Ever...
Get the feeling that you're never
All alone and I remember now

The dragon must have looked like a floating ribbon to anyone below who was watching. Thankfully I knew no one would be. Water-Tribe embers hardly looked up at this time of the year; it was too likely that they’d get snow in their eyes.
Azula was trying to get the dragon to descend slowly, but it was no use, and I hurled a second time, feeling it’ flanks flinch at the splash of steaming liquids against its sides. I pointed to a tiny, invisible, speck of green amongst all the white and blue.
It was the tiny mystic place where the most dedicated water-benders went to meditate and learn. It was treason against the Water Tribe to bring any one who wasn’t a water bender, let alone a member of the tribe. As we got closer I noticed three figures thru my streaming eyes. We landed a little way off, not directly on the island, and I waited as Azula, being surprisingly gentle, helped me down. I went and pulled our packs down, as Azula held two criss-crossed swords at my back, guarding me against the shadowy figures.
A fog had rolled in; it was billowing around our ankles, and obscuring our view of the little island. I was getting pissed, it was unnatural and that pissed me off. They were trying to get us to leave and I finally handed my pack to Azula, crouching as best I could, and raising my arms, I lifted the fog just barely pushing it away so that we could at least move without falling over. I motioned for Azula to walk in front of me; she nodded her head and moved silently forward.
She was utterly silent, even her feet made no sound against the snow, her now black clad form, and slid thru the mist as if she was just another shadow. I shivered seeing her training at work. I wouldn’t wan her to ever have a reason to stalk me. She moved forward to quickly and I lost sight of her, I heard a squeak then nothing. She returned and on the tip of one of her swords was a snow mole, nearly invisible in this climate. No I would never want that.  Ever,
Suddenly we were left blinking in the light, the fog had let up. We were standing on solid grass. The spirit pond. I almost relaxed until I saw who it was that was waiting for us.
The Avatar.
He was an old man taller than I, by at least a head or two. He had crows feet, and wrinkles at the edge of his nose and mouth. He was dressed in the best robes of an Air temple monk, orange and lighter yellow, with dark brown prayer beads wrapped around his neck, twice. His bald head had only a few wrinkles and its customary blue arrow, he stared down at me with eyes that held unfathomable wisdom, but also a great sadness. His arms were folded peaceably in the long sleeves of his robe, much like the woman who stood by his side.
She was also taller than I, but not by much. Her hair was long pulled up into a simple top knot the extra trailing in a long line to fall carelessly at her butt. Her clothes were simple close-necked dark green dress, w/ kimono sleeves and a light green apron pulled over that, tied off with a dark brown, knotted rope-belt. She too had crows feet, and wrinkles at the corner of her nose and mouth, but she did not look at me sagely, more with amusement. Though look would be the wrong word to use. She was blind; her eyes milky and pale like the snow around us. The biggest surprise however was the third figure.
Grandfather Pakuu.
He was wearing a long blue robe trailing to his ankles, much like the one I wore though his was royal blue and mine was light. It had white fur ringing around the bottom and on the sleeves, as well as trailing down in a long line on the front of it.
“Grandfather Pakuu?!” I shouted in alarm, dropping our bags at my feet and pointing at him accusingly. Azula however was not nearly so subtle.
She rushed forward, ducking low and attacked the older woman. She moved swiftly out of Azula’s way, never unfolding her hands from her sleeves. Azula simply back pedaled, and swung at her head, the lady ducked and Azula jumped over her. She straightened not realizing where exactly Azula had landed, until she felt the swords across her throat. ”move and you will never draw another breath.” Azula stated simply.
“Grandpa Pakuu?” I asked, sadly,”Why?” I stepped toward him pleading with my eyes for it not too be true;”this is treason!” I cried, tears threatening to spill over, in anger.
He put his hand in front of him backing away from my wrath. ”Please, listen Katara. Don’t let your anger get the best of you; there is a reason for this!”
“No!” I shouted. The ice around the wall protecting the pond began to crack.
“Katara!” a voice said from behind me. I whirled at the sound, horrified, already knowing who it was.
Yue. She was dressed much like she always was, but her hair wasn’t up, it lay waving around her shoulders in a waterfall of white. At her side was her son Daisuke. He looked much like his father, but with his mothers white hair, and more serious eyes. He had been born nine months to the day after his parents wedding. He was already, watching his grandfather’s water bending classes, and by the way the ice cracked whenever he threw a tantrum, there was no doubt about what he would be when he got older.
“Yue?!” I said sadly staring at her in shock.
“Is everyone in your family a traitor?” Azula snarled at me, still holding the swords to her captive’s throat.
“no.” both Pakuu and Yue replied quietly.
“Young lady.” The avatars voice said deeply, smoothly.” If you do not remove your swords form my wife’s throat I will be forced to see it as an act of hostility.” He said quietly.
“Don’t move them Azula!” I cried out tears gently flowing down my eyes.” no one is going to move until we get some answers!” I screamed.
“My name is Aang.” The avatar spoke quietly directing his words at me but never taking his eyes off Azula.”As you can see I am the Avatar.” I said nothing just glaring at him, I moved my arms upward then down forcefully, gathering water from outside the pond area and slamming it down, holding it in front of myself, as a shield. He sighed. “I have been chased across the continents for a crime that I never committed, for refusing to trust a corrupted nation. I seek only peace, and wish only to speak with you.” He said calmly reaching a hand toward Azula.
In response she tightened her words. ”you killed my father! That is not peace!” she snarled at him.
“Think! If I meant to hurt anyone, it would already have happened. Also, what nation was your father traveling thru when he was slaughtered? Who was he being guarded by?” a fine thread of anger had crept into his voice at the last part as he glared at Azula.
“Long-Feng!” Azula and I both gasped, he and the Dai Li. “but how….?” whispered Azula her eyes wild and crazy in shock.
“Azula, I said moving to her side, sweeping the wall of water with me. “Zhao again! He and Long-Feng...” I trailed off whispering urgently in her ear. “The month before, they had been talking…”
She turned her head, glaring at me, tears streaming down her eyes.” I…”she said in a child’s voice. She shook her head clearing her face of her tears.
“I will remove my swords.” she hissed, “because you make a point, however…”she brought a sword-point underneath the lady’s chin a clear threat. She removed them, and shoved the woman forward causing her to stumble, and fall to her knees. Aang knelt down, and helped her up, gently pulling her by the arm. Azula moved in front of me in a crouch, her and the Avatar glaring at each other the whole time.
“Explain yourself.” She spat at him, finally,
“This man, Zhao, and his other men, the earth and fire benders, are planning to kill the moon spirit.” He started.
“We know.” I said, swirling the water in front of me in a threatening manner.
“Cut to the chase.” Azula snipped.
“We need your help to contact the ocean spirit.” He said swiftly, no emotion in his voice,” we are trying to get the spirits to…help us. However I have never been close to them, and would ask that, with my help, yourself and Yue we may work out a plan to save the world.” He finished a bit dramatically.
“Katara.” Sokka, who must have come in, while I was listening to the avatar said,” it’s the only thing we can do. Zhao and the Dai Li have already begun to attack, we are holding our own, but we won’t be able to for much longer.” He said, his face was covered in traditional war-paint, though somewhat smeared as if he had been fighting very recently.
“There will be time for the explanations much later, Lady Katara, but I and the rest of your loved ones trust. We need you.” Pakuu said urgently.
I gently lowered the water back into its proper place and stepped forward. Azula made a small movement to stop me.
“No Azula.” I said putting my hand up, to stop her from stopping me,” if this is what needs to be done, than I shall do it.” I said closing my eyes, then opening them again, I felt them flare with the heat of my emotion.” If anyone makes a move to hurt me, you may do whatever you think I s necessary.” I finished moving toward the front of the spirit pond, where the avatar and Yue stood. Azula’s face contorted with two different emotions, a grim frown, and the look like I had just given her an early festival day.
I moved and stood next to Yue, my fists balled at my sides. ”what do I need to do?” I asked looking up at Aang, who smiled down at me sagely.
“You need only to meditate.” He said moving his arm out in a slow sweeping motion.” I will help you go into and almost avatar state bringing you to the very feet of Tui and La. from there you must ask them yourselves what must be done to help the world.”
I looked around Azula stood a scant five feet away; next to her were Sokka, Pakku and Daisuke.
“My lady Toph?” Aang said looking over at the woman.
“They are coming but not near us yet.” She said her hands on the icily ground outside of the pond area. Yue helped me sit down, in front of the spirit pond where Tui an LA eternally circled each other, then sat in front of me holding my hands in hers. I closed my eyes, focusing on nothing but the feel of the water around me. I started a bit when I felt a strong hand on my shoulder. It was the avatar.
“Push…and…pull.” I heard Yue whisper
“Tui and La.” I intoned gravely. We continued each taking a turn, I felt myself slip into a trance and before I could think I was suddenly somewhere else.
We were in a long blank place that somehow moved like light playing on water. I looked to my side and holding my hand was Yue. She was dressed in an odd manner, her hair was tied into a top bun, trailing down into two separate loops, then braided at her ears.  She wore a white, moonlit dress, strapless, with sleeves that frothed and draped like a waterfall itself, it was tied around the waist with a light blue sash, and around her shoulders floating around her body and forming her was a light gold sash. I glanced down at myself and I was wearing the same outfit. I looked at her and she shrugged, we both glanced forward. It seemed as if we were moving forward, toward two shadowy figures. Neither of us said a word, we knew we were not meant to speak.
In front of us floated? Stood?  A mirror image of Yue and a shadow silhouette figure, navy blue, looked at us and after a long moment of silence, spoke.
“Daughters, your journey have not been an easy one, your lives wrought with peril, and tragedy. You have made your own happiness, and never once sought out help, instead helping others.” They spoke as one; it was eerily and made my breath catch in my throat. They fell silent, and the Yue one moved toward her placing her hand on the real Yue’s forehead. “I shall give you the knowledge you seek.” It said, drawing Yue away by the hand.
I let go of her and stepped toward the ocean spirit.
“What do I need to do?” I asked softly. It looked at me measuring, and I got the strangest feeling that it was sad? Or maybe feeling regret?
“You still remember the fortune teller’s prophecy?” it asked in a voice that sounded like the rush of the waves, and reminded me of deep-sea diving with the other water benders.
It did not surprise me that the spirit knew my darkest secret. “yes.” I said quietly.
“Tell me.” It said, and I got the feeling that we were moving, walking away from the two Yue’s. I sighed, thinking of that moment, and the knowledge that I had carried with me, for almost three long years.
“On our honeymoon, Zuko and I went to a renowned fortuneteller in the earth kingdom, to see what our future would be. The fortune teller told us that we should get our fortunes told separately; when I was alone she burnt incense for me, and threw bones. What she saw…”I hesitated and closed my eyes at the awful memory.” She saw my death, she told me * when you have your hearts desire, you will save your life then die at the end of the world.* I saw images as she spoke, and I knew then, how I would die.” I finished, tears floated softly down my face. Disappearing into the atmosphere.
The spirit turned and watched my profile. “It is happening now.” He said sorrow permeated the air; his voice was low and almost inaudible. Strangely, I felt nothing. Everything was dark, and there was nothingness all around me.
I began to sob, I felt so alone in the endless blackness. It seemed an eternity before I opened my eyes, and saw another figure, in front of me. I blinked hard.
“Are my eyes betraying me?” I whispered in fear and hope.
It was Zuko. He looked younger than he did now, his hair pulled back like the first time I had seen him, but dressed in his traditional robes. His eyes were closed and it seemed as if he was only asleep. I moved toward him, intent on waking him up.
“No, your eyes are fine. You must not wake him.” The ocean spirits voice sounded in my ear, and my mind.
“Why?” I said tears started to flow freely again.
“He is full of a poison that no one but you can remove. If he opens his eyes, he will die.”
“No.” I cried out, reaching toward him and pulling his still form into my arms, and cradling him. My tears fell onto his face and seemed to disappear. “What must I do?”
“Save him…”
“Zuko” I whispered closing my eyes and rocking back and forth.” I missed you, and I love you so much, it’s so hard, to not be by your side, but please, don’t worry, we will always have each other, and I will always be there for you, for our babies.” My tears flowed faster, and I suddenly got scraps of things, images in my mind.
Zuko was screaming in rage, flames were flowing from his hands in a continuous stream from his mouth, feet, and hands. His eyes were blank completely red glowing like lava, and tears streaming from them, to fall steaming on his royal robes fighting many men, some of them his own, and the Dai Li, who were cowering and running.
The next image I saw was my body, floating in the spirit pond, Tui and la circling it, the avatar knelt pressing his hand on my stomach.
“Please save my children.” I whispered, and I saw his head jerk up, as If he heard me. I opened my eyes dispelling the fracturing images. “Zuko” please let it go; revenge will make you like Sozin, or Azulon. You are not that kind of man, please for our son and daughter.” I stroked his face and cried, suddenly, he opened his eyes, I almost screamed in utter misery
“Twins?” he asked, his eyes starting to close again.
“Ur-Sai, and Tui’La.” I whispered as his eyes closed, I was grateful, but my heart was breaking. I love you Zuko I whispered, bowing my head and kissing his lips one last time.
I felt the ocean spirit moving closer, and knew that I had no more time; I stood as Zuko’s body began to fade from my sight.
I looked at it, calm, but unable to stop crying. ”did he hear me?” I asked softly. “Will they know I loved them?”
The ocean spirit took my hand and led me away.
“They will always know.” It said “there father will tell them, everyday.”
I looked behind me as if I could see Zuko there.
“You will never be alone, my love.” I said and finally turned to follow the ocean spirit, allowing myself to finally let go, and do what I knew had been coming since I spoke to Zuko in that darkness.
I died.