From Assassin To Queen

How It All Began Part 2

Zuko

I smiled as my little sister giggled next to me. We were in one of the hallways reading a letter our uncle sent to us. He was coming home today and we were both overjoyed to see him and our cousin Lu Ten.

"Zuko, Azula, come with me your king wishes to see you both in the throne room. My father Ozai spoke as he approached us. I could see the excitement drain out of Azula's eyes at the mention of our grandfather.

I was only eleven but for as long as I could remember grandfather wanting to see us was never a joyous occasion. He was ruthless even more so than my father. My father and grandfather always wanted us to excel in everything we did and if we didn't there would be serious consequences.

Azula held onto my arm and stood behind me as we both looked at our father. "Yes sir". We said in unison. He turned around and walked off. His loud footsteps made an echo sound as he walked ahead of us towards the throne room.

"Introducing his royal highness prince Ozai, his royal highness prince Zuko and her royal highness princess Azula". The guards said before opening the large double-wide doors that stood in front of us. We made our way inside Azula and I walking behind our father and sitting on our legs once our father sat next to our Uncle Iroh and in front of his father.

I looked over to my uncle and couldn't help but notice that my cousin wasn't sitting behind him neither was my mother around.

"Thank you for gracing us with your presence Ozai". "Forgive me father,  Zuko, and Azula weren't easy to track down". "I see. The two of you wouldn't be trying to run from your responsibilities again now would you"? "No, my king". We said in unison.

"Good, now to the matter at hand". He looked over at our uncle. "Iroh where's Lu Ten"? For the first time in my life, I watched shocked as I saw my uncle cry. I wanted to go over and hug him but knew I couldn't.

"Lu Ten is no longer with us, he died during battle". " I see. I was hoping I could pass the crown over to you today but you clearly aren't in the right headspace to rule over anyone and a decision needs to be made today". He looked at our father.

"Ozai both your kids are young and well. Phoniex needs to maintain that it's bloodline stays strong and well. You will take over as king until Zuko Is old enough to take over for you. In the meantime, you will teach him all you know as well as train him personally".

"Yes, father".

After the meeting was over Azula and I both ran up to Uncoe Iroh and hugged him. "Thank you Zuko, thank you Azula, this is just what I needed". He said hugging us back. "We're sorry about Lu Ten". I said. He placed a hand on my head. "My son may be gone but I'm not alone as long as I have the two of you". We smiled.

He smiled back. "Now go run off and play I'll be fine". We nodded and walked off. Azula went upstairs to her room while I made my way towards the garden. I knew I wasn't supposed to be here. I was either supposed to be in my room studying or training. I didn't want to do either not after finding out I lost my only cousin.

"There you are Zuko". My mom said making her way over to me. She sat next to me under the tree I was at and put her arm around me. I immediately placed my head in her lap. "Do you want to cry? It's ok if you do". "No, I'm just sad. Uncle Iroh doesn't have his wife or son anymore".

"No, but he still has his niece and nephew that he adores so much". "What about dad"? "Your uncle and father's relationship is a complicated one". "Which means dad hates him".

"Your father always hated the fact that your uncle was heir to the throne. Your grandfather could care less who takes the throne just as long as his bloodline is able to continue".

I said nothing. Instead I continued to lay in her lap as I watched the momma duck in the pond with her ducklings behind her. Mom handed me a piece of bread and I tore it into pieces before throwing it into the water for the ducklings to eat.

A few pieces were a little bigger than the others causing the water to splash harder which also caused the ducklings to get wet. The momma duck didn't like that and jumped out of the water angrily running towards me but before she could get to me my mom caught her by her feet and put her back in the water.

"It was an accident he didn't mean to". The momma duck squeaked at us before leaving with her ducklings. "Why did she attack me, I didn't mean to break the bread up so big"? She smiled down at me. "Its a mother's job to protect her kids from any danger no matter how big or small".

She started tickling me making me laugh. "It's also our job to tease our kids whenever we can". She said smiling. "I give! I give"! I said laughing. She stopped and I smiled up at her. "I love you mom". " I love you too Zuko, I always will".

"Ursa, a word". Father said coming into the garden. His voice was stern and his eyes cold as always". "Zuko go make yourself useful and go train, in ten years you'll be named king. A king must be strong and smart". "Yes father". I hugged mom before getting up and heading inside. Little did I know that would be the last time I saw her.

Ursa

I said nothing as we walked through different hallways. I learned early on to never question what he was doing or to not speak unless spoken to. I wasn't his wife. I was just a woman he chose to marry and who gave him a son and daughter. He didn't love me and I didn't love him.

Unlike him, the only thing I got out of this marriage was the love of my kids. The only thing he was to me was my abuser. He took me away from my family and the man I truly loved and he didn't care. If he had a heart he never would have threatened to kill my mother and father in front of me.

"You coddle him too much. A young boy needs to be raised on discipline. The future king can't be made to look weak".  "Love doesn't make a person weak fear does. My love for my son is not a crotch and never will be.

Zuko knows I love him and would do anything for him unlike you who wants to control him with fear. I'm just glad neither of my kids have seen you hit me. The last thing Azula needs is to think it's ok for a man to hit a woman".

The next thing I knew a slap came across my face causing me to stumble a bit. "My point exactly". "You may have given birth to them but don't forget who it was that put them in your stomach to begin with. My kids will be raised the way my father raised me. They will not be weak and pathetic like you".

"The only pathetic one I see here is you. A decent brother would be trying to console his brother who just lost his son instead of hitting on his wife". "Crying is for the weak, that's why I'm the king and my brother isn't".

"What did you call me for"? He stripped me of the dress I was in and opened one of the back doors before pushing me threw it. "I know all about those love letters you've been sending to that bastard back in your home country.

I haven't killed him because he's even more pathetic than you are. Your job was to give me a son and daughter and now that your task has been completed you are hereby banished. The only reason I didn't do this sooner is because my father actually likes you". Where the last words before the door slammed in my face.

Ozai

I headed straight to where Zuko was and made my way to him once I saw him with his sister. "Why aren't you training like I said to boy"? "Azula was tired and took a nap but had a bad nightmare so I came comfort her".

I slapped him across the face causing him to fall off the bed and onto the floor. "Zuko"! "Her nightmares are her problem to handle not yours. You comforting her will only make her weak. You're only responsibilities from here on are to train and study and you Azula are to stay out of his way. Your mother is no longer here to coddle either of you". I looked at them sternly before leaving and slamming the door.

Word Count: 1555