Brothers (tentative title)
Disclaimer. I don't own Avatar; the Last AirBender, or any of the places and characters in the show, I'm only borrowing them for a little while. Please don't sue; I have nothing you would want.
Chapter 1-Beginnings
"Hurry and get the healer! Lady Ila is in pain!"
Ten year old Iroh listened to the words of the frantic fire sage as he stared worriedly at his mother, laying on the bed. She had just given birth to Iroh's younger sibling, but now she was bleeding uncontrollably and the healers didn't think she was going to survive. The newborn child's cries echoed throughout his mother's bed chamber. The midwife who had attended to the birth was trying to calm the child down, but it was to no avail. Wordlessly Ila held out her arms, indicating to the midwife that she wanted to hold her child. The midwife carefully placed the still crying baby in it's mother's arms, and it wasn't long before the child quieted down.
"It is a boy or a girl? Ila asked in a weak voice. "A strong, healthy baby boy, Lady Ila. He already looks like his father." the midwife replied. His father. Iroh's father Azulon, had been crowned Fire Lord a year earlier, and was now off fighting a campaign in the Earth Kingdom. Iroh's grandfather, Sozin, had started a war of world conquest after the death of the last Avatar, and all more then fifty fears later the war was still ongoing. The Air Nomads had been completely exterminated, and the Southern Water Tribe largely subjugated, but the Northern Water Tribe and the Earth Kingdom still had yet to fall. Azulon was even at this very moment in the Earth Kingdom personally leading his soldiers. Iroh sighed. Now that his father was Fire Lord he would probably never get to spend any time with him.
"Iroh, come say hello to you're baby brother." His mother's voice brought Iroh out of his ravine, and he quickly made his way to his mother's bed side, having to push his way past the healers who were at that vary moment working frantically to save her life. The baby was quiet in his mother's arms, having finally fallen asleep. "Iroh, meet you're new little brother"
"Does he have a name, Mother"
"I think I'll name him Ozai. Yes, Ozai. Thai is a perfect name for him, don't you agree, Iroh?"
Iroh just nodded his approval and stared down at the sleeping infant. He didn't know why, but something about this baby made him uneasy. It was almost as if there was a dark cloud hanging over the little boy's head It frightened Iroh, but he dare not say anything to his mother. She could very well be dying, and she would probably just tell him he was being ridiculas anyway.
Ila grabbed her son's hand and stared intently in to his eyes. "Iroh, listen to me. I have to tell you something before I die..."
"You're not going to die, Mother!"
"Yes I am, Iroh. I can tell, my time has come."
"The healers will save you! They have to!" Iroh was near tears now. He couldn't loose his mother. He just couldn't.
"The healers have done all they can, but it is my time. But before I die I need you to promise me something. You are my oldest Son, and the heir to you're father's throne. I won't be here to raise and look after you're younger brother, so as the eldest I want you to promise me that you will watch over him and protect him. Do you promise?"
"I promise Mother, but..."
"You are Ozai's older brother. He is going to look up to you and he will want to emulate you. You must set a good example for him. And above all I don't want you to resent him because I died giving birth to him. Do you understand?"
Iroh nodded through his tears. I understand, Mother"
"Good. then I can rest in peace. Please tell you're father that I love him." With that Ila let out one last labored breath, and she was gone. Wail Iroh cried over his mother's body, little Ozai continued to sleep, unaware of what was going on around him, unaware that his mother had died giving him life. Several hours later the infant's cries finally echoed through out the halls of the palace, as the youngest prince of the Fire Nation demanded to be fed.