The Prince of Ba Sing Se is an AU-story;
about the moment when Ursa's life start to change. She and her child are banished, she tries to survive.
Iroh is fifty-two,
Lu Ten is twelve,
Ozai is thirty,
Ursa is twenty-nine,
Kuei is thirty-two,
Zuko is five.
The Prince of Ba Sing Se,
Chapter one.
"This ship is safe; my friends will transport you to the east-coast of the Earth Kingdom." General Iroh whispered worriedly, he was still in shock about what had happened earlier this day. He rubbed Ursa's shivering arms which held their poor child. "I'm so sorry for the mess I've made."
"We're both responsible for this, Iroh. I had to be much wiser; I couldn't fall in love with you in the first place. Look at us now! I am banished; my son is named a bastard."
Iroh placed his finger on her sensual lips. "Don't call him a bastard, he's our son." His finger moved slowly over her wet chin towards the painful red mark on her upper chest. "I'll follow your trail when Ozai calmed down. We'll start a new life in the Ba Sing Se, together."
"I love you." The woman pressed her lips on his and knew his words were a beautiful fantasy of their dreams. Ursa took some steps backwards; she knew it was time for her to leave. Iroh closed his eyes, as his true love entered the ship.
Ursa placed her son comfortable in his soft blankets as she wandered slowly onto the dark aisle. The nose of the ship closed with a heavy noise as the young lady sat down on the cold deck. She rubbed her little boy his tiny nose, he didn't even seem to be much aware of this situation. The boy was still under influence of the heavy medicines.
She bit her lower lip as she glared over his dark red scar; Zuko was only five years old and so innocent. This all wasn't his fault. The young lady looked up with a sigh and glared silently over the stars, how could she be so stupid. Why did she had to fall in love with the brother of her husband. She knew Ozai would once find out about her secrets.
Three months passed, Ursa's body became exhausted. She fell down on her knees before the giant brown walls of Ba-Sing-Se. "Mommy?"
"Please,… Be brave… we're almost there."
"You're scaring me, mommy…." The young boy moaned as he noticed the weird behavior of his mother. The young woman rested on her hands and knees, she couldn't go further like this. Her body was up; she had gone over her own limits.
Her gaze blurred, the sounds dazed. She felt her end was nearing but her mother heart couldn't give up, she was almost there. Ba-Sing-Se, the only chance on a new life.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING THERE?" The guard of the outer ring yelled from above. He squeezed his green eyes and held his breathe as he noticed the red clothes. The Fire Nation was underneath his feet.
The guard had to handle fast; he couldn't accept any kind of threat. He bended a wave of solid rocks towards the stranger and hit its chest. The enemy landed some miles further on its back, it was over.
The young mother became surrounded by darkness, her heart stopped beating. Her exhausted eyes closed slowly as she heard the last moans of her son. "MOMMY! MOMMY?" Zuko's short legs rushed towards his mother, the boy placed his little hands on her stiff body. "You're doing scary mommy. Wake up!"
The five year old didn't understood what his mother was doing but it made him petrified. He fell on his knees and placed his dirty cheek onto his mother belly. His eyes felt so heavy, it was time for him to do the same like his mommy. It was time to sleep.
The sun shone hard, the desert sand was burning underneath the child his body. The guard had descended the wall, and stared confused over the young brat. "Hi,… what are you doing here nearby the outer wall?"
Zuko blinked his eyes as he removed some of his tears. "I don't know."
The guard bit his lip and didn't knew how to clear this job. It was his duty to kill him but it was still a young child. "You want some water?" The man whispered as he grabbed the malnourished boy up.
"What about mom?" The child whispered as he placed his exhausted head onto the friendly stranger his shoulder.
"Your mother is resting a bit…"
Zuko's heavy eyelids closed as he heard those words, everything seemed okay. The guard brought the fire child towards his King for advice.
The young boy shocked as he awakened in a strange room nearby a large throne. He crawled away as a brown bear sniffed at his little foot. King Kuei rested his chin onto his hands and hadn't a clue what to do with this child. He had to kill it but he seemed so harmless and cute.
A tiny smile appeared on the man his face as Bosco licked the boy his small foot, the kid seemed to enjoy it. Kuei stood up and patted his pet his large head, the man was already thirty-two and he was still unmarried. He had no children, no heir to his throne.
This child was an orphan which reminded Kuei of his own. He had parents but rarely saw them. This young child had hit his tender heart and most importantly, Bosco loved him. "You like Bosco don't you?"
Zuko looked up with a rare smile. "He tickles!"
"What's your name my boy?" Kuei asked as he bended through his knees.
The young boy stared before him; the hardship had cost him more damage than first thought. "I don't know…"
"Your name is Li, my son and I am pretty sure you would enjoy some food!"
Young Prince Li stood up and followed this nice man towards the large kitchen, he was finally home again.