CHAPTER 14- Past and Present
"Mom?" The group asked in stereo.
"Yes, I am Zuko's mother," she said in a joyous, tearful voice.
Katara's eyes began to water, too.
"Zuko, how, what?" She tried, not even really knowing what she was trying to ask. She turned to the group, still embracing her son. "My name is Ursa."
"You're the Fire Lord's wife!?" Sokka shouted.
"Was. That man is not my husband," Ursa told them.
"Mom, why did you leave?" Zuko finally managed to ask, his voice breaking.
"I guess we have a lot of talking to do, hmm?" She asked.
"I think it's about time we all went to bed. Don't you think so guys?" Katara said suddenly, standing and stretching.
The gang took the hint and headed towards the dome. Katara looked back at Zuko with concern before following her other friends.
"Katara," Zuko called out.
She turned back to look at him.
"Please stay. I want you, no, need you with me to hear this," he said, the look in his eyes convincing her to stay.
She slowly walked over and sat next to Zuko.
"Zuko, what happened? Who did this to you?" Ursa asked, gently bringing a hand to her son's face.
"Father," he replied.
He went on to tell her all that happened after she'd left, all the way up to him being where he was now. His mother listened on in horror. Katara occasionally squeezed his hand or his arm for comfort and reassurance as he regaled the story, her horror growing. How could his own father do that to him?! Katara thought angrily.
"Oh, Zuko, I had no idea," Ursa breathed.
Katara remained silent.
"Why did you leave?" Zuko asked his mom.
"I was trying to protect you. Ozai favored your sister, and I can honestly think you know how I felt. Your father thought I should favor Azula as well, and was angry when I didn't. He also said I spoiled you, and that made him angrier. When I was leaving, my heart broke because I had to leave you behind.
"I couldn't stay any longer. I thought maybe without me there, your father might leave you alone. I see now that I was so very wrong. I'm so sorry, Zuko."
"It's okay. I don't blame you for what happened, Mom."
The spent the next half hour talking, Katara not saying too much, until they decided they should actually get some sleep.
Ursa sat by the pond the next morning, watching the sun rise. Katara woke up next and was surprised to see Zuko still asleep. She caressed his forehead gently, and then left to let her friends sleep. Ursa heard footsteps behind her, and then Katara was seated beside her.
"Good morning," Katara said pleasantly.
"And to you as well," Ursa said, equally as pleasant.
"So, you're really Zuko's mother?"
"Yes, I am. I've missed him so much," Ursa told her.
"I can see why. Zuko's a very good person. He's made a lot of mistakes, but he has a very good heart," Katara said.
"That's very true. And I can also see he chose very well."
"What? I don't understand what you mean," Katara said.
"Be it a mother's or a woman's intuition, I can see how much Zuko likes you and cares about you. And vice versa."
"Oh, I'm not sure if-" Katara started, knowing full well how right Ursa was.
"If what?" Ursa asked knowingly.
"Uh, never mind."
"In my opinion, you're a good match for my son. You seem to bring out the softer side in him."
"Thank you," Katara said, blushing and touching her mother's necklace.
"That's a beautiful necklace by the way. Nothing like it in the Fire Nation. Wait a moment, isn't that a betrothal necklace? Are you engaged?" Ursa knew Zuko would be crushed if Katara was engaged to marry another man.
"Oh, no, I'm not getting married. Well, not yet anyway. It was my mother's necklace, and she gave it to me," Katara said.
"Oh, I see. It is very beautiful."
"Thank you. Can I, ask you something?"
"Of course," Ursa said.
"Why did you marry the Fire Lord?" Katara asked.
"To tell you the truth, it was an arranged marriage. But that's another story. I'll have to tell you some other time. Does the Water Tribe have arranged marriages?"
"Well, the marrying age is 16. The North Pole has the arranged marriages, but the South Pole doesn't. My parents were in love. They were so happy," Katara said.
"Were?" Ursa asked.
"My mother was killed in a Fire Nation raid," Katara replied, her voice sad.
"Oh, Katara, I'm so sorry," Ursa said, putting a hand on Katara's shoulder.
"Thank you," Katara said with a smile. "You know, you remind me of her."
"I appreciate that and take it as an honor."
"Can I ask you a favor?"
Ursa nodded her head.
"Can you not tell the others about, well, me and Zuko?"
"Of course, but why?" Ursa asked.
"They just-, I don't think it's the right time," Katara said.
"I understand."
"Thank you, Ursa," Katara said gratefully.
"No problem. But, how long do you plan to keep up not telling your friends?" Ursa asked.
"I don't know. Maybe until my brother trusts him a little more. I'm a little confused myself," Katara replied.
Next thing they knew, Zuko was seated in between them.
"Good morning," Katara and Ursa said.
Zuko just nodded, but he wore a smile on his face.
"Are you leaving today, Mom?" Zuko asked, no longer smiling.
"Not if you don't want me to," she told him.
"Of course I don't want you to leave again," Zuko said.
"So, when are you all leaving this camp sight?"
"We're leaving before the end of this week for Ba Sing Se. We're going to get rid of Azula and put the Earth King back on his throne. Then we'll have a little over a month to round up forces to invade the Fire Nation on the day of the solar eclipse," Katara informed her.
"What are you going to do to 'get rid' of Azula?" Ursa asked.
"We hadn't really thought about it," Katara said.
"What do you think we should do?" Zuko asked his mom.
"I don't know. I don't know her anymore. That girl, I don't think she's my daughter anymore," Ursa said.
"She's had issues since she was little. I know you noticed. She's just like Dad. They both need to pay for all they've done. I mean, you heard what I've told you about her. They're cruel, and they're going down," Zuko said, his face and voice determined.
--
At the royal palace in Ba Sing Se, things seemed to be going as well as Azula could want. She had control of the city and the Dai Li, and her father continued to like her better then her brother. Ozai had been more than a little surprised to hear that Zuko helped Azula in all the ways he had. Azula was beginning to wonder how long it would take her brother to return, or if he even would. Though she felt there were many more important things to think about than her inferior brother, like what to do with her uncle. She decided to pay him a visit.
"Hello, Uncle," she said as she stood in front of her cell.
Iroh said nothing. He just stared at his niece with malice.
"I kept forgetting to come down here. I thought you'd like to know; Zuko's gone."
"Where?" Iroh asked. "What did you do to him?"
"Oh, Uncle, surely you'd think better of me. Zuko left all on his own. He's gone after those people that help the Avatar," she said with an evil smile. "But enough about Zuzu, let's talk about you. Father wants you back home. He says it's either his choice of fate, or mine. I told him I'd take care of it personally. I'll see you when I decide." At that Azula left, a cruel happiness on her face.
--
"Well Zuko, the choices are up to you all, I won't judge what you do," Ursa said.
"We appreciate the blessings," Katara said. "Sorry to have to leave you guys, but I have to get breakfast ready."
Zuko and Ursa sat in silence while Katara cooked breakfast. The rest of the gang was lured out of the dome by the smell. Even Kuei decided to eat with them.
"Okay everybody, eat up. We've got more work to do today," Katara said as she passed out breakfast.
"I'm sorry, I don't think we've met," Ursa said, noticing Kuei.
"Oh, I forgot. Ursa, this is the King of Ba Sing Se. Kuei, this is Zuko's mother, Ursa," Katara made the introductions.
"Nice to meet you," they said to each other.
"That reminds me," Sokka blurted suddenly. "Where are Kuei and Zuko's mother going to be when we invade the city?"
"That's a good point," Katara said.
"I think we should set them up in a safe place outside the city. Beyond the outer wall," Aang offered.
"I think that's probably the safest way to go," Zuko told them.
"Well, I think that's settled," Sokka said.
"Alright, we talk more after. Right now we'll take a swim and then start on our training for the day."
Kuei decided to rest for the day, and said he thought he was coming down with something. Ursa wanted to watch the team practice. She was amazed at her son's skills as a Firebender, and also was impressed by the rest of the gang as well. They continued practice throughout the day, breaking for lunch and then working again until dinner. The sun had barely begun sinking as they finished eating.
"We still need a strategy to get into the city," Toph reminded them.
"I liked Zuko's idea," Katara said. "We'll go in as 'prisoners', and Zuko will act like he's actually captured us. We'll be in the prison hold, and Toph can bend our way out of there."
"We're good on that part, but what about the Dai Li? And Ty Lee and Mai?" Sokka asked.
"I think I can take care of them. I have some secrets up my sleeves," Zuko said.
Sokka took out a stick and began drawing out a map of the palace in the dirt with Kuei's help. Before they knew it, their whole plan was mapped out. As it grew later, they took their baths and came back to camp. As they all headed to bed, Katara grabbed Zuko's wrist and pulled him into their storage dome.
"Katara, what are you doing? If your brother finds me in here with you, or your other friend 'sees' us in here, I'm in big trouble," Zuko warned her.
"They won't, trust me," Katara whispered. She titled her head and leaned in to kiss Zuko. He obliged and wrapped his arms around her waist.
After a minute or so they headed to bed so no one would go looking for them.