Iroh's Child
Best Plans

"Are you sure?" Zuko sat there mulling over what his grandfather just related to him. He turned his head to look at his uncle, carefully taking in the look on Iroh's face.

Something— "I asked the same thing," Iroh said, meaning his uncle shared the same concerns regarding the Fire Lord's plans for Zuko's birthday. "Yet, his reasons are quite sound, but more importantly…" The corner of Iroh's mouth twisted up. "It means that your grandfather has confidence in your abilities, to try and pull something like this off."

"Plus, I've talked to your other teachers."

"I'm not as skilled as Azula," Zuko looked down at his hands.

Azulon's mouth twisted, wishing his grandson wouldn't compare himself to his sister, particularly when—he simply didn't want to think about what Ozai was up to with Azula. "At least they're not doing anything to harm Kiya, though to me that means they've some other plan I've not yet figured out." He saw Zuko wince at his reaction and followed up with, "That doesn't matter. What is being measured is your skill, and your skill alone, but do you think you'll have more confidence if we go about it this way?"

"This way?" Zuko mused over what he said.

"Effectively utilizing what all of your teachers have taught you, but it will also only be in front of those I trust, so if you happen to have a slip up they will not judge you negatively for this, particularly when many of those attending will in fact have their own children and grandchildren who are of similar stage as you, rather than being at the same stage as Azula."

"So, while I'm to do my best, it's also alright if for some reason I mess up?" Zuko asked.

"Yes. One of the things I am proud of you for is how you don't give up, but I do suspect you'll do much better than you think," Azulon hummed. "So? Do you agree to my plan?"

Zuko still looked unsure of himself, of the plan Azulon lay forth, but then he said, "Yes."

The plan progressed from there, with Azulon inviting various indvidduals he found trustworthy to a small dinner to celebrate Zuko's birthday. There was also arranging for Ursa to come by with Kiya that morning so that she might give Zuko a gift—a book, though he seemed far more interested in playing with the small infant who acted with the wonder one would expect of babies.

Even Iroh took delight in Kiya's presence as Azulon and Ursa shared what felt like a knowing look. The look they shared also felt like a promise that he would continue to see to Zuko's wellbeing, recognizing that child was the future of the Fire Nation despite Ozai thinking the future was Azula.

As such, later in the evening he sat there chatting with the individuals he'd invited to the birthday party when one of them asked, "Where is Prince Zuko?"

"He shall be here shortly. Until then, let's enjoy some entertainment I've prepared." Azulon didn't histate, though in Iroh's eyes he saw a bit of worry flicker through and he wanted to say outloud to simply trust him, that he knew what he was doing and that his plan would work out.

Two young boys stepped out and started sparring at the signal by another boy, all three wearing masks over their faces to prevent any of the nobles at the table from figuring out who the individuals were, not that they would think anything of a performance selected for Zuko's first birthday as the Esteemed Prince and heir to the Crowned Prince and things when smoothly.

And then, the flame daggers came out during the sparring match as planned, the confidence Zuko gained from not showing his own face allowing him to do exactly what Azulon wanted—presenting him and his Fire Bending abilities without Ozai's interference. When finished, the two boys bowed as did the boy who signalled for the sparring to start and the nobles there clapped.

One of the men turned to Azulon, smiling as he did so. "That was quite skilled, but since Prince Zuko isn't here yet, do you mind if I spar with the one who created the fire daggers a bit. I'd like to test his skills out, but promise no harm will come to the boy. Well, of course there wouldn't be any such worry as every child is important to the future of the Fire Nation."

Azulon looked at the boy in question, the corner of his mouth twisting up while Iroh contemplated what was said before himself saying. "Yes. I think it will be a good learning experience to have the chance of sparring with a Master such as yourself, but any child would be lucky."

The man stood and the other boy who'd spared with the one who created the Fire Daggers stepped aside, letting the other to step forward and into a stance so he might spar with the man, yet the sparring practice went well even though something in the back of Azulon's head made him think the younger Fire Bender might find some fault in his own bending.

When finished, the man stepped away. "Amazing. Where did Fire Lord Azulon find you, young man?"

Azulon nodded his head and mask came off. Removing the mask revealed all to well Zuko's nervousness and the man made a quick bow to Zuko and then the Fire Lord. "Well played, Fire Lord Azulon."

Zuko's head tilted in confusion while the others that Azulon selected agreed. Azulon smiled. "There are treats for you and your friends in the other room, Prince Zuko, but you've done well."

"Thank you for your praise, Fire Lord Azulon," Zuko bowed, a bit clumsely, though Azulon didn't care. He dissapeared with his two friends while Iroh started to relax.

The man who sparred with Zuko sat back down. "Again, well played. This is the presenting of Prince Zuko's Fire Bending skills, is it not?"

"Yes. I decided Prince Iroh and I would present his capabilities to a group of individuals he and I could trust, particularly since I do not want any of this getting back to Ozai."

"No? Wouldn't the prince's former father be interested?"The man smiled. "I certainly would prefer that polite young man in my academy over a child like Princess Azula, but I would hide from you, Fire Lord Azulon, that I do pity the mistress of the girls school for the Royal Academy."

"Truth is, Ozai was actually neglectful of Zuko's training in favor of Azula's," Azulon said.

"Price Iroh?"

"I definitely was dissapointing to see that, particularly with a child so willing to learn, but I think quite a few are neglecting the basics."

"Yes. It's a pain to try and drill them into my students who have all learned before entering the academy to focus on these powerful skills rather than making all of their skills powerful."

"Speaking of which, did Prince Zuko create that move on his own?" another of the men there asked.

"That is actually the result of him learning sword skills from Piando and then utilizing what he's learned in his own bending without any provocation from myself or my father, but I'm quite proud of him for this."

"What do you hope to accomplish with this? Something tells me that you'll want this to keep secret?"

"I definitely want to keep this secret from Ozai, but when Prince Zuko attends the academy, I don't wish for him to be places in any of the Fire Bending classes, though a private lesson from you now and then wouldn't be out of the question. I do not want Ozai or Azula knowing how his skill has improved, particularly if he has something planned that may place my grandson in harms way. And no, do not trust Ozai."

"Is there a reason for this?" one of them asked.

"Prince Zuko is quite aware of the reason I don't trust Ozai, though there are some things he doesn't at his age quite understand, but effectively Ozai did not chose to give his first born to his older brother willingly. I made him give Prince Zuko to Iroh when he insisted that I skip by the Crown Prince in inheritence because he no longer had an heir, yet I also saw how he'd neglected my grandson's training in favor of—well, he's already declared Azula a genius as all of you very well know."

"She is powerful, but from what I've heard the skills she has doesn't lean towards her becoming a master Fire Bender. Prince Zuko on the other hand—" The head of the academy smirked. "I would be willing to declare him a master at that skill he's created, though he still does need to master his other skills. And, I see him like the Crown Prince and the deceased Prince Lu Ten eventually fufilling the role of teacher, if he were given the chance."

"Yet, everyone knows that declaring a child a master based on that more often than not goes to their heads," someone other than the headmaster said. "Actually, declaring a child a master often hinders their growth in the art which goes in hand with actually mastering the art."

"Yes, we are aware of that, but I doubt my grandson would believe you if you were to declare him a master at this age, particularly with how he thinks Azula is better than him - which, in power she is."

"You're wanting us to declare his skill level in secret, but also to keep the fact he has actually become a master in developing his own skill a secret?" the third piped up.

"Yes. Are we in agreement here?"

They indeed were.