Chapter 1 - Prologue

Iroh, Crown Prince of the Fire Nation and Great General of the Fire Nation Army, rode furiously on the back of his Mongoose-Lizard as the Royal Palace came into sight in the distance.

He had already been on his way back to his family's ancestral home to take a much-needed break from his duties as Great General when he received a messenger hawk from his brother, Prince Ozai, alerting him that is wife went into labour for his second child.

His focus was absolute, not caring for a single thing between him and his goal—certainly not about his abandoned Palanquin nor the exhausted Mongoose-Lizard beneath him.

Soon, he arrived at the Palace Gates—already wide open and awaiting his arrival—and rode straight through the courtyard before he leapt up from his transport and landed gracefully in front of his brother.

In no mood for pleasantries—even with family given the anticipation burning inside of him, he interrupted his brother mid-bow that was usually given when greeting a member of the royal family and asked only one question as he began storming his way into the hallways of the Palace.

"Am I in time?" Iroh asked, his voice deep, he certainly still was well in his prime, with an imposing build and a dark beard, he still was the infamous Dragon of the West.

"Just so—Lady Illah is very close, I'm told. Father has yet to return from his meeting as well." Ozai said, his tone sly, "and it is nice to see you again, brother."

Iroh scowled, after supressing multiple rebellions almost single-handedly in the Earth Kingdom—something that greatly impressed most of the Generals and Military Advisors, as well as his father, the Fire Lord—Iroh was sent touring the Earth Kingdom to continue their conquest and supress rebellions.

Everyone and their mother knew it also was an excuse from the Fire Lord to have his heir away from the Captial for as long as possible. The old man had gotten the idea that Iroh wanted to undermine his authority and consequently sent his away from his wife and son.

Ozai was the one who came up with such schemes, no doubt.

Iroh shook his head, right now, he had to focus on his wife, Illah, who was about to give birth to his second child.

Already, he heard the cries of pain that stabbed at his heart and he broke into a run, thankfully he was not wearing his heavily decorated armour and arrived at the door to their shared chambers—just as a different cry could be heard.

The door burst open and when he saw the sight in front of him, he froze.

His beautiful wife was sweaty from her labour and dressed in a simple nightshirt but never had she looked as beautiful to him in even the finest gowns as her skin glowed—and instantly his gaze was drawn to the small bundle in her arms.

He walked forwards, towards the bed as the midwife quietly left the room while ushering Prince Ozai to leave.

"Our son," she proudly presented Iroh the new-born baby's face while panting tiredly. He gazed at the boy's face, and peered at the burning amber eyes, full of life and the trace of black hair inherited by him and his wife. His breath caught in his throat as he looked at his son—speechless for the second time in his life.

"Now he just needs a name," Iroh said softly.

Illah paused for a moment before making a suggestion.

"What about Tai Lung? It feels... right."

She herself could not explain her feelings as to why it felt right but Iroh merely smiled and nodded.

"Tai Lung, Prince of the Fire Nation." Iroh declared, his voice steady and proud.

As the two parents talked, they were unaware that the boy was no ordinary child. He had the memories and experiences of two decades in a world that considered this world as a fantastic piece of fiction.

But just as Iroh turned away to show his brother his newly born nephew as well as to fetch his oldest son—most likely still asleep in his chambers—something unexpected happened.

Illah had stopped breathing.