Moon and Stars held high

sing a song of lover's nigh

across the sea and over mountains

lovers gather at the fountains.

A sight so beautiful

so divine

took place once upon a time

but war that came

brought end to love's reign

and the lover's be forgotten.

Part 1 – The Woman

4 years after the end of the Great War

Old and beautiful; they say

love a heartache one step away

It was that humming again. Aang had heard it before deep in his dreams but he wasn't dreaming now, was he? Aang opened his eyes, breaking the meditative state he had worked so hard to achieve. It was hard to get a few minutes of silence in all this commotion. First the peace treaties had to come, then the reconstruction of the Nations and finally the transportation of the soldiers. It was enough to drive the fifteen year old insane. My guess, the only thing that was stopping that from happening was Katara, and she was humming again.

The melody was clear now, even from behind the closed doors that separated Aang from the rest of the world. Aang turned around to face the door. The handles started shifting and the doors opened.

"Zuko?" Aang asked surprised. The melody was gone now. Must have been his imagination.

The Fire Lord's pale, young face was tired from staying up all night and being in meetings all day long. He yawned then greeted the young Avatar.

"'Morning, Aang. Katara told me to get you 'cause you have a visitor downstairs."

Aang giggled. "Did you just get up, or something?" he asked.

"I wish," Zuko said. "I've been up all night with those darn papers."

"Aw, Zuko. You should have gotten me. I would have helped."

"I know, but you were already asleep and I didn't want to bother you," Zuko said, slouching against the door for support of his weary body.

Aang smiled. "Thanks, I guess I owe you one, then."

"No problem, but you better hurry before Katara gets anxious," Zuko smiled too. "'Cause we all know what it's like when Katara's patience wears thin."

Aang laughed. It was good to see, even though this aftermath was so frustrating, Zuko still had some humor left in him.

The young Fire Lord led Aang through the halls of the palace. The uncovered windows brought light into the halls and made them look less medieval.

"So," Aang said starting a conversation, "who's this guest?"

Zuko shrugged, "I don't know. She just came in and wanted to talk to you two and Katara said it was okay."

"Wait, she wanted to talk to both me and Katara?" Aang asked. Usually, people came from all around to talk with him and Katara would sometimes come. It was strange this lady wanted to talk to both of them.

"Yeah, that's what she said."

They walked a few more minutes until they came to a door at the end of the hall.

"This is it," Zuko said motioning to the door. "Katara's already inside with your guest."

"Thanks, Zuko," Aang said kindly. Just before the firebender walked away Aang called out to him, "Hey, Zuko?"

"Yeah," he responded.

"Were you humming before you came into my room?"

Zuko looked confused. "Humming?" he asked. Aang nodded his head to confirm. "I don't hum," Zuko said sternly and walked away. Aang looked after his old firebending master then shook his head to clear his thoughts and opened the door to the room.

The visitor was an old, wrinkled woman, with sharp eyes and a big nose. She wore a brown-ish red cloak over her old body with a cane in one hand. Her long gray hair was tied in a traditional Fire Nation top-knot. Aang was a little intimidated by her until she smiled at him and motioned him to come over. Her smile was nothing Aang had expected. It was a bright smile and even though her exterior was frightening, Aang felt safe when she smiled at him. It was then that he began to trust this woman. She was sitting across from Katara on a soft pillow sipping tea out of a tea cup.

Katara smiled brightly at him too and patted the spot next to her. He took the invitation and sat down.

"Aang, this is Kiyomi," Katara introduced.

"Hello, young Avatar. It is an honor to be in your presence," Kiyomi said in a sweet voice.

Aang smiled, "No, believe me, the honor is mine," he said sincerely.

"Kiyomi was just telling me a legend on the most interesting thing. The legend of the 'Two Lovers', Oma and Shu," Katara said nudging Aang lightly in the arm.

"Oh, really," Aang said faking astonishment.

"Have you heard of the legend, Avatar Aang?" Kiyomi asked.

"Ah, I might have heard it somewhere before," he said sheepishly, smiling at Katara. She rolled her eyes.

Kiyomi took another sip from her tea. The cup hid the smile that formed on her face. "Katara, dear," she said, capturing the waterbender's attention, "why don't you go and make some tea for this fine gentleman."

"It would be my pleasure," Katara said. She stood up and left with the tea pot.

The kitchen was not that far away from the room they were in and it only took Katara a couple minutes to reach it. A servant girl met her at the door and asked kindly if she could take the tea pot from her. Katara nodded.

"Do you have tea that's already made?" Katara asked the girl.

"Yes. I just took one off the fire. Would you like it?"

"Yes."

The servant girl disappeared behind the kitchen door. She returned with a warm pot of tea on a tray and handed it to Katara.

"Thank-you," Katara said and carefully made her way back to the room.

Katara backed through the door with the tray but entering the room, her eyes widened and the tray fell to the ground, breaking the tea pot. Katara ran towards Kiyomi and knocked her to the ground. Then she knelt helplessly by Aang, who was lying on his back, his head resting on a pillow. She shook him, whispering his name over and over. He would not open his eyes.

Angrily, she turned back to Kiyomi. Katara stood tall over the old woman her hands ready to strike her with a water whip.

"What did you do to him?" she commanded, tears starting to form in her eyes.

The old woman sat up, flustered from being knocked over so suddenly. "He was troubled so I made him fall into a deep sleep."

"Well, wake him up," Katara said through gritted teeth.

"It is nothing to worry about, dear. This is what I do. I can make all your wildest dreams come true."

"I said wake him up!" Katara yelled and brought the water out of her pouch.

"I can not. Only he himself can wake up," Kiyomi said.

"Ugh," Katara screamed and through the water at the woman as an ice dagger. The dagger landed inches from Kiyomi. Her anger released, Katara sat beside Aang and took his hand, holding it tightly.

"You may join him if you like," Kiyomi said softly. The tears Katara had been trying to hold back slipped down her face.

"How do I know you won't kill us," she asked, trying to remain strong.

The woman was taken aback. "Child," she said, "I would never want to kill anyone, especially the Avatar. The spirits would have my head, for sure," she laughed. "I promise you will both be safe, besides don't you want to live your dreams?"

"I already have," Katara answered not turning away from Aang. "All my dreams have come true."

"All of them?" Kiyomi asked. "I sense in you the same loss as in him; the same pain. Wouldn't you like to be rid of it?"

"You can do that?" Katara said, turning her head to the woman but not letting go of Aang's hand.

"Just lay down, close your eyes and breathe deeply. In and out; in and out," Kiyomi instructed. Katara hesitated to lay down. "Trust me, my child, it will all turn out right in the end."

Katara laid down and closed her eyes, as instructed, and the world faded away.

A sacred place which in dwells

an enchantress casting evil spells

Kiyomi watched as Katara fell into the spell. The old woman changed her appearence and became a beautiful young woman; a spirit. She knelt to the floor inbetween the two and places one hand on each of their foreheads, reading their thoughts and memories. She, very faintly, heard humming.