The Traitor – Prologue

Tue, 21 Jan 2014 03:47:12 GMT

I revised the prologue because I thought the original was too wordy and kind of purple prose-y in bits. Henceforth follows the new version.

Zuko was thirteen years old when he realized that his father didn't love him.

At the time, this revelation came as a complete surprise to Zuko. Years later, with a clarity afforded by distance, he could admit that his doubts had been growing steadily, like a mountain built up pebble by pebble, or a dam eroding day by day.

Like the cracks in an eroding dam, Zuko tried to shore up his doubts. Perhaps his father favoured his sister, but that was only because of her skill in firebending. Perhaps his father despised Zuko's soft heart, but that was only because his father wanted him to be strong. Surely if Zuko grew stronger and hardened his heart then his father would show his approval. Surely then his father would love him.

But monsters do not love, no matter how much their sons desire otherwise. And so, after inadvertently insulting his father in public, after unknowingly challenging his father’s disregard for the lives of Fire Nation soldiers, after discovering that he was to duel his lord and father, after begging for forgiveness that did not exist, after being mutilated by his own father, after experiencing firsthand the mercy of the Fire Lord and the Fire Nation – in short, after having every cherished belief violently destroyed – Zuko stopped being Zuko.

The Crown Prince entered the dueling grounds, but afterwards he did not spend three days holding back cries of pain. He did not listen to his sister gravely deliver news of his banishment while she mocked him with her eyes. He was not given the impossible task of finding the Avatar, a person who had not been seen in a hundred years. He did not silently listen while Uncle Iroh offered his help, did not stew in bitter rage while his ship crossed the oceans and did not stare with burning eyes at the Earth Kingdom port where they had docked.

The Crown Prince entered the dueling grounds, but it was the Blue Spirit who left. It was the Blue Spirit who looked out upon the Earth Kingdom, who took first one step down the gangplank then another, away from the Fire Lord, away from Uncle Iroh, and away from the Fire Nation. It was the Blue Spirit who stepped off the ship towards the Earth Kingdom, who stepped forward towards the future, towards vengeance, towards destiny.

comments

The Traitor - Chapter 2

Sat, 12 Feb 2011 05:30:40 GMT

Interlude - Two Years Earlier (Six Months After Zuko’s Banishment)

The Fire Nation messenger walked unknowingly beneath Zuko’s hiding place in the branches of the tree. The man tramped noisily through a pile of dead leaves before catching himself and trying to move more quietly. It really was too easy. What kind of soldier was so inattentive in the midst of potentially hostile territory? And what commander would use someone so inexperienced as a messenger? The man was so clumsy in the forest that it was quite possible he’d slip and break his neck before ever delivering his message. Well, Zuko certainly wasn’t complaining. The spirits grant that all of his enemies were so stupid – fighting fair was for suckers.

( Read more... )

comments

Sarapen's Journal

The Traitor – Prologue

The Traitor - Chapter 2