I'm sorry it has to end this way, brother.
[screaming]
[laughing]
Picking up right where the search left off,
Zuko, along with Ursa, Ikem and Kiyi,
were making their grand return to the Fire Nation.
Escorted by the Kyoshi Warriors.
But back home, a conspiracy was taking shape.
One night, Ukano was woken by Kemurikage,
dark spirits fabled as kidnappers of children.
These spirits delivered a warning to Ukano:
Depose the Fire Lord
or no Fire Nation family will be safe.
Ukono rallied his followers of the new Ozai Society.
Since Ozai's imprisonment,
they've secretly and patiently plotted
to overthrow Zuko.
Now, Ukano decided to accelerate their plans.
[screaming]
[clamoring]
Take them out.
[clamoring]
[fighting]
[gasping]
[screaming]
It's Mai.
In the midst of battle,
Ukano confronted Mai, his daughter.
He tried justifying his actions to her,
claiming Zuko was too weak to be Fire Lord
and must be removed.
Mai thought he was insane.
But despite his beliefs... she let her father escape.
When Ukano's men fled, Zuko and his family returned
to the palace safely.
Kiyi and Ikem couldn't have ben more excited for their new hom.
But Ursa was terrified.
A cold shiver came down Ursa's spine.
She realized her family was being hunted
by people loyal to him, the monster that banished her.
[laughing]
No! No, please!
Over a month had passed and all was quiet.
[screaming]
There had been several reports of the Kemurikage
snatching unsuspecting childre, including Mai's brother Tom-To.
If they were going against spirits,
they'd need the Avatar's help.
Whoa!
Back in Ba Sing Se,
Aang received Zuko's call for aid.
Katara and Sokka were already headed
for the South Pole to see their father.
For now, the team needed to split up.
[Aang] I'm sorry, Katara.
[Katara] It's okay. I'm really proud of you.
Aang swiftly returned to the Fire Nation,
where he reunited with Zuko, Mai,
and met her new boyfriend, Caleb.
Mai told Aang about the Kemurikage.
They were supposed to be just an old wives' tale,
but they were very real and very dangerous.
The Fire Sages' Temple seemed to be the best place
to learn more about these mysterious spirits.
Down in the catacombs, they traced the Kemurikage
all the way back to the very first Fire Lord.
According to the legend,
the Kemurikage were spirits of mothers,
whose children were abducted by ancient warlords.
They haunted the warlords by taking their families away,
one child at a time.
But they have been dormant for hundreds of years
and eventually just became a ghost story.
Deep in the temple,
one of the original Kemurikage appeared,
and she revealed the startling truth.
They hadn't set foot in the human world
since the reign of the first Fire Lord.
But that was centuries ago, meaning
they couldn't have taken Tom-Tom.
If the spirits aren't taking the kids, then who is?
Whoever they were, they were back,
and they got Kiyi.
Get away from us!
Azula.
[groaning]
[screaming]
No!
I'm sorry.
All of the kidnapped children were taken
to an underground bunker,
and Kiyi was their latest edition.
Unmasked, these Kemurikage were just Azula
and her friends from the asylu.
Azula broke them out and plotted
the entire conspiracy with Ukano.
Ukano helped Azula organize the kidnappings,
thus bringing fear and panic to Fire Nation citizens.
His efforts to overthrow Zuko, came at a cost.
He had done everything Azula asked and demanded
the children be released.
But Azula wasn't as eager to release the kids
as Ukano was.
Knowing they would lead Zuko straight to her.
She trapped them and Ukano in the bunker,
with no way to escape.
I gotta pee.
But luckily, Kiyi had one little trick up her sleeve.
Wow.
[children talking, laughing]
Meanwhile, Team Avatar was still trying
to find the missing children.
Their search led them to a mysterious cemetery
outside of the capital.
[grunting]
It's great to see you Mai.
[fighting]
Do you really want to fight me?
Back off Azula!
[laughing] You're hilarious.
Get back here!
Hey!
Suddenly Aang heard cries for help
inside one of the crips.
It was Ukano and the kids.
[Aang groaning]
- Thanks. - Yeah.
[laughing]
Back on the surface, Zuko followed Azula
into one of the crips.
I was wondering when you'd show up, Zuzu.
This wasn't the same Azula from the last time they fought.
She was cool, calm, collected,
ready to take on her brother once more.
You want to show, I'll give you a show.
[screaming]
But this time Azula wasn't trying
to become Fire Lord.
She wanted Zuko to become her type of Fire Lord,
one who ruled with fear.
Azula wanted to awaken the tyrant living inside Zuko.
Then, in a sense,
she would become Fire Lord again.
Good bye, Zuko.
Before Zuko could stop her, she escaped without a trace.
[laughing]
The following day, Ukano was arrested
for his conspiracy with Azula.
Zuko addressed the citizens
of the Fire Nation. With Aang at his side,
he admitted his response against the Kemurikage
was disappointing,
and he resolved to do better as Fire Lord.
For now, there was an uneasy peace
in the Fire Nation.
Back at the palace, Iroh helped Ursa gain
the courage to face her fears and confront Ozai.
Upon seeing him in his cell, Ursa realized
she had nothing to fear anymor.
She was the prisoner during their marriage.
Now, it was his turn.
That wraps up Smoke and Shadow.
Which comic should we recap next?
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