Iroh found himself at the entrance of his once home. Though years had passed, over ten to be precise, the Dragon of the West could still hear the times of old in the hallways with each echoing step beneath his boots. His armies were replaced with loyal patrons nowadays welcoming him each morning in his beloved tea shop. New love was still a mere fantasy, though, he was free to gaze at the many beauties who stopped by the Jasmine Dragon on a daily basis, particularly the infamous bounty hunter he knew he had no chance with.
He thought on his brother's recent release from prison and exile to the colonies where the younger man had unknowingly bested him once again by claiming June's heart. My, how times have changed. Even the painted walls of the Fire Temple were redesigned with portrayals of hopeful victory battles during the hundred years' war instead of the former oppressions of his ancestors, thanks to the new fire lord, a man he was happy to have made an impact on.
Iroh smiled as he remembered his own son and nephew playing on the beach, rough housing as young men tend to do. Yes, it was definitely a new, brighter future with the rightful heir to the throne seated just ahead of him behind what was once dubbed "The Iron Blood Curtain".
He anticipated seeing his nephew again to present to him and his new addition with Fire Lady Mai two dragon eggs, that he'd protected since he visited The Sun Warriors years ago.
He knew better than to present them to the fire lord sooner as his sister was not the compliant humble young lady she is today and would surely have claimed the eggs for herself which was not the role of a woman, Iroh knew. Thankfully, despite difficulty in the beginning, Azula had since come around at a still impressionable age. Iroh had been happy to hear that she was growing into the woman her mother always believed she could be.
When he stopped at the Iron Blood Curtain, Iroh thanked the spirits for change, closing his eyes in a quick prayer. Afterwards, he pushed aside the heavy curtain giving a nod to the guards standing in the entry way to the Flaming Throne.
"General," one of the men mistakenly addressed him.
Iroh gave a soft smile, but did not correct him.
"Uncle! Welcome home!" Called the fire lord.
Though his voice had deepened further with his adulthood, the 27-year-old still sounded every bit as excited to see him as his childhood self. Iroh glanced from his surrogate son to his mother standing before the throne with her husband and child.
"Hello, Iroh, it's always a pleasure," she greeted him with a following hug that Iroh secretly enjoyed with his whole heart.
The beauty's husband gave him a firm hand shake while their teenaged daughter likewise greeted him with a hug.
"Such a sweet daughter you have, Ursa," commented Iroh.
It didn't take long for the young lady to spot the dragon eggs in his arms.
"Oooh! Can I hold one?" She asked.
Iroh nodded giving the girl the blue egg. The red one was for the fire lord.
"Well, tan my hide and call me jerky!" piped Noren. "These look real".
Feeling his nephew's presence, Iroh turned to give him the other egg. "Been keeping them for a while, now. They are real".
Fire Lord Zuko's eyes widened as he felt the shell of the egg.
"That one's for you, my boy and the other is for your son".
Zuko opened his mouth to speak when a voice Iroh had hoped to avoid instead answered on his behalf.
"And if the next fire lord happens to not have a-"
"A girl!" Zuko hurriedly said, stepping between the two as Azula advanced. "She's a girl, Uncle. Mai is still in the birthing room, recovering".
"Oh, well, that's great, Zuko," said Iroh, giving his best smile to Azula.
With an off-handed wave, she answered, "Hello, Uncle Fuddy Duddy".
"It's always a pleasure, Azula," said Iroh, dryly.
Azula clicked her teeth and like lightning snatched away the blue egg from her half-sister.
"Hey!" Hissed the teenager.
"What have we here?" Asked, Azula analyzing the egg, inches from her nose with narrowed eyes. With a long, red nail she tapped the egg before adding, "Surely, you did not intend on skipping your real niece. I like presents too, ya' know?"
Iroh gave a sigh. "It's not-"
"Oh, I forgot, for girls, right?" Azula hissed, handing the egg back to her uncle and waving him off in disgust before leaving the room.
Yes new story. This is mostly Azula, though there may be a pairing here or there. Thanks KD for the Azula Week Prompts.