In her bedroom. Noriko was sitting on her knees, holding an old newspaper in her hands.
The newspaper from about three months ago that detailed Fire Lord Zukos coronation.
And of course it was filled with illustrations. Most noticeable a portrait of the new fire lord.
Desperately did Noriko look over the portrait again and again. Hopelessly trying to conquer an image, a sensation, a memory.
This was just an ink portrait in black lines. And while it ought to give a general idea about what the young fire lord looked like.
There was so much missing! What was his eye color? What sort of facial expression would he usually wear? Soft or hard?
This portrait just looked completely blank with no real emotions to be had.
Something that drew Norikos attention though was the massive scar covering the boys left side… Noriko remembered even the first time she had seen the portrait, she had noted the scar and how sad it was. What-ever had happened to make that happen. She had felt bad for the boy even then.
And he was so young. Seventeen now. Sixteen when the portrait had been made… He was her son! Her son!
Noriko wiped her eyes again as she sniffed. How could she have failed this badly?
Then another page fell out of the newspaper and Noriko looked down to see another portrait… This one had two people, holding hands which they raised in unison while smiling.
The two people were… The young fire lord. With the crown in his hair and the scar on his face. The other was a young boy, bald but with a tattooed arrow on his head. Holding the fire lords hand up in the air in a show of triumph.
What was amazing about this portrait though… Was how they were both smiling.
Noriko let go of a breath as she picked up this page looking at it. Then she looked down to see a transcript of Zukos speech doing his coronation.
Noriko read over the passage and then she gasped, as tears formed in her eyes. She read over it again and again. Trying to suck in and imprint his words… These were his words! Her sons!
Her eyes lingered at one specific passage.
"But one thing I can say is that as I have traveled the world. And seen people suffering hardship, there was always good there too! In the most unlikely of places. There were good people helping strangers and enjoying what wonders life have to offer. And that is worth fighting for. I firmly believe this."
The speech was about hope and moving forward. About how he believed in kindness and in the good of people!
About how balance was needed for everyone to prosper.
He sounded…. Very kind. Could this truly be her son?
Noriko looked through the pages of the newspaper again to try and see if she could find more then suddenly found a name.
Azula.
Noriko gasped as she looked over the page.
"Princes Azula pardoned for all crimes."
Noriko looked down the page and surprisingly got a transcript ones again quoting the firelord himself.
"Like so many others. Princess Azula was a soldier acting under orders doing the war. It is true that her methods has been harsh. Some would even say cruel and they may not be wrong about that. But I believe everyone deserves a second chance. I myself made many mistakes. And at least I wish to offer my sister the same chance I had. If she ever decides to come back to the fire nation palace. Our doors will be open and she will have her rightful place as a princess ones more. Though she will be stripped of command within the military for the time being. To regain command she must earn my trust. I am sad to say."
Noriko smiled lightly as she kept going over the pages, finding more and more quotes from the fire lord.
"I cannot imagine the pain and suffering Avatar Aang has gone through. Loosing his entire nation and culture. It will though be my honor to aid him in retaining what we can of his nation. And therefore will our curriculum be changed in accordance to Avatar Aangs advice for an accurate representation of the air nomads. Avatar Aang is my brother in anything but blood and we will continue this relationship. I hope until our dying day."
So many stories all ready… Prisoners freed. Lands given back.
A historic tea party with the king of the earth kingdom. A nature restoration comity, with a focus on appeasing the spirits and a encouragement to rebuild the spirit shrines across the land.
Then Noriko went back to the first portrait, the solo portrait of the young lord and she swallowed as she put a gentle hand against it.
"I wish I could see you." Noriko whispered. "Are you as handsome as you look in your portrait?" she asked and then swallowed. "Please forgive me… I'm sorry." she squinted her eyes. "But… It sounds like you have friends. A lot of them." she sniffed. "That's good. I'm glad you're not alone."
Just then a big crash sounded from the living room and Noriko sat up straight.
Then suddenly there was a shout. A scream.
"ARGGGH!"
"Zara…" Noriko gasped as she sprung up on her legs. The news papers forgotten and she ran into the living room only to see one young teenagers girl tearing it apart in a fit of rage.
"I'll show you! I'll show all of you!" Zara… no! Azula. Her name was Azula screamed as she picked up her role she had been writing the other day and tossed it on the fire.
"ZARA WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Noriko screamed as she ran to the fire place and managed to grab the scroll before it caught on fire pulling it out. Then she wide-eyed turned to the girl who was seething, then Azula caught Norikos eyes and the looked at each other.
"Those eyes…" Azula seethed. "STOP LOOKING AT ME WITH THOSE EYES!" she shouted as she pushed Noriko away and Noriko fell down. "How dare you." she stepped towards Noriko who was on the floor. "How dare you have her eyes? How dare you talk like her? And act like her huh?"
"What… What are you talking about?" Noriko asked honestly frightened as she crawled back. This wasn't right! Not right at all. This girl was her daughter! So why was her heart hammering like this.
"You belong to me! I own you."
Norikos eyes widened by the fleeting memory of that voice and she covered her ears. Just as a hand grabbed the front of her dress and pulled her up so they were eye to eye again.
And Noriko froze, gasped by the sight of those eyes.
"There it is." Azula smirked. "The fear… Good. You have to do what I say now." she said. "That's what went wrong isn't it? People stopped fearing me so they stopped following orders. Father knew… Father knew fear is what is needed. Without fear people do bad things, they turn on you. They betray you…. You wont betray me. Will you?"
"Za-Zara." Noriko gasped tears welling up in her eyes. "I'm sorry. Azula." she corrected herself.
"Oh. So your husband finally told you who I am huh?" Azula asked. "I wondered what had changed. So then, maybe you can tell me." her eyes narrowed as she pulled Noriko close. "Why do you have my mothers eyes?" she asked.
Norikos eyes widened, and then her eyes softened as she swallowed. "I'm sorry…" she whispered. "I'm so sorry." she cried. "I'm sorry I left you! I'm sorry! I should have loved you more! What kind of mother leave her child?! I'm sorry!"
Azulas eyes widened.
"You must have been through so much pain. I'm sorry!" Noriko cried loudly.
"So…. You are my mother." Azula whispered.
"Yes." Noriko gasped. "I'm your mother. Azula… Please." she asked. "Let me help you. Please."
"I KNEW IT!" Azula screamed as she tossed Noriko away and down on the floor. "Your face may be different but that pathetic look is the same!" she exclaimed. "So this is where you ran off to!" She exclaimed. "Just got a new husband a new daughter! Is that it?! Your old one was broken so you got a new one!"
"Azula that's not it." Noriko gasped.
"YOU REPLACED ME!" Azula screamed as she grabbed the table and threw it aside. "How dare you!"
"I didn't remember you!" Noriko cried. "I'm sorry!"
"So you just forgot about me? Was it really that easy?!" Azula asked. "Well then…" she walked towards the fire place and picked up a burning log. "Allow me to make sure that you'll never forget again!" she shouted as Noriko screamed.
The next moment several things happened at ones. Azula moved towards Noriko with the burning log, raising her arm ready to beat her.
Norikos scream though had attracted attention and Noren came bursting through the door wide-eyed seeing what was going on.
"Noriko." Noren gasped and then jumped forward. "AZULA NO!" he screamed as he grabbed Azula and pulled her back.
"Let go! LET GO OF ME!" Azula screamed as she dropped the log and started to scratch Noren instead. "How dare you! I am Azula! Daughter of Ozai! Heir to the dragon throne! DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH ME!"
"Azula please!" Noriko cried from her knees. "Calm down! We can talk about this! Please."
"NO!" Azula shook her head as she tried to wrestle herself free. "You deserve this! YOU BETRAYED ME! Did you rejoice?!" she asked. "When you finally got to escape your little monster huh?! And marry the real love of your life?! Did you have a party? Was it a nice wedding fest? Weren't thing just so much better ones you had forgotten me huh?"
"Azula please calm down!" Noren exclaimed as he held her. "Let me explain!"
Azula seethed. "Don't think I don't know. You're Ikem aren't you? It was Ikems parents who were the original owners of the theater! You took her away from me! I bet you were happy to make her forget!"
"Of course not!" Noren shouted. "Ursa loved you! She cried every single night because she couldn't see you! She couldn't bear the pain that's not…" he gasped.
"Then why…" Azula hissed. "Why… did she leave me!" she screamed and then elbowed Noren so hard that he lost all of her breath and he let go.
"YOU'RE ALL GOING TO PAY FOR THIS!" Azula screamed and then ran outside.
"Azula… AZULA!" Noriko screamed as she ran after the girl and Noren after he had gotten his breath back also followed her as they kept running over the hills and Noriko gasped.
"Azula no! You are running towards the forgetful valley! AZULA!" Noriko screamed but it was to late. Azula ran directly into the fog surrounding the woods and Noriko screamed just as Noren grabbed her shoulders stopping Noriko.
"NOREN!" Noriko shouted as she twirled around. "Don't stop me! My daughter is in there!"
"I know. I wasn't going to stop you." Noren said as she grabbed her hand instead. "But please don't get to far away from me! I know the valley pretty well! I know how to defend myself from what is in there. Don't let go of my hand okay? And always make sure that you can see me! The fog is really thick in there and you can get lost so easily!"
Noriko swallowed as she turned to Noren. "You said… I left my memories behind in there. Right?"
Noren nodded. "Yes. With the mother of faces."
"That means… If I left my memories behind. They must still be in there!" Noriko exclaimed. "Noren! I have to get my memories back! Please!"
"Noriko." Noren gasped.
"I beg of you." Noriko cried. "I need them! I need them so I can help Azula! Please!" she asked.
"Okay." Noren firmly held her hand. "We'll go towards the mother of faces. We'll ask for your memories back."
Noriko swallowed. "Thank you."
"Of course I wasn't going to say no." Noren exclaimed. "Noriko… Ursa. I'm your husband! I love you! I hope you know that. Ursa or Noriko. I always loved you and I always will! And I can't ask you to just forget about your child. That's wrong."
Noriko swallowed, tears falling down her face. "Thank you. I needed to hear that." she admitted. "I love you to." she stepped forward planting a light kiss on Norens cheek and he sighed a little relieved. "Please…. Let's go meet the mother of faces."
"Okay." Noren said. "Remember. Don't let go of my hand. And if we really need to let go at some point. Don't loose sight of me." he said. "Getting lost in the forgetful valley is no joking matter."
"Okay." Noriko gasped and finally Noren pulled her inside and together they too vanished into the fog.