A/N: So this is really dissapointing. My stats say that there have been over 500 people that have read this story and, yet, I don't have a single review for it. I'm not going to stop writing just because there are no reviews but don't be expecting the updates to come any time soon. Unless I get a major brainwave for this story or I get at least a few reviews, there's not going to be any updates any time soon.
-Yue-
It wasn't right! That thing in front of him, with the ghostly voice and stinging words, wasn't her. It couldn't be. Yue would never, ever, say something like that to him. Even if it was completely and utterly true. But those wouldn't have left hsi sweet, caring Princess's mouth.
You didn't protect me.
Sokka stumbled back from the light-cloaked figure, eye's never leaving it's glowing frame. He could feel his heart thudding painfully in his chest, each beat harsher than the last, and his breath catch in his throat.
You didn't stop them.
Everytime Sokka took a step backwards, the marshy ground sucking at the soles of his boots, the vision in front of him would float closer. One arm, clad in ethereal blue cloth, reach out towards him; grasping at the air but finding nothing there.
You let me go through with it.
Back pressed up against a vine-covered trunk, unable to go any further away from the woman in front of him, Sokka let out the smallest of whimpers. Not because he was afraid, but because he knew that everything the creature in front of him was saying was true.
You let them kill me, Sokka.
And there was such a finality behind those words, words that echoed through the swamp around him and cemented themselves into his mind, that even his mind couldn't find a way of argueing with them. Not that it would. After all, it was true. He was the reason that Yue was dead. If he'd fought harder, defeated the Fire Nation before they killed Tue, then she would never have had to sacrifice herself. She'd still be alive.
Why?
"I'm sorry!" He found himself blurting out. "I'm sorry, Yue!"
It's your fault.
"I know it is and I'm so sorry! I didn't mean for you to die! I didn't!" There was an edge of hysteria to his words that he didn't recognize.
You were too weak.
"I was, but I'm stronger now!" Panic laced his words but, though he felt like someone had just pierced his heart through, he couldn't actually bring himself to cry.
I'm dead.
"Please..." He couldn't even figure out what he was asking for that time. Sokka repeated the whispered request anyways. "Please..."
It hurt.
"Spirits, Yue, I'm so sorry!" He could feel his heart stutter to a stop in his chest, twist painfully, and then slowly start again.
They don't deserve to feel this.
And something clicked into place in the back of Sokka's mind. "They won't Yue, I promise, they won't. I won't ever let be forced to make that sort of descision again! I promise you!"
And the look on her face as her body faded away, sad and proud at the same time, would forever be etched into his mind. Because he caused it and, even if it killed him, he would never let that look settle on any one else's face.