Chapter Text
Ursa touched the bundle strapped to her chest lightly before continuing onwards, using a cane to keep herself propped up as she climbed the mountain, intent on delivering the bundle to be blessed.
No one else would do it. The Fire Sages had turned her away by the request of her husband, and no one would help her, for fear of the Fire Lord’s fury. So she turned to her last hope, the Sun Warriors. It was said that they were extinct, that they had been eradicated from the world, not unlike the peaceful Air Nomads.
Ursa knew the risks of going all this way for a small chance that perhaps the rumors were wrong, but there was nothing else that she could do. If she turned back now, her son would surely die, and she would never get the chance to even gaze into her son’s eyes, to watch him grow and prosper and live. And so she trekked on despite the warnings, despite the danger and fear that clouded her mind. She was determined not to let her child, her firstborn, die.
Ursa finally reached what looked like an abandoned temple and her heart stuttered in her chest, sending an ache of pain through her whole body as she looked at the temple. She went to step into the temple, but a hand shot out and stopped her before she could fully put her weight onto her foot, and for good reason, as the floor gave way beneath her outstretched foot to reveal a pit of spikes.
Quickly scrambling backwards, clutching the bundle tightly to her chest, Ursa turned around to see her savior. The young woman that held tightly to Ursa’s arm was wearing so little that the Fire Princess couldn’t help but blush and look away, instead opting to stare into the woman’s dark eyes.
“I was told not to interfere with those who dare to come to our temple, but I couldn’t just let you fall and have the temple take not only your life, but your child’s as well.” The woman’s eyes darkened impossibly with the thought of losing not one life, but two due to her people’s ways.
“Thank you” Ursa whispered, clutching her son even closer. “To whom do I owe?” She straightened up, causing the woman’s grip to fall and her dark eyes to widen.
“Oh! Oh no, you don’t owe me anything! My prize is seeing a mother and her child unharmed,” she protested, before a sheepish smile spread across her face. “But if you must know, my name is Enya.”
Ursa bowed before Enya and then straightened, looking at her child. “I need help. My son is deathly ill and I am afraid that I will not be able to save him. I wish to pray to the spirits to save him, but I am unable to do so in my own home lands.”
Enya looked at Ursa thoughtfully before nodding and starting to lead the woman along a path that would not be visible unless you knew where exactly it was. Ursa looked at her son and the woman leading them farther away from the temple worriedly. She was unable to bring herself to say anything however, because she owed this woman both her life, and her son’s.
After a long walk, Enya stopped Ursa in front of a long staircase, leading up and then splitting off to lead to two different passageways. Enya froze and turned to face Ursa. “Can you bend?” she asked, but Ursa shook her head, cradling her son’s head.
Enya bit her lip in fear before her gaze hardened and she walked forward, grabbing light from a torch before walking to the base of the stairs. “Follow me.” Her tone left no room for argument as Ursa hurried to follow the young bender.
As they reached the top, a group gathered at the base of the staircase. “Young Enya! What is the meaning of this?” The voice sounded shocked and appalled and angry, but Ursa couldn’t bring herself to face the man.
“I am doing what I must.” Enya turned only a little before she continued forwards, stopping in the center of the platform.
Ursa heard a group of people scrambling up the staircase, but her gaze was focused instead on one of the two entrances as a large, scaly head made its way towards her.
With all of her breath expelled from her body, Ursa gently removed her son from her chest and set the small bundle on the ground, bowing deeply before the red dragon. She could feel Enya doing the same behind her, yet once again, she couldn’t bring herself to turn around.
The dragon suddenly took off and started to circle the platform, which let Ursa see that there was not one, but two dragons, one a striking red, while the other was a soothing blue.
The people on the staircase gasped as the dragons tightened their circle, not allowing for them to get by, so they stepped back out of fear and respect, fearing for the child’s safety, and for their own warrior’s life.
Finally the dragons slowed down, only to cling to the edges of the platform and open their mouths, letting out a large blast of fire. Ursa closed her eyes in response, yet she couldn’t feel the searing heat she was expecting. Instead, she felt a slight warmth, and a feeling of calm.
She opened her eyes and saw that they were surrounded in fire. Colors jumped and leaped through the flames, twisting and swirling in the breeze. Ursa turned to face Enya, who had a look of determination dancing across her own face.
Ursa looked to where the woman’s gaze was and gasped as she saw a man. She felt Enya’s hand land on her shoulder as the tall, pale man leaned over her son. The man looked up, fiery golden eyes meeting Ursa’s own, and she faintly registered a feeling of hope and warmth wash over her as she took in the man’s celestial appearance.
He lowered his gaze back to the boy and his golden sleeves trailed around his wrists as he gently laid a hand to the boy’s forehead. “I am Agni,” he began, causing Ursa’s jaw to drop in awe, “and this is my child. I will protect him, and in turn, he will protect those who need it, as is his destiny. I will bless him with my essence, and you will be his protector.” Agni gently stroked the boy’s face, a trail of gold following his movement, before he looked up and made eye contact with Enya, the grip on Ursa’s shoulder growing tighter.
“Yes Blessed Agni. I will protect this child with my life,” Ursa heard Enya say, before Agni nodded, clearly pleased.
They all turned to look at the baby as Agni pressed two fingers to his forehead. The boy started to glow, his little tuft of hair turning from its dark raven black, to a brilliant golden. His eyes shot open to reveal a golden color, only rivaled to the sun spirit himself. They were beautiful, and Ursa felt her breath get caught in her throat as she stared at the boy in wonder.
“Zuko” she whispered, and felt Agni hum his approval before she looked up, only to see that the man was gone and the fire around them faded, leaving the dragons to both walk forward and touch the bundle on the forehead with their whiskers before disappearing into their respective caves.
The group that had been trying to stop them now stood in shock as the two women and the child descended the stairs, completely unharmed and smiling softly at the little boy with golden hair and bright golden eyes.
The man who looked to be the leader of the group seemed to get his senses back first, as he stepped forward, a little unsure, but angry nonetheless. “Enya” he started, voice stern and angry. “You have disobeyed your people by bringing an outsider to see the masters without permission or direct orders. Unfortunately, I will have to strip you of your warrior title and send you back to the village.”
To everyone’s disbelief, the young woman merely smiled and shook her head. “It does not matter, chief, for I am going with Fire Princess Ursa and Prince Zuko, as per Agni’s request.”
With that final remark, Enya gently lead Ursa and her baby away from the gaping clan behind her, knowing that she would most likely never see them ever again, but being unable to bring herself to care as she grinned at the little ball of light in Ursa’s arms, knowing this is her destiny and she wouldn’t do anything to change it.