Disclaimer: I do not own the Avatar: The last airbender series (The cartoon one) I preferred the animation than the movie though ^_^

"Speaking"

(Thinking)

Finding Mother Bear: Chapter 1

It has been five months since Sozan's comet has passed earth, three months since the defeat of fire lord Ozai and three months since Zuko was inducted as the new fire lord.

Zuko was new to the environment, he has been banished for so long that he has forgotten how servants and people used to treat him.

Aang and his gang left the fire nation to help the other nations restore their land. And Zuko was left alone to run the fire nation.

With a perfect life like this you might think that he is happy; but, in reality it wasn't. He was never contented, there was always something missing. He was missing his own mother.

He asked his father where his mother was on the day he reigned as fire lord. But his father never told him. Day after day he would go back in his father's cell just to ask where his mother was; but, he would never answer. Eventually Zuko gave up and tried to ignore the felling of wanting to see his mother again; and yet he couldn't ignore it.

Zuko thought of his mother everyday, but thinking of her will never answer his questions or filling the feeling of a mother's love.

"Zuko" Iroh blurted.

Zuko's thoughts were interrupted when he heard his uncle's jolly greeting. He shook his head and reclined on his chair. "Oh, hello uncle"

"Studying this late? You know this won't do any good to your health." Iroh pointed out.

"I'm sorry uncle, it's just I have a lot of things in my mind right now"

"Hmmm, I didn't know that breaking up with Mai would make you this stressed" Iroh joked.

Zuko ignored his uncle's laughter and sighed. "Uncle, may I ask you something?"

"Anything"

"Do you know why…Mother left?" He asked.

Iroh looked at his nephew and sighed. "I'm sorry Zuko; but, I do not know the reason why she left"

"….Thanks uncle"

"But I know that the reason why she left wasn't because of you" His uncle added. "Now go to bed, you'll need your energy tomorrow"

"Fine, goodnight uncle"

"Goodnight Zuko" Iroh walked out of Zuko's room and closed the door.

Zuko stood up from his chair and transferred to his bed. He plopped himself down on his soft futon and looked at the ceiling. He would reminisce on the times he had with his mother, the stories she would share, the songs she would sing to him and the lulling sound of her soft voice made everything seem right.

(Mother, I will find you. I swear of it, I'll take you back)

He then closed his eyes and travelled in the land of nod.

The next day Zuko was awakened by the sun's rays touching his cheek. He sat up, rubbed his eyes and looked out at the window. The sun was shining bright and the room was silent, until…

"FIRE LORD ZUKO, FIRE LORD ZUKO" a stranger banged on the doors.

Zuko jolted and looked at the door. (Now, who would that be?) He stood up and opened the door, there he saw a villager panting on his feet.

"Lord Zuko *pant* my friend would like to *pant* speak with you *pant*" The stranger requested.

"Stop you TRESSPASSER" A guard roared.

Zuko looked at the guard and stopped him. "It's okay, I can handle this"

The guard saluted at Zuko and returned to his post.

"Now, would you like to rest for a little bit –?"

"NO" The stranger replied. "I don't want to be rude; but, my friend is dying. He needs to speak with you. *pant* *pant* It is urgent"

"I'm sorry but I'm kind of busy and –"

"It's about a woman, named Ursa" The stranger interrupted.

Ursa, Yes, Ursa was the name of his beloved mother. And when her name rang in his ears he pulled the stranger in his room and closed the door.

"TELL ME EVERYTHING YOU KNOW ABOUT HER" Zuko demanded.

"I'm sorry Lord Zuko, but my friend wanted to talk to you about that" The stranger pointed out.

Zuko lets go of the stranger and glared at him. "Take me to your friend"

A few minutes later Zuko accompanied the man who led him in a small hut near the outskirts of the fire nation. And when Zuko entered the hut he saw a man lying on the bed. He lost both of his legs and was wrapped in bandages all over.

"What happened to him?" He asked.

"He was badly injured during the recent war. He was only gathering supplies for his family but fate led him to this state"

"What is his name?"

"Baik"

When Baik heard his name he slowly opened his eyes. He looked pale, his vision failed him and he was weak.

"Khir…Is that you?" He uttered.

"Yes Baik, it is I. I brought Lord Zuko for you" Khir mentioned.

Baik turned his head and saw Zuko's blurred form. "Lord…Zuko…."

Khir looked at Zuko and invited him to stay next to Baik. Zuko walked closer to Baik and crouched at his side.

"L-lord Z-Zuko….There is something…" Baik whispered.

Zuko got closer and waited for the man to speak.

"I know that you want to see your mother. But can you at least fulfil a dying man's last wish?" Baik asked.

Zuko looked at the dying man and couldn't refuse. "Of course"

Baik dug his hands in his shirt and took out a locket. "Please, give this to my wife. Tell her that I will always love her; tell her that I'm sorry that I couldn't fulfil her wish. And please tell my child, my child that I will never meet not to worry…"

Baik started breathing heavily, his vision started fading and he started coughing uncontrollably.

"And for you Lord Zuko…Your mother told me, that she has always loved you…"

Baik lowered his head and closed his eyes.

"Wait, that's it. That's all you know?" Zuko asked.

But Baik wouldn't reply.

Enraged Zuko marched his way out of the hut. He punched the house's wall and screamed. "THAT INFORMATION IS USELESS" Zuko roared.

Khir looked at his dead friend then at Zuko. (Baik, why did you make things more complicated?)

Zuko repeatedly punched the wall to relieve himself from his anger. He suddenly realized that he was still holding the locket Baik gave him. He opened up his palm and found it damaged. "I should learn to control my temper" He uttered to himself.

"Are you going to fulfil my friend's wish?" Khir asked.

Zuko looked at Khir and snarled. "Why should I? He didn't help me"

"Please I beg of you, fulfil his dying wish. His soul will wander in regret if you don't fulfil his wish"

As a newly inducted fire lord Zuko didn't want his reputation to be soiled. He didn't want to break any promises he made, even if they were as petty as this.

"I will fulfil my promise, for I am fire lord Zuko" Zuko assured.

"Thank you my lord. But there is only one instruction Baik forgot to mention" Khir pointed out.

"And what would that be?"

"You have to do this journey alone"

"What? How can I do this alone if I do not even know where he lives?" Zuko complained.

"I will accompany you for a short distance. And from there I will tell you where to go"

Zuko looked at Khir and nodded. "When should we start?"

"Tonight"

That night Zuko packed enough for three days, he doesn't know how long this journey would take. But he was sure that he will do this quickly.

"Zuko, where are you going?" Iroh asked.

"I'm fulfilling someone's last wish" Zuko answered. He grabbed his bag on his bed and placed it on his back.

"How long will you gone?"

"Three days. Uncle, while I'm gone I want you to take over"

"That'll be alright, you've done such a great job. People here are starting to live peacefully again. And I'm guessing three days without you will be easy for me" Iroh bragged.

"Thank you uncle"

Zuko walked out of the castle gate and met up with Khir.

"Lord Zuko, please take this Eel hound. Your journey will be quicker if you ride on it"

Zuko took the Eel hound from its reigns and petted its snout.

"Let's get going, we have to be on the drop off point before the sun rises" Khir mentioned.

For several hours they have walked to unknown paths. Zuko has never travelled deep into the fire nation forests before and seemed overwhelmed with everything.

"We're here" Khir announced.

Zuko stood next to Khir and saw him pointing up to a mountain.

"Baik lives up there; he is very secretive of his house, he hasn't told me where his house lies but he said if you keep going up you will find it" He assured.

Zuko got on his Eel hound and looked at the mountain. "Let's get this over with" He hit the Eel hound's sides with his heels and dashed up the mountain.

Khir watched Zuko until he has disappeared in the thick greenery of the forest.

Zuko thought that he has packed enough food for his journey; but, he was wrong. He doesn't know the place that well and got lost for a week.

"Just keep going up he said; the house will be there he said. I think I've been had" Zuko complained.

Suddenly his Eel hound stopped.

"Hey, I didn't tell you stop –"

The Eel hound went berserk. It started jumping wildly and rocked Zuko back and forth.

"HEY YOU STUPID ANIMAL, WHAT'S GOTTEN INTO YOU?"

The Eel hound wouldn't stop. Its strength was unimaginable. It knocked Zuko off its back and sprinted away.

"Stupid Eel hound, Khir must've ripped me off"

Suddenly he heard the bushes rustling behind him. He stood up and held his attack stance. (I better be careful, I've never been in this part of the fire nation who knows what creature lies in this forest)

The bush started rustling louder and faster, suddenly a wild Koala sheep jumped out from the bush.

Zuko sighed in relief. "I thought it would be something more dangerous like –"

A sudden squeal filled the air. The Koala sheep jolted and ran under Zuko.

(What's gotten into that -)

Zuko's thoughts were interrupted when he heard loud snorting sounds behind him. He turned around and saw a herd of wild Boar –Q – Pine snarling in front of his face. He slowly walked away and tried to avoid a stampede; but, he didn't notice the simple twig that lied a few feet behind him and snapped it with his foot. The Boar – Q –Pines squealed and ran to Zuko.

"Just my luck" Zuko sarcastically screamed.

He ran as fast as he could but the Boar –Q- Pines are too fast for him. He let out a blaze of fire from his fist; but, that made the Boar –Q – Pines angrier. He ran for his life throughout the whole day, and when the Boar –Q Pines gave up on him, he found himself lost in the forest.

"Great, now wha-"

He hasn't eaten in days and his stomach was acting up. He held his stomach to cover up the horrible noise.

"Damn it, I'd better look for something to eat before I starve to death" He looked up in the sky and felt dismayed. "It's getting dark; I'd better do it quickly"

Zuko searched far and wide for something to eat; but lady luck wasn't in his side this time. Instead of finding food he got injuries from the mountains unpredictable terrains, and the worse part was yet to come.

"Tsk, I can't exert anymore energy; I'd better find a place to stay"

Zuko found a tree with a hole on its trunk; he snuck in the hollow space and cuddled his weak body to protect himself from the cold. "At least it's not raining"

He then heard thunder, and after a few seconds rain started to pour.

(I spoke too soon)

The rain was strong and hard, Zuko doesn't have anymore strength to move to another location. He was hungry, he felt weak, and he needed help.

(I can't die here, I just can't. I haven't even -)

Sounds of footsteps interrupted his mind. He wanted to defend himself but couldn't, all he could do was to raise his head and tried to identify the intruder.

"W-who's there?" He weakly asked.

"It's okay, I'm here to help" A womanly voice lulled.

Zuko didn't know the intruder, but her voice seemed to calm him down. He closed his eyes and let the stranger help him.

Zuko was spared that night. The stranger brought him to a safe place and took care of him. That night Zuko slept soundly, even if he was covered in bruises. He wanted to sleep a little longer until he regained his energy. However a sudden cry of a child woke him up.

Zuko slowly opened his eyes when he heard the crying child. He found himself on a bed and his left arm in a sling. "What happened?" He sat up and saw the child crying in her crib. (Where am I?)

Zuko jolted when he heard he door knob rattle. He didn't get a clear view of the stranger's face, so he took precautionary measures.

When the stranger entered the room he was in shock.

The stranger carried her child and swayed her child in her arms. "Hmmm, I see you woke up our guest Sohalia" She joked.

The child looked at her mother and reached for her face. The stranger smiled at her child and then looked at Zuko.

"I'm sorry, did she wake you?"

But Zuko didn't answer; his mouth was still in shock whenever he looked at the stranger.

The stranger placed her child back in her crib and sat next to Zuko. She placed her palm on Zuko's swollen cheek. "I'll get some ice that should –"

Zuko placed his palm on the stranger's hand and forced it to stay on his cheek.

"What're you –"

But the stranger stopped when she felt Zuko's hot tears hitting her hand. "What's the matter?" She asked.

Zuko looked at the stranger's golden eyes and smiled. (Mother, I found you) He thought.

To be continued…

End of chapter one

To my dear readers,

Hey guys my first Avatar fanfiction. Hope you like it, I know that I'm not done with my Naruto one but I need inspiration. So….Yeah. Hope you're ready for chapter Two ~Ciao ^_^