Chapter Text
When Zuko was born he was a sickly little thing. Ozai didn’t care whether he lived or died, they could have another child. Ursa cared. This was her baby boy. Her first-born. She would do anything for him.
Iroh knew this. He also happened to know of a secret civilization that protected the original firebenders. Ursa and Iroh set out to see the Sun Warriors. Ursa was skeptical. She thought they had died out hundreds of years ago. Iroh assured her they had not.
When they arrived the Sun Warriors first saw Iroh and Ursa and they were furious. How could Iroh bring another person here? Then they saw Zuko. Sick baby Zuko. He was so small. Barely two months old. He wasn’t supposed to live that long. The Sun Warriors took pity on Ursa and told her to take Zuko to the top of the mountain. There the dragons would help him.
When Ursa brought Zuko up, it wasn’t the dragons that helped. A brilliant light shone down from the heavens. The fiery heat of it washing over Zuko’s small body. His eyes fluttered open, the usual Fire Nation gold. His pupils were what startled Ursa. They were brilliant white instead of black. A mark scorched Zuko’s skin. A small sun, around his left eye. Zuko began to cry. Ursa sighed and held her baby close. He would be okay.
They returned home to Ozai. He was angry because they left suddenly without so much as a note. Then he saw Zuko. He was healthy. His pupils were shining brightly. Ozai looked at his son with disgust. He screamed at Ursa. Why hadn’t she let the sick child die? Ursa knew that Ozai was angry that Zuko had Agni’s blessing, but she stayed quiet. She had learned that was best. Ozai told her to get the child out of his sight. She obeyed.
That night Zuko’s eyes glowed with the heat of the sun. Agni had blessed Zuko with life. Ursa sat next to her son. She knew then that she would die for him. She’d do whatever it took to keep her boy safe. She went to her bed and slept soundly.
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Zuko was five when he learned to firebend. He felt heat coursing through his body. He felt the energy of the sun within him. His little sister watched intently. She clapped when he showed her a trick.
Ursa had warned Zuko to be careful with his bending. He could use it for great good or great evil. Zuko didn’t understand then.
When Zuko was six, Azula learned firebending. She was a prodigy. He was quickly thrown aside. Azula wondered what would happen if Zuko couldn’t keep up with her.
When Zuko was ten Azula surpassed him. She could bend fire with so much strength for an eight year old. Zuko embarrassed himself trying to show he could do just as much as Azula. That was when his father beat him for the first time.
When Zuko was eleven his mother went missing. Azula teased that she had died. Azula always lies. Zuko cried all the next day. The sun was hidden under clouds that day.
When Zuko was thirteen he spoke up in a war meeting. His sense of what was right was too great. He had to face his father in an Agni Kai. By then he knew about his blessing. His mother explained it to him, how Agni had given him life. The mark around his eye proved it. When he begged forgiveness a little sliver of hope said Agni would save him again. That didn’t happen. Zuko will always remember the words his father said to him before the pain knocked him out.
“I’ve always wanted to get rid of that mark.”