Archive of Our Own

In Zuko’s bedroom, there sat a small wooden box.

The box had once been carved out of one of the many maple trees littering the palace courtyard well over a decade ago. Along its edges displayed a dragon, twisting around the box mid-flight. It was said to be a depiction of the last remaining dragon, preparing to battle against the former General Iroh before its inevitable extinction. It was a beloved gift from the previous heir that Zuko made sure to keep in perfect condition.

The aforementioned Firelord always kept this box close by his bedside. However, despite his attachments, he never made any move to open the box. He had given strict orders to the palace maids to never touch or open that box, arousing their curiosity all the more. Rumors rose within the palace walls about the many secrets that could be contained within that little box. 

One story suggested that he could be hiding some secret heirloom worth fortunes while another concocted that he had trapped a terrible cursed object within the confines of an ancient wood stripped from a spiritual tree. Whatever the rumors sprouted was nothing more than just the wild imaginations of the staff’s insatiable curiosity. Either way, it thankfully kept people away from the box until one of the maids had unfortunately knocked it over.

The girl was new and apologized profusely to the Firelord as he tried to placate her worries with “It’s okay,” “It was just an accident,” and the occasional “I promise I’m not going to fire you.” It took a couple of minutes to get her to calm down enough to send her out of the room so he could clean up the mess himself.

On the floor where the open box landed, were scattered papers of various sizes. The papers were yellowed and worn with age. Each page contained writings that ranged from the childish scrawlings of a young teenager to the neat and swirly calligraphy of a fully-fledged adult. Every piece of paper was handwritten to Zuko and was stamped with the royal seal of the fire nation at the bottom of each page. Each letter contained anything and everything one could say within the confines of the yellowed pages and characters. No matter what size of paper was used, it was covered head to toe in ink, sometimes even front and back. There were even a few with little drawings scrawled into the empty corners. The little doodles were nearly unrecognizable to anyone except the letter’s recipient.

Zuko sifted through the letters one by one, picking up the oldest and smallest of them.

It was dated nine years ago. At the time, he was just a child who had only recently started to learn how to read. He was extremely excited that he could finally read all the books his mother read to him. So much so that he even asked Lu Ten to help him learn how to read the bigger books so that he could sit with his father and uncle Iroh at their meetings with Firelord Azulon.

His cousin had been more than delighted to help him out, devising a plan to hand write him letters every day for Zuko to read. Eventually, it became a regular thing between the boys. Lu Ten would send him letters with the palace staff acting as messenger hawks between their bedrooms. Zuko would excitedly wait for his letter, sometimes sending out his own reply back with the messenger. 

Even after he went off to serve in the war, Lu Ten still took the time out of his days to write letters for Zuko. No matter how busy the young soldier was, he would have a letter prepared for the little prince.

Zuko shook the dust off the old paper and unfolded all the creases out from the page.

Hey Zuko! Guess what?

The teenager chuckled softly at the informal start to the letter. The way it was written was definitely addressed to a seven-year-old.

I found this super cool-looking flower in the turtle duck pond! It disappears at night so we can’t see it today. Come over to my room before breakfast so we can go see it! Bring Azula, too! I know she loves playing with the dragonfly salamanders near the pond. I can show you the swords my dad bought me after!

Lu Ten

Zuko had almost forgotten that Azula had hung out with them back then. No matter what she was always included when they explored the palace and played in the garden. But, as she got older she took more advanced classes that left her no more time to hang out with Lu Ten and Zuko. She even began questioning why Lu Ten was still in line for the throne when he couldn’t even bend fire.

The boy took up the next letter and opened it up.

Dear Zuko,

Ember Island is really fun, ya know? The beachfront is covered in shells! I think I even saw someone catch this huge elephant tuna right from the docks! It was taller than my dad!

The fishermen shared some with us and it was really tasty!

Also! There’s this big theater on the island. They show all kinds of different plays! I’m pretty sure there was that play that Auntie Ursa loves, too. I think it was called Love Amongst the Dragons? Either way, the actors are really funny!

Father let me visit them backstage after the play ended and they let me try on the costumes for the spirit and the dragon that fought on stage! 

Next time, I’ll get my father to take you and Azula with us!

Lu Ten

At the bottom of the page was a crude little drawing of a dragon and a spirit. From the way the two drawings circled each other, Zuko couldn’t tell if they were dancing or fighting. His older cousin hadn’t been much of an artist no matter how many doodles he made on his letters. But luckily, Zuko knew exactly what he implied by the little pictures. It also helped that Lu Ten added little arrows from the names indicated in the writing.

“Azula, come on.”

“No!” The little girl planted her feet firmly in the garden.

It was the first day Lu Ten and Prince Iroh had come back from their small vacation to Ember Island and Zuko would be lying if he said he wasn’t excited to see them. When he first heard news of their arrival, he was ready to break out into a sprint across the garden. He had initially asked Azula for a friendly little race to the entrance but she refused.

Instead, she crossed her little six-year-old arms and didn’t budge.

“Why not?”

“Because!” The way her lips pursed reminded him of the turtle-ducklings wadding around in the pond behind them. “He can’t bend!”

Zuko crossed his arms and waved it off. “So? Lu Ten’s always been like that.”

It had never been a problem that Lu Ten was a non-bender. Iroh’s late wife and Zuko’s mother were both non-benders, and there had never been any complaints before. Lu Ten had no trouble keeping up with their games even when they involved firebending. Azula had even admitted before that she enjoyed playing with Lu Ten more than with Zuko.

“Shifu said it's a disgrace to the royal family that the next crown prince is a non-bender.”

The young prince tried his best not to outwardly groan. Ever since Azula started her firebending lessons with the royal tutor, she had been receiving nothing but high praise and attention. Normally, this wouldn’t be a problem. It wasn’t like she didn’t deserve it. Her firebending was already a full level ahead of his own and her form was practically perfect. He just felt like all this praise might be going to her head.

She was only six years old, after all. He really didn’t want her to start looking down on everyone like their Shifu had whenever Lu Ten and Uncle Iroh had their backs turned. 

Mother always said to treat others with the same kindness they treated you and those two had treated them with all the love they could offer. It wouldn’t be right if she treated their cousin poorly just because of some firebending ability.

“Well, Shifu isn’t the fire lord,” Zuko stated as it was the most obvious fact in the world. “He’s just some stinky old man that thinks he’s the world’s greatest firebender. Besides-”

“Are my baby cousins all grown up now that they don’t topple me right at the gate?”

At the sound of his voice, Zuko whipped around and tackled the older boy in a bear hug. “Lu Ten!”

The teen chuckled as he caught the boy in between boxes of gifts. Zuko’s head shot up at the notice of boxes and eagerly reached for the nearest one. Lu Ten made it an effort to hold them above his head. “Hold on, these aren’t just for you.” The older prince glanced behind him. “Where’s Azula?” 

“She’s…busy! I’ll give her share later.” His eager little paws made grabby hands for the boxes held just out of arm's reach. “Let me just have one, please?”

“No way! The last time I let you have your share first, you nearly ate them all in one sitting!”

Ever since he was a toddler, Zuko always had a particularly sweet tooth. He would be so eager for desserts that he would try to speed through his dinners as fast as he could. Ursa had to scold him several times until he finally ate his food at a less hazardous rate. 

However, out of all the confectioneries received from the palace, Zuko loved the ones brought in from Ember Island. They had always tasted sweeter than the ones made in town. Iroh told him it was because they were handmade with love. The boy had grown to love them so much that he would down an entire box in under a minute. 

This was precisely why Lu Ten made it a point to run away from the sweets snatcher in search of his youngest cousin.

“Azulaa! I have some gifts for you!”

“Come on, Lu! I won’t eat it all!”

“It’s candy from Ember Island! Come get it before your brother eats it all in one bite!”

The chase continued down through the winding halls of the palace. Many of the staff around them chuckled at the sight of their princes chasing each other. The way they ran through the corridors looked like a hungry hawk chasing after a couple of meek rabbit mice. It was one of the few occasions they got to witness the palace children being just as they are: children.

Finally, the elder prince spotted a familiar dark-haired bun just around the corner. 

“Azula!” He clapped a hand on her shoulder just as Zuko ran around him. “Here! I got a few boxes of candy to share from my trip. Try some before Zuko eats them all!” 

The little princess shrugged off his hand and turned away. “Nuh-uh!”

“Why not? It’s super tasty,” Seeing no change in her manner, Lu Ten closed the box and switched tactics. “Alright. Then I’ll just share these tasty sweets with Zuko and the cool lizard I saw at the palace gate. It even had horns like a real dragon.”

She quickly whipped her head around, eyes sparkling with curiosity. “Where? Show me! Show me!”

“Hm? But, I thought you didn’t want to speak to me?”

“Ah!” Azula tried her best to recover her ‘aloof’ expression, crossing her arms back over her little chest. “That’s right! I’m not supposed to talk to you.” 

“And, why is that?”

She opened her mouth, only to quickly clamp her hands over it. Instead, she opted for a shake of her head.

Dang. Almost had her.

Zuko took advantage of the distraction and swiped a piece of chocolate from the top box. “Don’t worry about her,” He chewed out between his bites, “She’s just being dumb today.” 

She blew a raspberry at him in retaliation. “You’re dumb!” 

“If I’m dumb, that makes you mega dumb for today!”

“I can’t be mega dumb! You’re not the one Shifu’s teaching advanced bending lessons to so you’re the mega dummy!”

“Shifu’s dumb too! If he wasn’t you wouldn’t be so annoying today!”

Lu Ten stepped between the pair of siblings, placing a hand on each shoulder. “Calm down, you two. Why don’t we settle this over a game of-”

“No!!” Azula pushed herself away from him. “You can’t even bend! I can’t hang out with weak people like you! You’re just gonna doom the royal bloodline!”

“Azula!” Zuko reprimanded, but it was too late. Her tiny form had already broken away from the two boys and disappeared into the winding halls of the palace.

Lu Ten stared down at the box of confectionery in his hands.

It wasn’t like he was hurt by her outburst. He was used to it. Constantly being called into question for his aptitude in being the next successor to the throne, purely based on his lack of bending. As soon as his back was turned, many seemed to reject the idea that he would soon be the next crown prince. He had often heard the sneers of high-ranking officials wondering whether or not Fire Lord Azulon was insane for letting such a sham continue to be next in line.

He’s heard these words for all seventeen years of his life. So much, that he had long since learned to turn a blind eye to it. 

Lu Ten’s grip on the box tightened. 

They were merely words of gossip .

They’d fade when he proved himself worthy of the throne.

Small arms enveloped his torso and squeezed as hard as they could. Lu Ten looked down to see his little cousin bury his face into his shirt. “S’okay, Lu.” Zuko raised his head to look at the older boy with burning conviction. “I’ll always be here for you! Even if Azula doesn’t wanna play with you anymore, I will! Don’t be sad.”

The teen smiled as he swallowed down the small lump in his throat. Sometimes, he wondered if Zuko was a little more perceptive than most of the adults around them. “I won’t.”

Dear Zuko,

There’s going to be a Summer Solstice festival in the city today! They have all sorts of cool stuff. The shops are all lined up together like books crammed on a shelf, selling a variety of things like colorful masks or food to snack on as you browse. Some stalls even have games with prizes you can win. 

But! The most important part of the festival is the parade of troupe actors who come from all over the Fire Nation. The actors all dress up like our ancestors and dance around in huge dragon and lion costumes. They lead a big parade down from the edge of town all the way through to the edge of the palace. Although, they’d be too far away to clearly see from the palace windows.

That’s why I want to take you down there with me! 

If you want to go, I’ll come get you after Auntie Ursa tucks you into bed. Make sure you don’t tell anyone! 

This is top secret and if anyone else finds out we’ll be in BIG trouble.

Lu Ten

The plainly dressed seventeen-year-old quietly knocked on Zuko’s door three times.

At the third small clack, the door slowly slid open with his eager little cousin dressed head to toe in a red cloak. It was embroidered using pure gold, etching a design of a phoenix into the silk. “Ready?”

The older boy fought a chuckle before pushing Zuko back in and quickly shutting the door. “You’re definitely not.” He dug through the little royal’s wardrobe until he found the plainest shirt and pants he could find. 

Lu Ten had often snuck his way into the city as a kid. He always wondered what kind of world could be outside those palace walls. As the only expert on the outside world among his generation of royals, he couldn’t just let his baby cousin go out into the wolf’s den in such an obvious getup. His cloak was not the only issue. The young prince had even worn his signature jade hair crown that was made specifically for the fire lord’s lineage. If they were going to sneak out of the palace, he was not going to let Zuko’s first experience outside be a run-in with a pickpocketer. He couldn’t just let his baby cousin waltz into there looking like prime meat for a hungry lion tiger. “We’re going out to see the city’s fire festival, not sneak out to be in one of your mother’s old plays.”

The young royal pouted. “But, cloaks are what all the actors wear when they do sneaky scenes!”

“Exactly,” The older boy tossed him the red and black garments he finally plucked out. “ Actors . As in, not a real scene.”

Zuko huffed before shrugging off his “carefully thought-out” disguise. After he was fully dressed, Lu Ten gave his nod of approval. The outfit itself was made of higher quality fabrics you definitely wouldn’t see amongst the common folk. But, as long as you weren’t specialized in tailoring, the outfit could easily blend into the crowd with its lack of patterns and darker blends of red and gold.

Similarly, Lu Ten covered himself in blocks of reds and browns. He wore thin layers with his red outer shirt wrapped around his brown undershirt. Instead of his hair crown to signify royalty, he wore a plain red ribbon wrapped tightly around his bun. “Now we’re ready!” 

The pair of princes shuffled out of the room and crept down the halls and into the garden. Lu Ten crouched down and cupped his hands together beside the far wall. Zuko placed a foot on them as Lu Ten boosted him over the wall just enough for the eight-year-old to grab hold of the edge. Zuko brought himself up to a sitting position just as Lu Ten backed up and took a running start. He kicked off the wall with a heavy stomp from his boot and launched himself high enough to hook his hand over the top. There was a prickle of pain as his palm smacked hard against the rough stone wall, loosening his grip.

“Lu!” Zuko tried his best to tug the older boy up with his little arms.

Lu Ten scrambled up and hung his chest off the wall like a towel on a drying rack. “Sorry,” His chest heaved as he caught his breath. “I misjudged the distance, haha.”

Lu Ten pulled himself up and swung himself over the wall. The younger prince followed suit, stomping into the grass outside.

The pair ran down the property into town with excited grins plastered over their faces. Their grins stretched wider as they saw the bright lanterns swarming the horizon like fireflies.

The streets were lined up with a train of stalls and vendors of all different kinds. Each of them sported a pattern of red and gold. Shops would shout to every person as they passed, roping in customer after customer until they could wring them dry of all their cash. In the air above them roared the thumping sounds of drums. With each roar, came the accompaniment of jingling bells from the dancers’ feet. Their heavy beats sang across the night sky as it stretched over fifty stalls ahead of the procession.

Zuko eagerly tugged his cousin who was in the midst of shoveling fire flakes into his mouth. The boy quickly dragged him over pointing towards a mask stand. “Look! That one’s so cool! Can we get it?” The young boy pointed over to a mask depicting a golden lion. Its face was outlined in a red mane and fluffy white eyebrows pointed downward. The lion’s mouth was held agape in a mock attempt at a mischievous roar. 

As much as Lu Ten would’ve loved to buy it for him, the prices were just too out of reach for what he brought. They may have been princes who could easily buy out the entire festival but he just couldn’t take that risk. It would be suspicious if he brought more than just a handful of coins. “Sorry Zu, not today. I only have a little bit left over after those fire flakes.”

Disappointed, Zuko set the mask back in the rows.

“Hey!” The mask vendor shouted over to a man who began to sprint away. “Thief! Get back here!”

Lu Ten felt his legs move as if he was on autopilot. He glided across the stalls like a frog skipping between rocks in a pond. His feet danced around the merchandise with ease as his body recalled all his instructor's lessons within those few short moments. ‘ Back straight. Keep your eyes on your target. Strike when the opportunity provides itself.’ He jumped off the edge of the fourth stall he crossed, cutting off the thief’s path.

The older man had startled briefly before he threw a sloppy right hook toward the boy. Lu Ten threw his body back, bending until his palms steadied the weight of his torso on the dirt path. He propelled his feet into the air and flipped his body back upright just in time for another fist to slide its way up to his chin. 

The teen took a step backward out of the fist’s range as he caught the arm in his grip. Lu Ten pulled it back around, flipping the man over and restraining his wrists. 

He desperately struggled against his grip. “Let go!”

“Not until someone can properly make sure you give back every last coin you swiped.” The teen stood firm until the authorities parted through the crowd and dragged the thief away. After watching them disappear back into the crowd, Lu Ten dusted himself off and assessed the damage.

Although it was a short scuffle, his palms were raw and red from the previous impact. Not to mention, he had already scrapped one of them on the palace walls. Both his hands stung but Lu Ten refused to let that ruin his night. He was going to take Zuko to watch the parade even if it was the last thing he would do.

The prince wiped his hands on his shirt and walked back to the mask vendor. Zuko hopped up and down in a bundle of energy Lu Ten couldn’t reciprocate. There was something about being under the age of thirteen that gave his cousins the ability to have enough energy to run laps around the entire palace.

“That was so cool! You caught up to him and went bam! Boom!”

The vendor chuckled as he took back the box of money. “He’s right. That was impressive, kid. You could probably beat most firebending teachers with those moves.” 

Lu Ten’s cheeks flushed at the praise. Even though he had been the prince of the Fire Nation for seventeen long years, he was still unused to receiving such compliments. “I’m unworthy of your praises.”

“Nonsense! No need to be modest, boy! The whole street can agree you have talents worthy of a soldier.” 

“Yeah,” Zuko chimed in, “When you join the military you’ll be the best soldier in all of the Fire Nation!”

The poor teen was already red as a tomato from all the attention he had garnered. He had told his little cousin they had to lay low and blend into the crowd and yet he was the one who broke that rule!

“Here, kid.” The vendor handed him the lion’s mask, shaking Lu Ten out of his head.

“Ah, no I can’t accept this. I don’t have enough money-”

“No worries! It’s a festival so enjoy yourself.” He turned his gaze to Zuko. “Don’t cause too much trouble for your big brother, ya hear?”

The little boy nodded happily, not bothering to correct the man. 

He supposed they did look like brothers. After all, they weren’t too far off in looks. Both boys sported long straight black hair and jaws inherited from their fathers along with their piercing golden eyes. Not to mention, the way Zuko clung to him like a baby koala-otter clinging to its mother’s back.

Zuko tugged on his wrist with bright eager eyes under his new mask. “C’mon! Let’s find spots to watch the parade!”

The pair of boys shuffled themselves through the sea of people until they were as close to the front as the crowd would allow. Their shoulders constantly bumped into others with each small movement, squishing them all together like a package of sardines. Zuko hopped and stretched on the tips of his toes to get a glimpse of the parade’s pathway, letting out small grunts of frustration with each jump.

“Here,” Lu Ten crouched down and tossed his head over his shoulder. “Climb up before the procession gets here.” 

The little boy thanked him as he climbed up, just as a sea of reds and golds snaked their way into view.

The troupe actors chanted their chorus, waving large red lanterns high into the sky. Dancers twirled around flaming batons. Their partners, equally as extravagant, blew flames into dusts of copper and sulfur, turning the golden batons streaks of green and blue.

“Look Zu, the dragons are coming up!”

The last of the procession came in a train of pairs, twisting along like an eel-serpent. On the right, a red dragon, and on the left a blue dragon. The red dragon had been decorated in shining gold scales with a long white beard draped over the ground as it marched forward. Underneath it was several pairs of red boots wrapped in golden bells and lined with white fur dancing in time to the drums. The blue dragon held a similar design, but rather than the warmth of gold, it was encased in chains of cool silver. Its movements mirrored those of the red dragon, reminding Lu Ten of the lessons from his father about yin and yang.

As the parade reached the town’s square, the dragons circled the open area as they prepared their final act. Both dragons blew a billow of flames into the air. The path of the fire arched into a loop, connecting the two streams of flames.

Zuko’s eyes never left the sight before him even as the parade drew itself to a close.

After the festivities ended, the pair of royals quietly headed out of sight. With a sleepy little fire bender riding on his back, Lu Ten hiked back to the palace.

A near-whisper stirred over his shoulders. “Hey, Lu?”

“Yeah?”

“D'ya think real dragons used to dance around the streets like that?”

“Mhm,” He spun around and swooped up the boy in his arms, swinging him around like a flying lemur. “They’d fly through the streets and swoop down to snatch up kids and show them the skies. Like this!”

Giggles erupted from the eight-year-old as the night sky whipped around his spinning form like blurred waves of water. Lu Ten slowed his spins as they neared the palace, placing Zuko back on his shoulders to climb over the garden wall.

Each prince went their separate way, careful not to disturb their sleeping family. Lu Ten rounded the corner to the crown prince’s wing and sped his way to his vacant bedroom.

“And where did you run off to, Prince Lu Ten?”

The boy felt his breath hitch as his feet screeched to a halt in front of his door. Lu Ten sheepishly scratched the back of his neck as he slowly turned to face his grandfather. The old man had a face cooled stone. It was almost as if he didn’t just catch his grandson sneaking back into the palace with scraps and dirt on his clothes from spirits knows where.

The young prince merely laughed it off. “Oh uh, not that far, you know?”

“Oh, I certainly know.” He gingerly stroked his white beard as he stepped closer. “Next time, don’t track dirt into the halls when you don’t want people to know you snuck out.”

Lu Ten looked down to find a faint trail of mud following his boots. His face heated up as his eyes followed the path. “S-sorry.”

Azulon merely grunted as he opened the door and walked in. “Let’s get your scratches cleaned up before the whole palace wakes up.” He paused, allowing the boy to follow. “You can tell me all about where you went while we do so.”

At that, Lu Ten’s face split into a wide grin as his mouth ran off spilling all the details of his time at the festival. He even attempted to reenact some of the dances from the actors and the dragons.

Some time into the story, he could have sworn he caught a soft smile tugging at his grandfather’s lips.

The little ten-year-old bounced in place, putting on his wettest puppy-dog eyes. “Will you pleeease teach me?”

Lu Ten hummed as he polished the blade in his lap. “I dunno . Duel-wielding dao isn’t an easy feat, much less, anything a little kid could handle.”

“I’m not a little kid!”

The man merely chuckled. There was nothing more fun than teasing his little cousin, especially when he tried to act like a grown-up. The last time Zuko tried to be all grown up, the palace staff had one heck of a time trying to mop up the overrun bath water before Princess Ursa arrived. “Oh yeah? If you’re not a little kid anymore, then I guess you can handle sleeping in your own room whenever you get nightmares.”

“No fair! If you got a nightmare, I would let you in.”

“How gracious our Prince Zuko is! Thank you for your offer.” The man dropped down into a bow, his gratitude dripping with sarcasm. 

The little prince crossed his arms with a huff. “But if you don’t teach me, how am I supposed to get into the military to fight alongside you and Uncle?”

Lu Ten’s smile faltered.

Lu Ten’s father was a proud general. He fought valiant victories against the Earth Kingdom and faced off the last dragon in existence, earning the title “Dragon of the West.” No doubt growing up with such an accomplished father, Lu Ten grew up wanting to be just like him. The problem was, that his father seemed to have other plans.

No matter how many times Lu Ten begged and begged, the old dragon wouldn’t budge. Each demonstration and support was countered with concerns and faults. Lu Ten’s hopes of ever gaining his father’s approval waned little by little as each year passed.

But, he still pressed on.

“Alright,” The prince hopped up from his spot and twirled the twin blades in his hands. “I’ll teach you.”

Just before Zuko could let out a response of pure joy, Lu Ten held up a finger. “But, you have to help me convince my dad to let me join the military.”

It was a shot in the dark, but he figured he had to try every option. Ever since he turned sixteen, the young heir begged and begged Iroh to join him on the battlefield. His father had always shut him down, saying he was too young or still in need of training. Now that he was nearly reaching twenty, Lu Ten was starting to run out of patience.

Zuko scrunched his face in thought. “Hmmm, fine! But, you have to teach me every day until you have to go!”

“Deal.” He casually flips around the sword to point at him with the hilt. “Let's start with lesson one.” 

Lu Ten stepped back and held out his arms in a stance. “Now, dual-wielding isn’t as easy as you think. When you hold the swords in both hands, you’ll notice that your left arm feels weirder than the right.” He waved his right arm. “That’s because we’re both right-handed. So, we’ll just have to train both arms until they feel about the same.”

“For lesson one, we’ll start with some basic swipes.” The elder prince raised his left arm in front of him. “With your left arm out in front like this, make sure your right arm is behind you. As you let your left arm fall back,” He drew up his right arm in a demonstrative sweep. “Let your right arm come up and replace the left arm’s strike.” Lu Ten continued this alternating pattern, right, left, right, left , under the watchful gaze of his younger cousin. Zuko drank in the information closely until the man held out the swords to him.

Comparatively, his stance held such an amateur form to Lu Ten. While Lu Ten carried grace and swiftness with each strike, Zuko was slow and stiff with each jab. It was an expected result that the man had calculated. It was his baby cousin’s first time holding a real sword, let alone two. Who could blame him for not being perfect?

Zuko dropped his arms after the third strike and held his gaze to the grass. “Sorry. That wasn’t right, either.”

“It’s fine! You’re a beginner, after all. It’s not like I expect you to get it perfectly on the first try.”

The boy opened his mouth but quickly thought against it.

Lu Ten frowned. His cousins always had a bad habit of bottling things up. He often wondered if that was the one thing those two had in common. The young man knelt next to Zuko as he studied the blades in his hands. 

“Do you wanna know a secret?” As Zuko nodded, Lu Ten pointed to the blades. “I was really bad with these when I started training. Master Piandao wouldn’t even let me hold real swords until my fourth lesson!”

“Nuh-uh, you’re lying!”

“I’m serious! I bet he would take you in as his student the minute he saw the way you handled those strikes. He could tell you all about my embarrassing failures whenever I challenged him to a duel.” Lu Ten took the twin dao out of his hands and propped them up against a pillar. “Anyway, I think that’s enough training for right now. Let’s start thinking about that second half of our deal, alright?”

Zuko nodded as he dropped to a sitting position on the grass.

General Iroh was a stubborn man. It was hard enough to even propose the idea, let alone convince him to allow his one and only son to join the military. They needed something to appeal to both his military standards and his soft heart. The only issue was that his father was always pressed for time. With the war coming to an all-time high between the Earth Kingdom and the Fire Nation, they were lucky if they could catch him after his war meetings with Firelord Azulon.

“How about we write a letter? If he’s too busy to talk, we can just give him the letter!” 

Lu Ten snapped his fingers. “That can work!” He ran out of the garden and rushed back along with some papers, ink, and brushes in hand.

The pair got to quick work, running through page after page until the letter was perfect. By the time the inkwell was nearly dried up, the sun had almost set. Zuko eagerly pushed his cousin out of the garden. “Go, go go! The war meeting is almost over, you can’t miss him now!”

Lu Ten sprinted through the halls at full speed until he noticed the line of officials trailing out of the throne room. His feet skid to a halt as he attempted to recompose himself with the dignified air of a Fire Nation prince. It wouldn’t do him any favors to look like a frantic child around these imperial officials.

As the officials poured out, time felt like it had dragged on for nearly an hour until Lu Ten spotted that familiar top knot stroll out the doors. “Father!” His over-eagerness could be heard in his voice yet the prince remained strong. He bowed his head deeply as he held out the letter. “I wanted you to read this.”

Iroh’s gaze glanced over his son with a knowing look before he opened it up.

Dear Father,

I know you’re always busy so I wanted to write you this letter instead of wasting your time when you’re already so tightly scheduled. I know you always told me I wasn’t ready to join the military and that I was still too immature for the battlefield. But! I think I’m ready!

You haven’t been home in quite a while so you haven’t seen my progress so far. I finally achieved full mastery of my swordsmanship! Master Piandao said I was his best student and I’ve been sparring with him every day to sharpen my skills. I know how much my skills could weaken without consistent practice.

Old General Shang also made time for me to discuss the war and strategies that he previously used when he served on the battlefield. I’ve learned quite a lot from his teachings and he’s also told me how much of a troublemaker you used to be in his battalion. He also wanted me to let you know that he wanted to have some tea before you head back to the frontier.

With all the help I was fortunate to have, I wanted to let you know that I’m more than capable of serving the nation with you. It's been a year since I last saw you and I’ve grown so much more in those past months. I can do it!

Will you please let me join you, Father?

Lu Ten

The young prince waited with bated breath.

Iroh folded up the letter and looked back at his son. His expression was unreadable as his old eyes held his gaze. Lu Ten’s heart dropped with his next few words. “I cannot let you join, son. You’re just not old enough. You still lack the maturity and capabilities to handle the responsibilities out there on the battlefield.”

 “Don’t worry,” He gave his son a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “You have plenty of time to worry about this, later. You’re still young, after all.”

Lu Ten clenched his teeth. It was always the same answer no matter what he did. Each time he made an effort to show his father his capabilities he would just shoot them down like they were nothing. Every attempt just ended with the same old lines. 

‘You’re just not old enough.’

 “When will I ever be ‘old enough’ to join you? I’m nineteen, Father! I’m well over three years older than when most of the soldiers enlisted!” He could feel his frustration boil over as the words kept spilling out of his mouth. “I’ve mastered my sword training, studied every known technique used by both the Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom’s military, and I even managed to beat Grandfather in pai sho three times! What more do you need to trust that I’m good enough to join?”

Lu Ten’s voice verged on the edge of breaking. A pool of dark thoughts flooded his mind. “Am I just not good enough for you? Were they right? Do you regret having a son who can’t bend fire like you?” 

“Lu Ten, you know that’s not true-”

“-Then, why? Why won’t you let me help you? This is my nation, too. I want to do what I can for them. I want to show them- I want to show you that I’m capable of being a leader as much as you.” The young prince bowed his head. “Please, Father…” 

Iroh considered his pleas in silence. 

“...Fine,” Lu Ten nearly jumped with joy. “I’ll only allow your admission so long as your grandfather agrees to it. But, you’ll be under my division. No complaints.”

The boy nodded his head vigorously and threw himself at him in a tight hug. “Thank you, thank you!”

“Auntie Ursa,” He greeted the princess and her son with a small bow. “Zuko. Did you need anything?”

“We’re just here to congratulate you and see you before you go.” The woman gently pushed her son forward. He looked conflicted like he was caught between being excited and disappointed.

Lu Ten chuckled as he bowed slightly. “I give my thanks to Princess Ursa and Prince Zuko.” His eyes glanced over to the young prince. “But, are you sure you’re only here to congratulate me?” 

Zuko nodded hesitantly. “Mhm. You’re gonna be the best soldier out there and win the war. I need to congratulate you for that.”

“Alright, if that’s all you’re here for then,” He bent down and placed a sealed envelope in Zuko’s hands. “Here.”

It was a standard letter much like the ones he had given him before, except this time it was wrapped neatly in a gold ribbon. In its center, laid the royal wax seal with their family crest. “I wanted to at least write you one more letter before I go. Go ahead and open it.” 

The boy peeled open the letter extra slowly to preserve the wax seal.

Dear Zuko,

It looks like this’ll be the last time I see you for quite a while. I want to thank you for helping me convince my father to let me join him. If it wasn’t for your idea to write a letter, I wouldn’t have been able to say the things that I’ve wanted to tell him for a long time. 

I also want to let you know that you’re the best cousin I could have ever asked for. You’ve been cheering me on every day and continued to be a friend I could always count on. If I had to be honest, I’ve always felt you were like the little brother I’ve always wanted. You’re a great cousin. I know whatever your future may be, you’ll be amazing.

Keep fighting strong!

With love,

Lu Ten

Finally, his facade broke.

“I’m gonna miss you!” The young prince wailed as he clutched onto Lu Ten’s waist. “Don’t forget about us, okay? You have to write to us every day!”

“Every day? It gets pretty busy out there. How about once a week?”

“Fine! But you have to promise!” Zuko held up his pinky and Lu Ten shook it.

“I promise.”

Lu Ten rhythmically tapped his pen against the blank paper. With his right arm slung across his chest, mummified in a plentiful amount of bandages, he had enough time to come up with a few letters to send back home. The recent battle had ended in a victory for the Fire Nation, with the Earth city slowly transforming into yet another Fire Nation colony. Thankfully, there were very few casualties on their side with Lu Ten having a broken arm and four others alongside him in the infirmary for various minor stab wounds and broken limbs. 

The stinging pain of his arm had outweighed the fatigue in his muscles, so the young soldier decided to occupy himself with his next letter home rather than a well-needed nap. It was a struggle trying to write with his opposite hand. The characters became wobbly and the strokes were so misaligned that the words would squish together into illegible blobs of ink. His current writing made his drawings look more presentable. 

The tent flapped open as a gruff man squeezed inside. He was the lieutenant of the brigade under Iroh, currently holding the most authority inside the infirmary tent. While the lieutenant may have been sporting some grey hairs here and there, the man was only just under thirty. As his eyes found their way to Lu Ten, his face scrunched into a frown.

“You know, it would do us all a favor if you didn’t try to get your ass killed out there.”

“But, it worked, didn’t it? I’m still alive and we got the advantage.”

He sighed. “That isn’t what matters here, kid.

At the end of the day, is it really a victory if you have to try to throw your life away in the process?” The older man sat down at the edge of the cot, nursing a steaming hot cup of ginseng. All the higher ranks had grown fond of the tea after Iroh took command over the branch and populated many meetings with the various types he brought over from home. “Our General prides himself not only on his strength but making sure every soldier comes out of that battle alive. You can imagine the heart attack he’d have if he found out his only son risked his life on a stupid gamble.”

It didn’t set in just how much his father and his soldiers cared for each other until Lu Ten stepped foot in the camp. As much as Iroh was their general, he would still put down statuses and reputations in favor of getting to know them. Whether it be over a few drinks or a song, he would encourage them to have a bit of fun to take their minds off of the impending battles of tomorrow. 

The young prince furrowed his brows. “In that case, shouldn’t I try harder? It’s expected of me to try my best, so shouldn’t I do all I can to ensure our victory?”

“Trying hard and taking risks are two different things.” He paused, mulling over the words in his head. “As a newer soldier of this infantry, you should understand that we don’t expect a lot outta ya. Hell, some of the guys expect even less just cause you’re a royal,” He gave Lu Ten a few heavy pats on the shoulder. “So, don’t worry about meeting expectations. If an idea is as risky as the one you just did, chuck it. For your sake and our General’s.” 

It was funny.

All his life, Lu Ten had been prepared to meet the expectations of so many people. The royal officials who disapproved of his inheritance, his teachers he had to prove he wasn’t some lost cause, and his grandfather who needed him to uphold their family’s honor by excelling in his mannerisms and martial prowess. For nineteen years he had to keep up with the expectations of the royal family, and now he was being told to throw all those assumptions out the window.

“And, here.” The soldier set down an envelope next to his sheets of paper. “This came in for you this morning. Make sure you get your reply out before sundown, alright?” 

As the man disappeared through the tent flap, Lu Ten peeled open the letter. From the childish calligraphy, he could easily tell the letter was written to him from Zuko. After he was stationed on the frontier, Zuko didn’t hesitate to be his most frequent pen pal. He did occasionally receive letters from his grandfather but there was a clear disparity between the elegant and neat characters of a well-aged Fire Lord and an overexcited ten-year-old ready to detail his days.

Dear Lu Ten,

I hope you’re doing well in the army! Did you beat any bad guys out there?

When I grow up, I’m gonna join you and Uncle on the battlefield. We’ll be the strongest in all of the Fire Nation! Even Azula would be impressed!

Lu Ten chuckled. He briefly wondered how those two got along while he was gone. He knew their relationship started to strain a bit with Azula’s fast pace learning, but he also knew they could count on each other when they needed to most. He was a little envious.

His own mother had died from an illness while he was young and with his father out on the battlefield, he never really had the chance to grow up with siblings of his own. Seeing those two together gave him both a warm and bitter feeling.

I finally got to page 10 in the sword manual you gave me! I’ll have every move memorized by heart. Just you wait, Lu! I’ll be joining you on the frontier in no time!

Zuko

While Lu Ten knew their grandfather wouldn’t let a ten-year-old onto the battlefield, he appreciated the effort Zuko put into learning dao. It wasn’t a necessary skill for benders like him. Usually, they would put it off as a waste of time when they could be honing their fire instead of playing with sharp objects. However, when it came to Zuko, he would always find a fascination in the littlest of things that were never necessary for a prince like him. Lu Ten could recall the time he overheard the excited cheers from the kid when the kitchen staff finally let him help make some of the dumplings for dinner.

The sound of paper crunching had broken him out of his remembrance. His eyes landed on the soldier next to him throwing a half-written ball of paper over his shoulder in frustration. The man picked up a fresh piece of paper and started his calligraphy anew. 

He was a newer recruit that had joined a couple of days earlier than Lu Ten. The pair had bonded quickly as the fresh blood in the camp and often trained together as a result. His swordsmanship was a bit clumsy but his archery had been one of the best he had ever seen. Lu Ten was sure that in no time the other man would be promoted to handling a battalion of his own.

Lu Ten leaned over his cot. “Whatcha writing?”

“Huh? Oh, it’s my will.”

“A little early for a will, don’t you think?”

The other man snorted. “It’s never too early when you’re on the front lines.” His brush zipped past the conversation as if his hands were on autopilot. “I know it’s a bit depressing to think about this stuff when you’re out here hoping for the best out of this war, but it’s good to always be prepared. Even if it’s not a high chance I’ll have to send these out, I at least want to cover all my options.”

“What if you don’t need to send them out?”

“Then I’ll just burn them and it’ll be our little secret.” He squinted at the wet ink and with a groan, he crumpled up the paper. “I messed up a stroke. Thanks for distracting me, Lu.”

“You’re welcome,” Lu Ten replied as he leaned back in his cot.

The other man had a point. It wouldn’t hurt to be prepared for anything. Lu Ten was well aware of the high risks that come from fighting in a war, especially on the front lines, no less. As a foot soldier, the chances of dying in action were higher than coming out of the battle alive.

He peered down at his own blank sheets of paper.

If he didn’t come out of this alive…what would he need to tell everyone?

With a newfound resolve, Lu Ten picked up his pen and started a new letter.

The outer wall had opened.

It was a miracle. It almost felt too easy. 

Lu Ten heard a faint whistle through the dust. It was too high to be one of the signals from his side and the pitch was timed only a second after the beat of their war drums. His feet were moving before he could yell in front of himself, “Get out of here!”

Most of the troops had stepped out of the way just as the earth beneath them dropped out from their feet. Lu Ten dug his nails into the ledge of dirt before him as his body slammed into the wall of the freshly dug trench. His right hand clasped around his fellow soldier’s arm as the man dangled precariously over the pit. 

“Don’t worry! I’m gonna get us out of here!”

The other man laughed nervously, keeping his eyes away from the height below them. “It’s kinda hard not to worry when you’re dangling over a really deep hole!”

“Just,” Lu Ten dug his boots into the wall. If he wanted them to get out of this alive he needed to stabilize them as much as possible. However, his grip on the ledge was loosening with every passing second. “Try not to focus too much on it! Climb up before I lose my grip! You can pull me up when you get over!”

“Right!” 

The soldier made his way up quickly, using the other like a rope. As he passed over the ledge, he gasped in relief. “Spirits! I thought we weren’t gonna make it!”

Suddenly, the ground roared. One of the tanks posted nearby had been pierced through by a pillar of earth. The impact sliced through their engine and the vehicle burst into flames. Lu Ten’s grip slipped away from the ledge.

“Shit! No!” The soldier helplessly grasped at thin air as the prince fell through.

Lu Ten watched as the world quickly faded into darkness. The chill of fear and regret shot through him as the wind ran past. He wondered if he would survive the drop. An ambush of this length had to be pre-planned and calculated to a degree to kill. If the Earth Kingdom deemed it enough to snuff out a firebender’s flames it would most certainly snuff out the life in him without a second thought. 

His mind wandered to his cousins. What were they up to? Would they hear the news? Will they be alright without him? 

He wondered about his father. The man had finally secured a victory over Ba Sing Se. He finally conquered the impenetrable wall and yet Lu Ten had managed to screw it up. He was going to die and the thought of what that would do to the man filled him with guilt.

However, all his thoughts couldn’t shake him from a strange peace welling up inside him as the bottom drew near. He didn’t regret learning to hold a sword. 

He didn’t regret becoming a soldier. 

He didn’t regret fighting alongside his father. 

In the end, he couldn’t bring himself to regret saving that soldier.

Just before his body could hit the bottom, the chasm slammed shut.

The letter arrived earlier than usual.

Instead of the typical plain white Zuko had been used to, it came in a foreboding scarlet. 

The family was summoned to gather in the throne room as the news was announced. They listened with still breaths until the letter was finished. 

His mother was the first to break the silence. Tears flowed profusely down her cheeks as she muffled her sobbing under her hands. Whether it was out of sympathy for her child or not, he couldn’t tell. She hadn’t been as close to Lu Ten as Zuko was but she knew what he meant to him. 

Next, followed Zuko himself. He mentally kicked himself for not having the restraint to hold it in like Azula and his father. He wanted to be strong like the rest of the family, unshakable even in times of despair. But, the letter’s news had brought forth memories of all the shared promises he made with the esteemed prince. Promises to spend time together once he came back and promises to show each other what they’ve learned on their respective paths.

Now, he choked back his sobs as he knew they couldn’t honor their words.

As the dust settled, Zuko hobbled back to his room feeling tired and dried out. He was prepared to crash into his bed until the servants called for dinner before he came to a halt. On his bed, lay a familiar white envelope with a royal wax seal that the boy could never forget.

He rushed forward to open it, only to stop short as he saw the pressed white peony fall out from the envelope. His heart dropped.

Hey Zu,

If you’re reading this, well, I guess you heard the news.

I know, it’s a lot to take in and I hope you’re not pushing yourself to hold it all in. If you need to take a break from reading to recollect yourself, go ahead. This letter will still be here when you’re ready.

Zuko’s vision blurred as he sniffed. Even when he was gone, Lu Ten had worried over him. He didn’t deserve a cousin like him. Lu Ten could’ve spent his time with Azula who was good at everything but instead, he spent all his time trying to teach Zuko the basic forms of sword fighting.

I’m sorry. I couldn’t keep my promises to you. I really did want to see your progress. I just know you would be finished with that manual in no time. You’re a fast learner, you know that? It took me months to get through those first forms and you managed to memorize them before I left home. Azula may be the prodigy in firebending but you’re a naturally gifted swordsman, Zuko. I couldn’t be prouder to have a cousin like you.

So, I wanted to give you my twin dao. I know you’ll put them to good use. You’re more skilled than you realize, Zuko. I just know you’ll pick up dual swords in no time.

Since I won’t be able to teach you any further, I still want to give you someone who can help hone your mastery. If you are determined to master these swords, send Master Piandao my recommendation. My master can help you. He’s the best swordsman in the Fire Nation and I’m certain he’ll teach you everything you’ll need, even more than I could ever teach you.

You’re a bright kid, Zu. Whatever you decide, you’ll do great.

With love,

Lu Ten 

Zuko wiped the tears from his face and stood up. Lu Ten believed in him. Even when everyone was looking toward Azula, Lu Ten was always there to encourage him to keep fighting. He gave him an opportunity and Zuko refused to waste it.

He opened the door and signaled the guard posted to the side. “Excuse me?”

“Yes, Prince Zuko?”

“C-can you get me a paper and pen?” He could feel his throat tight from his sobs. He was going to do this. He’ll make Lu Ten proud. “I need to send a messenger hawk to Master Piandao.”

The guard bowed his head. “I’ll send a servant right away.”

Three days.

It took three days for him to collapse in defeat.

As much as Iroh wanted to press on for the sake of his nation, the news had brought him so much grief that his performance fell with his spirit. Battle after battle was just another losing effort. Was this war really worth it? What were they even fighting to achieve?

The seed of doubt sowed into his mind like venom coursing through his veins. Every step he took was met with failure and dread. He wondered if he was even on the right path at all.

As Iroh stepped into his tent, he saw the crisp white letter neatly unopened on his desk. It was delivered the same day Lu Ten’s death was announced to the whole encampment. A soldier belonging to the archery infantry had personally delivered it to him despite the informalities. Iroh recognized him as the one who stuck close to his son’s side. He had heard from the man of Lu Ten’s heroic efforts and how he saved his life just before he fell to his death.

It was hard not to break down as he listened to the recount of what happened. It was even harder to will himself the courage to open the letter that followed it.

Iroh let go of the breath he hadn’t realized he was holding and picked up the envelope. Three days ago, he couldn’t even gather the strength to look at it. Now, after he had truly lost everything, he carefully tore open the letter and peered at its contents.

Hi Dad,

I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to the end of this war with you. I guess I really wasn’t ready to follow you out here. I’m sorry I couldn’t match your expectations. 

Iroh let out a small humorless laugh. What kind of father was he to make his child say such things? He should have noticed. He should have been with him more. He should have made him understand just how much he loved him. He wanted to shake Lu Ten by the shoulders and tell him, ‘I don’t care about any of that! You’re my son and you’ll always be the pride and joy of my life.’

I was being reckless. I already got chewed out by the Lieutenant on my behavior but, I guess it just really hadn’t set in just how much this could have affected everyone until now.

To be honest, I wanted to join because of you. Everyone talked about the great “Dragon of the West” General Iroh. The generals would tell me stories of your battles and I would be left in awe. I was proud to have a dad as great as you. I wanted to be just like that. Someone our nation could look up to. Someone they could rely on as a great leader.

But, I had another reason, too. I…wanted to spend time with you.

As a kid, I’ve always had this dream of the two of us, standing side by side on the battlefield. We would face our enemies together, I would have your back and you would have mine. You would pat my shoulder and tell me “I’m proud to have a son like you!” Then, we would sing and dance after the battle, drinking tea and playing a few games of pai sho before it was lights out.

It was silly.

Hot tears dotted the page. He couldn’t stop the dam that burst, fruitlessly wiping at his eyes trying to make them disappear. Iroh wanted to turn back time. He wanted to go back to before he joined, to right the wrongs he didn’t realize his absence had made for him. If he had just spent a bit more time with Lu ten…

Joining you, I’ve realized how difficult it can be out here. Getting to see it for myself rather than spending all my time speculating on strategies in the palace, I’ve grown to understand how much effort you put into it. This war is unlike anything else in Fire Nation history. For a century, this battle had continued to grow in casualties by the day. Our men are growing tired and I can see the war taking its toll on the other nations as well. Quite honestly, I wonder if any of us remember the reasons why we were fighting to begin with.

Standing here on the frontier, I can firmly say that this war cannot go on any longer. Just as the Earth Kingdom is starting to chip away, I can see the cracks forming in the Fire Nation as well. Our nation just doesn’t have enough resources to fund both the militia and the new colonies we’ve formed. Some of the islands at home are struggling to stay afloat as they run their minerals dry. 

There has to be a way to end this before our nation collapses in on itself. I just don’t know the answer.

I hope you’ll find it someday. And, 

If you don’t, it’s okay. 

Because no matter what, I’ll always be proud to have you as my father. I love you, Dad.

Your son,

Lu Ten

The letter slipped through Iroh’s grip, falling against the white lotus tile sitting neatly on his desk. The grief struck him harder than he had felt receiving the news. It was as if he hadn’t fully believed in it until now. His son was gone. He had lost Lu Ten to the throngs of war.

It felt like hours had passed when he finally managed to compose himself. It felt like an eternity before he stepped outside his tent. One of his Lieutenants caught his sight and met him halfway. “General Iroh! What is it?”

“Round everyone up, if you could,” His next words felt like he was stepping onto a new path, “I want to announce my retirement.”

“Prince Lu Ten, son of the crown prince, Iroh, has been pronounced dead. 

As General Iroh secured victory over Ba Sing Se, the Earth Kingdom’s militia launched a surprise attack on the soldiers closest to the walls. In a heroic effort, Prince Lu Ten warned his comrades of the incoming pitfall and saved the lives of many. He even rescued a fellow soldier from falling just before he plummeted to his death.

For his heroic efforts, Prince Lu Ten has been awarded the medal of honor and the badge of valor.” The messenger flipped a page. “After failing to hold the siege at Ba Sing Se, General Iroh has requested to retire from duty. He asks that you let him take the next months in solitude before returning to the palace.”

“Granted.”

The messenger bowed before the Fire Lord as he held out the box containing his grandson’s achievements. Azulon gingerly took it and waved his hand. “You are dismissed.”

Tears were to be expected when he had summoned the family together. He had always noticed how close the two princes were. It would have been foolish to think the young prince wouldn’t act any other way along with his mother.

The problem, however, was the rest of the family. There was something unnerving about the lack of reaction the news had provoked in them. He had known his son had held some envy for Iroh being the firstborn heir but he hadn’t known it would be something to this extent. Azulon would never claim to be a perfect parent. He knew that where his ruling reigned strong, he was lacking a bit more in the aspects of parenting. To raise a son so apathetic, as well as, raising his kin to follow that same principle was simply a clear mark that he had gone wrong somewhere along the way.

He needed to have a word with Ozai soon about this.

A knock sounded at the doorway after the family filed away. It was one of his long standing advisors, holding a clean white envelope in his hand. “Your grace? I have a letter for you. I was told Lu Ten wanted you to read this in privacy after his passing.” 

Azulon did his best to school his expression. “Hand it over. Reschedule the next meeting after sundown.”

“Yes, my liege.” As the man made his exit, the Fire Lord peeled open the letter. 

Grandfather,

The old man would have admonished his grandson for the informal address in his letter. Despite all his teachings, Azulon could never manage to get Lu Ten to address him formally in his personal letters. 

If this letter found you, then you must have heard the news about my death. I know you were looking forward to my return and I’m sorry I couldn’t make it back. I hope you’ll let yourself grieve a bit, even with the war drawing to new heights. You hardly ever let yourself breathe ever since Grandmother had died. Fire Lord or not, you need to stop holding everything in or else you’ll pop like a firecracker.

Azulon chuckled. Now, he was being lectured by the dead, huh?

As my last letter to you, I also wanted to give you my final report. This war seems to be taking quite the toll on the Earth Kingdom. While Ba Sing Se itself feels little of the effects, many of the outer cities have collapsed into poverty from the costs of war. However, it seems our own forces can’t take on this war either.

The troops are getting younger by the day. I’ve met new soldiers who had just turned 14 before joining our army. They say it's because there weren’t enough men, but it still doesn’t sit right with me. No kid should bear witness to the horrors out here. 

I would think you and Father knew that as well.

Even if these kids aren’t participating on the front lines just yet, our rations are hardly sustainable, let alone, nutritious. Former farmers could tell that the crops in our stews were picked too early or have gotten little treatment in the soil. If the soldiers here are getting such meals, what of the people back home? Is it really worth it to keep going even with the risks of crushing our own nation in the process?

We’re getting nowhere, Grandfather.

I know this war has been going long since you were born, but maybe…it’s time that we ended it. For the sake of this nation.

I trust you’ll think about this and weigh your options carefully. I know you care about this nation as much as I do.

With love,

Lu Ten

Azulon dragged a hand down his face. He was well aware of the impending effects this war would have on them, but he hadn’t considered it would be so soon. He glanced at the letter again.

Maybe, it was time to end this war. He needed to find a swift way to conquer the Earth Kingdom without putting any more strain on his nation. Both sides have been weakened. It’s only a matter of time before one of them falls.

“Fire Lord, Azulon?”

The old man looked up to greet the bowing servant. “What is it?”

“Prince Ozai has requested an audience.”

“...Let him in.”

Azula was hardly surprised when she found the letter at her desk.

Even after she cut ties with him, her cousin still continued to pester her with letters nearly as frequently as he did with her brother. Each one lay unopened in a box shoved into the recesses of her wardrobe. She had planned to gather them all up so that when he came back from the war, she would burn them all in front of his face.

Except,

He didn’t.

What was the point in keeping them now? She picked up the letter.

Even though she planned to burn them without a second thought, she was curious about what he could have wanted to say before his final moments. Last minute apologies? Gloating about all his exploits on the battlefield?

To Azula,

Hey, baby cuz. It’s been a while since we’ve talked. 

To be honest, I was hoping I would have been able to talk to you at least one more time before I died. Judging by the radio silence I’ve been getting, I’ll assume you didn’t read any of the letters I’ve sent. But, that’s okay. I wasn’t sending them expecting a reply. I just wanted to talk to you, even if you might not be reading it. 

Heck, you might not even bother reading this one but it’s worth a shot. I’m no mind reader or fortune teller. On the slightest chance you may read this, I wanted to take it.

Azula, you’re the smartest, most skilled kid I’ve ever known. You’ve probably heard those words a million times, but I wanted to get the chance to tell you it myself. I may not be a firebender but I can see how much effort you’ve put into honing your skills. 

Talent isn’t born from nothing. 

You’ve probably put in so much work learning the forms and turning them into something you can call your own. I’m proud of you, Azula.

You can pretend all you want, but that won’t change the fact that I’ll always care about you.

The proof is in the letters.

With love,

Lu Ten

Azula set the letter down and dug through her closet for the box. It was an old shoe box from her seventh birthday. She didn’t have anywhere to put the piling of letters she had stuffed away in a drawer so she relocated them to the small empty box.

She dumped its contents onto her bed and sifted through the dates for the oldest one.

Hey little salamander,

She scrunched her nose at the old nickname. Just because she had a little fascination for reptiles didn’t make her obsessed.

I know you said you didn’t want to see me again, so I thought maybe a letter was okay.

I just wanted to say, I’m sorry. For, not being as cool a big cousin you expected me to be. As you get older, you’re probably gonna notice all the other way cooler people out there. You’ll probably make lots of amazing friends and become a really cool person yourself!

But, when you do, don’t forget about your lame cousin Lu, alright?

With love,

Lu Ten

She picked up the next letter.

Hey Azula!

I heard from my dad that he actually met a dragon! He said they were crazy strong benders! Did you know they were the first ones to bend fire? If you want, I can ask him to tell you all about the dragon he met! Maybe he could let us meet it, someday!

With love,

Lu Ten

Each letter she scanned, ended in the same four words: With love, Lu Ten.

It was ridiculous. No matter the contents of the letter, talking about the weather, a fun game he learned at school, or a cute lizard he found outside, he had always made sure to end with those four words. It wasn’t until the fifteenth letter, that Azula realized why.

He wanted to let her know he still loved her. 

Even after she pushed him away.

Even after she called him worthless. A disgrace.

Azula felt her eyes prick at the thought.

Maybe her mother was right.

Maybe Azula really was a monster.