Disclaimer: I don't own Avatar: The Last Airbender or any character from the series. However, I do own Sokka and Yue's child present on this fic.
Princess Yue's Hard Choice
It was Princess Yue's happiest day of her life when she married Sokka of the Southern Water Tribe. Considering she grew accostumed to the idea of not having any say on who she should marry, she was satisfied about marrying someone she actually loves. Sokka was happy too. To the point he didn't mind sharing it with the 'Fire Nation Scum' as, previous to his marriage to Princess Yue, his sister married Fire Lord Zuko so he couldn't invite Katara without inviting the Fire Lord either. Among the guests was Avatar Aang, who was learning Waterbending from Master Pakku. Master Pakku was surprised about who else intended to learn Waterbending from him.
"Fire Lady Katara, what do I owe you this honor?" Master Pakku asks, apprehensive.
"Master Pakku, I would like to learn Waterbending." Fire Lady Katara humbly answers.
"Healer Yugoda is the best one to teach women how to heal. You should talk to her, Your Highness." Master Pakku harshly answers.
"I've already learned healing, Master Pakku. I wanna learn Waterbending for battle." Katara answers.
"I've already told your Father when he asked me. The only Waterbending women are allowed to learn is for healing. It's the tradition." Master Pakku replies.
"This tradition is wrong." Katara strongly says.
"I see your marriage into the Fire Nation has made you forget your place." Master Pakku comments.
"She was already like that when I met her." A new voice replies. It's Fire Lord Zuko.
"Really?" Master Pakku replies. "Well, that explains how she manages to use a Water Tribe-like necklace" He notices something familiar with Katara's necklace. "Hey. I recognize that necklace. I carved it myself for my lost love, Kanna."
"You knew my Gran-Gran?" A surprised Katara asks.
Master Pakku explains how she was betrothed to him but didn't love him so she eloped to the Souther Water Tribe. Realizing how being so hard on traditions had cost him his love, he changes his mind and agrees to teach Katara Waterbending. During the week she had until she and Zuko had to get back to the Fire Nation she progressed enough to become a Master Waterbender.
Nine months later, Princess Yue gave birth to a girl who, according to a previous agreement between her and Sokka, will be named Zita. However, not everything was good news. There were complications and perhaps only one of them (Yue and/or Zita) would survive. Praying for the Spirit of the Moon worked when Yue was a baby so Sokka and Chief Arnook tried it now. However, the spirit said that only one of them could be saved and it was Yue's call. After thinking hard about that, Yue decides to sacrifice herself in behalf of Zita. Sokka is sad for losing his wife but eventually grows up to understand and accept her sacrifice.
THE END
Did you like this oneshot? I usually don't feel like writing tragedies but I felt this one to be important. Please R&R. I know you opened this fic hoping only to find about Yue's hard choice but I couldn't help but let my Zutarian side get the better of me. Sokka and Yue's daughter got her name from Mizumi Gintori's fic 'Between Two Fires'. The Zita from that fic was also born in the Northern Water Tribe and inherited her bending skills from her Father, a Fire Nation soldier.
"What?" An angry Sokka asks. "You named my daughter after a FIREBENDER?"
Don't complain or next time I rename you after that Zita's sister, Sakka.
"Okay, okay."