Embers to Embers
Firelord Ozai had three children.
The first child was a horrid thing called Madara. Not that he named it, he couldn't be bothered. Where his pathetic wife got the hideous name, only the spirits knew.
Probably some piece of revolting theater.
The thing was born with black eyes - the color of dead coals. Worse yet, was that there was not a spark of fire in him whatsoever. Unacceptable for something of the Firelord's blood.
So, as any good Firelord would, he brought a brilliant golden flame to his hand and went to kill the wretched creature.
Ursa screamed, hysterical, but he ignored the horrid, grating sound.
But then it's eyes turned red, little black patterns spinning in them like lazily swirling ink in a pool of blood. The eyes of Agni. He let it live.
Ozai wasn't a fool. He may be the most powerful man alive, but a mortal was nothing when faced with a greater spirit such as Agni.
Madara would glare every time he saw him. And, if Ozai got too close, those disgusting black eyes would turn red. Naturally, Ozai ignored the child.
That is, until the boy began to produce flame so hot and in such a high quantity, it made even the best master's look like bumbling toddlers.
When he tried to approach the child, he ended up with a knife to his throat.
The second child was born three years later and hardly any better. It had golden eyes, at least. But still no spark.
When he held a flame to this one, the eyes stayed the same. But he got a knife in his shoulder. So he ignored this child as well.
His useless wife named it Zuko, or something of the sort.
This one, even as it grew, showed no particular promise. But Madara doted on it still.
Weakness.
The youngest was born two years later. She's a girl named Azula.
Her eyes held a spark like lightning, so Ozai named her himself.
This child grew well - she grew cunning and clever. Her promise was overshadowed only by Madara's.
Then, when Madara was thirteen, he burned to death in his own flame.
Three years later, when Zuko was the same age, he spoke out like a fool - and then refused to fight like a coward.
Firelord Ozai has one child.
Zuko isn't stupid.
He loves his big brother, because he's awesome and super nice. But not everyone thinks so. It took a while, but he figured out why; Madara hates Father.
Zuko asked Madara about it one day.
"Mada? Why do you hate father?"
Madara thought for a moment before sitting down next to the turtleduck pond, gesturing for Zuko to do the same, "The easiest way to say is is because he keeps fighting in the war, and it consumes him."
Zuko didn't know what that meant, "But, isn't the war good? We're just trying to share the might of the Fire Nation with the world!"
Madara was quiet for a moment, "Let me put it like this - you like the turtleducks, Azula likes the viper-kittens, Ty-lee likes the monkey-sparrows, and I like the snake-bats. Then I decided one day that snake-bats were better than the other three, so I killed all of the monkey-sparrows and then spent years fighting the turtleducks and viper-kittens so I could make them work for the snake-bats."
Zuko was quiet for a moment.
That conversation never left him. It was why he defended the 41st division.
Because if Madara were there, he would've stopped it.
Princess Azula of the Fire Nation has two older brothers.
Zuko was always soft and sweet weak. He liked to drink tea and play pai-sho. He liked swordfighting and theatre. Once he gave her a knife after she got yet another doll as a gift.
He's too sentimental.
She carries that knife with her everywhere.
Azula always knew he was too good-hearted and naive to survive in the palace. That's why she wasn't surprised when he was burned and banished.
But Madara? His death surprised her.
Madara was strong and smart. He would teach Zuko and her better ways to bend. He taught Zuko how to use his fire with his dao, and he taught her how to make hers hot enough to melt metal.
He seemed wiser than Uncle and even Father feared him.
(He never said anything about it, but Azula knew. She always did.)
So when he burned to death in the palace courtyard, Azula never believed he truly died. He simply wanted a way out, one that no one would question.
That had to be it.
It had to be.
Madara was born midday in the middle of summer, when the sun seemed particularly bright. This version of Madara was young and innocent - he couldn't remember anything from his old life.
Yeah no. That's a load of bull-falcon shit.
At the ripe age of five fucking minutes old, the prick that was Madara's new father tried to kill him. This, naturally, resulted in Madara's sharingan activating. And bringing every kami-damned memory with it.
Joy.
But it wasn't all bad. He got two new siblings out of it but they weren't Izuna.
Zuko has this dry sense of humor and is fluent in a second language - sarcasm.
Azula is violent and slightly murderous with a talent for plotting.
They're terrible. Horrible, really.
He loves them.
Both of them became well-acquainted with the turtleduck pond.
On an entirely unrelated note, fire nation royals have magical shampoo - it gets duckweed out in record time.
After he had the brilliant idea of faking his own death, he hadn't been able to see the brats. But rumor states that they're doing well.
Or, at least it did, until he heard about Zuko's banishment.
Unfortunately, murder of one's family is absolute taboo for an Uchiha, no matter how terrible they are.
On the note of 'terrible,' after Madara died, a light voice told him he was needed here to help the world.
Not to the terrible part yet, just wait.
The disembodied voice informed him that he'd have help.
Senju fucking Tobirama.
At least the frosty bastard's smart. Now it's time to pray to every kami, spirit, or otherwise that they can get through this without killing each other.