(A/N) Okay, so I could give some half-baked excuse about computer troubles (which I did have) or family issues (which I also had), but the unglamorous truth is that I had writer's block. At first when I wrote it, it was a happy all's-well ending… but I ended up hating that. After that… I just couldn't seem to get the emotion and dialogue quite right… I'm so sorry that this was so long coming… That always seems to happen… I run into trouble in the last chapter of the blasted story… That's not the point though.

So many thanks to NKSCF and Kimjuni2 who have supported me all through this! *hugs* Getting your reviews always made my day!

Wow… 16 chapters, 50 reviews and 1,903 hits later… this is over… wow… *shocked* Well, we've always got the sequel!

For disclaimer, reference any of the previous 15 chapters.

Fire Lord Zuko staggered up the tunnel, one hand pressed to the wall. The adrenalin and fury were long gone; the young Lord found it harder and harder to put one foot in front of the other. Exhaustion and agonizing hunger were finally catching up to him, making his body feel strangely detached. Long before he reached the exit, he heard Toph calling, "He's coming, he's coming!" He had no doubt that she had been monitoring the fight. He pushed away from the wall, knowing that she could feel that, too.

The bright sunlight hurt Zuko's eyes. He felt as though he was emerging, exhausted, from the underworld, somehow alive, against all the odds. There was something thrilling about this feeling; there was also something utterly draining. Squinting, he didn't make out anything until it was too late.

"Oof!" He found himself knocked off his feet by three little bodies.

"Lord Zuko! Zuko's back!" the three children cheered.

Zuko was happy to see the children, but it also hurt incredibly to have them on top of him. When Clarisse's lightly chastising voice called them over, it was a huge relief. He sat up, legs folded, one hand to his pounding head.

"Need a hand?" A gentle voice soothed Zuko's frayed nerves. The young Lord looked; Iroh stood above him, offering a hand. Zuko grasped it.

Hauling his adopted son up, Iroh grasped Zuko in a warm hug. Zuko tensed, feeling awkward for a moment; then, he relaxed, hugging his uncle back.

A week later, Zuko stood, leaning on the balcony overlooking the palace courtyard. Below him, the children of the White Flame, except Shanna, were sparing with their new teachers. Above him, Aang, the last to leave the palace, was gliding in lazy spirals. It had taken a fraction of the time to get back here on Appa; Zuko's servants and guards had been appalled at the shape their Fire Lord was in. They had confined him- or tried to –to his room. But he had no intentions of ever being trapped- anywhere –ever again.

Aang glided close past his window, making a motion with one hand. Zuko cocked his head. Aang clearly wanted him come down to the courtyard. Furrowing his brow, Zuko went waved once in acknowledgment. Then, he went over to where a Fire Nation banner hung on his wall. Behind it rested the entrance to a staircase that Toph had 'installed' for him. Quite useful when one had three guards posted outside one's door.

Lighting a torch, Zuko climbed quickly down the stone steps. He couldn't get Ursa off his mind. His mother appeared more and more often in his dreams; he even saw her in the waking world. Like now. He could almost hear her footsteps just behind him in the dark tunnel.

Shaking his head firmly, he extinguished the torch, opened the door, and stepped out into the bright yard. He was slightly surprised when he saw not only Aang waiting for him, but Iroh and Mai, too. Now wary, he walked over to meet them.

Iroh got to the point. "Zuko, something else happened during that battle, didn't it? Something that you're not telling us about."

Zuko blinked. "No…" he said, though his voice wavered slightly.

"Zuko…" Aang began, in his voice so innocent with youth; the youth Zuko wished he could have. "Zuko, we're worried about you. You've been so… brooding; melancholy."

"You've been acting like me," Mai clarified.

Zuko fidgeted. "Ginn told me something…" he said softly, almost afraid to say it out loud.

"Zuko…" Iroh's voice sounded parentally stern, "what did he tell you?"

Zuko sighed heavily. He hadn't wanted anyone to know about his mother because he was afraid of what would happen after that. He was unsure of how any of them would react; would they stop him from going to find her? Or just the opposite: push him into it before he was ready? As it so often was, it just seemed easier to keep it to himself, at least for the time being. But now, it looked as though he had no choice.

Another sigh. "He told me… that Mother is alive."

Iroh's eyes widened, and the older Fire Bender's legs gave out. Zuko, alarmed and shocked, dropped down next to his uncle.

"Ozai told me… she was dead…" Iroh breathed. "He told me he killed her…"

Now Zuko stumbled backwards. "He told you… he told you what? You knew something, and you didn't tell me?"

"I didn't want you to panic!" Iroh snapped. "I knew it was just as likely as anything that he was lying!"

Zuko took a deep breath, vowing not to let his temper get away from him. "Alright, alright…" He paused, ordering his chaotic thoughts as best he could.

"So what are you going to do?"

Zuko looked over at Mai in surprise. His girlfriend's face was more blank than normal. So blank, in fact, that Zuko knew she was in some sort of pain.

"What do you mean?" he asked, suddenly completely focused on Mai and her feelings, not even his own.

Mai looked down. "I mean, are you going to leave?"

So that was what she was getting at.

"I don't mind if you do," she sniffed flippantly, but Zuko saw through the charade. She minded if he did; she didn't want him to leave.

For a moment, Zuko was torn. His mother was alive! He wanted, more than anything to find her.

But his responsibilities lay here.

Zuko sighed. "No, I'm not going to leave. Not right away, at least."

Mai shrugged and looked away. "Whatever."

Zuko shook his head slowly, fighting down his mounting frustration. "Mai…"

"Get away from me," she said bitingly.

Zuko looked down, bitter bile rising in his throat. What was he supposed to do? Leave Mai? Or forget about his mother? This was why he hadn't wanted to tell them.

Aang looked from Zuko to Mai and back again. Iroh shot him a plaintive glance that said: you're the Avatar, and Zuko's friend. Do something!

Aang cleared his throat nervously. "Well… um…" he made a helpless gesture at Iroh.

Iroh sighed. "The Avatar… is asking me to do his job." Shaking his head slowly, Iroh came forward.

"Zuko! Mai!" He commanded their attention. "Listen, now. Zuko, you have two people who need you, Mai and Ursa. One, though, is right in front of you." He turned around. "Mai, you love Zuko. But loving him means you want him to be happy, correct? Can you tell him to forget about his mother?"

Mai and Zuko both looked down. Iroh felt a brief flare of pride in his nephew; he could see Zuko's shoulders trembling slightly with suppressed emotion, and could tell that his nephew was trying very hard not to start screaming. He made a small soothing sound.

In that moment, Zuko knew where he needed to be.

But he needed to be in two places.

A hand touched his shoulder. Zuko turned to see Mai. Her eyes were unusually soft.

"If you need to go, I'll understand."

Zuko looked down, his body starting to shake. Slowly, he put a hand on one of Mai's shoulders, then rested his forehead against the other.

"Thank you…" he murmured, and he felt her sigh beneath him.

When the young Lord stepped back, he looked into her dark eyes. "Thank you," he repeated, "but I won't be going. Not now, at least. Now, I'm needed here."

Mai's eyes shimmered with gratitude for a moment, and then she looked away, embarrassed. Zuko sighed.

"Mother… will come in time. I will find her."

Iroh moved to his nephew's side. "I know you will. And I'm proud of you."

Zuko nodded wordlessly. He turned his face upwards, looking at the clear blue summer sky.

I'm coming, Mother. But right now, I need to be Fire Lord. I need to restore my Nation's honor.

And Zuko knew that she would be proud, too.

(A/N) Sweet merciful cake that took long enough. Was it worth it? I hope you guys will watch for Trials of the Fire Lord Book II: Son of Evil. That'll be coming soon! Anyone who review this chap or has faved/subscribed will get a message when that comes out! Once again, hope you enjoyed it! =^^=