Prompt 66: "Regret", Become The Master
Title: Become The Master
Author: Anon616
Rating: K+
Words: 475
Genre: AU
Char/Pair: Azula and Zuko
Summary: The Firelord faces two defiant children.
“Hold,” He says, and the court holds. Here, the Dragon’s word is law. Here, the Firelord stands in command, leading through a lone word or a warning glance. He gets up, his regal outfit heavy, and strides down to where his two heirs stand.
“You disobey me?” he asks simply.
Somewhere, the Avatar will be wreaking havoc on another front, he knows. The boy’s other allies will be enacting their own plans. This battle is just one of many. He should be dividing his attention, but this is all he can focus on.
“You disobey me?” he asks again.
It is Azula who steps forward. “Yes.” She says.
She is the one to speak. For the first time he wonders if it was the deceit and trickery of Azula that allowed them to see the light first, rather than her brother’s honesty. Either way, he will never know now. Zuko steps up beside her, united as they always tried to be. United as he always wanted them to be. United against him.
He gets down from his throne, from the dragon’s perch, and descends until he stands face-to-face and eye to eye with his most wonderful enemies-
-And for a moment it seems that they are no longer foes, but they are student and master again, except this time the roles are reversed-
He taught them from a young age to think, to question, to reject blind faith for harsh truths. He taught them and grew to love them, not only as a master loves his students but something more, as pride grew from duty and love from pride. He taught them to strike at their opponent’s weakest points, and strike where they could not strike back. How can he complain that they have learned their lessons?
For a moment of lunacy, he wonders if they could not fight. But his robes and crown press down the inertia of history upon him. There has to be a fight. Empires must be cleansed with fire. And sometimes blood.
“You stand with the Avatar? Against me?” he asks. “Against your nation?”
“With the Avatar.” Zuko says. “With our nation.” Azula finishes. Such words!
There is a pause. “We’re sorry.” Zuko adds.
Do not be! I have never been prouder of you than I am now. He doesn’t say that. His two young dragons… “Are you sure?” he says.
They glance at each other. “Sure enough.” They say.
He will give them a fight. They deserve that much. It is the only thing he knows how to do. They will fight for the crown of the nation, and history will march on. It has always been leading to this point. All there is left to do is face it with dignity and pride.
“Then fight on, my children,” Iroh says, settling into his stance, “and stop for no-one.”
Author: Anon616
Rating: K+
Words: 475
Genre: AU
Char/Pair: Azula and Zuko
Summary: The Firelord faces two defiant children.
“Hold,” He says, and the court holds. Here, the Dragon’s word is law. Here, the Firelord stands in command, leading through a lone word or a warning glance. He gets up, his regal outfit heavy, and strides down to where his two heirs stand.
“You disobey me?” he asks simply.
Somewhere, the Avatar will be wreaking havoc on another front, he knows. The boy’s other allies will be enacting their own plans. This battle is just one of many. He should be dividing his attention, but this is all he can focus on.
“You disobey me?” he asks again.
It is Azula who steps forward. “Yes.” She says.
She is the one to speak. For the first time he wonders if it was the deceit and trickery of Azula that allowed them to see the light first, rather than her brother’s honesty. Either way, he will never know now. Zuko steps up beside her, united as they always tried to be. United as he always wanted them to be. United against him.
He gets down from his throne, from the dragon’s perch, and descends until he stands face-to-face and eye to eye with his most wonderful enemies-
-And for a moment it seems that they are no longer foes, but they are student and master again, except this time the roles are reversed-
He taught them from a young age to think, to question, to reject blind faith for harsh truths. He taught them and grew to love them, not only as a master loves his students but something more, as pride grew from duty and love from pride. He taught them to strike at their opponent’s weakest points, and strike where they could not strike back. How can he complain that they have learned their lessons?
For a moment of lunacy, he wonders if they could not fight. But his robes and crown press down the inertia of history upon him. There has to be a fight. Empires must be cleansed with fire. And sometimes blood.
“You stand with the Avatar? Against me?” he asks. “Against your nation?”
“With the Avatar.” Zuko says. “With our nation.” Azula finishes. Such words!
There is a pause. “We’re sorry.” Zuko adds.
Do not be! I have never been prouder of you than I am now. He doesn’t say that. His two young dragons… “Are you sure?” he says.
They glance at each other. “Sure enough.” They say.
He will give them a fight. They deserve that much. It is the only thing he knows how to do. They will fight for the crown of the nation, and history will march on. It has always been leading to this point. All there is left to do is face it with dignity and pride.
“Then fight on, my children,” Iroh says, settling into his stance, “and stop for no-one.”