Reunions

Part One: The Son

Katara had kept her word. She had helped make travel arrangements for Ursa and her family to the Fire nation. Making things more interesting, Aang had returned and he was very excited to meet the granddaughter of Avatar Roku.

The decision was made to fly on Appa. Amaya was a bit frightened at first, but she enjoyed it.

Aang noticed that Ursa seemed very down. "What's wrong, Lady Ursa?"

"Everything. I should be ecstatic to see my children, but instead I'm just worried. What can I say to them?"

"Start with 'I love you.' Always a good ice-breaker. Um...no offense, Katara."

The waterbender giggled. "Silly."

"And don't worry about Ozai," Aang continued. "He can't hurt anyone now."

"Hearing his name is enough," the banished princess said darkly.

"There it is," Katara said, pointing toward the tower of the Fire Palace.

"Appa, take us down, buddy." The bison growled and began a spiral descent to the courtyard.

"Mommy, I'm dizzy!"

We're almost there, Amaya," Aang said cheerfully.

Katara was not so cheery when they touched down. The courtyard brought back bad memories for her, but she held together.

Ursa later said that the trip to the throne room was like being outside her body. She saw and heard everything, yet it failed to impress upon her brain.

Upon reaching the room of the Burning Throne, she snapped back to reality. She and her family held back while Aang and Katara approached the throne. They bowed.

Zuko stepped down from the throne, parting the flames. "My friends, you bow to no one." He hugged both of them. "So good to see you. Look who's here." Zuko gestured to a table off to the side of the room.

"Sokka!" Katara embraced her older brother. "I didn't know you were here."

"I didn't want to leave Suki alone. There's a lot of weird people out there."

"I'm sure we wouldn't know," Katara quipped.

"Hi, guys."

"Hi, Suki," Aang said pleasantly. "You too, Mai."

Mai waved apathetically.

"Zuko," Katara began, "we had to come. Look who we found."

A tall, hooded figure stepped forward. She pulled back her hood. Tears streaked Ursa's face.

Zuko and Mai were in shock. Zuko's jaw trembled. Tears flowed from both of his eyes. "Mom...MOM!" he raced forward to hug her. He never wanted to let go. "Mommy..."

"My beautiful son..." Ursa was overwhelmed.

For a long time, neither could speak. Finally, they pulled back enough to look at each other. Ursa reached up to feel Zuko's scar, but he pulled away. "Please don't touch it."

"I'm sorry," Ursa said with shame. "I'm so sorry, darling. Please forgive me."

"I forgive everything, Mom. Everything. You're here now."

"I love you, Zuko."

"I love you, Mom." He smiled. It was something to see. "How?"

"Thank Katara. She found me."

Zuko turned to the blushing waterbender. "You are the nicest, sweetest girl in the world."

"Zuko, one Sokka is enough," Katara said with a joyous smile.

"Hey!" Suki patted Sokka on the back comfortingly.

Mai ignored the sibling banter and stepped forward. "Hello, Lady Ursa."

"Oh, Mai. You're too pretty to be so gloomy all the time."

"Who's gloomy? Inside, I'm doing handsprings like Ty Lee."

Ursa wiped away her joyful tears. "I'd like you all to meet some important people." At that, Pai and Amaya stepped forward. "My husband and daughter, Pai and Amaya." She knelt down to her daughter. "Honey, this is your big brother, Zuko."

Zuko knelt down to the little girl, too. "Hello, Amaya."

"Hello, Zu...Zu..."

"Zuzu is fine," he said. Even Mai laughed at that.

"You're nice," Amaya said.

"How did all this happen?" Zuko asked Ursa.

"Zuko," Sokka began, "when a mommy and daddy-"

"SOKKA!" Aang, Katara and Suki shouted.

Ursa told the whole story. She'd fled the Fire Nation to the colonies, where she met Pai. It had been some time before she'd trusted him with who she really was.

"Mom, I'd like you to meet someone, too." He led the group to the nursery.

Ursa remembered it well. "Katara told me you had children."

"Here they are," Zuko said, lifting his daughter from her cradle. "This is Izumi."

Ursa took the baby and held her gently. Izumi did not cry, but cooed softly. "Hello, sweetie." She became too choked up to say anymore.

"She thinks you look like her aunt," Mai said, shooing Aang and Sokka away from Lu Ten's cradle so she could hold her son.

"We had a birthday party for the children a few months ago," Zuko explained. "Izumi might have...died if it hadn't been for Azula."

That shocked everyone who hadn't heard the story. But it was pleasant shock.

"This is Lu Ten," Mai said.

Ursa stroked Lu Ten's head. "You named him after your cousin."

"Mommy, can I see?"

Ursa and Mai knelt down. "Honey, this is your niece Izumi and nephew Lu Ten."

"Wow."

"May I?"

"Oh, honey," Ursa replied to Pai, "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for bringing this on you." She handed Izumi to her husband. The baby fussed quietly, not used to a new person.

"Sir," Zuko started to say. Pai held up his hand. "Just 'Dad' will do, if you like." Pai chuckled. "It's not every man who finds out his stepson is Fire Lord. And I'd like very much to get to know you all better."

"I hate to be the skunk-bear at the theater," Sokka said, "but we can't dance around the issue of your sister, Zuko. Now that your mother's back, it's only a matter of time before she knows about it."

"That's where I'm headed next," Ursa said.

Zuko held Ursa's hand. "Mom, that's not a good idea. Azula doesn't like...surprises. Besides, you only just arrived. Let me worry about Azula; you guys should rest up. I...I need you, Mom."

Ursa grimaced. "I don't know if I understand, honey. But I trust you."

"Amaya," Aang said, "how would you like a tour of the palace with the Avatar?"

"Okay!"

"You'll never forget this tour." Aang swept the little girl up in a small tornado, then led the other members of the Gaang out of the room. Amaya giggled all the while.

Katara lagged behind. "Zuko, I..."

"Katara, I don't think I can thank you enough."

"You and your mother have a lot to catch up on. My gift to you." She gave Zuko a kiss behind the jaw and went to join the others. This left Zuko and Mai with Ursa, Pai and the babies.

"Why didn't you ever try to contact any of us?" Mai cut to the chase.

Ursa sighed with great weariness. "I never did come up with a good answer for that. Not even one I could fool myself with."

"So you just forgot."

"Mai!" Zuko was shocked.

"It's all right, Zuko. Your little waterbender friend already gave me the lecture of my life. And I deserve it."

"She's good at that," Mai averred. "Let me tell you a few things she may have missed: when Azula sees you have another daughter, she won't take it well. And when she gets mad, things get burned and pants get soiled."

Ursa winced. "Zuko...does she really think I hate her?"

Zuko sighed. "I don't know about now. But she used to, hard. And she took it out on everyone around her." Zuko shook his head. "Mai's right: she'll see Amaya as a replacement."

"What can we do?" Pai asked.

"I'll get a message out to her explaining the situation. It's the best situation."

"I'm so sorry, Zuko. I've brought so much chaos to you lives."

"Mom, except for when the kids were born, I've never been happier. But you have to be prepared, and not just for Azula. A lot has changed."

Aang and the others passed the Hall of Fire Lords. Amaya pointed excitedly. "There's Mommy!"

Everyone looked at the portrait Amaya meant. It was striking. "No, Amaya," Katara said gently. "That's not your mommy. That's your big sister, Azula."

"Zula! She looks like Mommy."

"Yes, she does," Aang said. "And you'll meet her soon."

"Is she nice like big brother Zuzu?"

Everyone went tense for a moment. "Amaya," Katara said, "everyone's different. Did Ursa ever tell you about Zuko's daddy?"

"Uh-huh," the girl said seriously. "She said he was bad."

"He was," Katara replied, "and he hurt your big brother and sister."

"I don't like that," Amaya said simply.

"I don't either," Aang said.

"Why do you have an arrow?"

"Well..."

Zuko was finishing up with two royal calligraphers. "Send the first one to my uncle in Ba Sing Se and the second one to my sister on Ember Island."

"Yes, sire."

"Yes, sire." The two hurried out of the nursery.

"Zuko, why is you uncle in Ba Sing Se? I thought the war was over?"

Zuko smiled. "He owns a tea shop there, Mom. The Jasmine Dragon. He's remarried. His last letter said his wife was pregnant."

Ursa joyfully clasped her hands together. "You don't know how glad I am to hear that. It seems like everyone is happy. Katara told me Azula is getting married, too."

"Yeah," Mai said, "she started seeing this guy who's a real goof."

"He's not a goof, Mai," Zuko countered. "He's...all right, he's goofy." Ursa laughed at that. "But he's really kind and gentle, Mom. He's funny and smart, and he finds time to be a master swordsman and a champion firebender."

"And he gets all gushy for poetry and music and playing games," Mai added. "He is bizarre. But, maybe that's the kind of guy she needs."

"He sounds wonderful. I hope I get to meet him."

"You will," Mai averred. "He's always around her, like a shadow."

"I know Uncle will be overjoyed to hear you came back, Mom. I know this is a lot to tell you-"

Ursa took her son's hand. "Zuko...this time, I'm not letting go. I always told you not to forget who you are, and..." Ursa's lips trembled. "And that's what I tried to do.: forget who I was." She started crying. She looked to her husband. "Pai...why couldn't I give my children a father like you?"

"You have, Ayame. Anytime they want me."

"But I'm not Ayame! Even my name is a fake."

"Mom," Zuko said quietly, his own eyes clouding, "why did you leave? You came to me that night and said you did what you did for me. Then you were gone. When you weren't there the next day, I asked our father where you were. He didn't answer. And I was alone. I was never so scared, not even when he did this." Zuko pointed to his scar. "I was a little boy and alone against him. Him and Azula is how I looked at it, but..." He trailed off. He still didn't have it in him to put those ideas into words. "Then I heard my grandfather had died."

Ursa involuntarily gasped at the mention of Azulon. That made Zuko flinch as well. "Please, Zuko...keep going. I may not have the strength to do this again."

Zuko cleared his throat. "It wasn't until the day of the eclipse-six years later, that my father spoke of you. He said you had been banished for treason. He said he didn't know where you were or even if you were still alive. It was obvious he didn't care."

"No," Ursa replied. "He had what he wanted: Azula, the weapon he could mold." Ursa took a deep breath. She would need all her strength for this. "Your grandfather forced me to marry Ozai. He knew I was Roku's granddaughter. He thought a union between the bloodlines of Sozin and Roku would produce an ultimate warrior. When you didn't have the 'spark' Azulon and Ozai wanted, Ozai tried again. Azula had the gift, but..."

Zuko finished for her. "It was a curse, Mom."

"I know. I didn't see what your father was or what he was doing, Zuko. Not until it was too late. I...I thought it was my fault that Azula was like she was."

"Dad had a talent for making people blame themselves for what he did, Mom. What happened then?"

"That night...Azula was telling the truth. I confronted your father and he admitted Azulon ordered him to kill you. I thought that if your father got what he wanted, the Burning Throne, he would spare you. So, I forged a will in Azulon's name. But then I went to see him. I pleaded with him, but he wouldn't change his mind. He said...Spirits! That vile...His plan had been to marry Azula to Lu Ten when she was of age and create a 'pure' line of ruling warriors. With Lu Ten dead, his plan was ruined, so it didn't bother him what happened to anyone. He said he'd find Iroh a new wife and start again."

"Dear Gods," Pai whispered in shock.

"I...I hated Azulon!" Ursa screamed. "All of this...it was his fault from the start. I killed him. I murdered him!" She seemed to go flat. "To save you, Zuko. And Azula, in a different way. Your father banished me rather than let me go to the headsman's ax as a 'thank you."

Ursa could no longer hold back her anguish. It erupted like a volcano of tears. Zuko held her tightly. Mai and Pai helped comfort her too. "Mom...I'm so sorry. But you're here now. You have a second chance, like I was given. I love you."

"Darling," Pai said tenderly, "you must be the bravest lady I've ever even heard of."

"NO!" Ursa screeched with heart-rending grief and pain. "I'm a coward! Azula was right: I didn't have the courage. I did what was easy instead of what was right. That's why I didn't take you children with me."

"Where could you have gone?" Mai asked. "The Fire Lord's reach was everywhere."

Ursa shook her head. "Excuses. That's all I've had since then. I was too much of a coward to even say goodbye to Azula. She and I had a fight that night over what she'd heard. She said she hated me and ran off. I did stop at her bedroom door on the way out, but...all I could think of was how waking her to say goodbye would only make things worse between us. How she might even call the guards on me. At no point did love for my daughter come into it. I accused your father of being a coward that night, for not standing up to his father. I turned out to be no better."

"You came back to set things right, Mom. That takes courage."

Ursa looked Zuko in the eye, her face a mask of pain. "But I left you."

Zuko had to fight his own tears. "Mom, the position you were in, I wouldn't wish on anyone. I don't think I can judge it. But the only way you could be a coward now is by not facing Azula. I know you can do it. Only she can forgive what you did."

As the Gaang continued with their tour, a familiar voice came down the corridor. "Hey! Does anyone know where the Fire Lord is?!"

Sokka's eyes got very big. "No, it couldn't be..."

The Gaang followed the yelling to its source. They were stunned. "Toph?"

"Sugar Queen? It is! And it sounds like everyone's with you, except Sparky and Tall, Dark and Pointy."

"We are," Aang replied.

Toph embraced Sokka first. "Great to be back with you guys. But, what are you all doing here?"

"Katara tracked down Zuko's mother," Suki said. "She's here now."

"The one he's been looking for?"

"No, that's his other mom," Sokka quipped.

"Cute, Snoozles."

"So, Toph-"

"What am I doing here, right Twinkletoes? I ran away again. I guess now isn't a good time to ask Sparky for a favor."

"You guess right," Katara replied.

"By the way, Suki-I hit Kiyoshi Island on my way here-"

"And they're still reeling."

"Oh, you're extra cute today, Snoozles. Must have been an early night for you." Sokka winced at the implication. "As I was saying, Suki, you really need to have a talk with Bouncy-butt."

"I intend to."

"Who's the nipper?"

"Amaya," Aang said, "this is our friend Toph."

"Hi, Toph. You're pretty."

"Thanks kid."

"She's Zuko's half-sister," Katara said plainly.

Toph grimaced. "Ugh, Princess Pain is going to explode when she finds out." She perked up. "That might be fun."

"Let's go back," Katara said.

"Yeah," Suki concurred, "so we can plan our next move."

"I wouldn't mind moving some roast into my stomach. Ow!" Sokka yelped at Toph's punch.

"Nice to see you again, Snoozles."

"Thanks, Toph. I-" Sokka scowled. "Must you?"

When the Gaang reached the nursery, things seemed calm. "Hello again," Ursa said. "Weren't there four of you?"

"Hi, I'm Toph Beifong of Gaoling. I'm an earth- and metalbender. I'm blind. That about covers it. Oh, and I know firsthand about parents who reject their children."

"Not a good time, Toph," Aang cautioned.

"It's all right," Ursa said evenly.

At that moment, a court page entered the room. "Begging your majesty's pardon, but the guards caught a stowaway aboard the airship from Kiyoshi Island. She claims to know you."

"No," Toph said to no one in particular, "she wouldn't..."

Zuko's eyebrow went up. "Show the captive in, please."

The page bowed. "With respect, sire, we had quite a time catching her. She could be dangerous."

"I have the most powerful benders right her with me. Show the captive in." Zuko was never known for his patience.

The page exited, then returned with two guards. They were restraining a prisoner.

"Ty Lee?"

The acrobat gaped widely when she saw the tall woman. "Lady Ursa? It's you! You're back!"

"Release the prisoner and leave us," Zuko commanded. The guards and page did as instructed.

"I'm so happy you're back!" Ty Lee jumped to hug the woman. "Where were you? Are you okay? When are you going to see Azula?"

"Whoa, airhead," Mai said. "One thing at a time."

"I'm going to see her very soon, Ty Lee," Ursa replied.

"Ty Lee," Suki said very imperiously, "what are you doing here?"

"She stowed away the airship I took," Toph answered.

"I had to talk to you, Suki."

Suki was unmoved. "I put the warriors in your care."

"Mizuki can handle it for a little while. I have to-"

"Ty Lee, I was counting on you!"

"That's what I need to talk to you about! Oh, I blew it again!" Ty Lee started crying. It always worked with Azula, so it worked with most people.

"Okay, okay! Calm down and tell me what's wrong."

Ty Lee recovered quickly. "Nothing. I know I've been distracted, but I want to stay with the Kiyoshi Warriors." She set her jaw. "I promised."

Suki softened. "I'm glad, Ty Lee."

"I'm glad you're here too, Ty Lee," Zuko said. "Now we're all together. I already sent Azula a messenger hawk." Zuko took a breath. "Let's take this easy. Some food will help."

"Yes!" Sokka was more enthusiastic than he had intended.

To Be Continued...

Well, Zuko has gotten the ultimate good news/bad news: his mom is back, but now he has a bigger problem ahead.