Title: The Oath and The Legacy

Rating: T

Genre: Drama/Family

Wordcount: 4350 +

Summary: Ursa left a bitter heritage to her son. And so she searched for the one, who might lead him to his destiny. Prince Iroh took the oath. In his own darkest hours he renewed his promise and received a special gift and knowledge about her legacy.

A/N: Please have mercy, if there are to much misspellings and errors. I am not a native speaker and still a novice in writing stories in a language I have learned in school more than 20 years ago. So be gentle and helpful if you like to write something about the little story. I would be happy. And I confess, I was and will never be good in writing rhymes (neither in English nor in german)

The Story will have two chapters.

Acknowledgments: Avatar:The Last Airbender was created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko; copyright for this property is held by Viacom International, Inc.. I own nothing.

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1. The Oath

Born in the supreme fires of noon,

power will be your destined companion soon

But beware of the darkening flames by midnight,

because their ashes will weaken your soul's inner light.

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In a dark night in the Royal Palace of the Fire Nation Iroh accompanied his brother to greet his newborn nephew, but he hadn't expected, what would happen in the room next to the birthing chamber in this moment.

„He is and will be a weakling forever!" Prince Ozai hissed in anger and hate, after he had examined the boy the midwifes presented to him. He refused to take the baby, other than Iroh who took the bundle softly out of the arms of one of the elder women.

"I hope he will die soon and no longer shame me with his presence!" Ozai added with disgust Then the Prince turned around and left the chamber with flowing robes and no other words.

For a moment the remaining midwifes and servants froze in shock. Then they looked cautiously to the only other man in the room.

The Crown Prince of the Fire Nation stayed quiet and said nothing, although his eyes and twisting mouth showed how angry he was.

Only the little child in his arms was wiggling and moaning, as if it had understood the words of his father.

"Yes, you're right, little nephew. You're stronger than he thinks, and he will learn in time. If not, I will see to it, that he does," He wispered.

"You will see my prince, the boy is healthy and will grow in time," One of the women dared to speak. "It is not uncommon that little children are stronger than the big ones."

Iroh smiled as the boy closed his little fingers around his thumb.

He also saw the little sparks in the babies eyes. Although they were not as fiery and hot as his father's, they had the steady glow of his mother's.

The youngest member of his family wasn't a total failure. One day he would become a strong firebender, although he would have to fight for the right path more than others. But he was certain, that the little boy would find his way. "Yes, I can feel it."

Then the Crown Prince became serious again. "How is his mother?"

"She is weak, because she had lost much blood." Another woman answered. "And she wishes to see you."

"Me?" Iroh looked surprised and handed the baby over to the midwife next to him. "Are you sure, she has not asked for her husband?"

"No, she wants to see you." The other woman answerd and opened the door. Iroh rose a brow. His sister-in-law must have heard Ozai's reckless words. He walked in the birthing chamber with great concern.

Although the windows stood wide open and fragrances were burned, he still could smell the scent of blood and sweat.

He remembered, what had happened before. Ursa had lain in the pains for more than two days. And instead to be born in the middle of the day, when the sun stood at its highest point, as the sages had foretold, the boy slipped out of her womb in the middle of the night.

"I will teach Ozai respect for his words," Iroh said to his sister-in-law, although he could unterstand some of the reasons of his brother's anger.

No member of the royal family had been born in the darkness of the night for centuries. The last one had become a criminal and traitor, punished by an avatar himself, after he had ravaged and burned down villages in his frenzy. History had proven, that a birth in the night was a bad sign, but Iroh decided to ignore the facts.

And no child should be burdened with such dark prejudices, because it's destiny was still to be written. Especially the fate of his nephew. He was sure, that history would not repeat itself, because everyone was responsible for his own path and would shape the future in his own fashion.

But he could argue with this thoughts later.

Now he turned his full attention to Ursa. She looked painfully exhausted, but she was awake and smiled, when she looked in his eyes.

"No, you mustn't lecture him. Ozai is to proud and ambitious to accept, that some of his plans have another outcome as he wishes. I think, I will handle him myself later, when I am better and hope he will learn to love my little Zuko in time."

"You will call him Zuko?"

"Yes, because it is a proud name for a Prince of the Fire Nation," She took a deep and painful breath. "And if my dream will come true, a bitter path lays ahead of him …"

Iroh took one of her hands, while he sat down next to the bed. "Shhh, you can tell me later. Now you should better rest and sleep. Your boy needs you to grow up and become strong."

"Yes I will and he must … in the days to come," She murmured, took a painful breath, but spoke again. "I saw him, walking alone on a path of glowing coals and gleaming shards. His eyes were full of pain and desperation. But he didn't give up. He choosed to fight till the end, because there was one – a shadow - who guided him…"

Then she pressed his hand intensely. "In the years, I've lived in the Royal palace, I learned one thing. You are the only one, whom I can trust, because you have a gentle heart and a sense what is right, although you're still caught in the traditions of your family."

Her eyes focused on him, not begging, but demanding.

"Zuko needs you, too. Please promise me, that you will have an eye on my boy as long as you live," She said with a strong voice.

Iroh nodded. "I swear, I will, treat him like my own son, Lu-Ten."

"Good! Very good. Now I can …" Ursa said and closed her eyes. Her grip loosened, when she slipped into unconsciousness.

Iroh put the hand down softly and touched the feverish face of his sister in law, feeling her rash and hasty breaths. She was very weak and near death. For a moment he thought about his mother, who died after the birth of his brother. But Ursa was much younger and stronger. He was sure, she would recover soon. Because she had a strong will of her own.

Then his thoughts began to drift in the past.

Sometimes Ursa was still a mystery to him.

Although she loved the ways of tea and music, the fine arts and the joys of life like many other members of the Ember Island nobility, she had also interest in philosophy, science, politics and adapted the rules of living in the royal palace more easily than any other woman before. She was not shaped by the traditions of the Royal Family, sometimes she even made her own rules without fear, what the consequences would be.

Maybe, this headstrong and proud traits of her personality attracted Ozai the most, when he asked his father to arrange the marriage with the only woman of Ember Island, whose heart he could not win with his position as Prince and abilties as a firebender.

He smiled, when he remembered how often his young brother had cursed the insolent girl, who had called him a jerk, a fool or an idiot more than once.

But Ursas family could not deny the Firelords wish, when it was made official and Ozai went into their house to ask for the Hand of their youngest daughter. And so the young woman came to the Fire Nation capital as a bride.

She didn't show any sign of desperation or fear. Sometimes Iroh had the feeling, that she seemed to be content with the outcome of her struggle with Ozai and even accepted the forced marriage. But he never found out, if love had grown between his brother and his wife. Since then they played their roles as Prince and princess perfectly and kept everything else in private. Especially who had taught respect to whom.

Iroh knew, that Ursa had found her own way in dealing with her royal father-in-law and her husband without breaking the rules.

The Crown Prince turned away silently.

His thoughts returned to the presence and he asked himself one question: Why she had asked him to swear an oath to protect the little boy?

He would have done it anyway, especially after the shameful behavior of Ozai. Little Zuko hadn't earned the wrath of his father. Not yet.

While he walked to the door, he suddenly had the feeling, that there were more reasons, Ursa hadn't told him yet. He just wondered, what she was hiding from him and the rest of the Royal Family.