ZUTARA WEEK 2021: Day 7: STORIES

The Heart's Own Wisdom

DISCLAIMER: Avatar: The Last Airbender belongs to Bryke but Zutara Week belongs to all Zutarians.

NOTE: Happy Live-Action Series Launch Day!

So glad I made it through this Zutara Week Catch-up, right on time for the new series, which I am so excited for. I powered through the prompts the whole week to get to this point and I am now ready for whatever Zutara Week 2024 has in store. I'm sure the new series will provide ample inspiration.

What inspired this piece was my idea that Wan Shi Tong's library is bound to reappear in the world and to humans one day. And it just so happens that our favorite pair stumbled upon its new location. This is set some time after the series.

Thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed my little stories this past week! I really appreciate the support.

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Katara couldn't shake the feeling that she had been here before.

The hall was empty but was filled with pillars with peculiar symbols on them. Katara sensed that the real contents of the building were hidden from human eyes and that some supernatural being resided there. Something seemed familiar but she could not quite remember what it was. Some unseen force seemed to have meddled with her own memory.

The stone building was ancient though still standing several stories above the ground where it had been built. But it was also disorienting because to reach that strange structure, she and Zuko had to go deep underwater.

They had been on a journey to the North Pole as part of a diplomatic mission to strengthen ties with the Water Tribes after the war. Zuko's position as the new Fire Lord still had its challenges and he was eager to start repairing relations with the rest of the Four Nations. Katara had eagerly volunteered to accompany him, not only to serve as ambassador of sorts, but really just so that they could spend some time together.

But they had been caught in a vicious storm and thrown off the small ship they had taken. Even Katara's waterbending had not been enough for them to return to either the ship or to some dry land. Instead, they had found themselves plunged deeper and deeper into the darkness of the ocean, the force of the water seeming to push them towards some secret location.

They had managed to stay together even underwater until they were both propelled to some caves where they were once again able to surface for air. But neither of them had any idea of where they were or how they could escape. Their only consolation was that they still had each other.

Beside the caves was the entrance to an ancient stone structure, and once they had gone in, the wall had sealed shut behind them. So they had no choice but to keep going, and they found that the building seemed to be a tall tower, with seemingly endless steps leading upward. When they finally reached a level that led to a large, empty hall, they were exhausted.

They both sat on the cold, stone floor, trying to catch their breath as they looked around them. It was there that Katara had felt that strange sensation of having been there before. She told Zuko as much. He had not felt it.

"I can't explain it," she said, "I just know that I've seen some of these symbols before. I just can't remember what they mean."

"I'm sure something will jog your memory soon," Zuko reassured her, "I think we should just get some rest so that we can figure out how to get out of here."

"I'm just glad I'm here with you," Katara told him with a smile.

"So am I," he said, taking her hand in his and squeezing it affectionately.

They sat beside each other and Katara leaned her head on Zuko's shoulder. He leaned his own head on top of hers and they savored the moment together. Their reverie was interrupted by a mysterious, booming voice coming from somewhere in the dark hall.

"Mortals are forbidden from entering my realm," said the voice, "If you have found your way here, then you are meant to bring me something of value."

Katara's eyes widened as her memory seemed to have cleared. Before she could say another word, a large figure emerged from the shadows.

And so the waterbender and firebender found themselves face to face with the spirit, Wan Shi Tong.