Chapter 13: Not All What You See

Kya was sprawled out beside the pelt-draped wall, snuggled beneath the covers as she slipped into slumber. Next to her was Bumi, his eyes taking in a sliver of the vast universe— the starry night, a very small glimpse of which he could see through the small window to his right, the light of the moon simultaneously peeking inside and lighting up the chamber. With a soft breath, he turned over to his left, where the strong figure of his uncle lay. Needless to say that Sokka was not asleep. His gaze was settled on the tapestry of the Moon Spirit, etching the image of her warm smile within him.

Bumi draped his small arm over Sokka and scooted close to him, nearly hugging him, and he felt his uncle's warm hand drape over his arm. "You still not sleepy, kiddo?"

The boy shook his head.

"Everything okay, buddy?"

Bumi twiddled with his fingers, "You still have that necklace I gave you?"

Sokka gave an amused smile before untangling his shark tooth necklace from his white Water Tribe necklace. Holding up the shark tooth beneath the light of the moon, "That answer your question?"

The little boy sulked a little and shifted closer to his uncle. "Maybe you should stop wearing it. It's unlucky."

"Unlucky? Who told you that?"

"Well, you got hurt after wearing it."

"You're turning into your dad, kiddo," Sokka sighed, turning until he was facing the boy. "He thinks every single thing has some meaning to it."

"But it's true."

"You do realize I got promoted to chief, too, after wearing this. A necklace won't determine your fate, Bu-Bu." The warrior frowned when he noticed how Bumi didn't take the effort to correct him or whine at the nickname as he usually did.

"It was scary when we found out somebody tried to attack you."

"Bumi, you're six years old. You're too young to start worrying about this kind of stuff. Geez, don't your parents keep things like this private?"

"They didn't tell me anything. I just heard them talking in their room…" Bumi sat up and looked at his uncle, "It was just a statue, Uncle Sokka. So what if the arrows hit it?"

"Bumi," Sokka sat up as well, "You can't say that, kiddo. That's the Moon Spirit's statue. We can't let anything happen to it."

"I know you like the Moon Princess, but you were really hurt. You're already here to fight the bad guys. Why did you get hurt more?"

"And here I was, thinking you were just a kid," the warrior shook his head.

"Mom and Dad are scared." Bumi's voice broke, "We don't want anything to happen to you, Uncle Sokka." Tugging at the warrior's sleeve, "Come back home with us. You won't be hurt if you're home with us."

Sokka softened his eyes, his hand brushing over Bumi's head, "You know I really like the Moon Spirit, Bu-bear. She means everything to me. I can't let anything happen to things that resemble her...or things that are connected to her. It might not make sense to you right now, but that's the truth. That's why I'm here. This is her home, buddy. I can't let her home be in danger. You know how sad she will feel if all those dumb people destroy her home?"

"But the Moon Princess didn't tell you to come here."

The little boy's words reminded him of that storm a few nights ago, the princess's warning: Danger awaits you at the North Pole, Councilman. You must turn back.

"You said she's powerful, Uncle Sokka," Bumi said. "She can fight off the bad guys, right?"

Sokka swallowed the lump in his throat and gave a weak smile, "She may be powerful, but we can't just let her do things by herself, can we? Think about how much she does for us already. It's not easy being a Moon Spirit; you gotta take care of everybody and everything in the world."

Bumi nodded slowly.

"We can't help her with spirit magic, but we can help make the world a better place for her. And the thing is, everybody wants things from her, kiddo, but no one wants to do anything for her. We need to let her know we're here for her. That she's never alone."

The boy huffed helplessly before Sokka coaxed him back against the pillows, draping the fur sheets over him. Bumi blinked up at him, "Uncle Sokka, if you were there and you protected her a long time ago, the Moon Princess would have been here now, right? And she wouldn't have had her own statue, and you wouldn't have been hurt."

Sokka gulped, a sharp tug at his heart, "What?"

"Didn't you say there was a guy who liked the princess a lot?"

"Yeah, why?"

"I don't know why he let her die so easily—"

"She never died—"

"Yeah yeah, turn into a spirit," Bumi said. "He still should have protected her. He should've been more like you."

The warrior looked away, his chest feeling infinitely heavy in a matter of seconds.

"He liked her, didn't he?" Bumi pressed. "Or did he secretly hate her and want her gone like that villain in that play Uncle Zuko took us to—?"

"No, no…" Sokka choked, shaking his head, his fingers quivering, seeking purchase beneath the sheets, "He loved her…He loved her with all of his heart, kiddo…"

"Then why didn't he stop her?"

"He... tried to…"

"He didn't try hard enough," the boy said harshly as he observed his uncle's look, failing to realize that his uncle was the man he was now degrading. "If that chief told you to look after the Moon Princess, you would've saved her. And now you wouldn't have gotten hurt protecting her statue today. Because she would be alive. She wouldn't have a statute."

The warrior felt his eyes stinging. "I…"

"And since you like her so much, maybe if she lived, you could have been best friends with her. I would've met her, too."

But Sokka was too lost to respond, too haunted by the Siege, the fleeting time he'd had with Yue, the moment she left this world to take on her duties in another.

"I won't let you! Your father told me to protect you!"

"I have to do this."

"People who love other people don't let them die or go away."

Bumi's words forced him back to reality. He craned his neck, fighting back his tears as Bumi scooted closer to him and laid his head on his uncle's shoulder, "Dad gets scared whenever we get sick. He was scared when Tenzin came out of Mom's tummy. He says he's always scared because he loves us and doesn't want anything happening to us."

"And he's right," Sokka sighed heavily, pulling the covers over him. "Well don't think about any of that, kiddo. Everything's gonna be okay."

Bumi splayed his hand over his uncle's chest. The warrior managed a smile, "Get some sleep, Bu-bear."

It wasn't until the boy's soft snores filled the room that Sokka let his smile drop and his tears escape, his breath burdened by the weight on his chest.


"Sokka, you don't look so good."

Disregarding his sister's comment, "Thanks."

"I'm serious. You look like you didn't get enough sleep," she pointed out worriedly. "And you seem…pale…"

Indeed, his face appeared drained of all color, but Sokka only shrugged, gathering his documents. "I'm fine."

"Did the kids give you a hard time?"

"No."

"Are you sick?"

"No, no."

"Then what else would give you the reason to stay up all night?"

"I was working on my reports, okay?" Sokka clarified. "Will you stop with the questionnaire now?"

"But there's no reason for you to stay up all night to work on them."

"Call it stress."

Katara wasn't convinced. "You can postpone the meeting if you don't feel well—"

"Katara, how many times do I have to tell you? I'm fine. I have a responsibility on my hands, and I need to focus so I won't be a complete failure, that's all. Stop worrying about me."

Softening her eyes, "Who said you were a failure?"

"No one. I just don't wanna be one."

"Sokka—"

"This is her home, and I'm protecting it at any cost," his tone quivered, "I couldn't protect her. I'm not gonna screw this up, too."

With that, the councilman stepped out and made his way towards the meeting chamber, furthering the momentum in his step. Through the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a large open window, the pelt curtains of which were flapping wildly from the Arctic gusts. Through the opening, he could see the faint outline of the towering statue of the North's former princess, the white marble of her face emerging from the misty depths of the early morning fog. He bit his lip and clutched his papers as he moved along like a phantom, the look in his eyes ghost-like.


Sokka's presence stirred the war ministers, generals, and businessmen in the room. While most of them expected to feel no need to welcome him with upright postures or overly humble bows given their failure to perceive him as a threat or even as an authority figure, the information they received of his candidacy to interim chiefdom coupled with the stern look on his face did demand attention and care. He took his seat beside Aang, ignoring the monk's expression that so aptly mirrored Katara's worry.

"I see you did absolutely nothing about my request, Kano," he said, his voice tight as he addressed the general, "The statue is still there."

"Here he goes again with his precious princess," muttered Qajak, who was still recovering from his defeat in the argument with the councilman the previous day.

"I was going to wait until after the Moon Festival to shift the statue," Kano said in a matter-of-fact manner. "It is risky to continuously open the gates. After all, we need a representation of the Goddess for the festivities that are underway."

"The Goddess Herself marks Her natural presence every night, and She is invincible," Sokka raised his eyebrows. "But the marble is of a different nature. These are violent times, and we're not going to lose our heritage and sacred monuments to a group of extremists."

"If you insist, sir. I will take the necessary care to carry out your order."

Despite not appreciating the general's attitude, Sokka nevertheless turned to the others and cleared his throat, "This year's Moon Festival will be the start of an era of change. I have several revisions to make to the Northern Water Tribe's policies, and I seek to eliminate some. First and foremost, I'm revising our labor laws. The maximum age for an individual to seek work or be hired for a job is now sixteen years. There should be no reason for children and adolescents younger than sixteen to roam the streets and neglect their education. This goes to all families in the tribe."

"But Councilman," Kano began, "There are families who rely on their children to be the breadwinners of the family."

"I'm aware of that, and I'm also aware that it's because either the parents themselves are disabled or have no job opportunities or other resources. Excessive taxation isn't helping the situation, either."

"What are you suggesting we do?"

"I'm all for the idea of providing financial stability to families until they find satisfying and stable careers. Families with disabled persons who cannot work otherwise can receive a certain amount in stimulus payments."

Downright ridiculous, Qajak huffed, crossing his arms, "Where do you plan on getting the money to fund for their annual assistance?"

"For one, a majority of the expenses will be covered by my private funds," Sokka said, "And they will also go into constructing a combined school and orphanage. Almost two-thirds of the children who are being forced to work through severe weather conditions have no families and no means of economic support, much less access to education. As I highly care about this issue, I will dedicate considerable time and effort to this endeavor." Extracting a few documents from his collection of papers, "I've outlined all the plans and details for those who are interested."

"A project like that is likely going to take up most, if not all of your private funds," another minister pointed out. "We won't have any other revenue to fall back on."

"Actually, we have the purchasing tax. We're taking money from the public, and it would be nice if we implemented it for the public, for once." Holding up a scroll, "All details and calculations are in here for interested persons."

"The idea sounds fine," spoke up a general by the name of Aariak, "But—"

"As I was saying…"

Aang and Prince Anyu didn't fail to note the rash twinge in the warrior's tone.

"Since the question of funding is still critical and the proceeds from a single tax won't do, I want to announce the merging of our biggest festivals. Our grandest event in the Northern Water Tribe is the Moon Festival, but the number of people attending this festival has been dropping. My plan is that we combine the Moon Festival with the New Moon Celebration."

"It sounds good, Councilman, but isn't the New Moon Celebration celebrated during the new moon? The Moon Festival coincides with the week when the full moon occurs."

"Which would require extending the celebrations another week," Sokka said. "Rearranging the schedule to where the festival begins during the new moon and ends during the full moon. The intention is to increase festivity."

Aang seemed most pleased with the idea, knowing that a certain past life of his will definitely come to appreciate it.

"The New Moon Celebration was last celebrated over a hundred years ago according to our records. Since the beginning of the war and the lack of contact between the sister tribes, this festival, which was largely contingent on the meeting of the two tribes in the North, was completely eroded. Even domestically, efforts at strengthening our ice fortress and preparing for possible battles prioritized militarization over adherence to cultural values. The South had attempted to commemorate this festival in its own way but obviously failed given the economic situation. Now that global tensions have largely been addressed, I say we bring the tradition back. The Moon Festival lasts from the new moon to the full moon. We can kickstart the festival with the New Moon Celebration. This will not only promote attention and festivities to further tribal camaraderie but will also welcome the reunion of the Northern and Southern Tribes."

"I think it's a great idea," Anyu smiled.

"Even if all of this attention will generate funds, how far are those proceeds gonna get us?" another minister asked.

"They won't get us very far, obviously, but cutting down on expenses will do, such as lowering the domestic tax by a solid fifteen percent."

Qajak almost spat his drink out, "Fifteen percent?"

"I also plan to get rid of all other taxes within the tribe."

"With all due respect, how exactly do you think the government and our businesses will be funded?" Qajak demanded.

"I will look into alternative schemes in place for generating revenue, but frankly, generating money is not going to be an issue. I've seen the numbers; the proceeds of these excessive taxes are going straight into the pockets of the Tribal Council members," and eyeing the others, "and several of you in this room."

Some of the ministers in the room shifted uncomfortably in their seats.

"We could be using those proceeds for noble causes, such as welfare systems for the economically disadvantaged or schoolhouses for underprivileged children. We could use more training centers, too, that's for certain. It has been twenty whole years since the Fair Opportunities Act was passed, and we are still facing an alarming shortage of female warriors. I'm not seeing many of our sisters in the workplace, and apart from you, Lady Iqqat," he turned to the minister in the middle of those in attendance, "I'm not seeing our sisters in the political arena, either."

"It's not our fault that women and members of the lower social strata aren't stepping up—"

"Oh?" cutting off Kano's retort and planting his papers firmly on the desk as he stood up, "Well if not, then you can certainly help by not hogging all of the tribe's revenue."

Kano glowered.

"I want everyone to keep in mind that what we have in the Water Tribe is chiefdom. I'm not here to request anyone anything," Sokka eyed the room, especially those who sought joy in having an attitude with him every second of their interaction with him, "These are direct orders. Comments are welcome but not determinative."


Aang decided to give Sokka until the evening to see if his mood would improve, but Sokka had progressed to a grumpier state. Katara, too, was voicing her concerns, and the monk figured it was about time for a talk. He approached Sokka in his study very carefully, holding in his hand a scroll canister housing a rolled-up parchment.

"Anyu wanted me to give this to you," Aang held the scroll out before his brother-in-law. "He found it in Chief Arnook's old records. He said you might like to see it."

Sokka gave the canister a skeptical look, assuming it was another document that would somehow be of interest to him, but he was completely blown away the moment he secured the parchment out of the canister and unfurled it. It was a painting from long ago— one of a much younger Yue laughing and holding a tiny polar rabbit. She seemed to be about three or four years old. Her snowy hair was still long for her age, let loose as it cascaded behind her and blanketed her shoulders. Her eyes were bright and lively, glimmering with freedom instead of being weighed down by duty. The image made him truly smile after a long time. He traced her hands— small, fragile, gentle to the sight. Her smile, genuine and innocent. A pang of protectiveness shot through his heart.

"Sokka, there are hundreds of thousands of children out in the tribe just like this," Aang gestured to the painting, "And they need our help. We have a responsibility to keep them and their parents safe. Remember why we're here. It's not just to commemorate Yue; it's to keep her people safe, too. Safeguard the pieces of Yue in them."

Which only made the reality of her sacrifice slap him that much harder as Aang continued to lay out his concerns before the warrior, insisting that he go see a therapist at least now, when his mental and emotional equilibrium is his most basic requirement for carrying on a burden as great as this.

"Again, I'm not trying to find an excuse to get you out of here," the Avatar said. "I'm just saying that you don't look well. You need to take care of yourself."

Sokka gave a patient sigh, placing the painting on the table. "Aang, I told you, I'm just stressed out with the arrangements. I just need a minute to myself, and I'll be fine."

The airbender wasn't convinced at all but decided to linger close by while giving Sokka the space he requested. "Send for me if you need anything." And he stepped out, leaving the warrior to himself.

Sokka smiled once more at the painting, and when he felt he's memorized every stroke of the brush and every blotch of ink made on the parchment, he rolled it back up, placed it neatly in the canister, and slipped it into the folds of his robes. He closed his eyes and laid his head down on the table, inwardly repicturing the image.

"There are hundreds of thousands of children out in the tribe just like this, and they need our help. We have a responsibility to keep them and their parents safe…Safeguard the pieces of Yue in them…


"Fuuuuuck…who the fuck even picked this guy to be our interim chief?"

"The prince himself," a minister answered a frustrated Qajak, who had to have been intoxicated by the slurs and drawls in his speech.

"That prince is a baby, what does he know 'bout choosin' a leader?" An exasperated huff as Qajak tossed aside a fellow businessman who tried to stop him from toppling over. "Instead of workin' out his issues through fucking trial and error durin' this highly crucial interim term, instead of floodin' the system and getting rid of our cash flow in the name of social fucking service," and taking another swing at the bottle of intoxicant in his hands, "Can't he go back to his own filthy block of ice and be the chief of that? Clearly this job requires the skills of tacticians, not idiots who don't have a basic understandin' of business…"

Having become numb to such comments over the years, Sokka proceeded to block out the words, standing up to draw the pelt curtain over the window for some peace of mind. He was surprised, however, to hear a roar of, "WATCH your mouth, Qajak!" The voice unmistakably belonged to Aang.

"I will not tolerate another word against Sokka," Aang glowered, ready to strike an air blast in the businessman's direction if he crossed the line again, but he found himself being tugged back by Sokka.

"Aang, forget it." Glaring at Qajak and the surrounding nervous ministers, "Can't throw rocks at every polar hyena you see."

Qajak glowered at the councilman, "You think you're so tough yourself?"

"I have a billion other things to worry about other than some drunk hooligan and his lame comment," Sokka spat. "This tribe has had enough of your yakshit, and the Goddess knows my efforts will humble you."

Aang took a deep breath, keeping his scowl on the group before being pulled along by Sokka.

Qajak gave a smug chuckle, "Your precious goddess knows you're a helpless sucker," he drawled. "Takin' shots for her statue but throwin' her under the sleigh."

At which Sokka felt his chest churning more heavily than before. Still, he kept his grip on Aang's arm, pulling him back.

"Why have the statue at all if it's there to just be an accessory, huh? If it can't take a hit or two?" Qajak raised his voice, the conceited look on his face never leaving. "What, were those poisoned arrows gonna slice through two hundred thousand pounds of white marble? You think that's even possible, Mr. Science?"

"You better get that simpleton to shut his trap if you wanna keep your positions," Sokka glowered at the ministers, and at that, some of them fumbled to cajole the drunk businessman into being quiet, others placing their hands over his mouth.

Qajak merely shoved them aside, however, sneering as he continued to taunt the Southern warrior, "I understand you're possessive because you designed it, Councilman, but if you love it that much and can't keep your hands off of that hot piece, keep it in your bedroom! Instead of putting on a show for us, take her to the privacy of your chambers for once!"

It was Aang's turn to pull Sokka back this time, an alarmed call of his brother-in-law's name stopping Sokka short of grabbing hold of Qajak's shirt. The tribesman barely halted, trying to hold in his fury, shooting his glare.

"Relax, Councilman, I was only suggestin' it so you can better protect her," he broke into a sneer, dropping his voice to a whisper where the others wouldn't hear, "Maybe then you'll have a good night's sleep for once. All those sleeping pills don't seem to be helpin' you out..."

The warrior swallowed, his throat seeming as if it was on fire.

"I get it, Councilman. Man to man. It's the closest thing you'll ever get to seeing her in a human-like form. Take that sex doll home if you want, it's yours! Not always easy humping a ghost, is it—GAAHH!"

"You piece of yakshit!" Sokka swung his hand sharply against the businessman's face, smacking the grin and inebriated state away from the tribesman. "The nerve you have to insult," delivering a punch to the man's face, "the Great Goddess of the Water Tribe!"

"Sokka!" Aang lunged forward, grabbing hold of the councilman and pulling him back more firmly as Qajak hit the snow, tainting the ice with the crimson of his bleeding nose. The businessman earned a death glare, the crescent moon in the sky reflected in the Southern warrior's eyes, coupled with his roar that jutted straight through to Qajak's veins.

"Sokka, we need to go, NOW," Aang insisted. He shared a brief look with General Bo, who nodded, issuing unspoken reassurance that he would oversee the matter. Sokka kept charging forward, but the monk used every bit of his strength to drag him away.


"Sokka, you're set to be the interim chief. You need to calm down," Aang told the raging warrior in the privacy of Arnook's secret quarters, helping to secure an official sash around his waist, "Now is not the time. You only have a few minutes before you have to give your speech—"

"That ungrateful imbecile! I'll rip out his guts and throw 'em to the wolves—!"

"Sokka, you have to understand, okay? Several members of the United Republic Council are not happy that I sent you. You need to keep your anger under control. If there's a disturbance, you won't get this opportunity. I swear, I can't emphasize this enough—"

"I kept my tongue!" Sokka hastily pulled up his hair into a wolf-tail and secured it with a hairpiece engraved with the Water Tribe insignia, "I kept my damn mouth shut no matter what crap flew out of his blowhole, but he came at Yue, and that was the last fucking straw…!"

Aang sighed, his eyes softening as Sokka trailed off with a cracking voice, "I know it's upsetting, but you have to remember. You said you wanted to change this place for the better and get rid of the rebels' influence. It's imperative that you're on your best behavior. Show them that you're emotionally strong enough to handle a huge task like this—"

"He insulted the love of my life!" Gesturing to her tapestry on the opposite wall, "Look at her! She's a goddess! And if it wasn't for her saving the tribe, his eternally-damned ass would've been rotting in La's hell right now! How did that that sick fuck have the heart to degrade her?!"

"I'm sorry, but there are jerks out in the world…"

The warrior said nothing for several moments, zoning out of the airbender's reasoning, his rage and agony swirling, fueling the flames in his eyes. He took a deep breath, throwing aside the silk robe he'd donned in anticipation of the meeting before propelling himself off of the bed.

"Sokka, be careful with that! You have your speech—!"

The tribesman ignored him, reaching for the trunk underneath the bed.

"What are you doing—?" Aang widened his eyes as Sokka cast the lid of the trunk aside and pulled out a bottle of intoxicant, "Sokka, no, not now!" Aang grabbed the bottle and tried to yank it away from him, "You'll be addressing the entire tribe in another twenty-five minutes, you can't just—!"

But Sokka won that battle, cracking the bottle open and pouring the contents down his throat before Aang could make any move. The helpless monk huffed, resorting to dragging the trunk away from the warrior in the alternative, trying and failing to stop Sokka from chugging down the contents. The warrior ended up staining his intricate tunic, the reek of the intoxicant coating his goatee.

"Monkey feathers on top of monkey feathers, I'm getting Katara—"

"It's only one," Sokka coughed out, wiping at his lips, his vision blurred by tears.

"One what? One whole trunk?!"

"I can handle it," Sokka threw the bottle aside and heaved in a breath, pushing himself off of the floor. He dried his face and worked on straightening himself together at least physically.

Aang shook his head, unable to be truly disappointed but highly displeased. He bent the remnants of the intoxicant off of Sokka's shirt, regretting that he wasn't blessed with healing abilities. "Make your speech quick. I'm having Katara take a look at you right after it."

Sokka didn't stick around to entertain any other comment, grabbing hold of his papers and marching out of the room.

"Wait, I'll come with you—"

"I'll manage."

He ended up taking a different path to the citadel, succeeding in maintaining an upright position, but after only a few minutes, he found that he couldn't save himself from the involuntary sways in his gait, which threw him off balance and nearly drove him insane. His eyes were bloodshot, and his vision became unfocused. To his relief, there wasn't anyone in sight.

"Fuck, that stuff's strong," he grabbed his head, a pang of pain quickly shooting through. He caught himself against an ice pillar. The wobble in his legs brought him down to his knees. He gulped, shaking his head vigorously, "No, not now, not…what the hell…" He clawed at the pillar and pulled himself back up only to fall right back against the merciless ice pillar, "Dammit!"

As unfocused as he was, in the haze of his thoughts, he could almost see the empty space next to him be occupied by a figure tall and fair…only instead of sweeping white robes, she would've donned royal purple silks. He could almost hear the tribe's chants of "Victory to our Chieftess! Victory to our Chieftess!" that would leave the entire tribe shaking. He could also almost see the pin of royalty over her breast, her hair cascading behind her, her face youthful despite the years of experience weathered. A look fit for a chieftess…

"Uncle Sokka, if you were there and you protected her a long time ago, the Moon Princess would have been here now, right?"

He let out a sob, I'm sorry.

While wallowing in an overload of his senses, he thought he could make out the sound of rushing footsteps and cursed his bad luck, struggling to wipe his eyes. With considerable difficulty, he managed to scramble back up, "Not now, Katara, I…wait…" Through blotches of clarity in his vision, he noted that the visitor wasn't Katara. It was someone in a servant uniform, but the pain shooting through his head blinded him, "Wait, let me get out of your wa—oof!"

The cloaked woman whose face he didn't see ended up bumping into him, the impact strangely gentle and jarring at the same time.

"Sorry, I'm so sorry, Councilman, sir, I'm in a hurry!"

He groaned, taking keen notice of his rejuvenated senses moments after he hit the pillar again. The bump itself wasn't jolting but the rush of adrenaline that filled him afterward from out of nowhere seemed to knock the sense back into him. He blinked, the blur in his vision having evaporated. He was able to think without his thoughts being fogged up. He choked out a sigh of relief but found it odd.

What just happened?

He stood upright, directing his attention to the cloaked visitor who was now approaching the end of the hallway. Rays of lucidity also allowed him to take note of the fragrance of moon jasmine that she took with her. His mind instantly flew to the memory of Yue's lips against his on the bridge on the night she returned his feelings. The seduction of his senses at that moment: warm, soft lips, gloved hands firmly cupping his face, her braids woven with the scent of moon jasmine…

His eyes widened, even more so when the visitor's hand lightly brushed against the wall so that she'd stop herself before she tripped in her haste. A palm as fair as snow. Her moccasin had slipped from her foot; she knelt to grasp it and pulled it towards her foot. There was no doubt her complexion was fair for a tribeswoman.

"Hey…hey!"

She didn't stop for him, rounding the bend, and as he followed amid aggravating trips and clumsy falls that delayed his pursuit, he saw no one there. Only wispy winds that had the pelt curtains flying in the air. The reverberating bang of the citadel gong seized hold of him before he could lunge forward any further.

A tired hand flew to his head, defeat crouching on his shoulders, I must still be out of it…


The impatient whispers among the crowd before the citadel considering the announcement to come were juxtaposed by General Kano's dull introduction, but Bo's speech held more life and empathy, supported fully by Anyu's enthusiasm. Aang and Katara kept a close eye on Sokka, but the warrior, prepared as he was, still didn't seem to be of this world. He replayed the scene from earlier in his mind, clung resiliently to the moon jasmine fragrance and pale complexion of the visitor whose face eluded him. Could it really be…? She came to see him before, it couldn't be impossible…

But he did drink before that.

"...Prince Anyu is the rightful heir to the throne after Chief Arnook as he is the next of kin," Bo continued, "We have even invoked the aid of the Avatar to protect the prince and help guide our tribe until his coronation. But it is not feasible for the Avatar himself to take charge of the tribe until the danger passes, nor is it the responsibility of the generals and members of the advisory board. Our tribe is reliant on a chief to lead us forward. And for that, we have turned to a man of great valor and capability…"

"Capability, my ass," Kano huffed to himself, taking a quick look at the interim chief-to-be, "He's not even conscious right now. The only thing that man's fit for is therapy, but no matter his achievements and assets, he can't seem to afford a single session."

"He is the pride of our nation. He was a close confidant of Chief Arnook himself and had worked alongside him over the years to improve the tribe's infrastructure. He is a beloved brother who voiced extensive support for increased opportunities for the sisters of the tribe, and for several years, he had been working to eradicate class-based divides. In addition to his numerous involvements in science and engineering, his experience in diplomacy exceeds that of any other. And I am happy to announce that we have chosen him to take on the responsibility before us with ease…"

If it wasn't clear already, it couldn't be more clear now as to the candidate set for interim chiefdom. The tribefolk in attendance already started cheering.

"Please give your undivided attention to our interim Chief of the North: Sokka of the Southern Water Tribe!"

Applause erupted followed by howling chants, "Councilman Sokka! Councilman Sokka!" which threw Sokka out of his thoughts. Housing not a single bone of excitement in his body, he made his way to the center of the citadel. He noticed Aang, Katara, Bumi, and Kya cheering the loudest, but even as he stared with sleepless, bloodshot eyes at the tens of thousands of people who were seating him on the pedestal of power and trust, he couldn't bring himself to accept such a position, interim chief he may be on paper. He took a deep breath, briefly drawing his attention to the sky, taking note of a world bereft of moonlight, for the clouds had covered it completely.

It did not mean, however, that she wasn't present. This, he realized, as he saw her among the audience. And his entire pulsing being jarred to a halt. Through the overwhelming blanket of darkness, he took note of the woman sitting in the back row, donning a long, dark cloak, covering most of her face with a warm muffler. She was lost in conversation with a tribeswoman next to her, hiding the tenseness in her quivering fingers by clasping her hands together in her lap. Her eyes, carefully eluding observation, hid their color beneath the cloak of the night.

And all of a sudden, he felt his pulse resume in a much harder, irregular rhythm, the pounding in his chest weighing him down. His fingers shook as did his heart. His eyes welled up, inner chaos manifesting as a confused stare, a harsh seize of his being.

She's here!

She's not real. She can't be. You just had a drink. You had no sleep.

No, it's possible. She came to see me before.

She did, didn't she?! Besides, how else would he be able to explain the effects of his intoxication letting him out of their grip?

He blinked a few more times. Just to make sure. But she didn't disappear. She was still speaking to the woman beside her, extending her hand to the child in the woman's lap. The child did not look in her direction but felt her hand, tugging at it. The tribeswoman smiled at the cloaked lady and even offered for the lady to hold the child. The cloaked lady accepted, shifting the toddler into her lap. The tribeswoman continued talking to the woman about something, likely something to do with the child, and the cloaked woman nodded, acknowledging her words.

Sokka looked around for any suggestion, any clue that would sustain his belief in what he was seeing. Indeed, he could see the people sitting around the cloaked woman turning in her direction, smiling, and joining her in playing with the child. The little boy did not look at them— or anyone, rather— and appeared alarmed by the many voices. He began to cry, later soothed by the cloaked woman as she rubbed his back and whispered into his ear. Her thumb gently traced over his closed eyes, calming him.

"Aww, he likes her," another tribeswoman smiled at the scene.

And all Sokka could do was blink. The cloaked woman had to be real if other people were acknowledging her presence, too.

Bo frowned in concern at the councilman's prolonged silence, following the trail of his gaze to the audience. He announced again, "Councilman Sokka will now say a few words."

Sokka swallowed, keeping his attention on the woman, ignoring the audience despite addressing them, "G-Glory to the Goddess…"

"Glory to the Goddess," the audience chanted back. She didn't seem to, though.

"Dear brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, General Bo was so kind as to read a whole list to you of everything I was a part of… The different things I've achieved up until now….But I honestly don't believe they're relevant."

The cloaked woman furrowed her eyebrows, but she did not look in his direction. Aang frowned as he fumbled through his notes, finding a copy of the speech Sokka had prepared. "What is he…? This isn't what he's supposed to—"

"I'm sure many of you know of my great friendship with Chief Arnook," Sokka went on, his eyes transfixed on the woman. "We shared a common goal, that is, bringing the tribe to its most glorious state. And ever since, it wasn't just the two of us; all of you have made several huge strides forward. We have all come a long way, whether it's providing more opportunities for our sisters in the tribe or getting rid of unjust laws."

The longer he felt her presence, the more exhilarated he got. His feelings began to run wild. He would have taken off towards her if not for the shadow of disappointment that constantly menaced him and shrouded him within the fence of reason.

"Even though I am credited with certain things today…let it be known that we all acted together, that we all acted under the guidance of our Goddess. Every one of us carries her legacy in every breath we're able to take. That's why it's my belief that in a world following her sacrifice, no matter who is stepping up as chieftain in the Water Tribes…our Goddess is our reigning queen."

Their eyes met for a brief moment, sharing an unexpressed tension— a speck of familiarity long-deprived— before she averted her gaze. Until then, she thought it was a coincidence how he focused his attention in her direction. Now, she knew he recognized her. How, she would never know given the care she took to keep her face hidden, but he did…

"I may be taking charge of this position, and it may be for a short time, but I see myself only as a vessel. A medium through which her values and hopes for the tribe will take root." His vision stung as his heartbeat pulsed faster through him, "I promise to do my part, and I will give it my all. In my eyes, the North and South are one; it is my hope that you see me as one of you."

How melodramatic, Kano sighed as he joined in with the crowd's applause. Cheers and claps rang through the citadel, mirrored by the applause that roared below the flight of steps as well. The crowds quickly started to grow crazy with fervor.

The cloaked woman handed the child back to his mother in the meantime; she extricated her finger from the boy's fervent grip even as he reached for her, her eyes crinkled with a smile as she waved at him and the woman. She then slipped out of her seat, pulling her muffler further up, keeping her eyes lowered as she walked away. The child, who had not been looking at anyone or anything thus far, was now specifically looking at her, having burst into a cry as he pointed at her, his tiny fingers waving in her direction.

She healed him, Sokka noted with wide eyes and a crashing realization. That boy could not see anything moments before but was now able to see her and point to her and—

"YUE!" the councilman burst, shedding the belief that she was a figment of his distressed imagination or a possible doppelganger, but his voice was lost in the chaos of the crowds. He barged forward anyway, surrounded by waves of people.

"Sokka! Sokka, where are you going?!" Aang called worriedly.

"Yep, he's lost it," Kano yawned, not even trying to be concerned as the Avatar and the master waterbender raced after him. General Bo followed at their heels with Anyu bolting from his seat and trailing behind them.

Sokka screamed her name from the top of his lungs with every few steps he managed to descend, "Yue, stop! Please!"

But by the time he made it down to the last step, she was gone.


A/N: So this isn't an official update, but I guess you can say it also kind of is? I originally intended on revising this story and making small changes that wouldn't affect the overall plot, but I realized throughout my intense editing process that I really want to make substantial changes to the story. There were several decisions I made plot-wise with my high school brain that I'm not too satisfied with compared to the ideas I have now. Therefore, I've taken up the task of rewriting this story and changing up some things. There will be scenes that are very familiar but might be in slightly different contexts. Also, I've revised chapters 1-12 earlier, and I intend to keep them that way; if you haven't read the revisions, and if you've been following this story before, you might be lost a little since I changed some things, so I recommend you start this story afresh. If you're new to this story and have no idea what I'm talking about, disregard the rant and welcome!

To all fans of OTTM, I'm thankful for your support. I hope to come out with a new and improved version of this story that will hopefully be superior to what I originally published several years ago.