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Ursa’s golden eyes widen in horror at the scene. It’s like a sorrowful stage play but ten times worse. Her own son is the main character but all the pain and mortification he’d suffer is real. And his opponent is her husband, the Fire Lord himself.
This isn’t an Agni Kai. It’s a mockery of one.
When Ozai blasts a pillar of fire directly and mercilessly at Zuko, Ursa doesn’t look away. Rage and grief, fire and ice start a war within her.
Zuko screams –her blood now ice cold at the sound. Her child collapses on the stage and for a moment she wonders fearfully, is he dead?
Ozai turns and walks away. No remorse. No empathy. His actions are done with sadistic cruelty, not humane battle tradition.
Iroh gives Ursa a sympathetic look but a warning also gleams in his eyes. Don’t do anything drastic.
Servants duck and cower away from Ursa who wears a rare scowl. She’s known as the kindest and compassionate Fire Nation noble of their time, and if she’s mad, you know things are bad. And her wrath is unrelenting. Doctors filter in and out quickly from the medical ward of the palace, carrying equipment as they go. She passes beds full of injured soldiers to search for her son. A nurse bows and ushers the Fire Lady further along the medical ward.
Frantic healers are attending to Zuko’s burn. He lies so still that she feared the worst, but her posture relaxed when Ursa hears faint breathing. The Fire Nation has a higher resistance to normal burns but if injured by another firebender’s fire, it can be deadly. And Ozai’s firebending is the deadliest fire known to man.
The prince doesn’t even flinch when a doctor applies antiseptic. Tempered soldiers scream from lesser injuries. It probably didn’t make the contact between burn and healing salve any less agonizing though.
Guilt latches onto Ursa like snake coils. Her blood runs ice cold. I should’ve done something. This shouldn’t have happened.
Out of all the tortuous and hideous things Ozai has done, Ursa never imagined that he’d disfigure his own son without batting an eye.
“I’m here Zuzu,” she places a supportive hand on his wrist. “I won’t let anything bad happen to you again.” It’s the truth. A mother’s vow is unbreakable.
Zuko twitches. He briefly wakes up from a daze and mutters, “Is it bad?”
Ursa’s breath lodges in her throat. Tears sting her eyes.
The wound is bubbling like burning animal fat. Such wounds really show how feeble the human body is as a whole. Like wax. Zuko’s eye is sealed shut. It’ll never be the same. If he redeems sight, it’ll be hardly any. Blood wells up in the pockets and trickles down his face, yet hope blazes undaunted in his unharmed eye.
She smiles and squeezes his wrist. “It’ll heal.” But it’ll be a lasting scar.
“I…I lost,” a sob bubbles in his throat. Self-hatred’s plagued claws tear at his pride. “I’m a disgrace to Dad –and the Fire Nation. He said this would happen. I’m a failure.”
A doctor swoops in and carefully wraps bandages around Zuko’s eye, he hissed in response to cloth contacting burn.
Stern somberness furls Ursa’s face. “No, you’re not. He’s wrong, Zuko. Your father…he just doesn’t see how great you are.” Ozai lies. He always has. I was just too blind to see it. The hard truth shook her to the core. Why hadn’t I done something sooner? The signs had been there in her face all along. It’s a mother’s job to protect her children, and Ursa realized she had failed. Both Zuko and Azula.
“Get some rest,” she brushed hair from Zuko’s face, careful of his wound. “I’ll visit again.”
“Okay.”
Ursa left the medical ward and ran into Iroh, who had hurried over to visit his nephew. Ozai and Azula are nowhere in sight.
“Care for some tea? I’m sure with my blend Zuko will be back on his feet in no time,” Iroh offered a smile hampered by sadness.
The Fire Lady’s anxious features softened. Iroh has a calming presence. If danger were to befall them he’s a man to trust.
But even he must adhere to Ozai’s commands, she realized fearfully. Someone so wise and kind forced to be a soulless weapon for a brother’s endless hatred.
“No thank you. I must ask, what happened?”
Iroh sighed sadly. He explained how the war meeting went. “Zuko’s heart is in the right place but…”
Ursa’s stance became rigid with anger. So he called the Agni Kai out of malice. An honorable tradition meant to dissolve disputes now tarnished by the Fire Lord’s ego.
“If something happens to me will you take care of Zuko?”
He blinked and pulled a bewildered face.
“Please.”
He scratched his beard and narrowed his eyes cynically. “I see Zuko like my own son. There was no need for you to ask, Ursa. But whatever you’re planning to do I hope you won’t. Some things must turn for the worst before getting better.”
She flinched. Iroh’s not only talking about her. He too has suffered because of Ozai. Lu Ten is dead. He believed going to war for the Fire Nation to be a noble cause, as any Fire Nation youth understood. Self-sacrifice was the epitome of being a hero. But all those who died in combat leave their families to mourn, burying those who should’ve lived bright lives six feet under.
“You have a good heart, Ursa. I don’t want to see you get hurt. A fire Lord’s wrath is something you don’t want to interfere with.”
Too late. Ozai hurt Zuko. That’s the last straw.
Nobody has ever deserted the Fire Nation, but that won’t discourage Ursa. She collected every useful tool available, a weapon, and some rations. Commoner clothes were easy to come by but an escape route would be near impossible to get a hold of. She’ll secure one or several if she must. Ursa isn’t just a pretty face. She aced many exams and got top scores in the academy. Getting out alive and a mother’s desperation to save her children are a deadly combination.
Paranoia is hidden under a graceful mask. Ursa has been summoned to the throne room. Did Ozai’s loyal spies or guards notice any subtle changes? Does he know she’s going to try and escape? It’s been three days. Zuko is still recovering in the medical ward and Ursa has been slowly chipping away at an escape. It’s difficult when eyes are on you at all times. Bribery only goes so far when fear is the main factor controlling the servants and guards’ lives.
Ursa has always hated the throne room. It screams ominous and pitiless. Shortly after Ozai inherited the crown, he changed.
No. He didn’t change. He was always a monster. Ursa just didn’t want to believe it. The Fire Lord endlessly spouted about “doing good for the Fire Nation,” which turned out to be false. Charisma is a powerful trait. Propaganda is a useful instrument to motivate the masses. Even within the confines of the palace, Ozai didn’t hesitate to apply such measures to people. Every soul tortured or killed or locked in a cell was for the good of the Fire Nation.
A hungry man stealing food to feed his starving family? A young soldier who tried to leave, saying that his men were slaughtered for a diversion? A scholar who saved ancient Fire Nation scrolls? Every single on was branded as a traitor.
The Fire Nation has hundreds of famous theaters, academies, and scientific technology but all of it was to enshrine Ozai and Fire Lord immortality. Not for the good of mankind. Instead of being renowned for their warrior-like grace the Fire Nation is feared by their scorched earth hostility. Ursa felt her brain and heart at war, split in half by obligation against independency. She had loved Ozai and believed in the good of her people. But now she must be selfish and flee. She has to save herself and Zuko.
The veil is draw aside. Ozai is an intimidating force by looks alone. His eyes carry a cruel and distant glint.
“What is it?”
“We’ve a lot to discuss,” he waved a servant over who poured drink and brought out food. “Our scientists have made further advances in tech and weaponry. It won’t be long until the others fall. I’ve also made the decision to make Azula heir to the throne.”
Ursa lowered a cup from her lips. She stayed emotionless. “Isn’t it the first born’s right to the throne?”
Speaking of, Ozai shouldn’t be Fire Lord. But Iroh relinquished his right to stay a general. A smart move. Even the wise and witty Iroh couldn’t fight Ozai for the throne.
Ozai’s lips draw back in a sneer. “That useless son of mine fails at everything. He’s hardly a firebender. And he doesn’t have the guts to be Fire Lord. Azula on the other hand has shown me and the council that she is destined for greatness.” He cut apart the meat on his plate like an unfortunate opponent to a blade. “I’m going to banish Zuko. He’s a disappointment that’ll make the rest of us look weak.”
This time Ursa couldn’t keep fear and shock from her voice. “But he’s our son! He has potential just like Azula does.”
Ozai glared at her and scoffed. “Exile is a mercy that he should be grateful for! He’s too worried being honorable and looking like a fool when he should only be thinking about how to win. If he were Fire Lord our nation would become as spineless as he is.”
The table is knocked over as Ursa stands up. Drink and food go flying. “You rather turn your daughter into a heartless monster and banish your own son to whatever miserable fate than accept that you’re the cause of all this suffering?! If you had at least believed in him he would’ve-”
A deafening slap rings throughout the throne room. Ursa is sent flying and lands on her side. Half senseless, she struggles to stand. Where was the man she had fallen in love with?
Heartbroken, hurt, and betrayed, she glares at him stronger than Sozin’s Comet’s intense blaze. “Go to hell!”
Ozai merely smiled and chuckled. “I will. I’ll be the one on the throne. Without any treacherous people like you to interfere, I’ll be the God of the world.”
Powerful waves of fire lash at Ursa who could only stare at her incoming death in terror.
Fortunately (or not) becoming ashes was not in Ursa’s fate. They were a distraction for Ozai to unleash a frenzy of lightning. Agonizing pain sharp and loud like fireworks shoots through Ursa’s body. She’s thrown to the ground again. Her body is alight as electricity circles her. Her limbs twitch and jerk uncontrollably. She can’t even breathe.
Used up. Disgraced. Discarded. Mocked. The room spins. Wobbly but with all heart, Ursa stands back up. Her voice is cracked and fractured like broken glass. “You’ll pay for this, Ozai. One day I’ll be on the throne. You’ll see. Your foolish selfishness and careless disregard for others will be your downfall.”
Ozai smiled. He thinks she’s joking. Who could possibly overthrow him? Not even the Avatar himself could defeat him. “My vision for a new world will not be derailed. All the air nomads are dead. The Avatar can’t kill me. No man alive can. Not you either, dear wife. As if one person without bending can think they have a chance to remove me from the throne. I was born to be this world’s God. And the world will be rebuilt in my image. You did birth an heir for me, so for that I’ll let you live. You too shall be banished.”
An unrelenting rage flickers in Ursa’s eyes. That’ll be your last mistake.
Opening a door to a hidden chamber, Ursa ignored the searing pain shooting through her body to gather her supplies. She ignores the bewildered stares from the servants. Zuko is almost healed, his mind clearer. He sits up in his medical bed when he sees Ursa enter the ward. “Mother?”
“Hurry. Grab your belongings. We’re leaving.”
His brows scrunched. “Leaving?” Alarmed, he sees a nurse rush to her side. “You’re hurt! What happened?!”
“We need to leave. Go get your things, Zuko.” There’s no room for argument. He exits the room and the nurse brings Ursa to a station to help heal her injuries.
Ursa left the medical ward to be dragged to a quieter hall of the palace by Iroh. Who knows who’d be listening?
With his priceless knowledge he has secured a safer escape from the Fire Nation.
“Are you coming with us?”
“Not yet,” he noticed the nurse had listened to his advice to apply mushy flower petals to Ursa’s wounds to disguise the burnt smell. The creatures within the territory often ambushed travelers if they discerned that particular scent. “But I’ve made some contacts for you in Ba Sing Se. I’ve still some things to do.”
Ursa hugged him and smiled. “I’m indebted to you, thank you.”
Zuko and his mother wearily scaled the mountainous crest shielding the palace from the rest of the world. Questions burned in his mind to ask but he kept his jaw shut. He could sense how tense and urgent everything is. Ursa suddenly tripped and Zuko rushed to her side to help her up. She protested, not wanting to worry him, but accepted his help. She knew that the damage done from Ozai’s lightningbending would worsen over time –and it scared her.
Their guide leads them to a small hidden craft docked at the crest. Further on are many factories that make the army’s weaponry. The smog spewed out from the pipes would hide the ship. They descended a dangerous path to the ship and safely escaped to Ba Sing Se.
Years have passed. Around the world there is news that the Avatar is alive. It’s a small flickering flame of hope to Zuko. His dream of ever returning home died long ago. Revenge replaced his desperation for Ozai’s honor.
They’ve been exiled, persecuted, left alone with no defense. Just for having different ideas about what the Fire Nation should be. For not being as heartless, deceitful, and cruel as them. It sickened Zuko as he saw his mother’s health get worse over time. The lightning rendered her to a distressing image of what she once was. Gone is most of the sweetness and calm. Now she is ragged, a restless machine. Ursa’s eyes are wild and violent. Her movements are hindered by the electricity that refused to leave her body. She’ll drop things a lot or stumble, or be awake with constant pain. But her spirit never wanes at this.
Ursa’s pride still shines bright. She cares about her son and sees him as one of the few heroes who could save the Fire Nation. Long forgotten are her stories about spending time at theaters that she used to tell Zuko for bedtime stories. They were quickly exchanged for lullabies about war and bloodshed. Her son isn’t weak or a failure. Zuko deserves the throne!
The ex-Fire Lady has tried forgetting the past to start anew in Ba Sing Se for a peaceful life, but her nightmares are all phantoms that laugh and mock her. Zuko will slay Ozai and she’d show that bastard how wrong he was to laugh at and mock her. Ursa vowed to get payback and become the ruler of the Fire Nation, creating real peace with the other territories.
Oh the battle may be bloody, but that kind of works for me! A symphony of death, that’s my lullaby.
Zuko has become a vigilante. He’s wanted in the city as the Blue Spirit and he’s found the group searching for the Avatar. He’s teamed up with a waterbender girl and her brother. Ursa’s plan is unfolding neatly, and she’ll see that they all succeed, even at the cost of her life. Zuko departs from Ba Sing Se, his mother’s morbid lullaby faintly chiming in his mind as he flies to his new destiny.
The pounding of the drums of war!
The joy of vengeance!
I can hear the cheering!
Payback time is nearing and then our flag will fly against a blood-red sky!
That’s my lullaby!