[ WP ] Show a Darker Side of a Well-Known Fictional Hero or Mentor Figure

Iroh could never tell Zuko the entire truth about Lu Ten. 
 
 He could n't tell him that Lu Ten was actually a non-bender. This was something that was kept an extreme secret. When asked, they'd had said that Lu Ten's firebending was so advanced that he was n't permitted to use it at any time. Behind the scenes, however, it caused an uproar within the family. 
 
 He could n't tell him that as a result of Lu Ten being a non-bender, Iroh's wife was executed. She had been a firebender and came from a long line of firebenders. In fact, that's why Iroh had been given the okay to marry a woman he actually loved -- because of her bloodline. 
 
 He could n't tell him that Lu Ten was almost executed that night, but Iroh had stepped in and offered up his own life in exchange. His father, who always favored Iroh, relented but urged Iroh to take Lu Ten to the finest swordfighter in town once he was old enough. And that he was forced to fight in the war whether he liked it or not. 
 
 He could n't tell him that Lu Ten had been starting to question his grandfather's motives with the war. He had been training with Piandao in the art of sword fighting. In between lessons, the two would discuss Piandao's travels and anything else under the sun. The two had a pretty strong bond -- both of them were non-benders born to firebending masters. And through those discussions, Lu Ten gained two things -- a love of tea and a strong sense of honor. He did n't want to fight in a war he did n't believe in. 
 
 He could n't tell him of the argument that he and Lu Ten had the night before he was send to war. Lu Ten did n't want to go and tried to reason with his father, all the while clutching onto the White Lotus tile that Piandao had given him. Iroh kept insisting it was because he was scared, but then his son countered about all that he heard from his discussions with Piandao about the war. It was the first Iroh had ever heard about the war outside of his own family and the Fire Nation. 
 
 He definitely could n't tell Zuko about yelling at Lu Ten about how he was only alive because of him. Iroh told him the truth about his mother and how it was n't childbirth. He told him about how he offered up his own life to save Lu Ten and that he's on here because of him. Lu Ten was stunned learning it and got even more angry as he thought about it. 
 
 He could n't tell him of remembers the last thing Lu Ten said to him before he stormed off to fight. It still haunts him to this day. `` Maybe if you're lucky, you wo n't have to worry about me anymore.'' Oh how that broke his heart hearing it. 
 
 He could n't tell him of the last time he saw Lu Ten alive, two nights before he was killed. The two had made peace in one of the tents outside of Ba Sing Se. The siege was going to take place soon. As they talked, Iroh could see it in his son's eyes that he was still set on not wanting to fight. He wanted to defect much like Iroh's friend and fellow general Jeong-Jeong had five years prior. If only he had the courage to let his son defect that night, things could've been different. Iroh told him that his hands were tied and that he could n't do anything about it. Lu Ten told him that he was going to find a way to leave one way or another. 
 
 Most of all, he could n't tell him of when he saw Lu Ten's dead body on the ground, sprawled out. There was a wound in his abdomen and his helmet had not yet been taken off. Iroh's heart shattered when he saw Lu Ten there. He wanted to be angry, he wanted to scream... but he knew the bitter truth of it all was that it was his fault. He should've been stronger and let him leave. Up Lu Ten's sleeve was that White Lotus tile that he had received from Piandao after his training was complete. 
 
 He could n't tell Zuko those things... not now, at least. Right now, he had to be there for his nephew as he made his own path in life. He was n't always going to go the right way at first, but he had a good heart. And maybe this time, with more understanding and compassion in his heart, he can help guide his nephew towards good... like his son had tried to do with him. 

