𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐒 // zuko

The Awakening

awakening

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Silence filled the space as Saria held the bag in her hand. She could feel the spirit inside call out to her, begging to be released, and yet her mind was blank. 

Though he was a cruel person who did bad things, Zhao was still her father. He was doing this so that they could live together as a family in success, and for him and his children to be called legends by the Fire Nation. She promised him.

"Saria, please. You don't have to do this." Aang cried, distracting from her clash of thoughts. She looked at him, her eyes meeting his, which were covered in despair. 

Saria looked around at his friends, each one of them holding their breath as she scanned. Katara looked defeated, for she did not trust that the Fire Nation-born girl would listen to Aang's pleas. Sokka looked angry, clutching his weapon in his hand as he stood in front of the bison.

Saria's gaze drifted to the girl that sat on the bison's saddle, her eyes widening as they made contact with each other. Saria observed her hair like snow and her glowing blue eyes, which made the world around her look dim in comparison. Something pulled Saria towards her, and she found herself slowly approaching the girl, who slid off the bison carefully to do the same. Sokka stood in front of her protectively, his boomerang in hand. The Moon Spirit was still in Saria's hands, wrestling against the fabric.

The white-haired girl stepped in front of Sokka, who grabbed her arm carefully.

"Yue, she's- "

"It's fine, Sokka."

The boy released his grip reluctantly, keeping a safe distance between him and Yue in case he needed to protect her.

"Tui..." Saria muttered the unfamiliar name as they walked up to one another, surprising both of them.

"Chikyu." The princess replied. Aang stared at them in awe, tension replacing the unsettling silence around them.

Saria had made up her mind.

"Do it, girl!" Zhao's scream broke their trance. His daughter looked back at him. She watched his face drop as he realised that she no longer felt conflicted. Instead, her face held calm expressions, and her movements were slow and peaceful. Saria could feel the Moon Spirit relax in her grip, suddenly assuming a sense of safety. 

Saria extended her arm towards Yue, offering her the bag. The white-haired girl released the breath she was holding and carefully held the spirit in her palms as she ran back to the pond, placing the spirit back in its rightful place. 

The fish swam, circling each other once again in an eternal dance. Balance was restored, and the moon returned to its natural white. Zhao dropped to his knees in front of the pond, observing the koi in betrayal. He had failed.

Yue glanced back up at Saria, who stood with the Avatar, and gave her a relieved smile.

Saria's destiny had been decided. Meeting Yue made it clear to her that she was destined to protect the spirits.

Or so she thought.

Before anyone could speak, Zhao lifted up his arm in fury and displayed a horrifying act of his firebending, instantly slashing the Moon Spirit in the pond. Zhao's fire spread across the oasis, threatening to burn anyone too close. Aang instantly pulled Saria out of the way, Sokka doing the same for Yue, both girls frozen in place.

The two girls looked up and watched in agony as the moon disappeared from the sky, stripping the earth of its colour. The Moon Spirit was dead.

Before Zhao could celebrate his victory, Iroh shot a ball of fire towards the admiral. Within the older man's flames, Zhao managed to escape from his wrath, fleeing the oasis without a scratch. Iroh took down the guards easily before glancing over at the dead spirit, his face concealed with grief.