A long time ago, back when she was still my mother and long before she ever disowned me, Ursa lived in the palace with us. But Zuko was always her favorite. He was always insecure because Father and my teachers and the war counsel and my citizens knew that I was a prodigy and he wasn't-- but really, on a personal level, he was the one that everyone always liked. Ursa did, too. He was her favorite; he could do nothing wrong in her eyes, and I could do nothing right. And then she left, for him; she went to his room to say goodbye that night, but she walked right past mine. I always knew that she didn't like me much, but I never knew how much she hated me until years later, when she told the entire community: "I have no daughter. Zuko was an only child." I don't even really care anymore, but I still remember those words.

Then when I was fourteen, one of my best friends from childhood tried to kill me. She went on and on about how she couldn't wait to see my blood on her knives, and she even kidnapped my other best friend-- her other best friend-- and pretended to kill her, to try to lure me in. And it didn't take long for that second best friend to start hating me, either. She lied about a lot of things, including what she thought about me; she called me a monster and said that I was being too harsh on my father after he sent assassins after me. There was him too, of course, but he was a special case because he was my trainer, not my friend. But I trusted him.

Everyone that I've really trusted or liked, except for Lisa, has lied, betrayed, attempted murder, or left of their own volition. I know you're amazing and wonderful and probably a better person than all of them combined, but a part of me still keeps thinking that you'll do the same thing one day. Especially if people like Cross convince you that I'm not good enough to be your sister.