A/N: Little drabble that occured to me. Zuko writes a letter to his mom after winning the war.
Happy Mother's Day!
Dear Mother,
Last time I wrote you one of these, I was almost completely a different person. I was staying in the lower rings of Ba Sing Se, and I barely had anything to write on- I ended up using a napkin from Uncle's tea shop. I wrote about those feverish dreams I was having. I wrote about how afraid I was that everything I believed in- everything that's been driving me for the last three years- was slipping away. The anger was slipping away. I was terrified.
And before that, I was bitter, and lost. I used to think, then, that my scar marked me; but then I realized, mostly with Uncle's help, that I was free to determine my own destiny. I also realized that my honor was never really taken from me, and Father didn't have the power to restore it. Only I could restore it. And so, I did.
I did some terrible things, mother. Things you might never forgive me for, if you knew about them. I have many regrets. But I hope that I've begun to redeem myself. I'll work for the rest of my life to make up for my mistakes.
I said that Uncle helped me realize what my destiny was, but it wasn't just him. It was you, too. I never forgot what you said to me, that night. I may have forgotten who I was, for a very long time, but I eventually remembered. And that's what saved me.
I'm about to be crowned Fire Lord. I'm going to set the world on the path of healing, so that we can eventually reach an era of peace and happiness. I'm not only going to redeem myself, but the Fire Nation as well.
And then, I'm going to find you.
- Zuko