Chapter Text
Iroh isn't sure what he's doing awake so late, but he finds himself in the palace library with a fresh pot of tea. In two weeks, they will be hosting the celebration for the fourth anniversary of the war ending, and his nephew and his friends have all been working hard to prepare. Zuko went to bed hours ago and Iroh knows he'll be up early to meet Katara when she comes in from Ember Island. It's a pity that Azula is not well enough to join them for the celebration, but Iroh isn't going to ask her to do anything that may cause another setback in her rehabilitation. She is not yet ready to see her mother, let alone be surrounded by lots of people she doesn't even know.
With his niece on his mind, he decides to write her a quick letter that he can send in the morning. Azula rarely replies to his letters, but Katara tells him regularly that she enjoys receiving them—and last time he visited, Azula had even told him as much herself. He starts writing his letter with a small sigh and a smile, telling his niece about the preparations for the celebration and about her brother falling into the turtleduck pond while trying to dodge Sokka's failed attempts at juggling several boomerangs.
“Interesting, isn't it, how easy one can slip through the cracks when everyone is under the illusion of hardwon peace,” the sneering voice sends a chill down the Dragon of the West's spine and he turns in shock, eyes wide with horror at the sight that greets him.
“How is this possible?!” Iroh exclaims as he jumps into action. Flames light up the library as he advances on the man leaning against a bookshelf. The slightly younger man dodges the fire easily, but Iroh does not let up in his attacks. Deranged laughter falls from his enemy's mouth as the man backs away, dodging again, continuing to cackle the whole time.
“You shouldn't be so worried about the how, brother, but rather what I am doing here,” Ozai smirks at him and Iroh is certain his heart stops in his chest if only for a moment. Zuko.
For the first time in a very very long time, Iroh lets his rage consume him, mixing with terror as he attacks his brother—no, the monster that used to be his brother. He doesn't recognize this fight for what it is until Ozai is dead at his feet, the smell of burning flesh thick and cloying. In the seconds after, as he stares down at the body of the monster who nearly set the entire world aflame, it hits him. Ozai's laughter, his smirk…this was a distraction. Iroh takes off at a run.
He yells for the Palace Guard; cries out that they are under attack. The guards react immediately, and several follow him towards Zuko's chambers. Panic rises in the old man's chest as he practically crashes through his nephew's door, his gaze scanning the room for Zuko immediately. When he sees him, Iroh feels a wave of anguish wash through him; Zuko is sprawled on the floor in his sleep clothes, unconscious. Iroh falls to his knees beside the younger man. “Zuko!” He cries out as the guards search the rooms, reaching out as he glances up towards one of the guards. “Fetch the physician! Find a healer!” Iroh demands and the men follow his orders, disappearing from the room. His gaze falls back to Zuko and he knows that whatever happened tonight, will change everything.
Please Agni, do not take my second son, he begs as he holds one of Zuko's hands in both of his. The Dragon of the West pays no mind to the chaos going on outside the room; the threat is gone and the Palace Guard will have found Ozai's body by now. Some part of him may have still seen his little brother in the man once, but not anymore. Not after this. Iroh lowers his head, presses his forehead to his hands still clasping Zuko's, and begs.
In the four years since the war has ended, Iroh has done his part to help his nephew and the others work towards a new era of peace and harmony. But as he lifts his gaze once more to stare at his nephew's unmoving form, he thinks that perhaps he did not do enough. He should have tried harder to guide young Zuko before, should have tried to shelter young Azula as well, should have fought to keep his place on the throne…the list is endless.
“Iroh,” the voice is soft, and his gaze snaps up from his nephew, eyes widening at the sight of a young woman standing in a patch of moonlight—or rather, the young woman radiates the moonlight. Dressed in the traditional garb of the Northern Water Tribe, with hair white as the moon above, Iroh knows this child, despite never having met her before. Though, he considers, she has not been a child for some time.
“Princess Yue,” he murmurs, voice rough with his sorrow and pain.
“In another life,” she dips her head and steps forward. Iroh watches her in silence as she comes to Zuko's other side and kneels down.
“Please,” he whispers. He will give anything to save his nephew—his son.
“This is not what should have happened,” Yue murmurs, and Iroh can't help the way his heart lurches at the thought that maybe this means she will help. “I can not do what Tui once did for me,” she continues, sending a sharp jab of pain into Iroh's chest as he clutches Zuko's hand tighter. “But it is not just I who knows the path was lost,” Yue looks over her shoulder and Iroh follows her gaze, gasping at the sight.
“There is nothing that can be done in this time,” a man with hair white like Yue’s murmurs, and the dark haired woman beside him nods in agreement. Iroh's heart sinks.
“Have faith, General,” another voice pulls at his attention and the two spirits part to reveal a third. This one steps forward, her golden eyes warm as she casts a soft look full of love at the older moon spirit, and he responds in kind, his ice blue eyes holding the same warmth while the dark haired ocean spirit smiles at both of them. Then the third spirit's gaze meets Iroh's and he can feel her warmth simply from their locked eyes. “As my love says, there is nothing to be done in this time. But perhaps, there is something to be done in another,” she says as she steps forward, kneeling beside the younger moon spirit. Iroh finds himself holding his breath for a long moment as she reaches out to touch her fingers to Zuko's forehead.
“Whatever it is, I will do it,” Iroh says firmly.
“It is not you that must carry out the act, General. But with your guidance, perhaps they will succeed,” the sun spirit murmurs as she lifts her hand from Zuko's forehead. Iroh does not know what she means, but he doesn't care. He will do anything to save the boy that has become his second son.
When the older moon spirit steps forward, the ocean spirit follows, and when he kneels beside Iroh, she follows suit on Iroh's other side. He looks between them, still confused, but willing. “You will have help, General, but it will still be no easy feat,” the moon spirit tells him with a look. Then he reaches out a hand and Iroh reluctantly pries one of his hands away from Zuko's to clasp the moon spirit's. Darkness encroaches on his vision, and the last thing he hears is the moon spirit's words. “Ozai must not survive the day of black sun…”
—·—
“Yue, this is too much and you know it.”
“It is not. Agni agrees with me, Tui! We all know who should return with them. I only wish to give them a bit more guidance, and–”
“And she should not have to be alone in the time it takes for them to reach her, Tui.”
“La–”
“He is one of our blessed, is he not?”
“So is the girl!”
“Agni is sending three,” Yue reminds them softly.
“Two. The General does not count.”
“Are you certain it's safe for the fragile one?”
“Yes. She will be fine. I will ensure it.”
“What about the swordmaster?” Tui grumbles.
“He will be one of mine,” La murmurs with a smile, looking to Agni. The sun spirit nods in agreement.
“The boy?”
“Mine as well,” La shares a soft look with Yue.
“The last one is mine,” the younger moon spirit says firmly.
“You know you can not stay, my child,” Tui’s voice is gentle and his expression softens as he looks at Yue.
“I know. Will it…will it happen the same?” Yue asks her older companion, and he shakes his head.
“There is no telling how different it will be. But the time will come.”
“It is time,” La whispers softly.
“The day of the Avatar?”
“The day of the Avatar.”
“What about us?” Two new spirits appear and everyone looks up in surprise. Yue hides a smile.
“They have a point, my love.”
“There are already too many!”
“What is two more?”
“Sister-”
“They have a right to send their chosen ones back with ours, brother.”
“La is right, Tui.”
“...very well.”