It was the year 99 AG and this spirit cared.

She didn't know how to describe it. It was so strange, seeing your body through the eyes of… Well, Yue wasn't sure what. Through the fish's eyes, she could see Zuko collapse and La's marine form swimming beside her but she could also see through something greater. Her mind's eye, a spiritual eye, she didn't know.

She didn't understand what she was seeing yet she did. She was at the edge of the spiritual plane and La was sitting beside her. And not La the fish. La the spirit, powerful and deep. It was so strange to be sitting here like this, La beside her yet also down below, but she couldn't dwell on it. Not when La looked so sorrowful.

"My daughter," he rumbled, placing a limb over her hand. A human hand, she noticed, yet not human at all. She knew La meant to be comforting but becoming aware of her physic- uh, spiritual form was disconcerting. "I'm sorry I couldn't welcome you home on happier terms. We've wanted to meet you since the day the Wolf blessed you with Tienhai's power."

"Truly, I am sorry I could not protect you," a softer voice spoke. Yue turned and found a woman beside her, beautiful and radiant. She too looked sorrowful. "It was my duty bestowed in me by La and the late Tui. If I'd done more, you'd still be down there and Tui would be up here."

"Do not blame yourself, Tienhai," La told her and he sounded nothing like the being whose fury had possessed her not even an hour ago. He sounded broken. So, so broken. "It wasn't your fault. It was that dastardly soldier!"

"What happened to him?" Yue asked, her voice not quite sounding like her own. "When I was… When I was that sea monster, I couldn't tell what was happening."

"Oh, you're not a monster, dear child," Tienhai told her so sincerely that Yue almost believed her. "We're not monsters and we're the ones who gave you your powers. If we're not monsters, how could you be?"

"You've never done anything wrong, Yue," La grunted, looking away. He was quiet for a moment before continuing. "I swallowed Zhao and sent his spirit to the Fog of Lost Souls. If anyone was a monster, it would be me but I doubt anyone would dare call me a monster."

"You'd be surprised, brother," a new voice said. Yue didn't need to turn to tell it was Agni approaching. She could sense that he wanted her to meet his gaze but she couldn't. Instead, she looked down. Down at the earth, down where she had been. Down where the Avatar was tending to her body and his companions were trying to wake Zuko. Poor, poor Zuko.

Was he hurt? Had the absence of the moon harmed him and the spirit within? Or had the shock of Yue's death just sent him into unconsciousness? As much as it would guilt her, Yue hoped it was the latter. After everything that happened, she couldn't bear it if anything happened to her beloved friend.

"He is dear to us as well," Agni spoke, somewhat surprising her. It was enough for her to turn to look at him. There was a fondness in his tone. "He carries the spirit of my best friend. Originally, that was the only reason I watched him. I wanted to know Blue was alright. But then… Well, you've met Zuko. He's a good boy."

"Don't call him a good boy," Yue said, a speck of her old humor leaking into her tone. She couldn't help it. Even after everything, it was part of who she was. "That makes him sound like a polar bear puppy who just rolled over for the first time."

Agni laughed, though it still sounded empty. Tui was his sister, Yue remembered. He must be in so much pain but he was still trying to comfort her. Maybe her people had judged the sun spirit a bit too harshly. "Zuko is the best firebender I've seen in a long time. And not because he's good at firebending. He really isn't, not yet, but he has the soul of one. Fierce as a lion turtle and as compassionate as Wan, that one. He will live a long life."

"But what if he doesn't?"

"You do not need to worry about him, Yue."

"Why?"

"We will watch him," La promised. He followed her gaze, looking down at the humans on the mortal plane. "Just as we watched you."

"Because that worked out so well."

La ignored her comment. "You are a new great spirit, Yue, and one close to the humans. I know you will use your power wisely. If anything happens to Zuko, I have no doubt that the Wolf will answer to your calls and run to his aid."

That was a comfort. "Thank you, La. And thank you Tienhai, for watching over me all these years."

"It was no trouble," the spirit responded. She rose, drifting away from Yue's seating place. "Now, we must grieve. You are welcome to continue watching the humans for as long as you wish."

La dipped his head, Agni bade farewell, and then she was alone.

It gave her a chance to soak everything in. Her new form, so familiar yet so foreign at the same time; that she'd never hug her father again, or anyone for that matter; and the fact she was the moon. The old spirit had… died. Her tribe had always had such great faith in Tui and La. What did this mean? That Tui was gone? What did it mean for her tribe? For the world?

It meant the days of Tui had become the days of Yue. She didn't know how she felt about that.

At least she should keep watching Zuko. As La said, he had a long life ahead of him and if she couldn't be there for him, she'd at least want to watch.

Zuko awoke slowly. Yue wasn't sure how much time had passed but Zuko was back in the palace. Chief Arnook was with him rather than a medic so he couldn't be too badly hurt. He didn't look good though. He looked… stricken. Hair messy, skin unclean, expression sick- Arnook didn't look much better. He maybe even looked worse, in a multitude of other ways.

"Were you spirit blessed by the moon as well?" Arnook asked quietly as Zuko's eye cracked open. He was sitting on a chair beside the bed, gazing into the distance like he wasn't quite there. "You can transform like Yue?"

"Yes," Zuko breathed, throat dry and voice breaking. He sat up and closed his eyes, unable to look at the chief. "I'm sorry."

"Why?"

"I couldn't save her. It could've- it should've been me."

No Zuko, Yue wanted to tell him. It had to be her. He shouldn't blame himself. It was her choice.

Arnook let out a long sigh and rotated to face the boy. "I won't lie. I wish it had been you as well. But now, sitting here with you, I don't wish harm upon you. Yue loved you more than anything. If you'd died, I don't know if she'd be able to hold on."

It was true. Yue did love Zuko. Romantically or platonically, she wasn't quite sure. There were inklings of the nature of their relationship changing at times but Yue's sense of duty and Zuko's hesitance always held them back. Maybe it was better this way. Maybe it wasn't. Yue just wished she could've told him how she felt.

It could've been her or Zuko who joined the spirits that day. Both were touched by the moon, each blessed by Tui's husband and brother respectively. Both would have made an excellent moon spirit but Yue knew it had to be her. She was glad it was her who'd realized she could take Tui's place first. If Zuko had left her, she doubted she'd be able to keep her chin up. How far she would go, she didn't know.

"I don't know if I'll be able to hold on," Zuko whispered and Yue's heart broke a little bit. "I love- loved- her so much. I already miss her. She was the only thing... She was-"

"Zuko," Arnook stated, gentle yet firm. Zuko looked up ever so slightly. "I know you must believe in destiny. Believe me when I say this was her destiny."

"Then what's mine? Without Yue…"

"Your destiny is to survive," Arnook told him resolutely. "The Avatar and his companions are leaving soon. They asked if you could go with them."

"Go with them?"

"To be Aang's firebending teacher. When he's ready."

"Me?" Zuko sounded genuinely surprised. "But I'm not a very good firebender. My uncle, he was here during the siege. He'd be a better teacher."

"Your uncle had to leave. The tribe would not take well to the Dragon of the West within her walls." Arnook chuckled but there was no humor in it. Like La was for Yue, Arnook was holding back his own anguish to comfort Zuko. The realization made a surge of warmth well up in Yue's heart. "Don't worry, he promised he would find you again."

"But-"

"He spoke with Pakku about your firebending. They're old friends, apparently, that old bastard. They agreed that you were a skilled firebender, Zuko. Maybe not the best but you have potential, just like the Southern Water Tribe girl. She's going to be the Avatar's teacher when they leave."

"Katara? But she's only been training for a few days!"

"So don't doubt yourself," Arnook told him. "Afterall, you have a few more years on all of them."

"I don't know…"

"Think about it. They're leaving in a few days. You have until then to decide."

Arnook started to get up to leave but Zuko stopped him. "Wait!"

"Yes?" Arnook paused, looking back at the bedridden boy.

"Do you know who I am?" Zuko asked, fingers curling around his bed sheets. He looked so afraid. Yue wished she was there to hold his hand but alas, she could not. "You said you knew of my uncle…"

"I know who you are, Prince Zuko," Arnook said and Zuko went stiff. Arnook put up a hand, calming him. "And I do not care. Maybe three years ago, maybe even yesterday, but not anymore. You are my daughter's best friend. That's all I care about."

"And the tribe?"

"They don't know. To the rest of the world, Fire Lord Ozai's son has been dead for years."

"But they know my name. If one of the Fire Nation soldiers knew it-"

"If you wish to stay, I will protect you. Pakku will too. But if you wish to go with the Avatar…"

"I will consider it."

Arnook dipped his head. "Is that all, Prince Zuko?"

"Just Zuko. I'm no prince."

"Is that all, Zuko?"

Zuko hesitated. "Can you stay?"

"What?"

"If you're not too busy," Zuko said quickly. "I- I don't want to be alone right now. Yue… I miss her. I feel like she should be here right now. It feels- It hurts that she isn't."

Arnook nodded solemnly and sank further into his chair. "I understand."

"I think you're the only one who does."

"I was planning on delivering her funeral rites tonight. If you're up to it, I would be honored if you joined me."

"Thank you. Thank you, I will. I wouldn't miss it."

Yue smiled softly as her best friend and her father slipped into easy conversation. Later, the Avatar and his friends would arrive with a thousand questions and worries. Arnook and Zuko would perform Yue's funeral rites and Zuko would join the Avatar's crew. They'd meet a blind earthbender, lose a battle on the day of the eclipse, and eventually defeat the Fire Lord.

But for now, they grieved, remembered, and reminisced. Just the two of them, alone, in a quiet hall of the palace, thinking about the young woman they'd both lost. Together they would make it through this.

The spirits could weep but the mortals would live on.

Zuko would live on.

Author's Note: And we're done! Thank you so much for reading!

As I said previously, I hope to continue this one day. I want to rewrite this story from Zuko's perspective to expand on his feelings regarding joining the Northern Water Tribe as well as his relationship with Yue. I'd also like to write a continuation showing what happens after this fic and possibly some kind of AU exploring these themes with different characters. I currently have no plans to do this and want to work on other fics at the moment but I added this fic to a series on Ao3 (I have the same username there) so you can subscribe to that so you can be notified if I ever continue or you can follow me here to be notified whenever I post something.

Reviews are appreciated and I will listen to any suggestions any of you may have regarding a continuation. Again, thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed!