Zuko deflected Azula's lightning. "Did you forget I could do that?"
   Sokka recoiled. "I think I'm afraid of you again." Even Rose's family, save Aurora, seemed surprised.
   "What an interesting power!" Ophelia breathed in surprise.
   "Leave Misu and Rafa out of this! They have nothing to do with any of this!"
   "How can you be so naive, brother?!" Azula shouted. "You're just like the Avatar!"
   "You're right. I have been naive although comparing me to the best thing that ever happened to me isn't an insult." Zuko said. He nodded to the group. "Stop her."
   "Gladly!"
   Katara and Catie began waterbending as Will and Sokka fought with their weapons, Jasper aetherbended, and Ophelia began duelbending. Only Aurora and Misu warned them to stop.
   That's when Rose returned. "They're right." she said.
   "Rose! You're back." Zuko rushed to his lady's side immediately.
   "Yep." She responded proudly. "And I brought a friend."
   She then pointed as the Mother of Faces appeared from the Spirit World.
                      * * * * *
   "Your name seems like such a strange coincidence!" Ursa told Noren with a smile.
   "How so?"
   "In "Love Amongst the Dragons", the Dragon Emperor took the name Noren when in the mortal world." Ursa explained. "Now you direct that very play. Unusual, isn't it?"
   Noren smiled. "You may have a point there, Ursa."
   Ursa frowned in confusion. "I'm sorry. I don't think I've introduced myself--!" She stood up promptly. "I don't know what kind of game you're playing but I won't have any part of it. Good day, Sir."
   "Wait! Please stay!" Noren begged. "Let me explain. When we were six, you kicked me in the stomach and pushed my face in the dirt." Ursa's eyes widened and she turned. "When we were 21, you shattered my heart."
   "It can't be!"
   "And now you're going to walk away before we have the chance to have a proper conversation?" He continued. "My dear Ursa, don't you think you've hurt me enough?"
   Ursa's eyes filled with tears. "Ikem!"
                       * * * * *
   "I am the Mother of Faces." The spirit proclaimed proudly. "Through me, separation came into the world. The one became the many. I walk through my forest once a season and never have I strayed from the path my wolf chooses for me."
   The spirit, a large tree with many beautiful faces stood before Team Avatar. "I do so now in deference to the Avatar, the great bridge between spirit and human. Each season, I grant one favor to one human. You may make your request now."
   "Wait, one?"
   The group remembered their promise to help Misu and Rafa but Zuko also wanted to know where his mother was.
   "Humans often come to me for new identities. Have you come to do the same?"
   Rose grimaced. "Actually we need two favors. That shouldn't be too much right?"
   "Do not test my generosity, Avatar. One."
   Zuko made up his mind. "You've waited so long. The favor is yours, Misu."
   "Thank you."
  Azula freed herself from the ice Katara and Catie had used against her. "Ridiculous!"
  Misu stood before the Mother of Faces and spoke, "Mother of Faces, on behalf of my brother I ask--"
   "You're such a constant disappointment!" Azula shouted to Zuko. "Even when you're strong, you're weak." She rushed forward and interrupted Misu. "We seek a Fire Nation princess named Ursa. Tell us where to find her."
   "Ursa. I remember her." the Mother of Faces spoke. "I could never understand why a woman of such beauty wishes for a new face. So I tested her. I offered her a plain face in return. She accepted."
   She showed an image to the group and Zuko gasped in shock. "That's Niriko! Azula, she's--" He cut himself off as he noticed Azula had vanished.
   Immediately, the group sprung into action. Zuko, Sokka, Will, Catie, and Jasper rushed after Azula while Rose, Katara, Ophelia, Aurora, and Aang stayed behind to help Misu. Despite their protests, there was nothing they could do. The Mother of Faces bid Rose farewell and disappeared into the sacred pool.
                      * * * * *
   Noren, or rather, Ikem, took Ursa back to the prop house and she looked through the masks fondly, recalling how she kept many of her own inside the palace as a reminder.
   "When you left, I died." Ikem said. "Not literally but I may as well have. Everyone tried to make me feel better, say you'd come back. I knew you never would. They looked at me with pity. It was too painful to stay here so I did what anyone who wants to forget does--I went to Forgetful Valley.
   "There's a spirit that lived there and if you're lucky enough, she will give you a new face, a new identity, a new life. She granted me this. I came back a whole different person and started over."
   Ursa's eyes filled with tears again and she stroked his face gently. "It all seems so impossible yet here you are right in front of me: my dear Ikem with a new face." She removed her hand and tilted her head to the side. "Why didn't you marry? Have children of your own?"
   "Ursa...you know why."
   Ursa turned away. "So Ozai was lying then. He never found you. Your new face kept you safe this whole time."
   Ikem moved swiftly. "Y'know...a new face could keep you safe too. I'll take you down to Forgetful Valley and we'll find that spirit." He took her by the shoulders, peering into her eyes. Then we can start over...together."
   She smiled. "There's so much about my life in the royal palace I want to leave behind." She sighed. "But I'm a mother now. You understand? I can't leave my children behind."
  A thought then occured to her. "But if I got a new face, I could go back to the capital city undetected. Maybe I could at least see my children again, make sure they're ok."
   "But what then?" Ikem asked. "Would you stay in the city, hoping to catch a glimpse of them from time to time? Watch them grow up from afar? What kind of life is that?"
   Ursa hugged herself. "You don't know what it's like." She shook her head. "C'mon, Ikem. Let's go down to Forgetful Valley. Let's go meet this spirit of yours."
   That said, she took his hand and off they went.
                           * * * * *
   Aurora stood before the pool where the Mother of Faces had disappeared. Something was bothering her. "Chaos...something chaotic is about to happen...I just don't know when." she bemoaned.
   Rose leapt into the water, Aang following close behind. With her power, Rose created an air bubble around the both of them. Her tattoos began to glow, showing the path ahead.
   Yet, moments later, she and Aang were blasted from the pool as the Mother of Faces returned. "Since the beginning of time, I've fashioned faces with great care and deliberation--with all my heart! In each piece, I put a bit of my own being!
  "But then these humans trample into my forest and make demands as if I were some servant! They demand me to replace their faces with new ones! Do you know how it feels to be told by insignificant beings that your work is inadequate?!"
   "That's not--"
   "Humans are so pitiable and my kindness so profound, that I swallow my pride and grant their requests." the Mother continued. "Once a season is all I can tolerate! You, Avatar, are supposed to be the best of humans yet you jump into my sacred pool and defile it with your presence! You scold me as if I'm a child!" She growled. "Avatar or not, you humans are all the same: selfish, short-sighted, insolent! Get out of my forest and take your friends with you!"
   The sound of "get out" continued to reverberate through the forest.
                        * * * * *
   Several months later...
   Ursa and Ikem laughed and joked together, her teasing him about hi cooking. Suddenly, they heard a noise and rushed towards it to find the giant wolf spirit.
   "We're in the right place for the spirit." Ikem cheered. "Soon you will have a new face then you can see your children again."
   "Ikem...these last few months, living in the forest with you...I feel like I finally found where I belong."
   "Maybe you could bring your kids back to the village." Ikem suggested. "We could all live together like a family."
   "You don't know what Ozai is like!" Ursa scolded. "I wouldn't just be endangering me and my children. I'd be endangering you. Probably the whole town."
   At that moment, the Mother of Faces appeared from the pool of water. "Human, what do you ask of me?"
   "Mother of Faces, pardon this intrusion." Ursa said, bowing respectfully before the spirit. "My name is Ursa. I heard you can give me a new face, a new identity."
   "Why would a woman of such beauty desire a new face? Would a much plainer one do?"
   "Any face will do as long as it's new."
   "Ursa, I sense much pain in you. Do you really believe a new face will relieve this pain?"
   "No. My pain comes from memories of a life I did not choose."
   "I can do more than give you a new face--I can give you a new life, one that does not remember the memories of this life you speak of."
   "Will I remember him?" She gestured to Ikem.
   "Is he part of the life you wish to forget?" Ursa shook her head. "Then you will remember."
  Ursa thought of her children. She would not remember them. "Zuko...Azula....I'm so sorry."
  "Have you decided?"
  "Yes. I'm ready."
  "Then hold still."
  The Mother of Faces granted her wish and Ursa was no more, only Niriko. "Noren, are you there?"
  "I'm here, love. I'll always be here."
  Not long after they returned to the village, they were married. They finally got their happily ever after...
                     * * * * *
  Zuko and the rest of his group arrived at Noren's house. Luckily, there was no sign of Azula and the family was sitting down to dinner.
   "So that's your mom, huh?" Jasper asked, about of teasing in his voice.
   "That's her." Zuko said.
   "And a fine mother she is!" Will shouted, clapping Zuko on the back, none too gently.
   The group shushed him. "Honestly, brother, you have no tact at all." Jasper scolded. "How are you so good at hunting?"
   Will chuckled. "Don't tease him." Catie said, half stern, half amused.
   Zuko nodded to the group. "I'm going in to talk to them."
   "Maybe one of us should go with you just in case?" Catie suggested.
   Zuko shook his head and said, "No. This is going to be awkward enough without witnesses. You guys just stay here and hold down the fort in case Azula comes back."
   "No problem!" Sokka said with a thumbs up.
   Zuko swallowed thickly, partially wishing Rose was beside him. It felt weird to be facing...well anything without his wife and soulmate at his  side. He really needed to make an honest woman out of her with the official ceremony. Come to think of it, once he had his mother back, he'd do it as soon as they returned to the Fire Nation.
   He knocked at the door and it was opened by Noren. "Noren, I know it's late--"
   "I had a feeling you'd be back."
   "What do you mean?"
   At that moment, Kiyi ran into his arms. "You came back! You came back because we're best friends!"
   "It's good to see you again, Kiyi." Zuko said, warmly, hugging her back.
   Again, that thought of having a child with Rose entered his mind and he blushed.
   "Come eat dinner with us!"
   "Oh I don't know if I can."
   "Nonsense." Noren said. "Come."
   During dinner, Zuko found himself thoughtful. Dinners with his family were always awkward or ended in a fight. He wasn't that good with dinners with just Rose either but she was luckily amazing at making him feel wanted.
   "Do you have dinner together like this every night?"
   "Of course." Niriko smiled. "That's why we're eating so late. I insisted we wait for Noren."
   "Thank you, dear." Noren said, smiling at his wife. "Rehearsal ran over."
   "So what made you come back?"
   "I need an answer to a question I have for you. Tell me Niriko, are you happy?"
   "Of course!" She said with a smile. "I'm where I belong!"
   Zuko smiled. "I've bothered you folks enough. Good evening."
   He stood and bowed but Noren stopped him. "No. Stay. Niriko, I knew this moment would come sooner or later."
   "What's going on?"
   "Tell her."
   Zuko sighed. "My name is Zuko, Lord of the Fire Nation, and I am your son."
                          * * * * *
   Rose, Aang, Aurora, Katara, Ophelia, and Misu began fighting yet Rose knew they couldn't fight off the entire forest. During the fight, Rafa's mask flew off and Rose stopped in her tracks at the blank slate of face she saw.
   "That looks like something Koh the Face Stealer would've done."
   At this, Mother stopped the fight. "You know him? He is my son."
   "Koh the Face Stealer is your son?"
   "He's been estranged from me since time began. How do you know him, Avatar?"
   "I've met him before in the Spirit World. To be honest, he isn't the nicest spirit. He took a face of someone I cared about in a past life. And, yet, my past life spared him."
   Mother was quiet a moment then turned to Rafa. "I can feel his handiwork here. It's been so long since I've seen him."
   With that, she returned his face and he hugged his sister.
   "Thank you, Mother of Faces." Rose said. "I'm sorry humans can be so ungrateful. I shouldn't have asked for two favors instead of one. I just wished to restore two relationships, that of a brother and sister, and that of a mother and son."
   "I understand."
                        * * * * *
  "When I saw you in the crowd, I knew who you were immediately, especially since you were travelling with the Avatar." Noren explained. "I learned everything I could about Ursa's life in the royal palace and I knew the past would come back to haunt me someday."
   He fell to his knees. "Please forgive me for not confessing sooner. I'd hoped to give you enough information to satisfy you, milord, while still protecting my Ursa."
   "Ursa?"
   "That was your name, my love, from your old life. You were once a princess of the Fire Nation. You had two children, one of whom grew up to be the Fire Lord. You don't remember this because a powerful spirit altered your memories." Noren turned to Zuko. "I also had another name. I used to be known as Ikem."
   Zuko bowed. "Then maybe this is where I belong too...with my mother, sister, and father."
   "That's not possible." Ikem said. "Ursa and I--we never--"
   A loud noise interrupted him and he held his daughter as Zuko promised to find out what was going on, striding toward the door.
   "Sounds like someone's fighting on our roof."
   Zuko heard the crackling of lightning and groaned. "Oh no!"
   The roof caved in, expelling Azula, Sokka, Will, Catie, and Jasper.
   "Finally!" Azula shouted, stepping into the kitchen table. "Tell me, mother, did you have another daughter because your last one turned out to be such a monster??"
   "Step back, Azula!"
   "Really, snow peasant? Where's your little toy?"
   "Right there."
   It flew and hit her in the head. Zuko had a sudden sense of deja vu and reflexively rubbed the back of his head.
   "Scatter!" Jasper shouted.
   "You're not going anywhere!" Azula shouted, grabbing Niriko/Ursa by the neck and pinning her to the wall, screaming abuse while the terrified woman cried that she didn't know what was going on.
   "Let her go, Azula!"
   "Stay back, ZuZu!"
   As one of the others tried to sneak up on her, she shouted at them too to stand back. Niriko touched Azula's face and stared into her eyes.
   "If what you say is true and I am your mother...I'm sorry I didn't love you enough."
   Azula's eyes filled with tears. Zuko chose that moment to push himself between them. "Leave her alone!"
   They began firebending and Azula grew frustrated quickly. "Stop moving!"
   She began to conjure lightning. "I told you already I know how to deal with your lightning. I can redirect it anywhere."
   "Don't you get it ZuZu? You and I will finally be free! You from a throne you never wanted travelling the world with your soulmate, and I from these nagging voices in my head!"
   "You're wrong."
   "Then why didn't you drop me off the cliff the other day? You wanted me to have that letter."
   "No. I didn't want to lose my sister. Besides, letting you die would've been the wrong thing to do." Zuko sighed. "And I know in my heart that the throne is my destiny...as is the Avatar."
   "Typical." Azula snorted in derision. Angrily, she ran, Zuko and Ursa chasing after her. "Even when you're strong, you're weak." She spat.
   "Um...Fire Lord!" Ursa gestured as the Mother of Faces appeared.
   "You must decide."
   "No." Zuko cut in. "You have such a beautiful life here."
   Niriko shook her head at Zuko. "Yes." she told the Mother.
   The Mother changed her back and Niriko became Ursa once more.
   The rest of the group reunited, families hugging and chatting. Rose ran right into Zuko's arms and he kissed her, desperation becoming evident fairly quickly.
   "So, you're Ursa, Zuko's mother." Rose said. "I'm so glad to meet you."
   Ursa smiled. "As am I, Rose. Not only is it an honor to meet the Avatar...it's an honor to meet the woman who won my son's heart." She held her arms open and hugged Rose. "You will make a wonderful wife and queen."
   Zuko stepped forward. "You should talk to them." He gestured to Ikem and Kiyi.
   "Not yet. Zuko, what I said to Azula...I owe you the same apology. I'm sorry I didn't love you enough."
   "Don't say that " Zuko protested.
   "But it's true." Ursa insisted. "I forgot you. What kind of mother forgets her son?"
   "Things turned out ok." Zuko shrugged, wrapping an arm around the love of his life. "I've got some great friends, more family than I know what to do with, I found my literal soulmate, and I have a life I can be proud of."
   "And a crown on your head." Ursa said. "You look so handsome and so happy." She gestured between him and Rose. "I may not have a right to be but I am proud of you."
   "The throne is my destiny...as is the Avatar." Zuko repeated his earlier sentiment, taking Rose's hand as he pulled out the letter Azula dropped. "Even so, we need to talk about this."
                     * * * * *
  "Ozai, you know as well as I do that Zuko is your son." Ursa said after Ozai revealed that he had killed Ikem.
  "Of course he's my son!" Ozai shouted. "I had spies watching you even before our wedding. Now why would you write such an obvious lie?!"
   "Maybe because I knew you were reading my private letters!" Ursa shot back. "Maybe I wanted to hurt you for once." Tears filled her eyes, angry tears. "Maybe it was just my wishful thinking."
   "Is that truly what you wish? That Zuko were not mine?"
   "That he turns out nothing like you? Yes!"
   "Then that is how I will treat him." Ozai answered, coldly. "Everytime I speak harshly to him, everytime I wound him, everytime I treat him like the son of hat treacherous dog--im simply fulfilling his mother's wish."
   He bowed sarcastically then and smirked, showing her he meant it.
                      * * * * *
   "Ozai is a wretched man!" Ursa said sadly. "To treat you like that just to get back at me."
   Rose growled. "I'm really starting to wish I'd never spared his life."
   "None of us hold anything against you for doing the right thing." Zuko told his soulmate. "You're the Avatar. Good is practically written in your DNA. And it is because of your love, at least partially, that I am the man I am today." He held her hand, kissing it gently before holding it to his heart. "So he is my father?"
   Ursa nodded. "Yes."
   "Tell me what you're feeling." Both of the women he loved--wife and mother--said in unison.
   "You know exactly what I'm feeling." He told Rose. "This is how things were meant to be, even if I didn't always know it." He turned to his mother. "But there's one thing I must ask of you."
   "What's that?"
   "I want to know everything."
   Ursa smiled. "As long as I can know the whole story about how you two found each other, I think I can manage that."
   Zuko smiled. Taking Ursa's hand in his free one, he began walking with the two most important women in his life. "Deal."