Chapter 3

123 A.G. Year of the Sheep

"Mom, does dad love me?" Katara jumped, her eyes widening at her eldest son. Eleven year old Bumi was at her door, looking in with worry in his eyes. Her normally boisterous son who would rather pull pranks or traumatize animals with his sheer excess of energy was acting quiet and meek. That, coupled with the quiet question was like a knife in Katara's heart. Ever since Tenzin showed his first signs of being an Airbender, Aang had been spending nearly every second of the day with him. Katara had understood the attention at first. Tenzin was their first air bending child, it made sense that Aang would be enamoured with him.

"Of course, he does Bumi. Tenzin is just a baby still." She told him, it was an automatic response, and it was what her son needed to hear. Aang did love his children, he was just enamoured by the fact his youngest was an Airbender. That was all.

"He never acted this way with Kaya." Katara felt her heart sink. Of course, Bumi would remember how Aang had acted with Kaya, he was much older than all the other children. He was the first child born within their group who had survived and he had a good memory. Katara closed her eyes. Trying to find the right words to comfort her son, the right words to convince herself that what she was saying was the truth.

"Mom, please, just tell me the truth. I need to know," Bumi insisted. Katara was at a loss for words. What could she say? She stood, not saying a word and took her son in her arms, burying his face in her front as if to protect him from the fears that they both had. The fears that neither of them would ever be as important to Aang as the child who had been gifted the same element as his father.


101 A.G. Year of the Rooster

I smiled as Aang chatted excitedly with the mayor of the fifth fire nation colony. That is, the fifth fire nation colony left before the Harmony Restoration Movement would be finished. It had been nearly a year since we had begun and finally we were about to begin moving the oldest five colonies.

The squawk of a bird caught my attention and I looked up. A messenger hawk flew towards us. I held out my arm and it landed there. I smiled softly and pet the bird's head before untying the scroll. While Aang continued to talk to the mayor I opened it and began to read the scroll. My face paled.

"Aang, sweetie, you need to see this," Aang turned at my call, confusion wrinkling his brow.

"What is it?" He asked wandering over. I handed him the scroll, silent. Aang's face clouded over before he turned back to the mayor with a smile.

"I'm sorry madam mayor, but I need to go to Yu Dao. I will be back in a few days." He stated, not cold but most defiantly brisk. I nodded and we quickly left the area.

"What do you think?" I asked I hadn't seen Aang this cold since the final days of the war.

"I think I need to have a serious talk with Maddi and Zuko." He replied softly. I nodded, glancing at the scroll.

Dear Katara,

Zuko and I have withdrawn our approval of the Harmony Restoration Movement for the last five colonies. We have sent a message to the earth king as well as you two so that the nations can talk and we can explain our point of view. I believe that this is the best choice for not only us but for all our peoples. Zuko and I will meet you in Ba Sing Se. We look forward to seeing you again.

Sincerely,

Maddi


We arrived in Ba Sing Se just as the sun was beginning to set. Aang sent Appa off to find a place to sleep while we entered the city. Momo came with us, while our own messenger hawk, who Aang had named Kuzon, elicited to stay with Appa. At least, our messenger hawk had been given a decent name. Sokka had named his Hawky.

We landed in the middle district, intending to walk together to Iroh's house. Zuko's uncle had made it clear that anytime any of the Gaang came by Ba Sing Se he would have a place for us to stay. It was very sweet of him and we all had accepted the invitation.

"Oh my gosh! Is it like, really you?" I turned, pulled out of my thoughts by the annoying female voice. Two girls, dressed in yellow robes emblazoned with Aang's face on the front stood before us, both grinning like insane people. The one with the annoying voice rushed up to Aang and began babbling. In amidst all the crazy squealing and strange way of talking that the girl managed to force into every sentence and her companions barely muted attempts at her own screams of excitement I managed to discover that they were the co-founders and co-presidents of The Official Avatar Aang Fan Club. This was reminding me all too much of Kyoshi island.

Somehow we were dragged off to their clubhouse which was designed to look like the western air temple. In other words, everything was upside down except the house itself. While Aang entertained the small swarm of girls all crowding around him I sat in a corner and watched. I didn't like these girls and I wasn't all too thrilled with the way they all clamoured to even get close to Aang. On Aang's part though he was careful not to spend too much time with any one particular girl. He showed the girls several air bending techniques and those who were not watching that were petting or feeding Momo. It didn't help that the girls kept commenting on how handsome, dreamy or sweet Aang was. It hurt, watching them fawn over Aang and he didn't even seem to notice. I tried to tolerate it, I knew Aang was enjoying himself and I was trying to not be jealous but every moment it was getting harder. Aang and I were engaged, we were supposed to get married but I felt like I would always have to compromise our relationship. I was okay with sharing him with the world, it was part of Aang now, but I wasn't so happy with the thought of sharing him with the world on a more intimate level. All these girls...

We ended up staying the night there, Aang happily entertaining the girls until we retired to a free room. The next morning we spent breakfast with the fan club. My patience was wearing thin. Finally, I had enough after several minutes of traditional air nomad music I stood, grabbing Aang by the hand.

"Aang, I hate to ruin your fun but we need to get going. It's getting late and we need to meet the Earth King in the morning." Aang stopped and nodded, putting the air benders flute down.

"You're right." He agreed, putting it to the side and picking up Momo while I gathered our things. Aang waved goodbye to the excited girls as we left before turning to walk behind me.

"Well, you certainly seemed to enjoy yourself," I stated, trying to keep the bitterness from my voice.

"I know weren't they amazing!" Aang exclaimed, hazel eyes aglow. I tried not to sigh as Aang continued.

"I know it's just a fan club but for a moment there, it almost felt like... like I was at home with my people. Thanks for agreeing to stay the night, sweetie. It really meant the world to me." My heart sunk to my feet like a rock. It was a reminder of my jealousy. I shouldn't have been, and knowing how much that had meant to Aang I realized that I should have tried to be part of it, instead of sitting in a corner. Aang was so much more than I deserved.

"Don't thank me," I told him softly. I didn't deserve his thanks. I had been sour the entire time, not realizing how important that had been for him. It hurt.


Earth King Kuei was not happy to see us. Maddi and Zuko stood in the same room, dressed in their full royal regalia.

"Is everything alright?" Aang asked, picking up on the tense atmosphere in the room.

"Avatar, finally, would you care to tell the fire lord and his wife that the Harmony Restoration Movement will not be stopped. To do so is an act of war!" Kind Keui stated sharply the second he noticed Aang and I enter the room.

"Please, I asked for this meeting so that we could have a peaceful discussion and avoid a war," Maddi stated, trying not to plead and at the same time trying to portray just how important this was to her. Zuko, realizing that now we were here turned and forced a smile. It was almost painful to see.

"Avatar Aang, it's good to see you again." Aang managed a sincere smiled and turned to face King Kuei.

"Is everything alright King Kuei?" He asked lightly. The Earth King turned to Aang with a glare that would cause a lesser man to fear for his life.

"Fire lord Zuko and Fire lady Maddison are suggesting that we stop the Harmony Restoration Movement for the remaining five colonies." The Earth King stated his voice ice cold. I already knew that but I wanted to know why.

"It is not that simple, please let us explain before you jump to conclusions." Zuko stated, stepping forward. Around his neck Druk hissed at the earth king. Aang quickly held out a hand.

"Please, one at a time. Zuko, would you care to explain where you are coming from?" Zuko sighed in relief at Aang's words and nodded, stepping forward so he was at the centre of the room.

"For the last several months I have had a person attempt to assassinate me. Just last week we caught them. Her name was Kaori and she was a resident at Yu Dao, more specifically, she was the mayor's daughter. Kaori and her family, along with that of many other families throughout not only Yu Dao but the remaining colonies, are mixed. Half Fire Nation, half the Earth Kingdom. Both Maddison and I are against the splitting of such families and according to the current rules of the Harmony Restoration Movement, Kaori's mother would have to stay in the Earth Kingdom while she and her father would be taken to the Fire Nation." Zuko was trying to remain calm but something was still bothering him. He seemed unusually twitchy as if he expected Kuei to demand that he be attacked. Saying such a thing would be an act of war and I doubted that Kuei wanted another war any more than we did.

"If that's all fine, we'll allow those who have married fire nation to leave-"

"King Kuei, that's not what we're suggesting. This is far more than just one generation. There are families that have been married into both nations for three generations. In families such as those, it is impossible to tell where the fire nation begins and earth kingdom ends. Besides, that still separates families. No, I am suggesting that we keep the colonies. That way no family is torn apart, no business is ruined-"

"You still want my nation for yourself!" Kuei snapped. I could see him bristling and I realized that he wasn't going to listen. For Kuei it was either everything or nothing, there didn't seem to be any ability for seeing a compromise. I had a sinking feeling that this was going to turn out badly.

"King Kuei, please let them finish." Aang begged. Grudgingly the man did as suggested and leaned back in his throne. His green eyes, however, remained sharp and focused on the two rulers standing before him.

"What we are suggesting is to make this land around those five colonies purely neutral, possibly even another 'nation' of sorts. It wouldn't take long, just try to interest a few water tribe members to go live there." Maddi propositioned. King Kuei did not look anymore impressed than when we had entered.

"That is earth kingdom land that you are suggesting I give up. I'm sorry, I will allow close families to choose which nation they stay with. That is all. Restore the Harmony Restoration Movement, and we won't be forced into a war." King Kuei said.

"King Kuei, think of the-" Zuko began but was quickly cut off.

"I have given my answer." Kuei replied. Aang quickly took up the job of attempting to make peace.

"We've heard where the Fire Lord and Lady are coming from. King Kuei, would you care to explain your position on this?" He suggested. Kuei nodded.

"The Earth Kingdom has suffered from the fire nation for over a hundred years, my people were enslaved, mistreated, abused all while I knew nothing of it. Worst off, the land of my people was slowly being taken away, day by day, and given to those same ones who tormented them. I cannot let that continue. I know you mean well, but I will be betraying my people if I allow the fire nation to continue staying in my country." Kuei stated. I felt my stomach sink. Both sides had equally good reasons for their opinions and both were thinking of their people. I glanced over at Aang. His face too was troubled. This wasn't an easy debate, both sides were equally right and wrong in this case.

"What do you say Avatar? Which do you support?" King Kuei asked, his voice sharp. The man had grown a great deal since he had been forced from Ba Sing Se, it was clear in the very way he carried himself. That didn't make the situation any easier to deal with.

"Give me some time." Kuei shook his head.

"I cannot wait any longer. I must stand for my people." He stated, one hand sliding to rest on Basco's head. Maddi's eyes widened. She glanced at me and I could see she was more than worried, she was scared.

"King Kuei, reconsider, We can't just let another war break out! We have given everything for peace!" She was all but begging. One of Zuko's hands came to rest on her shoulder.

"I'm sorry that we must part this way. Maddi and I are not going to back off either. We listened to our people's opinions on this before deciding. Can you say that you did the same?" With that he turned, carefully guiding Maddi who had gone completely unexpressive. It was so strange to see Maddi look like that. It seemed so wrong from our passionate and expressive friend.

Aang and I left not too soon later.

"I don't like this," I admitted softly once I was sure that no one nearby would overhear us, "we're about to have another war on our hands? Right after we finally achieved peace?"

Aang shook his head.

"No, I won't let war break out again." The serious expression on his face did a good job of hiding just what we were thinking but I knew Aang. He was conflicted and unsure of which side to take. Instinct was saying to go against the Fire Nation, but with Zuko and Maddi as the leaders, we both knew that they would not make a risky move without being sure that they were right. That didn't mean that Kuei was wrong, though, that was the problem, both sides were equally justified and Aang wasn't used to dealing with such a scenario. None of us were. When we were fighting Ozai and Azula we had known which side was right and which was wrong, there was no doubt in our minds. It had been all too easy to see who was the villain of that story.

This was real politics, where there was no clear right or wrong. Only what history would decide and neither of us had any insight into the future.

"I need to talk to Roku," Aang stated finally, leaning forward and gently pecking me on the mouth and taking off into the air before I could reciprocate. A small smile flitted across my face as butterfly-moths exploded into a flurry of excitement in my stomach. I moved away, allowing my own thoughts to wander to the future. I may not have known what it would be but there was no denying the fact that those in Yu Dao were not that dissimilar from Aang and I. Everyone kept saying that the four nations had to be separate. But Yu Dao had families that we both, just like Aang and I, our children would be both Air Nomad and Water Tribe. Maddi too, she came from no nation and yet she had embraced them all. She now had to favour the Fire Nation, it was expected of her. If so many families could accept that then why did the four nations have to be four? Why did they have to be separate?

I realized which side I was on, I only could hope that Aang would come to a similar conclusion.


A/N: So right after I wrote that I was on Hiatus I got hit with inspiraton. Typical. Sorry for any confusion and I hope that you are all still reading and enjoying Life Never Ends. Let me know what you think about this chapter! I look forward to hearing from you all!

Princess Kassie Out.