Prompt 27: Earth

On Azulon's birthday the year after his death, Zuka ran away from the Fire Nation. She packed Izumi into an airship and found some kind of "official business" to take her to Ba Sing Se. By midday, she walked up to the Jasmine Dragon only to find it closed. Panic took hold of her and she hired a cab to take her and Izumi to Iroh's modest home in the wealthiest section of the city.

With a sleepy five year old balanced on her hip, she let herself through the gate and up to the door. Iroh was surprised by the visit, but knew why they had come. He took Izumi into the guest room and tucked her into the bed for a nap after the long journey.

"I didn't think it was even possible, Uncle." Zuka started as soon as he returned with a tray of tea.

"Which seemingly impossible thing are you talking about, my niece?" Iroh smiled and set the tray down.

"I miss Azulon. I actually miss him. I keep finding myself heading towards his room or his study expecting to tell him how horrible a meeting went. I cried last week when I was served a sweet bun at a state dinner." She knew never properly grieved her brother's passing. She had bottled it inside and continued on because she was Fire Lord and she had to be strong for everyone else's sake. But it was almost unbearable now, especially when Izumi did something that just reminded her of the warrior prince.

"You two were close in the last few years. It isn't surprising that you miss him. You missed him when we were in exile too."

"I did not. You were teaching me how to defeat him."

Iroh sipped his tea. "Did you come here to forget about him? Because I do not think that is working."

"Sometimes I just think it would have been better if Azulon hadn't found us. Pretending to be… peasants, working in that old teashop. Raising a family in a little stone house in the middle ring. No politics. No state dinners. No headaches and pressure of being Fire Lord."

"It would have been lovely, but you know that you would have hated it."

Zuka is silent, thinking about a life of earth, trading reds for greens and her inner fire with a strong and unbreakable will. She envies the imaginary self she created and then dismisses the thought. "I would never have found Mother and Ikem or known Kiyi. I would have never gotten Azulon back or had a second chance with Mai. Izumi would… never have been born." The thought of her daughter not existing makes her heart hurt worse than anything else. She loves the child more than anything in the world, maybe even more than her uncle.

"See? The earth is always softer in the meadow next over." Iroh stood up. "Come with me."

Zuka let her uncle lead her outside. They kneel under a tree and Iroh spreads a cloth down. With shaking hands, Zuka sets the old picture of Azulon in the center of the cloth; the picture is old, it was printed from a portrait made before her banishment. Ten-year-old Azulon looks like a mini Ozai in his armor. But it is the most recent portrait they have on hand, so it will have to do. They each light a stick of incense and Iroh plays his flute. Zuka leans against her surrogate father's side and lets herself cry, her tears dripping into the soft earth of the city that her brother had conquered.

Well, it's over now. That was my last prompt. I'd like to thank alyssialui for starting the ATLA Fanfiction challenges forum and this particular challenge. Thank all of you who reviewed, favorited and followed this weird collection of tales. I do have a sequel/spin-off multi-chaptered story in the works, so keep an eye out for that in the future. I have enjoyed watching Azulon II and Zuka grow up over this series and I hope to do them justice in the future. Thank you all.