Sorry for the wait! sports, summer work...all that stuff. um...yeah. last chap, Niani went missing. just a recap. enjoy!
FOUR MONTHS LATER
We sat by the pond as we've been doing for a few of months now. I bended out a ball of water and held it in front of Zaida. She stared at it. She reached out her hands touching the water. Her hand went straight through. She had a disappointed expression. She took her hand out. I froze the ball and gave it to her. She laughed when she touched it. She was still getting used to the fact that water could do so many things. But as she got more familiar with it, she'd have fun, she is only eight months.
"Try unfreezing it, Zaida." She looked at me confused. She's still too young to know what to do, but it's always better to start young so you become greater the older you get. "Look at the ball, Zaida. And wave your hand over it." She looked at the ball as it sat in her lap. She put her hand on the frozen ball and it melted. She looked at me and laughed. I smiled. "That's my little water bender." I whispered. I bended the water out of her lap and formed it into a panda lily. They were rare. I've seen them once. But I remember them as if it were just yesterday that I got back from the tiny village of the fortune teller. I handed Zaida the flower and she smiled.
"Hey, Sugar Queen." I turned around and smiled at Toph and Ursa. Toph's baby bump was getting bigger and she seemed to be getting happier.
I smiled at her. "Hey. What's up?"
"Just coming to check on everyone." Toph responded.
Ursa smiled at me. "How's the water bending going?" She asked.
"Fine. Zaida's still getting use to it." They sat next to me.
"Awesome." Toph said.
"How's the baby?" I smiled.
She rubbed her belly. "It's exhausting me. I can't take this. How'd you get through it?"
I laughed. "You'll get used to it." We stayed silent for a while as I watched Zaida play in the puddle of water.
Ursa looked at me and put a hand on my shoulder. "So…any news about Niani?" She asked.
I frowned. Niani has been missing for a little over four months now. Ever since she ran off. "No, not a single thing. I've been so worried. The guards looked all over the palace and everywhere that she might be. There's nothing." I heard something and turned around, just in time to see a flash of pink running away. "I'll be back. Watch Zaida."
"Um…hello! I'm blind for the last time! You would think after all these years you've known me you'd know that by heart!" I ignored her.
"Toph, I'll watch her." I heard Ursa say.
I stood up and ran after Ty Lee. I caught her turning the corner just in time. "Ty Lee!"
She stopped. She turned around and smiled at me. "Hey, Katara. How are the kids?"
"Save it. You know something."
"Uh…what do you mean? I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Ty Lee, I'm serious. This is my daughter we're talking about. You know where she is."
"Ok fine, I know where she is."
"Where is she?"
I found Zuko in his office. He looked at me and stood up. "Katara, what's wrong?"
"I know where Niani is."
We ran out of the palace, ignoring the guards that we passed. After a few minutes, we stopped and knocked on the door. A woman opened the door. Her black hair was out of its usual buns, hanging over her shoulder and cold eyes staring at me in shock. She wrapped her robe around her tightly. "What are you two doing here?"
"Hello to you too, Mai."
She sighed and bowed. "Fire Lady, Fire Lord. How may I be of assistance?" She said as she straightened.
"Where's Niani?"
"I don't know what you're talking about."
She tried to close the door, but I stopped her. "Mai, I'm not here to play games. I want my daughter now!"
She glared at me and leaned against the door frame. "What do you care? Do you even know how she feels? Oh wait, you do. I remember the day you ran off. Or days I should say. Even though you've experienced the same thing, you still don't understand her."
"What do you know?" I said, rage burning inside of me.
"I know enough that you don't deserve her as a daughter. I've been taking care of her for four months now and I'm doing a better job than you ever did."
"I'm getting really tired of you right now, and I want my daughter back, now! I really don't want to hurt you."
"Like you'll hurt me."
"You don't know what I'm capable of doing."
"Katara." Zuko's hands rested on my waist as he pulled me back a little. I took a deep breath. He pulled me back behind him. "Mai, I don't want to argue with you. Niani needs to come back."
Mai looked away. "If I couldn't come back, then Niani shouldn't have to."
I thought about what she just said, and understood. She wanted Zuko for herself and he didn't accept her. She couldn't come back. And because of that she won't let Niani come back. "Mai, I'm not playing."
"Are you sure about that? You seem to enjoy playing. Like you did with my heart. I was only a tease."
"No, that's not true."
"Look me in the eye and tell me that, Zuko." Zuko looked away. "That's what I thought. This isn't the Boiling Rock. I'm not going to help you no matter what. I'm done playing around. Goodbye." She slammed the door in his face.
"I guess that's it. Mai won't give up."
"How could you say that, Zuko? Niani's our daughter. I don't care what you say, but I'm not giving up either." I walked up to the door and pounded on it.
Mai opened the door. "What do you want?"
"At least let me talk to her. Please." She glared at me, but stepped aside. I walked in with Zuko right behind me.
Niani was sitting on the couch reading a book. She looked up at me. "What are you doing here?"
"I only came to check on you."
She turned back to her book. "How'd you find me?"
"Ty Lee told me."
Niani scoffed. "She can never keep secrets." She muttered.
"That's not important, Niani. What's important is that your father and I want you back home."
"Why? You don't care for me."
"That's not true, Niani. We both love you. We all love you and we want you back home."
"Why do you need me?"
I heard the struggle in her voice. I pressed my lips together. I needed her because she's my daughter, but that wouldn't be enough reason for her. I needed to let her know she's respected. "I need someone to teach Zaida water bending."
The corner of her mouth twisted up. "I can teach her?"
"If you want. But you have to understand that we do care for you and we're not taking advantage of you in anyway."
She looked at me. Her eyes watering. "Mom." She got up and ran to me.
I wrapped my arms around her. "I miss you, Niani. Go on home, I'll meet you there." She let go of me and walked out with Zuko. I walked up to Mai. She didn't meet my gaze. Her face was full of disappointment and something else…sadness? "Thank you for taking care of her."
She looked at me with a shocked expression. "You're thanking me?"
"Yes. I already know that you're not very…fond of me and because you took care of her I must thank you. And I'm giving you a choice if you would like to visit her." She continued to stare at me, face still expressionless. But there was something in her eyes. Mai truly cared for Niani, and I did respect that. Thinking she wouldn't speak, I turned to leave. "I'd like that." I stopped and looked at her. Then I smiled and walked back to the palace.
As soon as we got back, Niani went out to the garden where Zaida was playing in the water and Ursa was sitting next to her. Niani ran over to her little sister and picked her up. Zaida laughed and hugged Niani. I walked closer and saw tears falling down Niani's face. "I miss you, Zaida." Niani put Zaida down and hugged Ursa.
"I'm so glad you're safe." Ursa said.
Niani let go of her and looked at me. "Where did dad go? I have some…questions for him."
I raised an eyebrow. "What's this about?"
"Nothing, nothing. I just have some questions."
"He's probably in his office." Before I could say anything else she took off running. "Niani!" I ran after her. I found her opening the door to Zuko's office. I ran in and closed the door behind me. Zuko looked up from his work. "Niani, what is this about?"
She ignored me. "Dad?"
He raised an eyebrow. "Yes?"
She walked over to him. "Um…quick awkward question. Was there something between…you and Aunt Mai?"
Since when did Niani call Mai aunt? That's not important right now, Katara. Focus!
"What are you talking about?" Zuko asked.
"Well, once while Aunt Mai wasn't home I…went on an adventure, let's put it…ok, fine, I was snooping around and found a painting of you and her."
Zuko's face went blank and I'm pretty sure mine did too. Niani's going to find out. "Um…Niani, I think you should…go help Zaida."
She ignored me again. "Dad?"
Zuko took a deep breath. "That's not important right now." He started going back to his work, but Niani grabbed his hand.
"Dad, what went on with you two? Why does she have a picture of you two together?"
"Niani, personal question." I said. She always listened to me when I'd say that. Her birth mother used to do that because of her curiosity. I caught along to it.
She let go of his hand and looked at me. "You know, don't you?"
I looked down. "I wish I didn't." I whispered. I looked up at Zuko. "You might as well tell her." I said.
Niani looked at Zuko. "Mai and I were once…together. For a while too."
Hurt filled Niani's eyes. "But…but the stories you and mom told me about…there wasn't always you and mom?"
"Mai was first. She was always first. And…I wasn't supposed to be with your mother. We never would've been together, but things ended up…changing."
Niani fell to her knees. "So all of those stories about you two being together and happy that whole time…was a lie."
"It wasn't a complete lie."
"It was close enough! Why would you tell me all of those when there was another woman in your life? And I spent four months with her. She treated me like I was her own! I was wondering what she meant when she said that she couldn't come back. You wouldn't have her."
"Niani, why are you acting this way?" I asked.
"Because I feel close to Mai. She understood me. I…I'm sorry I'm blowing up like this. I need some time to soak this in." She stood up and walked out.
"I shouldn't have told her that." Zuko said, frustrated.
I walked toward his desk. "After what she's been through she deserved to know." I said.
"No, she didn't. I need to talk to her." He got up and tried walking pass me, but I stopped him.
"No, you need to get back to your work. I'll talk to her." He nodded and I walked out. I walked to her room to find her sitting on her bed. "Sweetie, are you ok?"
She sniffed. "Yeah, just fine." She looked at me. "Why didn't you ever tell me?"
I sat beside her. "We didn't think you'd need to know. Mai and your father were really close together. It's just…we were all different back in the past. We did some things we weren't exactly proud of. But some things were worth it."
"Like what? Can you tell me?"
I sighed. "Remember a few years ago when we went to Ember Island and you asked about your father's scar on his chest?" She nodded. "He got that scar because of me."
She looked confused. "I don't understand. What…what happened?"
"Your Aunt Azula is what happened?"
"Telling stories about me?" I looked up to see Azula standing in the doorway.
I smiled. "Filling her in on our dreadful past. She found out the story between Zuko and Mai."
Azula's expression fell. "Is that so? Do you understand, Niani?" Niani shook her head. "Hm. Well, I'll leave so your mother can finish telling the story. Too many depressing memories." She walked out.
"So, what happened with Aunt Azula?"
"She was crazy for power. She…wasn't a good person. It was the day of Sozin's Comet…"
*Flashback*
"No lightning today? What's the matter, afraid I'll redirect it?"
"Oh, I'll show you lightning!"
Azula charged her lightning by bringing her arms across her. Lightning started to form. I ran out to the courtyard. Azula was about to strike at Zuko, but she saw me. She aimed the lightning at me. My heart began racing. Zuko began running. He ran between me and the lightning. The only thing I could her was his yell and the strike of the lightning. Everything seemed to have frozen in place. He fell to the ground.
*Flashback over*
I closed my eyes, resisting the urge to break down in tears. "Mom? You ok?"
I opened my eyes and looked at her. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just…really painful trying to remember that."
"So, what does it have to do with Mai?"
"She didn't like the fact how close your father and I were getting. They got into a big fight and…that was that. There's nothing really to it."
"But didn't dad betray the Fire Nation at first? It also sounds like he betrayed her. So why would Mai take him back?"
"I have no idea. That's a question you'll have to ask your father. I know nothing about that."
"Thank you, mom."
I smiled. "Come here, baby." She leaned into my arms and I hugged her tight. "I'm letting you know now, your father and I have many secrets. And just because we love you so much, that doesn't mean we have to tell you everything. Understand?" She nodded. I kissed her forehead. "Good. Now go help Zaida with her water bending while I talk to your father." She nodded again.
We stood up and walked out of her room. We walked together for a while before separating. I walked into Zuko's office. He was still doing his work. "Hey." He looked up then looked back at his work. I dropped my expression. "I talked to Niani some more and she understands now. Pretty much everything."
"Good." He said.
I sighed. "You're becoming cooped up with your work. Can you take a break?"
He shook his head. "Too much that needs to be done. The talk with Niani is taking me off schedule. I have a meeting in about an hour. I need to get what I can done. More work has been piling up ever since I became Fire Lord and because of my laziness there's a lot more. Months, maybe even years, worth of work."
"You're not doing all of that."
"I have to. Everything's out of order and I need to do everything and get a lot out of the way before that meeting."
I sat down. "What's the meeting about?"
"Helping the Fire Nation more. The war still has a lot of effect on all three nations…maybe even four."
I frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Toph and Aang are expecting an air bender."
I smiled. "That's great. The Air Nomad's civilization can start up again."
"Exactly…but what about Appa and Momo, aren't they still the last of their kind?" He still hadn't looked up.
"Yeah, but…maybe there's one more of each out there somewhere. The Fire Nation couldn't have killed all of them off. They must be on some island they can hide on, just like Ursa." He stopped writing and I could swear he smiled before going back to his work. "Fine, you can do all of your work, but you aren't going to that meeting." I stood up.
"Katara, I have to. I've missed so many already."
"One more doesn't hurt."
"Yes it does."
I sighed. "You're not going, I am."
"You won't like it."
"I'll bring Aang with me. He should be here by now. He left to help someone not too far. You need to get your work done, like you said. I'll be fine."
He looked up at me. "Are you sure?"
I walked over to him and kissed his cheek. "Positive." I walked toward the door, but stopped midway. "Can I sit on your throne?"
"No, Katara."
I shrugged. "I'm sitting in it anyway." I walked the rest of the way.
"Katara!" I smiled and opened the door and I walked out.
A/N: Yay! Niani's back and she found out a past secret abotu Zuko and Mai. Does she truly accept it, or is she keeping her true feelings bottled up? only time will tell. and Katara taking over a war meeting O.O will she take charge or freeze under pressure? Review!
