A/N: I would like to thank ArrayePL, Rohain Tahquil, Gongsun Du and doctor anthony for their reviews.I hope that you guys along with the other readers enjoy this chapter.


Chapter 6 – She's Not Here

The sky was cloudless, turquoise blue, everywhere he looked he could see green plains that stretched on endlessly. He could hear the birds chirping, singing a tune that simple but harmonious, songs that were in sync with the nature that surrounded them. He bent down and picked a flower from the grass, and took a sniff.

This is beautiful he thought to himself, and indeed it was.

Everything was so peaceful, so serene. This was why he fought the Firelord, he reminded himself, this was why he risked everything not just for the people he loved but also so that the world will have places like this. Places were nature could hold sway over the environment, places where the earth could speak to those who would take the time to listen.

This is an awesome place to meditate he thought to himself.

He twirled around, wishing he had five or six eyes to catch everything at once.

It was then did he notice something strange.

Atop a hill, was a cherry blossom tree was not too far away from him.

Hey, he thought to himself. That wasn't there before.

It was then did he notice the person standing beneath the cherry blossom tree. The person's back was turned to him, but looking at the slender posture, he already knew who it was.

"Katara!" he yelled, running after her. "Katara, It's me"

He began running towards, joy and elation surged through him, even though she had not turned around. He ran up to her using airbending to quicken his speed. He reached the tree and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Katara" he cried, joyfully. "It's-"

She turned around and he gasped in surprise. Katara was not standing in front of him, instead, a familiar pale face, with black hair and ghostly pale eyes was staring at him.

"Hey, Aang" she said, smiling. "Expecting someone else?"

"Where's Katara?" he said.

Toph smirked, as she replied. "She's not here, Aang"

"What are you talking about? Of course she was-"

"She's. Not. Here. Aang" said Toph, enunciating each word as if talking to a two-year-old. "She never was"

Aang frowned confused.

"Stop playing, Toph" he said. "I just saw her-"

"Did you?"

Aang stopped speaking, his mouth frozen wide open. "No" he said. "But I saw her just here where you're standing"

"Did you see her face?"

"No"

"She's not here, Aang" said Toph, reverting to her previous words "She never was"

"Stop saying that!" snapped Aang. "What are you talking about? She's always been there for me! She's been with me ever since I came out of the iceberg. She's been with me before you were!"

Toph blinked, apparently not offended by what Aang said.

"Yes, Aang, Katara was there when you came out of the iceberg" she said. "But where is she now?"

"I…" stuttered Aang, clearly confused. "She was here! I know she was!"

"She's not here, Aang" said Toph. "She's somewhere else"

"Will you stop saying that!" said Aang, his anger growing at her words. "What's that suppose to mean?"

"It means, what it means" said Toph, determined to remain ambiguous. "Katara is not here. She never in the place where you were. She's somewhere else, Aang. She always been somewhere else"

Aang lost it.

"Will you stop it!" yelled Aang. "You're driving me crazy! I want to talk to Katara! I want Katara!"

The smile on Toph's face vanished.

"Wrong answer" she said.

Her voice was deep, almost unnatural.

"Wrong answer, Avatar Aang"

Aang gasped as the sky suddenly turned crimson, as if someone had splattered blood across a canvas. Aang's eyes widened as he saw something streak across the skies.

"A comet!" gasped. "Sozin's comet returned? But how?"

He grabbed Toph's hand.

"Toph we need to stop it" he said. "We need to stop the comet from hitting the ground"

But Toph didn't move.

"Toph!" yelled Aang. "Didn't you hear what I said? We need to-"

It was too late the comet hit the ground with an almighty bang. Aang could only watch horror as a ring of fire emitted from the comet and began to spread, burning everything until it was crisp black.

"Toph" yelled Aang, tugging at her hand. "We need to go! We need to get out of here"

But Toph did not move. She stared at Aang as if she could see him, behind her, the ground exploded, destroying everything in it's path.

"Toph! What are you doing? We have to leave!"

"Go ahead, Aang" said Toph. "Go on without me"

"No! I'm not leaving you, we have to go"

But Toph did not move. The ring of fire approached her, inching ever closer.

"Toph, the fire is right behind you-" said Aang, desperately. "Please move"

"Katara is not here, Aang" said Toph.

The fire was inches behind her head.

"But I am"

The fire claimed her, and Toph suddenly disappeared in an array of ashes.

Aang woke with a start.

The avatar gasped, breathing hard, trying his best to recover his composure.

"What was that?" he murmured to himself. "What was going on? What was happening?"

Everything had been so beautiful and peaceful until that comet came and destroyed everything. Aang looked around and sighed, he was in a rather large room, made almost entirely out of wood. He knew that Toph would be sleeping in another room, or would she be asleep at all? Aang knew that Toph hated things that robbed of her senses. The airbender got to his feet and made his way towards the window. There wasn't a single cloud in the starry sky, the moon gleamed with mystic majesty as it stared down upon the quaint little island and it's sleeping inhabitants.

"Was that a message from the Spirit World?" he murmured. "What did it mean?"

The events flashed through his mind, he felt a slow build up off panic, as he remembered his surroundings burnt to crisp. Was the world in danger again? Did he overcome so much, only to have peace threatened? Aang took a deep breath to stay calm. There was no point standing there and thinking about it, he needed to do something. His first instinct was to consult Roku, but his heart was not into consulting the former Avatar at the moment. Instead, he stood there staring at the moon, something else was troubling his mind.

"What did Toph mean when she said she's not here?"

What could Toph do, that Katara couldn't?

Aang glanced longingly at the moon, remembering the spirit when she was a human, a gentle and benevolent.

"Yue, you need to tell us more about girls" he murmured.

The moon glimmered, as if laughing at what he said.

Little did the avatar know that he was not the only one looking to the moon for guidance.


The waves lolled dolefully against the ship as it pressed on towards it's destination. The sky was clear and the stars glimmered brightly against the dark blue sky. For Zuko, tonight reminded him of a night he had once spent with Katara. Sick of protocol, the two of them had sneaked out of a state dinner and ran off towards the beach, to relish their few minutes of freedom. The prince could remember that night as if it were yesterday, Katara had taken him ice surfing that night, it was probably the single most thrilling and exhilarating moment of his life. Even now, just the thought of skiing through the water, on a slippery chunk of ice with an arm wrapped around Katara's slim waist made him smile. It had been one of the few moments when he was able to forget about his problems. But now, standing before the full moon, Zuko felt the burden of the world on his shoulders.

The prince sighed as he looked down at the letter he had in his hand.

Dear Zuko,

It's good to hear from you after such a long time. I heard about what happened at North Chung-Ling and hope all is well. I know you are all right. Your last letter was long. I didn't ask for a detailed account of what was happening there. Stop worrying all the time. You'll do fine.

Love, Mai

The letter was short, simple and cordial. Zuko could easily imagine Mai's nimble fingers cross elegantly over the page as she formed the small, neat script. It was nevertheless, reassuring to know that he had another person to correspond with, apart from his uncle back at the Imperial City. But Zuko couldn't help but be disappointed with the letter. He had hoped for something much longer, especially after the one and half pages he had written for her. Without realizing it, his fingers gently caressed the contents in his breast pocket.

It had been almost a week since he had single handedly put down the riots in North Chung- Ling . Upon further investigation, Zuko and his men had discovered that the Governor had not only been selling resources in the black market but had been gambling with public finances, as a result, he did not have enough money or resources to complete the renovations at the requested deadline. It explained why the Governor had tried to avoid corresponding with him directly and why he attempted to foil the Prince with a fake report. Zuko also found out that the Governor was not alone in his corrupt practices. The Warden, who had a reputation to precede him, accompanied the Governor. Zuko was amidst the process of dealing with them when he received a report from his uncle. The report was brief but it was enough to send jitters of panic through him.

Rebel attacks in the north. Attack expected on Sozin. You are to take your regiment and reinforce the East and Twenty-Third regiments.

Zuko sighed, that could only mean that the rebels were growing increasingly confident in their attacks were especially worrying because it could have an adverse effect on the Peace Summit that would take place within a month. It was imperative that they find them and put an end to their destructive intentions before too much damage was done.

"Mind if I join you?" came a voice from behind him.

Zuko recognised the voice.

"Yes, I do"

Lee leaned against the railing of the ship and glanced sideways at his captain.

"Has their been any report from Qin?" said Zuko.

"He has made contact with the rest of the regiment and they will be there within a day" said Lee.

"When did you receive the message?" asked Zuko.

"Yesterday" said Lee.

"So he'll dock at Sozin on the same day that we will" concluded Zuko.

The Dragon Regiment consisted of over three thousand men, but Zuko had taken fifty of his men with him to North Chung Ling, so that he could move swiftly across from the mainland to the island where the city was located. Needless to say, it was a decision he nearly regretted because he was outnumbered two to one when the riots started.

"The men are about to have a drink" said Lee. "I was wondering if you would join us"

Zuko sighed.

"Actually, I'd rather be alone right now" he said.

Lee sighed, "Jeez, you're depressing" he said. "I guess your girl's behaviour is rubbing off on you"

Zuko frowned in annoyance.

"How are things going with the Lady Mai?" said Lee."Just wondering"

"They… could be better" said Zuko, uncertainly.

Lee nodded in understanding. "Travelling throughout the country has its disadvantages, huh?"

"More advantages, though" blurted Zuko, before he could stop himself.

Lee smirked. "What do you mean?" he said.

"Free from… being a prince, from royal protocol" replied Zuko.

He usually didn't talk like this, not with Lee, but tonight brought back memories and he felt lonelier than he usually did.

"Would royal protocol include dating the most depressing knife thrower in the world?" smirked Lee.

Zuko turned sharply to face him; it was times like these when Lee could be so annoying.

"Mai isn't depressing!" he said, defensively.

Lee rolled his eyes. "Right" he said, sarcastically. "Maybe she just acts that way when sees you"

Zuko growled in agitation.

"Just because she isn't as bubbly as other girls doesn't mean she's depressing!" snapped Zuko. "And she isn't like that with me, she's like that with everyone!"

He immediately recoiled in shame; he had let the words slip without realizing it, he was suppose to be defending Mai, not chastising her

"Wow" said Lee. "I can feel lurve written all over you two. Why do you date her?"

Zuko looked surprised and annoyed at the blunt question, it was another thing that annoyed him about Lee, his tendency to pry into his affairs. Zuko sighed and turned away.

"Mai cares about me" he said. "And not just because I'm a prince, it's because of who I am"

He meant those words; it was one of the reasons why he had decided to start dating Mai, after his relationship with Katara ended. Zuko knew that he wouldn't have to worry about Mai pestering and scheming her way to the Fire Lady's throne while he was focused on rebuilding the country. Lee chuckled and turned away.

"If she cares about you as she says she does," he said. "Why the lack of communication?"

"I move around a lot," said Zuko. "She knows that"

"But not fast enough to dodge a messenger hawk, surely" came Lee's smart reply. "What has she done to prove that she cares about you?"

Zuko growled angrily at those words.

"She braved a prison so that I, a traitor of the Fire Nation could escape!" he snapped.

Lee raised an eyebrow.

"So she got chucked into a prison where her uncle is in charge?" he said. "Yeah, that has undying love written all over"

Zuko turned to glare at Lee, opened his mouth to retort.

"Why are so curious about my relationship with Mai?" said Zuko."It's none of your business"

"Just curious" said Lee. "Cause there are rumours going around that you're going to marry her"

For a moment, Zuko's heart stopped in hid tracks. He turned around to look at Lee who had a dead serious expression on his face. Zuko instantly knew that he was being serious.

"What?" he yelped, turning around to look at Lee.

"Yep, don't know who started the rumours or how it spread, but word has it that Mai of the House of Yang Chin is the front runner to be the first Fire Lady in almost decade"

"Frontrunner?" said Zuko, with a disgruntled expression his face. "They make it sound like it some sort of race"

"What did you expect? You're the Crown Prince" said Lee, bracingly. "Jeez man, I thought you were smart"

Zuko scowled at Lee.

"So are you marrying her?"

"No!" said Zuko, at once. "I mean there's so much to be done before I could even think of settling down"

Zuko looked up at his friend, suddenly suspicious.

"Why are you so curious to know?"

Lee didn't respond.

"Lee" said Zuko, warningly. "I have the right to know why you've been pestering me about my love life!"

Lee sighed; he had the air of someone who was clearly reluctant to do what he was about to do.

"Zuko you're my superior and I respect you, I really do, but you've got a crappy taste in women"

Zuko held back the urge to punch Lee off the ship, it was mark of how well he had learnt to control his temper that he did not act on his impulse.

"Mai is not crappy!" he said.

Lee sighed. "If you say so" he said. "But truth be told, I always thought you would go for someone with a bit more spunk"

Zuko looked bewildered. "Spunk?"

"Spunk" repeated Lee. "Someone who knows how to smile"

Zuko decided to ignore that last comment as he struggled to suppress memories of a girl who could conquer him with her own smile.

"Look, prince" said Lee. "Lady Mai makes the perfect Fire Lady, refined, poised, no interest in politics"

Zuko scowled, didn't Lee just say that he had a crappy taste in women?

"The question you have to ask yourself is" said Lee. "Is whether she makes the perfect girlfriend"

"There's no such thing as perfect" said Zuko. "We all have good and bad in all of us"

"My bad" amended Lee. "The question you have to ask yourself whether she is your perfect match"

Zuko scowled, he refused to take relationship advice from a man who joked about going to concubine palaces. Lee must have read his thoughts, for he merely sighed and changed the subject.

"Well, I'm off to have a drink" he said. "Joining me?"

"Later" said Zuko, not sorry to see the back of Lee.

There has to be more to these rumours thought Zuko, as he watched Lee disappear below deck. Otherwise Lee would not do something so bold as to actually interrogate him about his love life. But whether he liked it or not, Lee had highlighted some important points. Was he trying to overrate his relationship with Mai? All because of what she had done for him at the Boiling Rock? Zuko's head began to ache. He rubbed his temple, wishing that he had a cup of tea in his hand.


A/N: Please review, thanks very much.