Afraid to be a soldier

Afraid to be a soldier is an AU-story;
about the moment when Prince Zuko hears about his fathers plans.

Iroh is sixty,
Ozai is forty,
Zhao is forty,
Zuko is thirteen.


Afraid to be a soldier.


The old retired General sipped his tea calmly as he glared over his playful little nephew. Prince Zuko was already thirteen, but he proved to be very childish. Iroh hadn't really a problem with that fact but he knew Ozai did.

His younger brother was so serious and Zuko was indeed the next heir, those two facts caused some problems inside their small family. Iroh lowered his cup with a lovely smile as his nephew rolled over the grass mat with pleasure.

Zuko's harmless fun hurt deep inside Uncle Iroh's old heart, he knew his nephew hadn't much time left here but he wasn't the one who would tell him. Iroh couldn't break his surrogate son his tender heart.

"Uncle? You're daydreaming." The young boy spoke out with amuse as he made a perfect handstand. "What were you thinking about?"

"Nothing, my boy. Or just… maybe it's time for you to do something else… you're already playing for more than two hours and your father is almost ready with his meetings."

Zuko fell down with a sigh, he hated that. Why should he always hide his pleasures for his father, that man truly hated everything he did. "Ok, uncle." The boy stood up and ran inside, he had to be quick.

He didn't want to be noticed around the Fire Lords area's by his own father, Ozai had warned him to never come here during a meeting but there was no other solution. The stairs to the private floors were located here.

"Well, well Prince Zuko. Why in such hurry?"

Zuko stopped with a small frowned, that wasn't his father's voice. He glared up with a sigh and bowed. "Captain Zhao… hello."

"Excited for your first assignment? Isn't it?" The Captain replied with a smirk, he knew Zuko from the time he was born and he disliked him. This boy seemed so much weaker than his sister.

"What are you talking about?" The young boy snarled with crossed arms.

Zhao rolled his eyes, Zuko was so backwards. "Military camp?!"

Zuko's arms fell down, he had never heard about this. The boy smirked back and knew the Captain lied, his father would never send him to a Military Camp. "You're lying…"

"Don't speak to me with such disrespect! Fire Lord Ozai told me, he would send you to Military Camp in the Earth Colonies within a month."

A shock run through the boy's chest, he had to go. This man was crazy, Zhao always tried to fool him. The boy ran away and didn't care; he glared over the garden and tried to find his uncle. "Uncle? Please…"

"Nephew… what's wrong?"

Zuko fell down next to the man and stared deep into his eyes, he hoped this all was dirty lie. "Is it true?" Tears formed into his eyes and Iroh couldn't reply, he grabbed the boy by his shirt and rested him onto his painful chest. Zuko knew enough, he would become a soldier within a month.

"I don't want to go…" The young child whispered, Iroh knew Prince Zuko wasn't ready. He wasn't even mature and he knew, he certainly knew his boy wouldn't survive this on his own but there was no other way for Iroh than suffering.

Time is difficult to manipulate,
the month came closer.

Iroh placed his hand on the back of the boy his head and glared over the brown leaves which felled deadly into a bloody pond.

The turtle duck's had already escaped the mess their young Prince had made, the boy who was afraid to become a soldier.