Chapter Text
She often stared out at the sea. In all of its shifting moods, it remained the same plane of blue water. It was tied to the Earth, always reaching for the moon even when it was out of sight. On still nights, it could hold the night sky in its reflection. The ocean was the only thing capable of holding the sun without burning, and every star in the sky.
Days, weeks, years; she stared out at the sea looking for a ship.
At first, Katara would jump at the shadow of a seagull, or the smoke from a dying fire. The Fire Nation ships always started as black smudges on the horizon. After her mother was taken away, they stopped coming.
Then, when she was older, she scanned the horizon for the tanned sails of her father's fleet. The war was so far away, but she felt it daily in the absences around hearths and the scarcity of shadows. Gradually, there came a time when only her brother could look her in the eye. Everyone else dipped toward the snow, either by age or hopelessness. After her father went to war, not a single ship came back.
It was just her and the sea, surrounded by ice, and the numbing dread that this was all there was. The moon would stay pearly white in the sky and the horizon free of ships. Some days, Katara didn't even know which ship she was looking for.
Until, at long last, a white and blue sail popped into view.
"Let me see!" Sokka scrambled up his fortress walls to look through an outdated telescope. "They're Water Tribe!" His boots sank into the soft snow, sending a chunk of unfinished wall sloughing down to the cheering children below. "White sails with blue waves, they must be from the North!"
Aid, at long last. Perhaps they brought people to help bolster the Southern Water Tribe's defenses, or brought supplies to help with the sick and elderly. Katara couldn't think of anything they could bring that would make Gran Gran's deep wrinkles collapse into a scowl, but her grandmother glared anyway.
"Do you think it's a trap?" Katara asked. It was odd that the ship angled toward a non-existent port. The village had moved three times since their sister tribe last visited, anyone who talked with their soldiers would know that.
"Not exactly," Gran Gran said, "but there's going to be a catch. There's always a tooth they want before offering gold." She sighed, and took a long hard look at Katara. "Come dear, let's get you and your brother looking your best before they arrive."
Waterbenders, Katara was sure of it, somewhere on that ship were waterbenders. She'd only been able to scratch the surface of the ocean, mimicking the waves and levitating small drops that fell from her fingertips. There was no one in the village that could teach her, for she was the last. Finally, she'd be able to learn from someone other than her own reflection.
There were few reasons for Katara or her brother to need to impress anyone. The children were easily awed, as was Gran Gran so long as everyone was happy. They were sorely out of practice, all of them were.
Sokka's warpaint was heavy handed, with shaky lines and streaked where he tried to touch it up with more layers. For hours, Katara's hair had been sectioned out of her usually braid into dozens and woven around bone rings. From those hung heavy fabric braids decorated with whale-seal bones. She found herself constantly needing to stand up taller, dragged down by the ornamentation. Even the clothes Gran Gran fetched for them were their parents, and not theirs.
For five years they'd been stuck waiting to be old enough, waiting for the war to be over, waiting to celebrate. The village had been caught by surprise. Even still, Katara was giddy with anticipation, fussing with each braid. She looked like a princess.
"The necklace!" Gran Gran snapped her fingers. "Katara, you need to keep that off while they're here."
"But it was mom's," Katara said.
"I know." Gran Gran popped her head out of the tent. People were coming near. "It's only for a little while, just in case." With that, she darted out to buy the children time.
Katara's hand traced the carved pendant that hung from a singed leather choker. Without it, her heart would race, instinctively thinking it'd been dropped instead of removed. It was childish to hold onto it like a security blanket, especially in her mother's old dress, but she never took it off.
"Here," Sokka wrapped a fur collar around Katara's shoulders and covered it up, "that way you can still wear it."
"But Gran Gran said-"
"That they might not want to see it, well that's their problem," Sokka said. Granted, he teased Katara anytime the clasp needed replacing, but he never fought her on it. "Besides, they came to see us. Our village, our rules."
"Thanks, Sokka." She smiled.
He didn't look like a village chief. She tried not to think how she looked the same, children playing at being adults. However, in their father's absence, they represented him. Sokka stood up taller and smiled through the fear, encouraging Katara to do the same. It would be fine.
They stepped out into the brilliant sunlight. The snow glistened, blinding them as they greeted the ambassador from the Northern Water tribe. She was an older woman in black furs, with silver hair pulled up into smooth buns.
Sokka immediately forgot what to say.
"Greetings," Katara bowed the way Gran Gran taught her, "from the Southern Water Tribe. I am Katara, daughter of Hakoda and this is my brother Sokka." The woman in front of her scowled a bit. "Son of Hakoda." Katara added to see if it would ease the tension.
"You let your sister introduce you?" The woman asked, incredulously.
"Yeah, well, she's so good at it," Sokka said.
That seemed to smooth things over. She regarded the both of them with a bow of her own. "Forgive my manners, I am Kuak of the Northern Water Tribe. I come on the behalf of Chief Arnook." Then she waited. "The matter is of political importance," she prompted, "is that something you wish to discuss outside?"
"Why not?" Sokka asked, growing more and more frustrated with how Kuak looked at them as if they'd done something wrong. War meetings often happened in snow igloos during the dead of night, but there was no one around except a few children playing with penguins. Neither cared about the matters of adults. "It's a nice day."
"-to have some tea," Katara cut in. "Lady Kuak, if I may show you to-" Which igloo had Gran Gran panic cleaned? "our ancestral home. I'm sure there's a cup with your name on it." She led the way in a hurry, trying to leave the icy silence at their backs. It took all her power not to ramble until they were tucked away out of sight.
Kuak was a stoic woman. Sokka's jokes did little to lighten the mood once they were inside, nor had Katara's flattery made her smile. Ever since setting foot in the village, she had a look on her face like something smelled bad.
"Alright your ladyship," Sokka said, "what's up?"
Katara, in a desperate bid to keep the peace, bent their guest's tea into her tea cup. She missed the rim by a hair spilling it on the table, but at long last one of Kuak's frown wrinkles softened. Hope for Katara, that she'd come seeking waterbenders to train, was hard to contain.
"I regret to inform you that her royal highness Princess Yue, has passed away," Kuak said.
"I'm so sorry to hear that," Katara elbowed her brother under the table before he could so much as breathe the question: who is that? Whoever it was, they were important enough that their death caused ships to come ashore to their sister tribe.
"She was so young," Kuak agreed, betraying a hair of remorse. "Chief Arnook worries the mourning period will further damage morale, and… It was her wish that people celebrate her life, breaking tradition. We thought unification with the tribes might help achieve that wish."
"How?" It was Sokka's turn to make a face. "I mean don't get me wrong, everyone's stoked you're here, but the war isn't over. I thought sending ships back and forth was dangerous, and that's what shut down communication. Hundreds of people, not soldiers, people died trying to make their way to the Northern Gates. No one here has a ship that can sneak past Fire Nation blockades without getting spotted immediately. Unifying now could allow Fire Nation soldiers to find where the Southern villages have relocated too."
"There would be no 'back and forth'," Kuak said. "We wouldn't force anyone to move that didn't want to, but if that's a concern, we can take everyone who wishes to join us on a second envoy."
"Who's us?" Sokka asked.
"Sokka, I think she means all of us," Katara said. It would be a terrifying journey, but if it meant Gran Gran and everyone could live safely, away from the open horizon where anything could hide in the sun's rays. "What would we need to do?"
"Sokka," Kuak said, "may I speak with your sister in private?"
"Sure."
Katara knew the sound of that sure, it was the tone of a boy ready to run to Gran Gran to tattle on her. Katara had done nothing wrong, as far as she could tell. Only good things so far had been said, and there was no harm in hearing the woman out.
"You're very mature for your age," Kuak began. "Your methods are inelegant, but you've managed him quite well. Her royal highness left behind a husband. Han is our most talented warrior, but… What we need is a strong leader, and in order to do that, we need someone who can fill the Princess' role as a beacon of hope. A marriage between the North and South would act as a symbol of restoration that we desperately need. Should you agree, I can take you with me and we'll get started on training immediately."
"Would I be able to learn waterbending?" Katara asked. "I've only been able to teach myself so far."
"Naturally," Kuak agreed. "To have a healer in the royal family, would be a bold statement to the Fire Nation that the Water Tribes will not be torn down so easily."
It sounded so grand, but to marry someone she didn't even know… What was she thinking? So many families had sacrificed husbands, sons and brothers to the war. By comparison, a marriage should be easy. Given the princess's sudden death, the future chief likely was in anguish. She could be a good friend, even if she wasn't ready to be a wife.
"Is Han ready to be remarried?" Katara asked. "I mean, is that even possible?" Her father swore he'd never remarry after her mother's death.
"That part is easy." Kuak smiled sadly. "Her royal highness has become one with the moon spirit Tui. Tonight, when the moon is fullest, we will hold a ceremony asking for her blessing. Even the staunchest of naysayers will have to welcome you with open arms after that." She reached across the table and patted Katara's hand. "My job is to make sure this goes as smoothly as possible for the tribes."
"Okay," Katara said, "I'll do it."
"Excellent," Kuak sat back, "my team will prepare the ceremony and witnesses. You may tell your family the good news and prepare your people for a celebration."
"Yes, of course." She didn't need to be told twice how important this was.
Pounding drums and the tearful well wishes of her tribe echoed into the night. Word had rippled through from one ear to the next well before Katara had an answer for how she felt about her decision. All that had mattered was how important this could be for the tribe.
"You don't have to do this," Sokka said. He and Gran Gran had their hands full keeping the visitors from confusing people's homes with children's playthings. The more toes that were stepped on, the less happy he was for Katara. As it was he had to elbow his way through the adults to get to where Katara sat at the fire ready and waiting.
"You're just jealous they didn't come for you," Katara whispered.
"No," his voice cracked a little, "I just think it's odd they asked you and not Gran Gran or dad."
"They don't want Gran Gran marrying a fifteen year old boy," Katara grinned to keep up appearances. "Let alone dad."
"No, but I guarantee she'd give them an answer they wouldn't like," Sokka said. "Especially with the whole 'leaving tomorrow thing'. What if they're Fire Nation spies?"
"Really, spies?" Katara raised an eyebrow. "They just happen to have a royal crest on a Northern Water Tribe boat, and know exactly how to braid whale bone beads and find the tannest soldiers they could find?"
"For all we know, the Northerners have a different crest now and clothes too. I mean, what animal has black fur anyway?"
"It's dyed, Sokka," Katara said, "apparently sea prunes can make really dark purple if you have enough. Which, might I remind you, they're wearing because someone died!"
"Right." He narrowed his eyes far from convinced. "A princess that just happened to be a little older than you."
Kuak addressed everyone in fluent scripture from the Northern temple. Katara sat up straighter, giving her brother a smug look. No spy would be able to know stuff from Water Tribe temples. They wouldn't be able to get within a breath of the spirit oasis without getting caught.
"Tui, we ask that you look down on this precious blossom that you've protected all these years and grant her safe passage back to the North where she belongs," Kuak professed with a grand accompaniment of drums and shakers. "Let her lead with grace and dignity, blessing the new union between Katara of the South with Han-" Kuak looked up, puzzled as the pure light of the moon faded from pink to blood red.
"I knew it!" Sokka stood up. "You're a fake!"
"I-I assure you I don't know what's going on." Kuak motioned for the band to start up again.
A log in the firepit split in half. Flames raged up to the sky and threw out sparks toward anyone that sat in the front row. Kuak backed away, the sleeve of her coat needing to be buried in the snow. Katara ripped off her stole and smothered the rest of the flames. Dull murmurs trickled out of the crowd.
"I bet Princess Yue isn't even dead," Sokka accused, "if she exists at all!"
"You ignorant snow rat!" Kuak shot back.
"Sokka!" Katara admonished. "Please, he's just scared. We all are. The last time someone came here–” She hesitated, her voice grew smaller. “--they were also looking for me." The fire spit at her feet, mocking her pain. Her mother's necklace glinted in the firelight.
"This was a mistake," Kuak motioned for the ceremony to stop.
To Katara's horror, the moon started to fade back to its original color.
"See?" Kuak said. "The moon spirit sent us an omen. We chose the wrong girl."
"Sure it did," Sokka glared at the Northern tribe packing up their things. "I'm sure the moon was also the one that said you only had a day to pull off this scam. No one's tricking this tribe! Every village in the area knows you've been skulking around our bay, and what you're trying to pull. Ain't nobody giving up their daughters or the time of day to you now." He was quite proud of himself, barking after their visitors up until they'd loaded onto the ship.
"What have you done?" Katara asked barely above a whisper.
"I'm keeping my promise to dad!" Sokka looked over at Gran Gran and got a nod of approval. "I don't know what they were up to, but my warrior instincts told me something-"
"Screw your instincts!" She ran after them, too late to make it onto the ramp. "Wait! He doesn't know what he's talking about. He's being an idiot, please!" No one heeded her.
The Northern ship pulled out of the harbor, leaving Katara in the shallow icy surf.
"And stay out!" Sokka shot back at the ship.
"Are you happy!?" Katara glared at her brother, tears clinging to her cheeks. "There goes my one chance of being a waterbender."
"You can still bend."
She ignored him, all of them, and stormed away from the village. Padded in furs, it was hard for anyone else to know how tightly she clenched her fists. Each stride so forceful, she sank an inch deeper into the snow than usual. Anything to keep the heat from potential tears to reach a boiling point.
"Katara!?" Sokka, realizing she wasn't listening, rolled his eyes. He then turned back to the village to gloat about the fictional plot he stopped.
It wasn't fair. He ruined a once in a lifetime political alliance and would get to be praised as a hero for it. Meanwhile, everyone would pity Katara for being gullible enough to get her hopes up over nothing. She ran for high ground, until her feet couldn't take her any further. The Northern ship grew smaller by the minute.
She stared out at the sea, not knowing when she'd see another ship again, except… Except the Fire Navy vessel that had been beached when she was but a child. It was forbidden to go anywhere near it, but if anything had the power to catch up to the Northerner's ship, it was a Fire Navy vessel. All she'd need was to get close enough to hop aboard, then she could explain to them how stupid her brother was.
Nevermind the fact that what she was thinking was equally stupid, and definitely forbidden, but she was running out of time. In an hour or so, she wouldn't be able to tell which direction their ship was going. As for how to get it running…
She could still bend.
A little, sort of.
Katara ran down toward the abandoned vessel, adrenaline clouding her thoughts. She could still catch them. There was still hope.
The Fire Navy vessel loomed over her, mounted in the air by steep jets of ice. It'd remained untouched for decades. For the first time, she laid her hands against the ice and tried to picture it melting.
She'd done it before with icicles. It took a lot of effort just to get one half way melted, so obviously to get an entire wall of it to melt she'd need even more force. She lifted her arms and brought them down quickly, imagining the ship coming down gently after multiple attempts.
Only, it didn't.
With one motion, the left side of the ship lurched with nothing to support it. Katara had all of a few seconds to fathom she'd done that. She'd moved enough ice to hold a ship, and there was nothing but the ground to catch it.
Panicked, she tried to lift it back up with her waterbending, but the melted ice quivered helplessly. The right side of the ship buckled the remaining formation. There was a low groan of metal as the ship crashed down.
Katara flinched, too scared to move and accidentally bend anything else. She opened one eye, then another.
Nothing happened.
"Great," Katara whispered to herself, shaken out of her plan to catch up to the other ship. What was she thinking? It took at least three people to sail one of their fishing boats, and that wasn't full of rust and holes. "Gran Gran's gonna kill you, but it's fine."
She'd have time to fully mourn her freedom later. What mattered most was fleeing the scene before something worse happened. Maybe, if she was lucky, she could pretend she didn't know what happened.
She scrambled back up to high ground, with the settling metal behind her. Farther and farther, until at last the ship was a black smudge settled back in the ice. Something high pitched screamed out. A single red flare burst from the ship, up high into the night. It crackled, followed by a low boom that spread red sparks like stars across the sky.
"Oh no," Katara murmured.
Off in the distance, another red flare popped into the sky.