Chapter 51

It had been a tense week. After the Lotus meeting five days earlier, they had sent Lieutenant Jee's man back to him with orders to spread rumors of the coming coup. The warriors from Katara's tribe began to meet in the upper ring to join the remaining gaang to train. They would allow three weeks for the swift footed messenger to rendezvous with the Lieutenant and another three for the information to touch the ears of as many soldiers as possible. In just another week, they would begin their long trek to Omashu.

Katara, of course, had refused to be left behind in the walled city with the other Water Tribe women to protect Kya. It had in fact been Azula who had suggested an alternative. Partially out of curiosity and partially because she wanted to see what had so changed Sokka's opinion of the firebender, she had gone to speak with her. Zuko had been furious at first when she told him later what she had done, but her reminder of who exactly it was that had defeated Azula last time had quickly silenced him. Aside from the strangely unthreatening demeanor, Azula had shocked her when she mentioned how glad she was that Zuko was so happy. Katara had thought she would have been more bitter or angry but she appeared genuinely pleased.

When she had asked after the plans to invade the Fire Nation, Katara had huffed. Azula had laughed when she told her that both Zuko and Sokka thought she should stay behind with Kya. Apparently the princess also thought it a ridiculous waste of talent and valuable manpower.

"You were able to defeat me, granted I wasn't at my best but still. Why my brother doesn't want you at his side when he fights our father is a mystery."

Stunned into silence at Azula's compliment, the firebender had taken the opportunity to impart her opinion.

"Obviously you should take Kya to Omashu. Our mother is there and the city is well protected. She would be safe there and no doubt mother would spoil her with affection." A relieved smile had overtaken her shock at the suggestion, but it was replaced by an annoyed frown when Azula next opened her mouth. "Why no one else has suggested it is beyond me. Then, I did always have a better mind for strategy then Zuko."

Katara had left the encounter feeling more confused about her sister in law than ever, but glad she had spoken to her. After some initial concern over why Azula would suggest it, Zuko unsure if he wanted to risk traveling with both his daughter and his sister, he relented. Not that Katara would have allowed herself to be left behind anyway. There was no way she was going to allow her husband to face this alone. She had also reminded Zuko of her promise to help him with his father. Remembering that conversation, he apologized for being so overprotective again.

So they trained. Everyday. Since they would be leaving soon, the men spent more days sparring and training together than laboring. Even Iroh closed his tea shop until after lunch to train as well. He wasn't sure what his role would be but he didn't want to be unprepared. He wasn't quite soft again from the year in his tea shop, but certainly not peak shape. Most often he sparred with Zuko and Katara. Preparing them as best as he could to face his brother. For her part, Katara knew she planned to use bloodbending against the tyrant and that was not something to practice in a spar.

Gathered together in the tea shop for lunch after a particularly intense day of sparring, Katara had a bad feeling niggling at the back of her mind. She couldn't understand where it had come from. Azula was under guard, the city walls had not been breached by anyone else that they knew and Kya was likely down for her nap with Sitka and Natuk's son. She had been more fussy than usual that morning. Her first tooth was coming in and even Katara's healing couldn't take away all of the pain. So they had left her with Sitka who had volunteered to take a break from the training to spend the day with the babies.

Sipping her tea, Katara noticed that her husband was frowning too.

"Zuko, what's wrong?"

He looked up at her, the confusion on his face making her nagging bad feeling grow to something more foreboding.

"I don't know. I just feel... like I'm missing something important. It's probably just because Kya isn't here. I always worry when I'm not with her."

Zuko seemed to try and dismiss his feelings after that, turning his attention back to his food, but Katara was suddenly sure something was wrong. Panic wound its way around her like a cold vice and her breathing hitched. She stood suddenly, her tea spilling across the table as every eye turned to her.

"Katara?" Zuko sounded alarmed at her sudden change in demeanor and when she fled the shop he rushed to follow.

"Something's wrong. I need to check on Kya."

Sokka and Toph had followed them as they ran toward the lower ring.

"How do you know? She's with Sitka, I'm sure they're fine."

Katara nearly growled at her brother as she ran.

"She's my daughter Sokka! I just know."

Zuko was frowning beside her as they made their way down the narrow streets of the lower ring. The short mile jaunt never felt so long, the streets never so crowded. Katara felt her panic swell with every step. When they finally reached the apartment, no one questioned her instincts.

Katara and Zuko only paused for a heartbeat before rushing past the broken door to find their daughter. Neither of them heard Toph's shout to wait. Dodging a falling chunk of ceiling, they frantically looked around the front room, signs that an earthbender and a waterbender had fought were evident. Katara locked eyes with Zuko, the consuming terror she felt was mirrored on his face.

Natuk, having followed them as well, knocked the door from its last hinge as he rushed in behind them. He called out for his wife as Katara and Zuko each checked one of the bedrooms, a crying infant drawing them to the back of the apartment.

"Sitka! Sitka where are you? Oh Tui and La what happened here?"

Katara found nothing in Sokka's room and ran to her husband when she heard his furious cry. He stood beside Natuk who knelt beside his motionless and bleeding wife, holding his terrified son in one arm and stroking her hair back from her face with the other.

"She's gone Katara!" All the color had drained from his face as he looked around the room, hands fisted in his hair. "They took Kya, where is she now? We have to…"

She picked her way around more rubble and wrapped her arms around Zuko, sobbing angry tears into his tunic as he clung to her just as tightly. Somehow Ozai had breached the high walls and stolen their daughter away. They had to find her before it was too late.

"She's still alive Natuk. Katara, I know you're freaking out but if you don't help Sitka right now she's going to die. Her heartbeat is really weak." Toph's voice was calm and carefully controlled as she pulled Katara's focus away from her own panic. She looked up at her husband's tear streaked face and saw fear, but hard resolve as well. He nodded at her and kissed her forehead before she stepped away to do what she could to heal her friend.

She took a calming breath and wiped her eyes. Pulling water from her hip flask, Katara worked to save her friend. So focused was she on her task, she hardly noticed Zuko brush past her and out of the room.

oOoOoOoOoOoOo

Zuko's face was thunderous as he pushed past Sokka. Whirling around on his heel, he followed his brother in law from his wrecked apartment and back into the street.

"Hey! Where are you going? Kya is missing, someone attacked Sitka, we need to figure out what happened. Hey, I'm talking to you Zuko!"

The fire bender stopped and rounded on Sokka.

"That's what I'm doing Sokka! Now either shut up and help me or go back inside and help your sister."

Not cowed in the face of Zuko's anger, Sokka grit his teeth and pushed back, his own panic getting the best of his judgment.

"I don't see how leaving is helping anything! We should be asking the neighbors if they saw anything or, I don't know looking for clues or something…"

He broke off at Zuko's incredulous scoff.

"Clues? What the fuck Sokka?" Zuko turned back towards the upper ring and started walking again. Sokka had to jog to keep up as they dodged a produce cart. "It's the middle of the day. Most of the neighborhood is at work and anyone outside wouldn't have seen much. The fight was inside and nearly all of the damage was contained."

Finally understanding what Zuko was getting at, Sokka finished the thought. "There likely aren't witnesses. We're going to see Azula."

"Yes. I don't know if she's involved but I have a guess who did this and she would know if it's possible."

Neither spoke after that, both lost in their own thoughts as they made their way to the palace. Sokka wondered who Ozai would have sent, it had clearly been an earthbender. Who would have turned traitor against their nation and the Avatar to help that tyrannical monster?

As they approached the guards outside of Azula's door, Zuko asked Sokka to let him do the talking. Sokka scoffed but decided he'd let him do this. It was his sister after all. The door was immediately dropped for them and they strode into her room.

Azula was sitting as she usually was when Sokka visited her, knees drawn up to her chin, fingers laced together as she stared into the small fire she had for light. She sat back suddenly when Zuko sent a jet of flame in front of her face. Only slightly shocked at his aggression, Sokka laid a hand on his shoulder.

"Easy Zuko. She won't be any help to us if you fry her first."

Growling at him and shrugging his hand from his shoulder, Zuko stepped closer to his sister.

"Where is she Azula! Who are you working with? Dammit I knew you were lying again. I never should have trusted my family's safety to a letter."

For her part, Sokka thought Azula looked genuinely confused.

"What are you talking about? Who…" Her confusion turned to controlled panic as realization washed over her. "Someone took Kya." Sokka thought her voice might have shook slightly but he couldn't be sure.

"Don't you say her name! Where is she Azula! I know you had something to do with this. Who are you working with? They were earthbenders, are there still Dai Lee agents in the city?"

Sokka sucked in a breath at the mention of the former city secret police. Memories of their underground tunnels and mind control sent a shiver down his spine.

Azula held her hands up in an attempt at placating her brother and tried for steady control. She failed, her voice definitely sounding unsure this time. "I told you why I was here Zuko and I didn't lie. I swear to you I have nothing to do with this, but yes there might still be agents here. If any were smart, and they were that no matter how easily led by ambition, they would have fled into their tunnels when they saw they were losing. No one else would have known they existed so Uncle would have believed them all dead. If it was them who took K… your daughter, you don't have time to be here accusing me. They will be out of the city and on the way to father before the end of the day."

Zuko swore.

"I don't believe you. Father probably sent you. You could have easily sought out the survivors and told them what to do."

She grit her teeth and stood up to him stubbornly.

"I know I have only ever hurt you in the past brother, but this time it wasn't me. I'm sorry your daughter is missing. Truly, but I swear on our mother's life that I had nothing to do with it."

Zuko's fists were clenched so tightly, Sokka thought he might have drawn blood as he made a frustrated noise and stomped from the room. Sokka waited a moment to be sure Zuko was gone before opening his mouth.

"You really had nothing to do with it?"

Azula practically growled. Sokka wondered briefly if the siblings knew how alike they were when angry before shaking the thoughts from his head and returning to his conversation.

"I don't know why but I believe you. I know you're the last person in the Earth Kingdom anyone should trust but… The Dai Lee worked for you when you took over the city didn't they?"

"Yes. It is possible that when they fled, any survivors would have sought out my father. It doesn't take a genius to figure out he would have wanted spies in the city. Although, why they would have taken my brother's child makes little sense. I doubt father even knows she exists what with the way communication has been so restricted lately. Surely they wouldn't be stupid enough to blow their cover when father surely has more important goals here unless…"

Guessing where the clever princess's thoughts were headed, Sokka wondered what he should do or say.

"You and your sister are from the Southern Water Tribe aren't you? Kya would have been conceived right around the time of the comet, Katara certainly didn't look pregnant when I last saw her and Kya can't be more than six months old. Kya is…" Her eyes widened and she looked up at Sokka with a fearful expression. "Our niece is the new Avatar isn't she!"

Sokka swallowed audibly and nodded slowly. He knew Azula was good at manipulation and thinking on her feet but her reaction to the news couldn't have been faked. She was also right that it was unlikely that Ozai knew his son had a daughter, both of those things together made it extremely difficult to believe that Azula was working with her father to take the girl.

"That makes perfect sense. Father would have given orders to his spies to keep their eye out for the new Avatar. It wouldn't have been difficult to guess that your tribe would have come here to hide from him and Lieutenant Jee said that the North Pole was impregnable. Sokka if they are taking her to my father… If she wasn't Zuko's daughter I would say that she wouldn't be in mortal danger but if they tell him that she is his granddaughter… Sokka you have to find her before they leave the city!"

Her sudden panic was unnerving.

"Why should her parentage make a difference to his plans for her?"

"Ugh are all of your people so dense? It matters because my father hates my brother. He believes Zuko is dead. If he finds out not only that he is alive but that he went and fathered the Avatar, he might kill her just to hurt Zuko. His desire to manipulate and hurt his own children might outweigh his need to control the Avatar if he is in the wrong mood."

Fresh dred filled Sokka at her words. Suddenly all he could think of was the need to find Kya. Turning to race after Zuko, a hand on his arm stopped him in his tracks.

"Let me help. Please. I know you don't trust me but I can help. I think I know the tunnel they will take out of the city. I want to help save her."

Sokka frowned and almost said no. He took in her earnest and open face, anxiety coming off of her like a wave.

Zuko was going to kill him.

For that matter, so would Katara.