SECOND TO LAST CHAPTER, EVERYBODY!
This chapter took a LONG time to write, not only because there were so many POVs, but because of personal stuff I've been going through. Not to mention college. Homework is a royal pain, am I right?
I think this is the longest chapter I've written so far for this story, and I could've separated it into two parts, but I decided the hell with it. You guys are unbelievably patient and awesome, so I decided to just lay it all down in one chapter.
Only one chapter left to go...oh God, it's almost over!
I hope you guys enjoy this chapter, and as always I LOVE to hear what you guys think!
If you like it and want me to get cracking on the final chapter...
PLEASE REVIEW!
Chapter 37: Siege of the North – Part 4
Uri the fire spirit danced forward, circling Aang in one sure movement, the heat of her fiery hair tickling at Aang's shoulders. Her reddish skin glowed in the muggy orange light of the sky. Aang turned with the spirit, smiling at her exuberance. She was so different than what he had expected an elemental spirit to be. Gyatso always said that the elemental spirits were very unpredictable and detached from human emotions.
But Uri was full of life and spunk, and underneath her tough exterior was a girl who wanted nothing more than to be accepted. It just went to show how little humans actually knew about the spirits and the Spirit World.
Uri stopped on his other side, and was practically bouncing with excitement.
"Finally, you're here! I've been waiting for you!"
Aang frowned. "Wait, you knew that I was coming?" he asked, and Uri grinned cheekily, her black lips parting to reveal pointed teeth.
"I've been bothering Roku ever since the Winter Solstice, and he's been keeping a pretty close eye on your progress. Him and Kyoshi are planning something, I swear. Always together, thick as thieves…I'd be prepared if I were you, Avatar."
Aang blinked, bewildered at the thought of Avatar Roku and Avatar Kyoshi being "thick as thieves", as Uri put it. Uri smirked at his befuddled expression, and Aang noticed for the first time that the spirit was wearing a pale crimson dress. It was simple and understated, with a knee-length skirt and short sleeves. It was so close to the color of Uri's skin that it had escaped Aang's notice during the Winter Solstice.
"Did he send you here to help me?" Aang asked hesitantly, and Uri shrugged.
"No, he wanted to talk to you himself. I just came to surprise you!"
"That will be quite enough, Uri," a deep voice spoke, and another wide smile stretched across Aang's face. He turned to the previous Avatar, taking in his silver hair and warm golden eyes.
"Roku!"
Roku smiled. "Hello, Aang. I see that you remember Uri."
"And why wouldn't he remember me, old man?" Uri huffed, sending Roku a dark glare. When Roku made to respond, Aang decided that it was time to express his reason for coming to the Spirit World.
"Um, guys? Sorry to interrupt, but I need to find the Moon and Ocean spirits. Do you know where I can find them?" Aang asked, and Roku paused, his brows furrowing in thought. Uri looked puzzled, her fire-hair flickering with hints of blue. After a moment or two, Roku straightened.
"The Moon and Ocean spirits are among the oldest spirits in existence; they were here in the beginning of all things. There is only one spirit I know of that is old enough to know where they are. The spirit's name is Koh, and I must warn you, Aang…he is very dangerous."
Uri was smiling, and she rolled her eyes at Roku's words. "He's only dangerous if you're stupid, and don't know what he's capable of. I'll lead the way, and give him the run-down. C'mon, Avatar, let's go!" she chirped, and Aang looked to Roku, who gave him a shallow nod.
"Be careful, Aang."
With that, the older man melted into the mist. Aang ran after Uri, who was already at the far end of the marsh. Her entire body was glowing, her hair a clear beacon for him to follow. The moment Aang reached the spirit, she took off again, light and weightless. Aang found that he could easily keep up with her, and it made him wonder how much of his bending actually vanished when he was in the Spirit World.
Aang shook his head, and spoke in order to distract himself.
"So who is this Koh spirit, anyway?" he asked, and Uri's black eyes lowered slightly, a more serious look crossing her impish face. The spirit paused, and Aang saw that there were in a large open space. The sky was somehow a different color now, more of a yellow-cream with streaks of white. The light permeated everything, with no way to tell where it was coming from.
The world was a vast entity, with clouds creating a sort of blanket beyond the span of Aang's sight. Trees and large wooden pedestals rose from the mist, looming over the Avatar like sentinels. Uri was staring up, and Aang followed her gaze.
Far above the cloud cover was an island of sorts, and from it rose a knarled and dark tree, the roots twisting and arching above the grass. Aang knew without asking that the tree was where Koh lived. A series of floating wooden platforms – spaced about a foot apart – formed a path to Koh's lair, and when Uri stepped on one it held her weight.
The spirit was staring up at the large tree with a faraway look in her eye.
"Koh is one of the oldest spirits in this world, Avatar. The reason Roku warned you to be careful is because of what he can do. Koh has many powers, but most know him for his ability to steal faces."
"Wait, he steals faces? How?" Aang stammered, taking a step back. Uri pursed her lips at him, her dark eyes thoughtful.
"I've seen it happen, and all I'll say is that it isn't pleasant. The person or being still remains alive after their face is stolen, but they can't function like they used to. All of their physical senses are taken; touch, sound, taste, smell, sight…it's all gone."
"But if they don't have a mouth or nose, how do they breathe?" Aang couldn't help but ask.
Uri turned to give him a significant look. "In the Spirit World, there are many things that are possible that aren't possible in the mortal world. It is what makes this place such a mystery to human-kind."
Aang frowned, and glanced back up at Koh's tree. "How do you know so much about Koh?" he asked, and Uri paused for a long moment, her hands clenching slightly before relaxing.
"I was born a hundred years ago, Avatar. Ever since the day of my creation, spirits and mortals alike have wanted nothing to do with me. I wandered this plane for nearly twenty years, alone and unwanted. I was young and scared, and for the life of me I didn't understand why I was so hated. I stumbled across Koh's tree, and of course I had no idea who he was or what he was capable of. No one ever cared enough to warn me."
"But why?" Aang asked, and Uri's head dropped so she was staring at the ground. Then, she went on, as if Aang had never spoken.
"I don't know why Koh chose to spare me. Maybe he did it because he knows the feeling of being hated and feared. It could be that he didn't want my face in his collection at the time. I never thought to ask, and he never told me."
Uri smiled. "Koh was the first spirit to ever show me kindness. He taught me how to control my emotions; he helped me hide my pain. He's a spirit of justice. He's not like the other spirits, who let their personal feelings and prejudices get in the way of things."
Aang couldn't help but smile at the admiration in her tone. It reminded the Airbender of his own admiration of Monk Gyatso. Even though Airbenders were supposed to admire and respect their elders equally, Monk Gyatso had a very special place in Aang's heart. The older Airbender had been everything that Aang needed – a mentor, a best friend, and a father.
"He sounds like a good guy," Aang commented. Uri laughed at that, her eyes gleaming with mirth.
"I wish the other spirits could hear you now, calling Koh a 'good guy'! Oh dear, you really are a sweet thing, aren't you? No, you're going to have to be extra careful around Koh, Avatar. One of your past incarnations tried to kill Koh long ago…it didn't exactly endear him to the whole 'Avatar' thing."
"Will he hurt me?" Aang asked, and followed as Uri began to walk up the wooden stairs. The fire spirit shook her head, and her dress fluttered in an invisible breeze.
"Most likely not. Even if he does hate the Avatar, he knows better than to kill you. He will try to steal your face, so you're going to have to stay completely emotionless, got it? I mean totally and utterly emotionless. Even a frown or a widening of the eyes counts as an emotion, so be careful. I can't go in with you, that wouldn't be fair."
"Why not?"
"You need to earn the information you seek, Avatar. If you're going to be saving the world any time soon, you need to start standing on your own two feet and taking charge. Also, I accidentally burned part of Koh's tree a few days ago, so I'm giving him some time to cool off before visiting him again."
They were almost at the top of the stairs, now, and in no time at all they stood behind a large hole in the web of roots. The darkness seemed to swallow the brightness of the outside world, and Aang looked at Uri with an uneasy frown.
"None of that, Avatar. Imagine that everything Koh says is really, really boring to you, and that expressing emotion is too much of an effort. Relax your face and take a deep breath. Now go, I'll wait here for you."
With that, Uri elegantly sat down on one of the boulders littering the area around the roots, and folded her legs up so that her feet didn't burn the grass. Aang took a deep, slow breath, and closed his eyes for a brief moment.
No emotion. None at all.
Aang opened his eyes, and strode into Koh's lair.
The sunset of the second day was darker than any sunset Dakota could remember seeing in her short sixteen years of life. There had probably been much darker sunsets in the history of the world, but to Dakota, this particular sunset was unusually dim and murky. Most of it was a result of the smoke that continuously poured into the sky, courtesy of the hundreds of Fire Nation ships that were stationed outside of the Northern Water Tribe.
The rest was created from Dakota's fear of what she had to do.
Dakota stared out the large window of Zhao's sitting room, watching as the weak golden-orange beams lingered on the proud spires of the Water Tribe palace before fading away completely. In her hands was a cup of jasmine tea. Iroh had made it himself, and Dakota wanted nothing more than to drink it – Iroh could make a better cup of tea than all the fancy chefs on Zhao's ship put together. But on this day, all she could do was hold it in her hands and let the smell attempt to calm her.
Tonight was the night that she deliberately changed the fate of Avatar: The Last Airbender. The night where she went against all of her efforts to stay out of trouble, where she stopped hiding in fear of what may come to pass.
I wish you could see me now, Henry. No, actually, I wish that you were here with me. You wouldn't be afraid at all, would you?
Iroh was across from her, and Dakota knew that he was watching her carefully. He knew that she loved his tea more than anything; if she wasn't drinking it, something must be wrong. Dakota swallowed hard, and lifted the cup to her lips, forcing herself to take a large sip.
The liquid wasn't scalding hot anymore, but even so the warm tea seemed to burn her throat before settling in her empty stomach. But when she looked over at Iroh, she saw that he had relaxed slightly. Good, he wasn't as worried about her. That was good, that would make this process so much smoother.
Zhao was staring leisurely out the window, and Dakota lowered her gaze when he turned back around. She didn't him to suspect anything, and so she took another sip of tea, keeping her face neutral and bereft of emotion.
"Ah, the time has finally come for me to finish this pesky battle. Soren!" he called, and the servant standing near the door jumped to attention. "Summon Jirou, Dai, and Kenji."
Soren bowed quickly, and practically ran from the room. Dakota glanced up at Iroh, and saw that the older man was staring at Zhao with careful eyes. Dakota looked back down at her tea, and set it down on the counter. The heat was making her palms sweat, and she rubbed them absentmindedly on her pants.
A few minutes later, three soldiers were standing before Zhao, their faces covered with masks and impressive helmets. Dakota looked at them, and her heart leapt when she saw that one of them was considerably shorter than the others. Her hand tightened around the cloth of her pants as she scanned her target, and was only half listening to Zhao when he began to speak.
"Gentlemen, you three have been given the greatest honor I can bestow – the opportunity to join me on my quest to eliminate the Moon Spirit. We will be leaving in an hour. Kenji, your job will be to meet us at the helm with four komodo-rhinos, fully armored and saddled," Zhao odered, and the shortest soldier nodded briskly.
"Yes, sir," the young man said, his voice surprisingly deep for someone so short – he was much shorter than Zuko, around Iroh's height if Dakota had to take a guess. .
Dakota couldn't believe her good fortune; the soldier she had her eye on would be by himself in the stables. The girl allowed herself a small smile, too small to mean anything to anyone watching her – luck was on her side, it would seem.
Zhao dismissed the three of them, and resumed his place beside the window. Dakota's heart began to pound as she waited a few painstaking minutes before coughing roughly. Iroh and Zhao both looked over at her, and she put a hand to her chest, frowning.
"I'm sorry, I'm not feeling very well. May I be excused to my room, Admiral?"
Zhao nodded, his expression almost concerned. "Of course. You are rather pale, and I've noticed that you've been awfully quiet this evening. Do you require any assistance?"
"Thank you, but I'll be fine on my own. Goodnight sir. Goodnight, Iroh," Dakota murmured, meeting Iroh's eyes. His face was, as usual, indecipherable. She wanted to tell him everything; she wanted to pour out her fear and her doubt. Instead, Dakota sent him a small smile, hoping that he would be content with that.
After bowing shallowly, Dakota left the room, careful to keep her steps careful and delicate, in case they were watching her leave. When the door swung shut with a loud clang, Dakota straightened.
The corridors leading down to the komodo-rhino stables were thankfully empty – most of the soldiers were in the city already, and the few that weren't were running the ship in the lowest levels. Dakota ran as fast as she could, jumping down the stairs leading to the middle level – where the stables were located, closest to the helm.
She crept down the narrow stairwell, listening for voices. She froze when she heard the stableman and another voice – she assumed it was Kenji – talking. Kenji relayed Zhao's orders, and there were sounds of leather moving as well as the sounds of grunting komodo-rhinos. Dakota quietly slunk over to the wall, pressing herself into the large grooves in the wall and hoping the heavy darkness would hide her.
"Alright, sir, they're all ready for you to take over to the helm ramp. Just go straight down the hallway and take the first left, it'll lead you straight to the ramp. I'll just go inform Admiral Zhao of some modifications to the komodo-rhino armor. Good luck," the stableman said, his wheezy voice coming closer.
Dakota inhaled a silent breath and pressed herself down into the thickest shadows created by the jutting corner of the wall. The stableman rounded the corner, a hunching old man with white hair and large hands. He pursed his lips, and passed by Dakota's hiding spot without so much as a squint in her direction. Dakota's heart was pounding, and she almost let out a loud laugh of relief. Luckily, she managed to resist the temptation, and waited until the stairwell door had closed before getting to her feet.
The sounds of the komodo-rhinos was surprisingly loud – not only were they snorting and shuffling around, but the armor they were wearing kept colliding, creating a clanging chorus that filled the entire stable. Dakota peeked out from behind the corner, and saw that the soldier was standing with his back to her, fixing something on the komodo-rhino's saddle.
She had to act now; he could turn around at any moment.
Ah!
There was a large shovel leaning against the wall, right by Dakota's hand. She gripped it, and grimaced to herself. This was something she had only seen in the movies. Seeing it on television and actually doing it were two different things. What if the first hit didn't knock him out? Would she have to hit him again?
Dakota's arms were shaking, but not because the shovel was heavy. It was more the anticipation that she was actually going to hit someone over the head with a shovel.
The komodo-rhino Kenji was standing next to perked its head up, and Kenji looked around, his posture innocent and unaware. Of course he was so casual; he wouldn't be expecting an attack in the middle of a komodo-rhino stable.
Dakota heaved the shovel across the soldier's head before he could do so much as yell. The collision sent violent recoil up the length of her arms, causing a bit of pain – the vibrations only aggravated her tightly clenched hands.
The soldier dropped like a stone, his body thudding into the straw. Dakota was panting, as though she had just engaged in a fistfight instead of sneaking up on an innocent soldier and hitting him over the head with a shovel. The spade fell from her fingers, the straw muting the clanging that would have resulted if it had been a metal floor.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry…" Dakota whispered as she knelt beside the soldier. He was motionless, and when she touched him he didn't react in any way. Panic was the first thing that Dakota felt, because…could she have killed him? People didn't die from that sort of thing, right? Or had the movies toned down the severity of hitting someone over the head with a heavy object?
"Please don't be dead," Dakota breathed, and hurriedly unclasped the helmet and mask and pulled them both off. The komodo-rhinos had calmed, and were nuzzling at Dakota's back, searching for food. She ignored their inquisitive muzzles and felt at the soldier's neck for a pulse.
Dakota felt a steady thud against her two fingers, and let out a sigh of relief.
Then, she remembered why she needed to hit the man in the first place, and flushed.
"Oh God, please be wearing underwear…" she hissed, and steeled herself. In order to tag along with Zhao, she had to wear the armor of one of the soldiers he had chosen himself. With frantic fingers, Dakota began undressing the soldier. A hysterical laugh almost escaped her lips – what if someone walked in? How could she begin to explain why she was undressing an unconscious soldier in the middle of the komodo-rhino stables?
The thought made her work even faster.
Undressing an unconscious person was much harder than Dakota anticipated, and it didn't help that he was a fully-grown man. He was wearing underwear, much to her relief, and so Dakota wasn't forced to stare at his naked crotch for minutes on end while she eased off his pants.
Finally, about twenty minutes later, Kenji was unclothed, and Dakota undressed as fast as she could, tying closed Kenji's under robes and making sense of the many pieces of armor. Thankfully, she had seen enough of Zuko's armor to know where everything went, and so it wasn't much later that she was fully dressed from head to toe. The armor hid most of the sagging fabric, and she would be on a komodo-rhino for most of the time, so it wouldn't be noticeable.
Dakota yanked on the heavy forearm bracers, and clicked her belt into place. Then, she coiled her hair up on top of her head. She didn't have a hair tie, but the bun stayed in place long enough for her to shove the helmet over her head. It was heavy, and she wobbled for a second before finding her balance. The mask came next, and fiddled a bit until it clicked.
The girl leaned down, and grabbed Kenji's wrists, dragging him across the stable floor and toward the space underneath the metal staircase. She didn't know how long he would be out for, and so she used the sash of her discarded robe to tie his hands together.
Dakota spotted a clean rag folded on one of the shelves, and whispered another apology before balling it up and stuffing it into his mouth. After making sure he was still breathing properly, she turned and grabbed the dangling reins of the four komodo-rhinos. They stared blankly at her, and Dakota scowled.
"I said I was sorry! I made sure he was alright, didn't I?"
Their response was more staring, as if to say: You know we can't understand a word you're saying, right?
"Yeah, I'm definitely crazy. It's official. I'm explaining myself to a bunch of komodo-rhinos…" Dakota muttered, and mounted the nearest komodo-rhino, settling into the saddle and switching the other three reins into one hand so she could direct her steed with the other.
Once she was settled, she nudged the rhino with her heels, and the creature lumbered forward. The gait was steady and swaying, and as she went Dakota was able to relax into it. The silence, save for the footsteps of the komodo-rhinos, was soothing.
The hallway ended, and Dakota took the left path. Admiral Zhao and the other two soldiers appeared, having walked along an adjoining corridor, and Zhao looked to see Dakota approaching. His golden eyes locked on her face, and all of the calm she had summoned up in the hallway vanished at the sight of the knowing glint in his eyes. But no, that couldn't be, Zhao couldn't see her face. She was safe, there was no way he could know that she wasn't Kenji.
"Right on time, Kenji," Zhao said curtly, and reached over to take the reins. Dakota nodded respectfully, and let Zhao take the reins of the other komodo-rhinos. Dai and Jirou mounted their steeds, and waited for Zhao to do the same. Iroh was standing along with a few other members of the ship, and behind his smile was a tinge of concern. Zhao seemed to see this as well, because he paused in mounting his komodo-rhino.
"Iroh, have you checked in on Dakota, yet? I do hope she's not unwell."
Dakota had to force herself not to shudder at the silky iciness of his tone. Iroh smiled peaceably, and slid his hands into the pockets of his robes.
"I have not, Admiral, though I plan to do so within the next half hour."
"That's good to hear," Zhao replied, and finally got into the saddle. Dakota gripped the reins, and directed the komodo-rhino toward the lowering ramp. As it sank toward the ground, a sudden wall of frosty air hit them, and Dakota shivered slightly. It was so cold!
"Where are we headed, Admiral?" Dai asked as the group made their way down the ramp and onto the hard-packed snow that made up the city streets. Zhao smirked cruelly, and his dark amber eyes gleamed.
"The Spirit Oasis. We're going fishing."
The cries of Waterbenders and the roar of fire cannons filled the air, and Dakota found herself looking around in horror. Her fingers tightened around the leather of the reins as she watched smoke trickle from several of the houses, and wondered if families were still inside.
The trip through the Northern Water Tribe was long and painful, and Dakota wished that she could see the city when it wasn't at war. From far away it was beautiful, but up close it was simply stunning. The sheer amount of blue in the ice made Dakota feel like she was underwater, and in the moonlight the water in the canals gleamed like polished silver.
Finally, they reached a circular wooden door. Zhao dismounted from the komodo-rhino, and Dakota and the other two soldiers hastened to do the same.
"Leave the rhinos out here, they won't fit inside," Zhao ordered, and Dakota followed Dai and Jirou, quickly tying the reins to the nearest post. Zhao leaned forward and opened the door, and Dakota was astonished to feel a warm gush of air, sweet smelling and fresh. Was that grass she smelled? Wasn't the North Pole a glacier of sorts?
Zhao strode forward, and Dakota was the first to follow. Her eyes widened at the sight of the lush island, partially surrounded by a glassy pond. A grassy lawn stretched from the tree line to the edge of the pond, and Dakota silently followed as Zhao walked along the icy path on the outer walls, until they reached to a small wooden bridge.
The contents of the pond came into view, and Dakota saw two large koi fish swimming in a circle, one white and one black. Her mind lazily followed their pattern, the reality of it not sinking in immediately. Zhao moved forward, and suddenly Dakota was aware of what exactly he was planning to destroy. The two fish…they weren't just fish. They were spirits, they were the ocean and moon, they were important!
With one sure swoop, Zhao scooped the Moon Spirit into a cloth bag.
Dakota cried out, because the moment the spirit left the water, the world seemed to go red. Her head was pounding, and a weakness was radiating throughout her body. She fell forward, her knees hitting the ground hard. She was only just able to throw her hands out to catch herself.
"I considered revealing your identity back on the ship, Dakota, but I have to say, I'm glad I waited. This is much more satisfying," Zhao's voice said from far away, and Dakota looked up at him. He was smiling, a sweet, satisfied smile.
He had known all along that she wasn't Kenji.
Dai and Jirou moved forward, but Zhao waved them away. With the spirit still flailing in the bag, Zhao moved forward, and hooked his fingers under her mask and helmet. He jerked, and the helmet and mask came away. Her hair fell down around her shoulders, and she let out a gasp as the pain increased in her head.
"L-let the spirit go!" she whimpered, and Zhao knelt beside her.
"But you don't seem to understand…this is my destiny! Years from now, they will look back and bask in the glory of Zhao, the Moon Slayer! Zhao, the admiral who put an end to the Northern Water Tribe!"
In his free hand appeared a knife. Panicking, Dakota tried to grab his wrist, but Zhao moved out of reach, smoothly rising to his feet. She tried to follow him, but her limbs were like water. The moon was red, the color pulsing with pain–
"Zhao!" Aang's voice sounded, and Dakota whipped her head around to see a pale-faced Aang standing there, along with Katara and Sokka. Sokka was supporting a beautiful girl with white hair and bright blue eyes. Dakota gasped as she recognized her.
If Zhao killed the fish, this girl would die. Dakota didn't know how or why, but she did know that if the fish died, the moon would disappear. In her memory, the girl had been floating in a sky bereft of a moon, and it was only when she disappeared for good that the moon returned. Her sacrifice would save the moon.
"Zhao, if you kill the Moon Spirit, it won't just hurt the Water Tribes. It will affect the entire world, including the Fire Nation," Aang reasoned, his hands suspended in a calming gesture.
"He is right, Zhao!" Iroh's voice rang out, and Dakota almost cried at the sound. Iroh was here; he would be able to stop Zhao from killing the Moon Spirit. The weakness in her limbs was unbearable, and she looked over to see that Iroh was standing on the bridge, his eyes blazing.
"I never pegged you for a traitor, Iroh, though with a nephew like yours I suppose I shouldn't be surprised…" Zhao drawled, his eyes narrowing.
"I'm no traitor, Zhao. The Avatar is right, in order for there to be stability, the balance of the world must be maintained! I'm warning you, whatever you do to that spirit, I'll unleash upon you tenfold! Let it go!" Iroh commanded, and those last three words were the fiercest Dakota had ever heard from the tea-loving man. They radiated power, and Dakota was surprised that Zhao didn't drop the fish out of fear.
Zhao stared at Iroh for a moment, and then his eyes closed in defeat. He knelt down beside the pool, and released the Moon Spirit back into the pond. Dakota sighed as the pain left her body entirely, and the moon regained its silvery light. Iroh relaxed his stance, and he looked at Dakota with concern, his mouth opening to say something – perhaps it was to call her name, perhaps it was to ask if she was all right. She allowed herself to relax, and a sigh of relief escaped her.
For a moment, everything was right with the world.
But then Dakota looked back, and saw the expression on Zhao's face. It was an expression that held the burning intent to kill, and it was terrifying. Dakota's feet dug into the grass, and she poured all of her strength into running those two steps to where Zhao was. The fire was pouring from his hand, and Dakota jumped forward–
Something hot and painful sliced across Dakota's shoulder, and she screamed as it hit her. But there was a deeper pain that erupted seconds after, and it jerked keep within her gut.
The sky went dark, and Dakota collapsed onto the grass, her breath coming fast and her face streaked with tears. Her shoulder was in agony, but her eyes were focused only on one thing.
The white koi fish floated helplessly in the water, a deep slash marring its scales and bleeding the water red. Dakota couldn't believe it for a second. She stared at it, willing it to start swimming again.
No, she had thrown herself in the way, how had it gotten hit? Had only part of Zhao's fire sliced her shoulder, while the rest connected with his target? Dakota had put in so much effort; she had promised herself that she wouldn't hesitate.
Her eyes lifted to meet the gaze of the white-haired girl, who was in shock, as Dakota was. They stared at each other, and Dakota felt tears threaten at the realization that she had just finalized this girl's sacrifice.
"I'm sorry," Dakota breathed, too softly for anyone but herself to hear, and she felt the smooth wetness of water against her hand. Dakota tore her eyes away from the white-haired girl, and saw the black koi fish swimming frantically around his dead companion.
Two hands grabbed Dakota and moved her away from the water, and she was too grief-stricken to resist. Fire was erupting all around her, and the island was growing farther and farther away. The hands were half carrying her, half dragging her along. In the distance she heard Iroh calling her name. Wait, if Iroh wasn't the one pulling her, who–
"Let me go!" Dakota screamed, because it was Zhao who was holding her. She kicked out, and he dropped her. Dakota let out a scream as she landed on her shoulder, and when she scrambled to her feet, she saw a large blot of red on the ice. She tried to run back to where Iroh and the others were, but Zhao blocked her path.
"No you don't," Zhao hissed, and the viciousness in his voice was enough to make Dakota run as fast as she could. Her shoulder was hurting terribly, and when she touched it, her fingers came away glistening with blood. The sight made her pause, and she focused on sucking in deep breaths. She was on a bridge, and the sound of her heart was so loud that she couldn't hear anything else. The icy buildings around her glittered, and she staggered slightly, leaning on the bridge railing for support.
This was really happening. This world wasn't just something that Henry watched when he had free time, it was real and if Dakota didn't move she could die.
"From the very first time I saw you, I knew that you weren't normal," Zhao said calmly from behind her, and Dakota turned, holding a hand to her shoulder, the other extended out in front of her. The man was standing at the base of the bridge, walking toward her as if he hadn't just chased her across an entire city.
Zhao seemed undistracted by her attack stance, and went on. "The way you speak, the way you walk and talk…you're not from here. You're some sort of spirit, that's the only explanation!"
Zhao sent a ball of fire in her direction, and Dakota only just managed to duck out of the way. The heat grazed her hip, and the burn was minor but still painful. She rolled to her feet, dropping her hand from her shoulder and widening her stance. She looked up at the sky, and saw how gray and lifeless the world looked without the light of the moon.
Anger boiled in her chest. She was angry at Zhao, angry at herself…angry at her need to dip her hand into a river of glowing blue water. Dakota straightened, ignoring the lightheadedness that struck her at the motion. With a cry of fury, she whipped her leg up, creating a whip of fire.
Zhao's eyes widened impossibly wide, and he blocked the attack with a stroke of his hands. "You…you're a Firebender? But it's not possible, you're not–"
Dakota didn't give him time to speak. She rounded on him, sending attacks with more force than she ever had in sparring practice. She knew that he would defeat her; she knew that the blood loss would quickly weaken her. But Dakota was beyond caring.
The Moon Spirit was dead, and it was all Dakota's fault.
Dakota was crying and yelling at the same time, and her arms were moving faster and faster, blocking fire and sending fire at the same time. Zhao's attacks often met her skin, and more pain joined the wound on her shoulder.
Out of nowhere, another stream of fire joined the fray, and both Dakota and Zhao turned to see Zuko standing on one of the balconies overlooking the bridge.
Zhao's face blanked in shock. "But…it can't be! I watched your ship burn!"
Zuko jumped down, sending fire as he did so.
"You tried to have me killed!"
Zhao rolled out of the way of Zuko's attack, and Dakota sent another stream of fire. It grazed Zhao's ribs, and he hissed in pain. Zuko stood beside her, and Dakota didn't dare let her eyes leave Zhao's form.
The older man looked at the both of them, and without warning turned and took off. Zuko let out a yell of outrage, and sprinted after him. Dakota ran as well, disregarding the numbness that was trickling over her body.
No matter what, she was going to make Zhao pay.
Yue knelt down beside the robe-clad Firebender, and looked into his gentle golden gaze. His face was not filled with pity or regret, as she expected it to be. No, this man's expression was awed, and his smile was full of gratitude.
She leaned forward, not daring to look over at Sokka, because what could she possibly say? Goodbye? That he was her first real love? No, those were just words, and words were useless at this point. She had made her decision.
Yue knew that her father would be proud of her, and her mother too, if she were still alive. That was enough. It had to be enough.
The girl closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and hoped that her hands weren't trembling as they reached out to touch the white koi fish. The scales were cold only for a moment, because the instant her fingers made contact Yue's entire body filled with warmth.
For a split second, everything in the world seemed so tangible. Yue could feel the icy coldness of the air on her skin; she could taste the warmth of the oasis on her tongue. Her knees were solid on the ground, and Sokka's hand was an anchor on her shoulder.
Yue's breath left her in the form of a sigh, and then everything changed.
She was no longer in her body, but while that should have terrified her all she felt was a sense of calm. The light was all around her, supporting her weak limbs and cradling her head. Different shades of silver and white were swirling around, surrounding her and opening her eyes wider than she had ever opened them before.
She was overlooking the ocean, vast and strong, but at the same time there were little flickering lights flaring all around her. There were no words to describe the sense of pride she felt as she realized what those lights were.
They weren't stars, no, they were people. Hundreds of them, thousands, millions even. Their powers were melding together to form a force greater than a tidal wave, greater than anything she could comprehend. She felt the light in their souls, she could reach out and if she tried, she knew that she could touch them.
They were her children, and she loved each and every one of them.
Thank you, child, a light, feminine voice echoed, and Yue – she was suddenly Yue again – found herself floating above the Spirit Oasis. Her body had taken on a mortal shape once more, one that was familiar and yet felt so constricting.
To say goodbye, the voice explained, as if it could feel Yue's discomfort. Yue realized that the Moon Spirit was giving her one last chance to speak as Yue of the Northern Water Tribe. The thought made her smile, and she looked down at Sokka and all the rest. Sokka's eyes were shining with tears, almost silver in the light Yue's temporarily human form exuded.
Yue leaned down so her face was level with Sokka's, and leaned forward to kiss him, one last time.
"I will always be with you."
After the last sound passed through her lips, she was swept backward, no longer Yue but something else entirely. The entire world looked back up at her, and the warmth in her chest could not be contained. It was both familiar and unfamiliar, this feeling of protectiveness.
The ocean lingered beneath her, cool, dark and immense. He pushed at her, urging her to pull in return, but from a distance. She felt his love; it coursed through the tides, it roared along every wave crest. He loved her, and he wanted her to remember what she came to the mortal world to do.
Foreign memories flooded through her mind, and if she could still cry she would do so. So many memories, some bittersweet and most of them full of joy. A great distance still remained between herself and her beloved, but such is the nature of their sacrifice. In another year, in the time of the Winter Solstice, they would meet again.
Tui waited patiently, and she – La – shone bright as her purpose became clear.
She pulled.
Dakota gasped for breath, clutching her shoulder and praying that the battle would be over soon. Her face was streaked with sweat and every muscle in her body ached and cried out when she moved. But she couldn't stop, not when Zhao was almost defeated. She and Zuko had managed to corner Zhao on a large bridge that overlooked the city, and Zhao was slowing down. They were all tired, but it was two against one. The odds were in their favor.
The world suddenly brightened, and Dakota looked up to see that the moon had returned to the sky. She felt sick at the sight of it, because it meant that the white-haired girl was dead. An innocent girl, killed because Dakota was so eager to assume that everything would be fine.
Zuko and Zhao were exchanging more attacks, and Dakota moved to help Zuko, but something glowing caught her eye – much like that day when she was hiking with Henry. The color was the same, a bright electric blue. The entire canal was shining brightly, with darker blue veins trickling along the surface.
The water was rising, forming a clawed hand, and it was aiming for Zhao and Zuko.
Not this time, was Dakota's only coherent thought, and then her feet were pounding against the icy floor of the bridge. Her shoulder was forgotten, her tiredness was forgotten, all she could see was her hands reaching out, and pushing Zuko out of the way.
The watery hand closed around Zhao and Dakota, solid as ice. Vengence pulsed through the water, and Dakota let out a shriek at the darkness of it. The Ocean Spirit…the Ocean Spirit was trying to drown them! Dakota struggled, panic increasing with every second, and Zuko's face blanched in shock.
"No!" he yelled, and lunged forward to grab her outstretched hand. The watery cage was slowly pulling them toward the canal, and Zuko dug his heels in, grunting in effort. The cage slowed, but only slightly, as if it were merely obliging Zuko's efforts. Dakota held on tightly, hearing Zhao curse and scream behind her but not really bothering to understand his words.
Zuko was dragged across the length of the bridge, and Dakota looked over her shoulder to see that the canal was getting closer. Her bloody hands were slipping through Zuko's, and she tried to speak but Zuko cut her off.
"No, just hold on. Hold on!" he hissed, his hips meeting the railing. He was bending over now, trying to keep hold of Dakota's hand. She felt his hands tightening around hers, and glanced back down at the water. The Ocean Spirit tugged, trying to pull them down, and Dakota looked back up at Zuko. She was afraid, but even through her terror one thing was clear.
She couldn't let Zuko die along with her.
It was as though Zuko could see what she was thinking, because his face darkened. His wide eyes were locked onto hers, golden and bright against the surrounding darkness of nighttime, and he was shaking his head furiously.
"Don't–"
Dakota smiled, and let go of Zuko's hand. Dakota's fingers – slick with blood and sweat – slipped through Zuko's, and she quickly closed her eyes so Zuko couldn't see her cry. Part of her wanted to deny that she was about to die, and her breath came faster, and she desperately wished she could open her eyes. But if she opened her eyes, it would become all the more real.
She was about to die, and there was nothing she or anyone else could do to stop it from happening.
"DAKOTA!" Zuko bellowed, and Dakota felt the tears escape her eyes at the sound of her name. Zhao was yelling something as well, but Dakota focused on Zuko's voice, on the sound of her name.
Dakota felt the crisp arctic air on her skin for a second longer, and then the Ocean Spirit pulled his two captives into the icy waters of the canal.