400+ hits on this story! I'm so, so, so happy! (you guys have no idea!) So… one of the other authors I read said she would do this, so I think I will too… when I reach 100 reviews, I'll take suggestions from the reviewers from things they want to happen in the story (like, side adventures, etc.). I'll do my best to incorporate them into the story (I have a story line, as in, how I want it to end… the things that happen in between however…)
I hope you enjoy this chapter too! Please review cause reviews make me happy
Book 4: AIR
By silver-nightstorm
Summary: Four years have passed since the end of the war and the Fire Nation is in despair. Young Fire Lord Zuko is on a mission to find his mother, and seek her political advice. Meanwhile, Aang hunts for remaining airbenders, leaving Katara alone. Zutara. HaruxOC. And one-sided ZukoxOC.
Chapter 3: Clues and Questions
~The Diaries of Fire Lady Ursa~
~Day 73~
Despite the fact that my life just changed, everything is still the same. I know, that contradicts itself, but its true! Maika just told me a secret that changes her life, and I find my mother hold a picture of a boy who mysteriously disappeared, wouldn't my life change? Become more exciting?
But I'm a very good secret-keeper, so everything is exactly the same.
Honestly, I'm considering telling Lee about Maika's mother just so she'll blabber to someone and make things interesting.
But I'm not that spiteful.
And honestly? I'm Nobility; my life is pretty awesome already.
My seventeenth birthday is in two days. And Iroh is coming back home! I mean, Crown Prince Iroh. Actually, everyone is calling him by his military title now, Lieutenant Colonel Iroh.
It's been three years since I've seen Iroh. Diary… I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to ask you to put up with some Fangirling for now… Iroh is so handsome. He was twenty years old last time I saw him… and now he is twenty-three. He will be back in time for my birthday party, I'm really happy about that! He has been my best friend, since I was three and he was nine (I tripped when walking down the street and he caught me *swoon*)(or so I'm told)(I was a clumsy child). But I miss him so much! I don't know how he is related to Ozai and Azulon. Iroh is so kind and gentle, and he has the most enchanting gold eyes.
I can't wait to see him again. I hope he will ask me to the dance. I have grown a lot in the past few years, I'm not longer a clumsy, blushing, fourteen-year-old. I'm also of the marrying age.
Imagine! Being married to the Crown Prince!
But I'm not a gold digger, I would like Iroh even if he was a peasant (although we probably wouldn't get married if he was, my parents would never approve).
I'm sorry diary, I'm rambling. And Iroh's ship is pulling in! Be back soon, Diary!
~Day 74~
Yesterday was amazing! When Iroh's ship pulled into the harbor, there was a giant crowd, waiting to greet him. I was in the crowd, not too far back, but pretty deep into it. I was with Maika, Lee, and Zhao (who has recently taken a fancy to Maika, I do not like him, but he is handsome and smitten with her) waiting to see Iroh after all these years.
Iroh's hair had grown longer, and he wore it like a Fire Lord. He looked very regal in his armor, and he had a cape! I was nervous. Would he notice me? He had sent a new fabric from the Earth Kingdom to me to be made into a kimono, and I was wearing it now.
Our eyes met, and I felt sparks! He walked into the crowd, dismissing his servants. Ozai followed him as he made his was through the parting crowd, directly to me! I was shocked.
He walked up to me and embraced me (I was astonished too! Such displays of affection in public are unheard of if a couple is unmarried!), after which he took my hands and asked me to the dance!
Iroh and I spent the day wandering the palace gardens. I cannot wait until the dance tonight! I am so excited, and Maika and Lee are ecstatic! Zhao finally asked Maika to the dance. She is a bit sad, two days from now; he is leaving to fight in the Earth Kingdom. Meanwhile, Lee is the happiest of all. Ozai asked her to the dance and she has been running around trying to find the perfect shade of pink to wear. Maika insists she wear something more formal, maybe red. I think she should wear gold; Lee looks absolutely stunning in gold. Her eyes look beautiful with it.
I don't have any problems with what to wear. Iroh had another dress made for me. This one was more formal—a white gown with embroidery done in gold thread. It shimmers as if lit from the inside with firebending.
I must go get ready, it is almost time for the dance.
~Day 75~
I don't even know where to start. But I do know where to end! Iroh kissed me! He dropped me off at my doorstep after the dance, and gave me a small kiss! On the lips!
Agni, I can die of happiness right now.
But I can't do that yet. I have to get ready for my birthday party (it's very, very early morning now, I haven't been able to sleep).
~Day 75~
… Diary… why does my life suck so much? Everything that can go wrong has possibly gone wrong.
I was having a very nice party, but Maika drew me to the side halfway through. She pulled me outside despite my protests. I was angry, it was my party! She didn't need to interrupt right now!
But I was wrong. She needed to interrupt me.
Our worst fears had been realized. She was an airbender.
We ran to a secluded corner of the city, and she showed me her airbending slice. It was amazing! I could not believe that it was true, but airbending was so beautiful!
Maika left to go back to the party, while I lingered behind. My dress had twisted a little bit, so I was going to fix it. I was about to leave to walk back, when a hand grabbed me.
It was Ozai.
~Present Day~Fire Nation Capital: Cherry Blossom Courtyard~
Katara and Toph stared at Mai. Katara's expression was a cross between a "you're kidding me", a "no freaking way", and a "holy crap, I think we might be able to save the world now".
Toph's expression was a cross between a "she must be lying", a "damn, she's a good liar", and a "… I think she's actually telling the truth".
Mai sighed. "I owe you guys an explanation," she said. "I'm not really sure he's an airbender, but I think he might be. Tom-Tom is almost three years old, and he's already running around. He loves to climb trees, and I have to watch him, and catch him if he falls. Ty-Lee was in town a few days ago, and I was trying to zone out her unstoppable blabbering. I was almost there when I heard her shriek."
Mai pushed her hair out of her eyes. "I saw Tom-Tom fall off the tree. I'm not exactly sure what happened, but I remember running up to him, only to find he was completely alright. According to Ty-Lee, he fell off of the top of the tree, and floated to the ground. He landed on his feet!" Mai's voice had risen in volume, and Katara was about ready to jump up and down.
"Can we go to your house?" asked Toph. "We can try to see if he really can airbend."
"Really airbend?" cried Katara. "He floated down a tree! I've seen Aang do it, the kid is either really lucky or an airbender, and I pick the second one!"
Mai smiled a little bit, and lead the girls out of the palace.
"You know, Gloom," said Toph, "I think that's the most I've ever heard you speak!"
~Sometime in the Past~Fire Nation Capital: Deserted Courtyard~
I gasped. Strong arms encircled my waist, and a hand covered my mouth. I was pulled back into a hard chest, and I felt hot breath in my ear.
I was terrified.
"Hmmm…" a deep voice whispered, "It seems you've been keeping a secret from me, Princess."
Ozai. I stiffened in fear. Had he seen Maika airbend? Or was he just trying to get under my skin?
He moved his hand from my mouth. "What are you talking about, Milord?" I stuttered.
"Oh, Ursa…" he sighed, his breath sending goose bumps up my neck. "You're so beautiful. It's a shame you're a traitor to the nation…"
My breath caught. "W-What are you talking about?" I stammered.
"Your dear, dear, friend Maika can airbend, can she not?" whispered Ozai. He bent down, kissing me on my neck. I shuddered. "Don't deny it, Princess… I saw everything."
"I swear, we don't mean…"
He spun me around, glaring at me. I shut my mouth. His eyes were bright with something I couldn't identify. I was terrified.
"I'm sure we can figure out … an arrangement…"
The grin on Ozai's face was not pleasant. Not pleasant. At all…
~Present Day~Fire Nation Capital: Aang's Chambers~
Aang stopped. He scrambled around. He looked through the rest of the scrolls. It couldn't be over! He had a lead!
But the diary ended right there. With the words, "It was Ozai."
What had happened to Ursa? To Maika? What had Ozai done to her?
Aang collapsed backwards onto his bed, ready to scream. The first real lead he had just disappeared into thin air. Who was Maika? She was obviously a member of Fire Nation Nobility like Ursa. Aang was pretty sure Zhao was Admiral Zhao, but… he didn't know if he had a wife.
And the boy. Tui. He was an airbender, Aang was sure of it. Was he Ursa's brother? He was obviously closely related to Ursa's mother. Possibly her son. But could he have been her son from a different husband? Or were the airbending genes from Ursa's mother.
The possibilities were endless. Sadly, the clues Aang had found just lead to more questions.
The only person who knew the answers had disappeared five years ago.
~Fire Nation Palace: Zuko's Chambers~
"Zuko!"
Zuko groaned. He just threw a hissy fit to get rid of Mai, and now Aang barged into his room. Zuko only got one day off per year, and he intended to spend it sleeping. The world was just against him today. It didn't seem like he would ever get his nap.
"Zuko!"
The covers were ripped off him this time. Zuko pulled himself up and shot the thirteen-year-old with his best death glare. The look on Aang's face made him double take.
The boy was serious.
Zuko had learned in his past months spending time with Aang that the boy was never serious. He was practically incapable of seriousness. Actually, he was incapable of seriousness.
So why was Aang serious?
As curious as Zuko was, if Aang had walked out of the room saying he could sleep, Zuko would have done so unquestioningly. Sadly (or maybe it was really a good thing), Aang remained in the room.
Zuko realized he was being very lazy. He had known he was being lazy for a while, but this was the first time he actually admitted it to itself.
So Zuko pulled himself out of the bed, and told himself that he would make a genuine effort to listen to the Avatar.
He didn't need to make a genuine effort. The minute Aang started talking, Zuko was paying attention.
"We need to find your mother."
Zuko stood there, gaping at the bald boy. Aang's arrow tattoos seemed to swim in Zuko's vision, and the Fire Lord slumped down into his desk chair.
"My… mother?" he whispered, shocked.
"Yes," said Aang. "I was reading her diaries from her days as a teenager, and they just stop! One of her friends was an airbender, and the only way to find her is to speak to your mother. Is Maika a very common name in the Fire Nation?"
Zuko ran his hands through his hair. His mother and airbenders were connected? "Maika is a very common name… there are at least twenty Maika's within the Nobility itself…"
"So we have to find your mother!"
"I don't know where she is, okay?" snapped Zuko. Seeing the hurt expression on Aang's face made Zuko stop and fix his tone. "I've been trying to find her for a while…" he mumbled, sighing. His head fell into his arms. "The only person who knows where she is… is my father…"
Aang sighed. He put his hand on Zuko's shoulder, trying to comfort his friend.
It was time for the Avatar to take matters into his own hands.
~Fire Nation Capital Outskirts: Prison~
"Why do I feel like I've already seen this?"
Aang stood in front of Ozai, his tattoos and eyes glowing.
"Tell me what you did to Fire Lady Ursa!"
~End Chapter Three~
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