V looked outside the window. Judging by the position of the sun, the school was almost over. Sensei Chow was droning on about the history of the Fire Nation. V usually found that interesting, but not today for some reason. When they taught about war, a young V found it thrilling and at the same time, educational. He believed that more the knowledge one acquires, the more wisdom one can gain for himself. Today it was all about politics and politics. Bor-fucking-ing...

The bell rang harmoniously. The entire class of students except for Sensei beamed with happiness.

"Shit, that the time?" he whispered as he looked at the afternoon sun. Now spoke loud enough for the whole class to hear. 

"Okay, class!" he clapped loudly, all of the distracted students were now paying attention. "It seems like time is over. We will finish this lesson tomorrow. Don't forget to finish your today and all previous assignments. See you on Monday. Dismissed."

The middle schoolers poured through the classroom doors and sprinted to the courtyard. Young V and Zuko decided to race each other there. Thanks to his athleticism, Zuko won while a worn-out V barely ran. V stopped and waited for other friends to show up.

Five minutes later, General Knowledge class in section B was over and his friends were coming out with the other kids. V waved at them and they also returned the favor and walked over to where he and Zuko waited.

Many people he knew questioned why he always hung out with the royal kids. He strictly told them to mind their own businesses.

Overall, the fact is that they were actually friends from childhood. V's father was a high-ranking general under the current Fire Lord. His mother died fighting in the siege of Ba Sing Se three years back.

"Yo, V," Marshall greeted in his way. "Saw the way you ran. Ya gotta try tasting salad for at least once in your life."

"Hey, fuck you too."

"Love you too but I gotta jet. See them?" He pointed toward the twelve-year-old girls in the courtyard. "They need a real man to show them a good time. So, if you'll excuse me, your highness."

Marshall broke away and ran to where the other girls were standing.

"Hell's his deal, V?" Zuko asked.

"How was history?" asked Drake, another one of his friends but not too close.

V expressed his boredom by showing his middle finger to the classroom he was in. Luckily, no teacher was there to see that. And people knew better than to rat him out to the teachers. The last time one did, his body was found hanging on top of a volcano. Rest in ashes, Kano.

"Okay, I see. Well, see you later." V and the rest of his friends watched as he left the courtyard with his idiotic brother Marshall who had a red handprint on his right cheek. So much for being a real man, thought V.

"History's that boring, huh? I can totally relate," said a girl with chest brown braided hair. Her name was Ty Lee.

She then laughed cheerfully and V found that quite odd. Whenever he saw her or whenever they were around one another, she barely showed other emotions other than happiness. V thought that it was her way of coping or just 'fitting in'. The royal siblings and friends chatted for some time before they departed.

"Listen, I have to go," said Azula. "Have to prepare my room for a sleepover party."

"Cool, be seeing you," V said.

The girls left. Now it was just him and Zuko.

"Hey, V. Remember tomorrow's event?"

"Wait, did I have a brain fart this morning or did you mention something about a war meeting tomorrow?"

"Usually you forget shit but whatever, the meeting's tomorrow if you wanna participate."

"Not like have a saying on that matter. The old man will drag me with him there whether I like it or not."

"Heh, tough being a general's son?"

"You got no clue, man. Not a single clue."

"I beg to differ," said Zuko, picking up his books."I'll see you at the meeting then. Peace."

"Goodbye there, Z."

He and Zuko walked to the end of the courtyard gate, waved each bye, and headed towards their own way home.

During his walk home, he was thinking about what General Dad said at breakfast. He tasked him to visit the tailor's workplace on his way home. The meeting is tomorrow and the last thing he wants is to look informal in front of the Fire Lord. His son should also wear the war armor that he made for him. He wanted to introduce V to the meetings as he believed that V should carry his legacy and join the Fire Nation Navy, just like his father, their grandfathers, and so on.

He paid the tailor with five silver coins, picked up the outfits, and made his way home. As he pounded on the door, he realized that his sister wasn't home. Then he remembered that this was 'take your daughter to work day' day. He then took out his keyring, searched for the main door's one, and used that to open the door. As he walked inside, he turned on the lights.

The interior was fancy in its own way. You have a kitchen large enough to fit five chiefs and five servants. And a spacious living room with only a few leather seats. The curtains which clothed the windows were all red and yellow, signifying that it was a general's homestead. A small bathroom by the end of the hallway, and a small bedroom made specifically for guests or grandma if she stopped by once in a week or month.

The hallway walls displayed large portraits of the Desmond generals. General Aiden Desmond, his great-grandfather General Gerald Desmond, his grandfather General Ivan Desmond, and at the end, was the portrait of General Henry Desmond.

"Hmm, gonna take a nap. I'm beat as it is."

He went upstairs and went inside his room.  The room was rather minimalistic. Just a bed, a study desk with a chair, and a few bookshelves along with antique swords hung on the walls and ceiling.

He walked into the attached bathroom adjacent to his room and looked into the mirror. His reflection revealed a medium red-haired and medium-built young man with smooth skin. His yellow eyes shined brightly thanks to the candlelights. People remarked that his smiles were so bright that they also helped them in a positive way, especially his self-doubtful sister.

Valarie was the thing that reminded him of his mother, Violet. She was a reflection of his mother. His mother was strict when necessary but was always kind towards her children. She taught them everything they know, from cooking to looking after the family and the household.

He went into his room, changed into his sleeping attire, and went into a deep sleep.

When he woke up, he saw it was now evening. Fuck this shit...if he did not practice fire bending, Henry was sure to kill him for missing out. He was very strict when it came to his son's fire bending. He believed that people who can't bend are weak and pathetic. 

Reluctantly, he got up, put on a decent outfit, and walked back downstairs. They were still not home. Guess they went somewhere and won't be back until midnight. V walked out of his house through the back door and went to the private mini beach. The waves looked beautiful in the sunset. The gentle breeze was soothing in its own way. V decided to use this time to practice his fire bending. It came tough to him, but once he focused on the basics, he started to get it.

After some time, he decided to try a difficult move that he had seen the royal princess do once. He put all his focus into breathing deeply and then he practiced the move set. He did a cartwheel, and when he landed on his feet, he attempted to backflip. He launched himself as hard as he could, but it wasn't enough. V bellyflopped onto the sand and got the shit knocked out of him.

"Fuck, Zula. How the fuck do you do it...?"

V struggled to the bitter end and signed in defeat as went to his room. He was mad and exhausted. He jumped to his bed and passed out the mere minute.

The Next Day...

Imperial Palace

TIME: 16:33

"Alright, son." General Henry said as he placed a hand on his son. "Remember, to keep your leaps sealed. Only listen. Do not talk. Let's go."

Before they could go in, they were stopped by a familiar voice.

"Hey, V. Glad you could make it. Good afternoon, sir." Zuko greeted.

The general greeted back and whispered something in V's ear before heading inside.

"So, ready for the meeting?" asked the prince.

V saw the former General Iroh walk in and he bowed with reverence. Ever since childhood, V looked up to the man and one day hoped to be as great as he was.

"Good afternoon, V."

Zuko walked up to the curtains to get into the war room, but the guard on the left moved in front of the curtain to stop him.

"What's the meaning of this?!" Zuko screamed. "Let me in!"

General Iroh put his hand on the shoulder of the screaming prince.

"Don't worry, you're not missing much," Iroh assured. "These meetings are awfully boring."

Zuko looked at the retired old General. Then said, "If I'm going to rule this Nation one day, don't you think I need to start learning as much as I can?"

"He has a point, sir," V told General Iroh.

"Very well," said the old man. "But you must promise not to speak.

- V walks into the room and sits beside his father- 

"These old folks are a bit sensitive, you know?"  

"Thank you, uncle," bowed Zuko in appreciation.

They walk inside. The meeting soon starts as General Bujing stands.

"The Earth Kingdom defenses are concentrated here," General Bujing briefs as he displays the place on the map. "A dangerous battalion of their strongest earth benders and fiercest warriors. So I am recommending the forty-first division."

General Henry looked at him incredulously. "But the forty-first is entirely new recruits. How do you expect rookies like them to defeat a powerful Earth Kingdom battalion?"

Bujing smirked. The Desmond father and son looked at him with disgust. They knew what kind of man he was. "I don't. They'll be used as a distraction while we mount an attack from the rear. What's better to use as bait than fresh meat?"

Zuko looked offended. No way his kind side would lie this down. He spoke up as he stood, "You can't sacrifice an entire division like that! Those soldiers love and defend our nation! How can you betray them?"

Everyone in the war room stared at Zuko, save for Iroh, who was kneeling behind his nephew. V shook his head in disappointment and covered his face with his hands. Everyone's spine chilled and their stomachs churned as they watched the flames rising up. The Desmond family looked at one another and knew what the other one was thinking

"You're fucked Zuko.../You really in the shit now, Prince Zuko," both son and father thought in unison.