Okay, this is the first chapter of the currently six part series detailing the life of Prince Zuko before the Agni Kai. When Iroh said his nephew had been through much, I decided this deserved a story! After long discussion, I have decided to ignore the existance of Zula and make this AU. Special thanks to Witty Username! And a shout out to the amazing authors on my favorite lists as well as my lovely reviewers! Thank you so much for encouraging me! Okay, chapter one of the first scroll, where it all begins. Please and review!

The Chosen: Scroll One

Chapter One: Crashing Down

General Iroh was rarely surprised at anything. Little in life could shock him anymore, he had reached that age when he had began to see life as an endless cycle of pain and misery. Iroh had spent most of his life in a palace and he found the best relief was in the simple pleasures of life. Few things could ruin good food and drink after all. Perhaps an gastronome lifestyle was not the most spiritually fulfilling, but it was the most painless. Iroh had seen far too much pain in his short life. He had not even seen his fortieth birthday and his hands were already soaked with blood.

On the surface, perhaps Iroh had little to complain about. Iroh had never known anything but the finest things in life. He was the son of the former Fire-Lord and the brother of the current one. He had been born in the most beautiful palace in the world, had been taught by the greatest teachers and had inherited wealth unimaginable. His troops were loyal to him until death. He was one of the most powerful men in the world. His keen intelligence and formidable warrior ability had earned him the title, Dragon of the West. That name struck fear into the hearts of his enemies and for good reason. Iroh was famous for having won nearly every battle he had ever fought in. He had only been defeated once, at the siege of Bai Sing Se.

Iroh actually regarded that loss as a sort of badge of pride. Leaving the siege had been the happiest decision he had made for 600 days. His soldiers were lucky to have someone to go home to. Iroh believed people should enjoy life while it was happy, because the wheel of fortune changed quickly, relentlessly eliminating all joy. Despite that loss, the war was going well and the guilt of sending half-grown boys off to their deaths had faded a good deal over the years. In fact, nearly all of Iroh's emotions had faded away, stripped away by the punishing hand of fate. He approached each day as if it was a comfortable prison sentence.

He looked around his cell of a tent. It was made of lavish scarlet brocade, with gold insignias on the wall. All right, so it wasn't a physical prison. Although they were at war, Iroh could not complain about the accommodations. There was plenty of food, sleeping blankets and the supply lines were ample by the ocean. Iroh's only job was to guard against Earth Nation boats. Considering the aim of his archers was legendary, Earth Ships had learned to steer clear of this area. The last five ships that had the audacity to defy the blockade had been captured, looted and the crew swiftly sent to the coal mines.

Iroh had sent so many civilian men and women to their deaths. It hurt less and less each time he condemned others to the minds or other horrible fates. Their frightened faces ceased to haunt him when he slept. He used to have to drink heavily to relieve the remorse he felt. Now he just drank to fill the emptiness in his life. Iroh wondered if he was becoming like his brother, able to punish without shame, becoming a cruel despot with no regard for human life. Had he lost his soul? It was times like this that he wish he still had his beloved to reassure him.

On the wall was a small portrait of her that the court painter had created. She looked so formal in the picture, nothing like she was alive. Her long black hair had been pinned up in a formal hairstyle. Her face appeared serene, painted with the traditional make-up of high ranking court women. Lien's face never had a serene expression like a proper court lady. She was always grinning mischievously, a twinkle in her eyes and a saucy tilt to her chin. The only thing the artist managed to capture of her true spirit was the beautiful flowers in her hair. Lien had always loved flowers. Iroh would weave her crowns of flowers to put in her dark hair, he would leave flowers for her by their bed, he had even created a large garden for her. They would sit in it together, just the two of them. Now the garden was without a mistress and Iroh was without hope.

Iroh bowed his head and offered some fresh blossoms to her spirit. Wherever she was, he hoped it was beautiful. Sighing to himself, he poured a glass of ginseng tea and drank to her memory. When he inhaled the scent, it took him back to a simpler time, when a saucy tavern wench had utterly charmed a blushing young noble boy. Love had only brought him misery. It was too early to drink right now. He needed to keep somewhat sober for the day ahead.

A quiet cough disturbed his thoughts. Iroh resisted the urge to throw something at the person disturbing him. He supposed being the general, he actually had to do something and earn his food rations.

"Someone to see you, Master," came the quiet voice of Liu, Iroh's personal slave. The young healer seemed rather nervous, it wasn't like her. Something must be really wrong. Liu usually kept quite calm, no matter what the situation was.

He knew his brother and the family were coming to inspect the troops. He could not wait to see the latest order from his Majesty. Iroh was supposed to ride out and meet his brother, but at the last moment had decided to sent a lower ranking soldier. There was no reason to indulge Ozai every day. Iroh had important matters to attend to. "It looks really urgent." Liu repeated, her eyes wide.

Iroh nodded resignedly. "Let him in." Was Ozai angry that Iroh had snubbed him? Was he threatening to punish him again? Did Ozai now want a gate of heads mounted on posts to welcome him? He wouldn't be surprised, Ozai had a bloodthirsty streak in him. At the thought of his brother, Iroh felt a familiar twinge of pain, like a sword stabbing his heart. Ozai had once been Iroh's best friend, his partner in crime. Once they would talk for hours, laughing. Now, there was only bitterness, Iroh could barely stand to be in the same room with his brother.

Although Lady Hanae was with him, hopefully she'd keep the peace. Hanae had known both royal brothers since early childhood. A lady of the court, she had been the brothers' earliest friend. She had always brought out the best in her husband, who was violently in love with her. Iroh had once commented on their love being more of a mutual obsession with each other. Ozai and Hanae were soul-mates and they had done many things to stay together, not all of them moral.

Iroh turned his thoughts to another matter. Iroh would also be meeting the heir to a throne, the spawn of his brother. His new nephew, Prince…Zuko. Yes, that was his name, the name of the Fire-Lord who came before Grandfather Souzen. A miniature Ozai, sounded like quite a bundle of joy.

A ragged looking solider burst into the tent a moment later, his face covered with dirt and blood. He could not have been older then sixteen. His clothes looked horribly stained with dirt and soot and blood was dripping from a wound on his side. "Avalanche…we've been wounded," he breathed, looking completely exhausted, as he collapsed to the floor.

Iroh got to his feet. "WHAT?" His ears must not be working, how could anyone dare attack the Royal family? Ozai and Hanae were well guarded by formidable warriors. They had planned this trip for maximum safety, Hanae was still very weak from the horrible birth and Zuko had barely passed his second birthday.

"The Royal family was traveling by a gorge, it collapsed on them. The royal family was wounded, sent me to get help," the soldier breathed, his voice hoarse and ragged. There was a short pause of silence before Iroh sprang into action.

"Summon the rhinos, gather every spare man. Liu, bandage him up!" Iroh ordered his slave, grabbing a sword from the wall. He could feel the fire pulsing in his blood as anger filled him. His brother may have been a tyrannical blaggard, but no one touched Lady Hanae and lived to tell the tale.

Within a few moments, the search party was ready. Iroh and the wounded soldier leading a squadron of men through the hills at a fierce gallop. Iroh's head was pounding. He could not imagine how this could have happened. Had the lack of his presence caused this? No, that was foolish. He might be a general, but even he couldn't control fate. Yet, there was something suspicious of a gorge just collapsing like that. Iroh suspected an Earth Nation attack.

It was a hard ride, and the hot sun beat down on Iroh's back. He could feel himself starting to panic as the moments passed agonizingly by. It seemed to take forever till they arrived at the gorge. Dark thoughts kept going through Iroh's head. Why hadn't he been there? If only Iroh would not have been so lazy, he should have met them instead of sending a sergeant. Maybe Father was right, maybe Iroh would always be a failure, always be responsible for people's deaths.

What a sight greeted Iroh when they arrived at the gorge. There was blood everywhere, and mass panic as honored lords and humble soldiers, headless of rank worked to free the injured from the enormous piles of rocks. People were screaming in pain, trapped under enormous boulders. Iroh could tell many of them were doomed, there was no way to rescue them all.

"Assist them. Question everyone, every detail is vital to know, I am going to find the Fire-Lord," Iroh directed, leaping off his rhino as his men launched into action.

He strode through the piles of the wounded. Iroh easily recognized the scent of the dying. He pushed forward, trying to ignore the sight of people he knew lying there. Poor Admiral Moto lying dead in a heap a few feet away. He had nine children, they would be crying for their father today. Such a waste of life and talent. He continued searching till he found the largest group of people.

Iroh easily made out the tall frame of his brother, angrily barking orders. "Hold on, Hanae. We are almost there," he kept shouting. Iroh quietly made his way through the crowd and came upon the most ghastly sight. Hanae was lying in a pool of blood under an enormous pile. As the servants tried to dig out her body, Iroh winced at the damage. Her limbs had been crushed by the landslide and they risked making the situation worse, by making the rock pile slide and bury her completely. As he moved closer, he was appalled. There was blood on her face, forming a ruby crown around her forehead. Dirt had stained her forehead, looking so strange. Hanae was always so immaculate, now she lay in the dirt. It made no sense. Of course, neither did life.

A soft lilting voice filled the air. "Where's my baby? I want to see Zuko," Hanae begged. Her voice sounded so weak.

"Hanae, they took him. But it doesn't matter, as long as I have you, everything will be all right," Ozai replied, kneeling down next her and wiping her forehead. His eyes were filled with tears and there was so much emotion in his voice. Iroh felt himself choke up as well.

"My love, why bother? I can't be helped. Find Zuko…please," she whispered, her golden eyes boring into his face. She had been badly injured and she knew she was going to die. Iroh shuddered, remembering something Hanae had once told him. It couldn't be true. Hanae was not even forty, she was far too young to pass on.

Ozai, famous for an emotionless and stoic demeanor now looked like he had been attacked by a Dragon. "Hanae, I order you not to die!" he was shouting, cradling her head. This was something Ozai couldn't order into existence. Hanae was beyond help.

Iroh found himself misting up. Hanae had not only been his sister in law, but a good person who he had deeply respected. He had known her for so many years, he couldn't imagine life without her. She was an intense woman, with a strong spirit and fiery temper but she had also had a golden heart. She deserved better then to die like this. Why did the gods feel the need to take away the beautiful women who made life worth living?

"Ozai…we were happy for a while…just remember the good times. You still have our baby. Find him, raise him and love him," Hanae whispered, her eyes filled with the same love she had born her husband for the twenty years they had been married. Iroh had always wondered why she loved Ozai so, but he never doubted the power of this bond. He had felt it with Lien.

"I don't want Zuko, I don't want anyone but you. Hanae, don't leave me alone like this," Ozai demanded wildly. For a moment, he was still the brother that Iroh loved with all his heart and seeing him in so much pain ripped Iroh apart. He know the pain of losing the match of your life, the person who made you whole. "You threw yourself in front of me, why? I am bigger, I could have taken it. Why did you do this?"

"Life without you wouldn't be worth living. I had to serve the Fire Nation. You can always have another wife. The world needs you," Hanae whispered, her eyes growing cloudy. "Tell Zuko I love him. Now do your duty, my love."

There was a horrible silence as those beautiful golden eyes stared off into a better world. Ozai bent and kissed his wife, now sleeping in the arms of Agni. Iroh knelt as well, in respect to the Lady of the Fire Nation and to a true friend. She would be sorely missed. The last person who had brought out the old Ozai was gone the way of her dear friend Lien.

Ozai turned to Iroh. For a moment, the best friend he had once known looked out of his eyes, a broken sadness begging for comfort. It was strange how young and vulnerable the powerful monarch looked. He seemed to be biting back tears of rage and anger. He was taking it better then Iroh had. When he finally dealt with the fact that Lien was dead, he had burned down an entire tent in his rage. He had gotten drunk that night, so drunk that he had been sick for days. Of course, what happened before had been worse by far.

He wondered how Ozai would take mourning. Perhaps it would bring down the walls of pride that Ozai had built around his heart. Perhaps Hanae's death would not be in vain. He remembered so many times comforting his brother. Those had been the happiest times of his life, just being with his best friend, his confident.

"Iroh," Ozai said in a quiet tone. Iroh's heart leaped, but before Iroh could touch his brother's shoulder, a closed look filled the fire-lord's eyes. It was the same coldness Iroh had noticed, a merciless darkness which terrified all who stared into it. It was the darkness Iroh had seen every time he had seen his own father. Two souls had died today. "You and your men will go after Prince Zuko, General," he said in a hollow tone. "Every spare man will accompany the Lady back to the camp to preserve the body. She must be given a proper funeral." He had not let go of the body of his beloved Hanae. His hands betrayed the calmness in his voice, they were both shaking.

Iroh looked up. "Brother…I am sorry," he whispered softly. He wanted to comfort his younger brother the way Hanae had comforted him after Lien had died. He wanted to embrace the boy he once knew, to make him laugh or let him cry on his shoulder.

Ozai looked up at him disdainfully and moved away. "Obey or you will be sorry. Out of my sight, you have a prince to find," he commanded, disgust in his voice.

Iroh bowed deeply, knowing this was the last he would ever see of the friend who he would have died for. "Yes, my lord." Hanae would rest in peace. Iroh swore he would find her son!