it in his hand, running his thumb along its petal.

"My Uncle would say that life is like the wind, always moving, always changing its course. But I know better than anyone that it's not that simple."

When she raised a questioning eyebrow, he continued, his voice still laced with gentle compassion. "Life isn't just changing, Zarah. It's also, in a way, waiting. It's waiting for you. It's waiting for you to take control as you ask yourself what you want—who you are going to be."

She nodded her head in understanding, trying to imagine a time where she'd felt in control of her life. But the truth was that she'd felt as if she'd lost control a long time ago.

"I feel so…I feel so helpless, dad," she whispered, fighting back the tears that she knew were inevitable in that moment. "I feel like so much is happening and I don't know what to do."

She choked, then, allowing herself to fall into his awaiting embrace as he pulled her close, hugging her to his body as she trembled against herself. "I killed those men today and I didn't even know I was capable of doing that. It was like the decision wasn't even mine to make. And before I knew it, something in me felt like it took over and suddenly the were dead, dad and I swear I had no idea—"

"It's alright, shhh," he mumbled, rocking her gently. Oh, what a sight they probably were—and she knew they were being watched. The grown heir to the throne crying into her fathers' embrace. They probably felt pity for her, and that alone was enough to make her choke back bile in her throat. If there was anything she hated more, it was someone feeling pity for her.

But in that moment, she didn't allow that to sink into her skin. In that moment she just needed her dad, and she needed to be held as the visions of the men she'd killed continued to plague her memory and finally, she let out a cry.

Her father only tightened his embrace as he allowed her to cry into his robes. And although it wasn't the first time, she felt as if it certainly would not be the last.

"It's okay to feel weak," he whispered, running a soothing hand down her back. He'd heated it, just like when she was a child and felt scared. He knew exactly what to do in order to calm her frayed nerves and she couldn't be anymore grateful for her father than she was in that moment.

"It's okay to feel scared, as well. I felt scared for my life for so many years, until your mother came along. There were so many attempts at my life, and all were led by my own fathers' words."

She lifted her head, then, blinking bleary eyes as her father. "You told me, once— long ago— that he burned you." Her eyes went to the scar adorning the left side of his face and although he admits to being okay with it, she knew the story behind it still haunted him. "Did he also try to kill you?"

He nodded his head once before looking back to the pond. "After the war had ended, I was alone. I was seventeen years old and already on the throne. All I had to my name was this palace, this country. And on top of all of that, my life was in danger. I hadn't known it at the time, but my father had ordered a script for my murder."

"So, what?" she asked. "How did he do that? Didn't you say that he was in prison?"

He sighed deeply, as if he was reliving those years all over again. And perhaps he was, in his mind. "He was very manipulative, very smart. He didn't need to be out of prison to kill me. All he needed was a few loyal followers, and he had just that." She listened carefully as he told her of his times at her age. How he'd overcome death, overcome so much loss and destruction and in turn began rebuilding a broken nation—a broken world.

"You see, I found that there was a bigger part of why I couldn't let go of the past. I was allowing these demons to continually haunt me and yet I couldn't let them go. I couldn't understand why—until one day, it was as if the answers were right in front of me."

She stayed quiet as she studied his face, watched the way his grim smile turned to something resembling an actual grin. "I learned who I truly was."

"How…?" she asked. "How were you able to learn who you were?"

"You're struggling, I can see it," he voiced, reaching towards her and adjusting the small crown atop her head. "I'm going to help you. I'm not going to watch you suffer like I did, and you're going to learn the true meaning behind why your life is so precious."

"But, how?"

With his golden eyes watching hers so carefully, he spoke.

"Have you ever heard of the Firebending Masters?"

Next chapter will be Chapter 2—The End of an Era

("Then"—6 years post war") Zuko POV.

AUTHORS NOTE: So… I think we can all take a deep breath now for the completion of chapter 1. And, I'd like to say a few things regarding the story.

Prodigy is my child. I originally had the idea for this around 5 or 6 years ago. You know, back in the days where people would post their fanfiction to DeviantArt, haha. This story was a lot different back then, and although I feature a lot of the same things in this version as I had in the other, this is a brand new story.

The original version of this story only had 4 or 5 chapters, and it was all deleted when I deleted my account on accident. I didn't realize I'd lose the story and never be able to get it back. I even emailed the staff of DA years later and they said they couldn't do anything for me. BUT, I was still able to log into the old account. I was able to go into the "notes" section to where I had discussed bit and pieces of the story with a friend I'd made on there forever ago. So I was able to pick and choose which parts of that I wanted to include and change. Like, originally, Zarah was 13 and Koda's name was something else and he was older and all in all, everything was different. But I've kept a lot of the same elements.

I've added a lot more drama and I've created an entirely new story/plot. I've also decided to make this a "then" and "now" so that in the end of the story, it kind of all ties together and you get answers along the way. It's also a way to see young Zuko and Katara kind of fighting for the Fire Nation and, well, I don't want to ruin anything but it will definitely delve into the politics of everything and rebellions+ post war drama, stuff to that degree.

I really hope you like this first chapter. And I really hope you let me know what you thought. Leave your comments in a review and I'll try my best to respond!

And if you have any further questions, find my on tumblr: seapruncs .tumblr .com

Find The Rising, by theadamantdaughter, at www . fanfiction s/11615320/1/The-Rising

Next chapter— Chapter 2—The End of an Era