4 weeks ago…

Katara entered one of the sitting rooms of Zuko's palace. Zuko and Suki were already there talking.

"So how's the plan coming along?" she asked.

"I haven't heard from Sokka yet, but I'm sure we will soon. He took a bunch of paper in with him so he could send us any good information he might hear from Ozai," said Suki.

"What is his name again?" asked Katara.

"He's calling himself Kaji," replied Zuko. "He looked ok when I was in there two days ago. Hopefully my visit got their conversations moving in the right direction, just as he planned."

"I hope he'll be ok," said Suki. "I can't imagine being in a cold, dark prison cell for who knows how long and the only person you have to talk to is Ozai."

Katara leaned over and gave Suki a squeeze. "I'm sure he'll be ok," she said. "After all, he has had some prison acting experience already as you well know."

3 ½ weeks ago…

Zuko yelled down the hallway, "Hey Aang!" He jogged down to meet him.

"Hey Zuko," said Aang. "What's going on?"

"I just got Sokka's first note from prison," he replied.

"What does it say?" asked Aang.

"So far, it looks like he has convinced Ozai that he is a loyal follower, that he has committed many acts of murder in the name of the Fire Nation, that he's very angry that I'm Fire Lord, what the relationship between him and my mother was, that she had something to do with my grandfather's death, and that she considered me her pride and joy above all others."

"Is that all?" Aang asked sarcastically. Then on a serious note, "Well, it sounds like a good start, that's for sure. I'll tell the others when I see them."

3 weeks ago…

At the dinner table one evening, Zuko began reading another note from Sokka. "It appears that Sokka has convinced my father that he has a friend with him on the inside who is cooking for the prisoners. He is telling him that he can hurt me by having my mother harmed. Sokka says that if Ozai is as determined to hurt me as he thinks he is, he'll be sure to tell him where she is so he can send someone to kidnap her and kill her."

"Oh I get it," said Katara. "He's telling him he's going to kill her, but when he finds out where she is, we can go get her."

"That's what it sounds like to me," said Zuko.

"Sir, this just came for you…," said one of the staff of the palace as he handed the latest note to Zuko. Zuko unfolded it and read.

"It looks like she was forced to work at a factory near the town of Jang Hui," said Zuko.

"Jang Hui?" repeated Katara. She turned to face Aang. "That's the name of the floating village with the polluted river and the two-headed fish!"

"And she was working at the factory?" clarified Aang. "Katara and I destroyed that factory a few months before the war ended."

"Yes, that's what the note says. It says that the factory was destroyed, but that Ozai still believes her guards are loyal to him and will continue to keep her in the area," said Zuko.

"I guess that's it then," said Aang. "We know where we need to go. I'll start packing tonight and we'll leave tomorrow morning after breakfast."

"Ok," said Zuko in agreement.

Aang got up to leave the room, then a thought entered his mind. "So…who exactly is going?" he asked. "The less weight on Appa, the faster he'll be."

"I think it should be the three of us," Katara said pointing to Suki, Aang and herself. "I hate to say it Zuko, but if there are soldiers out there who are still loyal to your father, it may be better that you are not there."

"I hadn't thought of it that way," said Zuko. "Good point."

OlOlOlOlOlO

The next morning, the group of friends gathered once again for breakfast. They ate and said their good-byes, hoping that the trip would not be too long.

Zuko walked his three friends to Appa, who was already packed and ready to go.

"We'll find her Zuko, I promise," said Aang.

"If anyone can, it's the Avatar," he replied. Zuko gave Appa a couple of pats on the neck and he walked back into the palace.

"I can tell he's excited…and nervous," said Katara.

"I would want to come along if I were him," said Suki.

"But if he's recognized by the wrong people, it could derail the whole misson," said Katara.

sigh "I know," said Suki. "But I'd still want to go."

"Hey guys, wait a minute!" yelled Zuko as he jogged back out of the palace with a note in his hand. "I just got another note!"

"What's it say?" asked Aang.

"It says that if you do happen to run into any guards, and they are still loyal to my father, that the pass phrase is 'a phoenix is coming'."

"That's an interesting one," replied Aang, who obviously saw the humor in it. "But at least it isn't hard to remember. Thanks, Zuko. Yip-Yip!" With that, Appa left the ground. Zuko got smaller and smaller. The three friends saw Mai walk out of the palace and put her arm around him as he continued to wave good-bye.

OlOlOlOlOlO

It was a very long day for the travelers. Appa was able to pull off the long flight in just under one day – though they arrived outside of Jang Hui close to midnight. Appa landed in the same location that was familiar to Aang from before.

"We're here," said Aang. He turned to find both Katara and Suki sleeping in the back of Appa's saddle. Upon hearing the announcement, Katara stirred and reached her arms over her head to stretch.

"Where did you land?" asked Katara.

"The same place we stayed when we were here before," answered Aang. "I think it is close enough to the village and the factory so we can easily get there, but far enough away so that people don't know we have a giant flying bison with us."

The three friends made camp for the night.

OlOlOlOlOlOlO

The next morning the three travelers dressed in their Fire Nation clothes – including a headband for Aang – and snuffed out the rest of the fire they had lit the night before.

"You stay here, boy," Aang told his lifelong friend. "We'll be back before you know it."

They headed towards the factory and the small town that stood behind it.

As they got closer, they saw that the factory was still destroyed.

"I guessed that it wouldn't be up and running. We destroyed it only a few months before the war ended. Even if they did start working on it again, they wouldn't have had time to get it completely fixed," said Aang.

"So where is she supposed to be again?" asked Suki.

"Sokka's note said that they kept her near the factory, probably in the town that housed the workers when it was still running," said Katara.

"Ok, let's go," said Aang.

They walked past the burnt out shell of a factory. "It's hard to believe we did all this damage," remarked Aang as they walked by.

Finally, they saw the town they were looking for.

"It looks deserted," said Suki. "I don't see anyone at all."

Aang closed his eyes and concentrated for a moment. He opened them again and said, "There are a few people around here, but it is definitely not a crowded place."

"Where are they?" asked Katara.

Aang started walking down the street. "It seems to me that they – are – in - - - here," and with that he pointed to a doorway into one of the seemingly deserted buildings.

They entered the building, which ended up being more of a watering hole than anything else. There were a few souls inside, but no one really looked interested in the three young strangers who had just walked in.

Suki walked up to the counter.

"What can I do for you?" asked the person behind the counter.

"We are travelers looking for some food and drink," she responded.

"We ain't got very much anymore. But we do have some fish and seaweed if you like," said the man. "Ever since they cleaned that river, the food from has gotten a lot better."

Katara smiled to herself.

Aang stepped up. "So what happened here?" asked Aang innocently.

"It's a long story. Let's just say that river village down the way has a guardian, and she was none to happy with the factory polluting the river," said the clerk.

"Guardian? C'mon….," said Katara. "That sounds a little over the top."

"It sure does," the clerk continued. "But it's true! 18 months ago, the factory was chugging along just as it had over the last several years. Then, all of a sudden, there was an explosion and the factory was destroyed. When the soldiers confronted the villagers of Jang Hui, they were in turn confronted by their guardian – a river spirit called the Painted Lady. She attacked them and the factory has been like this ever since."

"So what happened to all the workers?" asked Suki.

"Most of them were just Fire Nation villagers desperate to make a living. When the factory shut down, they just left to find work somewhere else," said the clerk.

"But you said there were guards, too. Did they leave? Who are these people?" Katara asked pointing at the people who were in the place with them.

"That's a good question," the clerk replied. "Most did leave. But as you can see, some stayed. I'm not privy to military decisions or what orders were given, but for some reason, some of these guys stuck around. I'm not complaining though – they are almost the only business I get these days."

With that, Aang, Katara and Suki sat at a table near some of the guards.

Katara started the next conversation. "Y'know, it's really a shame to see this place like this. It looked like it had a lot of potential at one time."

"I'm not sure I believe the clerk's story about the Painted Lady though," said Suki. "Sounds like a bunch of hooey to me."

"Maybe they made it up so they didn't get in trouble for the factory exploding on their watch," said Aang.

That was enough to spark a man at the next table to interject himself into the conversation. A man in drab brown clothes – which once could have been considered a guard uniform if not for its lack of washing or maintenance – turned to face the three teens.

"You have no idea what you're talking about," he said to them. "I wasn't in Jang Hui that day, but I have good friends who were. There was a spirit there – she attacked them with water and air. Nearly scared them out of their skins…hard to win against a spirit, y'know." His words ended in a mutter.

"Are you sure they weren't pulling your leg?" asked Aang.

"Quite sure," the guard continued. "They couldn't get out of this town fast enough. From the time they saw that spirit until the time they got their orders to leave, they practically cowered in their rooms the entire time."

"So if it was so scary, why are you still here?" asked Suki.

The guard paused, carefully thinking over what he should say next.

"I wanted to go, but I had orders. Well, at the time I had orders. I'm really not sure what's going on now," he said.

"Ok, now I'm really confused," Katara said, carefully steering the conversation. "Back then, Phoenix King Ozai was in charge. Now it is that ingrate loser, Fire Lord Zuko. The war is over, and has been for nearly a year. Shouldn't your orders change with new leadership?"

The guard, having been isolated and confused for the better part of the last year, and hearing the negative vibes coming his way about the new Fire Lord, finally opened up to the young strangers.

"You would think so, wouldn't you?" he started. "But I was on a special assignment, one in which I was specially instructed not to do anything without a special pass phrase being used. But all that doesn't matter now…."

"You mean 'a phoenix is coming'?" said Aang.

"What? What did you say?" asked the guard.

"A phoenix is coming," repeated Aang.

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me," the guard said as he slapped his forehead.

"That's the pass phrase, isn't it?" asked Katara.

"Yes," said the guard, sighing. "What can I do for you?" His tone now sounded a bit defeated and exhausted. What is going on here? Aang asked himself.

"I tried. I really did. All the other guards who were on the mission gave up when the Phoenix King was defeated. I was by myself…I did the best I could," he explained. "I was…am loyal to Phoenix King Ozai."

"Yes, and we're here with a new set of instructions from him. Where is the woman?" asked Suki.

"You don't understand," he said. "When the factory fell, I kept her here. But she escaped her chains while I was sleeping only a few weeks ago. I have no idea where she is now. I was alone, you see….I couldn't do it alone!"

"Enough!" said Aang. "You've failed in your duty to Phoenix King Ozai. There is no reason for you to stay here anymore. Because of your failure, you are relieved of your duties. Go back to your family and start a new life. We have no more use for you in the military."

"Y-y-yes sir," the guard said in a very soft, low tone.

OlOlOlOlOlO

1-2 weeks ago…

The three teens returned to their campsite near Jang Hui. They spent the next nine days searching nearby villages and towns for Ursa. But they had very little luck. Each time, they would go into an inn or a bar and inquire if anyone had seen someone new, or someone who only stuck around for a short period of time who looked like Ursa. No one had – either that, or they covered for her quite well.

They went into Jang Hui after nine days to eat a nice dinner to help relieve some of their frustrations. Two of the three of them were recognized almost immediately and welcomed with open arms.

"How have you been?" they were asked over and over again. "Things have never been better here thanks to you!"

They went to an eating establishment overlooking the water in the direction of the factory.

"I can't believe we've come this far and now we can't find her," said Aang.

"We did get some information, didn't we?" said Suki.

"Well, we know she isn't being guarded anymore," said Aang.

"Maybe she's on her way back to the capital," said Katara hopefully. "She may even be there now for all we know."

"No, I don't think so," said Aang. "With all she's been through, she is bound to be very weak. She can't have any money, so she is dependent on the kindness of strangers. I'm sure she is dressed in rags. It isn't going to be easy to make her way to the capital from here. It took us a day on Appa."

"But I bet you that's what she's doing," said Katara. "Maybe instead of visiting the local villages around here…."

"…and what local village haven't we been to in the last nine days?" Aang interjected.

"As I was saying, maybe we should head back to the capital city? We could go slow and stop island by island and look for her."

"That's a good idea, Katara," said Suki.

"We'll leave tomorrow morning," said Aang.

That night, as he lay there sleeping, Aang heard a voice.

"Aang. Aang, I need to talk to you," the voice said.

Aang, half-asleep, acknowledged the voice. "Ok, Roku. What do you need?"

"Meet me on my island tomorrow," said Roku.

"Ok. Roku….," and he trailed off back to sleep again.

OlOlOlOlOlO

"'Morning ladies!" said a chipper Aang the next day. He gave Katara a peck on the lips.

"Change of plan….well, minor change of plan," said Aang.

"What?" asked Katara.

"Roku wants me to go back to his island today," said Aang.

"What for?" asked Suki.

"I'm not sure. He really didn't say," said Aang. "But I haven't heard from Roku in so long, I'm sure it's important."

The three friends ate breakfast, packed up Appa, and took off for Roku's island, which actually wasn't that far away. They would end up passing Ember Island and Shu Jing on the way, but they planned to double back and search those two places for Ursa after the meeting with Roku ended.

After only a few hours, they were again on the black rock of Roku's Island.

"Wow, this place is really desolate, isn't it?" said Suki.

"Roku told us to come here last year so he could better connect with Aang. We heard the story of the island. It erupted and buried Roku's entire village underneath the lava – and killed Roku in the process," said Katara.

Aang trailed off from the two girls. He picked the most comfortable looking spot (if you could call any spot on the black rock 'comfortable') and started to meditate. It didn't take much time at all for his arrows to start glowing.

In only a few minutes, Aang broke out of his meditation. He flew right up to his feet and ran to the girls. "We've got to go," he said hurriedly.

"We're leaving the island? We just got…" asked Katara.

"No. You don't understand. Ursa is here, on this island," he said. "We need to find her. She's very sick. Roku called me here because she is here. She came to his island via a fishing vessel. She jumped overboard when she recognized the island. She's been here a few days with no food asking him for his help."

"Why would she even know that this is his island?" asked Suki. "That's kind of strange that she would know so much about a long-dead Avatar, isn't it?"

"Because she is his granddaughter," replied Aang.

The group split up and headed in three different directions. Katara headed east around the coastline. Suki headed west. Aang took Appa to get a bird's eye view of all the other areas including the slopes of the now-sleeping volcano.

Aang flew to Katara and Suki and picked them both up on Appa. He had spotted Ursa in the very location where the village once stood. The three friends landed near her. She was in a sitting position, leaning up against a protruding black rock. Her eyes were closed.

"Ursa?" Katara approached her and gently spoke her name. She certainly did not want to frighten her, especially since she would not have known who they were.

Katara turned her head and shouted at Aang and Suki, "She's out-cold!"

Katara took some water our of her pouch and began working on Ursa. She concentrated on her chi pathways looking for any injury or illness that may be blocking them. By the time she opened her eyes again, both Aang and Suki were standing over her.

"She's not sick or injured," said Katara. "She's just very weak. She needs food and water as soon as possible."

Aang jumped back into Appa's saddle and grabbed some of the fresh water they had stashed away while they were traveling. He also grabbed a few pieces of fruit.

"Oh, that's great, Aang. Fruit should be fine – if we gave her anything heavier, it may not stay down," said Katara.

They slowly tried to get some of the sustenance into her. It was difficult at first since she was completely out, but as the food and water started to register with her body, Ursa became more and more awake.

"Th-thank you," she whispered to the trio as she took another sip of water.

Aang bended some rocks around the group. The hot summer sun was blazing down on all of them and the sun wasn't doing any of them any good. He did keep both the front and back of the rock tent open to let in any breeze from the ocean. They spent hours in the rock tent caring for Zuko's mother.

By nightfall, Ursa was sitting up on her own. She was still extremely weak and needed support from her rescuers, but she was a lot better than she was when they found her. They decided that this was where they would camp out for the night – there was no sense in moving anywhere until the morning sun started to shine.

OlOlOlOlOlO

In the morning, they carefully moved Ursa from her rock tent to Appa's saddle. They moved her as gently as they could – she was in no state to be able to help with any of her own weight just yet.

"Yip-yip!" Aang called out and they were off to the Fire Nation capital again.

"Thank you again, Avatar," Ursa lightly spoke.

"I guess you figured out who I was by my bending and my arrows, huh," Aang replied.

"I've heard many stories over the past two years about you," said Ursa. "I may have been holed up in that factory, but even the guards couldn't help but gossip about what was happening in the rest of the world. If I had to guess, I would say this is Master Katara, the waterbender." She turned her head to look at Katara.

"…and this is Suki, from Kyoshi Island," said Katara.

"Ah, the mighty Suki, head of the Kyoshi warriors," said Ursa.

"So you know all of us," said Aang.

"Yes, I know you by name. I heard all the stories about the fall of Ozai and who was responsible," said Ursa. "I also know you are friends with my son. Are you taking me to him?"

"Yes, we are," said Aang. "He sent us to find you."

Ursa closed her eyes and smiled. She looked very content for all that she had just been through.

Aang popped back up onto Appa's head while Katara and Suki kept a watch on Ursa.

"How did you find me?" she asked the girls.

"It was Roku," said Katara. "He called Aang to his island. He told him you were there."

"I was afraid," Ursa said. "I escaped from the factory town a few weeks ago, but since then I've had to duck and hide. I didn't know the world anymore – who was on Ozai's side or not. I thought that if I went to Roku's island I could somehow ask him for help. I told a fisherman that I wanted to go west. When I saw the island, I jumped overboard and swam. That was a few days ago…"

"He heard you," said Suki. "You're safe now."

"I haven't felt safe for years. I can't believe my ordeal is over," said Ursa.

They landed in the usual place next to the palace. It was around dinner time. It only took a few minutes for word to reach Zuko that Appa had returned, presumably with the three people who were off to find his mother. He ran to Appa and looked up.

"We have her," said Aang.

Tears started to stream down Zuko's face. He climbed up Appa to reach the saddle. There she was, still in a mostly prone position.

"She's in rough shape, Zuko. But she'll be fine," said Katara.

He hugged her. "Mom" was all he could say.