DISCLAIMER: I own nothing associated with Avatar: The Last Airbender. However I do own my character: Kaida. But I do not own Xing La; she belongs to NejisDarkNymph
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Four days had passed, and the palace was finally in view. Kaida never once stirred. Twice every day Katara would bend water into her mouth, just to make sure she wasn't dehydrated. Zuko never stood, never once did he leave Kaida's side. Sokka watched closely, observing the gentle way he touched her face, the way he tried his hardest not to sleep, just in case she woke up. Zuko's eyes had dark rings around them from lack of sleep, his eyes bloodshot.
"Hey twinkletoes, can't you convince baggy-eyes to get some rest? We have at least another hour before we get inside the wall." Toph yawned, just waking up herself.
"How did you know I haven't slept?" Zuko asked, snapping out of the daze he was in.
"Oh please, you're way too predictable when I can sense you, I just guessed." Toph smirked and reclined on the saddle, Momo resting on her head.
Katara stirred from her sleep, pulling her head off of Aang's shoulder. She rubbed her eyes in the late afternoon sunlight. "Are we there yet?" She mumbled, blinking at her surroundings.
"A little longer." Sokka mumbled with a yawn. He had ononly slept maybe two nights in the journey.
Aang turned and sat next to Toph. "You okay Zuko?" Aang asked with a smile.
Zuko shrugged. His hair hung loosely around his face, he abandoned the top-knot and headpiece of the Fire Lord for the journey, he felt that he didn't actually need it here. It was like the old days in a way-before he was Fire Lord. He had missed wearing his hair loose and his normal clothes. The Fire Lord casual robes were heavy and hot, he missed being free like this.
"It's okay Zuko, Tui and La will help her. She'll be good as new." Katara said.
"Yue wouldn't want to hurt her Zuko, she wants what's best too." Sokka yawned, getting up to sit by him.
Zuko absent-mindedly stroked Kaida's hair as they approached the wall.
After they had made it into the city; the group was welcome with open arms. Appa floated on the water until finally a larger group of healers helped the group out of the water and onto the path to the Spirit Oasis.
Two warriors walked up to them. "If you will give us Kaida, we will safely carry her to the oasis." One said in a deep and forceful tone.
Zuko pulled her closer, his golden eyes filled with jealousy. "She would be safer with someone she knows and trusts." Zuko muttered.
The other man raised a brow and pushed the sleeve of her gown down her shoulder. "She trusts the man who caused this?" He asked, looking at Zuko with an angry expression.
Sokka paused and turned, watching the scene before him. "We know your past, Fire Lord." The first hissed.
Toph sensed Zuko's anger inside growing. Sokka walked up to Zuko and nudged him slightly. "Zuko, let me carry her and you can talk this out, let's not get Kaida mixed in with this." Sokka whispered.
Zuko glared at Sokka, but finally gave in, gently setting Kaida in her fiance's arms. Zuko watched for a moment with envy as he carried her to the oasis. Zuko turned back to the two warriors and glared. "Sokka's right for her. The spirits want them together." One of the men hissed, staring at Zuko.
Zuko growled and fire lit on his fingertips. "We're in an era of peace, I'm not going to waste it on low-life like you two." Zuko muttered and lit one of the men's spears on fire and walked after Sokka.
It was a full moon when they had made it to the oasis. Kaida was already sat by the oasis. The healers surrounded her.
Next to Kaida, Aang had journeyed to the spirit world, which was much like deja-vu for the group, excluding Toph. "He's trying to reach Tui and La, seeing what they want to do with Kaida." Katara whispered.
Zuko nodded and sat next to Sokka.
It seemed like hours before Aang returned, even though it was only a few minutes. "Put her in the oasis." Aang said simply. Zuko stood in protest, but Sokka touched his shoulder.
"Well, at least let me do it." Zuko pleaded and scooped her out of their arms.
Yue appeared above the water and watched Zuko with a weary eye. "I'm trusting you Yue." Zuko whispered as Kaida slipped under the surface-completely submerged in the water.
The two fish encircled the sleeping body. Yue's spiritual form faded as she became solid, sitting on the grass next to Aang. Sokka, in disbellief, crawled next to her and touched her cheek, turning her face to his. "Yue?" He whispered.
Yue put a finger to his lips and turned to the oasis. Her touch was real, that was for sure. The color from the oasis began to fade, and Yue's human form changed as she began to glow once more.
This time, however, both fish in the oasis glowed and Zuko stared down at the water. Kaida's entire body began losing color. Her eyes were open now as well. First her hair, then her eyes, then her lips, then the rest of her body, it was all white, it was as if someone had traced her with coal in the snow. Zuko began to reach for the water, but Yue grabbed his hand. "Don't Zuko, let the spirits do their duties." Yue whispered.
Zuko pulled his hand back but stared at the oasis. Yue stood now and walked to the water. She placed her hands into the water and touched Kaida's heart; her hands slipping inside of her.
"Quickly my fellow healers, pray! Pray to the spirits." One of the elders whispered. All of the women closed their eyes and prayed quietly.
Kaida's fingertips and palms glowed brightly as her color came back to her. Yue smiled in relief as her hair had not turned white. Sokka looked into the water and smiled, she even looked better in the water.
Yue pulled her hands out of the water and faded until she was transparent like mist. La disappeared from the oasis as well. Zuko looked up and standing on the opposite side of the oasis was a strange looking man. He had deep blue royal-looking robes on and his eyes changed to different colors of blue like waves. He was a darker shade than Yue, but he still glowed with the same luminescence. He raised his hands over his head and Kaida floated gracefully out of the water and stood, her hed drooped down still in sleep.
He touched her chin and her eyes fluttered open. She looked upon the spirit that held her hand. He touched his finger to her palm, making it glow with a deep blue light. Silently, the man faded, and the black koi reappeared in the water.
Yue rested her feet on the ground and walked to her cousin. As the two embraced, Kaida, too began to fade. Now she was as transparent as Yue, but her clothes changed to mimic Yue's in a way, her sleeves though looked like two blue fins and the hem moved like waves. Both glowed, until Kaida slowly turned back into herself.
"It is not your time yet, my cousin. Soon, you shall join us in the spirit world and represent the Ocean Spirit, but I beg of you, dear princess, live your life the way you want to live it, and do not follow anyone's advice but your heart. Be safe, my cousin, until then." Yue whispered and faded away.
Color returned the oasis and Kaida fell silently onto the grass as if all the life was gone from her body. Her eyes opened slightly and she smiled weakly to Zuko.
She held out her palm to Zuko. Her hand was marked with a strange symbol which looked like the ocean. "I love you too Zuko." She whispered, and fell into a light sleep.