Sarapen's Journal

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.

What a great place! The Freedom Fighters had an awesome hideout and everyone here was the best! Aang laughed as he watched his new friends talking and having fun around the dinner table. It was great being around so many people his age, and for a brief second he recalled being at the Southern Air Temple again with all of the Airbender novices. Of course, the Southern Air Temple had only been this much fun before he'd found out he was the Avatar, before his friends had started to avoid him, before the Fire Nation – Aang quickly changed his thoughts to another subject.

His new friends and his less-new friends looked to be getting along well. Katara especially was hitting it off with Jet, the leader of the Freedom Fighters. Then again, she got on well with everyone. She was just great that way.

Suddenly he heard happy shouts of surprise and turned to see an older boy in a rice farmer's conical straw hat being led to the dinner table by a group of younger Freedom Fighters. His guides were all shouting questions at him. "Lee's back! What adventures have you had, Lee?" "How many Fire Nation soldiers did you take out, Lee?" "Did you bring us anything, Lee?"