Dying To Survive
Chapter 16- Abode In The Sky
"Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after another." Walter Elliott
..::-::..
The world around him was a calm blue horizon. Zuko had woken up with Katara sprawled out near him, her head resting on his leg. He gently picked it up and laid her head down on the soft puff of still grass. Once Zuko made sure that she was still asleep, he sprang up and looked around. There was no creature in sight; the flat stone expanse stretched out like a sea, but as he leaned on the lone tree to his right, Zuko spotted something in the distance. What he had thought to be a hallucination seemed much more alive than the previous night. It was like a forest, but the mixture of burgundy and lavender didn't match that stereotype. What concerned him more, however, was that the faint stream of light he had followed last night was now shining straight into the entangled foliage. He sighed and rubbed the side of his face as he turned back to Katara, her hair dangling in all directions away from her head. Zuko smiled and squatted down next to her. Even though Katara could be slightly reckless at times, he still knew deep down that she was filled with a fountain full of good intentions. Her soft skin glowed in the morning light like a child's, a coating of innocence and purity he knew was often hard to come by. That's why he considered himself to have gained a bit of luck, because she was with him in this bizarre world they had stumbled into.
As he brushed away the strands of hair from her cheeks, Katara scrunched her nose and sneezed. Zuko fell back and propped himself on his hands as she picked herself up, letting the hair sway in front of her face. For a long time now, she had let her hair down, but it was because she had lost her ribbons somewhere along the way. Katara pulled her hair back as her fingers coiled through them. She breathed deeply and smiled as the sunshine hit Zuko's back.
"You really do rise with the sun, don't you?" she mocked. Zuko sat up right again and leaned against the steady tree. His sigh was heavy and the enthusiasm escaped Zuko's eyes. The reaction being unexpected, Katara cleared her throat and rubbed her arm shyly. "Did I just offend you somehow?" Zuko turned his head so that his dark tawny scar radiated from the sunlight. He sighed and shook his head.
"No, you didn't offend me. Remember what I said last night? We have to talk."
The gravity of his husky voice chilled Katara's bones, somehow knowing that their time in the Spirit World was going to take a dangerous turn.
"Katara, I met another Spirit. His name was Ennik, and he's the Spirit of the Sun," Zuko said. Katara gasped and leaned forward anxiously.
"What did he tell you?"
"It was the same as all of the other Spirits we've met. He couldn't tell me everything, but what he did tell me was something I didn't expect." Zuko shifted and stared into her eyes fiercely, letting her know without any spoken words that she needed to change her attitude about everything. Katara furrowed her eyebrows and nodded, eager for him to continue. "Ennik told me that I need to find the Sanoroi."
A few silent seconds passed before Katara fully understood the meaning of his words. Her eyes bulged as she stared into Zuko's gaze, hoping that he was trying to play a prank on her.
"You can't be serious. The Sanoroi? The beings that started the temples? The secret bending and power that the Masters wanted?" she asked incredulously. Zuko raised an eyebrow as Katara mentioned the Masters. For the first time since entering the Spirit World, she remembered what had gotten her into this mess. Her chi was stolen, Taiko had threatened her, and above all else, she had attempted to take Zuko's life. Even through all of that, they had ended up in the Spirit World, among the living dead. Zuko saw the spark of recall in her eyes, but dismissed it as she lowered her gaze.
"Yes, those Sanoroi. Ennik instructed me to do this because they are the ones that will help us get back to the real world," Zuko said with confidence. Katara looked up at him and found herself confused about her wishes. For once, she was actually happy. After all that had happened, she had found a true friend in Zuko, someone she could trust her life with. The Yizun were the only dilemma they faced, and she knew that together they could fight them off. Better yet, they had no worldly attachments they needed to worry about, like food and water. It almost seemed as if they had become immortal within the boundaries of adventure. She wasn't sure anymore if going back was the best road to take. She would have to face Jet, Laia, the Masters, and Zuko himself as well, because the real world was far more complicated than it was when it was just the two of them. A snap shook Katara awake from her pensive state and she smiled hesitantly as Zuko waved his hand in front of her face.
"You just stared off somewhere. Did you see something?" he asked. Katara closed her mouth and shook her head slowly. Zuko grunted as he stood up. He traced the ray of light with his finger and then let his arm drop to his side. "That Spirit also told me something else. After talking with him, I learned that I must… become the new Fire Lord… as soon as possible." The light glowed around him like a lamp's shadows and it was then that Katara saw this vibrancy as a side of Zuko that was always hidden beneath doubt. She stood up next to him and squeezed his hand. He looked down at her warm face and opened his eyes further so her words could flow into his soul.
"You'll make a great Fire Lord, Zuko."
Katara held his gaze and then let go of Zuko's hand as she placed it to her forehead. Scanning the horizon, the silvery plates in front of them began to blur her vision. She blinked a few times and then shook her head.
"I don't know where we should go. How are we going to find the Sanoroi if-"
Zuko smirked and shrugged his shoulders. "There's one more thing I haven't told you." Katara turned to him and folded her arms. "I can see Ennik's light. It led me back to you in time and it's still pointing straight. Do you see those stalks in the distance? The light heads into them. That's where we have to go."
Katara rolled her eyes and stepped forward, brushing past Zuko's arm. "Oh, is that all? For a moment I thought you were going to tell me that you had become a spirit yourself," she said slyly. She twisted around to see Zuko's nasty reaction. He growled and muttered to himself.
"That wasn't funny. Didn't I tell you to be serious?" he asked with his arms crossed.
She shook her head and smiled. For some reason, it was nice to see Zuko frustrated. It made him seem more human that way. "I'm being perfectly serious, your highness." Katara laughed and ran straight ahead towards the distance. Zuko ran after her and suddenly smiled as he came up behind her. Katara heard the clashing of Zuko's broadswords at his side and smirked. Just as Zuko was about to grab her shoulders, she jumped around and faced him. Caught off guard, he leaned forward and pulled her in. Katara's eyes widened as she stared into Zuko's, a few breaths distance away. She didn't have time to catch the slight tinge on his cheeks because she thought of a distraction. Zuko's chest swayed back as Katara stuck her tongue out and scrunched her face. Katara spun around and placed her hands on her hips. Zuko narrowed his eyes and leaned on his right foot.
"Gotchya!" Katara exclaimed.
"What is wrong with you?" Zuko asked outright. Her hands fell so that her arms were as straight as the path they were walking on. She blushed and cast her glance to the side. She didn't want to admit the truth. By facing it, she would have to admit that her time alone with Zuko would come to an end as well. The dream she had become accustomed to, wouldn't have a happy ending, and for what it was worth, she didn't want it to end. "Well?" he pried.
"I… I don't know why I just did that… sorry…" she said quietly. Katara turned away from him and squinted at the horizon where the future lay ahead. The sky was draped in aquamarine colors, like a bright sea. She sighed and stared at her feet, and the pasty ground she stood on. All of a sudden, her body jerked as Zuko bumped into her right arm. She looked up heatedly but saw the softest smile Zuko had ever shown her.
"It's all right. Sometimes we all… behave differently. Just don't do it again. For a moment you reminded me of that strange fly," he said.
"Ryuu you mean?"
"Yeah, her."
They stared at each other and then Katara burst out laughing. The light shined in Zuko's eyes as he took a step forward.
"Where to now?" she asked. Zuko pointed straight past the slanted stones that protruded every now and then. To the left lay dirty hills with no grass in sight, while to the right, the horizon blurred as a dense fog formed. Hoping to get away from anything that breathed water, Katara shot out past Zuko in a hurried walk. The two kept going for a couple of hours, their destination still looking as far away as ever. For a moment during their journey, Katara peered up into the sky, which was now askew with a sheet of jade clouds. She mentioned it to Zuko, but he shrugged and cast the thought away from her, though it still made her wonder. As the time passed, they lightened the mood by stretching out their limbs and racing each other. Their feet grinded into the stone like a pounding hammer, but there was no pain. Stability provided them with a straight path to their destination. Zuko made sure they were aligned with the light, but then something unexpected happened. As Zuko panted, he closed his eyes momentarily only to bolt them open again. Shock flew through his rising body as the stone floor underneath him shot up. Katara stopped and clenched her hands.
"Zuko! Jump down before it gets any higher!" she yelled, cupping her mouth with her hands. He grimaced and knew she had a point. The steady increase in altitude was unnerving, but Zuko faced his fear and took a step off of the smoothly edged boulder of stone. The air sliced past his face and ears as the ground came flashing into his eyes. For a moment, he thought he was going to die, smash into the ground, twist his neck or crack his skull. But in the middle of his venture downward, a zooming object came hurdling towards him with electrifying speed. Zuko didn't even have time to yell. Whatever he saw, he didn't know what it was, but the creature tackled him in mid air and the two of them collided with the side of the boulder.
"Ryuu! Thank goodness! You saved Zuko!" Katara exclaimed as treefly and firebender slid down to the ground. Zuko moaned and rolled his head around as Ryuu peeled herself off of him. Her eyes spun around in a daze as she stumbled backward into Katara's arms. She looked up and smiled dizzily.
"It was… no… trouble… I… came as fast…as I could!" the treefly said, and then suddenly her eyes shut. Katara gasped but just as quickly as it happened, Ryuu popped open her eyes and stood up straight, dusting herself off in the process. Zuko had come back to his senses and was already towering over the treefly, a mean scowl burning on his face. Ryuu chuckled timidly as the rumbling statue behind Zuko descended back into the earth. She was ready to be yelled at; there wasn't a surprise when it came to Zuko's reaction. However, Ryuu, as well as Katara, was wrong. Zuko raised his arm and let his fingers fall gently.
"Thanks for coming," he said without hesitation. Ryuu dropped her mouth and placed all four hands on her flustered face. A tiny whizzing noise erupted from her throat as she lunged herself at Zuko's neck. She squeezed as hard as she could while smiling broadly. Zuko heaved as Katara managed to pull the treefly off of him.
"Oh Zuko! You're so welcome! I just had this feeling my friends would need help. But I thought you would hate me!" she replied eagerly. Zuko stood back and rubbed his neck while raising his eyebrow. He exchanged looks with Katara and the two of them suddenly were apprehensive about their old friend.
"What do you mean you thought I'd hate you?" he asked. Ryuu's smile was wiped off of her face. A raw edge ran through her eyes as the past came lingering back to her. She shook her head and flew towards the unknown woods that they desired to reach. Katara put a hand on Zuko's shoulder and nodded her head, signaling him to stay reserved for the moment. They followed her silently for a few minutes, until Katara finally approached her.
"Ryuu?" asked Katara quietly. "Why did you think Zuko would hate you?" The treefly's wings flapped more quickly and Katara sped up to keep near her. She grabbed one of her four arms and Ryuu's head of white hair hung low as her violet eyes shimmered with tears.
"It's my fault!" she cried out. "I was the one that shocked Zuko and left him in the clearing. It was my choice to take you there… and… I thought that we could have some fun. My friends were all so eager to see me, but they took me away from you, Katara. I had no way to warn you of what could happen… and it did. He… got rid of Tani and Okun! It's all my fault and that's why he should hate me!"
Ryuu curled herself into Katara's caring embrace as her palm swept over the short bob of hair. Zuko folded his arms and sighed. "There's no point in talking about that now. Whatever selfish reasons you might have had, they're gone now. You… helped me out just now and so it's okay." Katara smiled at him and Zuko just pursed his lips even tighter. He knew Katara appreciated his sincerity and the more allies they had, the better. Ryuu stopped sobbing and brushed away her tears.
"I didn't want to show my face. I was too embarrassed," said Ryuu as she pulled away from Katara. A thought suddenly occurred to the waterbender.
"Wait, so you've been following us this whole time?" she asked, almost appalled. Ryuu blushed slightly and giggled.
"Yes, I followed you two." An awkward silence billowed into the cool breeze as their pallid kimonos swayed in place, clinging to their bodies as if for warmth. Katara glanced at Zuko and him the same, but Ryuu clapped her hands suddenly and caught their attentions between her palms. "Well then, Master Zuko, we will follow your orders!" she beamed and then saluted him. A bitter chill swept through his arms, to the side where he kept his broadswords close. Zuko eyed her and then shook his head.
"Don't call me that." Ryuu frowned and sighed as she twirled around and blinked her lights. Zuko noticed that Ennik's stream was blinking as well and for a moment, it seemed as if the two sources of light were communicating, but after a second, the pulse in his source died out while hers kept going. "We keep going straight. That's what I've been telling Katara." He looked at her and tossed his head forward. Katara stumbled at first, muttered to herself, and then solemnly followed.
Katara dismissed Ryuu's constant humming for a more concerning thought. Ryuu had called him Master Zuko, but it didn't make any sense; after all, he was going to become the new Fire Lord and not a Master. But the feeling of foreboding in her worries only grew. She didn't dare want to face the Masters, even though there had been countless more oppressing foes they had dealt with. Clinging closer to Zuko, Katara closed her eyes and breathed in the air, gritty and dry with the desire for dampness. Her lips cracked and she licked them, hoping that the sunlight would taper down its watch over them.
It was sometime later though that this happened. As they tracked onward, the party of three found out that the ground shifted in a timely fashion. Zuko wasn't caught off guard like before, and he heard the rumblings underneath him before he was sent up into the air again. Ryuu wasn't surprised at all and explained to them that in this part of the Spirit World, the earth changed at its own will, to accommodate for the other climate changes, of course. It didn't make any sense to Zuko and Katara, but as long as there was no harm in it, they didn't take any precautions. Ryuu turned it into a game, hopping from one stone tower to the next as the time went by. Zuko took advantage of the shade the towers produced as he and Katara sat down for a couple of minutes. Tracing the light that guided them, Zuko could make out that they were indeed nearing their destination.
"How much longer?" Katara asked. They had stopped for a moment to rest. Ryuu was somewhere up in the sky, and Zuko closed his eyes, letting the darkness of his eyelids blind him from the constant surrounding light. He wiped away the sweat with his sleeves and opened his eyes as Katara leaned her back against his left side. "Why do those woods seem to never get any closer?"
Zuko furrowed his eyes and shook his head. "I'm not sure." The ground trembled once again and the two of them stepped aside, letting the light overwhelm them as Ryuu zoomed downward. She laughed and floated around them giddily.
"How can you be so carefree all the time?" asked Zuko suddenly. "I don't know what it is, but your moods seem to change every few minutes. I don't like that." This time, Katara nodded in agreement, shocking Zuko. He thought she would object to his somewhat rude comment. Suddenly, Ryuu turned to face Zuko and a playful smirk shined through her curled mouth.
"It's just how I am. I do have feelings, but I like to live in the moment, so to speak."
She hummed a rather eerie tune then, as the three set off towards the still short blurb of horizon. Ryuu spread her wings wide and flapped them back with a large burst of energy, creating a whirlwind behind her. She had had enough of wondering what was ahead. She wanted to know, she was going to find out, and the others would have to run to catch her. Zuko growled angrily and Katara fumed as they did just that. After twenty seconds, Ryuu was only half of the size she had seemed from close up. Abruptly, she halted and stared wide eyed in no direction particularly. A buzz filled her ears with daunting fear. Her arms froze and involuntarily, her body shook. The wind carried her back and then when she regained her body's movement, she darted back towards Zuko and Katara.
"Oh look, she's back," Zuko proclaimed sarcastically.
"I hope that she says something important this time. She's been blathering about nothing ever since she confessed. I'm beginning to worry that something really odd happened to her, Zuko."
The two of them stared at the flying spec that grew in anticipation. As she darted towards them, a growing signal boomed in the distance. Ryuu finally rushed to them and took a hold of Katara. Ryuu's eyes were rimmed around the edges with a cavernous infrared tinge and the whites were denser than they should have been.
"I can't go there! It's not safe! I… I won't let you go! You mustn't die after everything…"
Zuko slapped the treefly harshly in the face and Katara gasped as Ryuu fell to the ground. Her lights dimmed and she looked up at Zuko irately.
"All you ever do is give us warnings with no explanations. Sure, you brought us to those women who knew about the Yizun, but there's never a straight answer from you. Get lost. I think you were sent to trick us," he said callously. Katara opened her mouth to respond but found no ability to speak. The rim of blood around Ryuu's eyes vanished as she flew up and dusted herself off.
"That's fine with me then. Go on, get lost you say? I'll do that. But I warned you. There's a reason we can't see what lies ahead, and mark my words, you'll regret not listening to me!"
Just like that, she zoomed past them and disappeared, as if she was never there to begin with. Katara held her stomach tenderly, a deep ache suddenly forming beneath the layers of dilemmas that they had faced. "Do you think it's okay to leave her like that?" she asked, her conscience finally objecting.
"Yes, Katara. We were just fine without her. Come on, let's go." She nodded and closed her eyes as the grey stone expanse enlivened in front of them. The sea green sky was beginning to swirl in Katara's eyes. She blinked the mirage away and tugged on Zuko's sleeve as they dodged another uprising tower.
"Maybe Ryuu was right. I'm getting a strange feeling about this place," Katara said. Zuko stopped and turned to face her, slightly aggravated.
"I know you can't see it, but I do. The light Ennik sent to help us is pointing straight. I can't do anything about that. If we want to find the Sanoroi…"
"We need to follow it. I know that, Zuko. If we find the Sanoroi, we can finally go home," she said while looking away broodingly.
"Yes, that's exactly the point. There's no need for useless arguments," Zuko said. Katara shifted away from him and started walking again. Zuko let out a stream of weariness through his breath and followed. The end never seemed to come closer. They walked on in silence, only heavy sighs communicating between them. Each step gave them a harder time; each foot crept behind the other lazily. Zuko couldn't help but notice that something had changed in Katara's attitude, but he wasn't able to place what it was. Katara's arms dangled from her shoulders, dragging backward as she walked, almost as if they were trying to pull her away from the solution. Zuko's desire to get home could have never been stronger, though. He yearned to see the volcanic mountains of his homeland, the glorified palace, and to feel the crisp ocean air on his face again. Just as he was reflecting on all of this, he caught himself a second before the towers began to rise once again. He dodged and bumped right into Katara. Zuko caught her by the hand and they steadied each other as the shade cooled them off for the next couple of minutes.
"Could you pay a little more attention? It was clearly coming from right under you," Katara remarked with annoyance.
"It's not my fault. I was just thinking…"
"What? About getting home? Is that all you care about?" she asked. Suddenly, Zuko saw the hurt gather in her eyes, like a collecting pool of water, only to be drained as the anger swept it all away. Zuko was about to reach out to her, but it was too late because she ran ahead of him. He rolled his eyes and started his chase.
"Wait a minute! I have to talk to you!" he yelled. Katara clenched her teeth and pushed her legs harder. Only after a few strides did she start to feel it. A crashing pain hit her shoulders and caused her to slow down to a halt. Her throat felt itchy and dry, but this time, she felt the air escaping her lungs. Zuko reached her and before he could say anything, the heavy burden jumped onto him as well. The two of them struggled to turn towards each other but when they did, Katara forced herself to move towards Zuko. She clung to his hand and panted.
There was no time for apologizes. The whir of buzzing began and they both winced as it drowned out all other noise. Their world was full of it, a nonstop cry of static. Katara's fingers clutched Zuko desperately as he looked for a sign of his guiding light. Dreadfully, he couldn't see it anywhere. He swallowed on nothing, and faced Katara. His hands trembled as his fingers clutched onto Katara's jaw.
"We… have to… keep… going!" Zuko cried out. His chest rose and fell rapidly, the energy draining out of him with each word that came out of his mouth. Katara wanted to cry, to let the pain eat her up, but just as Zuko said those words to her, the buzzing subsided and Katara let go of Zuko as she stumbled forward. Zuko's knees bent and he lunged forward, staggering near Katara. Once the guilt, torment, lies and everything that happened in the past lifted off of their shoulders, Katara looked at Zuko calmly and nodded.
"All right, let's do this," she said half-heartedly. A part of her still wanted to keep her back, but she knew with her heart and mind that it wasn't possible. Zuko nodded in agreement as they turned back to the land in front of them. As soon as they took one step, the picture of the distance started to drive toward them. The woods grew taller, the stalks clearer, and the stampede of noise marched more quickly, until finally, the woods soared high above them. Katara gawked in awe and turned to Zuko, chuckling amid breaths of air.
"What just happened?" she asked. Zuko rubbed the back of his head and shrugged.
"I think that the woods were always here in front of us. But there was some kind of barrier blocking our view." For a few moments, they observed the strange structures that swayed in the breeze. What they thought to be woods was not a land filled with trees, but rather sleek scarlet vines with enormous lavender petals on the top that flapped into each other like wings. The entanglement stretched out to either side, all of it a seemingly endless field. Katara reached her hand out to touch the vine, but Zuko held her back and shook his head. "Let's not touch anything. It might… do something, like those towers."
Katara took his words to heart and proceeded with caution. Zuko grabbed her hand and pulled her to the left; he had found his trail of light again. The blockage had disconnected even something as powerful as a spirit's signal. Katara didn't question why he was dragging her away from the field, but instead kept quiet, not sure how to tell him any of her thoughts. She wasn't afraid of going inside the forest of vines, however, the more she saw how they twisted in their own fashion, by their own will, the more she didn't trust them. Zuko finally stopped and pointed at the ground. A river of water lapped out from the vines and under their feet. It glowed distantly and Katara finally understood what it meant to see Ennik's light.
"Is that it?" she asked Zuko. He nodded and gazed upward.
"The light fades into the river, so this is where we have to go." Katara went in first, glad to see water, but curiously it wasn't the deep blue she was accustomed to. It reflected the cerulean sky that hovered over them, and for a moment, she thought it wasn't really water. But as their feet pressed on, their feet splashed through the cool liquid and Katara at last felt relieved. Zuko treaded through the river, glad for the absence of hard stone, but he couldn't help cringing as his toes swam through the clear liquid. All around them, the vines danced slowly, each bowing back and forth, opening their flaps high up above them, as if taking a drink of sunlight. What Zuko noticed was something a little different; the roots of the vines sank into the ground, and minute flaps opened at the base, letting the water out.
"Why do you think they're here?" asked Zuko suddenly. Katara gazed around and shrugged, turning her head half way.
"Maybe it's another test. It feels like the Sanoroi don't want anyone to find them. First, Ryuu ran away. We went ahead and found out why, and now, we're lost in a stream of shallow water, inside of a forest of thick vines. I think that the Sanoroi don't want to be found. It's either that, or Ennik is playing a game with you," she said coarsely. Katara had had enough of fooling around. Nothing in the Spirit World was straight forward. It always had twists and unexpected bends in the road that led to nowhere. The frustration kept building inside of her fists as she continuously had to maneuver her way around the dark red vines so that she wouldn't touch them.
"Zuko?"
She had expected an answer, but there was only a grunt. Katara sighed and shrugged her shoulders, caving into the pressure. "I'm not going to ask anything anymore, then." She skipped across a pool of pebbles and took a few more strides as a sudden cracked moan whipped through the air. Her eyes widened, her neck straightened, and somewhere inside of her mind, she told herself to keep going. Curiosity won the match and she turned around, her fear pummeling through her open mouth.
"Zuko!" she cried out. Her arms pushed her forward and brushed against one of the vines as she darted forward. There, in clear sight, one of the vines swooped down and opened its violet flaps like a hunter's jaw. The ears of the plant curled around his arms as his back was sucked into the middle where the vine started. It coiled in the air as Zuko strained his neck, struggling to free himself of the hardening clutch. "Stop moving! It's going to eat you! I'm coming…" With one swift movement, Katara evaded the shadows, jumped from the cool calm earth and reached for the vine. She clung to it tightly as her fingers paled with strain. Katara began to slip against its sleekness, but suddenly a ripping noise shattered her resolve and she fell. A sharp moan circled her head and she looked up to see Zuko hanging limply at the top of the vine. Her eyes widened as she saw what the ripping noise had produced; a hoary thorn protruded proudly from the vines' side, allowing some kind of support for the waterbender.
She tried once again, and as the vine swayed, Katara held onto the numerous thorns that had been born. The sweat poured down her face as she came closer to reaching Zuko. Once she did, Katara could see that his face was utterly ashen and that his white clothing matched his skin. Her heart failed her momentarily and she closed her eyes, hoping with every bit of her strength that she could free him. The sunlight glinted then, its rays catching the exposed blades riding alongside the firebender. Katara's will returned as her hand lurched forward. Once she felt the weight of the broadswords, Katara hacked into the vine with so much force that she lost her balance. Propelled forward, Katara's only hope was to swing the swords as much as she could. Quickly, she exchanged the swords so she held one in each hand, and as she fell towards the glinting water, her body twisted around the vine, around the shrieks that burned the air and the water that burst from the wounds the broadswords inflicted. The breath escaped her body, and as she neared the ground with building speed, Katara knew her efforts had been for nothing. Just as she was about to hit the ground though, she gasped, her head flailing back.
The soft velvet flaps of another vine coiled around her torso as her body was flung up again. Her vision blurred, but as long as she held onto the swords, her mind flashed the urgent signal to fight. So without knowing what was in front of her, Katara slashed the air, hoping to find concrete contact. Her luck shined; the first hit reverberated up her arm and once she opened her eyes, her vision cleared, her mind focused. Zuko's body danced a few inches away from her head as the vine jerked where Katara had cut into it. Her determination doubled and she chopped into it from the right. Another sharp shriek drained her muscles of vigor, as a silver light flashed in the sky. The vine holding onto her became distraught and violently thrashed around. Katara clung to the swords, two extensions of her body, and the realization that her will could take the form of faultless resilience.
The two vines that captured their prey were now twisting around each other, hoping for any kind of survival. Coiled together like ropes, Katara's body crashed into Zuko's; her eyes rolled to the back of her head and she groaned as the pain began to throb in her side. Her last chance was to cut the vine's head off, and with that last blow, the vines dove into the shady woods, and whipped forward like a slingshot. At once, the flaps opened, sending both Katara and Zuko hurling into the air, with no wings, no means of softening their landing. But as Katara's eyes flickered open, she saw Zuko gliding through the air beside her. The glint of the swords shined against the rustling field below them, and then, her will shattered, the air closed in on her weakened body, as the arc they traveled on sent them downward into chaos.
..::-::..
The light dimmed and then glowed in her mind's eye. Katara moaned and curled her fingers, trying to grip the rough shafts of Zuko's broadswords, but she found only empty space. Fingers lifted her head as she opened her eyes slowly. Zuko's tormented face glistened above hers, and a small smile spread across his lips.
"You're awake," he commented. Zuko helped Katara sit up and she winced at the crunching pain in her ribs. She breathed deeply and her eyes widened as she saw that the vines were still all around them. Zuko stood up and dusted himself off as if nothing happened. He looked around for his broadswords, which were scattered a few feet away from Katara. She watched him perform these duties effortlessly, while she struggled like an infant to stand on her own two feet.
"Hey, Zuko," said Katara, bitterness stinging her words. "Mind helping me up?" He turned and she saw the earnestness overwhelm his face. Zuko held out his hand and pulled her up beside him. Her hair dangled in front of her face as she swayed identically with the vines.
"We shouldn't be waiting around idly. I think the woods end just a few more yards ahead," Zuko stated. He marched through the puddles of waning water and Katara followed, her legs and arms sore. Although it had been a dangerous route to take, the vines had propelled them across the entire length of the woods. They walked a bit farther underneath the vines' double-crossing protection. Suddenly, Zuko's voice rang through the still air and Katara felt the sincerity reach her heart as if flowers had bloomed beneath her feet, grazing against her skin. "Thank you for your help. I don't know if I would have made it…" Katara caught up to him so that they were side by side. She looked up into his troubled amber eyes and smiled.
"If you hadn't taught me how to use the broadswords, I don't think I could have saved us both," she replied. The sickening dread that had swooped over him faded away as Zuko halted and held his arm out in front of her. Katara questioned him with her narrowed eyes, but one look at what was in front of them, and her words faltered. The woods ended, just as abruptly as they had started, and in its place was the sky. Miles of puffy white clouds swam through the air and the wind circled tiny glimmers of light through the sheets of crystal olive heavens as gusts of air pushed the clouds in a steady pattern.
"This… this isn't possible!" Katara exclaimed. Zuko shifted uneasily and let his arms drop to his sides. Katara looked at him anxiously and stomped her foot. "Don't tell me you still want to keep going! Zuko, where can we go? There's no land! We'll die if…"
"No, we won't. There's one cloud that isn't white. It's yellow." He turned to face her and grabbed her shoulders. Zuko stared at her seriously and waited a few seconds before continuing. "You have to trust me." Katara shut her eyes and turned away stubbornly. She took a deep breath and curled her fingers into a fist.
"Okay. I'll trust you."
Zuko took a hesitant step forward as the misty coolness drifted over to them. His foot felt no hard ground, yet the cloud seemed firm and steady. A few more steps carried him further into the cloud's surface, and once sure of himself, he reached out for Katara's hand. Her heart hid inside her chest, beating rapidly, telling her to stay behind. She saw the clashing vines behind her, and knew that there was no turning back. Her fingers slipped in between Zuko's and she jumped gracefully, then stumbled into Zuko's arms. He held her for a second and then stepped further toward the middle of the cloud. It moved away from the entangled woods, away from their torment and troubles. The sky glowed like purity in its most dazzling form, yet after a few moments, the wind shifted and became stronger. Katara hid her face in Zuko's chest as the cloud tumbled underneath them, its lower layers growling against the howling wind.
"Zuko… I don't want to die!" Katara yelled, her voice croaking from fear. Zuko gripped her tightly and buried his face into Katara's neck, away from the chilling axe of air that surrounded them.
"Just hold on and don't let go of me!" His voice vanished into the space above them, as gradually, the air built the cloud higher. Then, with a sudden push, the cloud surged into the eternal space above, causing Zuko and Katara's bodies to melt into its frosted insides.
..::-::..
When Katara awoke from her blindness, she and Zuko were standing straight, side by side, in what seemed to be a temple. The room was empty except for a large ginger coated basin filled with dirty air. A chestnut glaze sparkled across the wooden beams that surrounded the room, and as the beams rose from the fence to the roof, the sky gleamed outside. Katara spun around slowly, observing these features. There was nowhere to go. There was no door that would lead them out, and a sinking feeling in her gut told her they had finally made it. Zuko growled suddenly and kicked the basin with his foot.
"This is what we searched for? An empty room? I shouldn't have trusted him! He lied to me. There's no Sanoroi here! No one's here but us!" Zuko yelled furiously. Katara cast her eyes aside, not wanting to see him so enraged, but there were no words that could help them out of the situation. Their hopes had ended in a dead end. All of a sudden, Katara's eyes widened as she saw the basin vibrating. Its dusty carvings glowed and the wind blew through the room so harshly that Katara lost her balance and fell to her knees. Zuko's jaw dropped as the wind turned into a bursting flame, resting inside of the wide basin. It rose tall and mighty, until the light reached every edge of the wooden beams. From within the basin, a whirlpool of crisp sapphire water churned, and then hardened into solid ground, the soil moist and yet burned from the flame.
"Sanoroi is the name, of but one entity. No one has been tricked, all have yet to be trusted, and now, the time of our meeting has arrived." The voice echoed within both Zuko and Katara's heads. They looked to each side of the room, hoping to find someone hiding within the emptiness, yet there was no one.
"Where are you?" Zuko asked, undisturbed.
"The Sanoroi is one essence, the core of every particle, every bit of life. It is found before your very eyes, glowing like the sun, chilling as the wind, smooth droplets of dampness, and it is the brittle earth itself. Does his majesty comprehend?"
Katara stared, appalled at what she was hearing. Zuko, on the other hand, understood perfectly.
"So… the Sanoroi is the chi that gives life?" he asked.
"Yes, and no. Yes, I am chi, the combination that creates energy, but no, not entirely, for I am also the founder of what is now the Avatar cycle."
Katara's temper flared awkwardly, hearing the being, which she gathered was in the basin, speaking of Aang like a mere puppet in a master plan.
"What does that mean?" she asked.
"It is simple. The Avatar was a human chosen to use my power to protect the Earth and the humans," the voice said. The flame furrowed into the soil and in its place a flowing fountain of water spilled out. At once, grass began to grow, slowly but surely. Katara rolled her eyes, but Zuko realized then what they were addressing. It was the giver of life, and Katara was acting as if it wasn't the slightest bit worth concern over.
"Why couldn't you do that? Why does there even have to be an Avatar if you're so powerful?" she asked with a mocking tone. A deep grumble erupted from the insides of the basin and the wind swept around her like a funnel. Zuko concentrated his will power and sent his chi into the basin with his palms outstretched. The wind calmed down and Katara gawked at Zuko as if he had committed a murder.
"His majesty is wise! Her majesty is foolish… though… that is the combination which was destined to occur. An answer is this, foolish one. Creating so much bears a heavy burden, and thus not even I can carry its weight. To hold reign over two worlds meant my confinement, and the spread of my being. Thus the Avatar was created, thus the Orb of Chi came into existence. A terrible war started this craving for more power, and so I finished it, by only sending myself to the farthest corner of the Spirit World."
Katara was flabbergasted, to say the least. She hadn't expected an answer such as this and neither, it appeared, did Zuko. He knelt on the floor along with Katara as they waited patiently.
"That is a terrible story…" Katara said softly. Even though she resented being there, she was, after all, in the presence that gave her a chance to experience life.
"Not as terrible as what followed. Rumors were spread, and the temples came to fruition. I watched as those petty humans tried to learn 'The Art of Knowing'… an ancient form of bending, humans said. What folly it was, for truly, The Art of Knowing was a lie. The only ones that could reach a pinnacle of strength are his and her majesty."
Katara gasped and pointed at herself incredulously. "Us?"
"That is correct. There was a war, between evil and good, the two core truths of all existence, yet, what happened once long ago, shall happen again. I'm confined to this mere form and cannot go out into the Spirit World to stop the turmoil from spreading. Knowing this time would come, two were chosen. One, born on the summer solstice," the Sanoroi paused as Zuko looked at a shocked Katara. "One, born on the winter solstice. The two of you were granted the potential of controlling chi as the Avatar does, yet in its purest form. However, that potential can only be applied within the boundaries of the Spirit World. On Earth, both majesties are highly skilled in their own forms of bending."
Katara felt the dizziness overwhelm her. Zuko steadied her from swaying as she held her forehead in her fingers.
"So, we can't use this power on Earth?" she asked.
"No, you cannot."
"I was told that I must return to secure my place as Fire Lord. We can't stay here and battle evil, as you say," Zuko commented. Katara sighed and nodded along with Zuko. Too much information was being said, and she didn't know if it was really true or not, but if they had gone through so much just to learn that they needed to fight for their lives, it certainly made things seem more dangerous.
"Yes, I will guide you back to the Orb of Chi. The humans named Taiko and Mayuri have disrupted fate and they shall pay for it. This was not the time for your arrival. I will send you back, and let fate take its true course."
The wind howled once more and suddenly the room grew darker. The water sprouted icicles and they hung the air as the fire erupted. Its light glimmered on each crystal as the hues glowed within the room. The Sanoroi's voice echoed deeply, shaking Katara to the very core of her being.
"A bond once broken, is always lost and thrown,
torn apart by bloodshed, sewn by losing your own,
dignity must shed thrice, for the time is yet to come,
when the King and Queen will hurriedly succumb,
to what is destiny, sore, bland and true,
but first, leave, find the perfect hue,
and on the one night when darkness bears light,
all will crumble as two fated rise again to fight,
into the vast empire where they, once lost,
will comprehend the true, full meaning of cost,
fore upon return, the path shall fall and rise,
right before one pair of gazing, frozen eyes."
The darkness swirled within the flame as it extinguished and let the earth churn, the blades of grass shattering apart. The diamond shaped icicles melted and as the drops of water fell onto Zuko and Katara's heads heavily, the basin filled with a hollow swirling cloud.
"Jump inside, and you will find the right path to your lives. Hurry, my power has been extorted enough!"
Katara whimpered, in fear of yet falling again to her doom. Zuko gripped her arm and reassured her that they would be fine. His eyes bore the marks of destined confidence, something she wasn't willing to accept yet. She had been named a majesty by the one being that created her and now she was supposed to return to her life on Earth, to the simplicity of everyday nuisances. Katara didn't budge, and as the beams cracked beneath the pressure, little pieces fell around them.
"Come on Katara! We have to go!" Zuko yelled. He pulled her into the basin, having to pick her amid protests. Zuko let go of her and the last thing she saw was his body falling in after her.
The darkness quickly dissolved and once again, Katara found herself in Zuko's embrace. She stepped away and blinked, touching her arms and face to see if she was alive.
"We're alive! I thought for sure that we were going to die," Katara said with a laugh. Zuko walked forward along the rocky path, as the dark night shined everywhere. He looked around pensively, not noticing that Katara had spoken. She grumbled and folded her arms as she followed him. A soft lush sound buzzed calmly in the darkness, nothing eerie or threatening. Katara sighed and tapped Zuko's shoulder. He turned around and raised his eyebrow.
"The Orb of Chi has to be here somewhere. Sanoroi said something that there would be a path…"
Katara's face filled with anger and she stomped her feet, her hands pushing outward.
"What about everything that it said, Zuko? Are you just going to ignore it? The Sanoroi said we were the two people chosen to fight evil! We were born on opposite solstices, coincidently, and then there was that strange prophecy that it spoke of before we left. Don't you care about any of that?" she asked desperately. Zuko walked over to her and put a hand on her shoulder. He stared into her face and she dropped her jaw slightly as she observed the creases under his eyes, the roughness of his scar.
"I do care about that. Our futures have apparently been destined from the start. But there's one thing that I can't forget about. I'm supposed to be the Fire Lord. There's a threat to my people, and so I have to worry about that first. I don't know what it is yet, but I have to stop it. I'll worry about the prophecy, or whatever it was, later."
Katara scowled as he walked away, his eyes not cruel, yet his resolve unwavering. She realized the reason he had for going back, but something inside of her didn't want to see him leave. He didn't have to be the Fire Lord necessarily.
"What about the power the Sanoroi talked about? We can only use it here and we don't even know the way to use it properly! Don't you think we should learn…"
"I don't think there's time for that right now, Katara. Can you help me find this path? It's too hard to see in the dark," Zuko said.
She pursed her lips and shook her head slowly. Deep down, Katara knew she wasn't admitting the truth to herself. All she really wanted was, to be with Zuko. She had grown to care about him as more than a friend, and the only reasons she didn't want to go back were selfish ones.
"I found it! Let's go."
A tear fell from Katara's eye and she brushed it away ardently. She forced herself to smile and ran after Zuko. Noticing the change in her attitude, he smiled back and nodded encouragingly. The path was scarcely hidden within the rocky landscape as the darkness of the night shaded the smooth gravel. No moon lay within sight, yet up ahead, there was an unprecedented source of light. Katara had a sinking feeling that she had been somewhere like this before. There were no trees, only rocky slopes and as they walked further, the soft hum grew louder. Katara quickly inhaled the scent of water and ran ahead. She halted abruptly as the sight before her reflected in the deep dark pools of her eyes. Zuko caught up and stared in disbelief as they both looked down.
It was, without a doubt, the same lake of water that they had first entered through, yet what was more spectacular than knowing that was the fact that they were standing a top of the waterfall. The graveled path ended at their feet, and yet a burst of calm water sprung from the side of the cliff. A dull pulsing stream shined within it and Zuko took that as a sign of what they were supposed to do. Before he could tell Katara though, she had sighed and turned to face him.
"I think we're supposed to dive in," she said.
"There's a light inside the water." He bent down and let his fingers run through the cool liquid. As they passed through the light, he sensed a stable yet slippery pole. "There's a pole we can slide down on." Katara found a sudden peace filling her heart. She hadn't reached out to become one with her element for the longest time. The days had withered away into a history she couldn't recall; their time in the Spirit World wasn't accounted for. As she lowered her body, her fingers clutched the pole as the water splattered in each direction. Katara took one last look at Zuko before she took a deep breath and jumped. She clung onto the pole steadfastly; the weight of the waterfall consumed her and as quickly as she had fallen into it, she was out of it as well. Katara opened her eyes and gasped as the pole stung her palms. Somehow, she had fallen into a deep cave underneath the lake. When her feet hit the ground, her body shook, and her eyes blinked as she stepped away cautiously. Zuko came sliding down just a few seconds later and when she saw him by her side, relief swept through her.
"Zuko, look where we are!" Katara exclaimed. "All that time, there was a secret cave we could have tried to find. Instead, we just walked away from our way home!" Zuko shook his head to each side, letting the drops of water fly out. He smiled and put his hand on his hip.
"All that matters now is that we're one step closer to the Orb of Chi." Zuko looked around and his smile faltered. "That is, if we can find it." Small lights dangled up among the pointed ridges of the cave's top. A surely defined path lay ahead of them; Katara pointed and shrugged.
"Should we follow the path then?" she asked.
"That's probably what we have to do," Zuko responded.
They walked on in silence. The drips of water echoed in the serenity of the scene as a chilly breeze swept by them. Katara shivered and Zuko looked at her, amused.
"Even though this place has been really strange, I'm glad I got to travel it with you," he said. Katara stopped rubbing her arms and looked up at him, her eyes round and her face flushed. Zuko's eyes glowed from the dim light and Katara smiled for a second before turning to face the path again.
"I second that. We have to focus on getting home though, right? There won't be anymore adventures like this one…" Katara commented, her voice growing fainter as she spoke. Zuko squinted, trying to figure out what was wrong with her. He couldn't fully understand her sentiments, but a part of him suddenly realized with a pang that what she said was true. Zuko sighed and looked ahead.
"No, there probably won't be," he replied. Katara's heavy heart sunk inside her chest as he confirmed her deepest sorrow. The echoing drip drop of the water grew more noticeable and for a moment, Katara thought she was hallucinating, but what her eyes saw wasn't a false production of her mind. A glowing pond of water swerved in the distance, and above it, a circling orb of chi hovered. Zuko's eyes widened, his deepest desire finally coming alive with possibility.
"That's it. We've found it…" Katara said. Zuko smiled, but as he turned, Katara gasped as a foreign object pulled her away from him. His jaw dropped as her crystalline eyes cried out for help. A haunting laugh resonated from the walls where the shadows crept. Katara struggled to fight them off of her, but they were dragging her back with both arms. Zuko ran after her, drawing his swords, pouring his energy into the silver blades. He slashed at the space above Katara's head, and a deep moan released her from her bindings. Katara stumbled forward and Zuko grabbed her arm as they ran toward the Orb of Chi. As soon as they were just ten feet away, they were repelled back by a barrier. Katara fell back into Zuko's arms. He helped her stand up and they panted as they turned to face the shadows that were crawling towards them.
"It's… the… Yizun!" Katara exclaimed. "They have probably been waiting for us all of this time!" Zuko grunted and prepared himself for battle. Katara glanced at Zuko's weapons and then looked down at her own hands. She had once before felt the power the Sanoroi had spoken of. It was at the moment when Chuundu's illusion consumed her; she thought Zuko was going to hurt her, and a shining light forced its way outside of her body. She took a deep breath and lifted her hands, concentrating on all of the energy that flowed through her body.
"We need to attack simultaneously if we want to push them back enough. That way we'll gain some time to worry about the barrier," Zuko said quickly. Katara nodded and the two of them pushed their chi through their arms and into the heavy dark air. Multiple cries of pain boosted their egos and they thought they had successfully taken the Yizun down. The slithering shadows became silent and then the warriors turned around to touch the air in front of them. Zuko's fingers recoiled, as did Katara's. There was a shielding force that wasn't going to let anyone through. Katara winced as her lungs bore a heaviness she hadn't felt before. Her strength was dwindling and she could tell Zuko's was as well. He tried attacking the barrier with his swords, but that didn't do anything except push him farther away. Zuko slid them back into their case and walked around the barrier to examine it further. Katara stood patiently, hoping for once that they could get to the Orb of Chi before the Yizun regrouped.
"Did you find anything yet?" Katara called out.
"No, not yet."
His echo died out and Katara shivered, suddenly feeling an ominous breath crawling on her neck. She gasped and turned around wide-eyed; a hollow blackness in the form of a disfigured man rose up in front of her. An arm shot out from the side and a fist of curling fingers grasped Katara's neck. She choked as the form leaned closer.
"This isn't over yet," it said roughly. There was no pain, yet Katara's frailty reached its peak and as the Yizun leader let go of her, she fell gracefully to the floor. Zuko heard the thud and picked his head up. Through the barrier, he saw Katara's body sprawled out on the ground. Panic seized his chest as he ran back around to her. He fell to his knees and picked her up in his arms. Katara's head rolled around and her eyes slowly opened. Zuko panted as his fingers ran through her delicate hair.
"Zuko… I don't… want to die," she said. Amidst all of the torture she felt, Katara smiled softly, reaching her hand out for Zuko's face. He took her trembling fingers and clutched them in his hand. "I don't want to go back… I… I want to be… with you." Katara's face paled and her eyelids closed momentarily. Zuko let go of her hand and brushed his fingers against her smooth cheek. Her mouth opened, gasping for air. Her eyes stole Zuko's gaze as he leaned closer to her. Determination was written in his face, and she knew then that he wouldn't let anything happen to her.
"I never once wanted you to leave my side," he said softly. Carefully, he lifted her head closer to his, so close that in the spawn of a few seconds, his lips met hers. A surge of warmth washed into Katara's face as his kiss spread his chi into her soul. Renewed strength washed over her, and she pulled back, shaken and flustered.
"Zuko!" she cried out. His eyes broadened as his mouth hung open loosely. Katara touched her lips daintily, finally realizing what he had done. Taken aback, Zuko questioned his own actions as Katara shifted in his arms. They stood up together and he gawked at her uncertainly.
"I thought you meant…" Katara tried to remember what she had said in her delirious state, searching desperately to figure out what made him kiss her. A part of Katara's heart didn't mind it though, but in their situation, they shouldn't have been taking the time to sort out personal feelings.
"I don't know what I was saying… but whatever it was, I think I meant it," she said quietly. Katara stepped closer to him, their gazes once again locked, wanting something more from the other. But before their lips could again connect, Katara's body lurched into Zuko's as a forceful wind swayed her stance. Zuko held onto her and opened his eyes as the howling stopped. Katara stepped away from him and gazed into the darkness where they had come from. There was nothing there, but suddenly a voice shook both of their hearts with recognition.
"We'd like to apologize for being late," Aya said. Zuko turned around and leaned forward with raw surprise. Kyoko and Aya, the two twins, the women who had somewhat guided them on their journey, were standing before them with serious expressions painted on their faces. Katara laughed suddenly and clutched her side.
"I don't know how much creepier this can get. Out of all the people who could show up at this moment, it's the two of you," Katara blatantly said. Zuko raised his eyebrows questionably and crossed his arms.
"That's true. What do you want from us? Why did you say you were late? Were you supposed to weaken us so that the Yizun could stop us before we reached the orb?" Zuko asked, his distrust building. He pulled Katara in closer to him and she wrapped her arm around him with a stubborn splash of anger on her face. Kyoko sighed and shook her head from side to side slowly. Both Aya and Kyoko took each other's hands and looked at one another. Their identical long charcoal hair fell into their pointed faces. Their white kimonos billowed out as a raging wind circled around their feet. Katara's jaw dropped as they started to chant.
"No time is all the time."
"No place is every place."
"What seems to be isn't always right."
"What seems to be isn't always true."
"With power comes evil and good."
"All power shines bright or dim."
"Now show us who we truly are,"
"So we can change back again."
The swirling dust clouds rose outward and Zuko shielded Katara as a magnificent shining light exploded around Aya and Kyoko. As it died out, the whistling left a bitter sting inside Zuko and Katara's minds. Standing before them now were not two inexplicable eerie souls, but rather, two smiling mothers, adorned in gold gowns fit for queens. Zuko's knees lost their strength as Ursa's amber eyes held his gaze warmly. Katara felt the air strike against her throat coldly, as Kadori's eyes filled with sweet tears. The astonishing reunion couldn't last, and before Zuko and Katara could run to their mothers, Ursa and Kadori exchanged melancholy glances as they jumped towards the barrier. They stuck their hands into it and a buzz erupted as an arched door was formed. Zuko and Katara stood next to their respective parent and searched longingly into their mother's eyes.
"Zuko, please forgive me for my deception," Ursa said softly.
"Yes, please forgive me Katara. I longed to tell you, but I couldn't, for your safety." Katara's eyes brimmed with tears as the pain in her throbbing heart soared into her clenched hands.
"No, it's more than enough just to see you now," Katara exclaimed joyously. Her mother's blue eyes shined just like her own, as her wavy russet hair shifted with the weight of multiple braids. Zuko held his mother's warmth in his longing arms, his childlike heart that craved to hide in her embrace once again.
"Mom, I've missed you…" he said with a croak.
"Darling, I've missed you too, but there is little time. You must go and do what you are told. Be brave and never forget what you fight for," Ursa said. Zuko waited another second, closed his mouth and nodded fiercely. His mother smiled as she watched him head over to Katara.
"I… I don't want to leave you, Mom," Katara said suddenly. Her eyes rounded as she felt Zuko's arms around her waist.
"Katara, we have to go!" he whispered harshly. Zuko couldn't bear to hear the pain in Katara's agonized wails.
"No! Let go of me! Zuko, I said, let go!" He closed his eyes and buried his head in her hair.
"Katara, I'm sorry."
Her arms stretched out and Katara screamed for her mother as she was pulled inside of the barrier. Once they were in, Kadori and Ursa let their hands drop, and the arched door was sealed. Zuko let go of Katara and she ran into the barrier, only to be pushed back again. The tears fell down from her eyes as Kadori's face lit up on the other side.
"Why… why did you do this?" Katara asked.
Kadori lifted her fingers and brushed the barrier before smiling.
"The Sanoroi sent us. We'll continue to watch over you. There will be again another time when we meet, but for now, hold your own against the darkness that spreads!" Kadori's voice faded as she looked at Ursa. The two motherly figures held hands once again and turned their heads at their offspring.
"Time is eternal."
"Life is a maze."
"Bring these two back,"
"All left in a haze."
Zuko gripped Katara's shoulder as she heaved and sobbed. She curled into Zuko's embrace as the orb pulsated behind them. Their mothers' loving smiles illuminated the light, and as the chi consumed them, all they could see was a pair of golden specs within the foggy darkness. The world shattered, the light was gone, and in their hearts, the treasured love that had reawakened fell asleep. Their eyes closed as at last, the Spirit World carried their floating bodies towards peaceful endlessness.
A/N: WELL! at least I didn't wait a month to post another update!! I must admit it was hard to get back into writing... school took over my mentality, and now I'm free for the summer to finish this wonderful story, which, as you probably can tell now, is going to go in a new direction ;P
a few things to point out!! After all of that confusion, Aya turned out to be Ursa, and Kyoko turned out to be Kadori, (since we have no idea what Katara's mom's name is, I made that one up, and I really really like it!) a lot of you actually mentioned them bumping into their mothers... but I had planned this from the start!! but it's good you guys had your thinking caps on!! but was it shocking?? I certainly hope so!
another thing- I know most of you are probably dazed at the amount of stuff that happened... I admit there was a lot and I'm not sure if the explanations were sufficient, buttt... I think it's ok seeing as there are at least 10 more chapters to go... maybe 15
finally- please please PLEASE leave a comment! I'm begging... which is really sad, I know, but this time, I'm not asking for just any comment... I'd truly appreciate if it was a bit lengthier than just proclaiming your joy ;I know you like it... but I want to know what exactly in the chapter... or if you have questions... or something confusing, or something that really caught your attention in one spot... those kind of things help me a TON so I appreciate your support!!!
? of the ch is... on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the most) how much do you hate Taiko and how much do you hate Mayuri (seperately please!!) thanks so so much :D
-Monika-