Chapter 36: Forbidden Fruits Taste the Sweetest
Kya and Hakoda, who were simultaneously anxious and furious over the disappearance of their stubborn son and his repeated insistence to "serve the princess," witnessed their agitation skyrocketing with the arrival of a correspondence sent with great urgency from the South. It was from none other than Chunta, who had conveyed through his sloppy scribbles that as of late, he had been repeatedly having a particular dream of Tui and La, who would smile like the giddy lovers they were as they asked him to reunite them by the next full moon.
It seems to me that Tui and La are wanting to be united in marriage by the next full moon, which I have calculated to be nearly a week away, Chunta wrote. I understand that this is very sudden and that if this prophecy is to be fulfilled, a wedding would not be possible in the South, which is a two-week trip away from the North even at top human speed. However, you are lucky, for you are right beside La. I urge you to speak to the princess and ask her to accept her place as Tui. I am sure Chief Arnook would not refuse, for he, too, must be looking to marry his daughter by the full moon.
Please do not delay this matter any further. Doing so would provoke the displeasure of the Spirits and have negative consequences on his birth chart. We did not celebrate our discovery of the princess as Tui just to have our isumataq remain a loner his entire life.
And all of a sudden, the Southern leaders became very aware of the burden of bearing an unmarried son who was roaming the streets, screaming love for the princess of the North, whose identity as the Akna had not yet been revealed to anyone else. What did Chunta know? Sitting in the warmth of his igloo and scribbling letters for conducting tasks which were difficult, if not impossible for the Southern royals in reality? Surely the shaman himself would second-guess his prediction that the princess herself was Tui after finding out about the Akna and her origin.
"Six days," Hakoda breathed, "We need to have Sokka married in the next six days." He turned to his wife, "What are we going to do? The princess can't be Tui, she just can't. She's the Akna." And for them, the Akna's birth was unfortunate and tragically impure, and she couldn't possibly represent the auspicious Tui.
Kya sighed, folding her hands in prayer as she looked over to the tapestry of Tui, "Please, Great Goddess. Help us find our way."
Not even a minute after her invocation to the Water Tribe's patron goddess, a servant walked up to the Southern chief and chieftess, bowing, "Your Highnesses, a few visitors are requesting your audience."
"Who?"
"Mister Quan and Lady Liu of Kyoshi Island."
And approaching them from behind another servant were the aforementioned Kyoshi hierarchs in their swishing green robes and parkas, bearing the powerful Earth Kingdom insignia embroidered at the front of their pale yellow sashes. The guests smiled and bowed in greeting, the sight of them washing a light of recognition over the Southern Water Tribe's monarchs.
"It is very good to see you, Chieftain Hakoda and Chieftess Kya," the auburn-haired Liu smiled. "If you recall, we met during the tours…"
"Oh, yes, of course," Kya rose and helped Hakoda up, and the couple bowed back in greeting, "It is an honor to welcome you to our residence. Well, temporary residence."
Quan chortled, "All thanks to the gracious princess of the North. We hear she has taken great pains to arrange for our accommodations. Our first time in such a drastically different climate, and we still feel so comfortable. Talk about Water Tribe hospitality!"
Hakoda and Kya gave an awkward chuckle of acknowledgment, "Ah, yes...she has…"
Other formalities commenced from there, and the Southern leaders became distracted from their son's marriage dilemma thanks to the unexpected but welcome company. Both couples spent some time catching up and getting to know each other a little more than the tour limitations and hectic schedules allowed, engaging in talks of cultural uniquenesses as well as common grounds. Eventually, they came to the discussion of their children.
"Suki. That's a lovely name," Kya smiled. "What does it mean?"
"It means 'moon' in our dialect," Quan answered.
And although they didn't make it obvious, Hakoda and Kya nevertheless shared wide-eyed looks.
"You both seem quite surprised," Liu noted.
"Perhaps it's because the moon holds a very special place in your hearts," Suki's father smiled. "We hear that the Water Tribe worships the moon along with the ocean. It's quite an interesting dynamic that your patron spirits have."
Hakoda chuckled, "Oh, yes, we definitely hold the moon and ocean close to our hearts. You see, our son, Sokka, is named after our Ocean Spirit."
"Really?"
"Yes. The Ocean Spirit is also known as the spirit of reason and justice. That's why we named our son 'Sokka.' 'He who knows.'"
"You have named him well, Chief Hakoda," Liu said. "Sokka is a very intelligent young man. He's such a joy to have around. A bit goofy but very strong and caring at heart. Always speaking up against injustice..."
And needless to say that a hopeful Kya and Hakoda were beginning to feel good about their son being so well-liked, especially by a family who had a daughter around his age and whose name meant moon, oh Tui and La! It was not to say that the leaders felt incredibly at ease, however; Suki was from the Earth Kingdom, and as much as Kya and Hakoda didn't have a problem with that necessarily (even Amaruq and Ki'ma were having an Earth Kingdomer for a daughter-in-law), convincing Pakku would not be an easy feat.
"Prince Sokka is a hard worker," Quan said. "Although he's a prince himself, he has no qualms against actively working for his people. Unlike the other rulers in some parts of the Earth Kingdom who do nothing but sit atop their thrones and indulge in riches."
"We hear he is also a very eligible bachelor in the South," Liu said, "It is commendable that he put a hold on having a family ultimately for the sake of the people. Though he does not have to hold back anymore, right? Thanks to the princess of the North and her contributions to your tribe."
They all definitely knew where this was headed despite not addressing it bluntly just yet.
"We are aware that in the Water Tribe, marriages are arranged by the family," Quan said. "Are you considering an alliance for him at this point?" And after a brief moment of pause, "With the princess of the North, perhaps? We understand that it's only obvious—"
"No, no, not the princess, not at all…" Kya spoke up, "She is, um...out of our league, you can say."
"No one can be too good for our Sokka."
That's how they took it? "We actually mean that she…"
Perplexed, "You think someone like that is not worthy?"
"It's not like that," Hakoda said quickly. "She doesn't seem to want to leave the North. We could've arranged for a way for her and Sokka to split time between the two tribes had an alliance been possible, but the princess doesn't want to leave the North at all, not even for a visit. Her goals are different, and she doesn't seem to favor marriage, so...there's nothing we can do."
"That's unfortunate. It's only fair for the bride to learn more about her in-laws as it is for the groom to learn about his," Liu said, and after another awkward pause, asked, "Are you looking exclusively for a Water Tribe bride for Sokka?"
Pakku's face flashed in their minds. Hiding the queasiness that seeped into their tones, "Well, we…" It depends, can Tui be born into the other nations?
"Chief Hakoda, Chieftess Kya, I understand that we know each other very little," Quan sighed, deciding it was now or never to get to the point, "but our children have been friends for a while now. They have been in each other's company for a long time, even if it's only for trading purposes, and...I believe you know where this is going." Looking up at the Southern couple, "Chief Hakoda and Chieftess Kya, it would be our honor to welcome Sokka as our son-in-law."
Kya and Hakoda exchanged a look, unsure of many things. Should they spill the knowledge of their son's newfound obsession with the princess of the North? Should they open up about a prophecy that they were waiting to fulfill? Were they to regurgitate everything they were feeling about Sokka's birth chart? Wait, were they even going to consider someone who wasn't a tribeswoman as a daughter-in-law?
"I am not sure how much you have heard about our daughter, but even before we formally met Sokka, we have heard a lot about him and mainly through her," Liu said.
"And we are not saying this because she is our daughter, but believe us, Suki is highly capable of making the right decision, whether it be what steps should be taken for the welfare of Kyoshi Island or who she should share the rest of her life with," Quan said. "We have immense trust in her selection."
"Your daughter has feelings for our son…?" Hakoda asked.
"We've always had our suspicions because Suki would not take pains to learn so much about another culture for no reason," Liu chuckled, "but thanks to Ty Lee, we found out officially."
"She's learning about Water Tribe customs?" Kya inquired, surprised.
"Oh, of course. She asks Sokka about them every time he visits."
Despite Pakku's persistent barking in the back of their minds, Hakoda and Kya were impressed.
"A union like this would be beneficial for not only our children but for our people as well," Quan noted. "This will be our opportunity to strengthen the ties between the Southern Water Tribe and Kyoshi Island. We will provide you with many trade deals with our international partners. Kyoshi Island may be small, but apart from the Water Tribes, we are renowned for our fisheries, so we have many connections. From what we heard, the South has many oil and uranium deposits that require refining and mining. We have several business partners who are looking for these resources, and we can put them in touch with you. There are many other benefits, of course."
"The Southern Revival project is massive and will no doubt save your tribe, but we want to do our part to make sure another catastrophe does not happen," Liu said. "What better way to promise our dedication to each other's homeland than through a bond sealed by marriage?"
And as the minutes wore on, and as more and more benefits were being offered on a silver platter to the leaders, Hakoda and Kya became increasingly tempted to accept the offer.
"To this day, we have given our daughter everything she has ever wanted," Quan smiled, holding his wife's hand, "And we intend to surprise her with this alliance as well. We know it may not be easy to accept Suki considering she is not Water Tribe—"
"Oh, no, it's nothing like that, it's...I mean, it's just that…"
"It's understandable, don't worry," Suki's mother reassured. "It's expected of any foreigner who is to be a part of our family to learn about us and our homeland, and it's no different for you or for us. Sokka has built extensive knowledge about the Earth Kingdom given his travels, and Suki is looking forward to adding more to her knowledge."
"It's only for her own benefit that we are thinking this way, I assure you," Kya said with a smile, having taken the reins in this conversation and surprising Hakoda with her confidence in the matter, "She is to rule the South alongside our son, after all."
"So this means you both accept our proposal?"
Kya smiled and turned to her husband, who acquiesced after another moment of thought. Both had come to an important unspoken realization at that point. It was obvious that Sokka would not have luck finding a Water Tribe bride— an unmarried, virginal one at that— given he was several years past marrying age already in a culture that demanded marriage by at least eighteen. Furthermore, Pakku would never approve of the affection that Sokka was cultivating for the Akna. Suki may be from the Earth Kingdom, and this alliance would mean Sokka might have to split his responsibilities between Kyoshi Island and the Southern Water Tribe, but it would be easier to convince Kanna and Pakku to accept an Earth Kingdomer (who was willing to learn the ways of the South) instead of having Sokka marry someone of impure birth or any other supporter of the Moon Temple.
Not to mention the promises of political aid and benefits which would follow the alliance, which meant they no longer had to rely on the princess and her project very much, for they would be spared of the guilt of receiving help and gifts from someone they sought to stay as far away from as possible.
"We are happy to accept Suki into our family," Hakoda turned back to the Kyoshi leader's parents, "and we acknowledge that she has responsibilities to Kyoshi Island as a leader and warrior just as Sokka has responsibilities to the South. We are willing to work with you to ensure that an arrangement can be made where their time is divided equally between the two locations."
"I'm urging you to agree to a marriage at the earliest, preferably this week."
"This week?" The Kyoshi Islanders gawked at them. "B-But that's a bit too soon, don't you think?" Quan pointed out, "Even if we left now, we wouldn't be able to reach Kyoshi Island or the Southern Water Tribe until two whole weeks. We barely have time to start arranging and sending out all the invitations and—!"
"There's not a moment to waste. We can have a larger ceremony if need be with all grand arrangements and all guests and loved ones, but we need the wedding to happen by this upcoming full moon," Kya told them. "You see, Sokka's birth chart insists that he be married by the next full moon, which is barely a week away. We've been scrambling for a good alliance so we can get him hitched by then. You have to understand."
"If that's the case, then I suppose we can have a quick ceremony like you're suggesting. We can have a grand wedding later." And from there, Liu and Quan stood up and bowed, "We are grateful to the Spirits of Water and Earth for bringing us together as in-laws. We cannot thank you enough."
"No, thank you, dear friends, thank you so much," the Southern leaders bowed back to the beaming Kyoshi Islanders, "We can't thank you enough for approaching us in time." And from the bottom of their hearts, they did not forget to issue silent praise to the Moon Spirit, who they believed was showing them the way directly upon invocation.
"Only if your hearts are open will Tui stay…"
"Only if your hearts are open…"
"Only if…"
Little by little in the wake of celebration, Osha's predictions and Chunta's warnings melted away.
Sweet universe, I'm engaged.
A dazed Sokka ambled through the palace corridors on his way back, earning curious looks from the passing servants. He was also nearly tackled by a group of pamphlet reporters, who were looking to know more details about the princess from him given that he was her bodyguard. Questions about her past, how she met Lady, his reaction after realizing she could fight and basically didn't need a bodyguard, to begin with, talks of her supposed bewitching beauty that circulated the private sectors of the palace thanks to the guards who had seen her face… It took an unusually high amount of effort for Sokka to put his recent life-altering milestone to the side and escape the reporters. Whether it was exhaustion or a propensity towards thinking back through all that happened, he sought solitude in an empty corridor and fingered the conch at his neck, still trudging ahead yet staying in his head, keeping his eyes open yet not seeing, keeping his ears receptive yet never quite hearing.
"...all the good men are forbidden or already taken, and I can't sit around screaming heartbreak when I'm supposed to be strong for my people."
Forbidden. Was he forbidden? The credit for that went to his parents, didn't it? And even if he stubbornly sought to win her heart, he was probably the only man in the Water Tribe, or dare he say, the world, who was going to court the woman he loved after marrying her.
One awkward step down the western courtyard's icy steps and he yelped his way down into the nearby fountain, splashing into the water. A couple of servants bustled by with suppressed laughter while a few kind people stepped forward to help him up, one of them even bending the water off of him.
"Prince Sokka?"
The fumbling prince turned to see Eiji Hang approaching him. "Oh, Mr. Eiji…"
The cabinet member bowed in greeting, failing to hold back a laugh, "Are you alright?"
"Eh, why does it matter? So long as the public's entertained."
"Sorry, sorry," the man looked concerned again, "How is our princess?"
"She's doing better," the prince said. "She still has to take it easy, though."
"I can imagine. She needs to unwind from all that stress." Frowning, "It was quite upsetting to hear about those poor women. Even the Revivalists were fazed by everything, and they're the ones surrounded by these kinds of things all the time, being part of a social mission and all."
"Yeah," Sokka sighed.
"It still gives me goosebumps," Eiji said with wonder flashing in his look, "Seeing the princess tear up the Arctic last night. She's an amazing fighter. Who would've guessed that she had such an ability? Or that she would be taught by Lady herself? We were all out here worrying about her every second she's out in the open without a bodyguard. And her beauty...wow, I mean I wasn't there for the face reveal but I know it's something the entire tribe's starting to talk about."
"Her Highness is definitely talented...and obviously very beautiful," Sokka admitted, dismissing his flush, "But sometimes, she doesn't know when to stop and take care of herself. That's why I've been thinking of an idea for helping her manage her stress. What do you think of the cabinet having comedy nights? Two or three nights a week?"
"Every night's a comedy night with you around, isumataq," Eiji chuckled.
"Well I figured we could have a bit more humor on stressful days," the prince's eyes lit up, "We can bring in a couple more entertainers, put together something like a show. Something she'll really enjoy. We can give prizes and stuff to incentivize our comedians to get creative and put in lots of effort. Stand-up, haiku battles, you name it!"
"Haiku battles, eh?" That caught Eiji's attention and interest, "That sounds pretty neat! When should we plan for it?"
"I'll plan those details soon. In the meantime, you think you can rally up a couple of folks who have some really good content on their plates? Spread the word and see if anybody else knows some comics?"
"I will take care of all that, don't you worry. All you have to do on your part is show up. You're quite a comic yourself."
"The show's not gonna start without me, my friend," Sokka smiled. "Oh, and make sure this remains confidential. You know how the walls have ears in this place, and I want it to be a surprise."
Chuckling, "Alright, I'll make a note of that. The princess is going to love this!"
After Eiji went on his way, Sokka continued down the courtyard, meaning to step through the less-frequented Southern Gates, possibly cut a path through the Jungqiran Snow Forest so he wouldn't be noticed, but after stepping outside of the palace premises, he spotted someone else of high importance treading a trail through the snow forest: Priestess Osha, her sapphire-centered scepter shimmering in her grip. She was making her way in the opposite direction, headed towards the palace. The Southern prince normally wouldn't have cared so much and would've continued on his way had it not been for a crucial reminder that struck him in the face just then.
"Hey!" he called out, "Hey, wait! Priestess Osha!"
The old woman looked in his direction, "Isumataq?"
Racing up to her and asking with scrutiny, "What are you doing here?" Pointing to the palace, "Are you going inside?"
"Yes. I'm here to speak with the chief."
"About what?"
"About the Akna."
He widened his eyes and quickly looked both ways, finding that no one was in sight given the nature of the Southern Gates' warning zone, "So you were...Weren't you the one who told the chief about me?"
"Of course. Apart from your family, I'm the only one who knows the specialty of your birth chart."
"Why did you tell the chief?" he demanded. "I bet you were the one who fed him this nonsense of having Her Highness get married by the full moon. She was already stressed out to begin with, and because of you, the chief started pressuring her, and she...and I was...I was so scared something would happen to her, I…" glaring at her, "How could you be so heartless to someone you taught and practically raised since she was little?!"
It did not strike her as a world-shattering surprise that he was very invested in Yue for someone who knew the princess but for a few days. It was, after all, characteristic of the moon and ocean to be instantly drawn towards one another. "The waves are so restless even when the moon has become high and bright," she sighed without an ounce of turbulence or remorse. "You relieved her stress, did you not? The outcome still happened to be advantageous for you both. So why complain?"
He felt like a balloon sucked out of air. "How do you…?"
She smiled knowingly. "Don't worry, I won't say anything."
He couldn't deny that his arrangement with the princess was a welcome one, for it was crucial in bypassing the Leadership Council's idiotic rules. Pointing fingers would not go very far, he realized; there was something else that he needed to absolutely know. Sokka knew that the priestess obviously knew Yue's past considering she was the one who first drew the white-haired infant close to her following the Moon Temple's initial abandonment. Of course, there were likely details that even Osha didn't know, but overall, she was knowledgeable. But the old woman couldn't talk straight to save her life given her "shamanistic shenanigans," as he called it, so getting her to confirm some things was out of the question. Then again, he couldn't resist asking with a determined frown, "Does she know about her past?"
"She knows the story," Osha answered. "She just doesn't know that it is her story. She will know when the time is right—"
"She can't know about this. Please."
The priestess raised her eyebrows.
"I don't want to see her hurt, okay?" his demeanor turned soft. "I don't want her to know that the entire tribe is scared to even mention her. I don't want her to know that she was left behind because of stupid rules and deep-rooted sexist yakshit."
"You don't want her to discover herself? Her roots?"
"You've gotta understand." Lowering his voice even more and keeping watch of the surroundings, "She should believe that she is always loved because she really is. She already has so many burdens she's carrying, and she can't bear to see other people's suffering. She shouldn't have to deal with this, too." Growing worried, "And I feel helpless and...I don't know what to do other than be someone she can lean on."
Osha did not say anything to that, only smiling that infuriating smile of hers that made his glower return because this lady couldn't make herself clear for once in her life, it seemed. "Do you even understand what I'm saying?" Sokka huffed impatiently, "Look, I know that she's the high sage and the spiritual successor of the Moon Temple, and I'm not at all saying she should be robbed of that truth. You want her to have a good leadership position at the temple? You want her to have the position of an all-knowing sage? Go for it! By all means! She wants to be a priestess anyway! But please, don't tell her that she's the Akna."
"It would be a disservice to the purpose for which she was born."
"I'm not trying to disrespect her or anyone or anything else! I don't want her to feel rejected by the nation she loves so much—"
"She can only believe that she is loved by the nation if she knows the truth that La, the very co-embodiment of the Water Tribe, has fed her his milk—"
"Look, not everything in the world is about religion, alright?" he snapped. "Don't make her feel unloved by actual people for your dolls and fantasies and fairytales."
"She needs to know the truth if she is to realize who she is and act on her passions. You getting in the way would only—"
"You think her being spared of this pain will be a barrier to her passions? You think I'll be a barrier to her passions?"
"I didn't say—"
"Oh sorry, I'm a tribesman, therefore I must be a cruel, heartless womanizer who's just using her instead of actually caring about her, right?"
"That is not what I said, isumataq—"
"She can have everything she wants, but it won't be at the expense of her peace of mind. I'll make sure of it. End of discussion."
The priestess gave him a long look before adding, "I will not tell her anything, don't worry. This is something she has to figure out on her own. And she will." Tightening her hold on her scepter, "Do what you can to protect her from the truth, but remember. Our Akna figuring out her past is just as natural as you falling for her."
Katara stepped out onto the icy porch with a frustrated huff, taking a seat on the pelt beside Aang. "They're still talking about the new alliance for Sokka."
"This is so sudden," the Avatar frowned. "I don't recall Lady Suki saying anything about an alliance or of her being interested in Sokka. She knows we're all friends, so you would think she would've mentioned the alliance, at least. Did she say anything to you?"
"No. That's why this is completely out of nowhere," Katara said, "Although it was technically her parents who came to ask, so I wonder if she even knows about this…? I didn't get to hear the whole conversation…" Keeping an eye out for any sight of her brother over the courtyard of the estate, "Sokka's not back yet, and the older adults are over here rushing things to impossible scales. They want the Earth Kingdom engagement ceremony to be today, and Sokka's expected to present the necklace in two days at the earliest."
"But how can they do that?" Aang said, incredulous, "They can't just decide all this without asking Sokka!"
"They're rushing because our village shaman, Chunta, sent a message all the way from the South saying he was having some kind of vision about Tui and La every night," Katara sighed, "And that in his visions, the Spirits are telling him to get them married by the full moon."
"More birth chart business?"
"Exactly."
Shaking his head, "I'd expect your parents to think about Sokka's preferences first if they really think he's the incarnate La. I'd expect them to be happy that he finally likes someone. Since they're so worried about his future."
"They want the lesser of two 'evils', you can say. Sokka should either stay single for the rest of his life or marry someone who's not a tribeswoman but is willing to learn the ways. Any choice is fine as long as he doesn't marry the Akna."
"It still makes no sense, though. If Sokka is the incarnate La, then whoever he likes is the incarnate Tui. It has nothing to do with rules if the tribe thinks the Spirits are beyond all rules." And after earning her curious look, he grinned, "You can say I know a thing or two about Tui and La."
"Of course you would. You're the Avatar."
"Being the Avatar doesn't necessarily mean you're born knowing everything," he chuckled, "I had to learn a lot of things on my own. You know, Chief Arnook once took me to the Spirit Oasis here during my training. I was able to meditate my way into the Spirit World. That's where I learned about Tui and La. From a face-stealing spirit named Koh."
"Face-stealing?" she asked, alarmed.
"If you show any emotion at all in front of him, he will steal your face. Nice guy, though, I suppose...minus the face-stealing part, but anyway…"
He told her of the nature of Tui and La's relationship that Koh had told him. Tui and La— the moon and ocean— who constantly circle each other in an eternal dance that cultivates and consistently expands the cosmos far beyond the very conception of time and space. And according to the specks of authentic tribal culture that the Avatar had seen bloom cautiously, secretly to escape Khasiq's regime, it was this cosmic dance that the Water Tribe aimed to describe through love-making metaphors, symbolizing an act of union, creation, and expansion. Tui and La are drawn to one another like magnets, hence Aang's hypothesis that whoever is drawn to Sokka and whoever Sokka is drawn to, that person has to be Tui. The rest were details.
"Chunta did say that Yue is the incarnate Tui," Katara said, "And it's obvious. We've seen her. She's the spitting image of the goddess we celebrate."
"Then why aren't your parents listening?"
"For one, they've never seen Yue, so they don't know how she looks. Apart from that, they're not really open-minded." Indeed, the chief and chieftess of the South were willing to break certain barriers so they didn't have to break others. It was manifesting now in how they were allowing someone of non-Water Tribe origin to be a part of the family even if it meant rejecting a tribeswoman who defied societal expectations since the moment of her birth.
"In Suki, they're already starting to see a considerate daughter-in-law, even if Suki is not the ideal conservative tribeswoman," Katara said. "The truth is, my parents are floored by the fact that she's learning more about the Water Tribe, and since she's a foreigner to begin with, they don't have extreme expectations. For Princess Yue, however, there are huge expectations, and even if my parents' demands are met, the fact that she's the Akna will always steer them away." Turning to him, "You're the Avatar. You know a lot about Tui and La. Why can't you tell them?"
"I would, but I'm holding back because I know they're expecting me to not get involved in your personal religious matters," Aang said. "I may be the Avatar, but there are still boundaries I shouldn't be crossing."
"But you know what's right," Katara pointed out.
"Maybe, but nothing's gonna change the fact that I'm always essentially gonna be an outsider," the monk admitted. "For the Avatar, there's a blurry line between stepping back and letting people solve the issues in their homelands and barging in and doing what I can to help even if they don't want my help. When it comes to the North, I can do everything I can to help with the humanitarian crises. Make sure the bad guys are in prison, make sure the leaders aren't taking advantage of their people. Make an outcry demanding justice. But religion is a very sensitive issue. It's not something that can be affected even by someone who's been to the Spirit World and back. If they ask me why I, being an airbender originally, choose to meddle in what tribespeople think without thinking about the cultural nuances...I won't have an answer for them other than the claim that I'm the Avatar. And that answer isn't gonna be enough. I've seen a lot of politics at play to understand that much."
Katara nodded slowly despite not liking the circumstance that would undoubtedly follow his involvement.
"Besides, you're the one who needs to give the first shot at this, Katara. You're an insider, and as a Water Tribe princess, you know more about this situation than even I do as the Avatar. It would be...I don't know, more socially acceptable if a tribesperson challenges the tribe? I'll be right behind you to help do my part every step of the way, and I'll do whatever it takes to fight to bring about this change, but ultimately, I can't make the first call."
"I understand."
"But I won't deny it; it's extremely difficult for me to wrap my mind around your parents' train of thought," Aang added. "Is the princess really that much of an enemy just for being the Akna? Everything she's done to help out...what about all of that?"
It seems compassion has no real meaning because the real enemies, she said, were the baseless purity laws. Chaining up people and boasting of tradition enough to hesitatingly scoff at an abandoned baby left behind in the temple.
"There's no freedom in the South," placing her head in her hands, "None at all. At least Sokka got to travel the entire world. I never got to step out of our igloo unless I had to help deliver babies or go to people's weddings."
"Monkey feathers, that stinks. There's a whole world out there that's waiting for you."
"If things were up to me, I would've made a run for it a long time ago," she sighed, "Sometimes, it seems the control of another's body through bloodbending has got nothing on the way many of our idiotic elders sought control over our bodies, our entire selves. Sometimes I wonder what exactly is the point...why bother when these people won't ever learn..."
Aang cast a look at the morning Arctic sky, "The monks always say, Sarvam ananda mayam jagat."
Blinking, "What does that mean?"
"It means, 'Everything is filled with bliss.'" Smiling, "There's so much joy to be found in our world because of our connections to everything here. A friend of mine from the Foggy Swamp Tribe confirmed this by saying the universe is like one big living organism in which everything, no matter how different, still breathes and grows together."
He spoke of how the people in this world often separated themselves and hid behind categories, not understanding that separation is an illusion— one that can even be destructive sometimes. To tie people down because of gender, because of how different their bodies are or how unique their social situations are, it was like insulting our very selves because everything is beautifully diverse, and everything is connected. The four nations, the spectrum of gender, the many socials spheres in the world— none of these really matter. As various expressions of nature, the only value they might have is in what wisdom they are willing to give.
"What makes this very moment very joyful and blissful for me, for example, is the fact that you and I are here, talking to each other. Outwardly we may seem different in our own ways, and that's what makes me fascinated by you...your friendship, I mean," he couldn't fight the color that rushed up to his face, "yet we're really not too different because we're equals. We're equally entitled to life and freedom. Freedom from discriminating jerks who are not worth our time."
Katara could not fend off the smile that played over her lips, couldn't shake away the utter fascination in her eyes.
"In just a few days, you'll have the chance to stay here and have more freedom than you've ever known," he said. "You'll be teaching the tribeswomen here not only waterbending but also a way for them to start thinking of themselves for themselves." Turning to her, "Running away from this kind of situation in the tribe is not the best response, so we'll definitely be grounded in this. But every day for at least a few hours," his stormy eyes looked up at her hopefully, "maybe we can take some time to fly away from all this?"
"Aang, what are you saying?"
"I'm saying...If I told you I could take you all around the world, you'd come with me, right? Maybe when we're both free…when I'm not caught up in the investigations and you're done with teaching for the day..."
She blinked at him, finding that her heart was pounding in anticipation, "Like...mini-vacations?"
"Exactly!"
"Where would we go…?"
"We could visit places we haven't seen before," he offered with a breathless grin, "We can go anywhere we want. Well, anywhere that's still close to the North and won't take but a few hours."
Her smile seemed to reach the ends of the planet, "I will agree to this arrangement if you take me to the Southern Air Temple first thing."
Beaming, "You wanna visit the Southern Air Temple?"
"It doesn't matter to me when we leave. We could be back anytime before my class begins."
"Oh boy, Katara, you will not be disappointed!"
"Of course not," she smiled, "You Air Nomads are so perfect."
"Said who?" he raised his eyebrows.
"Says I."
"We're just as human as everyone else," came the chuckle.
"But at least, in theory, you teach equality."
"I know there are resources in the Water Tribe, too, Katara."
"Maybe, but face it, Aang, not many people here are even in the questioning phase. How can they look for alternate resources?" Shuffling closer to him, "Why can't everyone be an airbender? The world would be a much better place."
"If everyone's an airbender, you wouldn't be yourself."
She gave him an enraptured look, amused as he suddenly began to fumble for words. He seemed to have realized something just then.
"Oh, and by the way...if you don't feel comfortable with it just being the two of us, Sokka can come with us, too—"
So she stopped him with a kiss to his cheek, the softest grazing of her lips against his fair skin that instantly took on a wild crimson shade. Her cheeks had slightly pinkened as well, but her voice was reassuring, slightly wavering with bubbling excitement, "I don't think that will be a problem."
Feeling an exhilarating rush shoot through his heated system, he smiled to himself and twiddled with his fingers.
"You know, I just might marry a monk one day. I'm sick of tribesmen."
Still stuck in his dopey haze, "Uh...I mean, that's great, but I don't want you to think there's no hope for tribesmen, so—"
"My birth chart says I won't marry a tribesman anyway," she smirked.
"O-Oh...well, hehe," rubbing the back of his head, "Thank the Spirits for your birth chart, Katara."
She cocked her head to the side, amused by the expression on his face. "Why are you smiling at me like that?"
"Oh, I was smiling?"
Everyone in the estate held bated breaths as Hakoda and Kya lingered by the pelts where Sokka was sitting. The young prince, who was yet to be notified of the impromptu betrothal plans, seemed like he was stuck in a trance ever since he came home, having spoken to no one and being lost completely in thought. At present, he was playing around with his food, occasionally sporting that grin from when he first swooned in the princess's presence. Needless to say that watching him provided great entertainment for Kiguk and Chen, who seemed less interested in the havoc that was soon to follow as opposed to the adults, namely Amaruq and Ki'ma, who had spent the previous hours trying to convince Kya and Hakoda to not force the prince into anything. Both parties' intentions persisted, yet to erupt again with the reveal. Katara and Aang grew more frustrated in the meantime, impatient to see how the conversation was going to play out.
"You haven't been properly eating with us since the past few days," Kya added a fish to her son's plate, "Having lunch and dinner with your friends and all."
Sokka only shrugged, continuing to draw shapes in his plate with his fingers as he chewed a single piece of meat for several minutes, eventually stopping in mid-chew as his eyes caught sight of a pastry beside him.
The princess, seeking to ease the awkwardness following the impromptu engagement, shook away the momentous milestone by helping herself to another slice of cake. With a bit of cream sticking to her hair, some smeared on her chin and some on top of her nose, she savored the taste of the pastry with her eyes closed, her cake-stained lips curled in a small smile of indulgence. She leaned against the pelt cushions atop her bed, earning a look teetering on the brinks of surreal rapture and amusement from the Southern prince, who wallowed, burrowed, and burned in inexplicable yearning. His neck was adorned with her conch while his La pendant dangled over her chest.
"Oh isumataq," she sighed, basking in the sweetness, her hair loose and wild in its flailing, "Freedom is the day when you get to publicly announce your disdain for religion and not be burned at the stake," another bite, "and I get to be like this in public and not be mauled by human beasts. Until then, we must pretend to pine."
Sokka took a deep breath and bit into the pastry, and as he swallowed, he felt the brush of the princess's conch against his chest. The shell snuggled up beneath the covers of his tunic and cloak and sank against the skin at his chest, unnoticed by the world.
Hakoda turned to his wife, whispering to her to take Kohana to bed while he handled the conversation. Kya gave a brief nod and took her squirming younger son with her, leaving everyone to shift their attention to Hakoda. The Southern chieftain sighed before tapping against the table, "Alright, Sokka, stop daydreaming and listen up."
A beaming Sokka blinked out of his trance, swallowed the last bit of the pastry and gave his father a look.
"Lady Suki's parents came to visit us a couple of hours ago," the chieftain said, keeping his expression stern, "They are interested in giving you their daughter's hand in marriage. Your mother and I agreed to the alliance."
And after taking a second to process, Sokka shot up out of his seat, "What?
"Calm down, Sokka," Amaruq said, glaring at Hakoda, "No one's going to force you into anything. I'll make sure of it."
"Sokka's marriage with Lady Suki of Kyoshi Island will take place by the next full moon, and no one is going to change my mind," Hakoda told his brother-in-law.
The next full moon. Sokka facepalmed, "The heck? This is out of nowhere! Suki and I aren't together!"
"Then you will be from now on."
"But Dad—!"
"Your mother and I thought through this, and we believe this will be a beneficial alliance for both families and both regimes. Kyoshi Island will become our permanent trading partner—"
"You're throwing my life under the sleigh so you can get yourself a trading partner?" Sokka asked, incredulous, "I told you I'm in love with the princess!"
Everyone gawked at each other with wide eyes at the announcement. Aang and Katara, while not finding the declaration to be a surprise, were nevertheless taken aback by how intensely Sokka affirmed it.
"Oh damn," Kiguk whispered to Chen, "That was an actual confession."
"So it's confirmed. Sokka has feelings for the princess," Amaruq said. "It would behoove you to think of the boy's future before you act on this decision that you and my sister took without consulting anyone. How can he possibly be happy being married to someone he doesn't love?"
"And how can a man who hasn't known a woman for at least a week be in love with her?" Hakoda demanded, turning to Sokka. "This infatuation that you're feeling is like a passing cloud. It will go away sooner or later. Suki is a nice match for you, and she is here to stay—"
"Suki and I are just friends," the Southern prince argued, "And it appalls me how a promise of trade deals made it randomly okay for you to accept an Earth Kingdomer as your daughter-in-law."
"We have made adjustments."
"The Akna has given us everything. She continues to give us everything. I kept telling you everything she's done for us and our tribe, but you blatantly disregard it! Why can't you make adjustments for her instead? Just like you made adjustments to love a nonbelieving son?"
Swallowing hard as everyone else burned their stares into him, "I can't make adjustments for a woman who refuses to set foot in the South. She insists that she wants to stay here without a man to call a husband. She'll spend her entire life running around her people in the streets, sacrificing all she has. But Lady Suki is willing to come to the South for you for a while. Even if it means you have to go to Kyoshi Island for some time. Kyoshi Island is not too far away from the South, either. Your homelands are close. You are both good friends anyway—"
"But I don't love her!"
"What's not to love? She's sophisticated, fierce, loyal," eyeing his son, "She doesn't go around dancing in the streets with her hair down and colors on every inch of her body like a lunatic." Wasn't born in a temple, either.
Sokka glared at the chieftain. "So what now? You want to give back everything she's given us? Return all her gifts? So you don't have to rely on her and be guilty about not liking her? So you can get her 'bad luck' off your back?"
"That's not what—"
"You want trade deals so you can slowly try to undo the Southern Revival Project after the South waited for lifetimes for help," Sokka pointed an accusing finger at the chieftain, "I suppose you'd also want us all to regurgitate the feasts that we shoved down our throats all this time 'cause your Spirits know who provided all of that for us!"
"Sokka, calm down, son," Ki'ma stepped forward, her hand on the young man's shoulder. She eyed Hakoda, "Brother Hakoda, we really think you should consider. So Sokka has lots of admiration for the princess, and so she happens to be someone you weren't expecting. Why should that get in the way? She has been nothing but kind to us—"
"We felt like we needed to take measures to protect the family's reputation, so we did," the chief turned back to the fuming prince, "For Spirits' sake, you were seen with the princess at a brothel, Sokka—!"
"We were with several other people! It's not what you think—!"
"You and the princess didn't leave for the shelters with them," Hakoda reminded, "What in the name of the Spirits were you two doing overnight?"
"We were destroying the place—!"
"And then you two were caught sleeping in the shelters—"
"It wasn't like that! She was tired and—"
"You didn't have to lend her your shoulder for that!"
"Her Highness has been working hard day and night saving the lives of innocent women," Sokka hissed, "She was helping out some lady who was being abused by her husband and—"
"Those guards would've taken care of it! Why do you concern yourself with matters that don't concern you?!"
"She needed my help, so I stayed. She overworked herself and got stressed out, so I stayed. It's as simple as that!"
"Did she ask you to stay?"
"I was needed but I wasn't asked. Out of respect. And I volunteered. Out of respect. Cause that's what the princess needs. Respect! Not idiotic accusations!" His glare deepening, "If Her Highness was the walking definition of bad luck like you believe she is, why would the South be in such a good shape right now? Why would those sisters be rescued from their horrible fates? Why would your leg get better from all the herbs she sent?!"
Hakoda did not answer, but his silence didn't mean he was backing down.
"I look up to you because I don't believe you're a hypocrite, Dad. But I'll have you know that I'm not gonna be Pakku's puppet. I have a sense of decision-making, a moral compass to call my own. Just as you should've had your own. So I hope you understand when I say I am not gonna go through with this alliance. I'll see just how much Suki's parents want me as their son-in-law as soon as I tell them that I'm in love with the princess—"
"If you say a word about your 'earth-shattering love' for the princess, then your mother and I will have to directly tell your princess why she's not worthy to be our daughter-in-law."
Sokka stiffened, his pulse stopping, his being melting. Shock splayed across everyone's faces. Katara fervently shook her head, "No…"
"Do you want us to tell her who she really is? Where she came from? How she's now in a place where she doesn't belong?" Hakoda demanded, watching the color drain from Sokka's face, "If not, then you will stay put in your room and prepare yourself for the Earth Kingdom ceremony tonight."
"Tonight-?!"
"Another word, and we will have to secure an audience with the princess."
All at once, everyone in the room turned to Sokka sporting helplessness to one degree or another. The Southern prince, feeling his conch pound against his chest with every thud, thud, thud of his heart, only swallowed, eyeing the tapestry of the beautiful, white-haired Tui across from him. And in an unexpected flare of determination, "I've still got nothing to be afraid of, Chief. If my birth chart has any truth to it, Tui will take care of this for me."
A/N: A reminder to interested folk that Air Nomad terms are in Sanskrit. *tips hat* Until later!