Mid month update! School is done until next year and work is now much more constant so I have time to write!

This chapter does have some plot changes from the original and I've decided to maybe add a bit of Azula redemption maybe? I love her character but just imagine having her be on the opposing side of her father and just how much chaos she could cause!

CH 5 News From the Sea

It had been a mistake. Iroh knew that but he still let it happen. This whole situation was one big mistake that he will forever have to live with. He wasn't even sure he could live with himself knowing what he allowed to happen under his nose.

His nephew. His sweet and caring nephew had been punished unjustly and now was alone out there. He knew in his gut that it was a mistake to let Zuko join him at that meeting, but he just couldn't say no to that look of determination. It was a terrible mistake.

The Agni Kai was a farce. It wasn't just a mistake it was a trick, a way for the esteemed Fire Lord to cull the competition for his "true" heir. The trap had been lying in wait and Iroh had led his unsuspecting nephew into it without knowing it.

The banishment was only given when it was clear that Zuko would survive the wound inflicted upon him by someone he trusted, his own father. It made Iroh's blood boil at the cruelty his brother had inflicted upon his own son. Iroh had tried to go with him, but it was like Zuko was in the infirmary one night then on the ship the next morning and gone just moments later. He had been stalled, he knew. The servants were skittish around him that morning and caused a few problems. He tried to be kind and soothe their worries since they already had to deal with so much. The guards themselves had misdirected him, making him run around like a hamster-rat in a cage.

Without him there things didn't seem to change though Iroh could feel a difference. A month had passed since his nephew had been sent off in search of a myth. Fire Lord Ozai resumed his meetings and duties as the leader of a nation at war. It didn't seem to bug him that he just lost an heir or more importantly a son. Princess Azula, the cunning, prodigy child practiced as hard as ever learning more and more advanced sets for her age. She was progressing much farther than, in her mind, her worthless brother ever could.

It seemed like only Iroh could see the changes in the two royals. Fire Lord Ozai added more and more pressure and classes on his daughter, ones reserved for the heir. She took to them zealously. She even received more private lessons from her father himself as well. Zuko never was given the chance nor the privilege of those before the banishment. Heck, he hadn't received any kind of support much less the time of day from the Fire Lord.

Iroh was concerned for the child. She was being dragged further and further into her father's clutches and the one sweet child he knew his niece to have been was disappearing. He could see her starting to crack at the seams though. The pressure something Azula usually thrived under seemed to be wearing her down. He would try to help her. If he couldn't help his nephew he would do what he could for the last of his family not consumed by power and war.

A sigh left him as he put aside a useless report. He hadn't heard of anything from the ship that had taken his beloved nephew away. His plans were being changed and his goals were shifting. Curse his brother and his own cunning mind.

"General Iroh," a voice brought the old man out of his thoughts.

"Yes?" Iroh turns to the servant who kept their head bowed towards him.

"The Fire Lord has requested your attendance at a meeting."

"I will be there."
The servants bowed again, hands shaping a flame, and left. A meeting? Iroh wasn't aware of any meeting scheduled for the day. Curiosity and weariness filled him. He would just have to find out what his brother was planning.

The old general stood up, leaving his cup of tea to grow cold as he headed to the throne room. The long halls of red and gold seemed never ending as he walked. What the topic of the meeting could have made him worried for what his brother was up to. There certainly had to be some reason to spring this upon him.

When he reached the throne room, the guards bowed before letting him into the hot room. It seemed to always be burning hot in the room, even more than the humid Fire Nation heat. Iroh bowed towards the Fire Lord where he sat upon his throne. His face was obscured by the shadows his red flames created in front of him. He sat regaly surrounded by his element. At his feet sat the princess, smirking at her uncle.

"Iroh," the Fire Lord addressed his brother. "Take a seat."

Iroh followed the command, taking a seat next to his niece. Azula smirked at her uncle, but he could see the weariness growing in her eyes. Eyebags covered in makeup and her form slouching only slightly from late nights. She was only 12 and no one at that age should be looking like that. He really needed to speak with her.

A man entered the room interrupting Iroh's thoughts once again. The man held an arrogant air about him as he sauntered up to the royals. The smirk on his face was sinister. This man thought he was important, unusual for someone in the presence of the Fire Lord unless he was someone on his side.

"Lieutenant Ojas," the Fire Lord said as the man bowed lowly. "You have returned. Tell me what has happened to bring you back when you should be with the banished prince."

'Ojas' Iroh was startled at the name and what the Fire Lord said. 'This is the man in charge of the ship that took Zuko. Why is he here? Where is Zuko?'

"My Lord," Ojas spoke to his leader. His once arrogant face changed into one of fake sorrow. "I regret to inform you of this, but young Prince Zuko was killed."
Iroh stiffened when he heard the news. His nephew, his second son, was dead. He silently prayed to the spirits for it to not be true. It just couldn't be, unless...

Iroh couldn't see his brother's face, but from what he could see he didn't express any surprise or shock at hearing the news. Azula eyes burned brighter. For what he couldn't tell, she skillfully hid her emotion behind her mask of arrogance.

"And who killed him?" Fire Lord Ozai asked.

"We believe it was a rebellion group from the South Pole, my Lord. We had been sailing near their border when we were ambushed. The poor Prince was still unwell from his injuries and succumbed to them when the savages tried to capture him and sent him tumbling overboard," Ojas played up the false sorrow. It made Iroh's chest burn with pain and anger.

"Is that so?" Fire Lord Ozai questioned rhetorically. "You may leave."

Ojas bowed and left, smirk on his face back in place. The Fire Lord turned to his remaining family. Azula's own smirk mirrored that of what Iroh assumed was on his brothers. The fire blocked his view but Iroh knew his brother.

'So he knew this was going to happen,' Iroh confirmed.

Fire Lord Ozai went on about what they must do now that the Prince was dead (who to notify and what-not). It was much quicker than it should have been for the death of a royal, but his brother never cared when it came to Zuko. Iroh left the throne room feeling worse than when he found out about Lu Ten.

Lu Ten's death was terrible, buried under earth from the enemy, but it had been war and he had begged his father to let him join him. He wanted to prove himself a leader for their nation. Iroh had let him and the result was his son's death. If only he hadn't let Lu Ten join him.

Zuko's death was much more avoidable and made the sting all that worse. This wasn't a real war, though politics and palace life made it seem like a battlefield. This was a father deeming a son useless and disposing of him. If only he hadn't allowed Zuko in the meeting that day.

There were so many if onlys.

Iroh's heart may have been bursting to cry and mourn, but he had to hold that in. He couldn't until he was certain. With purpose, he walked to his destination at a near run. Everyone stayed out of his way as he passed by. Someone could tell him the truth was waiting.

"G-general!" a startled man jumped when the old general opened the doors to his office.

The man had been escorted here by his trusted subordinates when he came to the palace with Ojas. He may have lost the battle, but many still held him in high regard and would rather follow him than the Fire Lord.

"Lee, tell me what happened," Iroh softly said.

Iroh poured a new cup of tea for them both and took a seat at the table. Lee fidgeted uncomfortably in the silence. It was time to learn the truth. Lee's fingers moved around the rim of his cup slowly, trying to find the best place to start. He sighed knowing the best to start the tale even if he wished none of it happened.

"After we left the Fire Nation the men did as they were ordered by the Fire Lord," Lee started slowly. "They gave him a cell instead of a room. They hardly fed him and didn't treat his injuries. One day the Prince got out and-"

Lee paused, bowing his head as he took a deep breath. Tears threatened to fall.

"They almost drowned him for wanting water. They broke his leg to make it harder for him to escape. It was awful and I could only do so much to help him. I gave him food and water. I tried to treat his injuries but they wouldn't heal. They just got worse and worse. He wasn't healing and I couldn't do anything, General."

Iroh reached out and placed a hand on Lee's shoulder. Lee's head slowly moved up to look at the old man. His face showed sadness, but no blame or rage. It allowed Lee to continue speaking.

"He was so out of it. He had a fever and his burn was infected. I tried to talk to him as much as I could. Give him something to hold on to so he didn't give up. I told him stories of anything to pass the time. He seemed to like them." This admittance brought a small smile to both of their faces. Lee's disappeared quickly as he continued.

"Then, once we got to the southern border, they decided they were going to finish him. They dragged him onto the deck and left him there to die of the cold that night. That's what the orders were, to dispose of him far away and blame it on the enemy.

"When it was night, I was able to get on deck while everyone was drinking and put him in a lifeboat. I don't know what happened after that. I told the crew he had died and dumped him into the sea. I don't know if he's alive or dea-" his voice died as the tears finally spilled.

It was too much for the both of them and Iroh pulled Lee into a tight embrace, rubbing his back to comfort him. Iroh had his own tears falling, but he was the one comforting the younger man. It was too much for them both. Once the tears had shed Iroh asked him to keep his eyes open and an ear listening for anything. The man agreed, wishing to make up for what he couldn't do on the ship.

Lee left and Iroh was alone with his thoughts once again. He might not be able to help his nephew, but he could try. A new goal formed in his mind. He pulled out document after document.

The 41st division had abandoned their posts and were deemed traitors. No one knew how they got word of that horrible bait plan, but they did and chose to leave with their lives then be sacrificed. Iroh was proud of those he trusted that task to. They had safely gotten all those young soldiers out of danger and into hiding.

The citizens were only getting rumors, but the rumors were as close to the truth as they could without being persecuted for trison. Iroh had his share of helping fan the flames of those. The staff especially enjoyed helping to spread those to their friends and family. Word was spreading fast at how uncaring their Fire Lord and generals were with the lives of the people.

There were plenty of people that supported Iroh and wished he was Fire Lord. While he may never take the title unless necessary he could use that to help his goal. They were the ones he had used to help the young recruits escape their deaths. They had spread out all over the colonies and Earth Kingdom awaiting orders from him.

They swore their loyalty to the royal who had stood up to him and he could use that. A message was created and duplicated. If Zuko had survived he would need support and help. He had to find him and get everything ready for his return. Even if he had to take the title, Zuko would always be his son and his heir.

Iroh wrote many messages that evening and sent them out into the night. Only time would tell if it would work. It was time to contact some old friends now.