The legends, the histories, the paintings, the songs - all of them about the group of children who saved the world. They're not wrong, and it could be worse, really. But they speak in generalizations. They romanticize parts, gloss over others, and fabricate parts. They speak of teenagers, teenagers who are legends now.
Mai, the quick, who loved Prince Zuko more than she feared the Mad Princess Azula.
Ty Lee, the graceful, who cut off chi paths with a touch.
Suki, the loyal, who trusted Sokka, even when it meant risking everything.
Toph, the strong, who was the greatest earthbender in the world and discovered metalbending.
Sokka, the fierce, who guarded his people every way he could.
Katara, the powerful, who was the hope of the south, the greatest waterbender in the world.
Zuko, the honorable, who redeemed his nation after the war.
And Yue, the dutiful, who gave her life for her people and became the moon spirit.
She watches the people tell the stories, and longs to be on earth again. She knew them, watched them, advised them, and watched them say goodbye.
Now there's only Katara and Zuko left. So she watches as a new waterbender leaves the South Pole, to make her way in the world. She watches as she finds love, friendship, happiness. She watches as they get taken away, then restored. She sees Katara sometimes, and Suki, and occasionally even a hint of the Princess Azula, in the new Avatar. She doesn't see Aang in her though, and if she wasn't the Avatar, she would never believe that he's her past life. In her friends, she sees Sokka, and Zuko, and sometimes Katara, and, rarely, she sees a bit of herself. In Lin, she can see Toph, cackling. In Meelo, she can see Aang - laughing wildly as he airbends, free as a bird.
Friends never say goodbye. And some friendships can transcend lifetimes. (Just hold hands, Sokka.)
She's a spirit. But even she can't turn back time, can't re-watch the episodes, rewind the tape.
But there's always hope. And the next generation. It's bittersweet, but time moves on. And there'll always be tomorrow's episode, until the world ends.
And it won't end just yet. The friendship will only grow stronger through lifetimes, and there's still story.
So she watches, and remembers.
AN: Not totally sure about how this was born, but I was listening to "Friends Never Say Goodbye," from The Road To El Dorado, and this appeared. Mostly, I was thinking about the Gaang and Yue, who really need an appearance in Book 2 of LoK!
