"Where there is life… There is water." Hama informed the group of water benders sitting around her in a half circle. And that included Pakku whom was listening intensely. "With no water. There is no life. Simple as that." she inhaled a deep breath. "Even though we can't always see it. Water is all around us. It's in the ground, the trees, the flowers and even the air." she reached out a hand and then from it she pulled out water from the air itself allowing it to attach itself to her fingers. "You don't need a tidal wave to cause harm. The tiniest bit of water used correctly will be enough." and she threw the water aside as small tiny darts that embedded themselves into the snow wall.
"You may think that this knowledge is useless as our very home is build of frozen waters. But that is not how the entire world works." Hama said. "You may never know when you will find yourself in a foreign land. So to know how to find water may be the one thing between life and death! And knowing how to use the very limited amount of water you may have, could save more than just one life."
Katara closed her eyes as she breathed deeply. She had already heard this lecture ones before and at that time had been as enthralled as all the students around her. Now she had to keep her breath deep and grounded.
This school was also the basics for blood bending. But the other students didn't know that and they didn't have to know. There were many valid things in what Hama had to teach and it was the legacy of the south pole.
A young woman next to Katara around her own age raised a hand and Katara smiled lightly.
Ever since Katara had turned out to be a far more skilled water bender than…. Any of Pakkus male students. Picking up the water bending at a speed that astounded the old man. He had conceded and allowed other women to attend class's too.
Which many young girls had eagerly jumped upon and what a surprise… Their average skill of water bending was pretty similar to the boys. Except the girls had been far more eager to proof their worth so they had put their all into it and thus exceeded for now.
And now a couple had come to the south pole to continue training and help rebuild the pole.
"Yes dear." Hama spoke very kindly.
"Are you saying you could theoretically pull water out of… Anything?" The girl asked wide-eyed.
"Almost anything." Hama informed her. "You would be hard pressed to pull water out of a piece of iron or a piece of dry wood… A piece of freshly chopped wood how-ever. Will indeed have water you can use. It might only be a few drops. But sometimes a few drops is all you need."
There was a gasp and some wows. Pakku blinked as well and did seem very fascinated by this new line of thinking.
Soon the students got to practice. Even Pakku who struggled as much as his own students when it came to this new discipline of pulling water out of logs of wood newly brought in. Katara herself only managed a few drops, but it was better than most of them.
At the afternoon though Katara had to stop as a well known flying five tons of fur came from above and Katara screamed as she follow the flying bison above her running back to the village.
"Guys! GUYS!" Katara shouted as loudly as she could.
"Katara?" Aangs head appeared from the saddle above and then he shouted. "KATARAAAAA!" and he jumped down forcing Katara to stop as one Avatar dropped all the way down and landed in front of Katara with a big wide smile on his face. "This is for you!" he exclaimed as he offered Katara a big bouquet of flowers. "Cause I missed you! So much!"
"Awww. That is so sweet." Katara smiled as she accepted the bouquet and leaned over to briefly kiss Aang on the lips just as the big bison finally managed to land next to them and Sokka popped up.
"Hi Sis!" Sokka grinned. "So you made it here first." he beamed as he slid down Appa and landed in the snow to receive his hug from Katara and Sokka grinned. Then he turned more serious. "How did it go with… you know?"
"Hama was no trouble." Katara assured. "And she's doing very well. She's giving the water benders from the north pole lessons."
Sokka halted. "Is that… Wise?" he asked.
"Both Pakku and I are taking part of the lessons. We're making sure she wont teach anybody anything bad." Katara said.
"Pakku is taking lessons?!" Sokka asked then squinted his eyes. "From a woman? Did you make him do that?"
"Sokka be nice. He changed his ways." Katara said. "And he's practically our gram-gram now. Our family."
Sokka sighed deeply. "Right. Right." he nodded.
"So how are the others?" Katara asked eagerly.
"Toph is doing really well with her parents." Sokka smiled warmly. "They are going to spend some time together to bond. When I left they seemed super happy."
"Oh that's wonderful." Katara beamed happily. "I'm so happy for her."
"My trip with Zuko was amazing!" Aang gasped. "Guys! Dragon babies! They were so cute!"
"They really hatched their eggs?!" Katara gasped.
"Uhu! And we named the babies!" Aang grinned. "And we got to play with them and feed them and Zuko was so much into it too. But who's surprised? He loves animals." he laughed into his hand.
Katara smiled. "That's great." she said sincerely.
"Mai, Zhau-Li and Iroh promised to take good care of Zuko while all the rest of us are gone." Aang smiled. "We need to remember to take Zuko on trips a bit more often though!" he gasped. "He slept for half our trip I swear! He slept on our trip over there. He slept while we waited for the eggs to hatch and he slept on the way back again! How can anyone sleep that much."
"Easy." Sokka said. "You close your eyes and you breath deeply. You sleep."
Wide-eyed Aang looked up at Sokka. "I wish I could do that." he said sincerely. "Just… Fall a sleep like that."
"It's a gift." Sokka informed. "Only granted to the few."
Katara grinned as she wrapped her arms around both boys. "Well now that you are both here. We can finally have a wedding!" she beamed and both boys grinned.
And just like that, one day after the entire population of the south pole was gathered outside. Facing towards the ocean that symbolized their element.
Hakoda as the chief of the tribe was proceeding… It had to be slightly odd proceed the marriage of your own mother. But Hakoda didn't seem to mind.
And honestly… Pakku and Kanna looked honestly very happy as they stood in front of each other holding each others hand.
Katara sniffed as she had to dry her eyes with a handkerchief and Aang smiled just as it was time for the two to exchange their vows.
"Kanna…" Pakku began. "When I was young. I made the biggest mistake of my life… That mistake was letting you go. I remember very well the night when you came to me. You told me exactly what was on your mind. That I was stubborn, rude, a narcissist and sexist. Those were you exact words. And you told me to my face that if I didn't change you would leave…. I did the most horrible thing. I laughed at you. I didn't think you were serious. I didn't think anyone would ever be foolish enough to leave the safety of the north pole and then… The next morning." he swallowed. "You were gone." he looked at her his eyes misty. "And I didn't think I was ever going to see you again." he inhaled deeply. "Your words stayed with me, but in my arrogance I buried them deep inside. Because facing them would mean I would have to admit fault… Only as Katara came so many years later. I was reminded of your words and first then could I admit how right you were. And the only one I have to blame for loosing you is myself." he looked up. "That I got to see you again. Is something I couldn't even dare to hope. And that you would forgive me is even more incredible." he said. "Kanna… I loved you then and I love you now. I love that you are strong and willing to say what is on your mind. That you will set me in my place when needed and stand strong. And I swear for the remainder of my life. I will do my best to be the man you deserve."
Kanna smiled warmly at him. "I didn't leave because I didn't love you." she admitted. "I loved you. But I could not live that kind of life, where a woman just has to bow her head. And it saddened me to see that you would only follow the ways of the north pole. If you didn't listen to your fiance, there was little chance you would listen to your wife."
Pakku looked away.
"But I knew you could be more." Kanna said. "I knew that you were kind and even wise." she said. "I loved the man I knew you could be and now.. .You are finally that man." she said making Pakku look up again. "Finally I can love you the way I wish I could back then. So be that man for as long as you live, and I will give you the love I couldn't back then."
They both smiled and Hakoda did as well.
"As Tui and La and our people of the south pole as our witness." Hakoda said. "I now declare you husband and wife."
And there was great cheer as everyone shouted and the two kissed.
Katara was filled with tears as she sniffed.
"Heh. So we got a Gram-Gram now." Sokka grinned as he leaned back. "Who would have thought?" then he sighed. "To bad he really isn't the type to hand out candy and spoil his gran kids."
"Aren't you a little to old to become a spoiled gran kid?" Aang asked in a blink.
"That is totally beside the point!" Sokka informed and Katara chuckled into her hand.
That evening after the traditional wedding feast. Hama was looking towards the ocean as she breathed deeply.
Slowly did Katara approach her. "Hama?" she asked.
"I was… Happy today." Hama breathed. "Seeing that wedding. Something good. The people… This place. I never thought I would have a day again where I just felt… Happy."
"That's good. I'm glad." Katara smiled lightly.
Hama looked down. "This would not have been possible without the blessings of Fire Lord Zuko. That is the truth isn't it?"
"Yes. It is." Katara said. "And he didn't need to be convinced. Zuko was the one bringing you up and insisting you should be allowed to come home."
"I see." Hama looked up then she sighed deeply. "When you see him again… Tell him thank you from me." she asked as she turned around and slowly walked away.
Katara smiled a little defeated as she looked after the old woman. Perhaps a thank you didn't sound like that much but… It was far more than she would ever have expected.
Maybe Hama could not let go of all of her hatred. But at least a little bit had she let go. And now she could just live the rest of her life in peace.
Even Pakku could change…. Even Hama could change… Who else could change?
Katara smiled as she looked towards the ocean and the moon above her. It truly was incredible, to see the world itself heal like that.