What A Lifetime of Success Brings
95 AG
The balcony extending off of the Fire Lord's chambers had been the first actual move he had made when he became Fire Lord. He received that same strange look that accompanied all his unusual requests.
Fire Lord Azulon, known for his cold and ruthless tactics, would not make any war plans until his balcony was completed. The workers finished it in two days.
The time it took them did not speak to its quality. It was made from twenty different cherry blossom tress and the painters painstakingly detailed the beautiful petals along the railings.
The actual balcony was unimportant to him though; the view was what mattered. The palace gardens were always a welcome sight to his weary mind, despite him having not entered the garden for decades.
I don't deserve to set foot in such beauty.
The sound of his chambers' doors being opened brought his attention to his new visitor. Princess Ursa entered with a small smile towards her father-in-law. Azulon had long done away with the practice of a door servant announcing any guests. He figured anyone that had the bravery to see him in his own chambers was more than worthy to talk to him.
She sat down in the chair opposite him before setting a tray on the table between them.
"Good evening Azulon." Ursa knew how much he hated the stuffiness that came from using titles at all times. He only put up with it in war meetings. "Would you like some tea?"
He nodded once and took the offered cup once she was through pouring it. By the smell he could tell it was jasmine, his favorite. Without taking a sip he put it back on the table. "Tell me something, if I didn't drink the poison, what were you going to do?" His eyes never left the garden as his tone remained calm.
She blew out a small breath before exposing the small dagger she had hid in her sleeve. Still, she maintained her calm exterior.
Azulon smiled. Ursa had always impressed him with her poise and mostly hidden cunning. Of course, he had long given up the hope of either of these rubbing off on her husband. "You should've had Ochai deliver it. He always brings up the tea for our talks." Their regular talks had also become another of his favorite aspects about Ursa, especially since Ilah passed away.
"I know. I wanted you to know." She sniffled slightly, clearly trying to keep back tears.
"Your husband told you what I said in the throne room." He left the obvious truth as a statement before continuing. "Only he could interpret that threat as aimed toward Zuko. I swear he will know pain like no other, but worry not, your son is safe." She immediately moved to take his cup back before his hand stopped her movements. "No. Leave it."
"Azulon, please. You know I meant no offense." He had always hated how menacing his words were taken.
He grabbed the cup before lifting it under his nose. "I know. He threatened you, didn't he?"
"He threatened Zuko…" Some tears managed to leak out this time.
"Then I must die."
His resigned message sent a chill through her. "No, I rushed to conclusions. He scared me is all. There is another way I am sure."
"There isn't. He is as impatient as he is foolish. His want to become Fire Lord now will be granted."
Ursa followed his gaze, hoping that somehow it had the key to understanding his strange words. "But…why? You know he is unfit to rule."
"I'm counting on it. I owe the world that much."
"Azulon, you are an incredibly gifted man whose accomplishes fill up a whole library."
"Have you been reading our own propaganda? Our nation will grieve my loss, while the rest of the world celebrates my death."
"As they should, you struck fear in your enemies-"
"Stop. Do you really think I want to hear nothing but groveling in my last moments?"
Ursa set her lip in a line before nodding for him to continue.
"My father started this war by committing the biggest atrocity the world will ever know. I used to think that he had doomed me to this life. A life where I could go nowhere without being seen as a heartless monster. It seemed his plan was always to mold me into this. I was not raised by a family, but rather by a committee. I never knew my mother; she was just some royal concubine chosen for her fertility given Sozin's age. I don't think I ever had an actual conversation with my father." He motioned towards the cup. "Will it hurt?"
She shook her head. "No. It will take effect when you sleep."
He frowned at her words even still before gulping down the liquid at once; she didn't even flinch. He stared at the cup for a brief moment before setting it down. "Fitting that I go out like a coward." Ursa opened her mouth in protest, but he shook his head before the words could come out. "I have realized far too late in my old age that my own atrocities were not a result of my father; they are my own to bare. I could have stopped this war a long time ago. I deserve this fate. My father may have plunged the world into darkness, but I made sure it could never return. I am the monster my father always knew I could be."
"You believe he will lose the war." Ursa had figured out his plan. She always was quick to pick up on things.
He shook his head slowly with his eyes close. "Of that I cannot be sure. I can only hope that my death will bring upon some peace. I only wish I could live to see the day that Ozai pays for his sins." He signed the paper she brought with the tray, having no doubt it was some proclamation that Ozai was the better choice for Fire Lord after Lu Ten's passing. He wished he could see Iroh again, to plead with him to understand. The Spirits would not be giving him that chance of course.
She rose to her feet slowly. "I'm not sure if it matters, but I never thought you were a monster."
"Neither did Ilah. But I know now the Spirits took her from me as means of punishment. Do not weep for me, nobody else will."
Ursa turned around one last time as she reached for the door. "Goodbye Azulon."
"Goodbye Ursa."
As he observed the setting sun one last time, his thoughts turned to his first ever war meeting. The day he began turning a winless war into a seemingly surefire victory. The image of Ilah's smiling face normally calmed his troubled mind, but for the last ten years since her passing he could only see her frown.
He hoped tonight that would change. Azulon got into his bed for the final time.
"Please Spirits, just let me see her one last time."
AN: About this chapter: I know that Azulon is described as a cold and ruthless leader, but I have a feeling that only makes up a small part of him. He seems to care way too much about Iroh at least for him to be totally inhuman. Plus, the idea of this amazingly intelligent and cunning person being taken down by Ursa poisoning him unknowingly seems utterly ridiculous. Also if you aren't familiar, Ilah was Azulon's wife who we pretty much know nothing about besides her name.
I also really quick want to touch on me saying that Azulon's threat was not meant for Zuko. I know it may seem strange, but I do have an in canon source to back me up. In the episode Zuko Alone, following Azulon saying that Ozai's punishment had barely begun, we hear the sound of firebending, but never see it. Then Azula comes to Zuko's room saying that Ozai would be killing him. I believe that Azulon attacked Ozai and had no plans to kill Zuko. I mean, why would the guy who has guided the Fire Nation through a near century long war be so willing to kill one of his heirs? He has to know they don't exactly grow on trees. Especially after he just said how disrespectful Ozai was being in regards to Lu Ten's death. So yeah, I really doubt Azulon would so purposefully jeopardize his blood line just to teach Ozai a lesson.
Word Origin/Pronunciation: Ochai (O-chy) = Adapted from the Japanese word for tea
Whether you agree with me or not, I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter regardless. As always, I am open to hearing any arguments you may have about this as well.
