The story of the Royal Family is a chapter story,
About the early day's of the Royal Family.
Undervalued, is a short chapter about Zuko's birth.
Iroh is forty-eight.
Lu Ten was nine.
Ozai is twenty-eight.
Ursa is twenty-six.
The story of the Royal Family,
Ch.1: Undervalued.
It was a cold winter this year, the gardens were white. The fountains were frozen; it has snowed a lot this year. This didn't happen often in the Fire Nation, it happened maybe only once every twenty years.
Iroh looked outside the window and smiled sarcastically by seeing the birds, which were fighting for the last bits of food. This was so sad to see. The animals weren't prepared for such strong winter, such as the humans and now they must fight to survive.
"Why are they fighting?" A young boy asked his father.
Iroh looked towards his son and gave him a little smile. "Because they're hungry, Lu ten. The birds are searching for some food."
The boy frowned a bit and looked at the little creatures. He didn't understand it; he couldn't place himself in this situation. This boy couldn't understand why they hadn't food; here in the palace was food enough.
Iroh had noticed his son's confusion. "This is a very hard time for the animals, as for the farmers." He said towards the young boy. "They don't have servants or cooks, like us."
Lu Ten looked up, his nose and cheeks were red from the cold temperature. "Will they survive it?"
Iroh watched outside the window again. "Only the strongest will survive."
"But? That's so sad!" The young boy whispered.
The man kneeled and took the boy's tiny hands in his. "Well Lu Ten, that's part of life!"
The young boy looked into his father's eyes again. "And aunt Ursa? Will she and the baby survive?" He asked curiously.
Iroh rolled his eyes with amusement. "Aunt Ursa isn't sick, Lu Ten! She's just very tired from her pregnancy."
From the first day Lu Ten knew that his aunt was pregnant, this boy couldn't wait to see this new baby. The boy laughed nervously. "It will be a boy!"
"No! You don't know that for sure!" His father laughed back.
"Well, I hope so! Then we can play with each other! Yeah, we can play dive or explode and soldier and yes oh, I can teach him fire bending!"
Iroh slapped a hand against his face, he had heard this hundreds of times. "Don't be to exited, Lu Ten! At first the baby can be a girl!"
"I don't want to play with dolls!" The boy said with anger in his voice.
"And the baby can be a non-bender." The man said seriously.
Lu Ten sighed, "Well, that doesn't matter. As long it's a boy, I'm happy!" The boy replied with a grin.
Iroh sighed while he stands up, "You're as stubborn as your mother!"
"Hey? I'm not stubborn!" The boy yelled while he jumped up, following his father.
The man noticed his son and walked harder. "Oh yes, you are!" He replied harassing.
The boy hurried; his short legs were quickly. "Hey! Don't run away! Dad?"
Iroh loved to tease his son. He loved the boy's expressions, his drama's, his defenses. These moments were invaluable for Iroh.
That night.
Ursa lay to tossing in her bed, she lay so uncomfortable, couldn't breathe properly from the pain.
"Ozai? Ozai wake up!" She yelled, while she rubbed his arm. She was so scared, Ursa was twenty-six and this was her first pregnancy.
Ozai woke up quickly. "Is the baby coming?" He asked in a panic.
"I don't know. But I don't feel well."
The man jumped out of his bed. "I'll look for the doctor! Stay in bed."
"Oh, hurry!" She yelled.
Ursa rubbed her belly, for a while she felt lots of movements. She had a calm pregnancy, she rarely felt something in there. But now, her belly felt restless.
"Oh Agni!" She whispered.
She had lots of pains in her back and some cramps in her belly, but feeling the baby like this was so wonderful.
The young lady turned her head towards the calendar and smiled by seeing the day. "It's winter solstice today." She whispered while tears formed in her eyes. Thinking of her grandfather Roku, who's in the spirit world.
The former avatar, which was connected with the spirit world and today it's winter solstice. The day that the natural world and the Spirit World grow closer together until the line between the two is blurred.
If you'll be born today, you'll be a very special baby.
That night Ursa's woes continued. It took a while before she had some opening. The nurses helped her as much as they could. But the pain couldn't be stopped.
"In Agni's name, it's already morning! How long will it take?" Ozai asked impatient.
Iroh gave his brother a little smile, "The delivery may take a while though."
They were sitting in a waiting room, next to the nursery. There are no males welcome at the birth. These are the strict rules of the Fire Nation.
Ozai moved his hands nervously. He didn't like this situation, a situation where he hadn't control over. He didn't want to lose his wife or child.
The older brother looked at his younger brother with compassion. He laid his hand on his brother's hand. "It will be okay! Ursa is a strong woman, you know that."
"I know." Ozai whispered.
Iroh glared over the room. "Do you have a name for the baby?"
Ozai sighed, "The name was a long discussion between us and father!"
Iroh rolled his eyes. "Oh yes, father!" He replied sarcastically. Knowing that Azulon couldn't stand Ozai and already had rejected this unborn baby. Azulon couldn't accept the fact that this baby will be a winter child. Winter children, in the Fire Nation are non-benders and a huge disgrace for the Royal family.
"If it was a boy, Ursa wanted to name him Roku."
Iroh glared with wide eyes towards his brother, "Named to her grandfather?"
"Yes, she found it special. Especially now he'll be born on the winter solstice." Ozai replied with a smile. "But father doesn't allow it, because of what had happened in the past."
Iroh sighed, "So how will you call the baby?"
"Euhm, Zuko for a boy. Azula for a girl."
Iroh closed his eyes and smiled. "These are beautiful names."
The nurse opened the door. "It's going fast now!"
Ozai looked up.
"We see the baby's head." The nurse said.
"Is everything alright?" Iroh asked.
The nurse didn't answer at Iroh's question, she just said. "We will alert you when the baby arrives."
Iroh frowned; he knew that they were hiding something. Ozai sat on the edge of his chair, he couldn't believe that he'll become a father.
"In several moments, you will be a daddy!" Iroh whispered toward his brother.
"I still can't believe it!" Ozai replied proudly.
"Remember, to just do your best! Then you'll be the best father into this world." Iroh said, hoping to support his younger brother.
"I hope to be!" The young man whispered.
Iroh sat closer by his brother, took his hand. "I'm here for you, Ozai!"
"Thanks." Ozai said, while he took his older brother close into a hug.
While they hugged each other firmly, the two males heard a muffled cry out of the nursery room. It was a heartbreaking moment. The cry wasn't very loud, rather weakly. But how faintly it sounded, it kept ringing.
The door swung open.
"It's a boy!" The nurse cried out.
Ozai's eyes widened, everything around him moved so slowly. His heart started to melt, a feeling he never felt before. For the first time in life, his body filled with proud.
Iroh watched over his speechless brother and felt happy for him. He spoke in his place, "Can we see him?"
"Of course!" The nurse bowed.
Iroh looked over to a watchman. "Can you get my son and Fire Lord Azulon?"
Ozai entered the room slowly and looked over to his wife. She smiled worriedly. "What's wrong, Ursa?" Ozai whispered.
Iroh looked at the couple. Ursa's hair was all messed up, her face looked very tired. Ozai looked very confused.
"The umbilical cord was hanging around his neck, he couldn't breathe. It was a difficult delivery." She whispered.
Ozai turned his head toward the nurse. "Is the baby alright?"
"He's very tired." The nurse whispered.
Iroh stared into the little crib, his heart warmed up by seeing such small creature. The man smiled at the little baby. "Look Ozai." Iroh pointed towards the new baby.
Ozai stared over his son. The boy looked so slender, so small. He had a full head of dark hair, his skin was as white as snow.
"You can pick him up, he's your son!" Iroh smiled.
Ozai took the boy into his arms, he was so light. The little boy moved a bit into his father's arms. The brand new dad had to laugh. "Look!" He said towards his brother.
"Oh yes, even now he's very active." Iroh replied with a smile.
The boy opened his eyes, they were gold colored. Just like his fathers. They looked so firm, so strong.
"It's a fighter!" Iroh whispered toward Ozai. Ozai frowned.
Iroh tickled his nephews chin. "Oh yes, It's written in his eyes."
The baby smiled by the gentle touch.
Ozai smiled and felt very relax for once. "Do you want to hold him?"
"That would be an honor!" Iroh replied while he took the baby into his arms. "Well, hello? I'm your uncle Iroh!" The man whispered.
The baby stared at the man.
"DAD!" Lu Ten cried.
Iroh felt the baby scare, his eyes widened. "Lu Ten? A little bit quiet! You make the baby scared."
"Is it a boy?"
"Yes it is!" Ursa replied with a smile.
Lu Ten looked over the baby. "Oh! He looks cute!"
"Well Lu Ten, this is your new cousin Zuko!" Iroh whispered.
"Wow! Hello Zuko." The boy whispered back, while he waved at the boy.
Ozai touched his nephews head gently. "You can play with him, when he's a bit older."
Lu Ten smiled towards his dad and uncle. He was proud, so proud to be the big cousin. "I will teach him everything I know and protect him at school!"
Ozai laughed a bit. "Well, that's very kind Lu Ten. Did you hear something from your grandfather?"
Lu Ten looked at the ground. "Well euhm, I don't know euhm."
"Well? What is it?"
"I'm sorry uncle Ozai, he doesn't want to come." The young boy replied with an embarrassing tone.
"Oh,…" Ozai looked towards his wife.
Ursa gave her husband a little smile. "He's busy with other things!"
Iroh looked at the ground finding this moment strange and very painful. He knew that this hurts his brother the most.
When Lu Ten was born, Azulon couldn't talk about something else. He talked about his grandson this and his grandson that. But now, his second grandson is born; the firstborn of Ozai and Ursa, it's like this baby doesn't even exist.
Iroh felt sorry for his brother.