Over the next few days, Katara continued to visit Fei Yen several times per day to check on her. Every time she examined Fei Yen, she saw virtually the same thing – extreme illness with no assignable origin, and unfortunately, it seemed to be getting worse. On the first day she saw her, Fei Yen was at least conscious. Now, she was in such a state of weakness that she hardly moved or spoke at all.
"I'm really worried about her, Aang," Katara remarked when she concluded one of her healing sessions.
"Is there anything I can do to help?" asked Aang. "I am a waterbender, after all."
"Hmmm….well, I guess we could both try to heal her together," remarked Katara. "Perhaps we could slow down….whatever it is that is making her sick."
That evening, both Aang and Katara stood on either side of Fei Yen. Katara walked Aang through the healing process even though he had never attempted it before.
"You simply concentrate on their chi paths," she explained. "Depending on what the illness or injury is and what it was caused by, you can zoom in to the exact area causing the problem. Most of the time it becomes very clear to you what is going on. For example, in the case of a broken bone, you can virtually see the break itself by the way the energy flows or doesn't flow in the area."
Aang followed Katara's lead and put his hands on Fei Yen's core. Katara's water gently flowed across all four of their hands and began to glow. Both benders had their eyes closed and were concentrating intently. The additional healing power did make things clearer to Katara, but alas, she still had no luck determining what was going on.
"Did you see the baby?" Katara asked Aang.
"Yes, I did," answered Aang. "I saw that the source of her illness is the baby – there is nothing else wrong with her, but I cannot see what the problem is.
"It's so frustrating! It looks just like a normal pregnancy!" Katara vented.
"Is there anything we can do?" asked Aang.
"Help me send more of her energy towards the womb," said Katara. "That will at least help the baby survive."
"Is that a good idea?" asked Aang. "She's so weak already."
"It's the only thing I can think of to keep the baby alive from day to day. I know her and Kuei want that baby to survive," said Katara.
They touched Fei Yen's body again and moved more of Fei Yen's energy towards the baby. When they broke contact, both were breathing a little heavy.
"That's not as easy as you make it seem sometimes," said Aang to Katara.
"I've just had more practice," she replied.
OlOlOlOlOlO
Another week or so flew by and the healing rituals continued. Although Aang and Katara did get an opportunity so spend some time alone, and with various friends of theirs, it wasn't a very happy time or place considering what their good friends Fei Yen and Kuei were going through.
As they were lying in bed going to sleep one evening, Aang came to a sudden realization. He sat up quickly. "I wonder if anyone in the spirit world could tell me anything?" he said.
Katara was nearly asleep when this happened. She turned over to face him. "Do you think so, Aang?"
"It wouldn't hurt to try, would it?" he replied.
"I guess not," she said.
"I'll give it a try first thing tomorrow morning," he said while lying back down.
"Why not now?" Katara asked.
"It's much easier to get to the spirit world when I'm in a spiritual place," said Aang. "Don't be worried if I'm not here when you wake up tomorrow – I'll be taking a walk to the Avatar Temple in Ba Sing Se."
OlOlOlOlOlO
The next morning Aang did just as he said he would. When the sun just started peeking into their room in the Jasmine Dragon, Aang sprang to life and headed towards the temple. He entered and passed one of the workers of the temple on his way to the sanctuary.
"Hi – I just need to use your sanctuary for a few hours!" he yelled and kept walking. The worker merely stared with his mouth half open at who had just walked past him and the non-chalantness of his comments.
Aang found the sanctuary and began to meditate. Almost immediately, he found himself in the spirit world. I'm so glad this temple is in Ba Sing Se, he thought to himself. It makes this so much easier.
He started walking around the swampy areas of the spirit world, finding nothing for quite a while. He steadily pressed forward moving from areas that he recognized from earlier visits to areas that he did not recognize at all. He felt himself drawn forward by some unknown force. Where am I going? he thought.
He came to an area where vines were hanging down completely blocking Aang from the pathway he needed to follow. Gently, he moved them aside with his arm and took a few additional steps. Aang's surroundings were, once again, familiar to him.
The Northern Water Tribe? I don't understand. This is the sacred oasis in the Northern Water Tribe!
"You are correct, Avatar," said a voice near the koi pond.
Aang followed the voice to the koi pond and just as he reached it, Princess Yue appeared, floating above the pond.
"Why did you bring me here?" asked Aang.
"I have been permitted to show you the path that will answer all your questions. You have now seen and heard as much as I am allowed to share with you. Good-bye, Aang," Yue said to Aang and dissipated.
"What? How..?" yelled Aang into the air as he circled in place, not quite knowing who he was yelling to. The world around Aang then got fuzzy and he felt like he was being pulled from behind. In a few blinks of his eyes, Aang's eyes became clear and he was looking at the sanctuary in the Avatar Temple once again.
He hesitated for a few seconds as he tried to absorb everything that had just happened. Once he was sure where he was, he got up quickly and starting running back towards the Jasmine Dragon. It's evening! Was I gone that long?
Once he reached the inside of the tea shop, he found Katara and Iroh having a conversation over tea and a friendly game of Pai Sho.
"Aang, you made it back!" she shouted to him when he first entered the room.
"Yeah, I made it back. It always feels like I'm not gone very long at all, but then when I get back, it's been a lot longer than it seems," said Aang.
"Did you learn anything?" asked Iroh.
"I think so. I may need your guys help figuring out what I was told though," said Aang. "I started in the usual spot when I entered the spirit world, but as I walked, my surroundings got less and less familiar. I pushed some vines aside and when I stepped forward, I was in the Northern Water Tribe oasis."
"Was anyone there?" asked Katara.
"Yes," answered Aang. "I heard a voice confirming what I was thinking – that I was in the Northern Water Tribe. When I got close to the koi pond, Princess Yue appeared and told me she was 'permitted to show me the path that will answer my questions' and that I had already seen and heard what she could share with me."
"Well, that sounds pretty simple," remarked Iroh.
"What? She didn't share anything with me!" replied Aang in frustration.
"You are wrong, Aang," said Iroh. "Where did you go and who did you see?"
"I was at the Northern Water Tribe oasis and I saw Princess Yue," said Aang.
"Exactly," said Iroh.
Katara's eyes lit up. "Aang, what happened to Princess Yue when we were at the north pole?"
"Uh, Katara, you were there. She died to save the moon spirit," answered Aang.
"That's true, but how did she save the moon spirit. Why was she the only one who could do it?" answered Katara.
"She gave back the life that was given to her as a baby," said Aang. His eyes now got big. "I get it! The moon spirit could save Kuei and Fei Yen's baby just like it saved Yue when she was born!"
"That's what I think Yue is telling us to do," said Katara.
"Ok, here's the question though. How do we get Fei Yen's baby, who is dying by the way, to the Northern Water Tribe?" asked Aang.
"I think we need to bring Fei Yen up there while she is still pregnant. Think about it, you and I are the only ones effectively treating her now. We'd be there on the trip and could take care of her along the way. It won't take that long on Appa," said Katara.
"We'd better get prepared then," said Aang. "I'll go to the palace and speak with Kuei and you get our things packed up. We leave first thing in the morning."
Aang ran back out the door and headed for the palace. Most guards and employees merely acknowledged his presence as he rushed by knowing full well who it was.
"Kuei! Are you around?" Aang yelled out when he approached the living area of the palace.
"Aang, the Earth King is with his wife," remarked Chao, sticking his head out from a nearby room.
"Thanks, Chao," said Aang as he turned to walk to where he and Katara had been treating Fei Yen for weeks.
He slowly opened the door and closed it behind him so as not to disturb Fei Yen.
"Kuei," Aang whispered at the man who was looking at his wife. "I've been to the spirit world to ask about this…..situation."
"What did they say?" asked Kuei, still looking at Fei Yen with great worry.
"I'm not sure if you are going to like what they told me. Katara and I need to take Fei Yen to the Northern Water Tribe," answered Aang.
Kuei paused. "Is there nothing else you can do here?" he asked.
"I'm afraid not. Katara and I keep working on her and yet the situation seems to be getting worse and worse. I'm afraid both Fei Yen and your unborn child will not hold on without some special intervention," said Aang. "The princess of the Northern Water Tribe was saved by the moon spirit when she was born. We believe that the spirits are telling us to go there for the very same reason."
"Very well," said Kuei. "When are you leaving?"
"Tomorrow morning," answered Aang.
"You know, of course, I cannot leave Ba Sing Se. I leave her and the baby's lives in your hands…," said Kuei. "Please bring them back to me."
"I understand and I will," said Aang as he turned to walk away. "Katara and I will be back with Appa in the morning to get Fei Yen."
OlOlOlOlOlO
The trip to the Northern Water Tribe took Appa one very long day, but the group made it no worse for wear. Fei Yen was wrapped up in blankets on the back of Appa's saddle and didn't appear to move during the entire trip. Aang and Katara attended to her three times over the course of that day to make sure everything remained stable.
Appa landed in front of the palace. As Aang and Katara prepared to dismount, a few guards jogged down to greet them.
"Avatar Aang, we were not expecting you," said one of the guards.
"Is Chief Arnook around?" Aang asked, jumping down from Appa's head.
"Yes. He is inside the palace right now," said the guard.
"Please rush in and tell him that Katara and I are here and we need an audience with him at his earliest convenience," said Aang.
The soldier bowed and rushed off into the palace.
Within minutes, Chief Arnook emerged from the front doors of his home.
"Avatar Aang, it is an honor to have our hero back again," said Chief Arnook.
"I'm sorry to say this is not a casual visit," said Aang. "The Earth King's wife is very ill and Yue asked me to bring her here."
"My Yue?" asked Arnook.
"I visited the spirit world yesterday and she came to me and showed me the spirit oasis," answered Aang. "May we have your permission to visit the spirit oasis and try to save The Earth Queen and her unborn child?"
"Of course," replied Arnook. "Whatever you need. You are also welcome to stay at the palace during your time here."
Aang bowed to the chief. "Thank you so much for your support and understanding. One last thing…would it be possible to send for Yugoda?"
"I will do so at once," said Arnook. He turned and left.
Aang and Katara set up a stretcher and gently lowered Fei Yen down to several waiting guards who then carried her into the palace.
It was only a half hour before Yugoda found Aang and Katara tending to Fei Yen in the room that she would call home until her baby was born.
"Katara, it is great to see you again," said Yugoda.
Katara bowed to the healing master. "As it is to see you," said Katara.
"And who is this?" Yugoda asked.
"Her name is Fei Yen and she is the Earth Queen," replied Aang. "She is our good friend and we have reason to believe that coming here may just play a part in saving her life."
"Will you examine her?" asked Katara.
"Of course," said Yugoda, who then bended some water onto Fei Yen's abdomen.
"Oh my!" Yugoda called out. "So very sick!"
"Can you see what the problem is?" asked Katara.
Yugoda probed further. "I'm afraid not. Physically, everything looks fine. Even the baby appears to be fine, but their energies are so low. Dangerously low."
"Yeah, we know," said Aang. "We've been keeping them both alive the best we can, but without knowing what is doing this, we can't heal it. They both seem physically fine."
"I'll be back," said Yugoda, leaving the room abruptly.
Twenty minutes later, she re-emerged with a vial. She bended the water from the vial onto Fei Yen's abdomen. A slight glow was seen from her actions.
"Spirit water," said Katara.
"Yes," answered Yugoda. "This will help keep them both alive longer."
"Thank you, Yugoda," said Aang.
"You should fill up this vial once a day and use it on Fei Yen and her baby," said Yugoda. "I will be back to check on Fei Yen tomorrow. We may have to delivery that baby early."
"But she is only six months pregnant!" insisted Katara.
"Yes, I saw," said Yugoda. "But for all parties involved, it may be the best thing to do all-around."
OlOlOlOlOlO
17 months ASC
Not much changed over the next month or so. Aang and Katara were, again, dealing with another situation instead of fully enjoying their honeymoon. They were more than happy to tend their good friend, but there did seem to be something missing.
Fei Yen did feel a little better after a few spirit water treatments. Yugoda checked her again and found that she and the baby's energy levels had increased. Fei Yen dared not move from her bed, but was able to sit up and even talk for a small period of time each day – a vast improvement to how she had been in Ba Sing Se.
Her belly continued to get larger and she did surpass the 7 month mark. Yugoda asked her to consider an early delivery. The spirit water could work miracles, but there were no guarantees that it would work forever. As with many treatments, the body can become accustomed to it and it will become less effective over time. Fei Yen promised Yugoda that she would consider it. After 7 months gestation, the baby should be able to survive outside of the womb.
In addition to Kuei, Aang and Katara faithfully kept two other people informed as to the recent happenings at the Northern Water Tribe. For one, Zuko was kept in the loop because Aang and Katara had missed their original scheduled time on Ember Island. They decided that they would still like to go if at all possible to get a much needed 'break from their honeymoon' before returning to the Eastern Air Temple. Haruko was also kept informed because the residents of the Eastern Air Temple eagerly awaited Aang's return so that the airbender training could continue. Aang wanted to keep them informed just so they knew he wasn't gallivanting about the world and not spending time with them without good reason.
OlOlOlOlOlO
18 months ASC
The status quo continued for a few weeks more with no change. Then, the day they all dreaded finally arrived. Yugoda, Aang and Katara just happened to be at Fei Yen's bedside when the discovery was made. All were cheerfully talking about the events happening around the city while Katara checked on Fei Yen and the baby. Katara stopped cold in the middle of a sentence.
"Yugoda, will you check her for me?" asked Katara, who now wore a look of concern.
"Sure Katara," answered Yugoda, who then placed her hands draped in water on Fei Yen.
"I couldn't feel anything there," said Katara.
"No – there is something," said Yugoda. "But just barely. We need to get this baby out, now! I brought the herbs…."
"What? What herbs?" asked Fei Yen, who was now in a virtual panic.
"Fei Yen," Katara said grabbing either side of Fei Yen's face with her two hands, "you must remain calm for your baby. He or she is just barely hanging on inside you and it is time to deliver. Yugoda is a healing master and you are in fantastic hands. If anyone can bring you both through this, she can. The herbs along with her healing abilities will put you into labor, that's all."
"Oh, o-ok," replied Fei Yen.
"You can do this, Fei Yen. Just be strong," remarked Aang, who was now feverishly writing a message on some paper in a corner of the room.
Yugoda mixed the herbs into a cup of tea and had Fei Yen drink the liquid. She then probed her abdomen with her healing abilities once again to try to jumpstart the labor process. At first, Fei Yen felt nothing but small twinges from her belly. Just a bit of a flutter was all.
"Fei Yen, are you feeling anything yet?" asked Katara.
"Yes, but it isn't painful. I can feel some tightening down here," Fei Yen said as she pointed below her belly button.
"Good, that's normal," said Yugoda. "That's how deliveries such as these usually begin."
Within an hour, Fei Yen's face told a slightly different story. She was obviously having much more intense contractions now.
"How are you doing?" asked Yugoda.
"I'm ok," answered Fei Yen. "It's still not unbearable, but it's definitely painful."
"Let me know if you need any help with your pain," said Katara. "I can't take it all away, but I may be able to diminish it a little."
"Thanks Katara….for everything," answered Fei Yen.
"Um…do you guys want me to, y'know, leave the room?" Aang asked. Fei Yen was still entirely covered by her sheets and blankets and there had been no reason for Aang not to be there as of yet. But he knew the time would eventually come when everything would be 'out in the open' for all to see and he wasn't sure if Fei Yen would be comfortable with that….he wasn't sure he would be comfortable with that.
"Aang, I'm fine if you want to stay. This is completely natural and one day, you'll be having one of these of your own," said Fei Yen.
Yeah, real soon, thought Aang as he remembered Aunt Wu's prediction. "Uh, ok, thanks," he replied.
Katara took Aang aside. "I think you should stay," she said. "You are a waterbender, too. I know you would be most comfortable with only women handling this type of thing, but this knowledge may be needed, say, at the Eastern Air Temple if any babies are ever born there." She took Aang by the hand and led him to Fei Yen's bedside. "Now I want you to put your hands on her pregnant belly. Here's the tricky part. The muscles around the baby must keep working, but it is extremely painful. I want you to concentrate on the energy pathways in the spine to try to block the pain. Do not stop the muscles from working though. Oh, and it will get worse over time."
Aang did as he was instructed. A few minutes passed and Fei Yen's hard face softened a bit.
"See?" said Katara. "We did it. She's in less pain now, at least for the time being."
Hours and hours went by and the trio of helpers continued to guide Fei Yen through her labor. Pain suppression, keeping the baby's energy closely monitored, and checking on Fei Yen's overall progress were done over and over again.
Finally, Yugoda announced, "She's ready!"
"Is it time?" asked Katara.
"Time for what?" asked Aang.
"She's ready to push the baby out," answered Katara.
"How do you know?" asked Aang, still not fully understanding how this labor thing worked.
"I've delivered hundreds of babies over the years," said Yugoda. "You have to keep an eye on her opening to see how big it is. Once it gets to a certain size – a little bigger than an adult's fist - it will allow the baby to pass through – with a little help from the mother, that is."
"I have to push!" yelled Fei Yen, obviously feeling the messages her body was sending her.
"Go ahead, sweetie," said Yugoda.
And so she did. For over an hour. Slowly, the baby came closer and closer to being part of the world.
Aang was amazed at the sight he was seeing. Aang had always been much attuned to nature and all living beings and creatures, but this was the first time he had ever seen a human being born.
Fei Yen continued to push, though her fatigue was becoming more apparent.
"You're almost there, Fei Yen," said Yugoda. "Keep it up."
A few more pushes and Yugoda said, "Ok, the heads out."
Katara still played her role to the fullest concentrating on the medical needs of Fei Yen. Pain control, blood loss – she was definitely in a work cadence to keep the situation under control. Aang, on the other hand, had stopped doing everything. He looked down at Yugoda's hands and the tiny head that she held in them. Fei Yen pushed once more and out came the baby. It was a boy. A tiny, bloody, misshapen boy with light brown hair like his father.
The world seemed to move in slow motion as Aang took in what he just saw - the miracle of life coming into the world. His eyes teared as he looked at the newborn.
But then he noticed that Yugoda wasn't just holding the boy, she was working on him with one hand encased in spirit water.
"What's wrong, Yugoda?" asked Aang.
"As we feared, he is very sick," Yugoda answered. "He's alive, but just barely."
Aang looked at the boy and his heart sank. He lay there with his eyes closed, making no sounds whatsoever.
"Aang - ," started Katara.
"I need to try," said Aang. "Yugoda, wipe him off and give him to me. Wrap him warmly."
"What are you - ," started Yugoda.
"Please!" said Aang. "Hurry!"
Yugoda asked no further questions and within a few seconds the baby was ready to go. Aang took the infant and ran as fast as he could to the spirit oasis. It's his only chance.
Aang had visited the oasis often in the last few weeks to retrieve the spirit water they had been using on Fei Yen. It was still his favorite place in the Northern Water Tribe. Warm. Tranquil. A perfect place to mediate. He had talked with the moon and ocean spirits often enough and told them of Fei Yen's situation as he sat by the side of the koi pond whenever he collected the spirit water. Of course, they were just fish – he had no idea if they truly thought as fish did and had no idea what he had been saying.
Aang started walking into the koi pond with the infant in his hands. He felt…spiritual. That was the only way to put it. The energy of this place was all around him and calmed him. He laid the baby in the water. I hope this works, he thought as the fish approached the baby.
"This is the baby I've been telling you about," he said to the two fish. "Just as we thought, he was born very sick. His eyes are closed and he isn't making a sound. Is there anything you can do for him?" asked Aang. "I would be most grateful."
To Aang's surprise, it was not the white fish who took an interest in the child, but the black one. The ocean spirit swam to the infant and gently brushed up against him. The water between the two beings swirled with a grayish-blackness and then, to Aang's astonishment, the baby's hair turned from its light brown to jet black.
Not quite what I expected….
Just then, the baby's newly dark eyes opened and he let out a scream. Aang held the baby close to his chest and comforted him. He turned and bowed to the koi fish. "Thank you."
Having been in quite a hurry on his way to the oasis, Aang did not bring another towel or blanket to wrap the baby in on his way back to the palace. Once outside of the warmth of the grassy area, Aang knocked on the first door he came to and politely asked the occupant for something wrap the baby in, which they gladly provided.
Aang and the baby walked back to the palace. As Aang neared the palace, Katara spotted him. She was standing just outside the front door.
"Hi Katara," Aang said aloud.
"Aang, what happened? Yugoda just let me leave and I was coming to the oasis to find you," said Katara.
"Here he is," said Aang as he showed her the baby.
"Aang – his hair!" said an alarmed Katara.
"I know. You would have thought white, right? It was the ocean spirit who came to him, not the moon spirit," said Aang. "I saw the energy leave the black fish and get absorbed by the baby. He then opened his eyes and started crying."
Katara put her hands up near the baby, who then grabbed her finger and cooed.
"He's adorable," she said. "Let's bring him to Fei Yen."
The two teens walked into Fei Yen's room with her new son. Aang handed him to her and her smile simply lit up the room. "He's fine," he told her. "He was blessed by the ocean spirit and his hair turned black, just like our friend Yue was blessed by the moon spirit, which turned her hair white."
"Black, white, brown – I'm just glad he is ok," said Fei Yen, who had a single tear running down her face from her right eye.
Aang turned to start yet another message in the corner – he wanted Kuei to know what was going on as soon as possible.
"So what are you going to name him?" asked Katara.
"Kuei and I did pick a name out, but in light of the circumstances, I think I want to change it," said Fei Yen. "Mizu."
"That's lovely," said Katara. "Mizu."
"Aang, can you be sure to include that in your message to Kuei?" asked Fei Yen.
"Already done," said Aang who was writing as the ladies spoke.
OlOlOlOlOlOlO
The four travelers spent the next week at the Northern Water Tribe. Of course, Fei Yen was very eager to return to her husband in Ba Sing Se, but didn't want to go against Yugoda's recommendations, which were to remain at the north pole until she was sure both she and Mizu were mostly recovered. It turned out that Fei Yen and Mizu were absolutely fine after Mizu's birth. Once the connection between mother and son was broken, Fei Yen quickly regained her strength - and Mizu was just like any other baby once the ocean spirit had intervened.
Aang and Katara studied Fei Yen and Mizu in a way. Both knew, in the back of their minds, that they were not very far behind in terms of starting a family. They greatly enjoyed watching Mizu's first days and how Fei Yen and her helpers cared for him.
One night Katara brought up the subject with Aang before they fell asleep.
"Aang, do you think I'll be a good mother?" she asked.
He leaned over and gave her a gentle kiss. "I think you'll be a great mother," he answered. "You are so natural with Mizu."
"I hope so. I'm a little nervous," she admitted.
"Why? Because it's coming soon?" asked Aang.
"Well, yeah. Aren't you nervous?" she asked in return.
"A little, I guess," he answered. "But I love you and something that is the product of our love can't be a bad thing."
"I'm tired, Aang," Katara said.
"Me, too," he replied thinking she meant it was already getting late into the evening.
"No," Katara corrected, "I'm tired. Ever since we left the Eastern Air Temple, we've done virtually nothing but work, plan, and help. I just want some time to ourselves."
"We'll head to Ember Island after we drop Fei Yen and Mizu back in Ba Sing Se. We'll be there in two days," said Aang. "I promise that it will be nothing but us while we're there."
"Does Zuko know?" asked Katara.
"I've been sending him scrolls about our plans. He is still fine with us using his beach house," said Aang.