Author's Note: I'm toying with another story idea from this one but I don't know. I will probably write it once I finish one of the other two still lingering in fandom. I'll let you know of course...
Epilogue
What We Lost When We Lost the War
"Please tell us your name and station for the record ma'am." The older man droned with nasal authority. The council members eyed me carefully gauging my response as I held my daughter's hand who was sitting on my side. She looked up at me and smiled gently, confidently. My little Kya was trying to reassure me in my difficult task. I never would have imagined that we would be here in a million years, but our time had come.
The secret council of the White Lotus needed to understand what was at stake and what needed to be done if ever the world was to be free. I spoke clearly into the narrow device with a small globe attached at the top they called a microphone which I was told would help to amplify my voice. The device gave a small high-pitched squeal as I began. I squinted uncomfortably at the noise and waited until the sound died down and started again this time a little more softly.
"My name is Katara Itkumaruk-Kasai. I am the daughter of Chief Hakoda Itkumaruk of the Southern Water Tribe and wife to the exiled Prince of the Fire Nation Zuko Kasai. This is my account of the events that took place shortly before and after the celestial occurrence known as Sozin's Comet…" I began. A flurry of whispers and gasps echoed across the room.
People wondered what happened to me and my husband Zuko after we fought with his sister, Azula. The official record was that we escaped from being killed by then Fire Lord Ozai who returned victorious from his rampage on the Earth Nation lands. Because our tribe hid us from the Fire Nation deep in the tundra, many believed we had perished on the way home. For you to understand why we're here now, I have to start at the beginning.
My tiguak, or adopted brother Aang the former Avatar never met Fire Lord Ozai on the day of the return of Sozin's comet. We knew he was the only chance we had to defeat the Fire Nation and prevent total world domination and destruction of the other three nations. It was a disappointment that none of us could fathom nor would I have imagined before that moment.
I still occasionally feel saddened by the events that went down before he ran away. It was Aang's destiny to meet the Fire Lord in that Earth Kingdom canyon that day. I know this. I felt it in my bones. The stakes were too high for Aang to abandon us. Even now we continue to experience the lingering consequences of his first choice…