Part 12

Though she was a grown woman and her father no longer has the right to tell her what is right and what is wrong, she couldn't help but feel like she was in a great amount of trouble for spending in the night in the princess' room. Even though nothing but sleep had occurred, she just felt so guilty as if something else had happened, because it wasn't very common for two grown women to just sleep in a bed. But the both of them were innocent or at least she was, she wasn't too sure about the fire bender nor would she ask, what the princess did in the past five years wasn't important. What was important was what the fire bender would be doing in the next five years with her.

As she opened her eyes to a bright airy room, a warm breeze swept through it and she could smell hot delicious rice. Curiosity drove her to awaken much faster than she would've been able to. She turned onto her side to see the princess sitting there, her back leaning against the headboard her long almost black hair flowing down to her shoulders. The fire bender took a large bite of the rice from the bowl in her hands.

Lifting her arm, she grasped a lock of the princess' hair and twisted it around her finger, laughing slightly. "You know this is the first time I've ever seen you with your hair like this." She said almost in a whisper. The princess nodded with a grin. The water bender lowered her hand, drawing circles on the skin that the red robe didn't cover. She leaned closer to the prodigy. "It makes you look sexy." She breathed into the princess ear and she could feel the fire bender get warmer.

The prodigy swallowed deeply before moving away from the water bender slightly. "Don't think I don't know what you're up to." The princess said staring directly at the tan woman's face which appeared innocent but was far from it. "You're begging for a bite aren't you?" The fire bender cuddled her bowl of rice protectively. Katara tilted her head to the side giving her signature smile. "That pouty face won't work trust me. I've had years of practice to resist it, you can thank Ty Lee for that."

The water bender's mouth fell open in shock and Azula just giggled at her upset look. "I can't believe you won't give me one tiny little bite." The water bender said, the corners over her mouth slowly turning into a smile when she was trying to frown. "Just one little bite that's all I ever asked for and you can't be nice enough to share?"

"Nope." The princess grinned and took another large bite of rice. "Mmmm." The fire bender teased. She shrugged and leaned against the head board, even for an adult the princess still acted like a child. The water bender pretended to be hurt because the princess wouldn't share. One, two, three…Katara counted in her head. "Fine, have a bite." The prodigy sighed.

"Oh no, I don't want it anymore." She said being dramatic looking away from the princess. She turned back smiling. "How'd you get that anyway? I didn't feel you move." The fire bender laughed slightly.

"Yeah Katara there's these awesome people called servants, and guess what? They bring you stuff." The prodigy replied with wide eyes. She could tell the princess just loved treating people like their stupid, especially the water bender since Katara was smart.

"I know that but…" She was cut off. Wait a minute; if a servant brought it to her then wouldn't they have seen Katara sleeping? Then wouldn't they have wondered why the water bender was in Azula's bed? "You mean you let a servant see me sleeping?!" She hollered nervously suddenly stabbed by fear faster.

"You know you shouldn't be embarrassed, you're kinda cute when you're passed out." The princess said clearly despite having a mouth full of food. Katara leaned her head back hitting the headboard; she buried her face in her palms and groaned. The fire bender just looked at the woman confused.

"How could you be so stupid?! You let someone see me sleeping in YOUR bed! We used to be enemies remember?! They're goanna suspect something! Unless it's common for you to have random girls in your bed?" The water bender lectured and the princess sat there blank before going a bit red and opening her mouth to speak. "You know what, don't answer that question."

The princess let out a deep breath as she set down the empty bowl on the nightstand. The fire bender took the water bender's hand into hers, squeezing gently. "Look, calm down nothing's goanna happen." The woman promised. "Except you know, guys'll be jealous that they couldn't get someone like you," The princess chuckled. "…which will do wonders for my reputation."

She dropped her hands and looked at the fire bender with that now-is-not-the-time look. "Is that all you think about?" She mumbled unable to keep herself from smiling. "That and fire bending?" The prodigy crossed her arms and for a moment she thought Azula was having a fit. The princess raised her chin and closed her eyes tsking.

"So much you don't know little water bender." The fire bender said shaking her head slightly. "So much…" Why did that have to be true? She did know simple things about the prodigy like her favorite color was blue because it reminded her of Katara's eyes, she liked doing anything competitive and refused to accept failure even if she had lost, and she knew the fire bender had a habit of giving sinister glares. But there was a side of the prodigy she would like to know about. It was the weaker side of the prodigy, the soft insides of the hard shell that made up the princess.

"Yeah well someone likes to keep a lot of secrets." She said letting a small sigh escape as she gathered her hair and began to braid it to keep her hands busy. Azula tried to contain her laughter but it came out anyway.

"Have you ever tried to lie to you? It's impossible! Even for me and admit it I am good. Like now it's hard to try to hide stuff from you, especially when I'm going to ask you to-," The princess bit her tongue to try and stay quiet. Katara glanced over at the fire bender her eye brow arching.

"Ask me what?" She asked filled with suspicion. The fire bender shook her head and looked away quickly. She huffed out in frustration, Azula never told her anything. The prodigy pushed the covers onto the water bender as she set her bare feet on floor. She brought her gaze to the princess' back. "Hey." She snatched the gold trimming of Azula's robe and shoved the woman back. The princess' back hit the mattress and the prodigy looked up at her. "I didn't say you could go."

She smiled down at the woman as she petted the princess' cheek with her thumb. "What're you going to do bend my blood so I can't leave?" The prodigy chuckled. The princess' cheerful laugh died off since Katara didn't respond. "You aren't are you?" The fire bender asked a bit worried.

"No I have a much…better…idea." She said softly as she leaned towards the woman and brought their lips together. The fire bender went still; even her heart seemed to stop for a second, all she felt were Katara's smooth lips hugging hers. The water bender was forced to move away as the prodigy's breathing tickled her chin. The princess just stared up at her completely speechless as usual.

The fire bender realized she was staring and sat up again slowly, wondering if the tan woman would pull her back. "You're goanna give me a heart attack one of these days I swear." The prodigy shrugged as she began to pull the robe away from her torso. Katara's eyes shot open and her cheeks began to burn as she saw the woman's naked back.

"Azula!" She hollered. This funny feeling was growing in her stomach. She lowered her head creating a wall with her hand so her eyes stared down and not at the fire bender. "Couldn't you do that somewhere else?"

"Like where?" The princess laughed. "It's my room." She felt the woman turn around and she turned her head away even further, her face burning up even more. "Are you-? Are you covering your eyes?!" The prodigy's laughter only increased. "How old are you again Katara?"

"I just don't want to see…" Her cheeks turned an even deeper red. "Don't laugh at me." She said a bit angry that the fire bender laughed at her embarrassment. Who wouldn't though? She was acting like a kid. The princess tried to get control over herself.

"And I thought you were the mature one." The fire bender shook her head as she pulled her armor on. The water bender slowly separated her fingers to take a peak and saw that the prodigy was dressed. "Ah-ha you peaked."

"No I didn't." Katara stated clearly. Her back straightened as she acted all prideful. "People like me don't peak. And besides if I say I didn't do it then I didn't, because I tell the truth unlike someone I know." She folded her arms and the fire bender smirked.

"Oh yes you did." Azula argued.

"No."

"Yes."

"NO!"

The princess had an angry expression on her face that looked almost a bit cartoonish, with her big eyes and her tiny scrunched up lips, any second steam would come out of her ears. The woman pointed her finger at the water bender wanting to shout back but she shoved her hand in her pocket instead and pulled out a tiny piece of paper. She watched as Azula rolled the paper into a little ball quickly. The princess lifted it to show Katara. "This is your head." The woman announced. "This is what I want to do to your head." The fire bender punched her palm flattening the round paper ball.

"Just get used to it princess because I'm always right and you're always wrong. EVEN when I'm actually wrong, I'm still right." The water bender replied. The prodigy squeezed the paper in her fist, not believing that she was actually loosing an argument. It seemed like the fire bender needed to step up a little.

"I don't things are going to work that way little missy." The prodigy began to say but the tan woman stood up and came over to the princess. Katara acted like a harmless animal snuggling up to the fire bender.

The Water Tribe woman leaned real close to the princess. "You may be the head of this relationship but I'm the neck, and I can turn your cute little ass in any direction I want." The water bender said in an innocent tone. Azula slipped her arms around Katara's waist, bringing the woman closer to her.

"And uh…what direction are you sending me right now?" The princess' eyes lingered over to the bed. She watched as the prodigy grinned widely, she could only smile knowing what was on the girl's mind.

"To my room to get my clothes." The tan woman said and patted Azula's shoulder, giggling as she moved away. The fire bender gave the woman a dismal look as she headed for the door.

"You're such a tease." The prodigy said as she opened the door to the room and shut it behind her.

Part 13

"Have you seen Katara?" She wondered as she asked one of the servants. This was the third one she asked and no one had seen the tan woman. "DOESN'T ANYONE KNOW WHERE EVERYONE'S GONE?!" She shouted, blue flames shooting from her fists. The servant gave a shrug and shook their head.

"Maybe you should look in the dining hall, princess. After all today is the Fire Lord's ball." The servant said and walked away. She felt so stupid now. She'd forgotten that thing was to day on purpose because she didn't want to go, looks like she'll show up anyway.

She headed down the hall and turned the corner coming into and even longer one, which stretched so far the end was just a black spot. The woman went down several staircases, spiral, narrow, or plain and regular she went down it, passing through main corridors and short cuts. She went by millions of artwork from portraits to landscape and even some fantasy, depicting fire benders in shining armor rescuing damsels in the distress. Countless statues and columns towering in the hallways underneath bronze ceilings passed her by. She walked underneath several chandeliers holding massive flames. Suits of armor were dotted across the palace along with many other traditional Fire Nation weapons. Occasionally she went by guards who she once feared because they would take her back to her room if she was found wandering.

There were windows almost everywhere, she went by some and she spotted a view of the night city, thousands of glowing lights covered the hollow volcanic crater. She liked it better when there weren't so many people in the city, but it just meant more people to bow in her greatness. There were far more windows when she neared the east side of the palace which was where the public entertaining was done. The corridors were much wider, to hold large crowds. There were more windows and the views became something special, possibly romantic, if anyone wished to escape the grand parties once held there and take a stroll through the garden. She had never cared much for the gardens until now when she found someone who would appreciate a walk through them.

She knew she was close now when she felt the metal floor had been carpeted with velvet which meant she was in the hallway leading directly to the dining hall. The fire bender looked away from the windows to in front of her, sure enough there were the large double doors that led into the dinning hall. In front of the doors were the royal guards dazzling in their new armor, opening the doors for the arriving guests.

The princess could recognize a couple of the guests. She saw the Avatar arm linked to a young woman who had dark hair with long pigtails sticking out the sides of her head, what was her name? Mong? Mung? Maybe it was Meng. No one important she decided. She spotted General Fong, she remembered Katara saying something how he tried pushing Aang into the Avatar state by using the water bender as motivation. Ha if anyone tried laying a finger on Katara they'd feel the wrath of the Fire Nation's prodigy.

Bored with staring at the guests she stepped forward but was stopped in her tracks as a man stood in front of her. He was wearing blue clothes and he had dark hair, he wasn't from the Water Tribe. His eyes looked enormous from the shocked expression on his face. He pointed to her then shook his head a little in disbelief. The princess moved back wondering who the hell this was. Then the man started squealing loudly and his mouth started foaming. He fainted, and his body was lying limp on the floor except for the occasional twitch. "Okay…." She sighed and stepped over him.

As she headed for the entrance something flew over head and made a circle before landing on her shoulder. Looking at the animal who thought she was its personal resting spot, she realized it was Momo. Still, she'd burn it but she noticed there was a note attached to the creature's leg. Pulling the note away from the lemur's leg rather roughly she opened it. She read it allowed only in a whisper, "Haha I made you come after all." She frowned and huffed out a single name. "Katara."

The fire bender walked towards the entrance with fast pace, tired of trying to find the tan woman. She grabbed the lemur on her shoulder and set it on the ground before she came up to the guards. The guards bowed as they pulled the huge doors open. Instead of waiting until the doors were fully open, she slipped through the crack. Expecting to find the water bender the moment she came in, she was a bit surprised.

The dining hall was a large but it was now crowded with loads of people. It was decorated with long streamers of blue, orange, red, and green. Frankly, she thought the room looked fancy enough without the added colors. There people from every nation there. Lots of familiar faces, most of them belonging to people she tried to kill. Luckily for her none of them noticed she'd come in, though in her dark armor, she kind of stuck out.

"Azula?" The voice…it caused her stomach to churn. Turning to see where the source had come from she saw yet another man, stride out of the crowd, still wearing beach clothes even when he was somewhere important. She tried to smile but her lips just kind of twitched.

"Hi…Chan." She said out of the corner of her mouth ungratefully. "Glad to see you managed survive your father when he saw the house." She smirked darkly. The man just gave a nervous laugh and grasped the back of his neck.

"You know, about that…I-I forgive you." He said a little intimated by her now that she was in armor and sure as hell wasn't making a fool out of herself by trying to impress him. "Cause you know, I heard someone still likes me." He gave a wide cheesy grin. Azula pretended to have a fit of coughing.

"I think I'm just goanna go find my girlfriend now before I get any sicker." She replied and started to walk away heading to the mob of bad dancers. Chan's face went blank and he stood there like an idiot taken by surprise. And if she heard correctly he was beginning to cry. The princess laughed in her triumph.

"AZULA!!!!" A woman squealed. The fire bender braced herself as Ty Lee snatched the prodigy into her arms and lifted her off the ground about an inch. When the acrobat decided to let go she could see the older the Ty Lee. The acrobat looked like a child in an adult's body, a very attractive adult she might add. "Oh oh oh you have to see my baby!"

"You have a kid?" The princess exclaimed terrified to know that the loopy acrobat was a mother. The acrobat disappeared but when she popped back into sight she was holding a furry rabbit with enormous ears.

"Isn't he cute?" The acrobat said in a high pitched voice.

"Yeah sure, have you seen-?" A rough arm wrapped around her neck and pulled her away from Ty Lee. Who the hell is it now? She thought and turned to see that it was Zuko. "What do you want?" She said frustrated by the fact everyone was distracting her.

"Jeez you can't be happy no matter what huh?" Zuko said laughing slightly. The princess shoved his arm off her and brushed off her armor.

"I am happy." She said grumpily.

"Awww is my little sister grumpy-kins today?" The Fire Lord teased. The princess glared at her brother with her most threatening glance, she knew this because she was born with this look on her face. The prodigy leaned closer to Zuko.

"You call me that one more time and there won't be much of a Fire Lord left to look after this nation." She hissed. The princess looked around. "Where the hell is Katara?" She muttered but her brother heard it anyway.

"Why are you so concerned about where she is?" The man asked suspiciously. The prodigy continued to look around ignoring her brother, acting like she hadn't heard him. "Azula." He said in the tone parents give to their children when they're trying to get the truth out of them. He should know by now that it never worked on the princess.

Her brother looked past her and clasped his hands behind his back and slowly backed away grinning. The princess wondered why he just walked away but somehow she knew it had to deal with the soft breathing coming onto her ear and the gentle hand on her shoulder. "Found you." The water bender's smooth voice danced into her ear. The fire bender tried not to smile so widely, might look a bit strange.

"I didn't realize we were playing hide and seek." She whispered back looking over her shoulder. "Why are you behind me?" She wondered. The tan woman grinned and hugged the prodigy in plain sight. "I thought you didn't want anyone to know?" She hissed in concern giving a nervous smile to those who saw them.

"Mmmph? Did I, well I don't care anymore." The water bender let out a sigh and rested her head on Azula's back. "Stay still and let me use you as a pillow." For a brief second it felt incredibly good to have the woman she loved clinging to her in front of all these people. But she knew it was too good to be true.

"I think you've reached your champagne limit for tonight." She chuckled and turned around grasping the water bender's hand and twisted her around. The tan woman laughed joyfully as the fire bender spun her around. The princess brought her palms to Katara's face covering the woman's eyes. "No peaking alright?" She led the woman away from the crowd towards one of the empty areas of the dining hall. No one was in that corner because it was next to a tall glass door that led outside. So far everyone seemed to be having a good time inside to worry about the outside.

Successfully, she kidnapped the water bender without anyone knowing, though it was difficult trying to open the door while trying to cover the tan woman's eyes. She wouldn't remove her hand because she didn't trust Katara, she never put her trust in water benders even if she did love them. Carefully, she guided the woman outside, leaving the door cracked open because she couldn't close it all the way with her foot. The closer they got the more she felt like she was holding her breath.

Part 14

She had no idea where the fire bender was leading her. She didn't even bother to ask any questions. Wherever it was she knew that she could trust Azula, which was a very stupid thing to do because well you just don't trust people like the princess. Call her a fool, she'll accept it. Gently, she leaned back onto the prodigy's chest as the woman guided her.

There was a warm gust of wind and she could tell they must be outside. In the dreadful thick heat of summer, even at night it was unbearably hot. The prodigy's warm body didn't make it any better but snuggling up to the princess was irresistible about now. Azula was just so…so soft right now, just the right height so that her head rested in the nook of her pale neck. So perfect…

She giggled slightly. Spirits she'd had two small glasses of champagne and already her head was buzzing. That's what you get when you barely drink. But she wasn't totally out of whack she was just relaxed. More relaxed than she'd felt in a very long time. She knew the feeling was because the princess. Her princess, she grinned widely now.

The fire bender must be nervous because she could feel the woman's heart pounding. Now the water bender was eager to find out what they were doing. Since she was pretty much blind, it felt like she was walking miles but in reality it wasn't a long walk at all. She wondered if this was how Toph felt, though she couldn't see with her feet. Her blood began rushing through her body as she began to get impatient. She guessed Azula was trying to build anticipation. The woman was so dramatic.

She felt the princess lean towards her ear. "Almost there." The fire bender said with a bit a laugh at the end. In response she gave a warm smile. This reminded her of the time her father had covered her eyes and led her out to go penguin sledding for the first time on her seventh birthday. Ew, why are we around smelly penguins? She chuckled at her words now, her dad of course had been looking forward to this and wasn't too thrilled about her first impression. They're not smelly Katara, just get on one. After that she was obsessed with penguin sledding so much that no one wanted to take her anymore.

"Are we there yet?" She wondered. The fire bender let out a long sigh and she could imagine a bright smile on the prodigy's face. Her only answer was that they were getting closer. She wanted to be there! She wanted to find out what the heck the woman was up to. For a moment she swore she was walking on the tips of her toes.

The fire bender nudged her a little further before holding her in place and they stood there for a second completely still. "Ready?" The prodigy asked and she nodded her head, bit faster than she would've liked, now her brain was jumbled up. Slowly, spirits the slowest the princess had ever moved, Azula lowered her hands to reveal the amazing sight before them.

They were standing on a gray stone balcony that wasn't too high up, a little walk from here there was a small staircase leading down to what sat before them. In front of them was the grand view of the palace's garden. This was not just any view, it was the view. You could see every inch of the garden but not look directly down at it. There were tall and short exotic trees bending and twisting as they grew up towards the heavens. In large clusters there were bright fire lilies, their color exploding before her eyes. There were other flowers, and she did spot a group of moonflowers which were spread out, their white petals glowing in the gentle light from above. That must mean, she looked up there it was, a large full moon staring back at her.

In the center of the garden there was a tall statue of a past Fire Lord punching the air. It was a fire fountain but somehow it was now spewing water gracefully. She didn't know how but the second she spotted it the fire shot out from the statue's hand and instead of a regular flame it took the shape of a heart. Her open mouth widened into a grin as she observed.

Excitedly she brought her gaze to the fire bender. Azula's eyes weren't looking at her face though, just a bit lower. "Hey, where's your mother's necklace?" The prodigy wondered. The water bender giggled thinking the woman had to be blind not to see it.

She lifted her hand to her neck grasping the pendant. "It's right here…" Her happy tone turned into a confused one. She ran her finger over the pendant, the grooves on it were alien. The princess removed her polished crown and offered it to her. Katara took it and looked at the reflection in it.

As she saw that it was not her mother's necklace, her mouth fell open as she saw what was around her neck. The red silky non irritating ribbon fit snugly to her, the steel pendant with the Fire Nation emblem on it made her toes tingle. She swallowed deeply trying to make sure she was still breathing. It took a while to make her brain process what was happening, when it did, she gasped and covered her mouth in shock, her eyes about ready to burst to tears.

"I…I…don't know what to say." She said choking on her words, her muscles stretched so far now her face felt sore from smiling so widely. The fire bender gave a light laugh and came over to her.

"Well, you could say yes." The prodigy whispered as she slid her arms around Katara. "You could say I love you," The princess said inching closer to her. "Any of the above will do." The fire bender smiled as she gave the tan woman a warm kiss. It was light, barely a kiss at all, that was until the water bender realized that Azula's lips were actually on hers. She buried her fingers in the luscious locks of the princess' hair and forced them impossibly closer. "Mmmph!" The fire bender squeaked as she was smothered for a second, but slowly eased into the embrace.

She drew back very hesitantly, nuzzling the princess before she glued their foreheads together. Her blue eyes met the gold and she nodded moving Azula's head a little. The fire bender's face lit up, and she couldn't believe the woman could look so happy. "That's a yes?" the prodigy asked before she cheered. Katara nodded again. "That's a…YOU SAID YES!!!" She giggled at the expression on Azula's face. "I mean uh…"

She grasped her betrothal necklace, with joy no doubt, and became puzzled. "Just out of curiosity, where did you put my mother's necklace?" The princess lifted her hand and there it was dangling from the woman's fingers. "How did you-?"

"Let's just say you need to be a little more aware of your surroundings when you're staring at pretty stuff." The fire bender said as she handed the blue necklace back to its owner.

The water bender stared down at her mother's necklace tracing the markings with her thumb. She'd worn this thing for about half her life, it was there for everything major in her life. Now, she would be wearing something new around her throat, something that would be there for all the great moments yet to be had. She enclosed her hand around her mother's possession. Closing one chapter of her life and starting a new one, with the woman she never thought she'd be able to spend her days with.

"Can you believe it?" She asked softly. "It seems like yesterday you were calling me Water Tribe peasant." The both of them let a small laugh escape. "Now, you'll be calling me your wife." The fire bender took in a deep breath.

"I don't know…Water Tribe peasant just seems so much more appropriate." The prodigy smirked. The water bender punched the fire bender's shoulder biting her lower lip.

"Don't you dare call me that." Katara said as she rested her head on the princess' shoulder and hugged the woman tightly. The fire bender lazily rested her on the water bender's. "For a fire bender you make a pretty good teddy bear."

"Ahh thank you Katara, now I know my whole life's purpose," The princess said sarcastically causing her water bender to chuckle. "You've really, really helped me." The prodigy sighed and squeezed the tan woman tightly.

The two of them managed to stumble back into the princess' room sometime around midnight, after the water bender got the prodigy to enjoy being around people. Seeing Azula try to interact nicely with people was the funniest thing she'd ever seen. But a little alcohol could loosen even the prodigy's lips. For once she was able to enjoy spending time with the princess in public.

Though she would've liked it better if people would just stopped wondering where her mother's necklace had gone. The look on the questioning guests was priceless when they found out the new necklace was gift from the prodigy. They thought it was just a piece of jewelry instead of a sign that they were getting married. So they were puzzled even more when the fire bender and her exchanged a tiny giggle.

The princess let out a long sigh as she fumbled over to the large bed and flopped onto it. The bed was so soft the fire bender sunk a little. Good, it meant she'd be sleeping on something as soft as a cloud. Walking tiredly across the room she pulled her sandals off, her feet were killing her from standing for who knows how long on those hard floors. She tossed them across the room not bothering to put them neatly at the foot of the bed. She sat down on the edge, her legs and feet able to get a break for once.

The fire bender rolled over and sat up scooting right next to Katara. The prodigy stared into the tan woman's eyes. "Peasant." The princess whispered as she cupped the water bender's cheek. "Did I ever tell you, you are really pretty?" She smiled at the fire bender.

She chuckled slightly as she leaned closer to the princess. "Not enough times as you should be." She whispered as they grew closer. The fire bender gave a tiny smile as she felt Katara's lips brush over hers. Wrapping her arms around Azula's neck, she deepened the kiss until it became a passionate one that seemed to get rid of all the weariness in an instant. Soon, they could not pull away and the both of them fell back onto the pillows…

Part 15

All was silent as sleep swept over the mortals. It was the late hours of the night, her most powerful hours when she poured her milky light down, giving her children strength. She had not descended in a long, long time but tonight was an important one. Soaring down from the heavens invisible to all but the Avatar, she made her way towards the Fire Nation.

Silently, she intruded the palace without a soul knowing. She found the princess' bed chamber and came in. There she was, her old friend Katara, whom she had been watching. Observing the water bender was a sad experience, for the girl always appeared to be heartbroken. But not this night, not as she is held tightly by her lover. A strange mate for the water bender, a prodigy who was always merciless to her enemies and never bothered to care for anyone but herself. She could sense though that the fire bender's passion for fire had been replaced by something else, something far stronger.

Moving closer to the water bender she smiled down at her friend. She could not give Katara much but she could give the woman this. Placing her glowing hand lightly on the water bender's stomach, using all the power she gathered that night she poured it into the woman. My gift to you, her silky voice brushed over the woman's mind. Removing her hand, she turned around and headed up to her home in the sky.