Katara

"Don't worry, Prince Zuko couldn't have gotten far in this weather, we'll find them." Yue tells me.

"I'm not worried that they'll get away in the Blizzard, I'm worried that they won't." I say, hoping they think my worry is only for Aang. Stubbornly, my concern extends to Zuko as well. As frustrated as I am at my warring feelings for the Fire Prince, I don't want him to die.

"They're not going to die in this blizzard. If we know anything, it's that Zuko never gives up. They'll survive. And we'll find them." Sokka says, conviction in his voice. It fills me with reassurance. He's right. It's one of the things I actually grew to find endearing about Zuko in my time aboard his ship, as frustrating as it can be. He's more determined than anyone I've ever met. it's caused us plenty of pain, but right now that's going to keep himself and Aang alive.

When we find them, Aang's trying to escape but is tied up. We land and I jump down, and Zuko assumes his stance. His snarl makes fury shoot through me. I haven't forgotten that peasant comment so quick. I never thought it'd hurt me that he Didn't call me princess for once, but it did.

"Here for a rematch?"

"Trust me, Zuko, it won't be much of a match." I say. Even as reckless as he can be, he's about to fight a water bender on a glacier in a snowstorm under the full moon. Here, completely in my element surrounded by snow and ice under the full moon, I don't even think Iroh could beat me. I knock Zuko out in seconds. Sokka unties Aang and we all get back on Appa. I look over at Zuko, unconscious in the ice. I don't want to just leave him here, but how can I justify taking him with us? He'll just keep trying to capture Aang. Thankfully, Aang voices what I can't.

"Wait, we can't just leave him here."

"Yes we can. Let's go." Sokka says, twisting my heart.

"No." Aang tells him, then gets Zuko and puts him in the saddle with us. As Sokka ties him up, I have to resist healing his wounds. Sokka wouldn't understand, and it'd be better for us if he's weakened right now.

What happens next is hard to put into words. The moon turns Red, and Aang and Yue both get a terrible headache while I lose my bending. When we get back to the Spirit Oasis, Zhao is holding the Moon Spirit koi fish in a bag with a knife to it.

"For generations to come the Fire Nation will tell the story of Zhao the conqueror, Zhao the Moon Slayer, Zhao the Invincible!" He tells his men.

"Momo, go distract him while we land." Aang tells the Lemur, and Momo does just that, jumping on his head and pulling his beard while we touch down. Before the Fire Benders can catch him, he flies back over to us, who are all ready to fight.

"Let it go, Zhao!" Aang tells him. In response, Zhao holds a knife to the spirit, making us all drop our stances quickly.

"Zhao, don't do this. It won't just hurt the water tribe. It will hurt everyone! Even you. If you kill the spirit, it will throw the whole world out of balance!"

"He's right, Zhao." I hear, and look over to see Iroh on the bridge.

"General Iroh. Why am I not surprised at your treachery?"

"I'm no traitor, Zhao! The Fire Nation needs the Moon Spirit too. Anything you do to that Spirit, I'll unleash on you tenfold!" He shouts, giving me chills. I've never heard Iroh yell before, and I'm sure I've only seen a fraction of how powerful he actually could be.

I turn back to Zhao, releasing a breath when after a moment's hesitation, he puts the fish back in the water. But then, quicker than we can react, he lashes out in anger and hits it with fire. The moon disappears from the sky.

"No!" I yell, and I see Iroh spring into action. I was right, I hadn't seen a fraction of what he could do. But as he fights the dozen or so Fire Nation soldiers, Zhao runs away like a coward. Once Iroh's defeated everyone, we all gather around the pool.

"There's truly no hope now. It's over!" Yue cries, and Sokka holds her to comfort her. Normally I might tease him, or at least be happy for him that this princess likes him. But now, I can't seem to say anything at all.

I'm not even a bender anymore.

"No, it's not!" Aang says, and his tattoos start to glow as he wades into the pool. I try to stop him, but Iroh signals for me not to interfere. Aang gets into the water, and after circling him a few times, the Ocean Spirit and him merge, and he becomes a giant Koi made of the oasis water that goes towards the battle.

Despite this all but ensuring the Fire Nation's defeat, it does little to comfort the loss of the Moon Spirit. I don't know if we'll even know in my lifetime how monumental a loss it is, just that it's awful.

We all crowd around Iroh as he holds the white koi fish, then gently places it back in the water.

"It's too late. It's dead." I say, wishing I could heal it.

"You have been touched by the Moon Spirit! Some of it's life is in you!" I hear Iroh say, and jerk my head up to see him looking at Yue.

"You're right. The Moon Spirit gave me life. Maybe I can give it life back."

"Yue No!" Sokka yells, grabbing her hand. "You don't have to do this!"

"Yes I do. It's my duty to my people!"

"I won't let you. Your father told me to protect you."

"This is my choice." She tells him, and pulls away, then puts her hands on the Koi Fish. I watch as a glow emits from between them, and her body falls limp into Sokka's arms.

"Yue. She's Gone. She's Gone." Sokka whispers, tears streaming down his cheeks. Mine too. But the white koi fish is once again circling the pool, and a few moments later the Ocean Spirit comes back and joins it's friend. As they swim, Sokka lays Yue's body in the water.

"Spirits, I've never prayed to you much. I'm not much of a devout follower. But Yue is a princess who's life revolved around the duties of her people. You gave her life as a baby, and now as a woman she's given it back. Is there any way she can stay with us? That your life and hers can be shared?"

Nothing happens for a few minutes, and Sokka quietly cries by the pool. I kneel next to him and slip off my gloves to hold one of his hands.

"I'm sorry, Sokka. I'm so, So sorry."

"She was incredible. Selfless and dutiful and sweet and pure. Why did this have to be her fate?" He whispers. We're all silent for another moment.

"Look!" Iroh says loudly, and we all glance at the pool. My eyes widen in shock and I gasp. The Ocean Spirit is circling Yue's body, and it touches the crown of her head. The water glows, and a second later, Yue takes a deep breath.

Her eyes, once light blue like Ice, are now dark blue like the deepest parts of the ocean, with black flecks among the blue.

"Yue!" Sokka exclaims and jumps in the water, carrying her out.

"The spirits, they-" She starts, but can't seem to find the words. Iroh clasps her hand and smiles.

"They honored your sacrifice. And your prayer, Sokka. Princess Yue, you are truly blessed to have now been touched by both the moon and ocean spirits. They have given you the gift of life twice. Do not waste it."

"I…I won't."

"I must go see if my Nephew survived the fight." Iroh says, and bows to us all. "A pleasure as always, Lady Katara." He winks at me. "I hope we never again meet under the circumstances of war."

"Thank you." I bow back. "May this war end soon."

Iroh hurries away to find Zuko, and we all focus our attention back on Yue.

"Sokka, I'm okay. You can put me down. We need to go and see how the tribe faired after the battle."