An Ode to the Phoenix Heir
by: Fehize

[*-*-*-*]

Blue lips met the anguished eyes of the mother. Her jet black hair was splattered against the sheer white of the pillowcase, creating an inverse halo. Yet, despite this almost divine effect, nothing could change reality. In that mother's arms rested a small picture of an infant.

It was a female, who had the perfect little hands to grasp her parents. It was a little girl, who had the perfect little feet to learn to run with. It was a dead stillborn, whose perfect little lungs would never breath. It was the ghost of a newborn, whose hidden golden eyes would never open.

Tears were just funneling out of the exhausted woman's body, lamenting in her loss. All around her were the movements of the midwives, who were desperate to stop the woman's bleeding. Princess Ursa was always a fragile woman, medically speaking, and this pregnancy had placed too much strain on her. It was a miracle she survived her first birth, only a year ago, but husband and wife wanted a sibling for their little Prince.

And a Princess was delivered.

[*-*-*-*]

Prince Ozai, the second in line to the throne, was not a patient man, by any means. He would spend his time, thinking of ways to make his name last amongst the trows of history. He was determined not to fade away into just a branch attached to the family tree of the Fire Lord. The muscular man spent most of his waking hours planning said expenditures. There would be days when he would fantasize about being the first born son, instead of his brother, Iroh. He would spend other times learning art, politics, warmongering, science; anything to further his and his country's goals.

Yet, even such a man as himself had a weak spot, and that weakness was his darling. She was the calming summer breeze to his scorching sun. She whispered to him sweet nothings as he mentioned to her of his plans for their future. It was her, not him, who wanted a family and children to begin with. He would have been content to continue his existence, scheming his way forwards, and having no reference points to belittle him. Yet, when she turned her face towards him, and subtly hinted she wanted to have a family with him, all those days ago, how could he say no?

A small frown etched on his face. The first attempt had gone... difficult, to put nicely. His golden eyes hovered over his son, lying asleep in his ornate crib. It seemed that General Iroh was not the only man whose firstborn was a male. Yet, unlike Lu Ten, who was born with the sun shining in the sky, little Zuko was born on the darkest of nights. The midwife at that time was adamant that the little Prince-ling would die. For it was impossible to stay alive, she had stated. He was too young, too small, too early, that naive woman had argued.

Ozai had nearly punched her in anger. How dare that pathetic woman think that his firstborn child would pass away!?

Zuko - his little boy, his little Prince, his child - was stronger than that. Just like Ozai was stronger than his own brother. Just like how Ursa was better than any other female out there.

There was a knock at the door. Small, quiet; hesitant.

"Come in," he ordered quickly, removing himself from his musing as he gently brushed aside the midnight hair of his son one last time. Standing up tall and regal, he turned his head to face the stranger. Could it be news of his next child? The one that not only Ursa wanted, but that he desired as well?

The royal nursery was prepared for the second born. It had a spare crib, spare wet nurses awaiting in the rafters; spare toys. No expense was restrained.

The door opened and a woman walked forwards, clasping her hands together. Her mouth started to move, but-

-but that was not what Ozai noticed. Instead, it was her eyes.

Regret. Sorrow. Anguish. Fear. All jumbled up together in a mesh not suitable to be on anyone's face. She didn't even have to speak a single sentence, anymore. He knew, automatically, dreadfully, what that meant. He has seen the expression before - on Iroh's face when his wife died. On his father's face when Ozai's mother died.

And now, it was reflected on his face.

Her name would have been Azula, was his last, pure, recall-able thought of that week.

[*-*-*-*]

"The Princess is incapable of producing any more offspring, Prince Ozai. It would kill her, and the child, just like..." Just like it almost did last time, came the unspoken words.

The adult prince had to sigh at that comment. It had been already a few years since the second born, and despite that, the pain was still relatively there. It was upsetting, to be honest, but he couldn't just blame Ursa. It wasn't her fault that she was born with less abilities for childbirth. Not every woman had large hips and physic to battle through the effects of giving birth.

In fact, Ursa was better than Iroh's wife in that regard.

She had lived, whereas that other woman had not.

Which was well, to be honest. His infallible brother's wife had died giving birth to Iroh's second son, which would have placed Ozai even further and further away from the throne. It was something he would be willing to sacrifice almost anything for. However, politics and centrifuge was an art he knew he had to be careful with. It wasn't as if he could poison Iroh. No, it would leave too obvious a trace to its originator.

One day, his dearest brother will make a mistake, leaving the throne open. Ozai could wait for a few more years. Or ten. Or even fifteen. He was younger than Iroh by many multitudes, and far, far more cunning. He did, however, lack war tactics and strategy of the field. It was something that was not expected of the younger son, and to merely imply that he wanted to learn the subjects of the heir to the Fire Nation was a point against him.

Ozai detested political machinations, at times. It opened doors, but closed others. Still, it seemed he could play the games well - more-so when Iroh was far away.

His large hands turned the spoon in the tea pot, making sure to get just the right amounts of sugar within it. Ursa had gotten him hooked on this blasted hot leaves and water business, even though it was a trait that his brother was infamous for. He rose his golden eyes to look at his visitor in the face after partly ignoring him for those few moments. However, he made sure to give the man ahead of him full rapport, for it was unwise to split political alliances. "Lt. Colonel Zhao, it's nice to see you here in the Palace again. However, what you allude is correct. I will not be having anymore children."

"Too faithful to your wife. Understandable," the sailor stated.

Zhao was growing in the ranks of the Fire Nation Imperial Navy. He had ambition, ideas, and schemes worthy for the palace royal. However, that man's mindset was just where Ozai groomed that man's to be - by the Prince's side, and no where else. Let the Dragon of the West have his damn Army. The Navy was the future. It was also Ozai's pet project.

Men, like Zhao, would bring him forward. Likewise, he would further the Lt. Colonel's career. It was best to both interests.

The Prince frowned a bit, thinking about those words. Zuko was his sole heir, and Ozai would be cursed if he let his child not shine brighter than Lu Ten. "It's never too young to learn the ways of the sea," he commented. Start the kid young. Don't ignore him like his father, Azulon, had done to Ozai. Groom the little four year old into a Prince worthy of the Fire Nation underneath Iroh's very nose. Give him everything a Prince of Wartime would need. All Ozai asked was devotion: to him, to his family, to his country, and eventually, one day, to the entire world.

A world draped in black, gold, and red.

"You mentioned that children can learn to sail a boat, correct? Well, it would be wise for a Prince to learn these things, no? However, perhaps we can start with swimming."

You couldn't teach a toddler to give proper orders for a sailing vessel.

At least, not yet.

"Yes," Zhao continued, smirking a bit, "but boating and children aside, I've heard rumors of an inventor with flying contraptions in the north..."

Ozai flashed a brilliant, dark smile, "Would be a shame if the Earth Kingdom nabbed him first."

[*-*-*-*]

"Father," came the quiet voice of the small boy. "I'm scared."

"Nonsense. Princes should never be scared." Although, it was understandable. Ozai would have been lying if he had ever mentioned otherwise. It was typhoon season, and while the Caldera generally avoided such bad weather, Ember Island did not.

It wasn't a bad typhoon, but it did catch them by surprise. Ursa had been explicit in her desire to watch the plays on their summer home, and, being such wonderful weather during the start of summer, Ozai couldn't say no. Besides, Iroh was back home from the battles in the Earth Kingdom, and he was insufferable to be around with. On and on Ozai's elder brother would continue. Even more harassing was Lu Ten.

Perfect little Lu Ten, with his tall stature, charming looks, and a mind filled with promise.

He made a fire bloom at his fingertips, bringing forth light against the howling wind. He nudged his child to do so as well. Zuko was a quiet child, compared towards his cousin, but, in Ozai's mind, he was far, far more gifted. Besides, any sort of fire bending would be more than enough to distract him from the storm raging outside. At this rate, however, little Zuko's boat would be destroyed, and Ozai would have to find yet another one for his growing child. For being a fire bender, the child sure did have aptitude for the sea. For a nation based on islands, surrounded by the ocean, it was Agni-sent. Armies were nice, yes, but a standing Army was created for the purpose of conquering nations that had few shore lines. But a strong navy would last throughout the ages. Both, alas, had ultimate orders from the Fire Lord, but that was no problem.

One day, he'll be Fire Lord Ozai.

"You flick your hands and breath just so," the adult began, showcasing how to do the procedure right.

His son would be better than Lu Ten.

Out came the childish reply, with small hands making his own little flare, "Like this, Father?"

One day, little Prince Zuko would become the Fire Lord.

"Yes, just like that."

One day, his son would be better than him.

[*-*-*-*]

I've always wondered what would happen if Azula had died at birth. Would Ozai had been a good father without having a little prodigy getting all his attention and be a benchmark against? I mean, good to his family - aka Zuko and Ursa? I want to say yes, only cause I'm a sucker for father-son family love. Of course, this would mean that Zuko would be the focus of attention for not only his mother, but father, too. A father, who as we all know, is evil. Very, very evil.

What could this create?

I don't expect the story to be TOO long, but... I dunno, I'm bad at guessing.

As always, rate and review. And thank you for reading~