Hello fanfic readers; feels great to be back. This story has deprived me of sleep, given me the worst case of empty page syndrome in all my years of being a writer and made me a tortured artist; but it was all worth it.

Welcome to the second part of my Book 4 series; this time it's all about Zuko and Mai. There will be some OCs, but mostly the characters are cannon. The plot lines are thicker and crazier for this edition.

I would especially like to thank Passionworks, who did a rewrite of my fanfic; I used excerpts from it.

The inspiration for this chapter came from listening to the song Mad World. Originally this was going to be a one shot; but I decided to begin the story with the lyrics. So without further ado I give you: 'Out of the Ashes'

I do not own ATLA
Mad World lyrics
Songwriters: Orzabal, Roland; performed by Gary Jules.

Book 4: Air: Out of the Ashes
Prologue Part 1

From within the very core of the Royal Palace, a somnolent Firelord Zuko ran his checkered past through his meditative mind, entwining his troubles and doubts, interlacing them with his rise to the throne. The orange flame in front of him grew with each breathing rudiment. He shut his eyes to placate his turbulent thoughts; letting it rest at the base of his spine. The overexertion was superfluous. Once again he had entered the cycle of loss and confusion. He had managed to create a semblance of harmony between the nations, amalgamate foreigners into his own country, making cleaner energy with the technological strides made by his father. All of these advances meant little, for his personal life was a series of disenchantment. He opened his weary eyes and breathed deeply lowering the flame. Focus was as elusive and futile as chasing the wind. He was a figurehead, having to be strong and unfaltering. All the fervor for which he ruled this nation was marginal in comparison to his family. Like Zuko had always done; he hoped for the best and prepared for the worst. There was no amount of plotting or foreshadowing of all the turmoil that was to come.

All around me are familiar faces
Worn out places, worn out faces
Bright and early for the daily races
Going nowhere, going nowhere

He had cut ties with all of those that mattered. Had it not been for Aang he would have made the biggest mistake of his life:

"Anyone else wants to challenge my authority?"

"Nephew, you are tense from the recent events."

Zuko pushed his Uncle back roughly, "I have nothing to say to you liar!"

Aang stood defensively in front of Iroh. "What's gotten into you?"

"Ask him; he knew all of this time! He knew!" he hollered.

"Knew what?"

"His White Lotus members have been hiding my mother the whole time. Now she's dead and I'll never get to see her. Go on and deny it!"

Iroh looked away. "I—"

"I hereby banish you: get out of my life. I never want to speak to you again! "

"Zuko I know your upset, but you can't banish your family."

"He's no family of mine."

He was amazed at the man's power of forgiveness. The retired General had been the most selfless man to him. He put aside his grief to nurture with love; train him with kindness, reared him with respect, guide him with greatness, and lead him to his destiny. During his banishment, he was nothing but a scarred disgrace, cast aside by his own father. Iroh always let him get angry and lose his way. Perhaps, he thought to himself, the green eyed monster had gnawed on his soul and spit the bones out.

Iroh's life was wonderful and Zuko's was not. Yet, for the last three years their lives had intertwined more now than his days of exile, when their existences clashed inside a rickety, old model Fire Nation war boat. He thought vividly of his placid uncle, living out the rest of his days inside the upper district of Ba Sing Se. Zuko imagined Iroh's studious glare over a Pai Sho board, a White Lotus tile tight in one hand, and a cup of his own perfectly-brewed jasmine tea in the other. Iroh's life, pictured the Firelord, was a harmonious balance of work and play, running a shop and conquering the board. Zuko had just recently suffered the loss of his own firstborn, just as Iroh had lost his Lu Ten during the century-long war. This thought alone brought to his mind the fact that Iroh had left his pleasures behind, and was sailing to the Fire Nation this day to send his nephew his condolences on his loss."Uncle should be here any day now," the Firelord whispered to himself.

Their tears are filling up their glasses
No expression, no expression
Hide my head I wanna drown my sorrow
No tomorrow, no tomorrow

A tempestuous storm of grief and dysfunction had destroyed Zuko and Mai. The vast magnitude of the palace served as a chasm for the Firelord and Firelady. They had been sleeping in separate rooms, yet, here she was compliantly sitting next to him, keeping up appearances. The fondness made its exit since that fateful day. The couple assumed the others roles; Zuko was swallowing his emotions and Mai had been out of touch and suffering in silence; when words past their lips it is out of routine or arguments. The intimacy was a fairytale. Mai's infertility had been a sore subject; which made temptation to stray a seductive concept. Women had been coming to his Turkish bath; royal officials had offered him a concubine; The Fire Sages themselves gave him a maiden to carry his child. Akane owner of a brothel had been pushing one of his best clients, whispering in his ear; finally he succumbed by making a visit to Lady Scarlett. He felt alive and hadn't a weight on his shoulders, but guilt been as bitter as wormwood. When he came home; Mai moved her things from their room, not leaving a correspondence with an explanation.

He lay in his empty bed and wished of the days of former, where they would stare at each other after making love. After a long day of yes man and adversarial doubters; Mai would be his salvation. Without her he felt dead and each day was a fruitless burden. He fought so hard to get her and now he was pushing her away, he just couldn't show weakness, but he went too far. Zuko felt doubtful of their survival.

And I find it kind of funny, I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you, cuz I find it hard to take
When people run in circles it's a very, very
Mad world, mad world

He was at peace in the chaos; it was familiar; but never at the cost of loved ones. Zuko found himself trudging through the mire. His reckless days in the Northern Water Tribe were brought to mind. He traveled in the grey arctic wilderness; dragging the Avatar's lifeless body. He hadn't formulated a plan and his breath was the only thing keeping him alive. As the then Prince stood in the cave, all of his confessions came pouring out of him. He once said, "I've always had to struggle and fight that's made me strong; it's made me who I am."

The Firelord became dissatisfied at the statement. For once he wanted synergy; however his future had other plans. Zuko prayed the discord would slow. Breathe in, breathe out; all will be well

Children waiting for the day they feel good
Happy birthday, happy birthday
And I feel the way that every child should
Sit and listen, sit and listen

His sister was missing for three years. She would be nineteen today. The last message he received about Azula reported her being mortally wounded in a fight between former Dai Li agents, Yu Yan archers and a Phoenix Battalion headed by Chan and Ruon-Jian. She was last seen being carried away, after a green explosion erupted in the middle of the square. He knew with absolute certainty that his father had everything to do with the incident. News of her injury told him that she had come to the same realization that he came upon when reading Ozai's journals in the dragon bone catacombs. She cleverly surmised that their father was using her as a tool for his aspirations. He hoped she wasn't dead it would just be one more thing that would go wrong.

Before he signed the release papers from the mental facility; he took pity on her harsh childhood and was grateful to be banished with a burn mark, he chastised himself for that cruel thought. Zuko regrets that he didn't embrace her or give wise advice. He needed patience; after all she was born lucky.

Went to school and I was very nervous
No one knew me, no one knew me
Hello teacher tell me, what's my lesson?
Look right through me, look right through me

"You *will* learn respect, and suffering will be your teacher! "

The words echoed in his clouded mind. If this was the case, then his father was the Professor of misery and woe. He felt total and utter humiliation every time he visited his father's cell. Ozai always had a way of breaking his plaster mask of strength. He bemoaned the day his father ceased brooding Zuko called upon all inner restraint to not burn that smug grin on his face. Yet some foolish part of him believed the man could change. "One more year, he'll say the words I long for", he told himself.

The Firelord hated himself for caring; he wished to be numb and cruel. However, it was the latter that had caused him to isolate his friends and family to transparency.

And I find it kind of funny, I find it kind of sad
The dreams in which I'm dying are the best I've ever had
I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take
When people run in circles its a very, very Mad world, mad world, enlarging your world
Mad world

It was the early evening Firelord Zuko looked to Firelady Mai and grasped her hand while she held a tiny gold bracelet; the fire in front of them grew stronger with each breath. Their concentration rested on the bond of grief. Suddenly, the curtain separating the throne chamber tore open disrupting their thoughts. The flame lowered to a hush whisper. A band of guards all of separate nationalities hauled in a body of an almost lifeless woman. Her hair was in soaked strands and her green shirt was nearly shredded in front. Wonderful, he thought, now some meager peasant wants to be shielded from the storm again. To Zuko's detriment; he felt a tug in his empathetic heart; although she took quite the beating: he could tell this woman wasn't leaving without getting her point across; but who could be so persistent: if he didn't know any better, he could of sworn...no it isn't a possibility.

Zuko rose up from his seat to see the disturbance. The main guard Shan, who was of Water tribe, led the front of the pack; he stepped forward and spoke up quickly, "Your highness we caught this woman trying to sneak into your throne room. She gave us a healthy challenge Milord. What do you propose we do with her?"

She was bold he would give her that, who was this woman? He had to know. "I would like to see the face of the intruder." ordered Zuko.

They pulled back the woman's hair. Zuko collapsed backward in shock, nearly stepping into the meditation fire. The emotions within him violently stirred. He couldn't believe his eyes, "Azula?" He whispered.

The guards looked at the woman in disbelief, "The missing princess!" they exclaimed nearly dropping the weak Azula.

"We had our suspicions Milord giving her battle technique," spoke Long the Earth Kingdom guard.

From behind him, Zuko could feel the tension rising in his wife. He missed her so much, but he had to collect himself, After all she did have a confrontation three years ago. Azula was a proficient planner this could be serious. "Do you believe it was an assassination attempt? Did she bring any accomplices with her?"

"No, sir, we proposed that she came on her own accord; primarily, for the reason of her traveling companion," said Cheng the leader of the Earth Kingdom guards.

"Who did she bring with her?"

One of the smaller Earth Kingdom soldiers named Wei stepped forward. "I have been informed by The Imperial Guard that she… brought…an infant Milord.

"Azula is a mother?" he murmured with dizzying realization.

Y-yes, milord," Long said. "And what do you want us to do with the princess?"

He wanted to sit down from all the shocking information he was bombarded with. First, he had to figure out what to do with Azula and her baby. Azula would never willingly give away her possessions. She knew this palace like the back of her hand. All the guards awaited his response. She was here for an important purpose that was abundantly clear. The sound of the red flames that surrounded the Firelord's throne crackling cut through the room as stillness blanketed all the occupants of the room. Finally, Zuko responded, "Send Azula to a heavily-guarded room and have her washed up."

"Sir –" Long pleaded.

"And order that Imperial Guardsman to give her baby back to her."

The four men confusedly nodded their heads, and walked out of the throne room, leaving the Firelord and his wife alone in the chamber.

"Zuko," Mai bitterly said after they departed, "Your sister hands a baby off to one of your men and you order him to bring it back to her? Why? Think about that baby!"

"I am thinking about it, Mai!" Zuko shouted angrily. "If it is Azula's baby, then she has the right to have it with her while she's staying with us."

"No, she doesn't! How do we even know it is hers? Why on this very earth would the spirits give her a child and takes ours away?"

Zuko declined his eyes, his viewpoint drifting to his gold tiles. "Remember what we said about our— "

Mai turned her face away composing her anger. She pushed back the tears that were threatening to drop. The Firelady being agreeable responded, "I'm sorry," she replied at last. "You're right."

The Firelord declared, "Once she's cleaned, I'm going to talk with her."

Mai instantly quieted her voice, and begged, "No, Zuko, let me speak with her first; seeing you might upset her. We need to learn why she's here."

The Firelord's own hostility melted from his scarred countenance. He trusted his wife's judgment, and planted a quick kiss to her lips. She glared at his sign of affection; he thought she would wipe her mouth in disgust.

"If you think that's best," he queried once the two of them parted.

"I do," Mai affirmed. "Just give me a chance to do this…"

"I need to know why."