Oh Mother

Zuko Pov

Whoa, oh, yeah,

When you talk about a prince and a pricess meeting and falling in love it is described as a fairy tale. The prince and princess marry, have children, and live happily ever after, right? The story never continues on to say how their ever after plays out. My father of course was the second son of the firelord, Prince Ozai. My mother was the youngest daughter of a nobleman in Firelord Azulon's court. They met, and she was charmed by his handsome looks, and was easily captivated by him. She wanted love, happiness, and loyalty; everything she thougth she could get from the young prince.

She was so young with such innocent eyes
She always dreamt of a fairytale life
And all the things that your money can't buy
She thought that he was a wonderful guy
Then suddenly, things seemed to change
It was the moment she took on his name
He took his anger out on her face
She kept all of her pain locked away

I was concieved on their wedding night, a sign of her total devotion to her new husband. She played the roll of perfect wife, and soon-to-be perfect mother. She was six months pregnant when she first experience his anger. Firelord Azulon had refused an audience with his youngest son, and the rejection hit Ozai hard. He turned on my mother, marking her with bruises and burns. She hid the evidence of his abuse, loving him still even after he hurt her. For years the out look for his anger was her. She took it without speaking a word against him, sometimes sobbing about it in the silence of night.

Oh mother, we're stronger
From all of the tears you have shed
Oh mother, don't look back
Cause he'll never hurt us again

She was a great mother to Azula and I growing up. She raised us with a fair but stern attitude. This was unlike Ozai, who pushed us aside in order to further his political career and become great in his own father's eyes. My relationship with my father became strained, but like her father, Azula fought to be great in Ozai's eyes. Ignoring the affection my mother offered her, for the powerful and ruthless nature my father wanted. While I felt neglected by my father, my mom never let me dwell on it, always showering me with her attention.

So mother, I thank you
For all that you've done and still do
You got me, I got you
Together we always pull through
We always pull through
We always pull through
Oh mother, oh mother, oh mother

After Azulon told him to kill me, My father planned on doing it with no second thoughts. Hearing of his plans, my mother turned on him. Her prince charming was going to murder her only son. She approached him that night, fury radiating off of her. After all the pain she suffered at his hand, there was no way she would let him go after her children.

It was the day that he turned on his kids
That she knew she just had to leave him
So many voices inside of her head
Saying over and over and over,
"You deserve much more than this."

The agreement had been, she would kill Azulon for him, only if she could take Azula and I during her banishment. So she put the poison in Azulon's food. Her first action after that was to go straight to my room, and take us with her. Ozai met her at my door, two guards standing at his flanks.

"I'm leaving Ozai, there is no need to have me escorted out" She said ashamed to even look at the man she once loved.

"You misundertand Ursa, I can't have the nation questioning the where abouts of my heir if he goes with you. So you will have five minutes to say goodbye to both him and Azula. Then these men will make sure you leave the fire nation" He turn to leave, "Perminently"

"You can't do that, we have an agreement Ozai!" The guards grabbed her arm so she could not follow the new fire lord.

"Oh and If you even think about taking the children, you will all be dead before you reach the front gate." He threatened smirking at the pain written on my mother's face.

She was so sick of believing the lies and trying to hide
Covering the cuts and bruises (cuts and bruises)
So tired of defending her life, she could have died
Fighting for the lives of her children

Oh mother, we're stronger
From all of the tears you have shed (all of the tears you have shed)
Oh mother, don't look back
Cause he'll never hurt us again (he'll never hurt us again)

In another attempt to protect us from our father, she fled the fire nation leaving us behind. Forced to travel as a peasent, with no past and no future. She stumbled through her years in exile, constantly missing the feeling of her children in her arms. When word reached her on my being exiled, She wanted to find me, but feared my fathers retaliation. Her body shook with pain and anger, at learning of my scar. She knew if she had been there, Ozai would have not been able to touch me. She cried and believed my burn and being in exile was her fault. She believed her last words to be, "Never forget who you are," were the cause of my speaking out.

So mother, I thank you (thank you)
For all that you've done and still do (still do)
You got me, I got you, (yeah you got me and I got you)
Together we always pull through.
We always pull through
We always pull through
Oh mother, oh mother, oh mother

All of your life you have spent
Burying hurt and regret
But mama, he'll never touch us again

It was a year after Ozai's fall from grace that I finally saw her again. She walked right into my office, and swept me up into her arms. It was odd being taller than her, but I just held her close. When she finallly looked closely at my scar, she let small tears fall. Placing a hand on my scar, her eyes swelled with pain and regret.

"I'm so sorry I could not protect you, Zuko" She said, but I just pulled her into another hug.

"It isn't your fault Mom" I held her until her shaking and sobbing stopped.

It hurt me to see the strongest women I had ever known break down. But what shocked me most of all was when, She looked me straight in the eyes and asked to see Ozai.

For everytime he tried to break you down
Just remember who's still around
It's over, and we're stronger
And we'll never have to go back again

Oh mother, we're stronger
From all of the tears you have shed
Oh mother, don't look back (oh mother don't look back again)
Cause he'll never hurt us again (cause he'll never hurt us again)

Standing outside his prison cell, the shock in my fathers eyes caused me great joy. He looked upon my mother as if she were a ghost. She starred back at him with no fear or restraint. Her eyes filled with rage, pain, and blind fury. She hands were in fists at her side, her body shaking as adrenaline pumped through her vains.

"Look at you, alone, powerless, and worthless. All the pain and suffering you put the world and my children through, you deserve to sit here and rot. After this day Ozai, I will never look back, I will never think of you. But I hope everyday for the rest of your sorry existance, you experience as much suffering as you caused for others." She turned to leave but not before turning and adding, "How does it feel to be the prisoner now Ozai?"

Outside the prison, I wrapped an arm around my mothers shoulders and we made our way back to the palace.

That evening I found her sitting at the turtle duck pond. It felt like i was having a flashback, and had to pause for a moment. Stuck in my thoughts she startled me when she said, "It's hard to believe how fast time flies"

"Ya, feels like yesturday I was showing you how Azula fed the turtle ducks."

"And now your firelord" She said smiling as I sat beside her, "Zuko, I wasn't here to play a part in it, but I am so proud of who you have grown up to be. I owe your Uncle a great deal for how he has raised you."

She pulled my head onto her chest and held me close like when I was a child. I felt so content and said quietly, "I love you mom."

So mother, I thank you (and I thank you for everything you've done)
For all that you've done and still do (together we always move on)
You got me, I got you, (you got me, I got you)
Together we always pull through (always pull through)
We always pull through
We always pull through

I love you mom