Part 2

Who is the woman of the statue? Well, I'll tell you…This is a lovely chapter.

Dis/Claimer:
The following are original characters, and do not exist in the Avatar world apart from in my own imagination, which is being interpreted in this short.
Shiian
Makkato
Harani

The Statue – Part two
Set in the North Pole in the time prior and during the Fire Nation's first attack.

Shiian looked longingly out to sea. A small smile played on her lips. She had spotted land not ten minutes ago, and her excitement had been building as they got ever closer.

"Captain?" inquired her second in command. "We are closing in. Shall we dock or send the smaller boat?"

"Send the boat out, and then dock."

Unable to contain her excitement, Shiian almost ran to the boat, but was stopped by her second in command, who held out an offered cloak.

A sudden lurch of the ship made her stumble slightly and her stomach summersault. Shiian grabbed her stomach and clasped a hand over her mouth to stop herself from regurgitating her lunch. She was not made for a life at sea and would soon be glad to set foot on land. But that was not why Shiian was bubbling over with joy.

She had arranged a meeting with one of the locals of the Northern Water Tribe. A certain handsome male local with the loveliest eyes she had ever seen.

Out on the ocean, bothers Harani and Makkato were out fishing in their small boat.

Actually, only one of them was fishing, or trying to at least. The other was lost in his own world.

"Kato, help me out!" Harani called out.

After receiving no answer, Harani looked back and saw his young brother hunched over something in his hand, poking at it with a stick. Lunging, Harani grabbed at the something.

"Why do you always go around carrying rocks?" he asked, and made to throw it out to sea.

A struggle for the rock broke out between the brothers, causing the boat to move, threatening to capsize.

"Give it back!"

"What is it?"

Makkato managed to snatch his rock back and began poking and prodding at it again. "It's a carving."

"I know it's a carving. You're always carving! But what is it supposed to be?"

"It's a gift."

"Ooh!" exclaimed Harani, in a mocking tone like he had heard the women use in the discussion of gossip. "Could it be a little something for a certain someone with, now what was it? Oh yeah, 'The most beautiful amber eyes I have ever seen!' I believe is what you said."

Makkato made no response to his brother's teasing.

"It looks like a penguin." commented Harani.

"That's because it's supposed to be a penguin." Makkato stated the obvious to his dim-witted brother.

"Why you carving her a penguin?" Harani leaned back on one of their packs.

"She likes penguins."

Harani rolled his eyes. "Why on earth would she like penguins of all creatures?"

"I took her penguin sledding once." Makkato blushed slightly.

"Oh yes, the sledding date. In which you took her penguin sledding." Harani reminisced. "It must have been so romantic! You and her, sliding around on an animal's back. It's a wonder she didn't fall for you sooner. What with that time you took her out on the white water and almost killed her on the rough patch. Seriously, brother. You have the worst sense of romance out of anyone I have even known."

Makkato burned a deep red, but then smile. It didn't matter what Harani said. Makkato knew that his lovely lady friend had enjoyed every moment they spent together. After all, she wouldn't have kissed him if she felt otherwise.

Overjoyed to be on land, Shiian could not stop smiling.

Everything reminded her of the other times she visited the North Pole. A child Waterbender bending a stream of water and having it splash everywhere made her think about the time she went white water rafting. They misjudged a turn and broke the canoe. Not used to the cold climate, she had gone into shock and had to be saved.

She smiled as she recalled the look on his face, after he thought she nearly drowned.

Lost in her own memories, she almost missed the telltale feather adorned mat of brown hair in the crowd.

"Makkato!" she called over the commotion.

He turned and their eyes met. She saw the look of surprise on his face and ran towards him. Once composed, Makkato began running as well, lifting her in the air once he found her in his arms.

"Shiian?" he asked, still not able to believe it. "Is it really you?"

Shiian laughed. Makkato held the small woman in his arms, embracing her lovingly. She returned his embrace with the same amount of longing.

Remembering suddenly, he placed her back on the ground.

"I have something for you." he told her, rummaging through his bag. "I just finished it, just now!"

She smiled as he frantically looked through his bag. He gave a yelp of triumph as he found what he was looking for and placed it in her hand.

Shiian looked in awe at the small realistic penguin that lay in her hand. She gawped, as it was all she could do. For something so small, it had tremendous detail.

"Oh, Kato!" she breathed. "It's wonderful!"

Makkato's smile widened as her saw her hold the small carved animal close and then tucked it into her sleeve. He was met by a fierce embrace.

"Thankyou! I love it."

"I have something else to show you."

Almost dragging her, Makkato led Shiian to his workshop. Explaining to her, he said, "I've been working on this for a year. The stone is really tough and hard to work with, but I think it's one of my best works yet!"

"Is that because the rock is compacted?" she asked.

Makkato smiled. All the other girls who he had ever had any interest in were usually bored by his enthusiasm for his craft. As a stonemason, he spent most of his time carving, and when he was not carving he would talk about his carving. Shiian was the only one who took a genuine interest in what he did, and actually learned a thing or two.

"Yes, but very beautiful." he answered.

Shiian was met by an awesome sight.

"Avatar Roku!" she looked on at the Avatar born of her Nation, and marvelled at the likeness of it.

"It was commissioned by the Southern Air Temple. It's being shipped out next week."

"I told you." she whispered lightly to him, holding onto his hand. "I told you; you would one day be recognised. And now one of your statues will be at the Southern Air Temple, along with hundreds of others of Avatars past."

She smiled, so very proud of him. And he smiled back. He was glad he met this woman. He saw a promising future for them. He bent down and placed a soft kiss on her lips.

Years passed without contact, yet their feelings for each other remained as strong as ever. Until one day, when a small Fire Navy ship came into port.

"Makkato!"

During supper, Makkato heard his name being called. He knew the voice and was overjoyed. But halfway through standing he detected the tone in which his name was screamed in.

Shiian was running towards his house. He notice that she was not wearing what she would usually wear, but was clad in the armour of her people. She ran into his arms, sobbing.

"Shiian. What ever is the matter?" he stroked her hair.

"It's the Fire Lord." she sobbed. "He's been planning an attack on the other nations. He is rallying as we speak."

"But, Avatar Roku…"

"Avatar Roku is dead."

"Then…"

"The Air Nomads have not revealed the Avatar. I think…" Shiian hiccoughed. "I don't think the Avatar was reborn."

Later that day, they sat and watched as the sun sank into the sea. Makkato held Shiian on his lap, arms gently draped around her waist. She was leaning against his chest, a small ball of flames played between her fingers.

"I'm leaving in the morning." she said.

"I know." Makkato plaited a strand of hair.

"I don't know if I'll ever come back."

"No." he leaned his forehead into her hair. "Maybe not in this life."

He clasped his hands over hers, extinguishing the fire. Shiian stayed, but then notice that he had slipped something into her hands. Slowly opening them, she found a necklace. A dark red ribbon necklace with a charm on it.

"If, by some miracle, we get out of this alive, will you agree to be my wife?" he whispered into her ear.

Shiian gasped.

"Kato, I-I can't…"

"Shiian, I know that it is almost impossible. But I want you to know that I love you, and I will always love you, no matter what happens." he turned her around so she faced him. "I will love you, Shiian, for all eternity, in this life and the next."

He lightly cupped her face with his hands, and wiped away a tear with his thumb.

"Besides," he continued. "It's not like I can give it to anyone else, now can I?"

Shiian looked more closely at the necklace. Carved onto the charm was a stylized flame. And stitched into the ribbon was a message. Reading it, Shiian burst into tears.

Makkato took the necklace from her and held against her neck. "This is yours, and only yours."

Touching the stone that now hung around her neck, Shiian looked into Makkato's pale blue eyes. "Do you truly mean what you said?"

"Every word, my love." he smiled.

She smiled and another tear ran down her cheek. "Then I promise myself to you, Makkato, in this life and the next. Until the end of time."

They held each other for hours, in a tight and passionate embrace, not wanting to let go. They might not see each other in this life, but they made a promise. Should they meet again in another life they would somehow find their way to each other again, no matter what.