Chapter Text
When Fire Lady Ursa had gone into labour, the entire palace had held its breath. For a member of the royal family to be born at night was a bad omen, but on the night of the Winter Solstice? Everyone was nervous. The princess’s pained cries could be heard loud and clear throughout the palace, the midwives rushing to get to her chambers as quickly as possible.
All around, servants muttered prayers to Agni and Surya for a safe birth. Nervous anticipation kept its cold grip on every one of the palace staff members. Ursa’s screams rang louder.
(No one wanted to acknowledge that Prince Ozai hadn’t bothered to be by his wife’s side, hadn’t bothered to attend his child’s birth)
At long last, the princess’s cries quietened. A new member of the royal family had been brought into the world. A new heir.
Ursa smiled tiredly down at her newborn son. His golden—golden?—eyes blinked up owlishly at her, a small hand reaching out to touch her face. She gently grasped it, her heart swelling with love for the boy cradled in her arms. Zuko, she thought with certainty. His name will be Zuko.
Come morning, Fire Lord Azulon, Prince Ozai and Fire Sage all gathered in the princess’s chambers to meet the prince, who was happily playing with his mother’s hair. Prince Ozai took one look at him and felt disgust rise within him. There was no spark. The child had barely lived a day and was already a disappointment. “What is his name?” The Fire Lord asked. “Zuko,” Ursa replied. How fitting, the prince sneered internally.
“High Sage Yan?” The sage stepped forward and offered his arms, a silent request for the child. Ursa handed him over, her hands trembling ever so slightly. He frowned slightly, inspecting the child closely. “Well?” The Fire Lord demanded.
The sage sighed and answered, hesitance lacing his voice. “There’s a spark, your highness, but it is very small. Usually, golden eyes are the sign of someone with a strong inner flame, but the young Prince seems to be an exception. He…may not be a bender.” Pathetic, Ozai thought venomously, a member of the royal family cannot be a non-bender! The child was a disgrace, a shame on the family. He needs to be taken care of. Fire Sage Yan handed the infant prince back to Ursa. She cradled him almost protectively to her chest, grateful for the warm and comforting weight back in her arms.
The sage and Fire Lord left. Only Prince Ozai, Princess Ursa and their newborn son remained. “Hand me the child, Ursa,” Ozai commanded, his voice colder than ice. “Why?” Ursa asked, afraid of the answer.
Ozai curled his lip in disdain. “You provided me with a weak heir, a child with no spark. I can’t have a non-bender for an heir! He is a disgrace, and it would be better for everyone if he had no opportunity to bring shame to the family,” he spat. Ursa’s eyes widened. “No! Y-You can’t! Please, spare him, give him a chance. He could still turn out to be a bender. Please,” she pleaded.
(A mother pleading for her son’s life)
“Fine,” he relented. “But I will require another heir, I will not have my name tainted because of him.” He glared one last time at his son, turned on his heel and marched out of the room, head held high.
Ursa breathed a sigh of relief as the door slammed shut in his wake. She rocked the child in her arms, tears making their way down her cheeks. I will protect you, no matter what, she whispered to him. Zuko’s golden eyes gazed at his mother intelligently, and put a small hand to her cheek. He smiled.
(She had the oddest feeling that he understood her, but that was ridiculous. Babies can’t understand words so soon)
Outside the palace walls, joy-filled cries celebrated the news of Prince Zuko’s birth.
***
Two years later, Princess Azula was born at noon, on the Summer Solstice. This time, the servants had held their breaths and conversed in hushed whispers for a different reason. The birth had been more difficult, more painful. The servants flinched at every agonised scream from the princess. Oh, Agni, let her survive, they all hoped and prayed. Prince Ozai had not been present yet again, which was not really surprising this time around.
(In his room, Zuko covered his ears, tears prickling in his eyes. He didn’t want to hear his mom scream like that. It sounded like it hurt, a lot. He hoped she’d be okay)
When Fire Lord Azulon, Prince Ozai and Fire Sage Yan visited later, the sage announced that the child had a bright spark, destined to be a powerful bender. Ozai had smirked in cold satisfaction, something that had sent tremors of fear down Ursa’s spine.
(Outside the palace walls, the people rejoiced Princess Azula’s birth)
They had left the room to give her some time to rejuvenate from the exhausting birth. Ursa cooed at Azula as she babbled incoherently, far more energetic than her brother had been. She tucked her daughter into her side, careful to keep her away from the edge, and closed her eyes. Before she knew it, she was asleep, her dreams filled with her daughter’s beautiful amber eyes and small smiles. By the time she woke up, it was evening.
A young Zuko, accompanied by his Uncle, bounded into his mother’s room, eager to see his new baby sister. “Be careful, my nephew. You don’t want to wake your sister up, now do you?” Crown Prince Iroh chuckled at his nephew’s enthusiasm. For the past few hours he’d been begging to go see his new baby sister, but Iroh had refused, insisting that his mother needed to rest. He grinned apologetically at his sister-in-law, who was, thankfully, awake with a sleeping Azula in her lap.
“Mama! I wan’ see my new sister!” Zuko demanded. Ursa laughed. “Alright, my love,” she said, lifting her son up onto the bed with her. “Here she is,” she said, as Zuko adjusted himself to get a better view. The wonder and adoration on Zuko’s face as he gazed at Azula was the most heartwarming thing either of the adults had seen.
“What’s her name?” He asked in a whisper, almost reverently, as he reached out to touch her sleeping face. “Azula,” Ursa replied, silently enjoying the way Zuko frowned as he tried out the name. He looked adorable “‘Zula?” He asked, seeking confirmation. Ursa nodded.
“Would you like to hold her?” She asked. Zuko’s eyes lit up. “Really?” He breathed. Ursa smiled softly, and nodded. Gently guiding him into the proper position, she manoeuvred Azula to fit in his arms. All the movement had awoken Azula, and as Ursa watched, she saw Zuko’s eyes flood with love and adoration. “Hello, ‘Zula! I’m your big brother! We gonna have lots of fun,” he whispered to her conspiratorially and grinned. Azula giggled. The sight warmed Ursa’s heart. Yes, she thought, as she gazed contentedly at the pair. Zuko will be a great big brother.
***
A few moments later, Lu Ten burst into the room. “So! Where’s my new baby cousin?” He inquired. Iroh pointed at the bed. Lu Ten moved towards it and sat at the edge, greeted by the sight of Zuko holding his new sister, trying to make her laugh, and cheering when he managed to get some giggles out of her. Lu Ten smiled. “Hey, cuz,” he greeted, ruffling Zuko’s hair. Zuko glanced at him and beamed. “Look! Her name is ‘Zula!” Zuko declared, trying to show her to his elder cousin. Ursa snickered, and taking pity on him, helped to give her to Lu Ten.
“So what’s her name Aunt Ursa?” Lu Ten asked, looking down at the little human in his arms. He shifted her and himself slightly to hold her more comfortably. “I told you! Her name is ‘Zula!” Zuko cried, pouting. Ursa shook her head again. “Her name is Azula,” she answered, pulling Zuko onto her lap. Lu Ten smiled at his new baby cousin, Azula. “Gimme her back!” Zuko demanded, clambering over Ursa’s legs and reaching out for her. Iroh and Ursa laughed as Lu Ten got attacked by a two year old, their joy brightening the room.
As some of the older servants passed by, they smiled, as joyous and happy laughs filled the desolate palace.