Anika's Confession

- Zuko's Point of View-

"Prince Zuko! We saw a distress signal from a fire navy ship!" One of my soldiers said as he barged inside my room.

I quickly stood up and shouted, "Get my telescope!" I ran as fast as I could to the ship's balcony and once I got my telescope, I examined the place where the signal was from.

It was from an old fire navy ship that has been frozen.

I saw someone come out of it.

It's the Avatar! He's leaping from one level to another. He's coming down from the roof of the ship to the ground while carrying another person.

"The last airbender... Quite agile for his old age," I said to myself.

"WAKE MY UNCLE! Tell him I found the Avatar," I ordered my minions as I looked at him again through the telescope.

I saw that they were going somewhere so I panned my vision to where they were headed and I saw a small frozen village.

"As well as his hiding place," I continued.

Your hiding days are over. I'm going to catch you.

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-Maya's Point of View-

I was woken up by the sound of the village people panicking and going all over the place. I didn't realize that I fell asleep!

Wow! I fell asleep! Good job brain! You worked!

I stood up and went outside. I was about to ask one of the villagers what was going on but I was stopped when I saw what they were staring at in the sky.

A distress signal from a fire navy ship!?

Could it be? Are there fire navy ships nearby? Is there going to be another raid? Is the past going to repeat itself? Did they find out that we still have a waterbender?

Oh no... Katara... I CAN'T LET THEM TAKE AWAY MY COUSIN!

Katara where are you?!

I ran towards where all the village people have gathered and I saw from a distance Aang and Katara walking together. I was about to run towards them when Sokka grabbed onto my wrist.

I saw his face and it was a very serious one. I looked at the whole village people and they had the same expression. What is going on here?!

When Aang and Katara got close to all of us, the kids went running toward him.

"Yay! Aang is back!" one of the kids shouted.

I just stood there beside Sokka and Gran-Gran. Fear and anxiety were creeping inside of me.

A signal went off! What if a fire navy ship comes in later? What if they take Katara away?!

No... This isn't happening!

Sokka then took a step forward and shouted, "I KNEW IT! YOU SIGNALED THE FIRE NAVY WITH THAT FLARE!" and then he pointed his finger at the sky. "You're leading them straight to us aren't you?" Sokka continued.

"Aang didn't do anything! It was an accident!" Katara said, trying to defend Aang.

Accident? What Accident?! What have they both been doing?

"Yeah! We were on the ship, and there was this booby trap and well, we... we boobied right into it," Aang said while scratching the back of his head.

WHAT?! THEY WENT INTO THE ABANDONED SHIP?!

"Really Katara?! You went into the ship?! What went on inside your head?! You know very well that that place is forbidden! What has gotten into you?!" I yelled. I couldn't help it! I was angry at this point! That was the stupidest thing Katara has ever done in her whole life!

"Don't blame her! I was the one who forced her to come with me inside that ship!" Aang said trying to defend Katara.

Oh, so both of you are defending each other now? Well isn't that just great?!

"Katara, you shouldn't have gone on that ship. Now we could all be in danger!" Gran-Gran said.

She's right! Katara you are the one most in danger here! Do you want to be taken away too?! This is really making me go crazy!

"Don't blame Katara, I brought her there. It's my fault," Aang said.

If only I knew they were going to do something as stupid as that then I would've stayed longer watching over them!

"Aha! The traitor confesses! Warriors! Away from the enemy! The foreigner is now banished from our village," Sokka said as he ordered the kids to go away from Aang.

"Sokka, you're making a mistake!" Katara defended.

"No, Katara! You and Aang made a mistake, both of you! Have you forgotten our promise to your dad? We are keeping this village safe and we will protect it from threats like him," I argued.

"Even you Maya? I thought you trusted Aang?" Katara asked. I looked at her and then at Aang.

"I did, and maybe I was wrong about trusting him," I said with a sad look on my face.

"AANG IS NOT OUR ENEMY!" Katara suddenly shouted. "Don't you see? Aang's brought us something we haven't had in a long time... FUN," Katara pleaded.

"Fun?! We can't fight firebenders with fun!" Sokka argued.

"You should try it sometime," Aang butted in.

Really? He's going to say that? We don't have time for jokes right now!

"Aang, I guess it's best that you leave," I said with a stern look on my face.

"Get out of our village. Now!" Sokka added.

Katara looked at Gran-Gran.

"Grandmother, please... Don't let Sokka and Maya do this," she pleaded.

"Katara, you knew going on that ship was forbidden. Sokka and Maya are right. I think it's best if the airbender leaves," Gran-Gran said.

"FINE! Then I'm banished too! Come on Aang let's go!" Katara shouted and then she grabbed Aang's arm.

Appa slowly came in walking from inside of the village to the outside and it lay in front of where Aang and Katara were heading.

"Where do you think you're going?!" Sokka yelled at her sister.

"To find a waterbender. Aang is taking me to the north pole," Katara answered.

So she did accept Aang's offer...

"I am? Great!" Aang said.

"Fine Katara! Go! Leave us all behind! We don't matter to you anyway right?! All you've ever thought about was yourself and how it would've been great if you found a waterbending master to teach you!" I yelled at them making Katara stop from walking.

"I can't believe you'd really choose that kid over your tribe, over your own family. I had my hopes up on you for nothing. Imagine what your father would say if he knew of this," I continued.

Everyone went silent.

Then suddenly Aang walked towards Katara and said, "Katara, I don't want to come between you and your family," and then he walked towards Appa.

"So you're leaving the south pole? This is goodbye?" Katara asked with a very sad tone.

"Thanks for penguin sledding with me," Aang said as he faced Katara.

"Where will you go?" She asked.

"Guess I'll go back home and look for the airbenders..." Aang answered. He then held on to Appa's fur and added, "Wow, I haven't cleaned my room in a hundred years! Not looking forward to that."

So he was stuck in that iceberg for a hundred years! How come he didn't age?

He flew up on Appa's back and looked at everyone.

"It was nice meeting everyone!" he said still with a smile on his face. This kid is too positive. I can't beat him.

"Let's see your bison fly now air boy," Sokka said in a taunting manner. Aang held on to the rope tied to Appa's horns and said,

"Come on Appa, you can do it! Yip-yip!" Aang said, but Appa just stood up and walked. He didn't even jump this time.

"Yeah! I thought so!" Sokka teased once more.

Suddenly one of the children ran up to Appa while crying and said, "Aaaah! Aang, don't go... I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you too," Aang replied, but this time he wasn't smiling anymore. What is this feeling? Why am I feeling sad as well? And why do I feel like we're making a mistake?

Aang looked at Katara. I think the one he will miss more is her, rather than the whole village.

"Come on boy..." Aang said as he led on Appa. Appa then started walking away from the village and everyone went inside as well.

I stayed there for the moment and Gran-Gran walked towards where Katara was.

"Katara, you'll feel better after you—"

"You happy now?! There goes my one chance of becoming a waterbender!" Katara shouted at Gran-Gran and then she walked away.

HOW SELFISH CAN SHE GET? WE WERE ONLY LOOKING OUT FOR HER! AND SHE EVEN GOT THE NERVE TO YELL AT GRAN-GRAN?!

I walked towards Gran-Gran and placed my hands on her shoulders.

"Grandma, let's give her some space in the meantime. You won't be able to talk some sense into her right now, she's disappointed," I said and I led Gran-Gran inside the village.

Once we got inside, I left Gran-Gran in front of her igloo and then I said, "Get some rest Gran-Gran. It's best to stay inside for now. Sokka and I will look out for fire navy ships. We got this. I won't let the firebenders harm us again. I won't let them take Katara,"

I started walking back towards the village's entrance but Gran-Gran stopped me.

"Maya?" she said.

I looked back at her and asked, "Yes grandmother?"

She just stared at me with a serious face.

"Come inside. There's something I want you to see," she said and then she went inside the igloo.

It seemed serious... What could it be?

I followed behind her and when I got inside. I saw her rummaging for something under her bed.

"What is it Gran-Gran?" I asked.

"You might want to sit," She said, so I sat on the floor in front of a small table. Gran-Gran continued rummaging for something. What is it she's looking for?

"Ugh... Gran-Gran? Do you need some help?" I asked.

"Found it," she suddenly said.

She walked towards the table and she placed a small treasure chest in front of me. I looked at it and it seems really fancy! It's plated with gold corners and drenched with the color red.

"What is this?" I asked.

"That belongs to your mom. Inside there are the things she left for you," Gran-Gran replied.

"This is mom's?" I said as I held on to the chest. "What's inside?" I asked once more.

"It's for you to find out," Gran-Gran answered. I looked at her and then I looked back at the chest.

What is this? Why do I feel strange about this chest? I feel... skeptical about it.

I took a deep breath and then I slowly opened the chest.

My eyes grew wide when I saw the symbol of the fire nation under the chest's cover. I moved away from the chest with a horrified look on my face.

"Grandma... What is this? Why is a fire nation chest in here? What is going on?" I asked her with my eyebrows crossed.

"Maya... Calm down... There's something I want to tell you," she calmly said. I looked at her and tried to fix my composure.

"How is this my mom's? This can't be! You must be joking, right?" I asked her with a forced smile. I was waiting for her to smile back and tell me that everything was just a joke, but then she shook her head.

My jaw dropped as I looked at Grandma with a horrified face.

"What?" I asked.

"Maya..." she suddenly said while reaching out her hand to mine. She was sitting just across from me. "The day before the fire nation raid; the day before your mother died, she told me and Kaya something that really gave us a shock," she continued.

"You must listen very carefully to me... It is important for you to know about this. This is all about you, and about your mother," she added.

I took a deep breath as I nodded my head.

"I'm listening..." I replied and then Gran-Gran proceeded with the story.

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[FLASHBACK]

"Hey! Sokka! Not fair! You were supposed to be it! Katara got you first!" Maya complained to the prideful Sokka who couldn't believe that he was it again.

"I don't want to play anymore! You girls are cheating!" Sokka yelled back.

"You just didn't want to play anymore 'cause you're it again," Katara teased.

"What did you say?!" Sokka shouted at his sister.

Maya and Katara looked at each other and then together they looked at Sokka while shouting, "COWARD!" and they stuck their tongue out to tease him even more.

Sokka ran towards the girls and chased them. The three children were cheerfully playing on the grounds while from a distance, Kaya— Sokka and Katara's mother, can be seen watching over the three children.

"They seemed to have grown up great," Anika said as she walked towards Kaya with hot tea in her hands.

"Tea?" Anika asked. Kaya took the cup of tea from her and she warmed her hands with it.

"It sure is nice to have peaceful days like this. If only this could last forever," Kaya said while looking at the children. Anika looked at the children as well, but sadness was evident in her eyes.

"Kaya, there's something I've been meaning to tell you," Anika suddenly said. Kaya looked at her and she saw Anika's worried expression. She suddenly felt concerned.

"What is it, Anika?" Kaya asked while smiling at her, trying to lighten up the mood.

"It's something important and confidential," Anika answered.

"Confidential enough for my ears only?" Kaya teased.

"Yes, and I hope you won't tell anyone about this," Anika said.

"Tell anyone about what? Anika?" Kanna, who has been listening to them all this time, suddenly asked from behind the two women.

"Mother! How long have you been there? Haha..." Anika asked followed by an awkward laugh.

"Long enough to hear you talk about this confidential thing," Kanna answered.

"Ah... I've been found out," Anika said with an awkward smile.

"So? What is this about? Care to share it with your mother as well?" Kanna insisted. Anika sighed in defeat as she looked at Kaya and Kanna.

"Alright, I guess both of you can hear it. But you have to promise me, this is only between the three of us," Anika pleaded with them.

"You can trust us," Kaya said while Kanna nodded her head in the form of agreement.

"By nightfall, let's all meet at Mother's igloo," Anika said.

Night came and the three women had gathered inside Kanna's igloo. The three of them sat in front of a small table and Anika placed a chest in the middle of it.

"This chest belongs to me. It contains my most prized possession and some letters that are written for Maya," Anika said as she held on to the red chest.

"Written for Maya? Written by who?" Kaya asked.

"By me... I'm leaving her here," Anika suddenly said.

Kaya and Kanna were surprised at what she had just said and they were both confused.

"Leave her here? What are you talking about? Where are you going?" Kaya continuously asked.

"I'm going back to where I came from,"

"And where is that?" Kanna asked this time.

"The Fire Nation," Anika timidly answered.

Kanna and Kaya were shocked.

"Fire nation? What are you saying?" Kaya asked.

The whole room went quiet until Anika started explaining.

"You both knew very well that I don't belong here. You both just found me passed out on the ice grounds one day, kept me in, and raised me and Maya here. But originally, I am from the fire nation, from the mainland,"

"I ran away from home because there was a problem with my husband's family. Maya's grandfather wanted us gone. They wanted Maya gone. Her father supported the idea and he told me to just drop the baby and forget about being a mother, but I couldn't. I could never!" Anika explained with tears forming in her eyes.

"When my parents knew of this, they told me to leave the nation and live somewhere far. I didn't want to be separated from my parents, but this was the only way that I could do to save Maya's life. So I ran away, without anything in hand except what's in the chest and Maya,"

"But you can waterbend! How can someone from the fire nation become a waterbender?" Kaya asked.

"You wouldn't believe it, but I actually met an ancient being that gifted me the ability to waterbend. I don't really know what to call it. But it was huge! It appeared out of nowhere while I was traveling in the ocean. He offered to help me so that's how I got my waterbending skills," Anika explained.

"He said something about me bearing the future companion for the Avatar, and that I needed to survive and live well. I wasn't quite sure what it was talking about though, but I was happy that he gave me powers,"

"That being was the one that told me to go here to the south pole. He told me that my soon-to-be child would be safer there and that she was destined to be there. That's why I took all the courage I had and went to the south, and when I got here I started looking for a village, but I was already at my limit. That's where you found me, Kaya," Anika said to them.

"Up until now, I can't really forget about that giant being. He seemed ancient and sacred. It's like a spirit in the flesh,"

Anika looked at the confused Kanna and Kaya and asked,

"Am I making any sense?"

"This is all too hard to grasp but, I can't really argue that it's not true," Kanna answered.

"So you mean to tell us that you're a fire nation citizen? And that you got your waterbending from some 'spirit' that you met?" Kaya asked.

"Exactly!" Anika confirmed.

Kaya looked at her angrily and she asked, "Then what is up with you leaving Maya in here? What's with that?"

Anika looked down filled with sadness.

"I need to go back to the mainland. There's something I need to do that I wasn't able to," Anika answered.

"And what is it?" Kaya pried onto it.

"It's... something personal. I can't tell," Anika replied.

"When are you leaving then?" Kanna asked.

Anika looked at both of them and said, "Tomorrow, by nightfall."

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-Maya's Point of View-

"And then the next morning, a raid occurred. Your mother was killed. She wasn't able to leave— she wasn't able to go back to the mainland," Gran-Gran said, finishing the story.

"Kaya was killed too... That day, I never knew I'd lost my two precious daughters," Gran-Gran said while she was about to cry.

I felt like crying too... I can't believe this! What are all these things grandma is telling me?! This is all crazy!

A spirit that can gift bending? Then, could it mean that Mother's stories were real?

"Why are you telling this to me Gran-Gran?" I asked her. She looked at me with seriousness in her eyes.

"Just like your mom, I want you to see the good in every situation. I don't want you growing up hating your own kind. It just seems unfair and not right," she answered.

"But the fire nation is nothing but ruthless Grandma! They are bad people and it's only right for me to hate them!" I shouted as I stood up.

"No... You're wrong... Because there's your mother to prove it. And then there's you..." she calmly said.

I suddenly cried. Tears fell from my cheeks and I couldn't hold it in much longer.

"There must be a reason why you grew up here, why your mother ran away, and why she wanted to leave you here," Gran-Gran continued.

I suddenly felt weak on my knees and then I fell to the floor.

"I... I don't know anymore Grandma. I don't know what to do, I don't know what to say..." I said.

"So do I... And that's okay... There will always be moments in our life when we'll feel lost, and it's fine. What's not fine is giving up. Even without navigation, even without a map, the journey must still go on. Keep on walking, keep on running, keep on sailing, until you figure something out," Gran-Gran said.

"I know this is too much to handle. But this is the truth about you and your mom. I don't want to hide this from you," she continued.

"Why now Grandma? Of all times?" I asked.

"If not now, then when?" she replied.

She's right. It's better to tell it now rather than complicate things in the future.

I looked at the chest and then I examined what was inside. I saw a necklace on top of a pile of letters.

"This is the most important thing for mother?" I asked Gran-Gran as I held the necklace in my hands.

"She never really told us the reason why. But I guess there are some things she didn't tell us that she wrote in the letters," Gran-Gran answered.

I looked at the letters and there were five of them— five pages. I recognized Mother's handwriting and it made me suddenly miss her.

"Mother..." I said as I closed my eyes and started crying silently.

Gran-Gran stood up and hugged me. I felt defeated. Ever since Mom was gone, I've always told myself that I would be strong. I promised not to be a crybaby that will always look for her and I swore to train myself to become independent and stronger.

But now, with Gran-Gran hugging me, and with all the craziness going on, I just couldn't help but wish for Mom to be here. I wished she was the one hugging me instead.

I just can't help but get angry at the fact that, whether my mom died or survived the day of the raid, I would've still ended up mother-less. I can't help but be sad about the fact that she didn't have a choice. She only wanted what was best for me. I'm actually the reason she went through all of that.

Why was I even born? What is the point of existing with life as messed up as this?

Suddenly Gran-Gran pulled away from the hug and said, "You are a brave young woman Maya. Your life may be a little bit messy, but that doesn't add up to who you are. True... you didn't start well... but that doesn't mean you couldn't end things well, right?" Gran-Gran said and then she smiled.

I smiled as well and I wiped my face.

I looked at the necklace while saying, "I'm going to value you as much as Mom did. I won't ever let this necklace out of my sight" and then I clenched it on my fist.

Suddenly, we heard a huge explosion from outside the village.