The Tale of Zuko (Avatar

' Chapter 1 My name is Zuko. I am a prince of the Fire Nation and heir to the throne. As of now, however, I'm a prince in exile. My father, Fire Lord Ozai, has banished me -- at least until I can deliver the Avatar to him. This scar on my face, given to me by my own father, is merely an outward sign of my humiliation. The true pain of my exile runs much deeper.So far I have failed to capture the Avatar. But I must succeed, for along with his capture comes the return of my honor, my birthright, and most important of all, my father's respect. I am the older of his two children and it is my destiny to follow my father onto the throne as Fire Lord. But that will never come to pass unless I can redeem myself.Following our terrible defeat at the hands of the Avatar during a huge battle at the North Pole, my uncle Iroh and I escaped on a homemade raft. After three weeks at sea, clinging by a thread to our very lives, we landed at a resort in the Earth Kingdom. Here we will rest and recover while I plan my next step.Today is a very sad day. While my uncle, who is fond of his creature comforts, gets a massage, I can think only of the fact that three years ago on this day my father ordered me to leave the Fire Nation."It's the anniversary, isn't it?" Uncle asked."On this day three years ago I was banished. I lost it all...and I want it back!" But I don't know how to go about getting it. And so I wait and think.My uncle doesn't care about my problems. As long as he has a full stomach, a hot cup of tea, and a comfortable bed, nothing else matters. He spends his days walking the beach, collecting useless seashells.One evening after he had returned with a new sack full of shells, I got the shock of my life."Hello, brother, Uncle," said a voice from the shadows.No, it can't be! Azula! My younger sister, here. But how? Why? And what does she want? All she's ever done is tricked me, humiliated me, and shown everyone that she's better than me- -- better at Firebending, and at gaining our father's affection. She was not the one banished from her home, so what could she possibly want from me?"What are you doing here?" I shouted."What, no hello? Have you become uncivilized, Zu-Zu?""Don't call me that!"I hate it when she calls me that. It's just another way of putting me down, making me feel like she's really the big sister and I'm just a little kid."I've come with a message from home," she began. "Father's changed his mind. Family is suddenly very important to him. Father regrets your banishment. He wants you home."Did I just hear that correctly? Is it possible that Father wants me home? All of a sudden, all is forgiven? Can everything in my life change in a matter of seconds?Now Azula is yelling at me, but I don't hear her. All I can think of is going home."Did you hear me?" I finally heard her shout. "You should be happy! Excited! Grateful."I just can't believe that Father regrets what he did, and that he wants me back. I'm feeling something I haven't felt in three years: hope...and relief. I'm really going home!At some point Azula left, but I didn't remember her going. This was before Uncle ruined the happiness I was feeling. "I have never known my brother to regret anything," he said. "If Ozai wants you back, it may not be for the reasons you imagine."How can Uncle betray me like this? Why is he standing there shattering my dreams? "You don't know how my father feels about me. You don't know anything!" I snapped.I wish he could let me enjoy my moment of redemption."You are a lazy, mistrustful, shallow old man who has always been jealous of his brother!" I shouted, then I ran outside.That's it then, isn't it? Uncle can't hope to be half the man that Father is. For these three years he's been trying to act like he was my father. But now that Father wants me back, Uncle is jealous. He doesn't want to give me up. Well, too bad. I'm not his sonTeitelbaum, Michael is the author of 'The Tale of Zuko (Avatar', published 2008 under ISBN 9781416949848 and ISBN 1416949844.