Smoke and Shadow Part III
The next day General Mak kneeled before Zuko and Ari in the throne room, as Aang looked on.
"There were four more kidnappings last night, including Kiyi. That makes a total of thirteen. Our citizens are so frightened that many are planning to leave the city before sundown." General Mak briefs them.
"I don't blame them." Zuko tells him as he shares a worried look with Ari.
The night before Zuko had awoken Ari a couple hours after she had fallen asleep and told her what had happened. Ari had held him while he broke down in a way he only could with her.
"I'm so worried." He told her.
"I know. But we'll find them. We'll find all of them." Ari told him as she held him close.
"But we'll find them." Ari echos in the present as Suki, Ty Lee, Mai, and Kei Lo enter the throne room.
"At least we have a clue as to who the Kemurikage are." Aang told Zuko as he and Ari stepped down from their throne.
"Yeah, but that's why I'm worried." Zuko told him.
"You know for sure they're not spirits?" Mai ask them.
"Last night, one of them shot lightning at us." Ty Lee told her.
"No, it can't be! Lightning bending is rare, but it isn't that rare! That doesn't necessarily mean..." Mai said in disbelief not wanting to believe what her friend was telling her.
"It wasn't just the lightning, Mai. It was how she fought. How she moved." Ty Lee told her.
"It was definitely Azula." Zuko replied.
"But why would Azula want to kidnap all those kids? And her own sister?" Mai ask.
"I'm not sure." Aang answered her.
"She's Azula. That's reason enough." Zuko replied.
"I need to tell you something, Zuko." Mai said bowing her head. "Last time we were here, you asked if my father was involved with the New Ozai Society. I told you I didn't know. I lied. Not only is Ukano involved; he's their leader." Mai told him.
"So Ukano's the leader of the New Ozai Society and the Safe Nation Society? That guy's really into societies!" Aang exclaimed.
"Either that, or the two organizations are actually one and the same." Ari replied.
"Why would you keep that from me?!" Zuko yelled at Mai, feeling shocked and betrayed.
"He's my dad, Zuko! No matter how evil he is, I still don't like the idea of betraying him! You of all people should understand that!" Mai yelled right back at him.
"You're right. I'm sorry." Zuko replied more calmly.
"There's more. When we saw him in the streets last night, I could tell that he was trying to hide something. I think he already knew the Kemurikage weren't spirits. He may have even known about Azula." Mai told him.
"So you think he's working with Azula? That he has something to do with the kidnappings?" Zuko ask.
"I don't know. Maybe. Every time he's talked to me about Tom-Tom, I've gotten this weird feeling... like his worry is for my benefit." Mai replied.
"General Mak, we need to bring Ukano and his allies in for questioning. Find out exactly what they know. Seal off the Capital City. Until this situation is resolved, no one gets in or out. Then send your soldiers to Ukano's home to arrest him. If he isn't there, and I'm willing to bet he isn't, search people's homes for him or anyone else who may have been a part of the Safe Nation Society." Zuko said with authority as he gave his orders to General Mak.
"Yes, Fire Lord!" General Mak replied.
"Zuko, this isn't the way! Please, let me find Ukano! I'll sit him down and talk to him. No soldiers!" Aang cried out.
"Avatar Aang, thank you for your assistance up to this point. You know how much I value your wisdom and friendship." Zuko said formally as he bowed to his friend.
"Why are you talking to me like that, all adult and stuff?!" Aang replied deeply confused.
"We already tried things your way, and it didn't work out! It's time for a different approach. If you're not willing to support me, then you need to leave." Zuko explained keeping up the formality.
"But you can't treat everybody in the city like criminals! Such drastic actions will only cause more mistrust!" Aang yelled.
"Drastic situations call for drastic actions, Aang." Ari told him, supporting her husbands' choices.
"Suki, Ty Lee, please escort the Avatar out." Zuko gave the order.
"I'm going, I'm going!" Aang yelled from between the two Kyoshi warriors.
"Zuko's one of my best friends and everything, but sometimes..." Aang said in annoyance out in the hall.
"Sometimes, he makes you so frustrated, your aura feels like it's all twisted up in in knots." Ty Lee said putting a comforting hand on Aang's shoulder.
"Yeah... something like that. There's so much more we can do! I mean, we didn't even check Kiyi's room for evidence! If Sokka were here-" Aang said in frustration.
"If Sokka were here, he'd sneak off to investigate on his own. Come on!" Suki said taking off down the hall.
"Wait aren't you supposed to be on light duty!" Aang called after her.
A couple of hours later Zuko, Ari, and to Ari's displeasure Mai were at the Capitol City prison receiving a briefing.
"We don't have complete control of the situation yet, but it's settled down considerably. It's no longer a riot." General Mak told them.
"There was a riot?!" Zuko ask stunned.
"Was my father there?" Mai ask General Mak.
"Yes, but he slipped away before we were able to get to him." General Mak replied.
"Figures." Mai said frowning.
"We'll find him." Zuko said with confidence.
"My troops were able to apprehend most of the Safe Nation Society." General Mak added.
"Ready the interrogation rooms." Zuko said giving the order.
The prisoners were led out of the mobile cells they had been in.
"Kei Lo?!" Mai says in disbelief. "Zuko, this is obviously a mistake! Get him out of those cuffs!" Mai yelled showing rare emotion.
"What were you doing with the Safe Nation Society, Kei Lo?" Zuko questioned him.
"They bumped into me! Literally!" Kei Lo replied.
"Sorry." Mumbles a young teen behind him.
"You've betrayed your allies before! Who's to say you aren't acting as a double agent now?" Zuko ask him.
"You're kidding me, right? Don't you remember who saved your hide out in the forest?" Kei Lo replied acidly.
"Zuko! Stop being ridiculous!" Mai yelled at him.
"Release him, General Mak." Zuko told him.
"As you wish." General Mak immediately obeyed and unlocked Kei Lo's handcuffs.
Kei Lo ran to Mai and pulled her into a romantic embrace.
"Zuko!" Zuko and Ari turned to see Aang, Ty Lee and Suki walking towards them. "We've been looking all over for you!" Aang tells them.
"Aang? I thought you left." Zuko asked.
"Well, you thought wrong, buddy! Suki, Ty Lee, and I found something you gotta see! Come on!" Aang tells him urgently.
"Fire Lord, the sun will set before we know it. We need a plan or our people will rise up again." General Mak interjects.
"I'm sorry, Aang, but General Mak is right. Like I told you, I need to handle this my way." Zuko tells Aang.
"Even if your way is stupid?!" Aang replied in frustration.
"Stand back." Aang told the girls.
"What are you doing?" Suki ask him.
"Getting the Fire Lord's attention." Aang said with determination as he threw a ball of air at Zuko, knocking him off his feet. Zuko was floating on the ball on his back ungracefully.
"What the- Aang! Put me down immediately!" Zuko yelled at him.
"I will... as soon as you take a look at what we found!" Aang told him; jumping on an air scooter and speeding off with Zuko.
"Why are we running again?" Ari ask with a pout as she ran with Suki, wishing she could just jump on her own air scooter.
"What's' going on?" Kei Lo ask chasing after them.
"I don't know, but I'm gonna find out." Mai told him.
"Oof! Don't ever do that again!" Zuko told Aang as he was set down on the roof of the royal palace.
"Okay, okay, but look!" Aang said dismissing him and pointing at the hidden passage they had found earlier.
"A secret passageway! So you think this is how Azula and the other Kemurikage escaped? How did you figure this out?" Zuko ask.
"I remembered it from when we were little. You really should've come exploring with us more, Zuko." Ty Lee told him.
"I really should've. Kiyi could be on the other side." Zuko said looking down the passageway.
"Tom-Tom, too. I'm coming along." Mai told him.
"We're coming along." Kei Lo corrected her.
"Ari stay here. Suki can you please stay with her. Ty Lee can you and the other Kyoshi warriors, please keep guard over the royal palace." Zuko said giving them their orders. The last thing he needed was the two most stubborn pregnant women he had ever met getting into a fight with his sister.
"As you wish." Ari replied demurely.
"You got it, Zuko!" Ty Lee said with a smile as he disappeared down the passage.
Ari and Suki were walking down the hallway of the royal palace when they saw a familiar figure up ahead.
"Uncle Iroh what are you doing here?" Ari ask him with a smile surprised to see him.
"I came for National Tea Appreciation Day!" Iroh told her with a wide grin. "Look at you!" Iroh said marveling at her swollen stomach as he placed an affectionate hand on her bump.
"What's been going on around here? The atmosphere feels so...tense ?" Iroh ask, putting his serious face on.
"Azula. She finally resurfaced. She has kidnapped 13 children including Kiyi. Zuko has a lead and is following it right now." Ari explained with a frown.
"Oh no. Ursa must be so distraught." Iroh said, his heart hurting at his family continuing to cause Ursa pain. "I'll go find her."
"Thank you Uncle. I'm sure it would comfort her greatly." Ari told him with a smile.
Suki and Ari continued walking to the chambers Ari and Zuko shared.
"So how has it been working together with Mai." Suki ask her friend.
"Honestly I know you're on good terms with her, but I've had it up to here dealing with her sullen bitterness." Ari said gesturing to her forehead. "I was perfectly willing to give her the benefit of the doubt, that we could get past her earlier pain and anger. Instead she acts like she sent her soldier off to war with a smile and a whispered promise to wait for him, only for him to return and crown a camp follower!" It's ridiculous! Whatever aspirations that woman may have had to be Fire Lady, I seriously doubt Zuko is regretting his decision to marry me." Ari ranted, a rare occurrence for her.
Suki raised an eyebrow at her friends vehemence, surprised Mai had managed to get this far under her normally unflappable companions skin.
"Don't worry Ari, I've seen the way he looks at you. Besides you are exactly the kind of Fire Lady the Fire Nation needed; You're kind and compassionate. You are exactly what Zuko needed; somebody to lift him up and support him not just during good days but during the bad." Suki told the woman who had become her closest friend.
"Thank you Suki." Ari told her, wiping away a stray tear.
Iroh found Ursa sitting alone and holding a doll. He knelt down next to her and they sat there for a time in comfortable silence.
Ursa smiled smally looking at the doll in her hands "I made this doll with my own hands. You can tell from the terrible stitching. It was her birthday present last year. Kiyi carried it with her everywhere she went... until the night my face changed back. Now she won't touch it. Now she won't touch me." Ursa said sadly her face falling. "What if this is how it will always be from now on? What if I never get the chance to..." Ursa choked out.
"We have no reason to lose hope, Ursa." Iroh told her with a kind smile.
"Can I ask you something, Iroh? Something terribly personal?" Ursa ask him.
"Of course. Anything." Iroh assured her.
"How did you get over the death of your son?" Ursa ask quietly.
"I'm not over it. I will never be over it. As parents, we want nothing more than for our children to be safe. Unfortunately, this world is an inherently unsafe place. So many dangers, so much to fear. No matter how hard we try, we can never keep our children completely safe. Better to teach them, and ourselves, to see the fear with unclouded eyes." Iroh told her honestly.
"I try to stay positive. Honestly, I try... but it's all just a mask. Deep down, all I feel is fear." Ursa confided in him.
"Ursa, the fear will always be with you. Always, even after she returns. You must learn to see it with unclouded eyes." Iroh told her.
The others had followed the passageway to the royal cemetery where they had been fighting with the faux spirits and Azula.
While the others rescued the children; Azula had separated from her compatriots and led Zuko off alone.
"Wait, Azula! I just want to talk!" Zuko called out to her. "Azula... ?" He ask questioningly as he walked into a crypt.
"Hello, dear brother. Any idea whose crypt we're in?" Azula ask toying with him.
"No." Zuko told her simply, not letting his guard down.
"It belongs to the first Fire Lord's most trusted adviser. Rather fancy, isn't it?" Azula informed him.
"Listen, Azula. Maybe this is a weird thing to say given the circumstances, but you seem... better." Zuko told her.
"Oh, not just better. I'm stronger!" Azula said flying toward him eyes wild, holding fire daggers.
Zuko dodged her first attack "You wanna go? Let's go." Zuko yelled making his own fire daggers.
They both shouted a battle cry as they ran at one another.
Azula kicked him in the chest and landed on top of him. "Me standing over you like this... Why does it feel so familiar? Oh, that's right! Because this is the way it's always been!" She taunted him.
"Getting rid of me won't put you back on the throne, Azula! Just accept it. You will never be Fire Lord!" Zuko yelled at her.
"Accept it? I've embraced it! I know I will never be Fire Lord because I'm not meant to be Fire Lord! You were right all along, Zuzu! Once I discovered my own destiny, that voice in my head finally shut up! I've felt weightless ever since ... free. Maybe for the first time in all my life." Azula said getting off of him and backing away.
"That's, uh... That's great, Azula... I guess..." Zuko said unsure but not dropping his own flame.
"My destiny, you see, is to make you into the Fire Lord I tried to be- one who's strong, who rules through fear! Can't you see? It's already working!" Azula told him.
They heard shouting from above.
"Zuzu? Zuzu, where are you?" Kiyi called out.
"You hear that? My friends found the children and freed them. We've won." Zuko told her.
"Oh, I disagree. In the last twenty-four hours, I've shown just how ruthless you can be. Deep down inside, you're still one of us. You can deny it for a little while, but eventually, you will become just like me... and then, in a sense, I'll be Fire Lord again." Azula told him calmly.
"No! You're wrong!" Zuko cried out, eyes wide.
"Take your own advice, Zuzu, and accept it. It's who you are." Azula told him before disappearing in a puff of smoke.
Zuko looked around wildly before giving up and exiting the crypt to run to Kiyi.
"Zuzu!" Kiyi cried out running to hug her big brother.
"Kiyi! I can't tell you how worried I was about you!" Zuko told her, holding her tight.
"I wasn't worried at all! I knew you'd come for us!" Kiyi assured him.
The next day Ari stood loyally by her husband as he addressed the fire nation.
"My fellow citizens, thank you for gathering here on such short notice. The last few days have been traumatic for all of us. Our children were taken, our parents grew fearful, and our streets descended into chaos. And as your Fire Lord, I... well... I responded poorly. Security and freedom exist in a delicate balance. I did not maintain that balance well. My recent decisions were based not on reason, not on wisdom, but on fear. For that, I ask your forgiveness. You should never feel like prisoners in your own city, or suspects in your own homes. I resolve to do better. I will continue striving to be a Fire Lord worthy of you. I'm grateful for your patience. I'm grateful for your trust.
Iroh was standing with Ursa outside of Ozai's prison cell.
"Are you sure you're ready?" Iroh ask her gently.
"Yes." Ursa said stealing herself.
"Remember, unclouded eyes." Iroh advised her.
Ursa took a deep breathe and walked into the room alone.
"Ursa. I heard you'd returned." He told her with a terrifying smile. "That was a mistake. I promised you that if I ever saw you again, I would end you and everyone you've ever loved! But I'm going to do so much more than that. By the time I'm through, you will beg for oblivion! You hear me, you wretched thing?! You. Will. Beg!" Ozai screamed at her, his face contorting in rage.
"You. I see you. After all these years, I finally see you, Ozai. You're just a small, small man trying with all your might to be big. Your heart is so small, you've no room for your son, or your daughter, or your brother... or even yourself. Goodbye, Ozai." Ursa told him cooly and turned to leave.
"B-b-but-! D-don't you turn your back on me! Come back and grovel before me! Do you hear me?! Come back and grovel!" Ozai screamed at her but Ursa never so much as looked back.
Ursa walked in comfortable silence with Iroh for a time, as they reached the palace she turned to address him.
"Thank you Iroh." Ursa told him kindly.
"It was my pleasure to be there for you Ursa." Iroh told her with a respectful bow.
Ursa made her way to her room and climbed into bed with Noren and Kiyi.
"Mommy you're back." Kiyi whispered.
"I'm back." Ursa told her as she pulled her daughter closer.