Chapter 13: Ursa’s Beginnings

(A/N: um Possible N*R warning? Really not sure but it's cracked regardless)

--- Ursa POV ---

I walked to a living room in the exquisite palace that confines my life. With Iroh around, I already had a delicious teapot waiting for me.

'Sigh' How far I've come from my home. Sometimes I wonder what my life would have been like…

--- Reminiscing Start ---

I was born on the outskirts of the fire nation within a small village called Hyrum. My Father was the magistrate to the Fire nation and my mother, an herbalist. Together we got by raising pig chickens and selling flowers from our greenhouse.

I had a childhood friend named Ikum. It took me a while to realize, but he loved me and eventually, the feelings became mutual the more we got to know each other. We even became a couple. We were in the acting troupe in town and I one day called on my courage to play the dragon empress of a popular play. I got the part! And Ikum was already the Dragon emperor. This is where I got some of my favorite masks, dragon empress and emperor masks, and a really cool blue mask with tusks. I was with Ikum, practicing the kissing scene of the play one day when he proposed to me. Such a joyous day! I ran home to tell my mother.

But everything changed on the best day of my life. She held me close and told me how much she loves me, then told me to go to the backyard greenhouse. There, I found my father with Fire Lord Azulan and the second Prince Ozai! Fire Lord talked about a revelation that came to him by the fire sages. With the merger of his son and Avatar Roku's granddaughter, a bloodline of great power will be born to rule the fire nation after he is gone. My life immediately broke down, with THE Fire lord requesting my hand for his son's pairing. I can't say no...So I agreed, trying to hide my inner turmoil.

My life with Ikum...can't happen. Agreeing to this prevents his death and ensures that whatever agreement Azulan and my father came up with goes through. By saying yes, I'm helping everyone...

We soon started leaving the village, and Ikum tried to stop them. Once a guard started to intervene, I quickly pleaded for Ozai to let him go; that he was just my childhood friend. Thank goodness he was reasonable, and let him go.

Ikum wanted me to admit that this proposal was my choice, but I don't have a choice Ikum. Can't you see? It's either marry Ozai or you and everyone I love suffer. Disobeying the Fire lord does not end well. I left him by telling him yes it was my choice.

I wonder how life has gone for him.

--- Reminiscing End---

It's been two days since I and Azula enjoyed our evening. I love my children. In this intricately constructed prison, they are my shining beacons of happiness. Sasuke is a troubled child that seeks power but no goal as to why. He has such a strong personality that I'm not sure if he gets that from his father or if it's innate. I see him sometimes sitting on top of the palace at night. At first, I was terrified of how he got up there at such a young age, but before I said anything he somehow realized he was seen and immediately moved locations. That child is truly a wonder. His grandfathers are legendary figures but on different sides. Does the conflict that happened between them also happen inside Sasuke? Maybe that would explain his hunger for power.

Azula is even more difficult. She seemed to have no conscience at first, but she watched her brother intently while growing up. The praise he received made her proud of herself.

One day when I was delivering Sasuke lunch, he was practicing the use of throwing stars. I'm not sure where he got that idea from but when I admonished him for using such a dangerous tool, he said, "It's only dangerous because one doesn't know how to use it yet." I had no words to disprove his argument so I simply agreed to the use and asked him to be careful. While I was leaving his training grounds, I found Azula in an adjacent area, practicing with her own throwing stars. 'Why does she want to be like him so much?' I only later found out when her friends Mai and Ty Lee came to visit. While they were waiting for Azula to finish getting ready, I passed by the room while they were talking.

"Prince Sasuke is so Handsome! And even though he is cold, he treats everyone equally!" said Ty lee.

"..I heard he even defended a student from the earth nation colony on his first day of the Academy," said Mai.

"Yeah! Now the bullies hide in his presence, and the environment in the boys Academy has become way more focused and peaceful."

"That's not all. My brother is so powerful, he can have his way with things with only a few words." Azula said walking in from the other side.

"People respect him for his strength and character. Even though I used to only think of it as a weakness, there is nothing wrong with defending the people of your nation!"

"Plus he's hot," Ty Lee said, beaming a smile.

"Doesn't hurt that he's nice to look at," said Mai smiling in a surprisingly refreshing aura.

"Girls! Please stop saying that! My brother has no time for relationships when he's too busy training. Only by becoming strong did he receive such praise. If I want to be a worthy sister to the future Fire lord, I must emulate his strong character."

"How about you Azula? What's your dream guy?" asked Ty Lee.

"Ty Lee, just like my brother, I'm too busy improving my abilities to worry about such things!" Azula said feigning anger and a slight blush on her cheeks.

"Aww haha"

"Don't tease her, Ty lee" said Mai, although she was giggling too.

One minute I'm in the prime of my youth with the love of my life and then the next, I'm in a prison with a man I never loved watching my kids grow up so fast.

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(A/N: Another POV here from Ursa here. Her story is actually a little depressing and lowkey N*r in my opinion. SO that's why I put the warning at the top.

Was I right for that? Do you think It's what I said it was?

I didn't really proofread it so I might go back and edit it but TWO chapters MINI RELEASE, AS PROMISED.

Enjoy.

)