The Phoenix

Darkest Day

"Lu ten!" 

The nineteen year old man turned seeing his thirteen year old cousin running up to him panting. 

"Zuko, what's up?" The man stopped as he was on his way to go to the war meeting, his hair was up in its signature topknot with a princes crown, side burns going down to back of his jaw.

"I wanted to go to the war meeting but the guards won't let me in," Zuko panted and sent a small glare to the two guards.

"What do your parents say?" The older cousin asked smirking a little. 

"I didn't ask?" Zuko smiled a little but grunted when lu ten pushed his head down and messed up his hair. 

"You're not missing anything, trust me, they're so boring," lu ten rolled his eyes as Zuko pouted a little.

"I'm a prince too, don't you think I should learn as much as I can so I can be like you and uncle? I'll help lead the country," Zuko smiled up at him again hopeful. Lu ten groaned a little but gave into his cousins puppy face.

"Alright, my fathers going to be late anyways, but you gotta promise you won't speak, these old farts are a bit sensitive," lu ten smirked a little. 

"Thank you lu ten," Zuko bowed quickly and was led in with the older cousin to the war meeting, this time the guards allowed it. 

—— 

Zuko sat at the corner of the table that held a map and pawn pieces to represent their armies and earth kingdom ones as well. Lu ten sat next to him paying close attention as well as prince Ozai sat in front of where fire lord iroh would be seated if he was there.

"The earth kingdom defenses are concentrated here, a dangerous battalion full of the strongest earth benders and fiercest warriors," one of the admirals pointed to a spot on the map as he had the floor for himself to speak.

"So I am recommending the 41st division," he moves a pawn. 

"But the 41st division is entirely new recruits, how do you expect them to defeat powerful earth kingdom battalion?" Another old man asked confused. 

"I don't," 

"They'll be used as a distraction while attack from the rear, what better way to use bait than fresh meat?" The admiral smirked at him and Ozai smiled a little at the tactic with an approving nod. 

"You can't sacrifice an entire division like that!" Zuko suddenly rose in defense of his people. 

"Those soldiers love and defend our nation, how can you betray them?!" He looked at all the old men disgusted by the idea as lu ten was taken by surprise of his cousins bravery. 

None of them were amused, he inhaled a shaky breath with wide eyes as he could feel his father staring burning holes into him.

"How dare you speak out of term?" Ozai barked at his son as Zuko sat back down glaring at the admiral then back at his father. 

"It's wrong," Zuko nodded stubbornly.

"You disrespected everyone in this room!" Ozai raised his voice immediately making Zuko sit a little straighter as fear pricked his spine. 

"You will be challenged to an Agni kai to resolve this disrespect," he snarled. 

"I accept," Zuko glared at the ground as lu ten looked at his uncle with anger as his jaw was clenched tightly. 

"My father-" "my brother will have no say in this, fire lord or not," Ozai cut his nephew off   

"Zuko leave," lu ten inhaled deeply not looking at his cousin.