Don't cry for me tonight
Chapter 3
Katara washed her face mindlessly that morning. She was lost in her deep thoughts of her hazy dream. She dressed quickly then left to breakfast. She stepped in during a conversation already in session.
"I just don't think I can leave my mother like this so soon. We just got here." Hakota protested.
"Hakota, I'm not asking you to leave your mother. Besides I think she would love it there. Being in a different environment might be what she needs! To get away from the cold! Just for a couple of weeks, anyway." Ursa said.
"Hakota, that might be an interesting experience to visit the palace." Bato agreed.
"I'm sure it would be but the kids—" Hakota began until Sokka interrupted.
"Dad we have Aang that we could visit. It would be cool to meet Ursa's family and Aang would like to meet her too."
"And what about Gran-Gran? What would we do with her?" Hakota asked.
"Take her too. I think it would be nice for her to be somewhere in the green rather than the cold white snow." Ursa said locking arms with Hakota. "Darling, I've been banished and thought dead for years now. I miss my mother too. I want to know what happened to them. Please?"
"Bato? Will you come too?" Hakota asked giving in.
"Me? Sure. Hey while we are there maybe Kana and Ursa's parents will help plan the wedding."
"That's another excuse for going I suppose." Hakota said before being hit playfully by Ursa.
"Stop that. So when shall we leave?" Ursa asked.
"Why not next week?" Katara suggested coming into the conversation.
Hakota looked at his daughter, delighted that she wouldn't have a fit.
"Next week it is." He concurred.
The Next Week
Katara had stopped having dreams of her mother. Instead it was of her sitting alone on a rock in the same meadow thinking about taking the path that lied ahead of her. She remembered how her mother had said she would go sooner or later. So in her dream she would just sit on the mossy rock watching the path. She refused to budge or even consider going inside the forest.
When morning came, the six made last minute preparations for their trip.
"Kana? Kana are you ready yet?" Bato called outside Kana's bedroom.
"Bato, will you go check up on my mom? I need to get the kids." Hakota said. "Kids? Are you ready?"
"We're just waiting for you guys." Katara said as Ursa braided her hair.
"Hakota? Hakota come quick! I think we have a problem." Bato said with urgency.
They walked outside shutting the door closed on Katara and Ursa but then came back to shove Sokka inside as well.
"Hey!" Sokka complained.
"What's going on?" Ursa asked tying Katara's hair together.
"Must be something big if they dragged Sokka in here." Katara said. "Dad and Bato are like this when there is a 'big' problem or just a surprise."
They heard loud footsteps and directions being handed out.
"This doesn't sound like a surprise. I'm going to see what they are doing." Ursa stood up and walked out of the room closing the door behind her.
"Should we go too?" Katara asked Sokka.
"I don't think so. Let's just wait for Ursa to come back."
And they waited. About ten minutes later Ursa returned.
"Ursa? What happened?" Sokka asked.
"Kids your father wanted me to tell you that he, Bato, Pakku and some others left to the earth kingdom with your grandmother. She has gotten very ill. They are looking for better help for her so our trip will be postpone."
1 month later
Bato returned after a month and alone to Hakota's family to inform then about what was happening.
"Kana just got a little sick. She was sick before and didn't get the proper care and that made things worst. Also the healer said that she should spend time in the warmth for a while before returning home. That's where the trip comes in." Bato told the three.
"So we are going to the firenation?" Katara asked.
"Yup! But the healer asked for 6 months with Kana. After that we just go get her then off to the firenation!" Bato said.
"Six months. That's a long time." Ursa said.
"Sorry. You'll have to wait a while before seeing your family again." Sokka assumed she meant the extended wait to see her family.
"No Sokka. That's fine. I just think it's a long time to be put into medical attention. Bato, is Hakota staying there?" Ursa asked.
"Yes. Everyone is staying. I'm the only one who came back so far."
Six months later
Katara's dream continued to be the same; she still sat on the rock watching the path. Once she almost made up her mind on taking the trail but she woke up. She woke to the smell of breakfast. She was very excited that today was the day they would go to get Gran-Gran and go on their way to see Aang. Had it really been only seven months?
"Katara are you awake yet?" Ursa asked opening the door.
"Oh, yeah, I am."
"Katara it's really late. Hurry and get dressed. You'll eat on the way." Ursa left the waterbender alone as she quickly jumped out of bed to dress then double-checked all her things that she packed. Katara carried her bag out of the room and into the hallway.
"Finally Katara! We've been waiting for you!" Sokka said annoyed.
They all left on a large canoe and set off to the earth kingdom.
It took about 4 days including all the pit stops they took to get there. Hakota and Gran-Gran, who looked better than ever, greeted them. She had recovered her lost hearing and looked very healthy.
"Are you sure you don't want me to go with you, Kana?" Pakku asked.
"Yes I'm sure. You haven't left my side since we came here. Pakku, I want you to go back to the southern tribe and teach the young waterbending. I want you to take care of our tribe." Kana told him.
"Be safe." Pakku kissed her hand in respect then let them leave.
They traveled the water and land for another week until they reached the firenation.
"So where do you want to look, Ursa?" Hakota asked.
"Oh, well, in the palace first. They have records and I think we could get help from there."
"Okay Ursa. If that's what you think we should do." Bato said confused.
They reached the palace to its gate.
"Ok. Let's see. Katara and Sokka tell the guards you are friends with the avatar and you're here for a visit. If they don't believe you then get them to call him out to let us all in." Ursa ordered.
"Ok." Sokka and Katara went ahead to the guards.
"Hey Chang! Remember me?" Katara asked one guard she knew.
"Miss Katara you've returned! To see the Avatar I presume." Chang said.
"Yes. May we go in? Oh we brought our family along to see him also." Katara explained.
"Of course. Come in. Ask a maid or someone to assist you in locating him."
"Thank you." Sokka said.
They walked inside the grand palace of the firenation. Ursa began to walk more comfortably seeming to know the way.
"Ursa? Where are you taking us?" Hakota asked.
"To find the Avatar of course." Ursa said. At the time she wore a long black cloak with gold out lining. She pulled the hood down when she found a maid.
"Enya! I'm looking for the Avatar. Have you seen him?" Ursa asked.
"Ur—Ursa? My lady! He is in a meeting at the moment. Will you and these guest need a place to stay?" Enya said shocked.
"Yes. We will take seven guest bedrooms in the upper level."
"And the master bedroom, my lady?"
"Will be for its master." Ursa said in a deeper controlling yet causal voice.
Enya nodded then rushed to do the laundry.
"I'll show you all the way." Ursa told everyone in a more cheerful tone.
They all looked at her confused--all expected for Hakota. "Ursa? Is there something you might want to tell us?" Kana asked.
"I'll explain to everyone later. For now lets all get settled. Shall we?" Ursa lead them to the upper level of the palace.
"Kana, Bato and Hakota you may choose one room out of the four here. Katara and Sokka come with me." Ursa lead them around the corner to where another set of doors were located. "Sokka, you may have this room and Katara you'll be next door."
"Thanks Ursa." Katara said awkwardly.
"Your welcome. Hurry and unpack. I'll be back momentarily." Ursa left back around the corner to the adults.
The siblings watched her leave. They were still unsure what was going on. Why had that maid called her 'my lady'? Katara thought.
She faced to the door. "No reason to think about that now I guess." She thought again to herself. She turned the golden knob and pushed the door open. She stepped into the darkness of the room. A cold, uncanny breeze wept through her reminding her of the frequent dream. She found a gas lamp on the wall and turned the little screw to turn it on. The guestroom was decorated in a fine assortment of artifacts and red. A queen bed was located in the center of the room between two more gas lamps. There were two little chairs beside the window. She had a wonderful view of the green, thriving garden.
Her room was spectacular, she admitted, but to 'big' for just one person alone.
She decided to go find Sokka and see his room. She felt uncomfortable being alone in the bedroom. "Guest room? That's an understatement for sure." She mumbled to herself as she opened her door. And there, across from her room was a chair almost like the one in her 'guestroom' and on it with his pale hand on his face was—"Aang!" she shouted.
Aang looked up. Shocked to see his friend again, he stood in an instant and rushed to embrace her. "Katara! What are you doing here?"
"I came with my family to go meet some people!" She gasped right after she spoke. The child was able to see the excitement escape her face. "Aang guess what? My dad is getting married!" She didn't sound thrilled about the last part.
"He is? Are you ok?" Aang let go of Katara letting her to talk.
"I'm fine. And she is firenation. We came to meet her family so they could talk about the wedding. I wanted to come because I missed you too much." Katara said hugging him lightly once more. He kissed her cheek.
"I missed you too. I'm sorry I couldn't go see you like I promised. They have me busy a lot around here." Aang apologized. "So where's Sokka?"
"In his room. Unpacking, maybe." Katara pointed to Sokka's quarters.
"Oh. Man, those guestrooms are like master bedrooms I swear! You should see the real master bedroom!"
"Hey, what where you doing just now?" Katara asked.
"I was waiting for Iroh. He's in the room next to yours. He said something about making sure it's perfect. He's getting it ready for someone." Aang clarified to Katara.
"Oh. He's back? I thought he had another month."
"No. It's only been eight months, sure but they decided to let him go. He wasn't really needed over there anyways. They need him more here." Aang said.
"Oh. So that means you'll be leaving here soon, right?"
"Sure does. I think I'll go live on Kyoshi Island. Or the southern air temple. I'm not really sure but just somewhere close to the southern water tribe. So I could visit you a lot." Aang blushed at his words. They sounded less flirty in his head but he couldn't get the words out better.
"That would be great Aang!" She smiled then let go of him.
A door opened causing him to jump but not anything observable. Iroh stepped out then noticed Aang and Katara together
"Miss Katara, how nice is it to see you again. What brings you here?" Iroh asked with a box under his arm.
"I'm here visiting my future family. My father is remarrying and we are visiting her parents." Katara answered.
"In the firenation?" Iroh asked. When it came out of his mouth the words almost sounded too absurd.
"Yes. She said she had lived here until she was banned and had to leave."
Iroh raised an eyebrow. Not just anyone could be banished, he thought to himself. "What is her name? And why would you come here first?"
"Um well she said that we could look up her family here. Her name is Ursa. Why do you want to know, sir?" Katara asked.
"Ursa? That's impossible. It must be a different one." Iroh denied.
"Some maid called her 'my lady'. She didn't tell us why yet. She is with my dad just around the corner." Katara pointed.
"Excuse me then." Iroh darted around the turn.
"I wonder what that was all about." Aang said.
"Katara?" A confused low voice asked, almost inaudible.
Aang and Katara turned to see Prince Zuko.
"What are you doing here? I thought you returned home." Zuko questioned.
"Zuko! I thought you weren't going to be back yet!" Katara smiled then hugged her friend briefly.
"Something came up. It's not important right now. Is your brother here too?"
Before she could respond Iroh, Ursa, Bato and Hakota came around the corner.
"Oh? Hello Firelord Zuko." Hakota said in a welcoming voice.
The three teens looked at the adults. Ursa's eyes were wide and full with tears of confusion, sorrow and hope.
Zuko dropped his jaw and looked at Ursa, who hadn't changed much besides a few wrinkles caused from worrying. He shook his head. It was impossible. "Mom?" He asked quietly. "It can't be."
"Zuko!" Ursa ran to her son and embraced him; her long lost boy. Her favorite child. Ursa's tears dropped on this full head of hair and Zuko's stained her dress. Ursa kissed his head and ran her fingers through his thick hair. "Zuko. My son. My child, I'm home."
Katara's eyes where wide on the site. 'Do you think she'll be mad at me for saying those horrible things about her son? Damn! Wait! Her son?'
She flashed back about the clues given to her in the beginning.
"Yeah. And tried to trade my own necklace that he might have stole from me for the Avatar! He was sick!"Katara had said in disgust.
"Hopefully we won't see him then. I'm tired now and I'm sure you are too. We should get some sleep now."Ursa answered.
"Enya! I'm looking for the Avatar. Have you seen him?" Ursa had asked.
"Ur—Ursa! My lady! He is in a meeting at the moment. Will you and these guest need a place to stay?" Enya said shocked.
"Mom?" Zuko had asked quietly. "Mom?"
"Zuko. My son. My child, I'm home."
So now we are getting somewhere ^_^
Sorry if I'm dragging my story. :,(
Any suggestions? Any comments? Dislikes? Helpful comments? Don't keep them to your self! Tell me why reviewing and stuff! Show your love to my story so I will want to continue! Deal? Deal!
Edit:
So this chapter was extremely edited. Yeah... Well… review!