As they gave Yue's body to the sea, Katara couldn't help but weep for a girl she had barely known. Weep open tears, where her brother stood cool and calm and collected beside her, more in shock than denial or grief. He still couldn't grieve in the light of day.
She wanted to scream at the Fire Spirit for daring to show its face on today of all days.
Arnook was the one to give the cloth-wrapped body into the Ocean. For a moment, it seemed to glow, before the waves took it down and all that remained of the Princess of the Northern Water Tribe's mortal life was over. Forevermore the name Yue would be synonymous with Tui, not to replace but to become. No greater honour could be given and for many a year, the Northern Water Tribe would tell of the brave young woman who gave up her life for the Moon and survival of her people.
Less happy were the decisions to be made after the funeral.
Once the battle was over and the fires put out from that last, awful fight not between mortal men, but the very Spirits themselves, there were still hundreds of Fire Nation soldiers within the broken walls. Men and women who had shown proper deference to the Ocean spirit (and how they had done so, when they clearly didn't even believe in spirits, Katara didn't know) were left milling about, leaderless without Zhao or anyone to clear up the disaster that had been the aftermath of the battle. Eventually, the General from the Spirit Oasis had taken charge, sending a letter to Arnook and making his way through the city to collect them. Even so, some refused to leave until they knew that Zuko would be properly cared for.
Alarmingly, even some of the Tribe's own people insisted on the same. Katara had had to give Pilip a long, disbelieving look before he reclaimed his voice.
"He saved Mother from our house," the man had said, toe scraping the ground like a child caught misbehaving. "When the Moon was gone, and no one could bend. Some of the children…" He trailed off, face pale and drawn, gaze fixed on curled hands. He looked a little sick at the thought, and Katara had had to swallow bile herself.
She had seen the children who had been stuck in houses not aided by firebenders. Not aided by Zuko of all people. Women, children and elderly, some found frozen to their beds, appearing almost as if they were asleep except for the blue tint to their hands and feet. Houses made of ice could be made warm with waterbending and the proper application of heat. Without the Moon, they couldn't light fires without risking the houses collapsing on top of them, and couldn't bend their way out to find fire and warmth elsewhere. Tui had not been gone for too long, but long enough that the frailest had succumbed quickly to the polar temperatures.
Never mind that most of those had been in the poorer quarters of the city as well.
In the here and now, however, she focused on watching her brother's stiff back as they followed the funeral procession back to the Palace, behind the wilted figure of Arnook. She had great respect for him, staying so strong in the face of such great despair. People wept themselves in the streets, for their Princess, for their loved ones that they waited to give to the sea as well, a great tide of the dead, not all from battle. She tried not to look at the cloth bundles that were so, so small.
When they reached the Palace, Arnook made no hesitation to head to the sickroom where they had placed Aang, as well as Zuko. Katara hated the decision, but understood why it had been done. If Zuko were to wake, still consumed by the Sun Spirit, by Agni herself, only the power of the Avatar would be able to stop him. Never mind that Zuko had bent three out of the four elements. Never had there been tales of benders who could bend more than one element, except for the Avatar. It shouldn't have been possible, even with a spirit's aid, and yet, here they were. The guards bowed to Arnook, their own faces drawn and stricken, but they held firm to their duty.
"Any change?" They were the first words Arnook had spoken since they gave his daughter to the Ocean. The guard to the left, Arnaalaq, shook his head.
"Master Yugoda is within. The girl, too. We chained her to the wall." Arnook nodded. Glanced back at Sokka, who continued to stare at nothing. Katara tried to look determined and confident enough for them both. Come back to me, Sokka, she thought, swallowing tears. I need you. Aang needs you. We all do.
He hadn't spoken since telling Arnook everything, including Yue's death. Had yet to recover since she had kissed him and then pulled away.
She had been so cold already, that Katara had felt it as she brushed past.
Arnook seemed to take her confidence as confirmation enough. He hadn't blamed either of them for what had happened. Had explained, after a moment to compose himself, of a vision given to him at Yue's birth, that she had always been destined to become the Moon Spirit. Like everyone, he had assumed it to be far in the future, if it ever came to pass at all. At his nod, the guards opened the doors, sealing them back up once they were inside.
Zuko was still bundled in furs, Yugoda dragging water over one arm exposed to the elements. The darkened chi meridians had lightened, but the Prince was still covered in them in many places. When Sokka had first dragged the Prince here under the watchful eyes of his dragon, Yugoda had had Katara aid in replenishing chi wells obliterated by a spirit's wrath. She never wanted to touch something like that again. The healer didn't even look up as they entered.
"Do not step in the sunlight," she ordered them. Arnook paused, blinking. Katara stiffened. Yugoda had positioned herself so that she was not obstructing the sunlight's path from the window. The girl was chained to the foot of Zuko's bed, as far as they could get from Aang without removing a firebender who could block chi from their sight. She hadn't tried to escape anyway.
"Why?" Arnook asked sharply. "He seems unharmed for the most part."
"Waterbenders take their power from the Moon. Whatever else the Prince may be, he is a firebender first and foremost and they get their power from the sun. I have had lanterns lit here all night and yesterday to aid him, but the rising of the sun has helped the most. I will not withhold a patient from that which will heal them best." She didn't even turn to acknowledge them, sighing quietly. "They are both the same as they were last night. Exhausted and used. The Avatar most of all." Yugoda's face was a picture of grief. "It was not wise, to have a child ask the Spirits for aid. The Ocean killed as many of our own people as the Fire Nation." Arnook scowled, as did Katara.
"That doesn't sound right," she said, frowning, before the Chief could speak. "Our people are loyal to the Moon and Ocean, we would never harm them! It was-"
"A human who dealt the mortal blow to Tui's form," Yugoda finished for her. "Fire Nation, Water Tribe, Earth Kingdom, the spirits care not. The Ocean spared those humans who paid it deference and dealt revenge on those not quick enough to kneel. You are young Katara- they would not have had you fishing the bodies out of the canals all night." She opened her mouth to argue-
"She's right." Sokka's voice was a croak, a whisper almost. He swallowed heavily, hollow-eyed. "Yue said there would be a price to pay. I just wish…" He trailed off. There was a hint of tears in his eyes and Katara didn't hesitate to hug him. Like their father, he hid them, wiping them away quickly before they could be seen as a sign of weakness. Arnook let them take their time.
"I did not realise you had volunteered." His voice was subdued, quiet. He believes them, Katara realised with horror. The Ocean really… But we are loyal! It didn't make sense.
Then again, spirits never had to conform to what made sense to humans.
"I needed to do something," was all Sokka would say in explanation. Katara felt him glance over her shoulder towards the girl. "I can take the next watch here, inside." He doesn't want to go to the Council room, where they will call him a failure, Katara thought sickly. Oh, she would show them that her brother wasn't useless. They would never have made it to the north without him, would never have gotten warning if he hadn't tricked the information out of Zuko somehow- Although, she thought carefully, Yue trusted the Prince too. Because he was spirit-touched. She said just those words during the last Council meeting. And the Moon…
I will turn my face away, should my people bring about his death. Those had been the exact words the Moon had said, speaking through Yue's lips. Back before the invasion had even arrived. Which was as much of an advocation to keep the Fire Prince alive as anything. As much as she despised the Fire Nation spirit, Katara had to admit that the Moon would not think the same as humans. As far as Tui was concerned, La may be her husband but Agni was her sister, her opposite and her friend. The sun fed the cool light of the Moon, and without it, they would never have the light to grow their food.
Then again, Katara had seen enough people succumb to Midnight Sun madness, that she knew the dark side of that light too. As well as that of the Moon. Strange to think of, now that Tui and Yue were one and the same. She hadn't thought the Princess to be particularly dangerous until that afternoon before the invasion. Until Aang had bowed, the Avatar showing deep respect to an even more powerful spirit.
"That is acceptable," Arnook agreed with her brother. "Send a messenger the moment the boy wakes. He has slept a day away already, and I would have him awake to open negotiations with the Dragon of the West." Yugoda hummed, but ignored them, sweeping water back into her own waterskin.
"He ought to sleep another day at least, but the boy is tenacious. Likely, he will wake within a few hours. Let me know when he does, and I shall come to check him. Ensure he doesn't get out of bed- chi deprivation can be deadly if not treated correctly. The meridians are as healed and open as I can make them, but Agni, weak as the possession may have been, still burned through them like a wildfire."
"Weak?" Katara sputtered, alarmed. "That was weak?!" Yugoda gave all of their stunned expressions a wry smile.
"He was spirit-touched with the four elements before she took hold. The link is tenuous but still there, I can feel it. And be glad it was weak- any stronger and he may be dead instead. Great Spirits are incredibly powerful- to channel the Sun would burn even the strongest firebender to a crisp, unless the power was tamed and weakened." Sokka frowned lightly.
"Is that possible?" Yugoda sighed, shoulders slumped, tired to her bones as they all were.
"I have seen a great many things I believed to be impossible in this lifetime. Who can say, if it is impossible to chain a spirit when we have already witnessed one slain?" She gave a brief bow to Arnook. "I will see you in the Council room, however I believe you already know my opinion." Arnook nodded, glancing down at the Fire Prince. In his sleep, he seemed younger than when he was awake. It reminded Katara uncomfortably that he was a teenager, of an age with Sokka. And had mentioned family before.
"I will see you there. Come, Katara. I would like to hear the opinion of our Sister Tribe as well." Katara blinked, a little startled. Sokka gave her a gentle nudge, a soft smile on his lips. She squared her shoulders, giving the man a nod back.
"Of course. I would be honoured to speak for my people." She hoped she wasn't mistaken at the ghost of a smile on his lips, even as a shimmer of tears appeared in blue eyes. It reminded her too much of her own Father and how much she missed him.
Balanced on a raft, at the edge of the Great Swamp, Yumi waited patiently with her troop. Hiroto was busy fletching arrows with nervous energy, a few of the younger ones having to already be tied down to prevent them from wandering deeper into the murky depths. Many were on edge. Scraping her own whetstone along the blade of a shuriken to keep it sharp, Yumi waited, cool as a statue.
"Captain," Hiroto spoke up eventually. "I think this is a bad idea. Ever since…" He trailed off, glancing uneasily up between branches and to the shadow of the Moon. Yumi inclined her head, accepting the tremulous inquiry.
"I understand. However, we have our orders. And a soldier to pick up."
"From here?" The Lieutenant looked dubious. "No one lives here except…" He swallowed at her pointed eyebrow. "Understood, Captain," he gulped. Glanced around again. "How long…?"
"Kannika will pick her moment," she reassured him. "Keep our flightier soldiers in check. This place will turn you around if you are not wary." He nodded. Yumi… whispered the wind. Come meet General Shen, he has a task for you.
She turned, very deliberately, from the apparition of the ageing General. Ozai had done away with him the same night he set the capital alight. The fool. As if he were the only one to know the contents of Azulon's will, to know the tenuous position that he had left himself in at Court. Stupid really, but also ingenious- tricking General Iroh into fleeing with Yumi's own Captain. Well, she had contacts enough and sense to not follow the apparition into the Swamp to disappear. Others did not. She would not lose any of her crew, as she had lost her birth family to the remnants of the Gyaltsen working under the Dai Li. And for that, she would never forgive them.
In the night, something screamed. She gripped her bow, smoothly drawing an arrow, eyes narrowed, ignoring, ignoring, ignoring that apparition. Come on Kaito. I cannot wait for you forever. Her men raised bows as well, wind and steel hitting the raised vine aimed to strike their raft. She threw her bow aside as it regenerated, spinning shuriken into a hurricane, riding the wind-
"That's enough!" The voice was young but sharp, water cutting through vines and ripping away the bark mask to reveal an ageing face. "They are not intruders to the Swamp. Attack again and Grandmother will hear of this." Hue retreated, eyes wide and wincing at the cut to his cheek. Yumi kept her gaze even. No one threatened her troop.
Leaning against the main mast of their raft, the teenager offered a grin. Dressed in browns but with Swamp vines wrapped around wrists and topknot, Kaito made a strange vision, but a welcome one. He slouched, seemingly weightless, as he met their gazes.
"Well," he started, a gleam in those gold-flecked blue eyes. "What are we waiting for?"
She flicked air at his head to ensure he knew what an idiot he was.
Zuko woke to ranting. His usually cool, collected cousin was pacing, sparks flashing from her fingers, a very nervous Sokka perched in the corner, watching her with his eyes. There was a defeated slump to his shoulders. At the foot of his bed, ropes had been clumsily cut through, matching red welts on Airi's wrists. Across the cramped room, Aang's pale face was half buried in furs, his chest rising and falling steadily. Groaning, Zuko sat up. His cousin continued to rant.
"Did you… lose?" he asked Sokka. There was no point asking Airi until she stopped ranting.
Sokka gave him a bleak look.
"No, we won," he said, tired and defeated. "But… we lost people. A lot of people." Zuko blinked, remembering a moonless sky, turned blood red in anger and pain. And, briefly, bleak emptiness, filled by a roar of rage and fire…
"Yue," he said, eyes wide. Sokka flinched. The pair had been stuck together like glue, even when visiting him for information about Zhao. If she wasn't here, and Sokka looked as if he were grieving… "I'm sorry." The other boy flinched.
"You're sorry!" Airi interjected, furious hazel turning on him. "Stay close to your cousin, father said! Touched by the spirits, he said! A way to end the war, he said! No one bothered to tell me 'touched by the spirits' meant power of the Avatar!" Zuko flinched at the ending shriek.
"… Sorry?" Airi turned away, still grumbling.
"Not your fault," she huffed, stalking around the tiny cell he had been returned to. So much for escaping. At least Roku had enough sense to stay silent. "Spirits, I just thought he meant favoured by Agni. Chosen by her, to act where she no longer can, not… that." She's scared, he realised. Something more than just this new knowledge.
"Airi, what is it?" he asked quietly. "Why…" She turned to him, desperation clear in her eyes. She looked like she might start crying. He fumbled to get out of bed, until she shoved him back down.
"Nothing, it's nothing, I'm being silly. I should know better, not to assume anything." She was angry with herself, but it didn't make Zuko feel better. Mother had made him promise to tell no one, not even his squad mates, or even his cousin who was born on Azuma, the official name for Sun Isle home of the Sun Warriors. "But, we thought… the birth of the dragons was a sign…" Even Sokka drew forward, curious. Zuko held her hands in his.
"Airi," he said firmly, a note of command in his voice. "Tell me." She was shaking.
"The sun is cold," she whispered, "Tui and La, they chose to leave the Spirit World, they chose to live in mortal form. And made themselves vulnerable to humans. But the eternal fire, lit by Agni herself… it has not been lit for a hundred years, except for flickers here and there." Chilled, Zuko almost dropped her hands. Sokka had gone grey.
"You mean someone… stole the Fire Nation spirit?" he squeaked. Cold, she called the sun cold. Because it can rise and set, but it has no spirit to give it warmth. This was not good. "But Roku said…" Airi snorted.
"We told Roku, when the flame first went out. He said it was the nature of all flames, we ought not to think too much of it, Lady Agni had nothing to do with it. Or… it was punishment for what Sozin did." Zuko snarled silently.
"I'm going to kill him." Alarm rang in his head. I mean it. I'm coming to the Spirit World to kill you again, you idiot.
But… no one said… there was no disruption…
Oh yes, because a hundred years of war and attacking her sister of the sky wouldn't have caused disharmony among the spirits, Zuko spat, furious. Help Aang, you said. The visions were not to do with you, you said. And you didn't think that they meant something!
Roku had no answer for that.
"When, exactly, did it go out?" Zuko ground out. Airi swallowed.
"Two days after the first colony was made." Zuko did some mental maths and cursed.
"That's a long time for a spirit to be gone," Sokka said dubiously. "How were there not consequences?" Airi gave him an unimpressed look.
"What do you think the likes of Ozai and Zhao are? Potato-chokes?" Zuko squeezed her hands sharply in warning as Sokka wilted. Now was not the time to be sniping at each other. And the mention of his father was slightly unwarranted. Mostly.
"A hundred years we have been without Agni," he said, sounding it out loud, feeling sick. "Who else knows?" Airi swallowed.
"My great-grandfather sent a letter to Sozin, warning him of the danger. There was never a reply, not from him. But Azulon sent one, that first day when you arrived. When you met Junsuina and Lengku. It was why I was sent home with you." She paused, a short quirk at the corners of her mouth. "Well, one of the reasons, anyway." He rolled his eyes and gave her a tiny shove. She rocked back on steady feet, amused. The light mood didn't last long. "Azulon claimed he had a plan, but you know as well as I that he told no one the entirety of it. We only know that he found a lead, something hidden within a library in the deserts of the Earth Kingdom. What that lead was…" She bit her lip and glanced away. It wasn't just sorrow that was there.
This time, Zuko did reclaim his hands.
"You knew," he whispered. "You knew how Zhao found out about the Moon and Ocean spirits. And you didn't tell me." Airi shrank from that, gaze in her lap. Sokka recoiled away from her, almost grey. He looked like he might be sick. Anger flickered in his gut and he scowled. "Why?" That was more a growl than a question. Airi flinched.
"It wasn't something to be spoken about. We had one missing spirit, and Zhao was practically a new recruit. And I was a child." There was a hint of tears in her voice, even as she turned her face away from the both of them. "I wasn't even supposed to hear the end of that letter, but I did. And Father made me promise to keep it a secret. By the heart of Agni's flame, guttered as it was."
Much to Zuko's shame, it was Sokka who reached out first. Airi jumped, glancing to find his serious face there.
"Do you know where the library is?" At Airi's sharp look, his face hardened. "Yue just died, because information on how to kill a spirit was easily found. If that can happen again…" He paused, eyes flicking towards Zuko. Zuko turned away, huffing. He didn't need pity. He wasn't broken, not intentionally…
There is no shame in being spirit-touched, Prince Zuko, Roku said gently. Zuko scowled internally and ignored him. Airi narrowed her eyes.
"Lady Agni isn't dead. Just… gone." And if that wasn't a chilling prospect, Zuko wasn't sure what was.
Jee stood, shivering, under the gaze of several waterbenders, trying to pretend he wasn't cold. With the navy retreating, he alone had pressed forward with his ship to collect the General. Chillingly, despite the presence of the dragon during the battle, the firestorm set by the prince and the argument between spirits, Iroh was alone. His face was grave as well, made worse as Jee walked down the gangplank with only the last of their original crew. Akiko, now his unofficial second, followed at a discreet pace behind him.
"Captain Jee," Iroh greeted him politely, formally bowing at the waist. General to Captain, officer to officer, rather than royalty to peasantry. Jee followed the same mould, his men following their lead behind. "I thank you for returning for me. We have a small window of truce with the Northern Water Tribe to collect our wounded and lost men and women." No mention of prisoners. No word of the Prince.
Jee narrowed his eyes at the old man behind the General. No doubt a waterbending master.
"We had hoped for word of Prince Zuko as well," he said gruffly, ignoring the outrage on the waterbender's face. "We all saw the dragon." Let them think we knew, he thought spitefully. Let them think there are more of us waiting for him. Those boats left behind were doing all they could to stay afloat. Jee had taken on as many men as he could, but it was inevitable that the leftover skeleton crews were doomed to an icy grave. We lost so many already.
"Prince Zuko is being well cared for by the best healers of the Northern Water Tribe," Iroh said primly, side-eyeing the water bender. "I have been promised daily updates in regards to his health. Once he is back on his feet, negotiations can begin." They want to see if the Prince dies first before promising ashmakers anything, Jee thought derisively. They'll be waiting a long time. That boy is more stubborn than an earth bender and too determined to just lay down and die. It was no secret that many believed the Prince should have rightfully died after receiving his scar. It had taken Jee a while to admit to himself that he was impressed the boy had survived.
"We shall stay in the vicinity then. However, with the rescue crews holding onto our ship, we are running low on supplies. And no self respecting earth kingdom neutral trader comes up this way for fear of an early death." This was said in the direction of the water bender. All he received was a sniff.
"I shall bring the issue up with Chief Arnook," he groused. "The matter will be decided then." They had rations enough to last them to port at the northernmost colony. If they stretched it out and starved the last two days.
Jee knew, with a sinking heart, that for the moment they would have to abandon their Prince. It must have shown on his face, or Akiko's, or Turk's more bloodthirsty one.
"Pakku will keep me firmly updated on Prince Zuko's status here," he said, in a manner too friendly to be anything other than a threat. "I am sure he will be offered some leeway after saving many of your people from their own death." Pakku twitched.
"That boy is more dangerous than you think," he spat. "If that is what you can call such a demon. We have our agreement Iroh- do not test my loyalties further." With that, he whirled away, the air a little colder around him. Jee waited until he was out of sight to shiver.
Iroh's eyes were sad as he left. A breath. And then-
"So," the General started, smile far too pleasant. "Who would like to tell me when they knew my nephew had been trained as an assassin?"
The traitors all made themselves scarce and left Jee to answer the General's uncomfortable questions.
Cool shadows flickered across the walls of the throne room, the flames of the dais making them into strange shapes. Monsters and sea serpents to unsettle the greatest commanders who knelt before the Fire Lord. And in a corner, sharp cobalt scales.
On her knees, Azula mentally flicked away the alien discomfort as Lengku cowered, quailing as always. Against their foes he was fierce, but ever since that Agni Kai…
Well, she had disciplined him properly. He would obey.
"Do you understand this very crucial task?" Fire Lord Ozai asked, one hand lazily curling fire across his knuckles. Smirking, Azula gazed adoration on the only man capable of ending the war properly.
"Of course, Father," she affirmed. Ducking her head back again when it became clear he did not wish to keep eye-contact. It would be inappropriate, after all, to believe herself his equal. Ozai hummed. A long pause. A dismissal with the wave of his hand.
Lengku ran ahead of them, sticking to ceilings and shadows, out of sight. She hated that he cowered so, the traitor. After the Agni Kai, after the deliverance of all that she could ever have wanted into her hands, he tried to make her go with the exile. She scoffed internally, deftly avoiding a trailing feeler. She had no time for the dragon's irrelevant feelings.
Courtiers and servants alike bowed in her wake, afraid of the Princess and dragon who wielded lightning as deftly as fire, confident in her stance. Unlike Zuko, she was not a failure. Unlike Ursa, she would not wilt in the face of danger. Unlike Iroh, she would not break with the loss of a family member. The smirk was real.
In her rooms, the servants had already packed her bags. Pleased at their efficiency, she dismissed them without burns. A gift, for their continued loyalty. They didn't bother with thanks, professional as always. Rabbit-mice, meek, pliable and soft. So soft. It didn't stop her from checking the bags for the correct gear. It wouldn't do for her to arrive without the required equipment in order to entrap one weak Prince and his flighty dragon. The Fire Sages who had lost her had been dealt with accordingly.
Azula had disappointed herself at the turn in her stomach at the smell of roasted flesh. As if she hadn't smelled it before, hadn't revelled in all that it meant. Lengku, the useless creature, hadn't come near her until the stink was fully washed from hair and skin, and even then with caution. She didn't waste such frivolities such as comfort on him- a simple pat to the nose would do. Part of her wished to be rid of the useless thing- another part of her quialed at the thought of losing that connection. At times, I can be as soft as Zuko, she thought with some disgust. The chains were there, right where they were always meant to be. Good.
"Come, Lengku," she said to the dragon curled into its usual corner. A nest made of shredded silks- primarily her mother's old dresses, the stupid sentimental thing. She refused to touch it. "We have some old friends to meet." That saw the dragon perk up. She smirked.
Silly Zuzu. Did you think you were the only one to know of the Dorje?