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Note: Thanks to the readers silent or not. ;)
"A Promise Kept"
Chapter Four
"Our great symbols for the Goddess of the Moon, is her great light which she grant's us and guide's us through the dark, it is our beacan of hope and our light in tough times." By Unknown.
The moon was large and ominous, it was glowing white, just like her hair use to in Sokka's memory, though his portrait of her did the Princess little justice. He felt his heart tug at the last memory he held of her. Yue's very last words to him, her soft air like kiss telling him, 'I will always be with him.' He fought back and forth in his sleeping duvet's as he remembered when he'd first seen her in the Northern Water Tribe, the uniqueness of her hair, it was like none other he had ever seen. When he had tried to ask her out, how he had been tongue tide. He smiled without knowing when he remembered their ride on Appa together, then he frowned when he remembered the Princess telling him that she was betrothed. How that had shattered a young mans heart when his feelings were so new. He remembered again her scent and her voice, before drifting of into another dream about Seal jerky.
* * *
The moon looked down at her kingdom of night. She loved how her pale form lit up the land below, how her reflection showed in the water she was originally from. Her spirit form eyes trailed to the Southern Water Tribe, where a certain warrior would be sleeping at that moment. "What was he doing now?" She wondered. "Was his relationship with that Kyoshi worrier still going well?" Princess Yue couldn't help but feel slightly jealous that Suki? Had stolen her Sokka away from the moon. But aswell she was thankful. Becoming the moon was her sacrifice to the world. Just like the six young heroes, five of whom never had a childhood.
"There you go and pine over that retchred human again." The strange spirit, who was meant to be her other half said. "How are we meant to balance each other out when you constently fawn over the human you gave your heart to?"
Yue said nothing but continued to stare down at the land.
"Please Princess? We worry about you!" Another voice said, this was Eirla, spirit of the Air and Water currents. Eirla was small, pale and innocent looking like a child, she had wispy blue hair and almost white eyes, apart from the Ocean spirit, Eirla was the only one who would talk to a mortal turned spirit.
"She still searches for that mortal!" The Ocean spirit spoke to Eirla.
Eirla floated over to Yue and placed a gost like hand on the Moons shoulder. "Tu and La can't be without you, Princess. The Ocean spirit needs you and so does the world." She said softly.
Princess Yue shifts her attention away from the land and stares vacantly at Eirla. "It will be a full moon tomorrow night. I must prepare." She raises herself to her feet and floats away, as the sun, Agni, begins to rise.
Both the Ocean Spirit and Eirla watch her in equal worry. "If she does not recover soon. The world will peril and the Fire Nation will become strong again." The Ocean Spirit said to no one, but thought with deep regret of his dead love.
"Not if Fire Lord Zuko and Princess Katara have anything to do with it." Eirla said mischievously.
"Have you been listening in on Aunt Wu's predictions again?" The Ocean Sprit eyed her suspiciously.
"Maybe. But we need to do something to help Princess Yue and her mortal, Prince Sokka." Eirla replied.
* * *
A few days had passed since Zuko had asked Katara if she could fix his scar, during the nights, mostly when the moon was drawing closer to being full the Water Bender would sneak down to the Place Library and search through the Water Tribe section. To her suprise, the Library was full of information on the other Four Nations. It had great records from even earlier than the One Hundred Year War.
It had a detailed diary of the Air Bender who had betrayed the Nomads, Katara and Aang had discovered that one together. When Katara had shown her boyfriend the diary, Aang had turned to silent fury he had left the room. By the night, when he had returned he clothing were tattered and he was starving. No questions were asked, no answers were given.
But to much of Katara's suprise she had found a detailed history book about her tribe and the Chiefs of the tribe, to an even greater surprise it mentioned herself and Sokka as Prince and Princess of the Southern Water Tribe. Who had given that information? She had also discovered that her great grandmother Manodi had been a Water Bender.
On this particular night Katara was still wondering how she could heal her friend, so she was searching a certain self which looked promising. There was row upon row of books labeled 'Healing.' But the word next to it was always different. Disappointed and almost heartbroken several hours later, Katara had almost given up. When she heard a sound and her eye caught the word 'Unhealable!' Reaching over for it she pulled it ff and almost shouted with joy when she read the title. "Healing the Unhealable. For Powerful Water Benders."
"Zuko hates people in the Library during the night." Mai said behind Katara, the Water Bender froze."What are you doing here?"
"I-I could ask you the same question?" Katara said nervously and hid the book behind her back.
Mai scowled and puled her daggers ready, she didn't like how this commoner was talking to her. "I have every right to be here. I am the Fire Lords girlfriend." She smirked when she saw Katara's face fall.
"Titles don't mean so much when their just handed out." Katara replied coolly, she quickly slipped the book into her bag and turned her full attention on to Mai, who was almost invisible in the dark room, except for her gleaming cat like eyes.
"How dare you!" She snarled. "The Fire Lords girlfriend is ranked near being in power." She paused and studied her nails. "I can't expect a peasant to understand about power or placement." She laughed and suddenly Katara was reminded of Azula.
"I know more about it than you think." Katara retorted fiercely. "If you want to talk about knowing who. I am close friends with the Fire Lord, I am a member of his personal council. Not to many women are? I am the Avatar's girlfriend and Master Water Bending teacher. I am the sister to the heir of the Southern Water Tribe. And my best friend is one of the richest people in the Earth Kingdom?" Katara almost berated herself for gloating, but sometimes an ego boost was helpful. "I helped end this war. I am the most powerful Water Bender in one hundred years!" Katara almost poked her tongue out at the boring Noble women, but she decided to resist out of respect for Zuko.
Mai was silent for a moment. "I was friends with the Fire Princess. A girl who could take away your bending with a few jabs. And my parents were once someone!" Her knives fell to the floor in a loud clutter. "The Fire Lord use to come to my apartments every morning and ask if I wanted to feed the Turtle Ducks with him." She continued. Katara could only stare, was that a tear forming in the Fire Nation girls eye? Was Mai human? If so, Katara would win the bet she made with Toph.
Mai sniffed and brought Katara back. "Are you alright?" She inquired out of her nature, not because she would willingly do it. Mai blushed. "I am not weak." She replied as she stood up and gathered her knives together. Katara reached out to help, but had her hands slapped. "Didn't you hear me?" Mai snapped. "I NOT WEAK!"
Katara pulled back. "Sorry. I was only trying to be friendly." She said softly, and watched Mai slide the knives up her sleeves. "How does she keep so many up there?" She wondered.
"I DON'T NEED YOU TO BE FRIENDLY." Mai yelled. "I NEED YOU.." Her voice was raising dangerously high, "TO LEAVE ME ALONE!!"
"Okay?" Katara said backing away uncertainly.
"Is everything well, My Lady?" A female servant scurried in upon hearing her Lady's voice.
"DOES it look like IT IS?" Mai asked, her voice wavering.
"What did you do to upset my Lady?" Hisachi asked the Water Bender.
"Nothing. I don't think." Katara replied. The servent placed two arms around the sobbing Mai, who suddenly begun to wriggle uncontrollably, "My knives!" She screeched and slapped Hisachi.
"Guards!" Hisachi cried out. "Guards. The Lady needs restraining." Three guards came racing in, all wearing matching red and white uniforms, Katara watched in amazment as they grabbed Mai's hands and pulled her from the Library.
"What happened? Are you alright?" A man in black with a blue mask asked standing next to her asked.
"Yes." Katara said after a moment and turned to look at the new person in the room. "Zuko?" She questioned, remembering Aangs description of the Blue Spirit.
"Katara? Is Mai alright?" Zuko asked ignoring her question. He took of his mask and placed it on a shelf. Katara felt herself admiring the fact that he could still keep up a secret identity while running a war torn country, trying to keep the peace and having time to live.
"I was ah. I was trying to look for an old Water Tribe legend book. I thought the Palace Library might have it. Since my copy was burnt in the last raid." She replied and turned away.
"Is Mai okay?" Zuko repeated. "What did the guards do to her?"
"I think they sedated her. I was in here, searching for a book. When Mai came in, threatened me. Then all her knives fell out. I offered to help her, then she broke out in ranting."
Zuko shook his head in dismay. "Whats wrong with her?" Katara asked gently, placing an arm on his. Zuko walked away and found the bamboo chair. He collapsed into one and looked his friend in the eye."Mai's not well."
"That's not new knowledge Zuko. We've known Mai doesn't quite have all her marbles, for some time now." Katara hid her giggle as a flash back of her and the gang arguing who was the most sanest of their enemies group was, so far Maybe Azula had been. Mai was too gloomy, Tylee too cheerful and Azula, just took life to seriously.
The Fire Lord managed a small smile at his friends statement. "When Azula betrayed herself and Tylee at the Boiling Rock, Mai was sent to a deadly place. They tortured her and made my betrayal even worse." Zuko placed his head in his hand and sighed heavenly.
"My spirits, I had no idea about Mai's punishment. I guess I always thought about our side only. And the troubles we'd faced." She shook her head in disgrace of her thoughtlessness and ambled slowly over and placed a brown hand on Zuko's pale one. He took it and smiled up at her.
"Her parents have lost their ranks as Nobles, and the only reason why I never banished them away from the capital is because of Mai." Zuko continued.
"Mai's very lucky to have someone like you at her side." Katara whispered softly and placed an arm around her friends shoulder. The Fire Lord leaned in and closed his eyes, enjoying the rare moment of peace. He had come back from the poorest district of the Capital, and had found much to his surprise the state of their living conditions.
A few months ago he had ordered a report on the poor. One of the Council men had returned with news that the people were happy and they had food. It wasn't what Zuko, or more like the Blue Spirit had found during the night. People, his Nation, soldiers who had fought to keep outsiders away littered the streets, drunken and abusing shouting insulting things to passing women. The houses held more than they could handle maybe eight to twenty people all squeezing into a three bedroom house. He was mortified. The Fire Lord was yet to find out about the working conditions for these people, but somehow he was sure it wouldn't look good.
The two friends stayed like such until the early hours of the morning, just before the sun peaked from behind the mountains. "I should go. There's a meeting in a few hours with a few Earth Kingdom Nobles." Zuko whispered lazily.
"Yeah." Katara replied, yet she couldn't help feeling disapointed. "Have I lost contact with the people after I became a hero?" She wondered as a lonley pang entered her heart. "I have no friends here except for Zuko!" Katara suddenly realized. "Maybe you should talk to them, ask them what they want their Fire Lord to do?" A voice suddenly advised Katara. "Look at those dark circle's under his eyes. Maybe you should offer to do a report?" Katara studied her friend and found her thoughts onto something.
"Zuko!" Katara called suddenly. Zuko turned from the door. "Do you want me to talk to some of your people and see what they want to happen in the future?" She offered. Zuko's eyes lit up and he nodded. "Thanks Katara!" She gleamed. "Now, when Aang returns I can tell him that I'm not just staying here in the Fire Nation for him and Zuko. I have a job."
So her days were spent visiting many different places and people, learning what she could habout their situations and how they wanted to be helped. By doing so, she was unaware of the gossip following her on her journey. How a Water Bender could care so much for the people of a Nation she didn't call home. A nation who had almost wiped out her home, yet here she was helping them, as if it were home. Some families were suspicious, others were grateful and others were just plain amazed.
* * *
"Oy! Sokka caste the net out." The Southern Water Tribe fishermen yelled out to the chief's son.
Sokka was busy daydreaming, he stared into the ocean and was watching three small Bungaree fish swim in circles, it reminded him of the Koi fish in the Northern Water Tribe.
"Oy Sokka?" Que said, tapping the warrior on the shoulder.
"Yeah?" Sokka replied dazed, he was still watching the fish.
"We here to fish. Not to dream about girls and fish!" Que warned. "Remember, we're celebrating the third year of the moon tonight. We need Kona fish? Just like the chief ordered?"
At the mention of the moon Sokka jerked his head up and met his fellow fishermens blue eyes. "The moon?"
"Yeah. The huge orb in the sky at night." Que replied as if Sokka had lost his mind, he turned his attention back to his job, reeling out the fishing line, except he needed Sokka's help.
"I knew the moon!" Sokka exclaimed, ignoring the mans hints.
"Duh! That's why we're having this pointless celebration. I still believe that the chief only having it so we have another reason to drink the Fire whisky." Que replied.
"No..." Sokka started.
"Lover boy. Just reel the net out." Hahn said from behind and slapped Sokka's back hard, which sent the younger man reeling over to Que.
"Jerk!" Sokka muttered under his breath as he matched Que's circular motion and reeled the net out. Once it was done, Que sat down and stretched out his arms. "Now's there's nothing to do but wait."
"I can't believe Chief Arnook sent me down to this wasteland." Hahn muttered and sat next to Que, who was also from the same tribe.
"Since his daughter died. The man didn't have much use for you." Que replied and handed his friend a drink. "You were only good for one thing anyway." Both men smiled.
Sokka scowled.
"Yeah and from what I recall, Princess Yue didn't mind it so much." Hahn replied and intentionally looked at Sokka's disapproving look.
"Take that back." He yelled suddenly and charged at the older warrior. "Princess Yue wasn't just another woman. She was a Princess!" He grabbed at Hahn's shoulders and tried to push him over the small fishing boat.
"Woah Sokka. Cool it." Que said, helping his friend stay out of the ice water.
Hahn smirked but pushed Sokka of him and punched the younger man's face. "You were only a kid back then. You didn't know anything." He spat and punched Sokka again in the cheekbone, Sokka reeled from the force.
Que leapt to his feet and grabbed Hahn's arm. "Don't fight him Hahn. Remember what happened to Balin? Yagonda couldn't heal him. And he died!"
Hahn pushed his friend out of the way. "This is between two men over what I should have won years ago." He snarled and walked up to Sokka who had tripped and was laying defenceless on his back.
Fear penetrated his body, he closed his eyes and waved his hands madly. Maybe with luck his hands could hit a painful spot of Hahn, and he would be declared the winner by cheating. Sokka waited for the final blow. Nothing happened.
"Sokka what did you do?" Que yelled.
Sokka opened his eyes and looked at the scene before him. Hahn lay on the ground with Que bending over his face, red blotches had begun to appear.
"What happened?" He inquired.
"Don't you know?" Que asked, puzzled."White liquid appeard from your hands and slapped into Hahns' face. It was like a Water whip."
"Water whip?" He remembered one of his sisters Water Bending moves. "But I don't Water Bend?"
"What ever it was Sokka, you should talk it over with Master Pakku." Que replied and lifted Hahn to his feet, who was wincing in pain.
"I will always be with you Sokka!" Yue's final words floating entered his mind as Sokka attempted to analyze what just happened.
Plot and ending Yue's gift is water bending so he would remember her by or something, she becomes part of him bot very powerful, but can heal freeze and bend.
Howdy everyone from sunshine and rainbows. Just kidding, I wish. It's been raining like cats and dogs. Chapter Four is finally posted. Hope people like how the story is heading. It's off to a slow start, but things will pick up. I promise. Review please, don't mind either. Mightly helpful some for writing advice. Have a good one! ;)