Chapter 3: Shadow of the Fire Princess
The Fire Nation capital never slept.
From the high towers of the royal palace, flames danced across the skyline, and warships gleamed in the harbor below.
Robert stood on a balcony overlooking it all, black and red armor shining under the moonlight. The Fire Nation crest burned across his shoulder plate—but on his gloves, faint lines of black fire pulsed like veins.
He had trained for weeks under Azula's command—days of fire drills, nights of meditation, and countless duels.
Every time he fought, the black fire grew stronger. It didn't burn like normal flame; it absorbed heat, whispering in a voice only he could hear.
And Azula was always watching.
"You've done well," she said now, stepping beside him, her hair glinting like obsidian. "Most soldiers fear my blue fire. But you…"
Her golden eyes glowed faintly. "Yours burns deeper. Colder. It's beautiful."
Robert gave a half-smile. "You're the first person to ever call my fire beautiful."
Azula smirked. "Then perhaps you've never met anyone who understood it."
She turned toward the horizon. "There's a mission. Team Avatar—Aang, the last Airbender—was spotted near Omashu. I'll be leading the pursuit."
Robert raised an eyebrow. "You're going after the Avatar?"
Azula's lips curved into that signature, dangerous grin. "Not I… we."
---
By dawn, the royal airship sliced through the clouds, its steel hull glimmering.
Azula stood at the front, flanked by two familiar faces: Mai, arms crossed with a blade flicking between her fingers, and Ty Lee, smiling brightly as if they weren't on a war mission.
Mai gave Robert a dry look. "So this is the mysterious new bodyguard? You don't look like a Fire Nation soldier."
Robert shrugged. "Guess I'm not."
Ty Lee twirled a braid, curious. "Ooh, but you are cute! And your aura is so... dark and sparkly!"
Azula shot her a warning glance. "Ty Lee. Focus."
Robert tried to hide a smirk. "Don't worry, Princess. I'm focused."
Azula stepped closer, close enough for him to feel the heat radiating off her. "Good," she said softly. "Because you're my blade in the shadows now. You strike when I command. You protect me when I sleep. And you burn my enemies to ash."
Her words were both an honor and a warning. Robert bowed slightly. "You got it, Princess."
---
Hours later, they descended into the forests outside Omashu.
Azula crouched behind a ridge, eyes locked on a small campfire in the distance.
Around it—Aang, Katara, Sokka, and Toph.
Azula whispered, "There they are. My prey."
Robert felt his chest tighten. He'd watched Avatar: The Last Airbender back on Earth. These weren't villains. They were heroes.
But now… he was on the other side.
Azula signaled her team. "Mai, Ty Lee—flank the perimeter. Robert, with me. We'll draw them out."
As they crept closer, Robert's pulse thundered. The black fire hummed under his skin, restless.
When Aang looked up, eyes wide with surprise, Azula struck first—blue lightning tearing through the air.
Katara blocked with a surge of water, the forest exploding in steam.
"Azula!" Sokka shouted.
Robert stepped beside her, flames spiraling from his hands—black fire clashing with Katara's water, turning the air into mist and ash.
Toph stomped, sending a wave of rock forward, but Robert countered—his black fire cutting through stone like paper.
For a moment, even Azula paused to watch, impressed.
"Magnificent," she whispered.
But as the smoke cleared, Robert's gaze met Aang's—and for a flicker of a second, the young Avatar looked right through him.
Like he could see his spirit. Like he knew Robert didn't truly belong here.
Robert froze. His flames faltered.
"Robert!" Azula barked. "Finish them!"
He hesitated… and in that heartbeat, Aang grabbed his friends and leapt skyward, gliding into the clouds.
Azula turned to him, fury and intrigue burning in her eyes. "You let them escape."
Robert clenched his fists. "They weren't the enemy I came here to fight."
Her voice dropped to a whisper—cold, dangerous, yet curious. "Then what are you fighting for?"
Robert met her gaze, the black fire flickering softly in his eyes.
"I don't know," he said. "But I'll figure it out."
Azula stared for a long moment, then smirked. "Good. The strongest soldiers are the ones still searching for something. Just don't let your answer make you weak."
As she walked away, the night wind blew, scattering embers into the dark.
And for the first time, Robert realized his greatest battle wouldn't be against the Avatar—
but against the fire burning inside him.