As Katara walked outside in the forest with Hama the moon was shining pure white from a clear sky, shining down on the trees and Hama inhaled deeply.
"Can you feel the light of the moon?" Hama asked. "For generations it has blessed us water benders with its light and allowed us to do incredible things!" she said as she faced up towards the moon spreading out her arms.
"Are you… Sure it's safe out here?" Katara asked. "I mean people has disapeared out in these woods doing the full moon right?"
Hama turned to Katara and she smiled. "Two master benders under the light of the full moon?" she asked. "Nothing can touch us now. I've never felt more alive." she inhaled her breath. "And tonight. I will teach you my ultimate technique. Only I have been able to master it. But tonight, you will as well. I have no doubt. Your skills are incredible and you are young and full of vigour."
Katara tried not to shiver. Hama had only been so kind and nice to her. And they were practically family! The only two southern water tribe benders in this world! So Katara shook off her unease refusing to let it get to her.
"What I am about to teach you. I discovered in that cursed fire nation prison." Hama said. "The guards were always careful to keep any water away from us. They piped in dry air and when it was time to drink we would be chained on hands and legs unable to move as they would use long ladles to give us just enough to survive." The old woman said as she moved towards Katara. "Our cages were suspended over an endless abyss so when we peed the pee would fall down far below our reach. Just the tiniest sight of trouble would be met with cruel retribution. We weren't allowed to water bend. But those guys could fire bend all the wanted. And fire bend they did."
Katara swallowed as she tried to keep back her tears.
"I was in that cage." Hama said. "We were all in cages. In Agony. Cut away from the outside world and yet… Ones a month. Though I couldn't see our blessed moon." she closed her eyes and inhaled. "I could feel her! Just ones a month I could feel that power. Power greater than what those guards knew."
Hama hissed deeply.
"There had to be something I could do… Anything to escape." Hama said. "Then I realized. Where there is life… There is water." she said. "The rats crawling across the chains of my prison they were nothing but skins filled with liquid and I did it… I realized the potential. It took my years. Years to develop the skill that would lead to my escape but I was patient. I kept quiet and practised when-ever the moon was full. My brothers and sisters had given up on any escape and as such they succumb… One by one they fell to the ground never to stand up again. Dead." she said. "But I had a way out. I would not give up and I continued for years until finally one full moon." she looked up with a broad grin on her face. "I had graduated from those lovely rats and it was time to move on! To use it on humans!" she said. "Guards! Their veins and bones filled with liquid and they were under my command! Their body just a husk my puppet! I controlled his arm forcing him to let me out and I threw them aside as I walked! Finally, after decades. I walked out and they didn't even see what was coming."
Katara had lost her breath as she looked at Hama.
"Blood bending." Hama said. "Controlling the liquid in another persons body. Enforcing your will over theirs!" she said. "Ones you have perfected this technique you can control any thing or anyone! You will be unstoppable."
Katara was stunned for words. "You mean to… To reach inside someone and control them?" she asked. "I… I don't know if I want that kind of power." she said.
"The choice is not yours. It already exist!" Hama said. "And it is your duty to use it to win this war! We were brought together for a reason. Don't you see?" she asked. "Katara! They tried to wipe is all out! Erase our culture so it would be like we were never even there! Your mother is dead because of them and their fire!"
"I know but…" Katara tried.
"Then you should understand!" Hama said. "We are the only two left! The only water benders of the southern water tribe! We must fight these people where-ever we find them with any means necessary! It is our duty!"
Kataras eyes widened as she realized. "You! You are the one who has been taking people from this forest!"
"They locked me away! They locked us all away!" Hama exclaimed. "They deserve the same! You must carry on my work!"
"I wont!" Katara exclaimed. "This is wrong! I wont do blood bending. And I wont let you do this!"
"Yes you will." Hama said. "LOOK!" she reached out a hand and suddenly from hidden in the grass flew a body up in the air.
Twisted and turning as tears fell down a young teenagers face.
"ZUKO!" Katara screamed.
"Ka-Katara." Zuko hissed. "He-Help."
"Put him down!" Katara screamed. "Now!"
"He is the prince of the fire nation!" Hama said. "His family are the ones who ordered those raids and he would continue them! They are all the same!"
"THAT'S NOT TRUE!" Katara cried with tears falling down her face. "Zuko is kind and gentle! And the fire nation citizens we have met here has been nice! YOU CAN'T PUNISH PEOPLE FOR THE CRIMES OF OTHERS!"
"Your head has been filled with nonsense!" Hama shouted as she threw Zuko into a tree and raised him up again. "These people only burn and laugh in your face while you beg for mercy!" she smashed him down in the ground. "They deserve to be locked away!"
"I said." Katara popped open her water skin. "GET AWAY FROM HIM!" she threw a water whip at Hama only for Hama to hold up a hand and disspell the water.
"Oh Katara." Hama sighed. "So young… So innocent. But you will learn. Wont you." and she raised a hand and suddenly Kataras body was moving on its own. She stumbled forward and screeched. "Let go of me! Let go!"
"Get out of it yourself. You have the power." Hama grinned. "Do it Katara."
"No… No! I WONT DO IT! I'LL NEVER BLOODBEND!" Katara screamed only for Zuko to be lifted up and then his arms were pulled backwards in unnatural ankles as Zuko screamed.
"AAARGHHH!"
"Stop it!" Katara cried as she was forced to her knees from the blood bending.
"Then make me do it!" Hama smirked.
Katara hissed and then roared as suddenly she jumped up and broke free. "FINE!" she swirled around and pulled all the water from the grass around her. "NOW LET HIM GO!" she send a huge wave of water at Hama who let go of Zuko that now plummeted to the ground.
Only for Hama to respond grabbing the water and swirled around sending it back at Katara who responded in an icy spear. Hama though pulled water from a tree and created a wall blocking the spear and then suddenly Katara screamed as a fist came from behind her. She turned to see Zuko hanging in mid air with a raised first.
"I… I'm sorry! I can't control my body!" Zuko cried.
"Forgetting someone aren't we Katara?" Hama asked in a smirk as Zukos body was pulled forward assaulting Katara and she ducked out of the way.
"Please stop!" Zuko asked as his fists moved again. "I don't want to do this! I don't want to hurt people any more!"
"Fire benders can't stop hurting. It's in their blood." Hama simply said and suddenly Zukos knife which he always had on his person was in his hand. Swinging it wildly at Katara.
"Stop… STOP!" Zuko cried and Katara cried as she raised her hands.
"I'm sorry." She whispered sending a wave of water at Zuko now freezing him to a tree where he was stuck.
Of course it was just then that Sokka and Aang came running.
"KATARA!" Sokka screamed. "Katara we found out! It was Hama! Hama is the one who…"
And Hama smiled. "How nice of you. More puppets!" she raised her hands and both Sokka and Aang was forced into a rigid position.
"What… What's happening?!" Aang asked frightened.
"I can't control my body!" Sokka exclaimed and then… He pulled out his sword. His long sharp pointy sword and he was thrown right at Katara.
At ones Katara dodged and swirled around.
"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Aang cried as his fits went for Katara and missed while Sokka came from the other side.
Katara hissed as she made a wave and froze Aang to the tree right next to Zuko.
"SORRY!" Katara yelled.
"It's okay!" Aang called back and then screamed. "ZUKO?!"
Katara though was pre-occupied with Sokka.
"It's like my body has a will of its own!" Sokka cried. "It hurts fighting it!"
"Then don't fight it!" Katara exclaimed as she send water at Sokkas sword hand and pinned his hand to yet another tree.
"Don't hurt your friends Katara." Hama smirked as suddenly the ice that held Zuko in place shatter. "Don't let them hurt themselves."
Katara gasped as she turned to Zuko and saw him holding up his knife towards his own throat. Tears was escaping Zukos eyes as his own knife was threatening to puncture the skin of his throat.
"Ple-Please." Zuko sniffed. "Please don't."
Katara turned to Hama who had his hands in the air and smirked. "Wouldn't want me to make any sudden movements would you?" she asked. "He might be the one to do a sudden movement."
"KATARA!" Sokka screamed.
"Katara! Zuko!" Aang cried with tears falling down his face and then… A slight puncture on Zukos neck. A drop of blood that rolled down.
"NO!" Katara screamed and suddenly Zuko grew lax, his knife dropped and he fell down to the ground in a heap and Hama.
Hama was standing rigid on the spot. Her arms tied down and slowly… Slowly Katara got Hama down on the ground just in time for Toph to come running with multiple people.
"KATARA!" Toph screamed. "Katara I found…" she halted by the scene.
Aang and Sokka both stuck to a tree. Zuko on the ground looking a mess. Hama on her knees and Katara in her stance holding her down.
Hamas mouth spread in a smile. "I surrender." she said simply and then she chuckled as her smile broadened. "My job is done. Katara…. You're a bloodbender."
Kataras eyes widened and then Hama was forced back up on her legs. Her hands chained and she was taken away while Toph freed their friends from the ice.
Katara though fell to her knees. She held a hand over her mouth and tears escaped her eyes as she sobbed.
"Katara I…" Sokka tried.
There was no words. And as such her brother just embraced her instead, followed by Aang and Toph as she sniffed.
"Katara." A weak voice sounded from the ground.
"ZUKO!" Katara managed to get up and stumbled to his side. "Oh no… No-no-no!"
"I'm okay." Zuko gasped for breath. "You saved me… You saved me."
Without thinking Katara brought out her water but the moment she realized she was water bending she just lost it and the water splattered everywhere.
"What's wrong?" Sokka asked.
"I can't… I can't water bend right now. I just can't." Katara shook her head. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!"
Zuko swallowed as slowly he sat up. "It's okay." he said. He reached out his arms and then embraced Katara. "It's okay… Thank you for saving me. It's okay."
And Katara broke down crying into Zukos chest as the rest surrounded them as well embracing the crying Katara.
She wasn't the only one crying. Zuko squinting his eyes though he wasn't openly sobbing like her. Tears were still falling down his face.
Wondering what was to become of all of this misery.