Tides of the Moon

Okay standard disclaimer here: I dont own Avatar, never will, but if I did it would have lasted another season and been Zutara.

Katara's P.O.V.

I was working with some young girls who had convinced the elders to let me teach them and was correcting their form and showing how to properly do the water whip . They weren't my most advanced class but they tried hard and few wanted to be healers, most wanted to fight like me.

That day I can remember vividly. One of the few from my youth that I will let myself remember.

"Katara! Come here for a moment" Dad called. Standing outside the training arena with Master Paku.

"Sure Dad. Hold on a few minutes though I need to finish with the kids." I called without looking at him.

"No Katara. Now."

I looked at him and saw that he meant it. "Ok girls I will be back soon. Don't stop practicing. Arayan you are in charge" I told the eldest girl.

I followed Dad into the meeting hall where all of the elder's were assembled. I noticed that they all had very grim faces on and there was a dirty old piece of parchment lying on the table.

"What's going on?" I asked.

Master Paku stood up and walked over to her. "Katara I know this will be hard to understand but the Fire Nation found an old document. One we had hoped they would not discover again. 50 years ago we made an agreement that one of our ladies would marry the Fire Lord in order to establish peace between the nations. However the document never really was enforced. They did not really care. But now some of the Fire Nation elders have decided to enforce it." He put a hand on her shoulder "This is where you come in. There are no water tribe noble girls of age. Except you."

"What! So you are telling me that I have to marry my friend. Isn't there anything Zuko can do about it? He has Mai. What about Aang? Have you told him? Sokka and Suki?" I started rambling on.

"Katara I know this must be hard but you have little choice in the matter. Fire Lord Zuko is sending General Iroh to bring you back to the Fire Nation. He will be here in a day. You must remember the Fire Lord has about as much of a choice in this as you do. True his nobles don't know which girl they are getting but Zuko and Iroh do. They know you. Trust them." Paku said.

"What about Aang? What does he know?"

"Last time he was here we told him everything. He understands. I think that was why he broke it off with you Katara. To make it easier when you found out about this." Hakota told me.

"I need time to think about this"

"You don't have much time. General Iroh will be here sunup tomorrow. You leave after his ship has restocked supplies."

I ran out of the hut after that. I didn't stop running. In my head I didn't know where I was running to but somehow I ended up inside the Spirit Oasis. I finally stopped in front of the two fish. I saw Yue there circling like she had been since the Battle a year ago. I sat down in front of it and started to cry.

"Yue I don't know what to do. I know I have a duty to my people but haven't I done it. I taught Aang waterbending. I helped end the war. What else could my destiny hold for me?"

Silence. Then a white mist started to form around me. It condensed in one spot next to me. A vision of my mother appeared. The mist started to solidify and it was her mother standing there next to her.

"Oh my dear Katara" She said kneeling next to her daughter.

"Mom?"

"Yes sweet it's me for a little while anyways. Yue is helping me but I don't have long. You have a destiny that is greater than just being the Avatar's water bending master. Much greater. I have seen it my daughter."

"What is it?"

"I can't tell you. I'm not permitted. You must realize it for yourself." Her eyes glazed over after she said this for a second but then they returned to normal. "I really don't have much time but listen to this bit of advice. Try to love Zuko. Your life will be much happier if you do." She started to fade away back into the mist. "Oh and Katara?"

"Yeah Mom?"

"Tell Sokka to not worry about telling Suki about Yue. And tell him I think she is a very sweet girl." She disappeared.

"I will Mom."