Disclaimer: I do not own ATLA or anything associated with it.

Epilogue

"Now, site the origin of the Fire Nation and it's governing bodies."

Katara rolled her eyes and flipped to the page in her notes, taking a quick glance at the characters written there before Madam Zhu could turn around and catch her cheating. With a sigh, she cleared her throat and stated mechanically, "In the era after the Spirits, the first settlers strayed away from their original homes near the Spirit Wilds to establish their own communities, after gaining the ability to firebend from the lionturtles. After these settlements were established, there are many theories as to how the main city of Caldera came to be, as well as the origins of the first firebenders trained in Wushu.

"The theory embraced by the Council of the Fire Sages is the one of the ancient civilization of the Sun Warriors, who were one of the first civilizations to settle completely after the closing of the Spirit Portals. Their city was an architectural haven, spreading throughout an entire island and was full of many elaborate buildings and murals, signifying them as one of the first completely established civilizations on the planet. In time, they learned how to control their bending by learning from the dragons, who according to myths were pets of the God of Fire Agni himself. Close to four millennia after the city was established, there was a disagreement within the tribe and a handful of the Sun Warriors left and headed towards the main island of the Fire Nation archipelago."

Katara took a deep breath, seeing Madam Zhu had turned around as she recited the story. Her beady brown eyes were piercing as she stood above her, towering like a slender tree. This woman was intimidating, more so than Zuko was at some times. Sometimes Katara wondered to herself why she succumbed to letting this woman teach her the ways of the Fire Nation court and their history. It was more exhausting that fighting in the war.

"Continue."

Katara nodded and swallowed. "From there, a large settlement was created at the base of a dormant volcano in the center of the island. News of this place spread throughout the islands and many wondering settlers made their way to the city. A small group of spiritually sound men, including the grandson of one of the original settlers, formed the first Council of Fire Sages. They became the first true governing body of the city and it's surrounding areas, calling their country the Fire Nation, named aptly for the element they wielded. The head sage of the Council was named the Fire Lord, due to his high level firebending powers as well as his deep spiritual affinity with the element. The positions within the Council were often passed from father to son, due to high spirituality within families.

"As the years passed, and as the Fire Nation grew to reach as far north as the now extinct Sun Warrior civilization and as far west as the first island in the archipelago, the city, soon to be named Caldera, was spread all the way up the mountainside and homes were starting to be built on the inside of the dormant volcano. It was around this time, near the year 1000 BSC, was when the Fire Lord chose to sever the ties with the Council of the Fire Sages and became the sole ruler of the country. After that time, lordship over the Fire Nation became passed down from generation to generation, also changing the governing system from oligarchy to an autocratic society, where the Fire Lord, and only the Fire Lord, took charge of the affairs of the Fire Nation."

Madam Zhu looked over her shoulder and arched one of her pencil thin eyebrows. "Very good, Princess Katara. But you forgot one fact: it was Fire Lord Zorez was the first Fire Lord that employed men of nobility and the Fire Nation military to aid him as his council, also to fulfill tasks that the Fire Lord deemed too tedious to take up his time. Many Fire Lords have done the same, all while keeping the autocratic governing style. Fire Lords Sozin and Azulon were the only Fire Lords after Zorez that did not have councils."

"And Fire Lords Ozai and Zuko both have," Katara said with a nod as she jotted the last of her notes down. She glanced up to see Madam Zhu staring at her with something that was a mixture of pride and contempt, it was hard to tell with her. Katara guessed that in a lifetime of scowling, that woman had that expression almost permanently plastered on her wrinkly face. Katara closed her notebook and smiled sweetly up to the woman, hopefulness in her eyes. "If that is all for today, Madam Zhu, I would like to be excused. I have a lunch meeting with the Fire Lord."

Madam Zhu pinched her lips together like she had just sucked on a lemon, but waved her hand as if she was dismissing Katara and turned towards the shelf of books behind her. "Very well. I expect you to be here after breakfast tomorrow to go over the last part of your lessons. Remember, you begin your duties as Fire Lady-in-training after the Spring Fire Festival."

Katara stood and gathered her supplies before bowing at the waist to the woman, thanking her, and shuffling out of the door. She could hear a tsking behind the now closed door, but Katara rolled her eyes and ignored it. Right now, she had an important place to be and no old woman with a superiority complex could stop her. She felt she was well-versed enough in knowledge of the Fire Nation needed to be an efficient Fire Lady, yet Madam Zhu still insisted on daily study sessions that went from right after the early breakfast and usually going until Zuko or Iroh would come and get her for afternoon tea. Close to eight hours a day would be spent with her studying and learning of the culture of the Fire Nation.

Though she felt these lessons were informational enough, Katara was starting to get bored. Yes, she had learned of the origins of the Fire Nation, according to the history recorded by the Council of the Fire Sages, and she had learned of the festivals that were held in the country as well as the types of food original to the country. But deep down she felt these things really weren't necessary for her to be Fire Lady. Shouldn't she be learning about how to deal with the general public, no matter their opinion of her, and the art of passing new laws and deciding what social issues deserve precedence over others?

That was another reason she was meeting with Zuko: to request she learns the real skills necessary to be Fire Lady.

Katara rounded the corner that led to Zuko's office and found her steps had become quicker, as if unconsciously bringing her closer to her betrothed even faster. When she approached the door the guard, Lao, had already stepped aside for her with a nod and resumed his rigid position. Katara smiled up to him, aware of his need to remain stern in his job, but still offered a courteous nod. When the corners of his lips upturned slightly into what Katara could only surmise as a smile, she grinned and turned back to the door. She only had to knock once for a reply.

"Enter," came a gruff voice.

She turned the knob and passed through the threshold into his office. She admired the subtle, yet elegant styling inside with appraising eyes. There was a cozy looking couch nestled against the wall to her right, blending in with the maroon wall behind it. To the left of the couch was a shelf of books, and a door to the balcony on the open side of the shelves. On the opposite side of the room was a fireplace, currently vacant, and above it a mantle laden with gold and marble and sparsely decorated with ornamental tapestries of the Fire Nation.

Then Katara's eyes went to the desk in the center of the room, where Zuko was sitting and staring so intensely at a piece of parchment that it looked as if the paper would light on fire at any second. And with Zuko that was a heavy possibility.

"Zuko?"

He glanced up and gave her grimace-like smile just as he set down the parchment and rubbed his temples, as if to ward off an imminent migraine. "Hey, Katara. What brings you here?"

Katara sauntered over and sat on the corner of the desk, her arms crossed haughtily as she replied, "We have a lunch date. Or did you forget?"

Zuko blinked a few times before groaning and cradling his head in his hands. "I'm sorry, it just slipped my mind. I've been dealing with the reports of rebellions forming in the colonies, the rice shortage, and-"

"And the integration of Azula back into palace," Katara interrupted with a smug grin. "Yes, I know about all of those things. You've been telling me about them every night since all of these things started. What makes today so different that you look as if you're going to rip out your topknot?"

Zuko glared at her and cleared his throat before picking up the parchment and reading over it before handing it to her. "If you had let me finish, I would have said now I have another problem on my plate. Read this and you'll understand why I'm so..."

"Stressed?" she supplied, grinning. Zuko looked unamused, so she rolled her eyes and looked to the parchment in her hands. Her eyes skated over the words, lingering at the end for a moment before glancing back up to Zuko, sympathy overriding her features now. "Oh, Zuko. I'm so sorry."

He looked away and shrugged. "I may as well give up now, Katara. I've been searching for almost two years, and she's been missing for seven. How did I even convince myself that she could be found? It's like chasing shadows... I really have no hope left in finding my mother."

Katara slid off the desk, setting down the parchment and kneeling in front of her betrothed, and taking his hands within her own. "Don't ever say that, Zuko. There is always hope. Even if you feel like you're in complete darkness, happiness can be found in the darkest of times, if you only remember to turn on the light."

Zuko shot her a look of skepticism before snorting and shaking his head, a small lopsided smile playing on his lips. "Wow, what a proverbial line. Either you made that up, or you got it from Uncle."

Katara shrugged. "Actually, I read it in a book." She waved her hand dismissively and frowned at him. "But that's beside the point. The point is, you have to keep yourself positive, Zuko. If you just end the search with your heart full of despair, you will regret it for the rest of your life. Now, what have you done to search for her?"

He looked down to their conjoined hands and answered mechanically, "I've hired two bounty hunters, one in the Fire Nation and one in the Earth Kingdom, as well as enlisting in the help of the Earth Kings and the Water Tribe Chiefs. I also recently sent missives to every village, town, and city in the Fire Nation requesting the assistance of bringing her home. But that was four months ago..."

"And this letter you just received was from her home town?" Katara commented, her voice soothing.

"That was from their mayor saying she had been seen in the village a few days after the death of Fire Lord Azulon, but soon afterwards she had disappeared. Both of her parents died at some point in time after Azula was born, so asking them would be impossible. And all of her connections in the town have either moved away or had no clue she had even come back. News from the capital doesn't reach Hira'a frequently, so they were shocked when I requested help in finding her. Most of the citizens thought she was still here in the palace."

Katara patted his hand before standing up and wrapping her arms around his neck. He nuzzled closer and she could feel him inhale as his arms snaked around her waist. "I know it's hard, Zuko. But we'll find her. I promise. Even if we have to go look for her ourselves, we will bring Lady Ursa back to the palace."

Zuko pulled away from her, still keeping his arms on her waist as he looked up hopefully into her eyes. "You really mean it?"

Katara nodded. "Of course. If I had the chance to find my mother, if she were still alive, I would do whatever it took to bring her back to me."

Grinning, Zuko leaned in and pressed his lips against hers. His hand reached up and wove through the curls on the nape of her neck, cupping her head as he pulled her closer. When his tongue habitually ran across the seam of her lips asking for entrance, Katara smiled into the kiss and happily opened her lips just a little wider. Just as he pried her mouth open even further to deepen the kiss, there was a frantic knocking on the door.

"Fire Lord Zuko! Fire Lord Zuko! Please open up, it's urgent!"

Zuko growled against Katara's lips and pulled away, giving her the chance to stand and straighten up her dress before he rose from his chair and marched around his desk to the head towards the door. He swung it open and snapped, "This better be important."

The man, who Katara couldn't fully see due to Zuko blocking the entire doorway with his body, must have bowed before answering, "It is, my Lord. It seems this unmarked letter was delivered to the palace just moments ago. Though it wasn't sent here by hawk, it was just sitting on your throne... It just had your name on it without your title, sir. The person who delivered it was not seen. They seemed to have slipped passed all of the guards in the entire palace! And no one opened the letter, my liege, but by the manner of it's appearance we were sure it was of utmost importance."

Katara heard Zuko snarl before he snatched the scroll out of the messenger's hand and waved his other in dismissal. There was a muttered apology and the shuffling of feet before Zuko turned back to her and shut the door behind him.

"Who do you think it's from?"

Zuko shook his head and popped open the small red wax seal before unfurling the scroll. His eyes scanned the characters, widening with every second that passed. His mouth opened slack and his eyebrow furrowed then shot up to his hairline before he gasped and sprinted out of the room, dropping the scroll as he darted down the halls. Katara shouted at him and went to follow, but froze when her foot landed on top of the discarded letter. Bending down to grab it, her own eyes read over the characters slowly at first, then quicker as she reread it a second and third time. And just like Zuko, she left the room with such speed that it felt like she was being aided by the wind.

Zuko wasn't aware of how fast his legs could carry him until he was breezing past servants and guards like a blur. His cape fluttered behind him as he skid around a second corner, boots sliding against the floor as he changed directions again. He found himself at a second staircase, one that led him to the observation deck that overlooked the west side of the city, and took it three steps at a time. He heard Katara shout for him at one point in time, but ignored it.

The door leading outside was already open and a cool wind pushed his loose hair off of his shoulders and out of his eyes, giving him a good view of the author of the mystery letter. He stepped outside, the sun hidden from his view by the high awning above his head, and the breeze beginning to pick up and whip his hair all around his head, mussing his topknot.

Standing on the far end of the deck was a shadowed figure, dressed in a dark cloak with the hood pulled up.

Without waiting for preamble, Zuko spoke, "Who are you?"

The figure turned their head slightly, not quite looking to him. Because of this, Zuko felt his temper rise. If Zuko wasn't an adult, he would have stomped his foot as he fisted his hands at his side. He was just so frustrated and angry, already. It didn't help that this person had no right to come into his home and make him look like a fool by slipping past all of his guards and taunting him with a note hinting that the stranger knows where his mother was!

"Tell me who you are and why you wrote that letter! And I demand to know how you even got into this palace without me knowing!"

The figure slowly turned all the way around, still just a silhouette to Zuko's eyes, and lifted their head. He could see dark amber eyes under the shadows covering the stranger's face, but no other features were distinguishable. When the stranger spoke, however, he was surprised that it was a woman in front of him.

"I'm sorry that it's taken so long," she began carefully, her gentle voice barely carrying across the space between them. Zuko's eyes widened at the sudden realization of her identity, recognizing her voice from faint and jumbled memories in his mind. He felt all of his anger melt away as her small hands left their sleeves and lifted to remove her hood. As the fabric was pushed down, revealing the aged face of his long lost mother, Zuko's heart leaped into his throat and the prickling sensation of tears in his eyes emerged.

He didn't pay attention when the sound of approaching footsteps echoed from the stairs, he didn't even notice when a faint gasp came from behind him. All that he noticed was when Ursa smiled warmly at him and took a few hesitant steps forward, arms slightly outstretched at her sides as if she was waiting for him to approach and collapse against her.

But he didn't.

He didn't know what to do. He was so confused. Yes, that definitely was her. His mother was standing right in front of him, amber eyes so familiar to him that even with memory loss, they stood out so strongly. And her smile was the same, too. The only differences were the quality of her clothes and the gray streaks sparkling in her hair. But he couldn't help but feel conflicted. He had searched for her far and wide, sent out bounty hunters to find her. He sent missives to every village in the Fire Nation, asked for the aid of every world leader. He even had Iroh enlist in the help of the Order of the White Lotus in order to find her. And all came up short. He has been Fire Lord for a little less than two years, yet it took her until now to return back home.

Ursa took another hesitant step forward and Zuko instinctively took one back.

"Why didn't you just tell me it was you?" he muttered, his voice a harsh rasp in the wind. He knew she heard him clearly, judging by the hurt and torn expression on her face. He lifted his chin higher, looking her straight in the eyes as he added a little louder, "Why didn't you just come home when I was crowned Fire Lord?"

"I am so sorry, my love," she replied as she dropped her arms to her side and took another step forward, closing the distance between them. "I... I have had a hard time coming to terms with what I did, and I was afraid you weren't going to accept me back into the palace."

Zuko looked to the ground and felt his eyes start to burn with tears again. His fists were shaking at his sides when he responded bitterly, "Why would you ever think that? You're my mother... Of course I would have welcomed you back. I've been searching all over the world for you since I've been crowned Fire Lord... I just thought you would have come sooner..."

He felt the pressure of a hand resting on the shoulder of his mantle and he glanced up, locking his eyes on the watery ones of his mother. Her smile was sad, like how he remembered it had been. She slowly reached up with her right hand and went to cup the left side of his face, but Zuko couldn't help it as he flinched away from her touch. Though, he didn't expect her to look more understanding than hurt by his reaction. Instead, she rested her hand on his shoulder and her eyes glanced up to his crown.

"I wish I could have come sooner," she started, her eyes returning to his face, "but I was delayed. When I left the palace, I went to my hometown first before departing for the Earth Kingdom. I had made my way to Omashu and began working for a family of potters. After the Fire Nation occupation during the war, I had to go into hiding again. I was escorted out of the city by a few of the Earth Kingdom men that knew who I really was. From there, I went underground with a few other people of interest with the aid of the Order of the White Lotus."

"But I had Uncle try to find you with them," Zuko whispered, shaking his head softly. "He would have known that you were hiding with them..."

Ursa looked down and sighed, "I'm afraid your Uncle had no way of knowing. The only men who knew of my whereabouts were the ones in that bunker with me. When we exited our haven, the war had been over for a little over seven months. I received word of your crowning weeks later while traveling through a small town called Senlin, by word from the patriarch of the village."

Zuko's confusion grew, but Ursa continued anyway, "I traveled to Yu Dao and learned of the great Team Avatar and their adventures, including the tale of the Phoenix..." Her eyes glistened and a tear fell down her bare cheek as she pulled some of Zuko's hair off his neck and smiled to him. "I am so proud of you, my love. I knew you were destined to do great things."

He smiled in return, and Ursa took that as an invitation to hug her son. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him close. He automatically slung his arms around her waist and buried his face into her neck, inhaling her familiar scent of fire lilies and vanilla. Even after all these years, she still smelled the same. It stood out so strongly to him that he began to feel like a child again, cradled in her arms before he went to sleep at night.

"I am sorry it took me so long, sweetie," she murmured in his ear, stroking the back of his head under his topknot. She sniffed and hugged him a little closer. "I still have to travel sporadically to avoid supporters of your father. If they knew I was making my way back to the palace and found me, they would have captured me."

"I understand," Zuko whispered, voice strained and wavering.

"You have no idea how much I missed you and your sister," Ursa added. "I've learned so much of your journeys through my own trip back home. And I can never say I have been prouder of you and your accomplishments."

Zuko gripped the back of her cloak tightly as he let silent tears fall down his face. "I missed you too, mom."

"You've grown so much," she whispered. "And I hate that I missed it."

He shook his head against her shoulder and replied, "It doesn't matter anymore. You're here now and that's all that is important."

Ursa nodded before pulling away, wiping her eyes as she did. Her glance flickered to something behind him and her smile returned. Zuko followed her gaze and looked over his shoulder, spotting Katara standing in the shadows of the doorway with her hands covering her mouth and tears falling down her tanned cheeks.

"And who is this beautiful girl?" Ursa whispered to him, eyes still on the waterbender.

Zuko smiled and turned his body completely, now standing to Ursa's left as he locked eyes with Katara. He nodded once to her before turning his head slightly towards his mother, stare still on his lover, and responded courteously, "Mother, this is Master Katara of the Southern Water Tribe. She is my betrothed."

Ursa's eyes widened knowingly before she took Zuko's hand, squeezed it, then let go to walk over to Katara. She smiled warmly to the girl in the shadows as she approached, and Zuko watched nervously as Katara's eyes widened and she hastily wiped her tears away with the backs of her wrists.

"I'm sorry, Lady Ursa," she mumbled as she bowed at her waist. "I didn't mean to intrude. The letter he received worried me and I had to make sure he was going to be okay and-"

"No need to apologize, dear," Ursa replied earnestly, hands going to Katara's shoulders. "I'm just happy Zuko has someone that cares for him so deeply. And I am happy it is someone as notorious as you... Rumors of your beauty and kindness proceed you, Master Katara. Yet they do not do you justice. Zuko is lucky to have you."

Katara blushed and nodded once before her gaze went over Ursa's shoulder to Zuko. There was pride and happiness in her glistening eyes as she smiled warmly to him. He walked over to them, put his hand on Ursa's shoulder and looked to both women in front of him. His pure glee in that moment could never be topped. His mother was home, peace was slowly returning to his country, his sister was no longer suffering from insanity, and he was getting ready to spend the end of his days with the love of his life.

Happiness couldn't properly describe how he was feeling now.

With a smile, he put his hands on both of their backs and smiled to them as he stated, "Why don't we go inside and have some tea? I'm sure Uncle would be delighted to make a pot big enough for four."

fin