FULL SUMMARY PLEASE READ: What would have happened to the A:tLA Universe if several seemingly small but remarkably large catalysts in the plot and story before the series actually begins were altered? What if when Azulon ordered Ozai to kill Zuko, Ursa had chosen to flee with her son instead of put Ozai on the throne through treason to protect him? What if she had fled the Fire Nation with her young son, him believed dead, her labeled a traitor? What if she had sought refuge in the South Pole to keep them hidden and safe, and alive? Nothing is set in stone as we explore what would happen if one choice had been made differently, and how the entire world is shaped because of it.
I've always had a personal opinion that Zuko would have had a stronger moral compass and would be much happier if Ursa had chosen to flee with him and hide him and maybe raise him herself or leave him with someone who could raise him the way she wanted, rather than kill Azulon and change his will to put Ozai on the throne. So I finally decided to write a fic on what would have changed in the universe if she had made that decision. Now there are several different reasonable ways this could have played out, so I chose my personal favorite, and went with it. I may publish a series of other possible outcomes of situations that I've dreamed up as I write this just for fun, a series of summaries and short little oneshots that may tie together in a way, about how things are different, how the world is affected. Enjoy!
Chapter 1: Escaping the Castle
She ran as fast as she could through the palace hallways, praying to Agni that she wasn't too late. She had to get to his bedchamber in time. She had to! If she didn't-no!She would not allow anything to happen to him. She would not allow Ozai to follow Azulon's death order! She would not allow Zuko to die. Not without a fight. Fire Princess Ursa burst into her son's room, hurriedly waking him from his sleep.
"Zuko! Zuko, please my darling, wake up!" She whispered as she shook him urgently.
"Nngh...huh...Mom...? What's-" Zuko sat up sleepily.
"Zuko, please my son, there will be a time for sleeping and answers later. We must flee now! Please my child, hurry!"
Her urgency spread to him, and he followed her without question, gripping her hand and trying to keep up as she sped along.
Please, Agni, allow us to escape this wretched palace alive! Ursa prayed.
Fire Prince Ozaiswept through the palace, striding purposefully towards his son's room. As he reached the door, he found it already cracked open slightly. He pushed it open a bit farther silently, and peeked in. His eyes widened when she saw Zuko's empty bed. He whirled around and called for his guards.
"Find my son! No doubt he is with my treacherous wife! Bring her back to me alive! I must punish her properly for her insolence and treason. Kill the boy!" He ordered. "Do not let them escape!" He roared.
"Yes, my prince!" They said, bowing, before turning and dashing back through the palace to find the Princess and her son.
Ursa and Zukowound their way through the palace, moving quickly. Ursa pulled her son along, trying to avoid any guards so as not to arouse suspicion or give Ozai any hint of where they were.
"There! The Princess and her son are getting away!" A guard shouted, seeing her dart across a hallway opening as he and his group ran past it.
Agni, help us! Ursa pulled Zuko along, trying to move faster. "Hurry Zuko! We must not be caught!" She insisted. Zuko did his best to keep up with his mother. When he heard shouting behind him, he turned back to look, eyes wide in fear. As he turned back, the guard at the front shot a ball of flame at him. Zuko's left eye was hit. He screamed in pain, falling unconscious almost immediately.
"Zuko!" Ursa wailed. Without slowing down, she scooped her son up and continued running. She darted through the corridors, weaving through the halls. She would escape here with her son if it was the last thing she did.
As the guards came around a corner, they stopped in shock and confusion. This was a dead end, and the princess was nowhere in sight! "She must have doubled around at some point, split up and search! Have every exit from the palace blocked!" One guard called. As their echoing footsteps receded, Ursa peeked out from the hiding spot behind a tapestry. She stroked her son's hair gently, undoing his topknot as she carried him through a secret passage she'd discovered, following the torchlit tunnel underneath the palace walls, and out to freedom.
"Forgive me my son, for allowing this to happen to you. I will never allow such a thing to happen to you again. I swear on my life, my Zuko." She murmured, carrying him. Finally they were free. But their journey and fight were far from over.