Daughter of the Moon - Book Two: Earth

Chapter 23: The Fire Lord

- Zuko -

Three Years. It had been three years since my father had banished me from the Fire Nation, and here I was once again in the palace where I belonged. There were many days on that stupid ship where I was unsure if this moment would ever come, but by some miracle, my dreams had finally come true. I was home, and I had everything I had ever wanted. And the best part? I didn't even need to present the Avatar to my father to get it. Everything was as it should be.

So then why did I feel so angry?

I pondered the source of my distress as I knelt before my father in the throne room, Azula seated by my side as we waited for him to address us. I was both unnerved and suspicious by my father's invitation to speak to me; scared because I didn't know if my father would accept me (not to mention the fact that the last time I had spoken to him in the throne room, I had unwillingly challenged him to an Agni Kai), but I also had found it strange that he would find the need to meet with his children together. It was so unlike him, and I couldn't understand why he thought it was necessary.

"I am proud of you, Prince Zuko," I heard my father announce as I kept my gaze towards the floor, fearing what I may see if I looked up. "I am proud because your sister conquered Ba-Sing-Se. I am proud because, when your loyalty was tested by your treacherous uncle and that waterbending filth, you did the right thing and captured them."

I gritted my teeth as my father's words rubbed salt into my fresh wounds, guilt and heartache clouding my head and poisoning my heart as I remembered the things I had done to the people I cared about. Of course, I had felt bad for how I had treated Iroh, especially after everything he had done for me to make me a better person, but I knew my heart ache had only one true source.

It had only been a few days since Elara and I had broken up, and I found that I hadn't gotten any closer to getting her out of my head. I had tried everything: dedicating extended periods of time studying in the library, paying special attention to the forms demonstrated in my training sessions with Azula, helping the servants with the chores around the palace—I had even started dating Mai (as per my sister's request) to try and distract myself from the waterbender. But even that didn't help. In fact, if anything, that only seemed to make it worse. It was like Elara was everywhere, haunting every sight, sound, touch, taste, smell, and thought, and there was no way in the Spirit World that I would be able to get rid of her.

While I found Elara dominating my thoughts once again, I had failed to recognize that my father was far from finished with his praise, turning the focus of the discussion to the only feat that would ever carry any merit in this family.

"And I am proudest of all of your most legendary accomplishment," he continued, leaving me rather confused as he leaned forward in his seat. My father had already noted my few contributions to the Ba-Sing-Se efforts, so there was no legendary accomplishment on the table to be discussed—at least, not for me.

But I suppose the Spirits could always find another way to make my life more miserable.

"You slayed the Avatar," my father concluded, and my heart plummeted at the notion.

"What did you hear?" I asked as I raised my head in surprise, shooting a side-eyed glare at Azula as I went (who quickly returned the sentiment with a wicked smirk).

"Azula told me everything," my father answered. "She said she was amazed and impressed with your power and ferocity at the moment of truth."

"Really?"

"Of course, brother," Azula jumped in as she rose to her feet, confirming some of my worst fears. "I may have been the mastermind behind the invasion, but even I have to give credit where it is due. You killed the Avatar and captured two of the Fire Nation's most wanted criminals. You're a hero."