Story is now from Taku's POV
Chapter 1 – Calm Sea
Present day 99 ASC (After Sozin's Comet)
There were no raids…no black snow falling from the sky…no one was afraid. It seemed as if the war never existed. The Tribe was as calm as the shallow seas around them.
I stood there focused, shifting my body weight along with the flow of the water. I raised my arms and twirled myself around hurling the water forward. I felt as if I held the ocean in my hands and its power was at my command.
I had been training near the chief temple with Master Pakku ever since I was eight years old. I had grown to admire him despite is harsh methods and grown accustomed to his serious personality.
"That's enough for today…" Master Pakku spoke ass he ran his fingers through his beard. Master Pakku was the Waterbending master who taught the boys that were untrained benders. Master Pakku looked old but was extremely skilled.
"You're improving greatly…" he smiled.
"I practice everyday Master." I bowed. My hair had covered my face. I didn't tie it back or braid it like the other males of my tribe. I wanted no restraints like the flow of water itself.
"Good. But how old are you Taku?" Pakku asked.
"I just turned sixteen." I replied.
Pakku smiled. "Shouldn't you be searching for a bride at your age?" he inquired.
Anything but that…I thought.
I felt nervous once I heard the word bride and my body stiffened. "Um….I am solely focused on my training…" I replied quickly.
"What about you and Princess Yue?" he asked. "You're already an excellent bender for your age and I'm sure you'd make an excellent candidate. Besides you two get long well."
I didn't want to think about marriage. Not now anyways. I wanted to focus on my bending and enjoying my youth. Besides if I did marry Yue I'd be the next chief and I definitely did not want that responsibility.
"Princess Yue is like a sister. We have been best friends since we were babies. I don't see her in THAT way." I emphasized.
"You're turning out to be more like me each day!" Pakku laughed.
"I'm not sure if that's good or bad…" I replied sarcastically and the both of us laughed.
Suddenly another student of Master Pakku came running. "Master! The Avatar is here!" he shouted.
"Well…let's go meet him shall we?" Pakku replied and both of us traveled to the cheif temple. We had decided to travel by gondola. I had bended the water around us to propel us forward. The inside of the temple was large with a waterfall at the center. We had seen Chief Arnook there with a bald kid with blue arrows across his body and I had assumed he was the Avatar.
"Avatar Aang, this is Master Pakku and his top student Taku." Chief Arnook spoke. I bowed formally.
"Just call me Aang." He replied cheerfully. Aang wore yellow and orange robes. I knew nothing of the Air Nomads so I found his appearance to be strange.
"My friend and I can't wait to start learning from you!" Aang spoke excitedly. "But I ask that we have few days of rest?"
Master Pakku's eyes were serious. "If you want rest I suggest you visit a spa. If not then be here at sunrise. Oh Taku?"
"Yes Master?" I replied hoping that I wouldn't have to wake up early.
"You're going to be joining the Avatar and his friend. It's good to brush up on the fundamentals." He smiled.
"But Master-" I was silenced by my mouth being covered in ice. The ice broke from my mouth when I saw Princess Yue. She was now fifteen and of marrying age. I ran towards her. "Princess Yue!" I called out.
Yue stopped and turned around. "Taku! It's great to see you!" she smiled.
"Likewise Princess…" I bowed. I had always found Yue's silvery white hair to be beautiful as the moon itself.
"Taku there's no need to be so formal. You're my best friend relax." She laughed.
She's going to be married soon…I thought. Things won't be the same…
"So…you're going to be married soon?" I asked casually trying to be cool.
"Yes…" she looked away. "To Hahn…"
Hahn was a young warrior, he was strong and fearless. The girls loved him. I could see the regret in her eyes. She didn't want to marry him, but she had to for her people. I felt bad for her not being able to choose who she wanted to spend her life with. I had that choice ad hadn't made it. I wasn't sure what I was waiting for but I felt that I didn't have a connection to any of the other girls in the Tribe.
"Oh…" I replied. "Come take a walk with me…" I held out my hand and smiled. Yue grabbed my hand as we walked off.
We had walked around the outside of the temple. The sky was orange as the sun was setting. "I hear you've become an excellent waterbender." Yue said as we had found a place to sit overlooking the entire watertribe.
"Yeah. I even have Master Pakku praising my skills…" I said rubbing my head and feeling a bit modest.
"I'm happy for you…." She smiled at me. I stared into her blue eyes ad she looked away.
"What's wrong?" I asked. "Remember when we were little and you would always say that you would b the one to marry me?"
"Yes…." I admitted. I had always said that I would marry Yue as a kid. We were inseparable back the but now she has her duty ad I wouldn't come between that and her risking it for me.
"Why aren't you the one doing it now?" she suddenly exclaimed. "I would rather it be you than anyone else right now! Especially a guy I don't love…"
"I'm not coming between you and your responsibility..." I said sadly.
"You're always there for me, always listening...for once speak out!" she yelled in anger her body trembling.
I had considered my feelings for Yue. Not just once but many times. I had even made her a betrothal necklace but never gave it to her. I couldn't. She's a princess and I'm just a bender. There are many benders but only one Princess. My mother may be good friends with Yue's mom but I'm still just a average citizen.
"Yue…I'm sorry…." I couldn't say anything as she stared at me with tears falling fro her eyes. "I think I should go see Master Pakku…" I bowed and as I walked away she pulled me back towards her. She stared at me intensely and kissed me. Her lips felt as pure as the ocean itself and I held her tightly. I felt that in another life Yue and I could be together like Tui and La our hearts would circle each other infinitely and out souls would be one.
I know this is it…I don't have another chance…She has to marry him…I thought as she let go. She pulled at my heart on last tme as Yue walked back towards the temple and I stood there watching my moon fade away letting my world go dark.
That's the beginning of the story. I hope you like it. Should I continue on Taku and Yue's relationship or keep it canon and have her with Sokka? Please Review! - Takuthewolf
