Hey! Tis I, one who takes forever to update. Sorry I about that. School is overwhelming. Anyway, I just finished Chapter 3 and its pretty decent. I'm trying to build up to everything, you know? Other than that, I don't have much to say except enjoy this chapter.
Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar the Last Airbender
Third person pov
"What?!" Suki shouted.
"It's true," Iroh hung his head.
"Do the guards know where she is?" Zuko asked immediately, instantly going into "Fire Lord Mode."
"No," Iroh answered. "She's disappeared. No one can find her."
"Can't you ask that Jun girl to sniff her out?" Toph asked.
"They looked her up immediately. She couldn't track her." Iroh stated. "She says that Azula's scent isn't there."
"So she doesn't exist?" Katara frowned, remembering the time Aang had found himself on a lion turtle right before Sozin's Comet.
"We don't know," Iroh replied.
"Mom was right," Sokka whispered. "With Azula out there, we're all in danger. The whole world is in danger."
"We can only hope she's found," Iroh said. "But, Zuko, what's this about looking for your mother?"
"It doesn't matter now," Zuko answered solemnly. "I have to stay and protect the rest of the Fire Nation from Azula as Fire Lord." He paused and a look of horror and insecurity struck his face. "Dear Agni," he whispered. "Can I do that?"
Mai put a hand on his shoulder. "You can," she said.
"No, I can't. The world is only just starting to recover from what my great grandfather started, and I'm trying to help it regain balance, the Fire Nation still isn't trusted, and now Azula is out there. I can't keep everything under control with this pressure," Zuko moaned.
"No, Nephew. Until this is over, I will take over the nation and you can find your mother," Iroh stated.
Zuko's eyes widened. "But, Uncle-"
"No 'Buts' Zuko, you need to find your mother," Iroh said firmly.
"But what about your teashop?" Zuko asked.
"People will have to wait for tea, Zuko, if I knew this would happen, I would never have let you take this weight upon yourself. You need to find your mother."
"Uncle, I can't let you do that."
"You need this journey, Nephew. Your mother is out there somewhere."
"No, she isn't," Zuko raised his head and closed his eyes.
"What do you mean, Zuko?" Katara asked.
"Azula isn't the second person who's scent couldn't be detected; Aang's wasn't the first," Zuko whispered, tears escaping his closed eyes. "Before I was banished, I took my mother's sash from her robes. I carried it with me everywhere. When I first hired Jun to track Aang, I had her sniff out my mother first. There was no scent, according to Jun. My mother doesn't exist."
"But, she can't be dead," Suki pointed out. "She would have a scent."
"I don't know, but she's not on this earth," Zuko replied. "I wish that I could find her. I would give up the title of Fire Lord to find her."
"She's out there," Iroh looked at Zuko.
"Are you sure Uncle? Are you sure that if I leave you in charge and search for Mom that Azula's not going to come and take you down? I can't let that happen to you, or anyone."
"Please, Zuko, find your mother. It's the only way you can move on from your loss."
"I just can't do that. I can't walk away from the Fire Nation to find-"
"Zuko! Get a grip! Listen to your uncle. This is the most important thing in you life right now. You need to do this!"
Everyone turned to stare at Mai, who had never had an outburst quite like this.
Zuko's eyes widened, and his face flushed. "Mai? You really think? You know I can't just up and lea-"
"What happened to the guy I love? You used to be so confident, and now you're acting weak and cowardly-"
"I'm the Fire Lord, Mai. Do you really believe that I was raised to abandon my duties?"
"You left once, Zuko. You can do it again."
"Mai, I'm sorry, but-"
"Go find Ursa, Zuko. We can take care of ourselves. I can take care of myself."
"What? Does this mean that we're breaking up?"
"No," Mai stared at him with a pained look. "We're just taking a break, until you suck it up and try to find your mother."
Zuko looked down in thought. After several moments, he looked up. "Do you really think I should try?" As he gazed out at his friends, whom he had come to love and cherish, he thought, Can I really leave them, to fulfill a hope that might already be lost? But he knew he would have to, as they all nodded their heads.
"We'll miss you Zuko," Aang came up and hugged him.
"Yea," the group huddled together, though some of them were wishing that he could stay.
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2 weeks later
"By degree of Fire Lord Zuko, the title of Fire Lord is to be temporarily passed onto to former Heir to the throne, the Dragon of the West, General Iroh!"
Cheers erupted as the headpiece was removed from Zuko's hair and placed into Iroh's neat topknot. As they both stood up, Iroh raised a hand to silence the crowd.
"Please, remember that I am only Fire Lord for a short time. Do not forget my nephew's place, and continue treating him respectfully. Now, as you may have heard, my niece, former princess Azula has escaped her prison. I assure you, though she has yet to be found, we do have every guard on the look out; every bounty hunter searching. Do not fear, for she will cause no harm to us." Iroh spoke.
"How do you know that Zuko isn't abandoning us," a man sneered. "He could be running away from his widdle baby sister," he laughed mockingly.
"Yeah!" shouts went up.
"He's probably too weak and cowardly!"
"Aw, the frightened baby turtle duck wants to run to his mommy!"
"Do not bring my mother into this!" Zuko roared.
"Or else what, Avatar Roku's spirit will manifest itself here and dictate me? You're a coward, a little insignificant worm, swine-"
"Enough!" Iroh ordered. "My nephew is a good man. He has an important duty to himself that he needs to take care of. Have faith in him. Whoever here that believes that he will return, let your voices be heard now!" Shouts filled the area.
Zuko stepped forward. "Thank you for your faith. I should let you all know that this journey I am taking, it is to find my mother."
"Impossible!" The man from before shouted. "Ursa was found dead the same day as Fire Lord Azulon! Ozai, your father boy, told us!"
"After all my father put us through, you would believe him?" Zuko glared. "It was a lie. Yes, Ursa, granddaughter of Avatar Roku and Ta Min, former wife of ex-Fire Lord Ozai, mother of me and ex princess Azula, is alive. She was banished, and I am determined to find her."
"So Ozai lied to us this entire time?" the man asked. "He banished her, and left the Nation without a Fire Lady and two children without a mother?"
Zuko nodded.
The man kneeled. "Forgive me, sir, I did not know that you had to endure this loss. I, too, lost my mother at a young age."
"You are forgiven, sir," Zuko dipped his head in acknowledgement. "I did not know that she was alive until about two weeks before Sozin's Comet."
"I wish you luck, young Fire Lord," the man voiced. "Find your mother, for all of us who lost our mothers in some way, be it in the war or not."
Zuko glanced out into the crowd. He spotted Katara, her hand on her throat, tears glistening in her eyes. He looked over the crowd with hope in his eyes that maybe-just maybe- his mother was out there, and this was not for nothing.
"Is that all that needs to be said?" The ceremonial priest asked. Both Iroh and Zuko nodded. "You know what to do, Fire Lord Iroh."
"Thank you for attending this ceremony. It seems sudden, since the beginning of Zuko's reign, but once he returns, it will continue," Iroh smiled. "You are free to go."
As the crowd thinned out, Zuko made his way back into the palace. He headed toward his bedroom to change out of the heavy robes he had been wearing all day. Then he would pack and head off on his journey later that night.
"Zuko!"
He turned his head to find Katara running toward him. "What, Katara? You know I don't have much time, tonight's the night."
"Zuko, please stay, one more night."
"Katara, I need to head off soon, I can't wait anymore."
"It's important to me, Zuko. Please."
"It is that important?" he sighed.
"Yes, please," Katara pleaded.
"Fine," Zuko said.
"Thank you! You'll see why it's so important tomorrow!" Katara hugged him. Zuko felt his face flush. Katara let go and ran. "See you Zuko!"
Zuko rolled his eyes. "That girl is something else," he muttered.
Tada! I am so glad I got this done. I already have most of Chapter 4 done, its in the making. Please review. I hope you liked it.
saki yume kira hanajima