Young Phoenix

'I can't believe its been nearly 5 years since my birth.' I thought to myself in awe as I laid down on my massive bed. My room was very Fire Nation in aesthetic, as it had mostly red, black, and gold as the main coloration.

It was honestly the biggest bedroom I had ever seen. It was a massive bedroom with two large doors that led to a garden outside. The bed itself was king sized and surrounded in black drapes while being clad in red silk sheets. It had a small carved bedpost with fire etched into the dark wood that held it.

'Still can't get over this room.' I happily looked around the room as I gave myself a small stretch. Combing my hand through my long black hair I stood up while thinking of what happened in the past 5 years leading up to this special day.

(Mmm Flash Back)

After I was born there was a royal funeral for the Princess of the Fire Nation, my mother Akari. The funeral was on the smaller side because she wasn't Princess for more than 3 years, but it was still big. There was far too much that happened in it to explain it fully, but they burned her body after marching around the capital for awhile.

Directly after the funeral there was a celebration for my birth. The celebration itself was very traditional until it came towards the end of it where guests could come and see me. It was very well guarded and only people personally related to the Fire Nation Royalty could come.

Many people came to the celebration, and to my surprise some of the characters from LOK showed up. Katara, Tenzin, Pema, Bumi, and most of Katara's family all showed up. The other people that I didn't know seemed nice as well, but I think it was just them being formal.

After they had a small celebration for my birth they all gifted me something for me when I was older. Katara apparently gifted me a handmade comb which was made out of the bone of some animal.

Tenzin and Pema gifted me a scarf with the airbending insignia on the inside of it, Bumi's gift was one of my favorites because he gave me a very beautiful and rare set of gauntlets which would be fitted to me when I'm older. The weirdest gift was from Katara's daughter, Kya, who gave me some weird toy of a seal penguin?

Finally, Zuko gave me his old pearl-dagger which he received when he was a boy. There was a long history behind the dagger because Zuko got it from Iroh, and Iroh got it from a defeated General of Ba Sing Se who gave it as a token of defeat. It was honestly very beautiful but was sadly taken away until I was older.

Fire Lord Izumi gave me a very beautiful Fire Nation hairpiece, and my Father Iroh gave me a silver bracelet that once belonged to my mother. After that some more people gave me gifts that I forgot about. Sadly, after the gifts were given out, everyone went to drink. Because I was a baby, I was sent to my room to be put to sleep.

After that time passed quickly as I began to age. The most interesting part of ageing though was that after every year I would unlock more memories from the phoenix fire. Some of them were unsettling, but in the end all served to help me.

Time flew by because there was not much I could do as a baby. Luckily when I hit 4 years old, I began to learn how to read and write, leaving me with something to do. Whenever I had free time I learned the new written and spoken language of the Avatar world, which was somewhat similar to Japanese.

It took some time but I learned how to speak the language almost fluently with some mistakes here and there. After I learned how to speak fluently, I was then taught to read and write. I was often given history books or fairytales about the spirits, which were quite fun to read.

I spent most of my time reading, playing outside, or just spending time with my new family. Everyday I would try to spend the majority of time with my Father, but sadly because he is an aspiring General in the United Forces he was often quite busy trying to get that promotion. I also couldn't be with Izumi because she was the current Fire Lord, and was usually busy.

Because of this I often only had Zuko watch over me and tell me stories. He honestly grew on me quite quickly and left me to think of him as my Grandfather figure.

Sure I had Grandmother Izumi, but she looked a little young to be a Grandmother. So I began calling Izumi, Great-mom Izu, which she almost cried after hearing.

Zuko himself was also happy to see that I saw him in such a positive light, and would often spoil me. We would spend a lot of time together, usually with him reminiscing about things from the past. He is honestly a really good Grandfather who dotes on me a lot, but the one thing he wont relent on is telling me stories about his family.

Personally I was curious about what happened to his family after Avatar The Last Airbender, but he would usually be very withdrawn with his answers. Sometimes he would just completely change the question entirely.

I was unsure if it was because he resented them still to this day, but he truly did not like them, so I often did not bring them up. One of our favorite things to do though was him showing me his firebending. Much to my Fathers and Izumi's dismay, Zuko showed me his firebending.

Although he kept it simple so as to be careful with me, he did show me the dragons fire. He couldn't get the whole scope of colors, but if you looked closely you could see a few colors in his fire such as green and white.

After he showed me firebending I began to ask him about when I would firebend, which he answered with a simple "Later, little Homura.". He would answer with this almost every time I asked him, leading to me being quite mad at him and often ignoring him for the rest of the day. But luckily for him I was quite generous and would relent if he spoiled me with treats.

One of the best things from Zuko though was accidental when he told me about Chi-blocking and Chi-blockers. He was ranting on about how annoying they were to fight, so I asked if I could learn how to. After Zuko heard this he shook his head and answered "No.". Because he was very stubborn I took time to butter him up so as to let me practice it. After weeks of buttering him up he eventually relented and told the rest of my family about it.

My Father Iroh was all for it while Izumi didn't really care unless I got injured, so with everyone agreeing I began to practice Chi-blocking. I was told that I couldn't actually practice it until I was 7, but I was given instruction in how to prepare for it such as simple exercises.

Most exercises were about training your flexibility, which I had help with, and also training your hands to be strong. Besides that I was also taught about the chi points in the body. Sadly I was too young to do the other exercises so I could only train these three things.

With everything happening I had little time to pay attention to the outside world. I was often busy learning, training, or just being a kid until I was told my Birthday was coming up. I didn't notice it at the time, but I was already turning 5 years old, and with that came a multitude of other things.

First I was told that on my 5th birthday, I would have a test to see if I could bend fire. I was also told that I would begin learning more about Royalty and how to act like one. I almost immediately celebrated after hearing this, and would count the days until my 5th Birthday.

(Flashback Oveeeer)

I could barely wait until today because today it was my 5th Birthday. In the Fire Nation, birthdays are only really celebrated on a few special years for the person. That being the 1st, the 5th, the 10th, the 16th, and the 20th.

Each of these years had held something significant about them, but the one that I think is most significant right now is today, my 5th Birthday. On peoples 5th Birthday they are taught how to bend, or how to begin to act mature.

'Okay, Homura, enough thinking about firebending history, lets get ready.' Stifling a yawn I did a few stretches and went to a large closet on the side of my room. Inside the closet were a vast number of clothes ranging from formal, traditional, and new clothes from Republic City.

Humming, I looked at the clothes and I chose to put on my normal outfit "Hmm let's see, ah here it is." I said to myself as I went over and grabbed it. After grabbing it I quickly took off my night gown and began to put on my traditional outfit.

The outfit itself was a red long sleeved trinational dress with some black and gold outlines on it. The outfit went down to my knees and had a red sash tied around my waist. 'Oh, can't forget the pants and boots.' I thought to myself as I grabbed my pants and boots.

Putting on my pants I then put my tight curved toed boots over them. Patting myself down to double check everything was on properly I then went to the mirror. The mirror was a large mirror with many decorations surrounding it. Next to it was a makeup table with some jewelry on it.

Going to the jewelry, I put on my mothers bracelet and then began to comb my hair with the comb I received from Katara. Combing my hair I let it all fall behind me and down my back, reaching my waist. 'Ahh I am so happy I have such beautiful hair.' I sighed as I began to tie half of it up in a bun.

Pulling my hair back into a bun, I then grabbed the Fire Nation hairpiece which would hold it up and out of my face. Smiling I looked in the mirror and then nodded to how cute I looked.

'Just like a Princess should, Homura.' I put my comb back down onto the makeup table and walked over to the doors that led outside. Opening both of them up I was greeted by a very large garden which even had a small pond as well.

From what I could remember about Avatar The Last Airbender, this garden was shown but was a lot more dreary. There were few plants and flowers, and it was mostly just grass and some trees, but luckily that changed.

Now it was a whole lot more grassy with flower bushes littering the whole area. The pond itself had a large tree growing by it which looked like a massive bonsai tree. Red fire lily's and other flowers were scattered in big patches with walkways through them. In all honesty this was probably one of my favorite places in the palace.

Breathing in I did a small stretch and went back inside to get breakfast. Closing the door to the garden I passed through my humongous room and reached a double door. The double door was a simple black door with bronze doorknobs.

Opening the door I walked into a hallway with a servant already waiting for me. 'Oh! It's Soro! I thought that she was on vacation?' I questioned in my head as a big smile appeared on my face.

Soro was my Grand-moms Izumi's secretary. She was quite young and was just now 20, yet still held a very strict air to her. She was also very skilled in most things that she does and was hired because of this.

Soro was clad in a secretarial outfit, which was a tight red dress, with a darker red blazer. Her dress was decorated with different colors of red and went directly down to her lower thigh. After that she had on dark stockings and to top it off long red high heeled boots. She was wearing a modern secretary outfit which she got from Republic City.

For her hairstyle she had her brown hair let down on two sides to frame her face, while the rest of it was tied up into a tight bun. Finally she had on red winged glasses that finished the stern look she was going for, while accentuating her looks.

"Oh Soro! I thought you were on vacation this week?" I asked as I tilted my head. The woman herself simply continued to stare down at me with her tall 5ft8 self after hearing the question.

Soro left an awkward silence as she stared at me until she suddenly grabbed my hair tie. Flinching back slightly I was held tightly in her vice grip. "Hey hey! What are you doing Soro?" I made my displeasure known.

'Seriously what is she doing? I did my hair tie correctly, right?' I asked myself in my mind as she twisted the golden hairpiece a few times.

"You had your hairpiece turned to the side again Homura. I have told you this many times, you must keep it straight and tidy." Soro said in a very strict, yet caring tone of voice.

Sighing I let her finish fixing my hairpiece. 'Ugh I thought it looks better to the side, but I guess I must begin to act properly...' I paitiently waited for her to finish.

Soro quickly finished and then gave my head a small pat. "Good, you let me finish today. Now to answer you question, yes I am technically on vacation."

"But you're here today?" I questioned which made Soro push her glasses up.

"Yes, I am here today because today is your 5th Birthday. Congratulations Homura, now let us quickly get going. We have a busy schedule ahead of us." Soro pulled out a piece of folded up paper from her pocket and walked off while motioning me to follow.

'Jeese, she's great but why does she have to be so job oriented. This is why we made her take a vacation in the first place...' I sighed once more as I followed Soro and waited for her to explain my schedule.

Soro and I walked for a moment down the long halls of the palace into a small training room. All ready knowing what we were doing here I began to do some light stretches.

"Alright Homura, first on the list is to do your morning stretches. After that your training will be cut short so you can eat breakfast with the Royal Family." Soro said while calmly explained my schedule to me.

Getting excited at the training being cut short I gave a small smile. Doing some more light stretches, I nodded towards Soro who folded her paper back up and put it in her pocket.

Soro then walked over to me and and grabbed my shoulders. "Alright let us begin." She quickly said as I sat on the ground and spread my legs. Doing a butterfly position I was then pushed suddenly so that my face was halfway to touching the ground.

"Oomph!" I exhaled as I was forced to the ground in a painful position. 'Remember Homura, you need this.' I repeated in my mind as Soro took it up a notch and began to lean fully onto my back.

Being forced by Soro, my face then touched the ground. "Hey! Soro that hurts! Put a little less wait on me please?" I asked as I was beginning to feel the pain. Soro not relenting in the least bit calmly leaned more onto my back.

I was then forced to stay in this position for about a minute until she slowly stopped leaning on my back. Finally with my face off the ground I gave her a stern glare which she simply raised an eyebrow to.

"Next, we have to do the splits." Soro said as she pulled me up and motioned for me to do them. Obeying I slowly began to do them while Soro helped to push me down until I did them.

I kept the pose for 30 seconds until Soro motioned to stand up. "Alright let us continue." Soro then pulled me over to the wall where a rope was tied.

Already knowing what to do I put the rope around my foot and let Soro hoist the rope up on a pulley. Soro then pulled on the rope until my leg was mostly pointing directly upwards. Ignoring the burn and pain from this I gritted my teeth.

'This... One sucks the most.' I thought as I had my other leg switched out with the one in the pulley. Soro then slowly pulled upwards again until my leg was thoroughly stretched.

We did many more stretches that were just as painful, leaving my legs fully gelatinized. Getting a break after the stretches I laid on my back while ignoring the pain from my whole body. "Sorooo did you have to be so rough with me?" I asked while I looked at the ceiling.

"Yes, now get up. You have breakfast starting..." Soro checked her pocket watch and then said "In 2 minutes." She then put away the golden pocket watch and began to walk to away. The distinct clacking over her shoes pulled me from my stupor as I refocused.

"What! 2 Minutes?" I yelled out as I abruptly stood up and wobbled slightly. 'Shoot I am going to be late!' I yelled in my mind as I sped walked closely behind Soro.

We passed by many pieces of art while walking through the palace. Sadly, not having the time to admire any of them today I rushed past them. Speedily walking through the halls we came across a large room with a massive table in it. Soro stopped outside of the room and motioned me in, leaving me with the view of the dining room.

The room was mostly bare aside from the chandelier and table inside of it. The chandelier was golden in color with red candles burning brightly away inside of it. The table though was very ornate with many decorations on it, with a dark red table cloth draped across the top of it. There were some other decorations but were pulled from the spotlight due to my family.

Inside I could already spot all of my current family sitting down and talking. Izumi, was in the largest chair that was decorated with many spiraling dragons coiling around its legs. Next to her on her right side was Zuko, and to her left was Iroh in slightly less ornate chairs.

Smiling at seeing my whole family being together I stopped. Admiring them for a second longer I then walked in, causing whatever previous conversation they were having to be stopped.

First Izumi took notice of me and snapped her head towards me, after that Zuko and Iroh quit talking and looked at me as well. Iroh stood up and walked over to me leaving Zuko and Izumi at the table.

"Oh my daughter is turning 5! Congratulations, Homura." My Father Iroh walked over to me and gave me a loving pat on my head. Smiling even more, I then gave him a small hug and gave thanks.

"Mmhm, thank you dad." I whispered into his chest as I gave him a hug. He smiled after hearing it and gave me a few more pats on the head. Iroh then stopped giving me pats and motioned for me to follow him. Listening to him, I began to follow him to the table so that I could sit next to him.

Zuko smiled upon seeing me and Iroh be so close. "Yes, congratulations Homura. Are you excited?" he asked me while kindly staring at me.

Sitting down in a padded chair I looked at Zuko and nodded. "You have no idea how excited I am! I can't wait to firebend like you!" I childishly said to him, causing chuckles from my dad and a scowl from Izumi.

"See? This is why I said to not show her your firebending at such a young age. She has developed an obsession for it Father." Izumi shook her head and sighed.

Zuko listened to his daughter and said "Ah, daughter don't worry. It's just her childish excitement showing. Besides I had no other choice." Zuko waved off Izumi's worries as I grinned and waited for my breakfast.

Izumi's frown lessened slightly as she sighed. "Ahh, you've spoiled her too much." Izumi shook her head as she motioned for a servant to bring in the food.

"So Homura, how was your morning so far?" My father asked me. Thinking about how fast my morning has passed I shrugged my sore shoulders. "Well... Nothing really happened, but I am sore, no thanks to Soro being so aggressive with my stretches."

"Hahaha, I told you Homura that training Chi-blocking takes some serious preparations, and starting now where your body is easily molded is the best time." Iroh chuckled lightly and watched as maids began to bring in plates of food.

The whole table then went silent, as it was an unspoken rule to not talk while eating. Looking down at my plate I saw grilled fish, rice, an omelet, and some pickled vegetables. Grinning I picked up my chop sticks and began to eat with gusto at the food so that I could get back to talking with my family.

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A/N:

hope you all enjoyed the chapter. Took a little longer to write out because I was busy graduating from my school and also was busy trying to find out how to write this chapter.

I have never been the best at writing flash backs, so I had some trouble with this chapter, sry if its weird.

Anyways hope you enjoyed because this chapter was mostly just a setup chapter for what is to come. Next chapter will be released soonish because I want to show off her blue bending.

Oh yes and sry if paragraphs are larger than normal, had to get some descriptions in, so dont expect them to stay so chunky later on when the series starts.

Cyaaaa next time.