Disclaimer: don't own Captain Planet
A/n: There is little mention of Ma-Ti's family and my explanation as to why is they died when he was young so no flames to say this isn't what happened I haven't seen every episode nor do I claim to be an expert on Captain Planet
His Grief
The day was a quiet one on Hope Island. The planeteers were playing and having fun outside. Except Ma-Ti, who was in the Crystal chamber with Gaia.
Gaia could tell something was bothering the youngest planeteer, but not what and that concerned her greatly.
"Ma-Tis, is something wrong?" she asked
"Nothing" Ma-Ti replied
"Why don't I believe that?" Gaia approached the young boy, who sniffled and wiped his eyes trying to hide his tears from Gaia but it was a vain effort she knew him too well.
"Why?" he asked
"Why what, Ma-Ti?" she asked in genuine confusion
"Why was it my parents that had to die?" the twelve year old boy demanded, the force behind his young voice caught Gaia off guard.
"I don't know why, Ma-Ti" Gaia hugged the young boy in her arms. He pushed her away the first time, but then gave in and began to sob against her shoulder.
Gaia sighed inwardly, she hated seeing any of her children in pain, physical or emotional and Ma=Ti seemed to have a special place in her heart
Ma-Ti's sobs eased and Gaia realized he had dozed off.
"Ma-Ti, you have been like my son, my baby boy, the one that needed so much love" Gaia whispered "you faced so much sorrow yet you face the world with such courage."
Gaia lifted the preteen with surprising ease and placed him in her bed.
"Gaia wheres..." Wheeler said slightly louder than she would have liked.
Gaia placed a finger to her lips to quiet the American teen and then pointed towards Ma=Ti who disturbed and rolled over but didn't wake.
"What's wrong with him?" Wheeler asked quieter than before
"This is the anniversary of a traumatic incident for him, something I'm not sure he has figured out how to deal with
"Aw man, he must have... what was it?"
"The... maybe you should wait until he can tell you" Gaia sighed "It's best that way, this isn't my story to tell"
"Okay" Wheeler said and left the room
Gaia looked at Ma-Ti, somehow he had slept through Wheeler's appearance and she figured it might have been better that way.
She sighed and smiled as she looked over the young boy's features. He was her baby and nothing would change that. She would be there should he need to cry out his grief on her shoulder.
The end