"See you around, Fire Lord Zuko."

Sokka's last words to him before he took off with Azula in his arms play on repeat in Zuko's mind as he stares at the small campfire he made. No matter how hard he thinks, Zuko can't for the life of him figure out where everything went so wrong. This was supposed to have been a simple trip: find mother and bring her back home, and (possibly) repair his relationship with Azula. Now Zuko is alone and neither of these things have been accomplished.

This is all Azula's fault, Zuko thinks Had she not been constantly acting out like that, we could have found mother by now. Why must she ALWAYS ruin everything for me?!

The doctors at the asylum had told him that she was doing much better, that it would be completely fine for him to bring her along. So then why in Agni's name had she been behaving like that?

Zuko sat on the mini throne that his guards had placed in the room, waiting for Azula to appear. Her doctors had informed him that her condition had been improving and that it would be fine to take her with him on this trip. Even if she hadn't been doing 100% better, he would have dragged Azula out of here regardless, whether she liked it or not. It's not as if she can refuse. He is the Fire Lord now, which meant Azula had no choice but to obey him. The throne he had brought in proves it. It showed that for the first time ever, HE was the one who had the power over her. The throne would be a good way to remind her of her place, of her current status. Never again would Azula be better than him at anything.

The twin doors opened, and a nurse slowly wheeled in his little sister.

Zuko blinked.

Why was she in a wheelchair? The last time he saw her she could walk just fine. He would have to inquire about that later, he supposed. Right now, he had a job to do.

Azula looked up at him and said "Well hello there, Fire Lord Zuko. How may I help you today?"

The tone of her voice startled him. Azula sounded so… empty. Lifeless. Completely unlike herself. And the longer he stared at her in that wheelchair, the more he began to wonder if this was even a good idea to begin with. The minute the thought entered his mind, he saw Ozai in his cell, taunting him with that damn smirk on his face. Refusing to answer any questions about his mother's whereabouts. That image erased any doubt from Zuko's mind. No, he NEEDED Azula to come with him. He needed to get that information out of Ozai, and she was his best bet. Azula couldn't walk? Fine, he would just have to carry her. If she refused, he could just exert his power over her. Remind her that he was the Fire Lord, and that she must obey him.With that thought in mind, Zuko opened his mouth and began to speak.

Zuko finds himself wandering into a small village, hoping that he will find his mother here. He stumbles upon a woman who is tending to her garden. Perhaps she can give him some sort of clue. Zuko clears his throat and waits for the woman to look up at him. When she finally does, she gasps in shock and drops her gardening tools, tears forming in her eyes. This confuses Zuko. He knows that some people gasp in shock at his presence (he is the Fire Lord after all) but to cry upon looking at him? That's a first. Before he can ask the woman what's wrong, however, she quickly lunges for him and pulls him into a bone crushing hug, crying and saying "My baby boy" over and over again.

Which only adds to Zuko's confusion. This woman isn't his mother, perhaps she's mistaken him for someone else?

He gently pushes her away from him and asks her who she is. The woman dries her tears before replying " Zuko, my love, it's me. You're mother, Ursa. I know you'll find this hard to believe, but after I was banished, I came back here to my hometown, where I encountered this spirit who has the power to change one's appearance, and-"

Zuko doesn't hear anymore of what she's saying before he promptly passes out.

A few hours have passed and Zuko finds himself on a ship heading back towards the capital with his mother and her family in tow. Once he came too, his mother told him everything. About how after she was banished, she has come back to Hira'a, the place where she grew up. There she was reunited with her lover, Ikem, a man who she was planning on marrying, had it not been for Azulon and Ozai. Once she had explained to Ikem everything that has transpired, he had taken her to a spirit known as the Mother of Faces. Apparently, the spirit could give you a new face and even wipe your memories clean if you desired it. Ursa had decided that it would be smart of her to have her face changed, just in case Ozai had sent assassins after her. Not too soon after this, Ursa and Ikem got married and conceived a child, who they named Kiyi.

Zuko's not sure what to make about the fact that he has another little sister. He supposes that he should feel happy about this, and yet he's not. And really, how could he? He just found out that his mother had another child while he was left behind to suffer Ozai's abuse. Had she even thought about him at all? About Azula? He knows that it isn't Kiyi's fault, but he can't help but feel some bitter resentment towards the small child. From the time she was born she had HIS mother all to himself. While he had nobody, except for Uncle Iroh. His relationship with Kiyi is sure to be a rocky one. Zuko feels like he's been replaced, replaced by a little girl who didn't even know about his existence until today.

If I'm feeling like this about Kiyi, I can't even imagine what Azula's reaction would be to all of this. It's probably a good thing that she isn't here right now.

Zuko stares out into the ocean. He's found mother, and she's agreed to come back home with him. To make up for all of that time lost thanks to Ozai. Despite all this, he still doesn't feel right.

Even though I've found my mother, why does it feel like I've failed?