Ursa could feel her own heart tightening in her chest… Clinging.
If the newspapers were to be trusted… Zuko had just arrived at the island three days ago. And was now to appear in this city.
It had been nearly impossible for Ursa to even sleep the last couple of days. Thoughts had been flying across her mind.
Would she be able to recognize him ones she saw him? Would he be able to recognize her?
What was he going to say? What was she supposed to say?! Ursa had spend a long time trying to come up with something to say to Zuko but honestly she came up short.
Hopelessly she had tried to rehearse in front of a frog. But all of her theater experience suddenly failed her and all Ursa came up with was nonsense.
"Erhm… Hi." Ursa waved her hand at the frog in front of her. "So… I'm your mother. Surprise!" she held out her hands.
That was terrible… And the frog was just blinking its eyes.
"Oh no. He's going to hate me." Ursa hissed as she rubbed her forehead. "Listen Zuko… I never wanted to leave you. It's just that after I killed your grandfather… Oh that's even worse." she realized. "Urhm." Ursa chewed her lip as she walked back and forth.
The frog made a loud ribbid.
"Listen… Zuko. I know this must be a lot to take in." Ursa then tried. "But there's a silver lining to this… Somewhere! I'm sure of it. So I wasn't there and left you alone with a man who burned your face. And you were all alone on a three year banishment and oh my dear Agni." she cried covering her mouth. "I'm the worst mother in the world! I'm sorry!"
"Riiiiibid."
Ursa looked at the frog. "That's not helping." She huffed. Then she closed her eyes. "No you're right… There's no saving this. He's going to hate me. I know he is."
"Ribbid."
"Watch your language." Ursa huffed as she looked at the frog. Then she sighed. "But... Again you're right." she swallowed as she wrapped her arms around herself. "He's right to hate me… Maybe he doesn't even want to see me… I mean who can blame him." she sunk down so she sat on the ground leaning against a tree. "Erhm… Hi… Zuko." she tried. "Mom here." she smiled weakly then her smile faltered as she face palmed herself. "I should leave the writing to Azula." she commented dryly. Then sighed deeply as her forehead fell down on her knees.
"It's time!" Sokka proclaimed. "Come on guys! All female show! Let's make a guy tour out of it!" he exclaimed to Aang and Zhau-Li.
"What about Zuko?" Aang asked.
"He's being a total spoil sport. He wants to spend the evening alone with his girlfriend." Sokka pouted.
"His fiance." Aang corrected Sokka.
"Anyway! In the city next over. All female cast! Love among dragons!" Zuko held up the poster. "Re-write by Zarali! Love among Dragons. Sounds dirty to me!"
"Actually Love Among dragons is an old fire nation classic and is considered high class culture." Zhau-Li informed.
"Re-write though." Sokka informed. "With an all female cast!" he gestured.
"I don't know Sokka." Aang said. "Zuko is spending the evening with Mai… I think I might just… Go out with Katara. I haven't been able to be alone with her for a while. And that does sound nice."
"Don't be a pussy Aang." Sokka snorted.
"I'm not a pussy!" Aang shouted.
"Maybe Zhau-Li needs it! He doesn't have a girlfriend!" Sokka pointed out.
"Erhm…" Zhau-Li halted. "Well… No." he said. "I am though… You see… There's this… In the palace."
Sokka looked up. "You're seeing someone?" he asked.
"Well not… officially." Zhau-Li said. "But I am kind of hoping. And it seems to be going really well… I did sort of promise him to bring back a souvenir."
"Huh… Okay… Wait… Him?" Sokka asked.
There was a long quiet as they looked at each other.
"Is… Is that a problem?" Zhau-Li asked.
"Erhm… No… I just didn't know." Sokka said.
Again there was quiet.
"For the love of Agni don't make a big deal out of it." Zhau-Li asked.
"I think it's neat and I just hope you're happy and will be happy with who-ever you're with." Aang said in a big grin.
"Come on guy pleaaaase." Sokka now pleaded their prior conversation forgotten. "I can't go by myself it'll be awkward!" he said. "Listen! Aang got to go watch his acrobat show. Zhau-Li got to go meet up with his parents. Give this one to me!" he asked.
"You managed to participate in the sword tournament." Aang pointed out.
"And lost in the third round." Zhau-Li remembered.
"Which super embarrassing and this could make it up to me!" Sokka said. "Pleaaaase."
Finally Aang sighed deeply. "Fine." he said. "But then you need to stop talking about it."
Zhau-Li sighed as well knowing that there was no way of getting out of this one and Sokka was just one big grin.
"We're going to the theater tonight!" Sokka exclaimed. "WOOH!"
Both Aang and Zhau-Li sighed deeply. Well… It probably couldn't be too bad. Also there was todays speech first. Perhaps Sokka would have forgotten all about the play ones all of their speeches were done and they actually had time off!
Yeah… Fat chance…
Ursa couldn't help it… Part of her knew there was no reason what so ever to be wearing a cloak. But with so many people here old fears started to spark in her chest.
Even if Ozai was gone. And all the guards who would make sure she wasn't any trouble… The fear still felt very real and so Ursa lifted the hood of her dark red silk cloak so it covered her head while she tried to move among the crowds of cheering people, and tried to look towards the carpet laid out on the ground going towards a stage…
Ursa couldn't see a thing. Suddenly there was large cheers which seemed to indicate that someone important had arrived.
Was it Zuko?! Ursas heart hammered. Zuko! Zuko please. She hopelessly tried to tiptoe to try and get a glimpse in the ocean of hands, cheering and waving.
Ursa was just about to scream and just press herself through the crowd of people, any thoughts and reason forgotten at that moment but it was impossible and Ursa was about to cry.
She felt the tears coming, the hopelessness. She was inches away from just screaming like a madwoman and push herself through as suddenly someone finally stepped up on the stage and Ursa halted. She just froze.
A young man… Smooth pale skin and hair neatly collected in a traditional bun with the fire lord crown on top.
A scar was covering the left side of his face, yet in spite of this… Ursa had never seen a more handsome young man in her entire life.
And then there was his eyes. Golden and glistening in the sun, matching his soft smile and he just looked… So kind.
"Zuko…" Ursa gasped, then her throat tied itself together in a knot as the young fire lord stood there right next to a young air nomad wearing clothes in yellow and there were others.
Two young people in water tribe colors and a little girl in green. They were standing close, looking very much at ease with each other. Smiling and waving.
Ursa covered her mouth. Her eyes transfixed on the young fire lord as her head tried to wrap itself around what she was seeing… It was Zuko! Her Zuko! And he was so big and so handsome!
And his smile was so soft and kind. "Zuko." she called out as her voice broke. The call though was easily drowned out by all the cheers until Zuko held up his hand and everyone quieted down.
Then Zuko opened his mouth. "Citizens of La-Lin!"
It was like a thunderstruck went through Ursas spine… She hadn't even realized. It wasn't until now she even knew what Zukos voice sounded like. Of course it wasn't the voice of a little child anymore. That would be ridicules! Instead his voice was oddly raspy, it almost sounded like his throat had been burned. But even then there was strength in his tone and a warmth in his voice as he continued to speak.
"I thank you all for your warm welcome. You honor me." he put a fist in his hand and made a slow bow. The people around him doing the same. Then Zuko stood up. "Citizens of the fire nation. A proud people. A strong people. I am well aware that the last months has been difficult for many. Many things has changed. I wish to assure you all, this is not to destroy what made the fire nation great. But only to make the fire nation even better yet! We will not be ashamed of who we are. But also will we now seek balance not superiority. It is not our job to control the world, but to be the best we can be ourselves! The world must be in balance! A world out of balance is a world where everyone suffers! We need air to breath, water to drink and earth to plant our crops in. Just like the rest of the world needs fire to keep them warm and cook their food! All four elements ought to be embraced not rejected!"
Ursa gasped as she listened to his words. Not only were his words filled with passion but so was his voice, his entire body seemed to be burning with sincerity. Unlike Ozai there wasn't that fake bravado or hidden sinister light.
No! He seemed so sincere that it hurt.
Tears welled up in Ursas eyes as she remembered a little boy who was just incapable of insincerity. Who would be devastated as he realized one of the flowers in the gardens were withering and confused ask why.
With such curiosity he would lay on his stomach and look at the turtleducks, asking a ton of questions about any kind of thing.
She also remembered his confusion and tears as Ozai would speak harshly and Azula would speak a more nasty comment. And he would ask what he had done wrong… And it would cut into Ursas heart.
So unsure her little boy had been.
And there this young man… The opposite. Sure! Secure. Passionate.
And tears were just falling down Ursas face as she almost tried to drink up the sight of him. Absorb how his voice sounded and his words.
"Avatar Aang!" Zuko shouted as he firmly grabbed the Avatars hand and the Avatar was grinning. "Once we were enemies but now. He is not just my friend. My brother!" they both lifted their arms. "Like the other nations they are not our nations enemies! They are our nations siblings!" he stated as the water tribe girl took his other hand and the earth kingdom girl too the Avatars hand.
And there was a roar as Ursa closed her eyes and she sniffed.
Oh Zuko… So different and yet so much the same.
Ursa wanted nothing else than to just stand there forever. Listen to Zuko speak forever… But all to soon he was gone as he had stepped away. And it felt like all the air was knocked out of Ursa.
Zuko! Where's Zuko?! Where did he go?! Ursa gasped as she ran forward, now a little easier as people were now slowly dispersing and then Ursa finally saw…. A fine carriage which had just closed it doors and Ursa swallowed… She looked over her shoulder and then started to follow the carriage.
Even if it was only a second more she wanted to see him again. He was right there! Her son! Zuko…