Chapter One- Sacrifice
In the spirit oasis, everyone was tense as Zhao held the moonspirit over his hand, preparing to incenerate it. "Anything you do to that spirit, I'll release on you tenfold!" Iroh yelled. Zhao dropped the spirit and held his hands up in surrender and defeat. "All right," he said. He turned his gaze to everyone; Aang, Katara, Sokka, and the Northern Water Tribe princess, Yue.
Then, with a savage, nearly inhuman scream, Zhao threw forward a punch, a mouth of fire erupting from it, ready to engulf the fish in the pond.
'I should be able to waterbend,' Yue thought, 'since I have been touched by the moon. Maybe...' But she realized that there wasn't enough time to put it out. Yue turned to Sokka. "I'm sorry," she said, then ripped out of his arms and into the line of fire. The fire engulfed her, and she collapsed.'
"You'll pay for that, Zhao!" Sokka shouted. Zhao held up his hands again. "Maybe you should care more about healing your girlfriend then getting revenge," Zhao said smugly, and smirked. He turned around and ran out of the garden.
Sokka picked up Yue's limp form. Who was the best healer in the Northern Water Tribe? He didn't care. Any healer that could help Yue would be his favorite. Tears streaking his cheeks, Sokka ran into the city.
"Will the burns heal?" Sokka asked the healer, his voice expressing the worry inside him. "The burns will heal, and her chakras are clear, but..." the healer began. "But what?" Sokka asked. "And what are chakras anyway?" The healer sighed. "Chakras are pools of spiritual energy in the body. They're perfectly clear, but...
there isn't much energy to flow. It's like half her life force simply disappeared- vanished, into thin air." she answered. "I don't know how I can heal Yue for this... all we can do is wait and hope Yue gets out of this herself."
Sokka cast one last look at Yue before going to talk to Chief Arnook.
Chief Arnook glared at Sokka. "You were supposed to protect her," he shot at him. "I'm sorry," Sokka answered. Chief Arnook intensified his glare and scowled. "If Yue dies," he growled, "then you and your friends will never be welcomed here again."
Sokka hung his head. "I understand," he muttered, and turned to exit when Hahn entered. "He's still here? You haven't kicked him out of the city yet?" Hahn said with anger.
Chief Arnook shook his head. "Yue isn't dead yet," he answered.
Yue's head hurt like she was hit in the head by a raging hogmonkey. She opened her eyes and was aware that she was not in the spirit oasis, or even in the Northern Water Tribe. She was in a swamp, with thick trees and vines everywhere and water covering the hem of her dress. "The spirit world," she whispered. "I didn't know I could get into it."
She looked around, but all she could see was water and swamp vegetation. "Is anyone there?" she called out, uncertain. "Anyone? Anything?"
She was surprised when a young man dressed as a Northern warrior stepped out from behind some bushes. "Who are you?" Yue asked. The man smiled. "I am Avatar Kuruk, the last Water Tribe avatar."
"Do you know what I'm doing here?" she inquired. Avatar Kuruk nodded. "It has to do with the spirit oasis." Yue frowned. "Zhao. The flames." she said. Then a horrible thought came upon her. "Am I dead?" she asked.
Avatar Kuruk shook his head. "No, but you are close. Half your life force vanished." Yue bit her lip. "Where is it?" she said, not expecting an answer.
Avatar Kuruk looked at her, studying her closely. "Here," he answered. "It brought you to the Spirit World, and it can take you back."
"How do I get back?" Yue asked, but before Avatar Kuruk could answer, another headache spread across her scalp, and her vision went dark.
When Yue opened her eyes again, she was in her room, covered by a quilt. Her father was sleeping in a chair by the bed and Hahn was standing guard outside. "Father," she whispered. Chief Arnook lifted his head. He wasn't asleep after all. "Yue," he said, smiling.
Hahn entered the room, smiling, but it was a smile of victory, not of love or compassion. Yue shivered, but not because she was cold. "Where's Sokka?" she asked. Hahn frowned. "Your failed bodyguard? Off preparing to leave. He's not welcome anymore."
"Bring him here," Yue ordered Hahn. "All right," Hahn said, bowed, and left the room.
Sokka came in five minutes later. "It wasn't your fault," she told him. "I was the one who lept forward." Chief Arnook gasped at the confession. "Why?" he asked. "Yeah, Yue, why?" Hahn asked, not nearly as polite as her father. "To save the moon," she answered.
Sokka shifted uncomfortably. "Well, then, I'm glad you're better," he said. "Can you get up yet?"
"Haven't tried," Yue informed him, and pulled back the covers. "but I will now."
To everyone's amazement, Yue could stand and walk with no difficulty.
"Want to take a walk?" she asked Sokka. "Sure," he answered.
"I want to run away," Yue told Sokka later, away from earshot of the people, Hahn, and most importantly, her father.
"Why would you want to do that?" Sokka asked, confused. "I don't love Hahn, and... well, I get the feeling that I should be doing more to help the world then give you a place to stay for a few weeks. Besides, I've never really been comfortable here."
"What do you mean?" Sokka asked.
"Every single part of my life is controlled by rules- even who I marry. I'm not staying to marry Hahn. He has no respect for me whatsoever, just the 'perks' I come with." Yue answered. "When are you leaving?"
"Tonight," Sokka answered, wondering how the princess would use the information.
"Meet me at the bridge, then. The one that we used to meet at," Yue said. "For now, I will pretend I have not reached any conclusions or decisions."
"All right," Sokka agreed. The two parted, each aching for their midnight meeting on the bridge.
"Where's Yue?" Chief Arnook burst into Hahn's room the next morning. "She's not in the palace!" Hahn looked up from a scroll he was reading. "Not in the palace? Are you sure she isn't taking a walk? She's been doing that a lot lately." Hahn said, not in the least bit intrested.
"I talked to everyone I saw. No one has seen Yue." Hahn smiled an icy smirk as an idea popped into his head. "Maybe Sokka kidnapped her," he said, but stopped being so smug when Arnook mumbled, "No, Sokka wouldn't do that. If Yue is with them, it's because she ran away."
The realization hit Arnook like a blow. He staggered back and sat down on a chair, his legs refusing to hold him. "Why?" he whispered. "Why would she run away? What is there in the city that makes Yue so unhappy?"
Hahn stood up. "Maybe it's you," he said. "Maybe Yue ran away from you and me."
"The north pole looks spectacular from the sky!" Yue exclaimed as they flew on Appa. "Everything looks so small, like toys." Sokka smiled. Even though he had taken Yue on a flight with him before, she was still amazed at the beauty of being in the air. "That's why the air monks built their temples on the mountains," Aang said. "Not only does it give protection, but it gives a wonderful view. Not that the air temple isn't a view itself!" Everyone laughed at this remark.
"I'm worried how Dad will take this," Yue wondered. "And Hahn. Hahn will be furious."
Katara smiled. "Well, they're in the north, and we're going south. We won't have problems with them for a while!" Again, everyone laughed.
"Anyway, let's get some rest," Sokka suggested. "After all, we have a lot of traveling to do tomorrow if we want to get to that fortress. Just think, being escorted to Omashu!" Yue smiled. "What's Omashu like?" she asked.
"Well, it's big..." Sokka answered. "I got that," Yue commented. "I mean, what does it look like?"
"It's surrounded by a wall, like your tribe," Aang answered. "The earth kingdom sign is on the gates, and the king is an old friend of mine. He's really friendly, and slightly crazy. Bumi's a mad genius!" Yue smiled at how Aang described his friend. "I can't wait to meet him!"
Aang grinned. "Me too, Yue. Me too."
As the four flew into the night on Appa's back, Yue couldn't help but wonder... the vision her father had, about a young woman becoming the moon... did she stop that from happening completely, or was it still yet to come?
Yue shivered, but it wasn't from the cold, northern air.
Well, the next chapter will sum up the episode, "The Avatar State." It should be intresting with Yue there! Please review and comment. Tips on how to improve will be appreciated!