Chronicles of Multiverse

The Fire Lord let out a small chuckle. "Interesting. Very interesting." He turned to Azula. "Take him to a secure chamber. I wish to observe him further." Should I leave now, or should I stay? I mean, it is pretty interesting here, and I don't want to leave just yet. I guess I can stay here for a while. Azula nodded, a smirk playing on her lips. The guards grabbed my arms, but I didn't resist. As they led me away, I glanced back at Ozai. Our eyes met one last time.

The guards escorted me through a series of long, winding hallways, deeper into the palace. The temperature in the corridors remained high, the very walls radiating heat. Fire Nation architecture sure had a way of making things feel like you were living inside a volcano. To me, though, all this is warm air. With my level, I can easily handle heat up to 1200°C, after which I may need to defend myself with some protection. The guards shoved me inside, and the heavy doors slammed shut behind me.

I exhaled slowly. "Sheesh, this is quite a room." I look around the room, which is Iroh's prison. I release myself from the iron cuff and transform my hand into fire. I went and sat on the bed, which was made of stone. Although uncomfortable, I can probably do something about it. I leaned back against the chair, lost in thought. Then, the door creaks open again. Azula stepped in, arms crossed.

She studied me for a moment before speaking. "You handled yourself well with my father. Most people crumble under his gaze."

I smirked. "Let me guess—he's impressed but suspicious, and now he wants to see how much of a threat I am."

Her lips curved into a small smirk. "Something like that." She strolled into the room, hands clasped behind her back, the ever-confident princess. "You intrigue him," she continued. "That means you have his attention—for now." 

I leaned forward. "And you? Do I intrigue you?"

She tilted her head slightly. "I haven't decided yet."

I chuckled. "Fair enough."

She stepped closer. "You claim to want nothing. No power, no status, no revenge. That makes you unpredictable. And unpredictability is dangerous."

I shrugged. "Only to those who want to control everything. Why does your entire family suffer from issues?" Azula's eyes narrowed slightly, as if she were analyzing every word, searching for hidden meaning.

"Tomorrow," she finally said, "you will demonstrate your abilities before my father."

I raised an eyebrow. "Ah, a performance. Do I get a costume?"

She ignored the joke. "I suggest you take this seriously."

"Nah, life is too short to take things seriously. I refuse to do so without any necessity," I said while laying on my bed., I glanced over to see her. She was ignoring me. I sighed and said, "Just get ready for a show of ages." 

Azula watched me for another moment before turning on her heel. "We'll see."

{The next day}

The next morning, I was escorted out of my chamber and led through the palace once more. This time, the path was different—leading downward, deeper beneath the structure. Eventually, we emerged into a massive underground arena. It was a coliseum of sorts, circular, built from dark stone, torches lining the walls. A balcony overlooking the battlefield stood at the far end, and sitting there like an emperor judging a gladiator fight was none other than Fire Lord Ozai. Azula stood beside him, as did Zuko. 

There were other nobles present as well, their sharp gazes studying me like I was an exotic animal on display. I took a deep breath and stepped forward onto the arena floor. The heat here was even stronger, the air thick with the scent of burning embers. Ozai's voice rang out, deep and commanding. "You claim to wield fire unlike any other."

I looked up at him and shrugged. "I never claimed anything. You all just made assumptions." 

A murmur ran through the spectators, but Ozai remained unmoved. "Show me," he said simply. Well, he said he wants a show, and he will get it. I raised my hand, and the flames came to life. But they weren't red. They weren't orange. No, my fire burned blue—vivid, electric, and untamed. The kind of blue that made Azula's flames seem almost tame in comparison.

The crowd gasped. Even Azula's eyes widened slightly, though she masked it quickly. Ozai, however, leaned forward, his expression unreadable. I smirked and let the fire dance along my fingertips before expanding it outward, shaping it, bending it in ways that no traditional firebender ever could. Then, for the final touch, I twisted my wrist—and my flames turned white. The room fell deathly silent.

Ozai finally spoke. "…Interesting." He leaned forward in his chair even more than I thought he could on his throne and continued, "Enough of these tricks; let's test you. Azula, go and fight him."

"Wait, let's make a bet then," I said, This is going to make things more fun. Ozai looked at me with intrigue while Azula was thinking about this. "What? Do you not have that level of confidence in your daughter? I mean, I get the honor addicted prince, but the mad princess." I baited him with mock words, which neither he nor Azula minded at all, while Zuko was embarrassed and angry.

"Fine. What do you want when you win?" He said, trying to gauge my response and figure out my desire.

"Nothing, at least not yet. I can't think of anything I want right now," I said. This intrigued the big man. Meanwhile, Azula's hands were twitching from excitement. she said 

"Fine, how about the loser serves the victor?" This sends a massive wave of surprise to the entire crowd, including the nobles, Iroh, and even Zuko himself.