Hello! Here with chapter three! With this chapter, our frivolous foursome go to school. In a sense. Read and review because reviews are love! And you want me to feel loved, don't you? Don't you?
Disclaimer: I do not Avatar the Last Airbender
Aang was mystified by the food that the Water Tribe had in stock. In such a bleak, icy place, where there was barely any green, they had an assortment of vegetables set in an array on the table. The Water Tribe dining area itself was magical. It was smaller than the conference room, only there was a low table made from an imported wood. Around it were several cushions, on which the members of the royal family sat. He sat between Yue and Sokka, while Katara sat directly in front of him. The child stared down at the plate of lettuce, chopped fruits, and some vegetables he didn't know the names of. It was a salad, mixed with nuts. Around him were plates of meat-grilled leopard trout-along with cups of steaming tea. He looked towards the corners of the room where servants waited to be called upon.
"So, young Avatar," Beside Katara was her mother, Lady Kya. "My daughter told me about your first lesson of waterbending. Did you enjoy it?" She asked, brushing her lips across the rim of her tea cup before she set it back down. "I heard about your refusal to wear a parka." When the child gasped, Kya laughed freely. "Not that I blame you. You wear what you're comfortable in!"
Yue's own mother was never so open about her interests, she never laughed as loudly as Lady Kya. She glanced over at Katara, who was picking angrily at her own food, her brow furrowed. The princess had her eyes slanted to peer over at her mother and she appeared as though she was annoyed. Yue resisted the urge to giggle when she caught sight of Sokka shoving his food into his mouth.
Aang flushed at the attention and shrugged. "I'm from the Southern Air Temple, so our clothes were thin but made from a really special material. It keeps the cold out while we can still airbend easily." He tugged at his sleeve, "See?" The child looked up at Kya and beamed. "Maybe I can show you how to make it, so you wouldn't have to walk outside in those heavy parkas all the time. It's always so cold down here!"
"It's the South Pole, what do you expect?" Katara said caustically from where she sat, pushing her empty plate to the side. Yue hadn't even noticed she had finished eating already. The younger princess brushed the back of her hand across her lips before she rose from her cushion. "If you would excuse me, I have business to attend." Without going into detail, she brushed her hands down her clothes. Yue caught the sideways glance she cast at Sokka and she thought Katara mouthed the word treason, but before she could sure, Katara had left the room as though she had never been there.
Kya shook her head, "Honestly, I don't know what's wrong with her. She's never been a very open girl and she comes across as rude sometimes. But don't think she has anything against you, young Avatar, Katara is like that to everyone at one point or another." Her voice was sugary sweet, almost sickeningly so. "She didn't get that trait from me." She snapped around her head to face Sokka, "And no, you can't have seconds."
Sokka pouted, dropping his head. "But I'm still hungry!" He said, burying his face into his head. "I'm a growing boy, Mom, I need my meat! Tell her, Dad! We men need lots of meat to stay strong and warrior-like! Give me more food!" His blue eyes glistened. "Please?" Beside him, Aang pressed the palm of his hand to his lips to stop himself from laughing. His small shoulders shook and he ducked his head, casting a glance at Yue. Sokka caught this gesture and let out a shrill shout, "Don't laugh at me! I'm hungry!"
Yue laughed at Sokka's antics as she pushed her own plate to the side. "I'll go see what Katara is up to, if you want." She looked down at Lady Kya and Hakoda, adjusting her collar. Beside her, Aang sprang to his feet, as if he didn't want to be left alone with the chief and his wife, though Sokka was still seated. "Come on, Aang, let's go find Katara." The Northern Water Tribe princess left the room with Aang on her heel. She realized he really was like a puppy in some ways, and that was one of the reasons she enjoyed him so much, even though he was still a stranger to her.
The halls of the palace were quiet and vacant, with only the sound of Yue's footsteps echoing off the walls before drifting towards the ceiling. Aang's shoes make no noise, and the princess wonders if being an airbender almost means light footsteps. He follows close to her-she can see him in the floor's reflection-and he skips every other step. Yue can't help but smile to herself. He's just a child. And it's true. Aang is nothing but a boy; a child with a destiny shoved towards him that he didn't understand. He is too young, too naïve, to be caught up in this war. Yue was suddenly glad that no one could read her thoughts, or else she would have been charged with treason on multiple accounts.
Some part of her knew that Katara had left the palace. Yue reached behind her and grasped Aang's hand. Even though the main streets of the capital would be quiet, she didn't want him wandering away and getting into something that could hurt him. "Come on, Aang, we're going outside." The waterbender approached the exit of the palace. I'm not wearing a parka, she realized, looking down at herself. It won't matter. She stepped outside, gently brushing her way through the ever-present sentries that stood in front of the palace. They were stoic and rarely spoke, and Yue wondered how they had become so efficient at their job.
Yue looked out towards the main road, searching for a familiar shape. There were only a few Water Tribesmen and women still out and none of them looked like Katara. Then again, Katara had never willingly agreed to go shopping on her own. Maybe she's at Master Pakku's training grounds…or maybe the academy. I'm guessing the academy. The Southern Water Tribe had four academies, though one classified as a university in some standards. The Imperial Southern Water Tribe Academy for Young Girls was the nearest. Yue remembered Katara once telling her that she had attended school there, along with the other young daughters of Water Tribesmen who could afford to send their children to school so close to the palace. There was a male counterpart right beside it, separated by a steel gate. The third academy, simply named the Southern Water Tribe Academy for Young Tribesmen, was located further away for families who couldn't afford the more formal schools.
The third school was called the Imperial Water Tribe University for Young Scholars. For tribesmen who hadn't gone off to war, or some other lifestyle, they could attend the university to further their education. Sometimes the young scholars spent one year at the university before joining the military, in order to get a higher rank. There was a similar school in Ba Sing Se, but some people felt it was better to enroll in the southern school to show their loyalty to the tribes.
"Follow me, Aang," Yue turned a corner where a small building met the edge of the trail. A scroll store, Yue noted, I wonder if they have any more story scrolls. Yue admitted she had loved reading adventure stories as a child, especially the ones about fantasy worlds and characters. I wonder what it would be like if I could bend two elements like Ponyo the Double Bender… She thought, remembering a story that she read some time ago. "I think I might know where Katara is."
Aang shrugged and looked behind them, his eyes brightening. "Look, Yue, look at the person moving towards us…I think it might be Sokka," He pointed, "Hey, Sokka!" The boy nearly leaped into the air, waving his hand. "Sokka! Sok-ooh, he tripped." The boy drifted to the ground, biting his bottom lip. "But he got back up, so I think he's okay." Aang turned to Yue, grinning broadly.
True to Aang's statement, the Southern Water Tribe prince was barreling towards them, a determined expression lining his face. Sokka skidded to a halt in front of them and doubled over, holding his knees as he panted from loss of breath. "Why do you walk so fast?" He cried before straightening. "Have you found out where Katara is?" The prince looked down the street, "That academy…that makes sense. Why didn't I think of that?"
"Because, Sokka, you rarely think." Yue smiled at her friend as he set his step in time with hers. Aang ran ahead of them, looking up at the buildings. "Do you know what Katara meant by 'business'?" Do I really want to know? Yue looked at Sokka from the corner of her eye. "Sokka?"
Her friend breathed from his nose and shrugged. "You know how Katara is. It's nothing important, because really, she doesn't have a good attention span. It's probably her asking when she can finally make a speech at the academy." He chuckled, "I wouldn't worry about it, though." Then his eyes darkened, and he leaned toward Yue, "It's not something to be discussed openly."
A haunting chill rippled down Yue's spine and she stopped, suddenly finding it hard to breathe in the frigid polar air. "What do you mean?" She asked. It is not something to be discussed openly. But Sokka merely laughed and ran after Aang, grabbing him from behind and lifting him in the air. Sokka had never lied to her intentionally, and she knew him well enough to know when he was uncomfortable. If he didn't want her to know about it, she probably would want to find out.
The Imperial Southern Water Tribe Academy for Young Girls was made up of one large complex with two smaller wings. Like the palace, it was constructed out of wood and steel; while having a traditional use as a school; it had also been built with the need for a fort in mind, if the tribe was ever to be under serious attack. There was a courtyard similar to Pakku's training grounds; with several fountains for decorative use as well as practice for the girls who were waterbenders. A high wall had been designed from stone and ice and went around the entire perimeter of the complex.
"Over there," Sokka pointed further down the street, "That was my old school. I was the best student there!" He looked at Aang, "Maybe you'll go there, too, if they let you." The prince shrugged and turned to Yue, "You coming or what?" Sokka smiled as kindly as he always had, his cerulean eyes twinkling. He led Aang into the courtyard with Yue following slowly behind. "I used to always try and sneak over here during lunch break, but…" He grinned broadly, "It didn't work out."
They cross the courtyard silently and then they are inside the building, with Sokka holding the door for Yue as a gentleman should. He hasn't forgotten chivalry. Yue finds the academy beautiful on the inside as well as the outside. The floor is made up of black and silver tiles, though not nearly as elegant as those in the palace, and the walls are painted blue with posters of propaganda: "Serve your country well", "Education is nothing to the ignorant", "Open eyes are not all-seeing", and things of the like. There is a small tree in a pot at the corner of the hallway, with cascading orange leaves and spindly branches. Yue wonders how it survived in the harsh environment, but she finds it pretty anyway.
Sokka looked around, "Hmm…seems like they've remodeled a bit. Hey, Yue, how about I take little man and look around, while you look for Katara?" He asked, ruffling Aang's hair. The boy squirmed and gave a goofy grin. "Don't worry; I won't let him get lost. You wouldn't be the only person to kill me if that happened." He laughed and pushed Aang ahead of him. "Come on, little man."
Yue watched the two boys walk away. The waterbending princess headed off down the opposite hall, looking at the marked doors of the classrooms. "Room One, waterbenders…" She read aloud, touching the neat characters. The princess stopped, hearing soft murmuring behind the door. Who's here? The students had gone home and the instructors had as well…so who? Leaning against the wall, Yue pressed her ear to the door. She recognized one voice. Katara. What was she doing here?
"How long do you think this will last?" Katara said, though she sounded detached and bored. "The previous ones lasted quite a while, you know, but I believe it was just by chance." Yue closed her eyes, imagining that the younger princess was looking at her nails, her eyes shadowed in thought. "You aren't being commissioned for nonsense, Anikiqa."
There was a low murmur of a second voice, but Yue didn't recognize it and it was too low to understand what they were saying. What is she talking about? "Yes, Anikiqa, I see we've gotten to a part of mutual understanding. But listen to me, if this project fails or a word of what I've told you gets to the wrong ears; don't hesitate to think that I will kill you. You're disposable, if you had forgotten." There was the brush of hands sweeping down cloth and Yue realized Katara was smoothing her clothes. "And the Avatar…" Katara fell silent as the murmuring voice interrupted her, "You know me well, dear friend." Her footsteps approached the door.
Yue let out a tiny gasp and pushed her back against the wall, sucking in her breath. What are they talking about? She closed her eyes as the footsteps retreated away from the door. Is this was Sokka was hinting at? And what about Aang? I can't let them hurt him! She bit her lip as the door creaked open. Please don't look this way! She could always run down the hall, but then she would be seen. The princess willed herself to be invisible as Katara's footsteps came closer, and then stopped. She opened her eyes and squeaked, looking up into Katara's smoldering blue gaze. "Umm…hi?"
Katara had her arms crossed before her chest, leaning back on her left foot with her arms crossed before her chest. The corners of her mouth turned up into a smirk, "Oh, what a pleasant surprise." She glowered down at Yue, "Princess Yue. If you were looking for academy lessons, I do believe school is closed for today. And you're sixteen; you shouldn't need to attend school with twelve year olds." She didn't sound angry, but then again, she rarely got angry enough to snap. Before Yue could reply, though, Katara called out. "Anikiqa, it seems that we were eavesdropped upon."
From the room, there came a woman. Yue thought she looked like she had some Earth Kingdom heritage, for she had emerald green eyes and light brown hair pulled into five thick braids. This woman, Anikiqa, wore a blue and yellow long sleeved tunic. "The Northern Water Tribe princess," Her voice was low and deeply accented. "She shouldn't be much of anything, should she?" She smiled. "It doesn't matter, she didn't hear anything."
What? Yue gulped as Katara placed both hands on her shoulders. The woman, Anikiqa, stepped back into the classroom and closed the door as Katara pulled Yue towards her. The older princess found it hard to focus as their noses brushed and the darker haired girl stared at her. "Listen," Yue shuddered as Katara's breath brushed her lips, "Listen to me, Yue. If you speak a word of this conversation to anyone, you can be charged with treason. And then the Northern Water Tribe wouldn't have an heir! What a tragedy that would be!" She stepped back, "The less you know, the better. Understood?" Katara turned her lips up into a smile, "Aang is to learn to be a Water Tribesman, and if you can't let that happen, we'll start to question your loyalties."
"Katara? There you are!" Sokka cried out, running towards them. "You found her, Yue!" Behind him was Aang, peeking over his shoulder at the two princesses. "What are you doing all the way back here?" The prince shot a sidelong glance at his sister, "Wasn't this your old classroom, Katara?" He pointed to the door of the room, "They separated waterbenders and non-benders at my school, too." The prince ruffled Aang's hair, "I wonder if they would separate Avatars?" He shrugged, "Well, let's go back home and live boring royal lives. They should write a book about us. I can picture it now: Sokka, the Oh-So-Handsome Sovereign of the South and His Grand Adventures! Oh, you would be in it, too, Katara, but you're not as important as me. No offense."
Yue smiled at her friend as Aang walked over to her. He's like a little shadow puppy. Sokka frowned and made some comment about "manly men don't run to women!" but she paid no mind to his words. "Back to the palace?" She queried, placing her arm around Aang's shoulders. "Come on," The older princess nodded to Katara, gesturing for the younger girl to lead the way. "Maybe they'll enroll you in the boy's school, Aang. Wouldn't that be fun?"
"Yeah, but I wouldn't be able to finish. Katara said I have to master the elements by summer, remember?" The young airbender looked up at her. "How hard was it for you to learn waterbending, Yue? You're pretty good at it." His gray eyes seemed larger than usual, almost pleading for her to tell him. "Was it really hard?"
The older girl shrugged, "It depends on whether or not you want to learn. A person with no drive to finish training probably won't go very far, but someone who wants to succeed will graduate sooner." She patted his head, "I'm sure you'll master it soon enough." Katara was walking ahead of them, her hands clasped behind her back. Yue looked back as Sokka walked to her side. "Why don't you go talk to Katara, Aang? She might want to give you some training tips." The child Avatar dashed forward, racing up to the younger princess.
Sokka cast a glance in Yue's direction, letting out an exasperated sigh. "What is it, Yue?" He smirked, "I know that look. You want something. I know you well, Yue. What's making you itch, huh?" The younger boy's blue eyes glittered with amusement. "That's your nosy look, when the skin between your brows wrinkles and twitches because you're trying to figure something out."
"Who's Anikiqa?" She inquired, leaning towards him. "Katara was talking to her." She remembered to keep her voice quiet, knowing that Katara was probably listening. "They were talking about a project and Aang, and then Katara saw that I overhead. You're her brother; you've got to know something, Sokka." It is not something to be discussed openly.
Her friend held up his hands and shook his head. "Look, Yue, I don't anything about what Katara and Anikiqa were talking about. She just told me it was something classified and that only a few people know about it. Anikiqa is a teacher from the Earth Kingdom. She teaches something about chemistries and physics, you know, boring stuff. Maybe they're making a new version of the airship; our old ones are kind of outdated. It's classified because they don't want the Fire Nation getting ahold of our designs. Maybe it's going to be Avatar-powered."
That makes sense. Yue thought and gave a tentative nod. "I guess you're right." But Aang's duty is to protect the world. Not destroy it. Something still wasn't adding up, though. But Aang hadn't mastered all of the elements yet, and before that, he was powerless. I'll figure it out.
Azula rarely contradicted herself, but today was an exception. Zuko wasn't bad at firebending…he was terrible. Firebending called for sharp, aggressive movements, not pitiful gestures that could barely be seen. "Really, Zuko, maybe you're secretly adopted. A pacifist like you must be an Air Nomad, judging how sad you are at firebending. Even Mother is more aggressive than you!" She rested her hand on her hip and smirked as her brother let the flame flicker from his hand. "Perhaps you are adopted."
They were in the training arena instead of the gardens, having taken Lu Ten's words to heart. Zuko glowered at his younger sister. "Shut up, Azula. I wish you would just be normal for one day. The world would be a much better place." He turned on his heel and jabbed at the air, sending a small blast of flame across the palace arena. "Not everyone is a perfect prodigy like you. Some people have to work to get where you are. Dad wasn't a prodigy. Mom wasn't either. I doubt Uncle Iroh is a prodigy, so there!"
"But Fire Lord Azulon was. If you aren't born perfect, then you work for it." Azula retorted, leaning in towards her brother. "Father may not have been a prodigy, but he is the greatest firebender in the world." And I'm third. "He worked for his power and didn't settle for less." She smoothed one of her bangs, "Perhaps certain names carry certain traits." She was Fire Lord Azulon's namesake and as he was a prodigy, she was following in his footsteps.
Zuko growled in frustration, arching his leg into a powerful kick and sending a spiral of flame through the air. "Shut up, Azula. You're always tearing other people down to glorify yourself. Just because your flames are blue doesn't make you smarter than everyone else. Just because you're pretty doesn't make everyone else ugly. Just because you can shoot lightning…" He broke off as Azula interrupted him.
"You mean this type of lightning?" The princess took a deep breath closed her eyes, moving her arms in a sure circle. At the tips of her fingers, energy began to crackle and leap from her hands. The energy was lightning, created only by the best of firebenders and those with the most unbendable of mindsets. She brought both of her hands slowly upward and pointed at the sky as her lightning flew from her fingers and towards the open ceiling. "Oh, Zuzu, you aren't jealous are you? Only those who are sure about themselves can make lightning. Maybe one day you'll be able to do this. But I doubt it." Azula laughed.
The boy turned his head, pinching the bridge of his nose. "One day you're going to run into someone who's going to beat you lower than dirt." He said. "Don't expect me to help you when that happens, though. Oh, no, you can always get yourself out of trouble." Zuko looked down at his sister. "You are perfect, after all." He flinched as Azula tugged at his hair. "Ow, stop!" The prince slapped her hand away, "Why are you so evil?"
Azula blinked, narrowing her eyes. "As helpless as always, Zuzu." She shook her head and lit her left hand, tempering the flickering blue flame. "Think fast!" With a sharp punch, the firebender launched an attack at her brother. It narrowly missed his left ear, taking off the tips of his hair. "Too close for comfort, Zuzu?"
Zuko growled, dropping into a crouch. He tossed his arm out, following by an arc of orange fire. The prince rolled backwards across the arena, landing on his knees with his hands planted firmly in front of him, looking up at Azula. His golden glare was furious, but also mixed with fierce competition. "Mock Agni Kai?" He asked, lifting one foot and resting on it, bending his toes. "Do you accept?"
His younger sister went down on one knee, meeting his gaze with a burning stare of her own. "Gladly." An Agni Kai was a duel between two firebenders, often in a battle of restoring honor or questioning it. They were always meant to be taken seriously, but over the years, there had been the idea of "Mock Agni Kai", a meaningless yet intense battle between two firebenders. Of course, Ozai had looked down upon the very thought of such a thing. "You fight for honor. A battle such as this simply states that you have none." Azula narrowed her eyes, waiting for Zuko to rise. "Come on, Zuzu, you want the first blow?"
The prince smirked and kicked backwards, using his arms as a support. He swung his legs over his body so that he flipped, sending a blast of fire from the bottom of his foot. Before he could fully rise from the move, the prince jabbed at the air in a sharp punch, causing the blazing element to fly towards his opponent, who had risen to her feet when he had first moved.
Azula grinned, holding her hands together in a triangle in front of her body, ducking her head. Zuko's golden flames turned to sparks as they connected with her fingertips, falling harmlessly around her. "Honestly, Zuzu, I thought you could do better!" She retaliated with a stream of fire bursting from the center of her palm, following swiftly by a smaller blast from her fingertips. "Too slow, Zuzu! Too slow!" Before Zuko could block her attack, she flipped forward with her right leg landing heel first. Her flames blazed across the arena towards Zuko.
Surprised, Zuko stumbled back and slipped, falling onto his back. He let out a shocked, winded gasp, and held his chest as the blue fire rolled over him. Azula closed in for the kill, summoning a small flame that danced along her fingertips. She bent and brought it to her brother's throat with a smirk. "I think this official says you lose, Brother Dearest. I would have gone easy on you if you had given up earlier, then you could have saved face." And because she was in a good mood, she took his forearm and dragged him to his feet. "Maybe next time."
The sound of clapping caused both teenagers to look up. Standing at the entrance of the arena was their father, Prince Ozai. He crossed the distance easily and stood at Azula's side. "A stunning spar on your behalf, Azula. But not as powerful as I know you can be." His golden eyes met hers and he gave a brief lifting of his lips to show he was somewhat pleased. "Continue to work and maintain perfection." Ozai blinked slowly as Azula bowed respectfully. His gaze traveled to Zuko's, and then he looked away without speaking. "You'll be a master at lightning, soon, and then you will be able to bring down the waterbenders with ease. Do it again."
"Yes, Father." Azula didn't have to ask what he meant. She stepped back several paces in a respectful-and safe- distance from her father and brother. Lightning is neither positive nor negative. It centers between both. Lightning is to be created, but never controlled. A calm, deliberate mind is needed, or else you shall be destroyed. She breathed and held two of her fingers together on both hands, extending her arms. Setting her feet in a powerful stance, the firebender moved her arms in a wide circle as the lightning generated around her fingers. Her bang fluttered around her face and has she not been concentrating so hard, she would have smiled.
And then the lightning was ripped from her control. Azula's eyes widened in surprised as her father held her lightning between his fingers, watching as it leaped around his hands. It seemed to take him very little effort, and Azula couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy. He, her father, commanded lightning as it was the easiest thing, like it was a pet. And he wasn't even a prodigy. While she, who was a prodigy, had to push everything aside to concentrate on the element. It wasn't fair.
But, she was better than Zuko, and that counted for something. Her pathetic older brother watched their father with wide eyes as the lightning flashed towards the ceiling and into the sky. "What if you killed a bird?" He asked quietly, squinting. Ozai only growled in response, clenching and unclenching his fists as though they were stiff. Zuko had yet to even redirect lightning, due to "inner turmoil". At least, that's what Uncle Iroh had told them. That's one thing our uncle is good at. Fighting. When he was a general in the army, Fire Lord Iroh had created the lightning technique and later taught it to those he deemed worthy, including Ozai. Azula was glad Zuko couldn't use the technique; it was just another thing that she was better at. And as long as she was better than Zuko, things would go her way.
Ozai looked down at Zuko and Azula. "You both were chosen for the operation that will defeat the Water Tribes. If you've ever listened to anything you've been taught, you won't disappoint me." He turned to leave once, almost as soon as he had come. "You won't disappoint me," The man repeated, looking pointedly at Zuko, "Any more than you already have."
Azula nudged Zuko in his side, narrowing her eyes. She pressed her closed right fist to her open left palm, dipping at the waist. "I swear on my honor, Father. I will never let you down." Zuko took the hint and mirrored her action, murmuring her words along with her as their father left the arena without another word. Azula straightened, jabbing Zuko sharply in the side. "Listen to me, Zuzu, if you dare do anything to smudge my honor, I'll devastate yours. This might finally put it simply, don't mess up or you'll be messed up. Understood, Zuko?" This is my honor, not yours.
Zuko sighed, giving her a harsh glance. "I swore on my honor. If anything, that's the one thing I intend to always keep. I'm going to see Mom, and then to see Lu Ten. What do you plan on doing?" He asked, as if he was trying to break the ice between them.
"Things you don't need to know about." Azula retorted, smoothing her topknot. "Perhaps you should make some time in your schedule to work on your firebending…you don't want to make Father mad, do you? He might not name you as his heir."
Her brother laughed in spite of himself. "We already know who Father will name as his heir. You don't have to rub it in." The prince conjured a flame in the center of his palm and blew on it. "You've always been better, Azula. But I have one thing you don't. And that's a heart."
Azula stood there, her mouth slightly agape as her brother brushed by her and exited the arena. I have one thing you don't. And that's a heart. She frowned. But I do have one, dear brother. I have one that beats in my chest and it causes me to live. I have a heart, just like you. The firebender lit her hands, staring down at the flickering blue flame and trying to strengthen its power. For a heartbeat, she saw a flash of white among the blue. White is the hottest flame. No one can create it. But Azula vowed she would, if only to be truly perfect. She would not settle for less.
There was one bad thing that came with Aang's arrival. And that was finding a space that could accommodate him until he had a room of his own. The chief and his lady had left that to Yue to decide, since she made it her duty to be his guardian, even though she had just met him. Yue found herself ina dilemma. Aang may have been the Avatar, but he was a child first and the world's personification second. And the world's reincarnation needed somewhere to sleep.
"What do you mean I have to share my room with him?" Sokka cried. He looked appalled at the very thought of such a thing. "Why can't he have his own room? He's twelve, he shouldn't be afraid of the dark at twelve years old!" The prince narrowed his eyes at the child in question.
Aang's head snapped up to stare into Sokka's eyes. "I am not afraid of the dark." His gaze shifted, "I just don't want to sleep alone." He dipped his head, rubbing the back of his neck. "I normally slept with Appa, but…I don't know where he is." He sniffed.
Yue was fairly certain she knew what had become of Aang's "Appa". Part of her couldn't blame the boy for not wanting to sleep alone; he had just been stirred from an iceberg after a hundred years, he was missing his pet, and he was nervous. "Oh, Sokka, just let him sleep in your room until he feels safe. What harm can it be?" She reached over and gave Aang a brief hug, "How can you deny such an innocent little face?"
"Like this." Sokka turned his back, lifting his chin into the air and closing his eyes. He crossed his arms in front of his chest with a huff. Yue tapped Aang's shoulder, grinning. She pouted, blue eyes glistening as her friend peeked over his shoulder. "That's not going to work on me, Yue. And don't say you're going to get Katara. She's sleeping, so hah! Why don't you let the kid sleep in your room, if you worry about him so much?"
"Because, you're so much better at helping people, Sokka." Yue said, batting her eyelashes. "Please?" She begged, tugging on his sleeve. "Pretty please? I won't ask you to do anything else, ever." From behind her, Aang scoffed. Even he knew that was a lie.
Sokka gave an exasperated sigh. "Fine. He can sleep in my room for just tonight. Do you understand me? Tonight only!" He jerked his head, "Come on, little man, I'm getting tired." The prince rolled his eyes as Yue held up a finger. "What now, Yue?"
The princess smiled, "I want to give him the stuffed bison from earlier." She patted Aang's head, "I know he's too old for toys, especially stuffed ones, but since it was made from bison hair, I was thinking that it would comfort him a little. You know, since you lost Appa." Yue gently pushed Aang towards Sokka. "Would you like that?"
But the young Avatar didn't reply. His gray eyes were lidded and he was leaning forward, letting out a loud yawn. He leaned into Sokka's side to keep himself upright and Yue couldn't help but smile. "I'll give it to him later, when he's not so tired." She said to Sokka as the older boy dragged the Avatar after him. "Goodnight, Sokka!"
Sokka waved his arm as he and Aang shuffled down the hall to Sokka's bedroom. Yue blinked slowly and turned on her heel, heading towards her own room. With her boots making a soft rhythm against the tile of the floor, the princess yawned. She crossed the halls from memory, having spent years wandering the corridors as a child.
Her suite in the Southern Water Tribe palace was right next to Katara's, and part of her wondered if the younger princess was really sleeping. I doubt it. Yue thought, opening the door to her bedroom. On her vanity was an unrolled scroll, cast silver in the moonlight that streamed in from the small window. It would be a number of days until the moon was completely full, but Yue could feel its restless energy surging through her veins already. Waterbenders had a connection to the moon and ocean, from which they had learned how to bend. But Yue found her ties to the moon stronger than most. She ran a hand through her pure white hair and kicked off her shoes, moving towards the window. From here, she could see out towards the open ocean and the way the moon pulled and pushed it.
"Tui," Yue whispered softly to the moon, using the name of the Moon Spirit. "I know you can hear me, because you can hear everything. You're part of me, and I'm part of you. I want to ask you something, Tui, and I hope you can answer me somehow." The princess looked up at the silent sight, as if the Moon Spirit was listening. "My people are corrupted and lusting for more war. Tell me one thing, Tui, how am I supposed to protect the Avatar from corruption if I can barely protect myself?"
The skies were silent.
Yue closed her eyes and sighed. "Find the answer to that by myself…I figured you would say that." She laughed softly, "I'm going to go to sleep now, Tui." The princess moved away from the window and lay down on her bed, pulling the blanket up to her chest. "Goodnight, Moon Spirit." She turned onto her side, feeling the moon's cool light spread across her back.
Somewhere in the next room, Katara was probably sleeping. Yue thought, perhaps she was dreaming about the war. It was one of the biggest subjects they were taught in school, especially in the South Pole. Glorifying the killing of innocent people and races had twisted the minds of people for nearly century, until they thought it was their duty to destroy this old "pain-filled, divided" world in hopes of finally creating a new "peaceful, united" one. There is no way everyone can be united. It's just not possible. Speaking out against the war effort was treason and those who did so were ousted from society. Yue had heard a story about it before, of a former soldier who was chased down the streets by a pack of specifically trained dogs when he told his true opinion of the Water Tribes. This had apparently occurred some years ago, and no one dared mention the man again. The story, though, was told by parents to keep their wayward children silent, and their thoughtful ones safe.
What odd things to think about before sleeping. Yue thought with a smile. She buried her face in her pillow and breathed deeply, clearing her mind. After several long moments, the princess of the ice felt her eyelids grow heavy with sleep. She blinked once, twice, three times, before she fell into black oblivion.
Yue dreamed of the ocean and the moon, pushing and pulling. She dreamed of the child Avatar running towards her, a laugh on his lips. His arms were outstretched and he cried out to her. She smiled back and waved, calling out in greeting. "Yue, look what I can do! I can earthbend!" The boy exclaimed. But then, before she could speak, he faded away.
And she also dreamed of a wolf howl. It was a wolf howl so beautiful and haunting that it could only belong in a dream. There was a wolf, sitting on a mountain top with its gray back turned to her. As Yue approached, the animal growled and turned its head. "Where is your pack?" Yue asked, reached out to brush her hands over its back. The wolf spun around fully, baring its glistening teeth. In her dream, Yue gulped. This was no animal at all. It was a human in a wolf's skin, laughing at her surprise. The princess's eyes widened. It wasn't a wolf. It wasn't a wolf.
With a gasp, Yue opened her eyes and sat bolt upright. She looked around, her breath falling into a gentler breathing pattern. The moon was still just outside her window and the night sky was silent, with only the sound of the ocean breaking the quiet. "Tui," She whispered, "If this is your way of giving a sign, can it wait until morning, please?"
The moon was silent, but Yue hadn't expected an answer anyway. The princess lay on her back, staring up at the ceiling with her arms behind her head. From outside her room, she could hear someone moving quietly down the hall, perhaps a servant. The sound of footsteps faded after a moment and Yue blinked slowly.
A human in wolf's skin. Yue knew that dreams were sometimes gateways between the Spirit World and the physical one, but who was this genderless person who perched atop a mountain? Who was this person with the wolf, and could howl like a real beast?
Tui offered no answers to her. Yue yawned and closed her eyes, this time falling into a real, dark, and dreamless sleep. The moon covered her form into a pale light as she slept, spreading across the room while casting dark shadows into the corners where the walls met.
The moon pushed and the ocean pulled, and the night was quiet.
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