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When the letter arrived at the southern water tribe in a late afternoon, Katara already knew who it belonged to. After all, only a handful number of people send her letters from outside the tribe. She doesn't sadden herself remembering how the letters directed to her got fewer and fewer over the years, especially after her husband's death.
Still, it doesn't stop the gentle smile on her face when Kya read the letter for her. Her eyes had grown tired with age, so for the past few years Kya have read and wrote letters in her stead. Once Kya finishes reading, a gentle smile on her face as well, Katara motions for her to approach. She hugs her daughter, something that perhaps she should've done more in the later years even when she's an adult.
“ I'm happy with the news..” she says gently before releasing Kya, looking out the window towards the setting sun. “ To think I would really live long enough to hear about the birth of my third great-grandchild..”
“ You're resilient, ma. ” Kya responds. Taking a minute before responding while reaching for paper and a pen. “ I should write back. Maybe ask them when can they visit so you can meet the baby. ”
Katara gently shakes her head, her eyes still watching the blurry warm light slowly disappear in the horizon. A prediction decades old echoing in the back of her mind. There's no point.
“ Let them rest, Kya. The south pole's weather is too harsh for a newborn baby. ” she looks back towards her daughter. Her figure slightly blurry, but unmistakable in the eyes of a mother. Yet she can't bring herself to speak her true mind. “ Maybe another day. ”
Kya simply nods and sets down the letter. Katara slowly rises to her feet and takes slow steps towards her room.
“ I'll be sleeping early tonight. Goodnight, Kya....Know that I love you. Thank you for staying here with me all this time. ” Katara says slowly turning towards her, the familiar motherly love present all over her face. Kya smiles, her chest tightens gently.
“ I love you too, ma. Sleep well, I'll see you in the morning. ” she gives her a gentle kiss on the forehead. Katara only smiles, not having the heart to nod.
Because she knows as soon she lays down in her bed and falls asleep for the night, she won't woke up.
And indeed, she did not.
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Her body felt lighter than she expected. The heaviness that came with age and perseverance suddenly lifted and disappeared. She felt cool all around her, a deep sound resonating in her ears that felt strangely like being in the depths of the ocean.
Katara slowly opens her eyes. They are no longer blurry as they stare at the blue and light shining above. It takes more than a minute for her to process that she's not in her bed, but deep underwater.
‘ How- ’
As her hands come into view, she's surprised to see that they aren't wrinkled with age and hardwork. The hands in front of her are smooth like of a young woman's. Slowly she touches her face, not needing a mirror or reflection to be able to tell that she's not an old lady anymore.
‘ Am I dead?... ’
“ You are, my child. ” A voice resonates in the water, starling her slightly as she looks around. There's nothing surrounding her but endless blue. She also takes notice that despite being underwater she's breathing perfectly.
“ Who speaks?...Your voice..it sounds familiar even when I've never heard it, ” she asks calmly. If she's dead then there's nothing much to fear, unless it is supposed to be some sort of eternal punishment. Although Katara doubts being left in a vastness of water is a true punishment for her.
“ I am who you call La, the spirit of the ocean, your people's god. Welcome back to the spirit world, water child, ” The spirit says and slowly from below her a large black fish swims towards her, circling around her.
Katara immediately gentles as she recognises the ocean spirit and lowers her head in reverence. In her lifetime, there had been moments she dreamt of Tui and La, times where she spoke with them, seeked guidance and devoted herself to them as she grew older.
“ It's been so long...I am happy that you are the first I see now that I have passed. ” She slowly rises her head to look at the circling spirit. “ But why am I in the spirit world?..It isn't the after life, ”
“ It is not, but your soul belongs to the spirit world, my child. Your soul is of a water spirit and now that your human life has ended, it has returned to it's home. ” it calmly explains. Katara is caught off guard by the words, but to even her surprise she doesn't seem to disbelieve it. It feels like a missing piece, but it explains why she's not immediately panicking at waking up the way she did.
“ So I've returned home...it feels strange. I can sense it's my home, but it still feels distant. ” gently she swims towards the giant black fish, laying on it's back like she's done it before, but also feeling like it's the first time.
“ It will take some time for your memories to fully return, but worry not about it. For now, let us rejoice that you have returned. ” it swims up towards the surface, the light expanding and getting brighter. Katara closes her eyes as they break through the surface.
Slowly opening them, what greets her is strangeness that she's seen a number of times. Floating rivers and islands, creatures and ghosts never seen wandering the human world, but feel ordinary in the spirit world. Yet, her eyes look around with wonder as La continues to swim, taking her somewhere she can only assume is her home. The home she's supposedly going back to.
La stops once they reach under a bridge, Katara unconsciously sliding down it's back and back underwater to face it.
“ From here you must go until you reach the boundary between the water streams and the fire mountains. There is where your home is. I cannot take you there because I cannot stray too far from Tui. ” the spirit says ever so casually and calmly. Katara though, is hesitant to wander in the spirit world alone.
“ Can I not stay with you two?...I promise not to intrude. Even if you say that this has been my home, what if I get lost and never remember? ” despite the appearance of a young woman, all water spirits are like children to the spirits of the moon and the ocean.
“ Even if you stay with us, there will be a time you will eventually leave. For he will also arrive soon and there will be nothing more that you want, but to see him. ” La's voice gentles, ever so patient. It feels strange how the most violent of the two spirits is still so patient with her, a mere human now turned water spirit.
“ He? Who do you mean by he? ”
“ You will see. Now swim, child. You will know once you are home. ” the spirit gently touches her forehead, a sign of affection and blessing before turning away and swimming the opposite side to meet it's eternal partner. Katara can only wave as it leaves. Waterbenders are known for their cold touch, yet from the original spirit it felt warm.
“ Then...to home I shall go. ” she turns away and surfaces, thinking for a minute before deciding swimming will be faster. As a spirit, her abilities are similar to when she used to bend in the human world. Observing her surroundings, she follows the water and trusts it will take her to where she needs to be.
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Slowly swimming on her back to rest and change pace, Katara's mind wanders to the words of the ocean spirit who spoke of a 'he' she does not know of.
‘ It can't be Aang...as the avatar he's already reincarnated as Korra, so who is this he? ’
At the mention of her husband, her eyes sadden slightly. It has been so long since she last saw him, part of her in her old age wished that once she passed he'd be the first she'd see once she reached the after life. Yet at those thoughts, her chest remains empty and unreactive, it felt weird.
It isn't the first time it felt that way, empty even when Aang was alive and beside her. Most times it was not prominent, but it became especially hard to ignore whenever a specific person was also in the room.
In her eyes flash the image of dark strands turning white with age and warm golden eyes that never lost it's fire despite the time taking away their youth and energy. The emptiness felt more obvious whenever he was around. It was true throughout the whole period her and Aang had been together, it didn't matter what they did. Not even having three children completely made the emptiness disappear.
‘ I shouldn't think of it that way...I shouldn't be thinking of him right now... ’ her own mind scolds her. She should be thinking of her children. She doesn't know how much time has passed in the human world, but she has a feeling Kya have already discovered that she has passed away in her sleep.
Katara feels a pang of guilt and sadness. She already misses her family. Regret forms in her chest as she thought how she should've spent more time with her sons before passing, that she should've persevered like always just for a bit more until she could see the youngest member of the family. However she knew better than anyone that her time couldn't be stretched any longer.
Regret also forms in the pit of her stomach how she basically has not had any contact with her closest friends that were still alive. She just hopes Toph and Zuko remain in good health despite them already being very old and retired completely from their roles a long time ago. She regrets not sending them letters anymore, letting the fear that maybe she wasn't important to them after Sokka and Aang passed away.
‘ Hopefully they'll take the news well.. ’ she can only pray.
Slowly she closes her eyes again, completely still as she let's the water current guide her. She isn't tired, she can't feel tiredness, however perhaps it's because it's her first day returning, she feels the urge to sleep and rest in the water. So much feels so strange, Katara only hopes once she wakes up things won't feel as confusing.
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A sharp pull at her chest makes her eyes flash open with a gasp. A feeling of heart trying to break free from the front of her chest out of sheer will. At first she is confused, slightly worried that something was done to her while asleep, but then she pays closer attention to the feeling. Katara could sense a presence. There were many live things surrounding her that had presence, but this specific one felt like a torch in a dark room.
It's almost unconscious when she turns and glides on the surface of the water at a new speed, following the pull of her heart. She barely notices the scenery changing, barely notices the mountains of fire that have appeared in her peripheral view, because the one warmth she could sense was not within those mountains.
A tall figure stands by the shore. The line where water meets the firey mountains. He's broad, his back turned to the water as long dark hair falls down even bellow the line of his waist. Wearing golden and red robes, the colours almost inverted of that one person she associates it with. The figure also has a long dragon tail and horns, sharp ears that seem to peek between his hair strands. Even from behind he looks so much like him.
‘ Wait...him?.. ’
Before anymore thoughts could be formed, as if sensing her rapid gliding in the water, he turns to face her. Familiar golden eyes clash with hers from afar. Where was supposed to be a scar is actually a red mark of similar shape, but the face is undeniably him.
“ Katara!!? ” he calls out to her, stepping his feet into the water, creating steam. It was as if his body was made of fire at the most microscopic level. It wouldn't be unrealistic, after all as a firebender he can only become a fire spirit if it's the case.
Katara doesn't think when she extends her arms, not one inch of her hesitating when she jumps towards him and no inch of him hesitates as he takes her in his arms tightly, closing any distance that could possibly exist between the two. Her arms wrap tightly around his neck, hand tangling in his hair, while his are around her waist and back, keeping her pressed against him.
Finally, the relentless pull at her chest seems to disappear now that she's in his arms. The man also seems to relax with her, as if he had been feeling the same pull in his chest beforehand. It should feel strange that they are hugging this way, after all when alive they were friends, that unfortunately drifted apart. It shouldn't be appropriate, but yet she feels at the most peace and feels a sense of content like this. One she hasn't felt in years after Aang passed, and even with him it didn't feel so... fulfilling. Slowly she pulls away, hearing him grumble in protest before letting her pull away just enough to look at his face, his arms still tight around her as her arms are still around him as well.
“ Zuko! You-..Did you.. ” she hesitates, unsure of what to even ask first.
“ I...died, shortly before waking up here.. ” he responds, keeping his eyes trained on her like the world around them doesn't exist. He's confused as to why he's in the spiritual world and as to why he's not freaking out about it. “ Felt some strange chest pain on my scar so I retired to my room...when I opened my eyes I woke up somewhere deep in those mountains. ” he nods behind him.
“ You died?..So soon..” her hands gently grip the robes on his shoulders. Her words make him chuckle.
“ It was about time, Katara. I was too old already. ” Instead of lowering her onto the ground, he instead sits cross legged on the shore and sets her comfortably on his lap. It's like his body refuses to let her go and her own body has no desire to put distance. “ I was thinking on sending you a letter the next morning, but I never truly expected it would be my last day alive. But what about you? If you are here it also means you... ”
“ I passed in my sleep as well..I think I might've died just a bit earlier than you did. ” her hands gently travel to his chest, where the lighting scar would be, her eyes looking at him as if asking if it still hurts. At the shake of his head she relaxes slightly.
“ I see... it's definitely coincidence.. ”
“ It is not coincidence, son of my flame. ” a voice resonates from the skies almost like a roar. Zuko is unfazed however Katara was slightly startled. She feels the air warm up slightly as a giant white dragon slowly descends from the mountains of fire, the flames parting as it settles on the floor near them. She can immediately tell it is a powerful spirit, perhaps in par with Tui and La, which meant it could only be one specific spirit.
“ Agni, there's still much I am confused about. Is Katara the 'she' you spoke about? What do you mean that our deaths are not a coincidence? ” Zuko doesn't hesitate to slightly bombard the dragon spirit with questions. Agni remains patient, almost as if it was a casual matter.
“ Yes, this water child is the 'she' I told you about. And your close deaths were no coincidence for your souls are intertwined. If one of you passes the other will follow shortly after. Be it a few minutes or hours later. ” the dragon gently explains. The two are caught off guard by his words.
They can't exactly deny themselves that there was always something about the other that made it impossible to ignore, even when they met each other with hatred. That something only grew as they became friends and explored together and it pained them whenever they were apart or even the thought of each other when far. It had been one of the reasons why they grew distant, conversations became shorter until it turned non-existent, only hearing about each other through the words of other people.
“ Intertwined?...Why would our souls be intertwined? Me and Zuko never married or bonded in such way.. ” it's her turn to ask, keeping a respectful tone. Agni is not her god, so it might not be as patient with her as with Zuko. To her surprise, the dragon further softens with her.
“ Your souls predates your human lives. I believe La has implied it, but you are not originally humans. Your home has always been here, in the spirit world and with each other. ” it says with such normality as if it didn't immediately shatter their senses of identity.
Katara and Zuko can only remember themselves as humans. Benders. Yet, they don't immediately disbelieve the spirit because part of them feels like it is true. It is like slow pieces of memory are returning by the hour, making them feel more familiar with their surroundings. It's also the only plausible explanation as to why they are so inseparable with each other at the moment. If in their human life they weren't close, perhaps in their original lives as spirits they were each other's homes.
‘ My home...is him?... ’ slowly she looks at Zuko who's also looking at her. Both stare at each other, processing. They can't bring themselves to deny it or even try to use logic for it. They are in each others space at the moment and when they collided, they felt a relief never imagined before.
“ How can we possibly not remember our true identities and...each other? Even though I confess that during my life she always felt.. different, it wasn't as intense as..this. ” Zuko questions, slowly breaking eye contact with her. She also looks at Agni who gives them a resigned sigh.
“ It is a consequence. When spirits decide to reincarnate as humans there is always a risk. A risk of losing their identity and connection as spirits. You two took the risk twice, only this second time it nearly ended badly. ” Agni explains gently. This turn, it's Katara who quickly follows with another question.
“ Twice?...You mean the lives we remember as humans isn't the first one?..What was our first.. ”
“ I believe you two have heard of the tale of Omashu. The two cave lovers. ”
The pair's eyes widen. Although it had become a forgotten tale, they've heard of it. Two lovers of opposing territories who were at war, found a way to meet in each others arms in an underground labyrinth. Sadly the man, Shu, passed away in the war and that leads the woman, Oma, to end the war with her earthbending. Eventually leading to the birth of the city of Omashu.
Katara somewhat remembers a very distant memory of being in that labyrinth. It had spoken to her in very quiet whispers, but she never paid much attention since she and the others were too busy trying to find a way out. She can't help but question if the whispers and feelings would've been stronger if Zuko somehow was also there at the same time.
“ After you ended the war, my flame child, you eventually passed a few hours later. For humans it was a strange death since you were still a pretty young woman, but for spirits who's existence can only continue with the other it was only natural. ” Agni finishes, letting them process it's words. The dragon understands that the two small spirits still will need a lot of time to fully process, remember and accept this.
“ Wow...this is..a lot.. ” Katara finally says, her hands gently sliding down Zuko's chest. Their first life as humans weren't as Katara and Zuko, but as Shu and Oma. Two lovers in time of war that did what they could to be with each other. It doesn't escape her mind how in their last human life they were also born in times of war, only they never got to be lovers.
“ Even after seeing the barbarity that can be the human world and how you two suffered with the way you were separated and eventually died...you still wanted to try a second time. ” the tone of the spirit comes out dissatisfied, as if remembering a time where the two of them were about to take another risk against better judgment.
“ Do you dislike humans? Is that why you aren't or weren't happy about us doing it again? ” Zuko speaks out of his silence, observing the spirit. Katara can tell he's still trying to grasp the mountains of information, but he also wants the full picture of who they are and what they will have to do.
“ I didn't dislike them in the beginning, but after those creatures decided to use the art I thought them the wrong way I lost interest. ” Agni doesn't deny it. “ However that is not what dissatisfied me. You are still a child of mine, spirit born of my bestest of flames. Yet you wanted to take one more risk being born as a human and experiencing it with her, even when the bond between you was already threatened. ”
At it's words their chest tugs towards each other, unconsciously making them tighten their hold. None of them immediately speak, because both can most probably tell that this tugging and desperation that they feel is their subconscious trying to keep their bond from breaking. The bond that has existed for far longer than they currently remember.
In a far past they wanted to try it again, maybe still hopeful that they could experience love and bonding the same way humans do, only to be born in the middle of a much worse war and of completely opposing sides. Even after it was over, with no longer the threat of war over their heads, there was still a lot of conflicts to resolve, missions to do, things to fix. That is without mention that Katara ended up involved and marrying someone else, the same way Zuko also married someone else. Both had children with other people that weren't each other and for decades never saw each other face to face.
‘ Huh?...Why...When did I start to think of Aang as "someone else"?... ’ she catches herself. Before her thought process could spiral, Agni speaks again.
“ It is for that reason why your bond was almost broken. Reincarnating with the bond already unstable from a previous life, then spending a good portion fighting each other, distanced from each other and even building lives with other people caused it to further weaken into it became too fragile. ” the dragon speaks as if it knew everything that happened in their lives. Perhaps it did as it observed over them. “ At some point Tui came to me and begged me to bring you two back here or do something to change the course of your human lives, afraid that if it continued your spirits would disappear or break with the bond. ”
At the mention of the moon spirit, Katara's eyes snap back to the dragon again.
“ Tui begged you? ” she's suddenly remembered of the battle between her and Zuko in the oasis. It must've been around then.
“ And I almost listened. Eventually it was the small spirit Yue and the ocean spirit La who told me to leave it be. Perhaps they believed that your bond could maybe still survive your human lives. Although, we agreed that you two are to never try human reincarnation again. It has costed you your memories and nearly costed you a life bound bond and your lives. ” The dragons tone turns a bit harsh, as of a parent setting a clear rule. Katara lowers her head.
Part of her wants to complain that it is unfair and that none of this makes sense and perhaps it's all a complicated dream and she'll wake up in the afterlife. But the warmth under her hands is real, the pulsing in her chest and his are real, slowly syncing and giving the sensation that it's trying to heal. There are no wounds in her body, but it still feels like something hurts. The two of them know Agni is right, their second life was a close call to their true identity.
“ We are understand...but you can't really expect us to not think about the human world anymore when it's all we can remember. This bond feels real, but also unknown..so what- ”
“ Give it time. Your memories will return eventually and you will know who you are. Who you were before Zuko and Katara, and before Oma and Shu. You are already talking as a union rather than an individual. It should be an additional sign that you two are meant to each other. ”
At it's words they both look at each other. As seconds passed, Katara could feel a small change form. It's mostly unnoticeable, but the more she looks at Zuko's face the less she thinks of him as an old distant friend. Blue and gold stare at each other in silence, their ears listening to their bond slowly being mended in the depths of their conscious.
“ So..eventually this won't..feel strange. ” Zuko speaks. Katara has a feeling he's telling her and not the dragon, so she responds.
“ It's weird...but we've only been here for a few hours right? I guess we have eternity to understand it. ” Slowly she slides her arms further back his shoulders until her chest is pressed completely against his, breaths mingling as the eye contact remains.
“ Eternity... doesn't sound so bad. ” His forehead lowers, resting against hers as both close their eyes. The pulsing of their bound muffles the sound of flying, neither of them feeling the presence of the dragon spirit any longer.
Everything is still confusing for them. Holding each other feeling like a forgotten art they were forced to unlearn and now have to relearn again. But as they said, maybe an eternity to relearn everything again isn't so bad.