𝓐𝓬𝓬𝓾𝓻𝓼𝓮𝓭 𝓒𝓻𝓸𝔀𝓷 {𝓐𝓣𝓛𝓐}

Part 20

While Azula was away for her first mission, you were tasked to continue on with Zuko's training.

It has been well over fourteen years since your life within the palace. And within that fourteen years, there weren't many occurrences where you were left with the young prince one on one. Even when he was a baby, there were only a handful of times where Princess Ursa would leave him alone with you.

Twice where you had to put him to sleep when his mother was in the process of... conceiving the princess. Once when he was around the age of 8 when he asked for morning training( and that only lasted for a day when Azula demanded to join.)

Despite being siblings, the two had more differences than similarities. You thought it was due to their separate upbringing. While he was raised primarily by his mother, his sister was cared for by you.

You don't want to question his majesty or his highness but maybe... they may have made a misguided decision on making you the princess's main caretaker.

Granted, the circumstances were not ideal for such decisions. With how princess Ursa's refusal to let the child feed from her, the sudden fire bending which burned her during the delivery, the heated discussion between the parents, and the young prince's wails, there just wasn't much room to mull over decisions. Of course they would levitate to the first solution that presented itself.

Granted, you did try your best.

But that hasn't been enough these past couple years.

You did everything you could to make her as strong if not better than you. You were present in every training session, combat and bending, academic and strategic lessons. Till she was ten, you were right beside her.

Ten was the age where the camp and the Fire Lord had concluded to be the proper age to start being independent. Similar to how your training ended at 10, you had let her loose. Normally, instructors give their trainees up to two years to either train on their own and fight them or to accomplish a noteworthy achievement.

She's already 12. Time seemed to have flown by.

'I hope she took my words to heart...' you felt the wound on your shoulder throb.

The siege she shadowed you on didn't end as well as you hoped. If it went the way you wanted, you would have preferred to stay out of the number of casualties.

"Morning, Zero!" You spot prince Zuko running towards you, dressed in his training attire.

"Good Morning, Prince Zuko." .

He grimaced at your greeting, you wondered if you had somehow offended him. "Um, you can just call me by name, you know." He cleared his throat.

"Is that what you want?" You ask, watching him rub his wrist before sending a smile your way.

"Yes!... sorry." He apologised for his sudden outburst, "It's-you've been with us for as long as I could remember so... I just didn't see a reason to be so formal, you're practically family."

You watch him fidget with his cuffs, looking anywhere but your eyes as his lips pressed a firm line. If it was Azula in his stead, she would have stood straight, holding your gaze in an almost challenging manner.

Just like how you have taught her.

When you nodded at his request, you see him smile at you.

Your prince was a strange one.

Though there were countless differences between him and the one you serve, you couldn't will yourself to bring them into words. With no further adieu, you started his training.

Durring your duel, you assessed him. Compared to his sister, he is more suited for the defensive side, not quite at her level but not bad seeing that he had a later start. You brought your hand up for an attack when he parried it with a slight shift of his leg. His feet dragging back on the dirt at the force of your attack.

He needs more strength training.

Though it is commendable.

How could he, the little child that resembled so much of a maggot, grow so big? He was nothing but a bag of flesh that would wiggle around and pull at your hair. And now, he's sending blasts of fire one after the other, parrying your attacks and even landing one or two of his own.

You tilt your head just in time to dodge his elbow.

... she would have gone for a kick instead.

As you dodged and weaved around his attacks, you couldn't seem to keep her off your mind.

Every kick, every step, and even their breaths, you couldn't help but compare the two. And how could you not?

You were too used to her near perfect forms, her almost obsessive attachment to victory, and the way she's so willing to soak up anything that involves bending and power.

While, yes, anyone with eyes can see the prince's eagerness to learn and improve. It's just not the same. He doesn't get frustrated to the point of tears or violent outbursts. He doesn't train behind your back to master a technique just to impress you. He doesn't make snide remarks whenever your training is cut short. He doesn't distract you from looking at the princess when she lingers for too long. Nor does he mock her whenever she requests your audience.

This is pointless.

Zuko isn't Azula.

Nor is he like her.

Between the two, it is clear who will succeed the throne.

No matter how much he trained, it was too late. He lost his birthright the moment Azula was born.