The story of the Royal Family is a chapter story,
About the early days of the Royal Family.
When everything is perfect, is a short chapter about how perfect Iroh's life goes and Ozai gets desperate. Lu Ten has graduated from military school, he's ready for his duties. Some Maiko cute in it!
Fire Lord Azulon is ninety-three,
Iroh is fifty-six,
Lu Ten is eighteen,
Ozai is thirty-six,
Ursa is thirty-three,
Zuko is nine,
Azula is seven,
Ty Lee is seven,
Mai is eight.
The story of the Royal Family,
Ch. 10: When everything is perfect.
Iroh had a lot of work with Lu Ten; the boy had a lack to discipline, wasn't interested in having a stabile life. But Iroh had never expected his wildest dreams would come true.
Today his son stands before him in his uniform; he finally graduated of from school. From military school! His son had chosen this direction at an age of thirteen. He never dreamed of becoming a soldier or a general, but he didn't care about studying. Nor he hadn't the capacity to study on university level, but he loved to sport and adventure. So, he took this direction.
Iroh watched over his son and he felt proud. The boy had grown so much at different ways. He became a little bit more serious, finally he did his best to become something in life and he became more like a man.
"Sergeant Lu Ten sounds good. Isn't it?" Iroh smiled emotionally.
Lu Ten laughed with his father's reaction. "Come on, dad! It isn't much."
"It's a beginning. You can't start as a general." Iroh touched his son's arms gently. "I've waited a long time for this and you don't know how proud I 'am."
Lu Ten rolled slightly his eyes.
"No Lu Ten! This is serious." Iroh voice turned serious. "I want to ask you something. I've a dream for this nation and I've planned it into my head. I waited until you were ready. If you refused, then this stops for me."
Lu Ten's eyes widened a bit. "What? What do you want me to do?"
Iroh moved his mouth closer towards Lu Ten's ear. "Conquer Ba Sing Se."
The boy stared into his father eyes. "You want me?"
"Yes. I want something of our both. Our names in the history books! So, what do you think?" Iroh waited impatiently for the answer.
The young boy felt proud and scared at the same time. "This will be my first time at the front." He replied hesitated.
"And a very special one, my boy!" Iroh took his son's hand into his.
Lu Ten glared into his father's eyes, they looked so motivated and strong. "Okay, I'm in! How can I refuse this?"
Iroh smiled wildly. "Great! The only thing we have to do is convincing your grandfather!"
Sometime later,
Iroh had summoned a war council in the throne room. After some time; the Fire Lord, his two sons, his grandson and several generals had entered the room. Fire Lord Azulon asked his oldest to declare himself.
Prince Iroh stood up with confidence; he knew what the reactions would be. He had played this scene hundreds of times into his head.
"This war lasted ninety-three years; our troops are scarce and The Fire Nation needs a breakthrough! I've thought about one and I've might have a plan." Iroh spoke out loud and took a little pause, enjoyed this moment.
Lu Ten stared with proud towards his father.
Fire Lord Azulon waited for the plan; knowing that whatever his son would say; it would be perfect.
Ozai squeezed his eyes; felt a deep shock inside.
Iroh pointed at the map. "Why should we conquer the small Earth towns? If we have the possibility to attack Ba Sing Se; the capital of the Earth Kingdom! Once we have it, we have the Earth Kingdom into our powers!"
Ozai's face froze, he felt lost inside. You bastard! He thought.
One older general nodded heavily, waited at his turn to speak. "We need to concentrate at the bigger conquest! Why should we waste or time and personnel at smaller and useless towns."
Fire Lord Azulon stood up. "I agree! When we attack Ba Sing Se, we need more recruits! From all different ages and degrees and we need to plan carefully."
Prince Iroh smiled towards his father. "I've some plans in mind."
Ozai frowned at his brother back. You egocentrics; mister father's favorite!
Iroh stared into his son's eyes and couldn't stop his words. "And, Prince Lu Ten will serve for the first time at Ba Sing Se."
The generals and Fire Lord congratulated the young boy. Ozai gritted his teeth; he could barely suppress his jealousy.
Later that day in the garden,
Zuko was playing in the fountain; he splattered with his hands in the water. The reflection was a potherbs, he loved this. All the colors and forms are so different. It's like a changing picture; you never know what the reality is.
Mai sat nearby against a tree. This apple tree was her favorite from the garden. A firm, old tree who had grown in a strange patron. With lumps; bumps and old man faces.
The young girl looked over her shoulder. Blushed when she saw Zuko. When will I ever dare to talk with him? She looked up and whispered against the tree, hoping that her wish would come true one day.
The leaves of the tree rustled in the wind. They whispered confidence into the girl's fantasy. Mai smiled and stood up. Walked nervously towards the young boy, stopped near him. Agni, He's so handsome. She thought with clearly eyes.
Zuko stopped spattering; when he saw other patterns and colors into the water. He felt a small shock trough his body when he saw the girl appearing in the water. She's standing behind me? What should I do? I? Should I look at her? The young boy started to panic for a moment.
Mai opened her mouth and couldn't say a word. She looked around her, thought quick. She didn't want him to discover her secret crush.
Zuko inhaled deep and turned around slowly. His muscles felt stiff, his heart was beating fast. He opened his eyes and smiled. But suddenly he felt a cold, wet smack into his face. The boy fell onto the ground in disbelieve.
The young girl slapped her hand into her face and felt so embarrassed. I threw mud into his face? Oh Agni! Why did I do that? She cursed herself and ran away.
The young boy stood up angrily and ran inside. "Stupid girl! I hate her!" He yelled.
Uncle Iroh who was walking in the corridor; looked confused at his nephew. "Is that mud in your face?"
The young boy crossed his arms. "Yeah! Mai threw it!"
"Oh, the girl with the black hair?" The man asked with a little smile.
"Yeah, she!" He snarled.
"Come, Prince Zuko! Let's clean up your face, hmmm?" Iroh replied tenderly, knowing that these two kids had a crush on each other for a very long time and actually never really spoke a word to each other. They always did goofy if they saw each other.
There was a long silence between them as they walked down the aisles. Iroh noticed that the boy was angry, hurt at this moment and probably very confused.
"Are you angry at Mai?" He asked at a whispering tone.
The young boy looked up firmly. "She's stupid!"
Iroh nodded when the boy spoke those words. "Well, Prince Zuko! You're right! She's very stupid and ugly. Oh Agni! I never saw such ugly girl in my life."
The young boy stopped walking and stared at his uncle.
Iroh went on walking, knowing what he's doing. "Eugh! That ugly black hair and those ridiculous clothes she's wearing. Hah, you're right! She's laughable!"
Those words were like a stab in Zuko's heart. "How dare you say that?" He yelled firmly while he walked towards his uncle.
Iroh frowned towards his nephew, played a psychology game with the boy. "Well, Zuko. You said this."
The boy's expression was rude. "I would never say that about her!"
"I'm sorry prince Zuko. But you told me she's stupid. So, that means you hate her!" He pointed out quickly.
Zuko sighed deeply and stared at the ground. "If you hate someone, then you throw mud into their face."
Iroh touched the boy's shoulder gently. "You love her, don't you?"
The young boy's cheeks turned red. "No! I don't love her! But, I euhm. I like her. Just a little bit."
The older man smiled. "She likes you too! Trust me, nephew. I know such things."
Zuko looked up quickly. "But why the mud?"
Uncle Iroh laughs hardly. "She did that to get attention from you! Mai is too shy to talk."
The young boy blushed again.
"And now, we'll clean it up!"