Bab 8: Chapter 8: Uncle Iroh and...Pointers?
(A/N: power stones stopped coming in at around 40+...no early chapter BUT now you can enjoy it lol.)
---Azulan's POV---
"WHAT!" I shouted.
"Y-yes, sir! He sent a letter ahead of time for you." He quickly stumbles over and hands me the letter. My anger is still affecting the flames surrounding the throne room, increasing the temperature of the room by at least 15°. However, the flames, as well as my anger, died down, giving the messenger a chance to catch his breath.
"Leave" I spoke only one word.
"R-Right away!" The messenger quickly disappeared from my sight.
..
..
"Sasuke, come here"
"!!"
My grandson soon steps inside as the doors into the throne room closes. I can tell his shock at me from discovering his presence, and it actually wasn't easy. This kid has improved quite a bit since that duel 3 years ago, even being able to create a new style of fighting on his own. I'm pretty sure he can defeat a commander now but still can't LEAD like one. He can't even seem to make a friend, sigh.
"Sasuke, my son is coming home in 5 days. What do you know about him?"
"His name is Iroh, the General that's leading the attack on Ba Sing Se, and he is called the Dragon of the west due to his mastery of the breath" he replied. He is very educated and diligent in his practice in both the library and the training grounds. My granddaughter seems to be just as much a genius in her studies and fire bending, the future for our nation is very bright.
"What do you say about spending time with your uncle? He will make a great teacher for you."
"Why would I spend time with him, let alone take him as a teacher when I'm already going to the academy?"
"Hmm, you're right...I'll tell you what, if you can prove to have the prowess of a Commander, I'll let you graduate early. How about that?" Of course, I know you should already be at that level unless you're hiding more skills from your grandpa. That dragon blast to my face wasn't fun! Cunning little brat.
"You're gonna let me graduate early? Just to spend some time with an Uncle I've never met?
(A/N: Iroh actually does send gifts to Zuko and Azula with the latter even burning her gift. But I forgot to include that in the previous chapter..so let's say it never happened. Tee hee)
Tsk, smart little kid. He must get his intelligence from me, after all, I heard certain traits skip a generation.
"Are you gonna do it or not!?" I spoke, raising my voice a little. I can tell he wasn't fazed by it and though his face didn't change, he was smirking at me from the inside.
"Sure, I'll do it," he said.
"That's what you should have said at the beginning. Even though you haven't made any friends, don't think you're off the hook because I'm letting you take the graduation test. If you fail it, you stay in the academy. You're dismissed."
He quickly turns on his heels and walks out. Little brat! Never called me grandpa, HMPH.
---MC POV---
'So all I gotta do is be in the company of an army General? Too easy, Azulan must think I'm dumb to not understand why he's asking me to do this. The messenger already said that Iroh left the frontier to come back home. Something must have happened. Something Azulan won't punish him for leaving Ba Sing Se.'
I walked back to my room and finished my day with a refreshing shower. I was still dirty from my training. Nothing really happened other than my training and the time till Iroh's arrival quickly came.
PPFFFTTTT*
The whistle of the boat sounds. I'm standing in the harbor with Ursa, Azula, and some guards. Iroh's wife passed away a long time ago. Ozai won't come due to some matters and Firelord can't leave the throne room. Excuses. I watch on as the boat docks and a short man with black hair that fades grey in places walks down the bridge. His beard is as long as Azulan's! But the receding hairline reflects light on to us all. He wears a regular fire nation robe, no armor on his body. This is the Dragon of the West? I'm kind of unimpressed.
"Iroh!" said Ursa.
"Ursa! haha, It's been so long since I've been home. The kids are all grown up now haha" The old man gives Ursa a hug and looks at me and Azula. Azula looks as impressed by this General as I am. Not at all.
"Kids meet your uncle Iroh."
"Hello Iroh," said Azula.
"Hello," I said.
"Haha!" Iroh laughed.
"Now kids! That's not how you introduce yourselves! Sigh, I'm sorry about this Iroh. They are kind of stiff." Ursa apologized.
"No, No, it is quite alright. Kids at this age are already finding their way, this old face of mine is probably very unfamiliar. Hello kids, I am your uncle Iroh."
"Now I know the trip must have been long and you're tired, let's head back to the palace. Your room has already been cleaned and prepared for you. Once you rest, we can have dinner together. As a family." said Ursa.
We all make our way back to the palace while Ursa and Iroh make small talk. Azula tries to talk to me but doesn't manage to get anything out of her mouth.
Arriving back at the palace, Ozai is waiting there and he doesn't look happy...Not that he ever did.
"Iroh, why did you leave the earth nation?" Ozai spoke.
"Ozai! Now is not the time!" shouted Ursa.
"It's okay Ursa, you see Ozai, my time spent away from home, made me weary and very tired. I long to be here, with my family," replied Iroh.
"Hmph! The Firelord has summoned you, come," said Ozai.
We started following them into the palace but at the throne room door, Ozai turned around and said, "The Fire lord only requested our presence." before opening the door and going inside. Leaving me, Azula, and Ursa baffled. 'He could have told me sooner'. I thought.
"I'm sorry about his behavior, I will see you three later tonight for dinner," said Iroh while going inside.
We stand outside the doors of the throne room for a couple of seconds before Ursa says, "Okay kids, let's go back now."
"You can go back first mom, I want to play with brother Sasu"
(A/N: Zuko's nickname by Azula was Zuzu soooo Sasuke = susu? IDK
*edited now it's Sasu)
I turn to Azula with a deadpan expression on my face. What is this girl talking about, I don't give her any time of day and have not associated with her at all in the last 3 years.
"Aw, okay kids. Don't stay out playing too long, I'm going to start on dinner."
Ursa walked away soon after, leaving me and Azula alone in the palace hallway. I only stare at Azula before she cowers a bit and finally works up the courage to talk, "Come on Sasu, let's go play!"
"Since when did I allow you to call me as such, and since when did we ever 'play'?" My reply was sharp and cut deep. I know my words hurt you Azula, and no matter how much you try to hide it, you are still a little girl in my eyes.
"I-it's fine! We are family after all! I know you don't play like other kids so I wanted to show you my basic fire forms and ask for pointers!"
(A/N: Azula starts to show more courage in getting her brother's attention. Wonder how much her personality has changed by this point in time? Possible Azula POV coming up...who knows. Btw Iroh is kind of a fluffy character, personality-wise. Imagine Keisuke(Bleach) or Shikamaru(Naruto) or some other character that is ambiguously wise if that makes sense. It's hard to define their essence because you never really know how they will react to different things ie: fluffy character)
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone