Summary: Peace had returned to the Four Nations. Firelord Zuko sets out to the Earth Kingdom to look for his mother and also to meet an old acquaintance of his. What does Lee think of him now? One-shot. Contains spoilers from The Promise.
Just a random story. Contains spoilers from The Promise Trilogy.
The Hundred Year War had ended. The war and protests caused by the Harmony Restoration Movement had also ended. Everything seemed to be at peace. But one thought was going on in Firelord Zuko's mind.
Where was his mother? What happened to Princess Ursa? She was banished for treason, but where would she go? He had sent out search parties, even Nyla and June, but all had returned empty-handed. He was getting frustrated. His father wouldn't tell him. His sister was worse.
"I see you're worrying about your mother again," said Suki. There was silence for a few moments. "You know, you could try searching for her yourself in the Earth Kingdom. She could've gone there."
Zuko glanced at the Kyoshi warrior. She was right. He had to find his mother on his own. And the Earth Kingdom was a good place to start. But which part of it?
"But the Earth Kingdom is so huge..." he said. "Just look at Ba Sing Se."
"You can leave Ba Sing Se for last, can't you?" suggested Suki. "Search the parts of the Earth Kingdom you've been to before. The small villages. Perhaps, just perhaps, your mother might've heard of your visit, and had hurriedly travelled there to find you."
Zuko's heart ached as he thought of his mother hurrying to a certain Earth Kingdom village and asking for her son and her disappointment when a certain Earth Kingdom boy named Lee shouted insults at her.
"You're right, Suki," agreed the Firelord. "Send word out to the guards. I'm leaving for the Earth Kingdom."
...
Zuko's first destination was the Plains Village, where, not only did he want to search for his mother, but also a certain boy. The Fire Nation entourage was directed by the Firelord to the Lee Family Pig Farm, where Zuko hoped to meet again someone he had met years before.
Sela came running up to the gate, having spotted the entourage approaching. There was no fear in her heart now; she had heard all about the Harmony Restoration Movement and the defeat of Firelord Ozai. The Earth Kingdom and the Fire Nation were no longer enemies.
"How may I help you?" asked Sela, as one of the ministers came up to their gate. Just before he could speak, he felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Let me do this on my own, minister," Firelord Zuko said, calmly. The minister nodded and saluted the Firelord before returning to the rest of the entourage.
Zuko turned to Sela, who took some time to recognise him in his Firelord robes. She would've taken longer had she not recognised Zuko's scar.
"You!" she gasped. "Why... you..."
"May I speak to your son, Lee?" Zuko asked.
Sela hesitated. Here was the young man who had defeated those wicked earthbenders with his twin Dao swords and firebending. Here was the young man who had claimed himself to be the Fire Nation prince. And who had been called an outcast. He was also the one who had presented the pearl dagger to Lee.
On normal circumstances, Sela would've chased him away. But now, he was the Firelord. And he helped the Avatar to end the Hundred Year War. He may not have supported the Harmony Restoration Movement, but he played a big role in returning peace to the four nations.
"Alright, come on in," she said.
She led Zuko into the house, where her husband, Gansu and their son, Lee, were in the kitchen, having lunch, which was nothing more than a bowl of vegetable soup. Both of them looked surprised at seeing the Firelord but Lee's look of surprise soon turned to one of anger and hatred.
