VALOR || SOKKA

ONE || CHILD OF KIMSET

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Fire was the element of life. It grew and flourished under the right conditions, but could die or burn rapidly if left unchecked. After a certain point it is impossible to pacify a strong enough flame. You are simply left wondering, what if I had done so sooner?

The people of the Fire Nation have long forgotten their lineage. Mindless sheep all herded by their Fire Lord's every order, brainwashed by his families cruel manipulation. Not even his own children are safe from the demon that is the Fire Lord.

Naomi remembers her childhood with distaste and resentment. Not because of her father, no, never because of her father. Her childhood was ruined by the years she spent trapped within the palace walls with her demonic cousins and heinous uncle.

Even though the years she spent with her brother in the palace was always filled with love and just pure adoration for how cool and strong her older sibling was, she could only be protected from so much. Azula was sneaky, with sharp words and quick hair tugs. Ozai seemingly kept his distain for the girl secret. Even Zuko acted as if he was higher up than she was.

In the palace there was four people she could say she loved. The first, her father. Iroh always showered his baby girl in praise and gifts, yet he still taught her humility despite her status as Princess.

The second, her big brother. Lu Ten adored his little sister and would play all of her silly games no matter how girly he had to dress up. He loved making her happy and the strong bender often kept the whispers of others away from her innocent ears.

The third, her grandfather. Azulon seen his first granddaughter as insurance, but she was also the daughter of his favorite son and highly intelligent which brought him pride. He would often beckon the siblings to spend days with him, learning about the country and the politics if either of them would become Firelord.

The fourth and final, her aunt Ursa. Of course she didn't cherish her like she did her own son Zuko, but Ursa would take care of her when her father and brother were overseas. Ursa repaid the kindness of her father onto her. She was the closest thing to a mother she had.

But, like dominoes in a line she lost almost everyone she's grown to love. She remembers that week vividly. Like it was just yesterday her heart was ripped from her chest. Then it was beat with a stick. A mean stick.

She was sent away after Lu Ten died. Azulon advised his son to allow her to grieve away from the palace and put her emotions into something useful, like sword training. He gave the recommendation a week after her brothers death.

The same day she lost her fire. Her brilliant orange flames died, along with the spark of life she carried inside her. Then Azulon was declared dead. She wasn't even home to be with her grandfather his final days. The last nail in the coffin was Ursa, she had been banished for treason and disappeared.

She remained near to silent from that day forward. A stoic reminder of what used to be the Fire Nation's prized princess. Now her mantle was taken by Azula. Her birthright passed down to her cousins as well. Life had cheated her and left her to the wolves. Iroh being her only solace. When she was fourteen she completed her swordsmanship training under Piandao and returned to the palace. It was there she witnessed father turn against son.

She'd even travel the world with her father and cousin as a result of this. Yet, not once did her heart long for the place she called home. She only yearned for a place where she belonged. It wasn't in the Fire Nation, she knew that, but if not where she was born then where?

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