Anika and Ozai

-Maya's Point of View-

"Hey Maya, are you perhaps wearing your mother's necklace under your shirt?"

I was tying up my hair when Sokka suddenly dropped the question. He must've noticed the golden chain around my neck. 

I glared at him and panned my gaze at Bato who was folding the sheets.

"Yes, Sokka. I am," I said emphasizing word per word trying to point out that Bato does not know about Mom's affiliation with the Fire Nation.

"Well, I'm not gonna tell you to stop wearing it but you should be careful around people, considering that it's a Fi—"

Katara hurriedly covered his mouth. "Finely carved necklace!" She used her head to point at Bato while looking at Sokka.

Good thing her sister knows how to read the room.

"Oh yeah, Finely carved! It's so finely carved that people—people might try to steal them! That's why you should be careful," Sokka tried to smoothly recover from what he said.

"Anika left you a necklace?" Bato suddenly joined in on the conversation.

"Uh... yes, she left it with Gran-Gran and then Gran-Gran handed it over to me," I answered.

"If you wouldn't mind, may I look at the necklace?" he suddenly asked.

"NO!" All three of us shouted at once. Bato seemed surprised and was too stunned to speak. He stared at us three with eyes wide open.

"I mean... The necklace had faded due to being stored for so long, so there's nothing much to see..." I reasoned out.

"Yeah, and it's made out of gold so there's some rust around the edges," Katara added.

"I see..." Bato said with a hint of disappointment in his eyes. "So it's a different necklace," he continued.

I suddenly got curious about what he said. "Is there another necklace that Mom owned?" I asked him.

"It's kind of an embarrassing story but, I used to admire your mother back then—well, I still do apparently. I never really stopped." His eyes glistened as he was playing back the memories inside his head.

"I was so sure I'd be betrothed to her someday, so I carved her a necklace. It was made out of mother-of-pearl shell," he continued. "But of course, I got rejected. She said that she had already given her heart to someone. That someone being your father, I presume," he said while looking at me.

"I never really knew who it was she loved so much, but I guess that person must've been great enough to receive her love."

Believe me Bato, that person you're talking about does not deserve any love at all.

"So what happened to the necklace?" Katara asked.

"I gave it to her still, but I never really knew what she did with it. She never wore it of course." Bato answered.

Bato suddenly frowned. "If only I was able to save her that day," he said gritting his teeth.

"It wasn't your fault Bato. It was a raid we weren't prepared for, you and Dad did so much to protect the village at that time. If there was anyone to blame, it should've been the Fire Nation troops who ambushed us," Sokka consoled.

"You're right," Bato said with grit. "That is why we joined forces with the Earth Kingdom, in hopes of bringing justice against the Fire Nation," he continued.

"I've encountered a lot of Fire Nation citizens and troops along our journey, and if there was anything they all had in common, it is that they all don't have mercy." 

He suddenly looked at us firmly. "So if you ever encounter someone from the Fire Nation, be always on your guard," he cautioned.

I tried to hide the fear that was brewing up from the inside, but I think a faint drop slipped through my face and Sokka seemed to have noticed so.

"But enough talk about the Fire Nation; there's something I've been curious about," Sokka said; changing the topic.

"Bato, the boat that was on the beach, was it also the one you used to ice dodge?" he asked excitedly.

"Yes, it is. It's even got the scar to prove it," Bato answered. 

"I wanna see it up close! I wasn't able to see it well at night," Sokka requested. 

"Why don't we head on to the beach and take a look?"

Bato stood up to leave the room, and following behind him was Sokka who was all geeked up about the ice-dodging ritual.

Soon enough Katara stood up to follow the two guys, but I remained seated. 

"Aren't you gonna join us, Maya?" Katara asked. 

"I prefer to stay here." I smiled at her trying to hide the guilt and pain brought about by the things that Bato said.

Katara walked closer to me and placed her hand on my shoulder. "I'm sure Bato would understand your situation," she comforted.

That's the thing—I don't even understand my own situation.

I smiled and said, "I know, but I guess he doesn't have to know—for now."

She smiled back and patted my back. "I'll let Bato know that you're staying here. If you need anything, we'll be by the beach," she said.

I nodded at her and soon enough she left the room.

I sat there in silence reflecting on the things Bato had said about the Fire Nation. Surely the ones he's met so far are all soldiers that's why he was able to say those words. I want to believe that not everyone from the Fire Nation is ruthless.

I also believe Katara that Bato would not think of me differently and that he'll understand once he knows of my situation, but I just can't reveal it to him just yet—not until I am sure myself about what went on with Mother's life in the Fire Nation.

With that said, I believe this is the best opportunity for me to keep on reading the letters, I'm alone now anyway.

I went to grab Mother's chest from our stuff and went back to the room. I tried my best to not be noticed by the nuns or else I would be toast.

"Okay... Let's see what the third letter is about," I said to myself and then I opened the letter.

------------------------------------------------------

-Anika's Point of View-

Dear Maya,

You must've been shocked to know that your father is the Fire Lord. There was no easy way to say it but it is true.

You are the Fire Lord's daughter and a princess of the Fire Nation—or at the very least an honorary princess since my relationship with him was never revealed to the world.

You're also probably wondering how things got this much complicated. Don't worry, I will explain everything.

I will answer all of the possible questions that might be running inside your head so I hope you'll read this letter carefully and try to understand everything.

I was only 10 years old when my family died and was taken in by Fire Lord Azulon into the mainland of the Fire Nation.

As soon as I got to the palace, I was greeted by his two sons. The eldest son was named Iroh and the youngest was named Ozai.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, young lady," Iroh greeted. "I heard what had happened in your village and I would like to share my condolences," he continued. I bowed down at him and tried to smile.

A moment of silence echoed throughout the hall. We were all waiting for Ozai's greeting but he had his arms crossed and wasn't even looking in my direction.

"Anika is now a part of the royal family. Any sign of disrespect towards her is a sign of disrespect towards me," Azulon suddenly said.

"Ozai, show your respect and bow down," his older brother commanded him. He glared at me before bowing down without saying anything.

Iroh welcomed me warmly into the royal family but it wasn't the same case with Ozai. For some reason, he just didn't like me being there. That—or he just doesn't like anyone at all.

"Sturdy your stances! And Shout!"

"HIYA!" I shouted as loud as I could and released fire as I kicked in the air. 

Not long after I arrived at the royal palace, I immediately underwent training under a firebending master named Jeong-Jeong. 

He was Iroh's friend at that time. Iroh was a lieutenant in the Fire Army while Jeong-Jeong was a commander in the Fire Navy.

"Great form Anika. With the way you are progressing, you might just become a master bender like me someday," Jeong-Jeong complimented.

"What about me? I believe I did better than that girl," Zhao ridiculed. 

Together with me was the son of one of the noble families in the Fire Nation. His name was Zhao. He was the son of the current Admiral of the Fire Navy during that time.

He always likes to brag about his firebending skills and somehow always compares me to him saying that he is way better. He's one of the people from the Fire Nation that I hate.

"You also had a great form," Jeong-Jeong complimented his student unenthusiastically. "But you lack control," he continued.

"What do you mean I lack control?" Zhao complained.

"Your fire prowess is indeed magnificent, but if you don't learn how to control it. You might inevitably soon burn yourself," Jeong-Jeong warned. "Learn how to manage your fire, don't let it break out."

"I don't need control! If I will have to soon burn my enemies to the ground, control is one of the least things I should be worrying about!" Zhao proudly shouted at his teacher and left the scene.

Jeong-Jeong sighed in defeat. He's always had a hard time dealing with that kid.

"I hope you won't be like that Anika. Fire is not something to be played with. Once it is uncontrolled it will burn anything in its path," he reminded me.

I bowed down to him and heeded his advice. "I have always believed in the teachings of my master."

"Jeong-Jeong my friend! Is class over?" Iroh suddenly barged into the training grounds.

"I believe we are done for today," Jeong-Jeong said and then he bowed down to me. 

"Well, then! I guess you have time for a friendly match!" Iroh playfully taunted.

Iroh would often visit after training to spar with his friend. Jeong-Jeong taught me everything I knew about firebending while Iroh shared with me all the wisdom he could offer. Both of them were some of the people that I looked up to as I was growing up in the Fire Nation.

Although back then, we all shared the same ideology—and that was to be able to be of service to the Fire Nation. But I have always regretted being a part of that one-sided war

"HIYA!" I shouted as I somersaulted in the air while releasing fire out of my foot.

"I'm impressed, Anika. You've improved so much in just a year of training," Fire Lord Azulon praised after I showed him a demonstration of what I learned from all of the time I have spent training with Jeong-Jeong.

"Ozai," Azulon called out to his younger son.

I stepped back and knelt on the ground as Ozai took a step forward. It was his turn to demonstrate his learnings.

"Ugh!" 

In the middle of his demonstration, Ozai failed to make his last move and fell to the ground. The old man watched him closely as he stared sternly at him.

"Again," Azulon said.

Immediately, Ozai stood up to do the drill again, but for the second time around, he failed.

"Years of training and this is all that you can do?!" The Fire Lord shouted with rage. 

"Father, let me do it again. I will get it right this time," Ozai pleaded with the old man.

"Enough! I've already seen what I have to see. You will continue your rigorous training and you are not to stop until you've improved," the old man reprimanded. "Show some shame Ozai, a young girl bested you on something you've been learning for years," he continued as he went outside the throne room.

During my training days, I was always favored by the Fire Lord in comparison to his second son, Ozai. Even though I wasn't his real daughter, he still treated me as one. He gave me all the support I needed and eventually moved up my training into an advanced class—which was the same class as Ozai's.

Azulon's comparison between him and me was already bad when I was just starting my training, and it eventually got worse now that we were at the same level.

Ozai and I never spoke to each other, and even though I knew how enraged he must've felt whenever he was being compared, he never confronted me about it. 

Looking back now, maybe I should've just let things stay that way.

"Was Ozai always like that?" I asked Iroh while we were resting under the tree. We just finished our training. He joined us this time around because he was on his time off from the army.

"Like what?"

"Like... you know... That," I tried to elaborate, but I didn't know just how to put it nicely.

"Do you mean, grumpy and mean?" he asked further. I didn't want to agree with those choice of words but he was right.

"Well, he has always been the silent type and he rarely speaks with anyone, but you know, there was a time when we used to laugh together and act like kids. Of course, that was when he was very young," Iroh answered.

I stared at Ozai who was drilling his skills repetitously from the distance. It was hard for me to imagine what he looked like smiling and laughing. It kind of sounds like a fever dream.

"Do you think he perhaps changed because I entered the picture?" I asked Iroh.

"Well, constant comparisons to you can be one of the reasons for a change in his attitude. But I think it's mostly because of all the reprimanding he's getting from our father," he answered.

Of course, who wouldn't feel hurt being compared to?

"I feel guilty, whenever he's being compared to me," I told him.

"Don't burden yourself with things that are out of your control. If Ozai is smart, he won't use father's words against you, but rather use them as a drive to become stronger," Iroh sipped from his cup of Jasmine tea after saying so.

The guilt I felt whenever Ozai was being compared to me overflowed until it was too much for me to bear. As a young and naive girl, I didn't want to hurt anyone's feelings—his feelings particularly.

So I tried toning down my performance so that Fire Lord Azulon's favor would, for once, shine upon him again.

"PATHETIC!" Fire Lord Azulon raised his voice at me when I failed to perform my drills in front of him inside the throne room.

"I did not house you and took you in just so you could show me such poor performance!" he shouted once more.

"You will train every single day for the rest of your life until you become as good as Ozai! Now leave my presence before I burn you all!" he reprimanded and then ordered all of us to leave the throne room.

I went back to my room thinking that it was worth the sacrifice because Ozai was finally favored by his father.

"I know what you're doing," I suddenly heard someone by the door. 

"You're trying to underperform so that father would favor me instead of you," Ozai said as he walked closer to me. I wasn't able to reply back because I never knew I would get caught.

"You better stop that and drill your skills properly next time. If I want my father's favor, I will achieve it by my own means. Your pity is not needed," he said menacingly.

The moment Ozai confronted me about trying to underperform just so he could be favored by the Fire Lord, was the first time he ever spoke to me, and also the first time I got to hear his voice.

I should've been hurt by his words, but instead, I was overjoyed by the fact that we finally spoke.

"I didn't underperform because I pitied you!" I shouted at him as he was leaving the room. He slowly looked back glaring at me.

"I was just feeling under the weather today that was all. But don't you worry, once I feel better, I show you what real firebending looks like," I said teasing him.

He scoffed at me and said, "Show off..." and then he left the room.

Ever since that day when we first had our conversation, he started acknowledging my presence slowly but surely.

Eventually, he learned how to tease me back, and it has become a routine in our training sessions that we try to piss off each other before sparring.

Iroh would sometimes join in and tease the both of us; and slowly, I started seeing him smile and laugh. There were even times when we'd play pranks on our masters.

The thing that I thought was just a fever dream has turned into reality, and those days were the glory days for I was genuinely happy.

Looking back, all I ever wanted was to just really befriend him because I thought he looked kind of lonely—just like I was. I didn't realize that this desire for friendship would later on develop into something else.

When I turned 12, Fire Lord Azulon decided that it was time for me to finally have my first firebending match—an Agni Kai.

This was to conclude all of the teachings I have learned so far from all of the training I had since I was 10.

It was also a match to test if I had the heart and guts to hurt anyone who stands in my way because, in Agni Kai, the only way to secure one's victory is by successfully burning your opponent.

I was under the impression that Zhao would be my opponent so I had conditioned myself to be prepared in slightly burning him over the shoulder.

It was only on the day of the match itself that I found out that I was going to come up against Ozai.

I didn't have the heart to hurt him after finally being able to be his friend, so I let him win on purpose.

In the end, he did win, but for some reason Ozai had resolved to not burn me at all.

That's why Fire Lord Azulon had to do it in his stead; to show his son how it's supposed to be done.

"Do it Ozai! Finish it off!" Fire Lord Azulon shouted from the distance. 

"Do it," I whispered to him. He had me pinned down on the ground. The only thing he has to do now is to shoot his fire and secure his victory in this duel.

He lifted his fist, while I closed my eyes waiting to get burned.

Just when I thought he was about to blast fire at me, he instead aimed at the floor beside my head.

Afterward, he stood up and walked away. Fire Lord Azulon stood in his path. "Get back in there!" he shouted at his son.

I slowly stood up while watching the fight between them.

"The duel is over, I already won," he said shortly and walked away from his father.

Enraged, Fire Lord Azulon walked up to me and then he burned my left shoulder.

"NO!" Ozai shouted as he ran back to where I was.

"That is how you win properly and lose with dignity," Azulon said and then he faced his son. "I do not tolerate such a weak spirit..." and then he walked away.