Author's Note: I do not own "Avatar: The Last Airbender" or anything related to it. I do, however, own my characters. If you steal them or borrow them without my "Yes." I will hunt you down. Thank you for your time. Oh, and if you do not like this, you don't have to read it! I will not force you or beg you.

Dedication: This story is dedicated to Twilight Rose Alchemist and to Sayko. Both are my buddies, sister-figures, and great people to talk to. This story is for you guys! And to my: readers, reviewers (Firework and Typewriterman especially), and friends.

Tales of Ba Sing Se: Memories

-Part VII-

Iroh examined a picnic basket in the market. He had to pick a perfect one today.

"If this is a romantic picnic, might I suggest this one?" The merchant pointed to a light red-pink picnic basket.

"Oh, no." Iroh said, reaching in his sleeve for four coins. "This isn't a romantic picnic, but it is a special occasion." He gave the merchant the four coins and took the basket. He turned around when he saw a young woman comforting her little crying brother.

"It's ok," She cooed. She set her vase of water on the ground and wrapped her arms around her brother. "We're almost home."

Iroh remembered a scene like this from the Fire Nation. He glanced around to see a little string instrument. He walked over to the merchant selling it.

"Please don't cry," The sister begged, but her brother continued crying loudly. The sister looked up when she heard strings play.

Iroh was playing a sweet and simple melody on the new bought instrument. He had a smile on his face. He began to sing:

"Leaves from the vine, falling so slow.
Like fragile, tiny shells,
Drifting in the foam.
Little soldier boy, come marching home.
Brave soldier boy, comes marching home."

The little boy stopped crying and stared up at Iroh with his big and puffy brown eyes. Iroh smiled down at him. He knelt down as he sang the last verse of the song. The little boy smiled.

"Thank you," The girl said, taking her brother's hand gently and lifting the large vase of water.

"It is no problem at all." Iroh said. The girl glanced down at her brother and began walking away, her little brother following her. Iroh watched them go and turned in his own direction.

"Daddy, will you sing the Soldier Boy song for me?" The little boy asked.

His father smiled and nodded. "Of course I will, Lu Tien." He sat by his bed and plucked the strings of the instrument as he sang:

"Leaves from the vine, falling so slow.
Like fragile, tiny shells,
Drifting in the foam…"

Iroh was about to make his way up a lone hill when two young men caught his eye. Both were joking and testing out their skills, which involved in earthbending and throwing knives. They were probably in their teen years. The Earthbender frowned. His companion looked over, "What's wrong?"

"Can't perfect this move," His friend said.

"Sure you can, Chin!" The man said, "Just set your mind to it!"

"Easy for you to say." The man called Chin muttered.

Iroh smiled a little. It reminded him a little of a memory from long ago and dead.

"Come on, Zuko, you can do it!" The young man ruffled his little cousin's hair.

Young Zuko frowned, "I can't."

"Yes, you can!" The Firebender said, "You just got to set your mind to it. Watch me." He slowly moved his arms and kept his fingers straight. He moved his arms and threw out his palms. Fire erupted.

"Wow!" Zuko stared at his older cousin. "How did you do that?!"

His cousin turned around and ruffled his hair again. "Gotta set your mind to it."

Chin slowly moved his arms and narrowed his eyes in concentration. He slammed his fist in the earth and the stones of the street shot up. He smirked, "Got it, Ping."

Ping looked back at him, "Ah, come on, Chin! Now we're gonna - "

"Halt!" A Ba Sing Se guard yelled at the two friends.

"Let's go!" Ping yelled, gathering his knives and running. Chin ran after him.

"Come back here, you kids!" The guard tripped over the broken stones, groaning in pain.

Iroh decided it was time to go. So he quietly evaded the guard and continued his way to the lone hill, just as the sun was setting. He chuckled as he reminisced on the past.

"Do I have to tell grandfather I broke the case?"

"Yes, you must. It is the right thing to do, my son." The father said, but just saw some guards lead prisoners to the execution room. "Perhaps," He said. "Another time."

"I'm not in trouble?" His son's face brighten.

His father gave him a strict look, "With your mother and myself, though."

The five-year-old pouted.

Iroh at last reached up the lonely hill with the tree. The sun was touching the horizon. He smiled at the scene and took his hat off. He knelt down before the tree and set the basket aside. He took the blanket out of the basket and laid it before a smooth rock that was nestled in front of the tree. He took three fruits out and spread them on the blanket's edges. He took out two long thing black sticks and with firebending, lighted them up. He paused and made sure if everything looked right. It did.

Finally, he reached in his robe and pulled out a scroll. He unrolled it and smiled at the picture. He set it against the rock.

"Happy birthday, my son." Iroh whispered. He paused and shut his eyes. If only I could've helped you… Tears welled up in his eyes. He started singing his son's favorite song:

"Leaves from the vine, falling so slow.
Like fragile, tiny shells,
Drifting in the foam…"

He didn't want to go on. His voice was cracking, but he went on - for his son. But as he sang the last verses, he closed his eyes and relived the day the terrible news was brought to him.

General Iroh sat in his tent. He was currently in the process of writing a letter to his family back in the Fire Nation. It was almost the end of the second year of the siege on Ba Sing Se. He paused in the middle of his letter, for a small break. He was about to write again when a soldier came in. The soldier saluted him. "Sir!"

Iroh looked at him with a soft expression instead of the harsh ones like the other generals would give the young man. "Yes?"

"A message, sir."

"From who?"

"The medical facility." The soldier answered.

"Very well," Iroh said. "Hand it over."

The soldier took a few steps and handed him the scroll.

"You may leave." Iroh excused him.

"Sir!" The soldier saluted him. He left the tent.

The general unroll the scroll and began to read it. The first sentence pierced his heart and he felt the oxygen escape his lungs. He dropped the scroll because his hands were shaking badly; tears fell from his horrid eyes. The first sentence read:

We regret to inform that your son, Prince Lu Tien, is dead.

"…Little soldier boy, come marching home.
My brave little soldier boy… Comes marching home."

Author's Note: ... sighes Bad, very bad. It seems I'm losing interest in Avatar now. I was so hoping to finish the entire series. shrugs It's probably because of the delay of season three. But the episodes were... they could've been better. And Zuko being related to Avatar Roku is like o.O, then why didn't his mom firebend??? Idk. Season 3 wasn't what I expected. I hope I can atleast finish this installment of the series because I think it's gonna come to an end soon...

Ideas, suggestions, requests are welcomed.

Thanks for all the reviews, alerts, and faves!

NOTE: Yes, my new penname is FreedomWriter92.