Note:
This story was originally posted on 4 December 2014 as a single piece. This is a re-posting of the same story, broken down into easier-to-read chapters. Because not even I, as the author, want to read 17,000+ words on a single page.
This story is also being considered for continuation. If that happens, a new story will be created. (I wrote about 3,000 words of this sequel a year ago, so the foundation is partially laid already. It's just a question of having the time to do this plot justice.)
. . . And the title is still stolen from a Fall Out Boy Song.
Born under a bad sign, the Fire Sages would later say. Princess Ursa had labored through midday, and finally held the baby in the fading twilight. There was no proof behind it, but it was said that children born as the sun set were weaker. High noon was when conquers and leaders of men took their first breath. Gold, the people of the caldera hoped. Let the child's eyes be gold.
A storm had been battering the island for hours. What had been a light rain that morning had become a monsoon with gale-force winds. The wall hangings snapped whenever a gust cut through the open windows. The princess had sent away all the servants and bed maids, telling them not to say a word. Only the guards outside the door remained. Not a sound was escaping the ornate walls. Privately, the two guards thought that the child must be stillborn. Surely they would have heard crying by now. A princess would not send away her handmaids unless she needed to grieve alone.
It came as a surprise to them when the lantern beside the door ignited. The flame burned small and tired. A lantern such as that one could only be lit from the inside, and it only meant one thing. It was asking them to summon the royal family. It did not take long for Prince Iroh and his son, Lu Ten, to turn up outside the door. It took much longer for Prince Ozai to arrive. With a wave of his hand, Ozai put out the summoning lamp. Both guards ushered them into the room.
Inside they found the new mother cradling the infant to her chest with one arm while the other lit a white fire in the hearth. They all knew it would travel the kindling path inside the chimney until it lit a massive brazier outside the palace, signaling the arrival of a new royal to the whole city. There it would burn until he died.
Ursa turned so that her back was to the fire. Slowly, she offered the newborn out to her husband. A look of weary pride on her face, she said, "Prince Ozai, I present our son Zuko."
Ozai did not take the baby. There were several thoughts that occurred to him. But he didn't comment on how small the thing was, or how it hadn't made a sound yet, hadn't so much as shifted in its mother's arms. Just as he thought this, tiny eyes opened and stared vaguely at Ozai. The only acknowledgment he made toward the child was a slight nod of his head. Red robes swirled around his ankles when he turned on his heel. The door slammed closed so hard that the white fire faltered but did not go out. Ursa drew the newborn back into her folded arms. Her son remained quiet. She looked down at him, and he stared back with unnatural focus. Not gold, she noted of his eyes. More like copper.
Iroh and Lu Ten advanced with much less severe looks. With equal parts excitement and apprehension, Lu Ten asked, "May I?"
Proud and weary smile back in place, Ursa said, "Of course."
They executed the exchange of the infant as through it were a piece of fine dragon glass that might shatter if they applied just slightest amount of excessive pressure.
Lu Ten smiled at his father and aunt with a fluttery look on his face. Delicately, he looked down at his new cousin. Hopefully the palace wouldn't seem so vast and quiet now that there was kid in here again. Lu Ten kept the thought to himself. "So small, so light."
Those eyes stared back, oblivious to his comments. Lu Ten went on smiling stupidly at his infant cousin.
Iroh turned to his sister-in-law and smiled. "Congratulations. He is beautiful. You must be so proud."
A nod confirmed her agreement. "He didn't make it easy."
Their shared laugh was muted compared to the rumblings of the storm outside. The monsoon season had been relentless this year.
"The storm doesn't bother him," Iroh remarked. "You will have your hands full with this one, no doubt."
"He is quiet," Ursa countered. "I wonder how long that will last."
He laughed quietly again. "I can assure you, Ursa, that will not last long. Just wait until you're sleeping."
"I would say that I'm looking forward to it, but I don't want to curse myself."
At that time Lu Ten returned with the infant and had another cautious exchange with Ursa. He lightly brushed the infant's delicate hair, already black as night against his porcelain skin. He dipped his head and put his hands together, fist against palm. "Congratulations, Princess Ursa."
"Thank you," she said, but she only had eyes for her son.
"We should let you rest," Iroh decided. He didn't want to intrude on a mother's time with her child. When he ran a finger down the infant's cheek, a tiny hand grasped his finger. Smiling wetly, he said, "Welcome to the family, little Zuko. I think you're going to like it here."
The two departed shortly after. Ursa contently pulled the baby closer to her chest and hummed a song her father used to sing. The fast little heartbeat in her arms was not at all different from the rhythm fire had when she held the flames in her hands. A flame of my very own has come to life she thought. Precious and small, but hers all the same. Thunder rolled through the sky but the child didn't stir. In fact, he almost seemed comforted by the sound. It wasn't until the lightning crackled beyond the window that those molten eyes opened again. Ursa couldn't quell her grin upon seeing them.
Finally, he made a soft whine. It only served to broaden her smile. It was the first conscious sound he'd made. Breathing in deeply, she carefully let some heat escape her hands to warm him. He watched her with that unnatural focus as she walked slowly toward the hearth, softly singing the words of her father's song now. When she sat before his lifefire, his eyes reflected shifting hues of green and blue. A small smile stretched her tired face. Dragon's eyes.