The smell of burnt flesh still lingered in his nostrils. Ozai could scarcely believe the audacity of Zuko. The boy questioned the choice of
his navy? The Agni Kai was a lesson to the boy to not invoke his Wrath. The fire Ozai used to burn his son had been exceptionally hot. He made sure of it. Zuko was still too much like
her. His heart was tender and compassionate like Ursa. A sneer crossed his lips as he recalled what had happened to his wife. There was no room for weakness in the house of the Firelord.
Iroh was his elder brother. By all rights, the throne of the Fire Nation was his to inherit. The Dragon of the West was legendary when it came to the siege of Ba Sing Se. He lost all his nerve when his son Lu Ten gave his life for the Fire Nation. That was the time that Ozai stepped up to become the Crown Prince, snatching everything from Iroh. Iroh could never know the truth of Lu Ten's death. Ozai made sure to cover his tracks
well. Iroh lost his will to be Firelord after his son's passing which suited Ozai just fine. Ozai was cut from the same cloth as Sozin and Azulon anyway. It was more logical for him to be the Firelord anyway.
Iroh rejoined his brother in the main throne room where the fire continued to burn after the display of the Firelord's power. Ozai watched his older brother who had been the ruthless blight of the Earth Kingdom, was a shell of his former self. Lu Ten's death did what Ozai knew it would. It broke Iroh. “You bring news of my son?” Ozai spoke callously to his brother knowing Iroh would never challenge him.
Iroh knew how diabolical his brother was. He nodded in deference to his brother as the leader of the Fire Nation. “I do. The healer has concocted a formula that will restore Zuko's sight in that eye. He will however be scarred for life.” Iroh put on a face of loyalty, but Ozai knew that his brother was a changed man. “He should be ready to depart in two days.”
“He will leave in the morning.” Ozai spoke in regard to his son. It was never his plan to have Zuko inherit his crown. Oh he had someone else in mind for that who was far more merciless than Ozai himself. He met Iroh's gaze. His brother had been surprised by the tone but he bowed his head.
At least Iroh knew his place.The next morning Prince Zuko's ship left port complete with the entire division that had been slated to be sacrificed to the Earth Kingdom as his crew. Ozai watched from the balcony as his brother departed the castle heading for the dock. He had a bag slung over his shoulder with his personal gear inside. Iroh had not been banished as Zuko had been. It had not been unexpected to see Iroh leave with Zuko however. Iroh had coddled Zuko since Lu Ten's funeral. Ozai knew it. The Firelord was no fool. He watched until the ship was a distant speck on the horizon.
Once he was sure they were gone, a weight lifted. A sneer curled his lips. He knew the stories of Avatar Roku and his grandfather Sozin. Given the impossible conditions for Zuko to return to the Fire Nation, he had sentenced him to death in the same way he had his mother. The Avatar cycle had ended after Roku. It had been over 100 years. The Air Nomads were no more. The Avatar was due to be an Air Nomad after Roku's death. None had materialized after their extinction by his grandfather. His brother chose to leave the Fire Nation with Zuko and that sealed his fate as well.
Nothing could stop him now.
.
"I’m A Merciful Man. I’m Waiting Until He’s Asleep. He Won’t Feel A Thing"
