YOU GO FOR IT, SON

The moonlight hit the floor through the slim opening that was the window of the prison cell. Hakoda watched the few shadows crawl across the floor, sitting cross-legged in one end of the little space.

This was only a temporarily cell, he knew that. He was to be taken to somewhere else, a place called 'the Boiling Rock'.

Hakoda had heard about the place, and he knew that it was no good. It was only leaders and highly criminal benders that were send there. Unless his son, daughter, the Avatar and their friends took the Firelord down, Hakoda would be imprisoned forever. It wasn't a good view of the future.

But he reminded himself why he was there. He had sacrificed himself for his kids, for other's kids. He had been captured for a good course. He hid his face in his hands, frustrated. He cursed everything around him. Why had things gone so wrong? Would he ever get to see his kids again?

He hit his fist into the wall, knowing that it would hurt later, but he didn't care. He gasped in the heavy prison cell air, and looked up at the little window.

"I hope they're all right," he murmured. "I hope they made it. I hope they'll win the battle. May the moon be with you."

He sighed and looked back at the shadows, wanting to fall asleep.

But then he noticed that the room was becoming brighter, and he looked up again. The light came from the window. He hurried to look, and as he watched the sky, it was as if the moon grew and grew for every second.

He stepped back as he felt the light burn on him. Not a painful burn … But a burn.

"Don't be afraid, Hakoda of the southern water tribe," a voice said, but it was as if there were an echo.

"Who are you?" Hakoda asked and stepped into a fighting stance. Was this another one of the Fire Nation's tricks?"

"I am the moon," the voice answered.

No matter what the Fire Nation was trying to do, he would not give in. He closed his eyes and turned away. "Leave!" he ordered angrily. "I won't listen to any of your lies!"

He suddenly felt something brush his shoulder, and he whirled around. A beautiful young woman stood in front of him. Her clothes, hair and skin was pale white, and her eyes were strangely milky-like, they reminded him of that girl Toph's eyes, but they had a tint of blue in them. Then he looked at her clothes. Water tribe.

"Who are you?" he whispered.

"I am the moon spirit," the woman answered. "My mortal name was Yue."

"What do you want?" Hakoda asked.

"Nothing from you, Hakoda of the water tribe. I am here because you want something from me."

"I do?" Hakoda asked, puzzled, for a moment forgetting the strange fear he held for this woman.

"You asked me to be with your children, Katara … And Sokka."

Hakoda nodded, noticing the slight hesitation at his sons name, and he was immediately worried. "I … Guess I did."

The woman smiled a sad smile. "I just wanted you to know that I will gladly watch over them. I already watch over your son, and thereby your daughter. I watch over them as much as a spirit can," she said.

Hakoda stared at her, confused by her words. "My son?" he asked. "Who asked you to watch over him."

Yue smiled sadly. "No one, I think. But part of me is always with him."

"Why?" Hakoda asked.

"Because when I left the mortal world, I told him that I would always be with him, and I am determined to do so. I cannot let anyone hurt Sokka if I can prevent it."

"How do you know Sokka?" Hakoda whispered, afraid his son had fallen into trouble he couldn't come out of. Trouble with spirits were no good …

"I knew your son for a short period of time, but over that short time, I grew to love your son. When I had to leave your world to save the world, to become the moon, I also had to leave Sokka. I know it hurt him."

"He … He never told me," Hakoda said.

Yue nodded and looked at the ground. Hakoda was bewildered. This was a strange spirit. "I know," Yue said. She looked around with sad eyes. "I'm afraid I can do nothing to help you here. But I can show you something that might lighten your heart."

"Show me what?" Hakoda asked.

"A gaze at the future," Yue answered. "A look into your children's future; not the details, of course, I have no right to show you them. But I want to help you, Hakoda, and I know that it will help you to know that your children are safe." She held forth her hand. "If you wish to know, take my hand. If not, I will leave."

Hakoda stared at her hand. He knew it wasn't always good to look into the future. But she'd said that it would help him.

Hesitantly, he took it.

-

A group of youngsters moved through wasteland, the giant bison of theirs moving tiresomely behind them. Among them was Hakoda's children, Katara and Sokka.

Suddenly, Katara was very, very close, and her face expression changed into a happy one. She was dressed up and stood beside a tall man, dressed in orange, yellow and red. Hakoda couldn't see his face.

Then he saw Sokka. He looked tired. But then, a woman was abruptly at his side, and he was smiling. Like with the man beside Katara, Hakoda couldn't see the woman clearly, couldn't see her face. But it was all right. Because Sokka was smiling. And Hakoda had never seen his son like this, not even when his wife was still alive.

Suki, Suki, Suki, the wind seemed to chime, and even though Hakoda didn't understand what that meant, he was happy that it was there.

-

"Goodbye, Hakoda," Yue said as she unexpectedly removed her hand. She smiled at him, and he felt tears on his cheeks. He didn't wipe them away. It was happy tears. And he was smiling. "I will watch over them."

Then she disappeared back into the moon, and Hakoda stared at the bright, full circle on the sky.

"Thank you," he whispered, and it seemed the moon shone a bit brighter for a second, as if it was trying to answer.

And Hakoda understood.

He laid back on his madras and fell into a sleep of happiness.

---

I was asked if I could do a whole story about what would happen if Zuko started dating Ty Lee instead of Mai. I don't know if I'll do a whole story of it, maybe a few chapters, but it won't be right now because of the many fan fictions I am already doing; and homework. Anyhow, I'll look into it :) Thank you for the idea, JC.