Drabble Eight: Always Watching

The Spirit World is a strange place. There is no bending or wind, and every sound seems a little bit muted, like a soft heartbeat. The water feels like perfume, freshening your skin as it touches it, giving it a light sensation.

Ursa smiled as she stared into the water. She was sitting in the lotus position. She was watching her son sleep. It was one of the few times he looked peaceful.

She heard a muffled noise from beside her.

"Is it okay if I sit next to you?" asked a voice. Ursa looked up to see a woman, no older than herself, with bright blue eyes staring down at her.

"Of course," Ursa smiled, "Who do you want to watch over?" The pool was a popular place for spirits to watch over their loved ones, so Ursa was not surprised.

"My children, Sokka and Katara," the blue eyed woman said, "My name is Kaya."

"I'm Ursa," she smiled, and returned to her watching.

The two women had no idea that their children's lives would coincide.

()

Kaya gasped as her son ran up to the Fire Nation ship, only to be kicked down.

"Zuko, why would you do that?" she heard Ursa ask.

Kaya's eyes darted back to the pool, where she saw a boy in armour ask, "Where's the Avatar?"

"Ursa, is that your son?" Kaya asked, shocked. She saw Ursa's son reach down and grab Gran Gran.

"My mother!" Kaya gasped.

"Yes," Ursa sighed, "That's my son."

Ursa and Kaya watched as Katara and Zuko locked gazes. Katara was glaring and Zuko, and he returned the expression with full force.

"Something tells me that our children are not going to be friends," Kaya tried to lighten the mood.

()

"I'll save you form the pirates," Zuko said, grabbing Katara's wrists.

Ursa and Kaya, after seeing their children's lives collide so often, had taken to sharing the same pool to watch in.

"Smooth, Zuko," Ursa shook her head and let out a chuckle.

"Don't laugh this! He's taken my daughter hostage!" Kaya said with outrage.

The two mothers watched the scene unfold, reacting to different parts.

"He has my necklace," Kaya said softly, watching Zuko dangle it in front of her daughter's eyes. Katara was tied to a tree.

Ursa and Kaya leant in close to see what Zuko was whispering into Katara's ear, but they couldn't make it out. Katara blushed furiously, glaring. Exchanging a glance, Ursa and Kaya resumed watch.

()

The two mothers watched, entranced at the battle unfolding before their eyes. Zuko and Katara, polar opposites, were fighting heatedly. Katara encased the prince in a globe of ice, causing Ursa to hold her breath, letting it out only as the boy broke free.

"Here for a rematch?" The broken and battered prince asked, holding his hands out for a fight.

"Believe me, it's not going to be much of a match," Katara sneered, crushing Zuko like the tiny bug she believed him to be.

"You owe me a goldpiece," Kaya snickered to Ursa, who shook her head with disbelief as the group of kids rescued her son.

()

"Zuko, I can help," Katara said, her voice filled with concern. The prince kneeled over his injured uncle.

"Katara is so caring," Ursa said with admiration, watching her son banish the children from his sight.

()

"Zuko!" Katara's voice rang with surprise, before her face moved into a frown.

Ursa and Kaya sighed simultaneously.

"You're a terrible person, you know that? Always following us, hunting the Avatar, trying to capture the world's last hope for peace!"

Kaya placed a hand on Ursa's shoulder.

"You're the Fire Lord's son. Spreading war and violence and hatred is in your blood."

Ashamed, Ursa looked away from the scene. Kaya didn't know why. She felt that she had more to be ashamed about.

"You don't know what you're talking about." With her son's words, Ursa looked back. He had been wise to let Katara vent her rage. He could read her emotions so pointedly, but speaking out hadn't been all that smart.

"I don't? You don't know how this war has affected me. Me, personally," Katara turned and knelt, hiding her tears from the prince. She didn't want to show weakness.

"The Fire Nation took my mother away from me," Katara sobbed. Ursa shot a look at her friend, who was shedding tears as well. Engulfing Kaya in a hug, she heard Zuko's quiet words.

"I'm sorry. That's something we have in common." Kaya, her eyes filled with tears, looked up to her comforter. Ursa's eyes brimmed with tears.

()

"Maybe you could be free of it," Katara said, taking out a vile from her robe.

"What?"

"I have healing abilities."

"It's a scar, it can't be healed."

"This is Spirit Water from the Oasis at the Northern Water Tribe. It has special properties, so I've been saving it for something important."

Kaya and Ursa both let out a hidden breath as Katara touched Zuko's scar delicately.

"He's never let anyone touch it, before," Ursa told her friend. The two stared down at the intense scene, and groaned in unison as the wall broke down, separating the two teens.

()

"Zuko's been practising his speech," Ursa said, sitting beside her friend.

"What?"

"He's at the Air Temple. He wants to join them, and is thinking of the best way to do so. So far, his attempts at creating a speech have been dismal," she admitted. Kaya frowned with concern.

"Katara isn't going to take too kindly to that."

"If we ever see you again… well, we better not see you again," Katara threatened, looking away from the Prince. He walked away, and Kaya shook her head.

()

"And what's your little form called?"

"… the dancing dragon."

Ursa and Kaya both laughed along with the gaang, enjoying the scene of friendship below them.

()

"What are you doing?!" Katara screeched, realising who it was that had saved her.

"Saving you from being crushed," Zuko pointed out.

"Well, I'm not crushed. You can get off me, now," Katara said, pushing Zuko off of her.

Kaya and Ursa exchanged a slightly amused glance.

"She's a tough nut to crack," Ursa commented.

"Not for Zuko's lack of trying," Kaya said, "but my Katara has a lot of hurt to get over."

"I was the first person to trust you! Back in Ba Sing Se! But you betrayed me. You betrayed all of us. So you want to get my trust back? Reconquer Ba Sing Se for the Earth King. Or better yet- bring my mother back."

Kaya's eyes filled with tears, and Ursa patted her on the back.

They watched Zuko stay up all night waiting for Katara, and heard him tell her the news.

"I know who killed your mother."

Later one, as Katara and Zuko hugged, Katara finally forgiving him after all that he'd done, Ursa and Kaya smiled at each other. They couldn't help but notice how their eyes lingered on each other as they broke apart.

()

"Just sit next to me. What's the big deal?" Ursa laughed.

"Aang isn't going to give up, is he?" she asked, interested. She laughed again as the Avatar gave up his seat next to Katara.

"He's not very persistent to win my daughter's affections," Kaya laughed, too.

"I thought you were the Avatar's girl," the Player-Zuko said. Ursa and Kaya had to wipe their tears of laughter from their eyes. This play was so ridiculous. That was most definitely not what happened in the Crystal Catacombs.

"Is that really what you think of me, Katara?" Aang asked, hurt.

As Aang went in to kiss Katara, Ursa and Kaya frowned. Katara backed away.

"I just said I was confused!"

They smiled with relief as Katara went back inside, sitting next to Zuko.

()

"Thank you, Katara," Zuko's weak voice filtered up through the perfume water. Ursa and Kaya couldn't see clearly, their eyes filled with tears at the scene before them.

As Zuko and Katara kissed, and Azula was lead off in chains, Ursa choked back a sob.

"What a beautiful ending," Kaya said.

"No. What a beautiful beginning," Ursa said.

MAN! I WAS SO PISSED OFF WITH THE ENDING OF SOZIN'S COMET! I'm sure a lot of you were. In fact, I was annoyed with the whole movie altogether.

X

Alice