Chapter 1: The Price of Desire.
Chapter Text
It had been two years since I had been crowned Fire Lord, but the weight on my chest had not lessened. The Fire Nation was prosperous, the council followed my decisions with respect, and yet something in me was still broken. My mother... Ursa. Her face was the same, her voice just as soft, but her eyes no longer recognized me or Azula. And then, Azula... her loss left a void, a chasm I didn't know how to fill.
My father, Ozai, was still in his cell, his eyes as cold as ever. He was a man who never gave me what I needed, who molded me through fire and pain. But still, the thought of me being left without a mother... without someone who could fill that place... I couldn't accept it.
That was when I knew what I had to do.
The witch was hard to find. No one told me about her, but the rumors were strong enough to guide me. The last of her kind, powerful beyond imagining, able to mold flesh and soul like clay in her hands. I ventured deeper into the forbidden woods, until I found her, her gaze piercing as if she already knew what I was going to ask for.
“Do it,” I said, with a determination that surprised me. I didn’t ask, I didn’t beg. Need had hardened me. I will do whatever it takes to have a mother again.
The witch approached me with a smile that made my hair stand on end. She smelled of ash and the earth after a storm. Her voice was low, almost a whisper.
“I will transform Ozai into a woman. A mother, exactly what you wish… but it won’t be as you imagine, Zuko. She will be motherly, thirty years old, in body and soul. But remember: there is always a price for altering what should not be altered.”
The warning didn’t matter to me at the moment. I just wanted... I needed something to comfort me, something to give me back what I lost.
The transformation was instantaneous. The air was charged with energy, and before my eyes, the man who was once the Fire Lord, the terror of the world, changed. His figure softened, his black hair lengthened, his face took on a sweetness impossible to associate with Ozai. In front of me was no longer my father, but a woman in her thirties, her eyes filled with a warmth I never thought possible.
“Zuko…” she said, her voice sweet and loving, as if she had been born to say my name that way.
My hands shook. What have I done?
The witch disappeared without a trace, her work finished. I stood there, watching the new mother I had created. Softness in every gesture, a smile that made me feel small again. But, in her gaze, something... something strange shone. Was it love? Or was it something darker, something I hadn't anticipated?
“Come, my son,” she said, holding out her arms, as if she had always been this woman, as if Ozai had never existed.
And for a second, I wanted to run. But instead, I stepped forward, letting myself be enveloped in the embrace I had craved all my life.
Maybe, in the end, what I had lost didn’t matter as much as what I had gained.
Or maybe, simply, the price had yet to be paid.
Chapter 2: The Mysterious Lady.
Chapter Text
I was starting to suspect that something fishy was going on in Zuko's palace.
We had been invited to spend a month off in the Fire Nation, and I, being a good friend, wasn't going to say no to the idea of a decent dinner, without having to hunt for my own food or rely on Aang's excellent (note the sarcasm) culinary talents. Everything was going well until she showed up.
Ever since we arrived, a woman has been following him around. I didn't think much of it at first, I thought she was some maid or something, but then I started to notice... the stares. And they weren't the stares of a maid, no sir. It was like she was taking care of every detail of Zuko, worried that he was missing something, like an overprotective mother... or worse, a girlfriend. But wait, Zuko doesn't have a girlfriend. Right?
She was young, younger than Zuko, around thirty years old. Her black hair fell in soft waves down her back, and her eyes… well, there was something off about them. It wasn’t just the warmth, it was the intensity. And the way she leaned into Zuko, every time she talked to him. Every time she looked at him. Every time she hugged him and said things like, “I love you with the strength of a thousand Sozin kites.” What kind of phrase was that?!
Aang was busy chatting with Katara about the palace’s plantings, Toph was still eating like she’d never seen food in her life, and I… I couldn’t stop staring.
We spent the entire afternoon exploring the palace, but that girl wouldn’t leave his side for a second. At dinner, it was the last straw. We all sat at the table, enjoying a feast fit for a Fire Lord. But there she was, sitting next to Zuko, touching his arm, serving him more food, and at one point, she gave him a kiss on the cheek! Zuko’s face turned red, but he didn’t move away. He didn't do anything! He just... stood there, grinning like an idiot.
I couldn't take it anymore.
"Okay, we've been here all day, and now we're having dinner..." I dropped my chopsticks on the table with a dry sound, drawing everyone's attention. "That girl... she's your girlfriend, right?"
The silence that fell over the table was instantaneous. Katara stopped talking, Aang blinked, and Toph, well, she didn't even try to hide a mocking smile. I looked at Zuko, who looked like he had been punched in the stomach. Or maybe I just never thought anyone would ask.
The girl—or whatever she is—laughed, a soft, melodious laugh that didn't fit the mental image I had of grumpy old Zuko. But for some reason, I felt even more uncomfortable.
"No, I'm not his girlfriend," she replied before Zuko could say a word. "I'm his mother."
...
Excuse me, what?
My chopsticks fell to the floor, and I watched as Aang nearly choked on the mouthful of food he was chewing. Katara let out a nervous laugh, clearly thinking it was a bad joke. But no... it didn't feel like a joke. She was looking at us with such sincerity that a shiver ran down my spine.
"His... mother," I repeated, as if saying it out loud would make more sense.
Zuko, good old Zuko, buried his face in his hands, visibly uncomfortable. Yes, something weird was definitely going on here.
"It's a long story, Sokka," he said, in a tone that seemed to beg us not to ask any more.
But come on, *I'm Sokka*. Long stories are my specialty, especially when they seem like something out of a crazy tale. His mother? That loving young woman who had been clinging to him all day? Something didn't add up.
And I knew I wasn't going to be left with doubt.
Chapter 3: The Truth in the Fire.
Chapter Text
I love it when Sokka asks awkward questions. He always ends up bringing out what we all want to hear but no one dares to ask. This time was no exception. We were at the table, all calm, or so I thought, until he dropped the bomb.
“Is that girl your girlfriend?”
The tension in the room was palpable. I felt Zuko’s heartbeat jump as the woman laughed and replied,
“I’m her mother.”
I can say with absolute certainty that no one was expecting that. Zuko’s heart raced even faster, and Sokka’s… well, it felt like his brain was completely shutting down. For a second, I thought he was going to explode from how baffled he was. Not that I blame him. This woman couldn’t be older than thirty, and Zuko… well, definitely closer to our age. This didn’t add up.
But something else was going on here, something Zuko didn’t want to say. *Luckily, I’m very good at beating the truth out of me*.
The awkward silence hung in the air like a bad smell, and Zuko looked like he wanted to melt into the seat. No one said anything, as if they expected the matter to just go away. But come on, *it's obvious this can't be let go*. Not with a revelation like that.
With a smug smile, I leaned back in my chair and crossed my arms behind my head.
“Well… we have time,” I said in my best nonchalant tone, knowing I was hitting just the right button. “Tell the story.”
Zuko's heartbeat quickened even more, and his breathing became heavier. I knew he didn't want to talk about it, but I didn't care. If we're going to be here for a month, I at least want to know why he suddenly has a woman who claims to be his mother, following him around the palace like a shadow.
Plus, this was starting to get entertaining. I can feel the vibrations from the ground and Zuko's body so clearly that I know he's reeling emotionally. But I also know that if he doesn't talk now, he will at some point. And honestly, I'd rather he did it now, while dinner was still warm.
Zuko put a hand to his face and let out a long, almost resigned sigh. I felt the weight of his anxiety settle on his shoulders. His entire body was tense, as if he wanted to be anywhere but here, explaining the unexplainable.
"Okay..." he finally murmured, his voice deep and resigned. "I'll tell them."
Finally. The story was about to come out, and I was more than ready to enjoy every second of it.
Chapter 4: Zuko's Secret.
Chapter Text
It was clear that Zuko didn't want to tell this story, but with Toph pressing him and Sokka looking at him with those big, curious eyes, he had no choice. I knew him well enough to know that he was about to blurt out a heavy truth, one of those that makes you think twice before judging. And honestly, I wasn't prepared for what he was going to say, though I had a feeling that nothing in the world could have prepared me for this.
I sat silently, watching as Zuko played with the food on his plate, his hands tense, his movements careful. Beside him, the woman who had claimed to be his mother continued to look at him with a kind of devotion that I never thought I'd see directed towards him, at least not since I'd met his family. It was odd, but I couldn't help but feel that there was some truth in her words. Or maybe she just wanted to understand him, after everything that had happened.
Zuko let out a long, tired sigh, his gaze fixed on the floor. I knew the words were going to be hard, like ripping out something that had been hidden for too long. Finally, he spoke, his voice low but firm.
“A month ago…” he began, pausing, as if searching for the right words. “I went to see a witch.”
My eyes shot open. *A witch?* That wasn’t something I expected to hear. I looked at Aang, who also looked shocked, but he didn’t say anything. No one did. We all knew that if Zuko was sharing this, it wasn’t something he said lightly.
“After…” Zuko swallowed, and I felt him tense, as if every word was a struggle, “after my mother couldn’t remember me or Azula, and after Azula died, something in me broke. I couldn’t accept being without a mother, not after I’d spent so much time searching for her. I needed… something. Someone."
There was something in his voice that made me shudder. It wasn't just pain, it was desperation, an open wound that hadn't quite closed. It hurt to see him like this, but I couldn't look away. I knew we were all thinking the same thing: Zuko had always been searching for that love that had been denied to him for so long. And now, somehow, he had tried to force someone to fill that void.
"The witch told me she could make my father... become a mother," he continued, his tone seeming unbelievable even to him. "She told me she would transform him into a thirty-year-old woman, motherly and... well, she did."
The silence that followed was heavy. It was hard to process. My mind tried to put the pieces together, but they didn't quite fit. I looked at the woman, who was still smiling, not saying anything, as if what Zuko was telling was completely normal. *Ozai? Transformed into this... loving woman?* It couldn't be.
"She's... my father," Zuko said finally, his voice barely a whisper. "Transformed into someone else."
Sokka let out a strangled noise, probably thinking the same thing we were all thinking: What the hell is going on?
My heart tightened in my chest, thinking of everything Zuko had been through. After everything his father had done to him, this was what he had chosen? To make him a mother? It was a desperate decision, and it hurt to see how much it had affected him.
“I didn’t expect it to be like this,” Zuko admitted, not looking up. “But now… it seems to be working. She… takes care of me. Tells me she loves me. Does everything I never thought Ozai would do.”
The silence fell again, but this time it was different. It wasn’t just surprise; there was something else. Compassion, perhaps. Understanding. Zuko had done something impossible, something none of us could have imagined, but he had done it for the most human of reasons: the need to feel loved. To have someone to care for him.
I wanted to say something, anything to comfort him, to let him know he wasn't alone, that we understood, but the words wouldn't come. All I could do was hold his hand, small and silent, hoping that would be enough.
Zuko didn't look at me, but he squeezed my hand in response, and for a second, I felt like he understood.
Chapter 5: The Difficult Question.
Chapter Text
I can't stop thinking about what Zuko just said. My brain just can't process all of this. His father, Ozai, the scariest and cruelest guy we've ever met, is now this loving woman who kisses his forehead and takes care of him? That's... crazy. There's no other word. I rub my temples as I try to make sense of it all, but the more I think about it, the more I feel like I'm stuck in one of the weirdest nightmares of my life.
We're still sitting at the table. Dinner is almost cold, and even though I would normally have devoured my share and Aang's by now, I don't have the slightest appetite. I feel everyone's eyes on Zuko. They're staring at him as if they expect him to somehow clean up this mess, but I know that's not going to happen. How could I?
The woman—or, well, Ozai transformed into this loving mother—is still sitting next to him, looking at him as if he's the most precious being in the world. I can't handle this. I can't. I shift in my seat, my mind spinning, trying to find something, anything to say to break the awkward silence.
And then, of course, I can't help but open my mouth.
“Wait, wait, wait…” I say, holding up my hands like I'm stopping a runaway car. “So Ozai... or, well, *she* now... takes care of you like she's your mother?”
Zuko gives me a look, a little tired, like he's expected someone to ask that question sooner or later. Around me, I feel the gazes of Katara, Aang, and Toph. They're all waiting for me to say something else.
“Yes, Sokka,” Zuko replies in a raspy voice. “She takes care of me now, and... yes, she tells me she loves me.”
I can't help but let out a nervous laugh. This is too much. The whole situation is so surreal that I don't know whether to laugh, cry, or just make a stupid joke.
“So… no one else thinks this is… completely crazy?” I ask, looking around at the others, waiting for someone to say something.
Toph shrugs, like it’s the most normal thing in the world.
“I think he did what he had to do,” Toph says, completely calmly.
Katara, on the other hand, gives me a warning look, like she’s telling me to stop pushing. But I can’t, this is too weird to let go! I’m about to open my mouth again, but Zuko stops me with a stare.
“I don’t expect you to understand, Sokka,” he says, more calmly than I expected. “I don’t expect any of you to. But I needed this. After everything I went through… I needed a mother, and now I have one.”
There’s something in his voice that makes me pause. A mix of tiredness, of pain, of something I can’t put into words. I look at Zuko, really look at him, and I realize how much he’s changed. He’s not the same boy we met years ago, when he was chasing us around the world. Now he’s someone who’s had to rebuild himself from the ground up, and this woman, as strange as the situation is, seems to be a part of that rebuilding.
I swallow, dropping my hands into my lap. Maybe she doesn’t understand it, maybe she never will, but if this is giving her any peace, then… who am I to judge?
“It’s okay, Zuko,” I finally say, holding my hands up in surrender. “If this is what you need, I accept it. I just… I can’t promise it won’t still be weird for me.”
Zuko lets out a sigh of relief, like he’s been waiting for my approval longer than he cares to admit. Katara smiles weakly, and Aang seems a little more relaxed. Toph, of course, is still Toph, and doesn’t seem surprised by any of this.
The woman, Zuko’s new mother, smiles again and runs a hand through his hair.
“I love you with the strength of a thousand Sozin kites,” she says softly, and Zuko nods, almost imperceptibly.
Well, at least someone is looking out for him. And, if I’m going to be honest with myself, Zuko deserves it. Although… it still seems weird to me.
Chapter 6: Zuko's Council.
Chapter Text
The cool morning air filled the council room, but I couldn’t help but feel a little tense as I entered. I was still processing everything Zuko had told us the night before. I hadn’t yet gotten used to the idea that the woman who now looked after him, who held him close and kissed his forehead, was actually his father, Ozai, transformed by a witch. This all felt like something out of a fantasy story, but this was Zuko’s reality now.
We sat in the council room. The others seemed uneasy as well, especially Sokka, who kept glancing sideways at Zuko. Katara stood beside me, arms crossed, and Toph, as always, seemed more nonchalant, though I knew she wasn’t missing a single detail.
Zuko was in his usual seat as Fire Lord, ready to meet with his advisors, but there was something different about the atmosphere. Behind him, the woman who now claimed to be his mother—Ozai, transformed into a completely different version—sat silently. She was combing Zuko’s hair with a tenderness that I found difficult to process. It was such a surreal image that I had to blink several times to make sure what I was seeing was real.
Zuko, for his part, seemed incredibly calm, almost relaxed, as the woman carefully ran her fingers through his hair, gently arranging it. He could sense how uncomfortable the rest of us were, but Zuko didn’t seem to notice, or he just didn’t care. The contrast between the authority of his position and the affection he received from the woman was so strange that he didn’t know how to react.
The advisors entered one by one, bowing to Zuko, and although they cast curious glances towards the woman behind him, no one said anything about it. They were probably used to it by now, which made it all the weirder. Is this normal for everyone here now?
The council began, and Zuko was discussing with his advisors matters of state, issues with the Earth Kingdom, and rebuilding certain villages. It was hard to focus on the words, not when that image was right in front of me. The woman—Ozai—was still combing his hair, stroking his hair with motherly care, in a way I would never have associated with the former Fire Lord. It was as if everything he once stood for had been erased.
In the end, my curiosity got the better of my silence, though I tried to do it as gently as possible.
“Zuko…” I began, lowering my voice, “is she always with you at these meetings?”
Zuko looked up at me, his expression neutral, but with a slight smile that was barely noticeable.
“Yes, Aang,” he replied calmly. “She’s always with me now.”
I nodded slowly, though I still wasn’t sure what to say or think. This new dynamic between Zuko and his “mother” was disconcerting to me, but if he had accepted it, who was I to question it?
I couldn’t help but notice how the woman placed a soft kiss on his forehead after finishing combing his hair, whispering something I couldn’t hear. Zuko closed his eyes for a moment, as if the gesture calmed him.
My mind was still filled with questions. What did this really mean to Zuko? Could he really accept this version of his father as his mother? All I could do was trust that Zuko had found some kind of peace in all of this, even if it was impossible for me to understand.
The advice continued, and even as the words passed through the room, my mind was still on that scene: Zuko, the Fire Lord, being lovingly groomed and combed by someone who was once the most feared man in the entire world.
Life could be really strange.
Chapter 7: The Patience of a Mother.
Chapter Text
I sat behind my little boy, my Zuko, as I carefully stroked his hair, combining it with the same care a loving mother would give her child. I knew how much it relaxed him, and that made me happy. But truth be told, these meetings with the councilors always seemed a bit boring to me. All this politics and rebuilding stuff seemed unnecessary when the only thing important to me was my boy. He is everything, and I will never leave him alone.
I looked at Zuko's friends who were sitting nearby. I could see their strange looks, ones I had already learned to ignore. I didn't understand why they were looking at me like that. Didn't they understand how natural it was for a mother to take care of her child? It was my duty to be by his side, making sure he was okay, and that he always knew how much I loved him. I love you with the strength of a thousand Sozin kites, she had whispered more than once, and I felt it with all my being.
But they… his friends, especially that boy, Aang, seemed to distrust me. I could feel their discomfort in the air, as if they didn't know how to react to my presence. They looked at me as if they expected something to go wrong, as if I wasn't the mother my Zuko needed.
Why are they looking at me like that? I didn't understand. I had left behind everything I once was, everything that wasn't good for my son. It didn't matter anymore. The woman I am now is different, a mother who loves her son with all her heart. Why was it so hard for them to understand him?
From time to time, I felt the weight of Aang´s gaze, that boy who called himself the Avatar. Something about him bothered me deeply. I couldn't explain why, but his presence near Zuko always made me uncomfortable. There was something about the way he acted, the way he spoke and looked, that I didn't like. His power, his closeness to my little one… no, I didn't trust him. I would never do it.
As for the others, that blind girl and the boy who seemed to always joke around, they didn't seem to get it either. The water girl, Katara, was the only one who looked at me with a little more understanding, though still wary. But then again, none of them knew my Zuko like I did. No one knew him like I did.
I leaned towards him, finishing fixing his hair, and placed a kiss on his forehead, such a natural gesture for me now. My precious boy. I watched him close his eyes for a moment, feeling the comfort my touch brought him. His peace was all that mattered.
The counselors continued talking, but nothing they said interested me at all. All I wanted was to be here, with him, making sure he was okay. This is all because of you, Zuko. The politics, the battles, the Fire Nation, none of it mattered as much as his well-being.
I didn't care what those friends thought of me. As long as my Zuko was happy and knew I loved him, nothing else mattered.
Chapter 8: Distrust.
Chapter Text
We were all sitting on the terrace, enjoying the tea that my mother —Ozai— had prepared. It was a quiet afternoon, although the atmosphere was still somewhat tense. I knew my friends were still trying to come to terms with what had happened, but at least they were trying to relax.
Aang, of course, always tried to keep things light. He was sitting next to me, drinking tea and chatting between sips. Everything seemed fine… until my mother approached him.
I saw her coming, with that fixed, serious look she usually had when she didn't like something. I tensed up a little, because I couldn't predict what she was going to say. Aang doesn't know what's coming to him, I thought, and sure enough, as soon as he reached her side, my mother stood in front of him with a pout on her face.
“I don't like you,” she blurted out, looking directly at him.
Aang blinked in surprise, as if he didn't understand what had just happened. The others also stood still, clearly bewildered. I sighed internally, knowing this was going to make things complicated.
“What?” Aang replied, still smiling, trying to make light of the situation. But she didn’t back down.
“Something tells me,” he repeated, frowning. “I don’t like you.”
The air thickened in an instant. Sokka, who was about to make some comment, stopped mid-word, while Katara looked at Aang with concern. Toph, on the other hand, seemed to find it all rather amusing.
“And don’t talk with your mouth full, kid,” my mother added, her voice taking on an almost stern tone. “It stains everything, and not even Zuzu has tried hard enough to make everything better for you to stain it.”
I watched as Aang choked a little, quickly swallowing his mouthful before answering. The awkwardness in the air was palpable, and his smile was no longer as easy.
“I’m sorry, Mrs. Ozai,” he said carefully, clearly not knowing how to address her. “I didn’t mean to…”
“Mom,” I corrected her gently, not knowing how to avoid the shock.
“It doesn’t matter,” she interrupted, waving a hand as if it wasn’t worth it. “Just watch where you talk and how you eat. Zuzu has worked really hard to make this all better, and I don’t want you to ruin it.”
Silence fell over the table again. My mother, satisfied with what she had said, simply turned to return to her seat, leaving Aang staring at his teacup with a mix of confusion and discomfort.
“Well… that was… weird,” Sokka muttered, finally breaking the silence with his usual joking tone, though this time he sounded a little less confident.
Aang simply laughed softly, as he always did to smooth out tensions, but I couldn’t help but feel bad for him. I knew my mother didn’t mean it maliciously, but the transition had been difficult for everyone, and sometimes, even for me, it was hard to reconcile the person Ozai used to be with who he was now.
“I’m sorry, Aang,” I said, leaning toward him. “She’s… a little overprotective of me.”
Aang smiled at me, his gaze filled with patience and understanding.
“Don’t worry, Zuko,” he said, shrugging. “I’m sure she just needs time. We all do.”
I nodded, even though I knew it wouldn’t be easy. But as long as we were all together, we could get through even the strangest of situations.
Chapter 9: Ghosts of the Past.
Chapter Text
The dream began as it always did. The sky was breaking into fire and wind, the roars of the dragon Sozin echoing in my ears as the Avatar challenged me. I could feel the heat of the fire he spewed, the power flowing through my veins. He was invincible, the Fire Lord who would bring glory to my nation. Or at least, I thought so.
But then he came.
The boy.
The last Avatar.
Aang.
His face always appeared blurry in my dreams, as if even my subconscious didn't want to remember it. But the feeling was unmistakable: that air around him, that dangerous calm that hid a power even I couldn't defeat. My flames, my fury, everything crumbled before him.
It was my worst defeat.
In the dream, I felt the cold of ice enveloping me as the fire died out. My strength faded, my power dissipated, and Aang stood there, untouched. Smiling. The same boy Zuko called his friend.
I woke with a start, chest heaving, cold sweat pouring down my skin. I sat up in bed, and for a moment I forgot where I was. What had happened to me? Why had everything changed so drastically?
And then I remembered: I was no longer the Fire Lord, nor the man feared by everyone. I was now… different. A woman. A mother. Zuko had asked me to, and I had done it for him. For my little Zuzu.
Anything for Zuko.
I stood up and walked to the window, feeling the night breeze on my skin. My reflection in the glass stared back at me: a young woman, with a serenity to her features that I had never had before. It seemed impossible that this body had belonged to the same man who once tried to conquer the world. But that was all over. Now, all that mattered was Zuko.
But that Avatar…
Aang. Even in this new form, I felt a deep discomfort every time I saw him. His presence was a reminder of my defeat, of everything I had lost. I didn’t like him. I didn’t trust him. Something inside me told me I should keep him at bay, keep him away from Zuko.
But I would do it for my son. I would endure his presence, that smile so calm and carefree. Because if Zuko wanted him in his life, then I would accept him. Though I would never say it out loud, though I didn’t like him, I would do anything for Zuko.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I remembered how, during the day, I had combed his hair, how he had looked at me with gratitude. The love I felt for him now was different, purer. I would protect him from everything and everyone, even his own friends, if necessary.
Even the Avatar.
I went back to bed, my mind still filled with those dark memories of my defeat, but I forced myself to let them go. It was a new day. A new life. And Zuko needed me like this. I was his mother now, and I would do anything for him. Even endure the presence of that child who had taken so much from me.
"Anything for you, my little one."
Sacred28 on Chapter 9 Mon 11 Nov 2024 08:10PM UTC
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