Chapter Text
She decides the gentlest way to visit her still-fragile gifted child is through a dream. While the others will not balk much at a spirit manifesting in their waking hours, she does not wish to cause the girl more harm. Agni knows how long her healing has taken so far, and part of her does not want to risk the setbacks that are sure to rear their heads when the girl wakes. But at the same time, this will give her even more time.
The dream she interrupts is a quiet one, thankfully, and Agni takes careful steps along the beach of one of the islands her people call home. A young woman sits in the sand, staring out at the ocean. Agni finds it interesting that the girl dreams of the same place she inhabits in the waking world. With a small smile on her lips, Agni folds herself onto the sand, sitting beside the young woman. Molten amber eyes snap towards her and go wide as the sun spirit smiles warmly. “Hello Azula,” she greets gently.
“Who…where did you come from? No one has ever…am I…what's happening?? No! I was doing so well! Damn it!!” Panic slides into the young firebender’s voice as she cries out, stumbling to her feet and backing up, nearly tripping and falling back into the sand. Agni rises just as quickly, reaching out and catching the young woman before she can fall. As soon as she touches the girl's skin, the panic in those amber eyes recedes.
“Shh, child. You're alright. This is a dream. You're dreaming-”
“I know that!” Azula snaps defensively, and Agni is surprised she does not rip her arm from the sun spirit's grip.
“Do you know who I am, precious one?” Agni murmurs gently, letting the heat of her seep into the firebender's skin. She watches as the girl's eyes widen, expression shifting to shock and then fear—perhaps at the realization she has just snapped at one of the great spirits.
“Agni…” the girl's voice is small and much less fierce as she drops her gaze.
“Shh, none of that, child,” the spirit reaches out with her other hand, using a gentle finger to lift the firebender's chin. “I know you mean no disrespect. Afterall, it is I who has trespassed into your mind, but I thought this may be less harmful than the alternative,” she explains softly, smiling as the young woman appears to relax just a little. Fear still swims in those amber irises, but it is joined by curiosity.
“Alternative?”
“I did not wish to cause you undue harm by risking this when you were awake,” the sun spirit replies. Her precious child blinks up at her for a moment.
“What…what's going on? Why are you here? Is this…is this even real?” Azula's gaze narrows in suspicion, but Agni simply nods.
“It is very real, child. I have come to tell you that when you wake, it will not be here that you do. Something grave has happened and your uncle has petitioned the spirits to give him a chance to remedy what has gone wrong. We spirits have each chosen those we wish to accompany the old General in his mission. You and your brother have my blessings to return,” Agni tells her, turning and gently guiding the young woman to walk with her along the beach.
“R-return??” The sun spirit aches at the anguish and fear in the child's voice.
“We have all agreed on the day the Avatar wakes,” she says slowly.
“What?! But I- I- he- you can't!! Please don't make me go back there!” Azula's voice rises as panic and terror fill her and Agni once again reaches for her.
“Breathe, my child,” Agni holds her gaze and takes both the girl's hands in her own, letting her warmth flood the girl. When the girl's breathing finally slows, the sun spirit gives her another gentle smile. “When you wake, you will slip from the palace walls under the guiding light of my lover. Go to the swordmaster in Shu Jing. He will help you.”
“Swordmaster…Zuzu’s old swordmaster?” Agni nods. “Why?”
“He will get you to your uncle and brother, child. And to your healer,” she adds, watching quietly as Azula seems to realize what she means.
“Katara will be there too? She'll…she'll still help me?”
“Of course, dear child,” Agni replies easily. “I imagine my lover is having a conversation with her similar to that which we are now. Though when she wakes, she will be in her homeland, breaking the Avatar free just as she did before,” she explains. The sun spirit knows that her fellow spirits will most likely not be giving so much information to their chosen ones, but she is determined to give this fragile-minded girl whatever she needs to succeed. She is exceptionally talented—blessed by Agni herself—and Agni will do what she must to make sure her gift is not twisted and warped a second time.
“Oh,” most of the panic and unease in Azula's body seems to melt away at the sun spirit's words. Then the young firebender takes a very slow, deep breath. “Okay,” she nods. Agni gives her a warm smile and leans down to kiss her forehead in a motherly gesture. The sun spirit is mildly surprised when Azula does not flinch.
“Good luck, precious one,” she murmurs before taking a step back and turning away from the young woman. Agni must return to the spirit realm for her next meeting.
The sun spirit slips back into the spirit world with ease, knowing exactly where she must go to find her second firebender. When she finds him, he is pacing, panic in his eyes and in his movements as his great grandfather stands watch over him. She pauses to observe quietly, waiting. “I shouldn't be here!! I need to go home! I have to warn Uncle!!!” The young man shouts, still seemingly unaware of Agni’s presence. But the old avatar turns towards her with warmth in his gaze.
“There is nothing to warn him about, my dear child,” Agni finally speaks and the scarred young man spins around in surprise. She smiles as she steps closer, gaze flicking to the old avatar. “I will take good care of him, Roku,” she promises.
“Of course. It was a pleasure to assist you, Agni,” the old avatar bows low before he turns and disappears.
“Wh-what? Agni! You…what's going on?” Agni's chuckles are warm as she comes to stand before the young man, lifting her hand to caress the scarred half of his face in a motherly fashion.
“Your uncle loves you very much, child. So much in fact, that he is willing to live through the last five years once more in order to ensure your life does not meet its end too soon. He has all the information you will need,” Agni pauses, molten gaze glittering slightly. “Well, most of it. The others will help,” she adds, choosing to be much more mysterious than she had with his sister. This child of hers was much more trusting, after all.
“Wait…what do you mean? The assassination attempt…” he trails off and her smile turns sorrowful as she looks at him.
“It was not only an attempt, my child,” she murmurs and it pains her to see the realization cross his face.
“Uncle-”
“Iroh is fine. He has arranged for…a second chance. You and a few others will get the chance to ensure certain things go a little…smoother this time,” she says slowly. “It's nearly time, my child. When you wake, you'll know where to go,” Agni adds in a murmur, leaning forward to kiss his forehead in the same fashion she kissed his sister's. She catches him as he falls, watching silently as his spirit fades from her realm to return to the living one.
—·—
He is not one for second and third chances typically, but he was outvoted by his lover, sister and younger counterpart—not to mention the others that had joined them late and added to everything. Though, he can't deny, the world would have fallen into chaos if he had not agreed to this…reset. That at least, he can agree with. Which brings him to the mortal realm—a feat nigh impossible without the assistance of his young counterpart that now shares his life force as the moon spirit. He's well aware she will be taking her turn in the mortal realm with La soon, but first he must find his waterbenders.
The first is easy to find, in the South Pole with his wife, teaching other young benders how to master their element. He can not recall the last time he walked among mortals in a form like their own, but it is easy to slip past them until he finds himself alone with the man. “I am told you knew my young counterpart once,” he starts and the man spins around in surprise, water bending around him readily. Tui cocks his head to the side slightly, not bothering to react to the man's somewhat hostile actions. “It has been a long time since I walked among mortals, but nearly five years ago, I shared an oasis with my sister in another form,” he tells the man, whose eyes widen as he stares for a moment.
“...Tui!” There is a bit of awe in the man's voice and Tui lets himself smile just a touch.
“Mhmm,” he nods and steps forward, cutting straight to what he must tell him. “Something grave has happened, and we spirits have decided to give a select few the chance to go back and…correct a few things. Yue has requested your involvement so that she is not alone in the time it takes the others to reach the North Pole once more,” Tui informs the master, who gives him a surprised look as his eyebrows lift.
“You mean, you're sending me…back in time? To before the Fire Nation attack on the North?”
“Yes. Yue is returning to her mortal form for a time as well. The others will journey to meet you and Yue as soon as they can,” he informs the waterbending master with a nod. He leaves without another word, slipping back into the spirit realm to find his way to the younger waterbender.
She is not difficult to find either, as she is traveling on the sea and he can feel her using his gift, bending the waves around her ship. When he steps up beside her at the prow of the ship, he finds amusement in the way she looks surprised, but does not react with hostility as the older master did. Instead, she stares for a moment before she turns back towards the sea, though he knows she is watching him from the corner of her eye. “Spirits don't usually leave the spirit world unless there's something wrong,” she says softly.
“You are quite intelligent, my child,” he nods, turning to look at her now.
“What happened?”
“Nothing that can't be altered with the correct steps. You and a few others will be sent back to…try again, so to speak,” he tells her, ignoring the way she frowns when he doesn't give her a direct answer. “My young counterpart will return with you,” he's not sure what makes him decide to give her this information, but he is rather fond of this one, he will admit—to himself, and no one else—especially after she tried so hard to save his mortal form in the oasis.
“Yue?” Tui nods at the young woman's excitement. He doesn't mention that his young counterpart will not remain with them, but by the way the young woman's excitement fades, she seems to realize it on her own. “How long will she be…?”
“That remains unknown,” he tells her simply. She stares out at the ocean for a long time before looking at him again, and he can see a question building in her eyes.
“My brother…?” The young bender asks and he gives her a small nod.
“My sister will be informing him of what will happen,” he finds himself answering her, even though he had not been planning to give up such information. “When you wake, you will know what needs to happen. You will reconnect with the others. The old general will know what needs to be done,” he adds before he leaves her. He tells himself he only gave her necessary information, but he gave the older master much less. When he returns to the spirit realm, he finds his lover there, smiling knowingly at him as he scowls at her.
“You are fond of that one, my love,” she murmurs and Tui just sighs.
“You are fond of some of them too,” he replies with a small shrug, kissing her cheek as they go in search of his sister and younger counterpart.
—·—
La chooses to speak with the old swordmaster first, slipping from the waves and weaving her way up the path that leads to the man's home. She can't remember the last time she took a mortal human form, and each step further from the sea is a bit unsteady. Used to the shift and sway of water in a mortal scale-and-finned form, she moves carefully over the rocky path. Her brother returned to the spirit realm a short time ago, so now it is her turn to seek out those she wishes to bless in this journey.
She finds him in the garden, and waits patiently for him to notice her. Perhaps she should have announced her presence, but La admits she is certainly not used to interacting with those in the mortal realm. When he turns, he startles, but his reaction is miniscule—only her intense focus on him lets her catch it. “Apologies, I did not wish to startle you,” she apologizes softly. The swordmaster lifts a brow at her.
“Typically one announces their presence, miss…” there is a scolding tone to his voice that makes her smile, and then she watches him glance around. “How did you get back here?”
“You'll have to excuse me, it has been a long time since I have stepped foot in the mortal realm in this form,” she tells him as she steps towards him. Her gait is still off, she knows, and she wonders if he can tell she isn't naturally bipedal. He watches her with narrowed eyes, but she can practically feel the curiosity rolling off him. “You have a friend, dear Iroh; he needs your help. Or rather, he will,” she continues after a moment, watching the man's expression change at the mention of the old general.
“Who are you, miss?” The swordmaster asks and she chuckles.
“My brother does not understand why I wished to send another child of his lover instead of two of my own. But Agni's blessed one will need an ally in her nation before she can find her brother,” she doesn't answer his question directly, but her dark ocean eyes glitter in amusement when the swordmaster’s eyes widen as he registers her words and he bows low. “None of that,” she says with a shake of her head. “Just as my seas touch the shores of each mortal nation, I do not only carry a fondness for those that are of my brother's blessed children,” she continues as he straightens.
“What would you have me do?” He asks her.
“When you wake tomorrow, it will be in another time. When the princess finds you, take her to her brother and uncle,” La explains simply. There isn't much more to tell him, and she isn't surprised when he doesn't press for more. With a mysterious smile, she turns away and drifts back down to the sea.
Her second visit is to one of her and her brother's own, though this one tugs at her heart a bit. She finds him in a canoe, and follows him in her finned form through the water, making sure he sees her once or twice. When she follows him out of the water and takes on her bipedal form, La chuckles as he shrieks in surprise and nearly falls back into his canoe. But then he is staring at her with wide eyes and she stares back in silence as he manages to calm his breathing.
“My sister is going to freak out when I tell her about this,” the young man mutters as he blinks several times. The ocean spirit just smiles.
“She will have had a similar interaction with my brother by now, young one,” she tells him, watching his eyes go wide. He continues to gawk at her, so La steps forward. “Dear child, something grave has happened. My brother, his lover, myself… and my brother's young counterpart, have arranged for some of you to return to an earlier time,” the ocean spirit sees the flash of recognition and realization in the young man's eyes when she mentions Yue and gives him a gentle look. “She will accompany you for a time, but her fate will always be found in the spirit world, sharing my brother's life force,” she murmurs. It is easy for her to see the conflict in him and she knows what his next question will be before it comes.
“Suki?” La shakes her head and the young man's expression falls before he takes a deep breath and schools his expression as he nods. “But Katara…?”
“Your sister will be as she is now when you both wake,” she confirms softly. “It's time for me to return to the spirit world, young warrior,” she murmurs after a moment, smiling at him as she steps back into the ocean and disappears into its depths.
—·—
In the world of spirits, she is barely a babe, still much more mortal-minded than the rest of them, despite the ethereal air that surrounds her now. Her mind has yet to fully adjust to the timelessness that is the life of a powerful spirit, which is why she rarely leaves the spirit realm. She is too emotional, Tui often tells her, far too tied to the mortal realm still. But she is young, and she likes to think that having the heart of a mortal is not a bad thing. Of course, if Tui knew what she is up to now thanks to her “mortal emotions”, there would definitely be a lecture of sorts, but she doesn't care.
She moves through the village unnoticed until she reaches the right home, barely keeping herself on task as she longs to search him out. But she ducks into the igloo and smiles as she finds the older woman sitting there, stitching a parka while a pot of something simmers over the fire in the center of her home. The old woman looks up and her eyes widen, but then she smiles warmly and Yue is drawn further into the igloo.
“Hello, child,” the woman says, nodding to the space beside her. Yue sinks down beside the old woman, legs folding lotus style as she admires the parka. “My husband told me he was visited by the moon spirit today, but I did not expect such a visit myself,” Kanna tells her.
“I wondered if he might mention Tui’s visit,” Yue replies with a small nod. The old woman pauses in her sewing and turns more fully to look at her and under the warm but firm gaze of Kanna, Yue lets her expression fall. “Something terrible happened. Something that wasn't supposed to happen. To keep the world from falling into chaos, we are sending a group back to before in hopes that things can be fixed. I will be returning to the mortal realm for a time as well,” she explains quietly. The old woman reaches out and takes her hands in her own.
“Why me, child? I'm much too old to make much of a difference, nor am I gifted like my husband and granddaughter.”
“They will need you,” Yue tells her simply, not saying who “they” are, but she knows she doesn't have to. Kanna stares at her for another few seconds before she finally nods, turning her gaze back to the parka in her lap.
“And will you be with them?”
“For a time,” Yue nods with a small smile. “I look forward to the day we truly meet,” she adds softly. Kanna's eyes lift to hers and the old woman's gaze is warm.
“As do I, child.”
She does not stay much longer with Kanna, instead slipping from the igloo and hurrying off in search of the other soul she wants to send back. This one is not on the list they agreed upon, and Tui will certainly have words about it later, but by the time the older moon spirit finds out, it will be too late. Yue slips through the village once again, knowing this soul will most likely be more difficult to catch alone.
The young moon spirit is surprised however, when she finds him rather quickly, though he is indeed not alone. She hovers behind a snowdrift, watching the only boy she ever loved speak animatedly to his father. Yue wonders if he is telling his father about La’s visit—she knows La was here just before her. A part of her wants to reveal herself to both of them, but this is supposed to be a surprise for her friends, so she waits. As soon as the older man is alone, she steps out of hiding.
“Chief Hakoda,” she greets him and he lifts his head in surprise. By the way he looks at her, she knows his son has told him about her. The thought makes her smile slightly as she steps forward. “I admit, I'm not supposed to be here with you,” she murmurs.
“Why are you?” Hakoda asks curiously, and as his head tilts, she's certain she sees the future of the boy she loves in this man.
“Your children need their father,” she says.
“Sokka said that something happened but he didn't know what. What's so horrible that the spirits have chosen to send a group of children back in time?” Yue hesitates at his question, knowing that the only two that know the truth are the general and the one whose death has brought on this entire ordeal. But she has seen how this man cares for them all and she can't find the will to tell him anything but the truth.
“Just hours ago, the Fire Lord was killed,” she whispers, heart twisting at the way the Southern Water Chief's expression fills with anguish and horror.
“Zuko…” the man's voice breaks and Yue gives him a tiny nod.
“When you all wake, it will be on the day the Avatar awakens. I will return to my mortal body as well, at least for a time,” she explains softly. Part of her wants to tell him more, but she knows she needs to leave before anyone knows she has added another soul to the list. Tui is already upset by the other new additions, she doesn't want him to have a chance to notice things until it is too late. Her gaze drifts out towards the sea and up towards the still-light sky before she looks at Hakoda again. But he beats her to speaking.
“Thank you, for this,” he says. She just smiles.
“We will meet again soon, I hope,” Yue murmurs before she turns and slips away, heart racing in her mortal form. She isn't sure how she is going to handle her father yet—how she will convince him to let her go with them when they arrive—but she will find a way. With one final glance at the Southern tribe, the princess of the North disappears to prepare for her return to the living.
—·—
She isn't so sure about her lover's choice in what soul he wants to send back, but she does not question it. Instead, she focuses on her own choice. The girl does not see her appear, and yet she reacts all the same, turning sharply in clear preparation to send earth flying her way. But the spirit just smiles and moves forward. “Hello, my child,” she greets the girl. This girl is one she has been fond of from the beginning, and if she is blessed by both her and her lover, no one may know but them.
“Who are you??” The hostility in the girl's voice just makes her laugh softly.
“My name is Oma,” she replies simply, not bothering to hide her identity. There is no need to lie when the girl in front of her would be able to tell. “Something grave has happened, child. The spirits have deemed it necessary to send you and your friends back to fix things. I can not share too much, dear one, but know this; when you wake, it will be the day the Avatar first emerges.”
“I'll be back with my parents?? No way!” Oma frowns slightly at the anger and hint of fear in the girl's voice.
“Only for a short time. You are strong, child. Your friends will meet you much sooner this time,” she explains in a firm but gentle tone. “The quickness may even surprise you,” she adds warmly.
“What the hell does that mean?”
“You will see. For now, I must go. Do not fret,” Oma murmurs, reaching out and touching the girl's head gently before she disappears, going in search of her lover.
—·—
As he makes his way unnoticed into the palace, his gaze catches on many of the paintings and tapestries—he even pauses for a moment when he comes across one depicting himself and his love. But then he shakes himself slightly and continues on. It has been a long time since he or his love have set foot in the mortal world, and so much has changed. He moves through the palace with ease, knowing exactly where he will find his chosen soul.
His decision had surprised his love, he knows, but he wants to give them all their best shot. This is how he thinks to do it. He does not mind that they were left out of the discussion and plan at first, but when his love found out, she was determined to get involved. She knew what soul she would pick, but he had taken his time in the decision—well, as much time as he could.
Now that he is here among the mortals, he is still sure in his choice, but he can't help but wonder if any others would be beneficial. He shakes those thoughts away though, instead focusing on getting this done in time.
His steps carry him into the royal chambers where he finds his chosen soul. He has a feeling this may not be as easy as some of the other souls in the group. “Hello,” he greets quietly and the young man spins around in surprise.
“Who are you?? How did you get in here?!” The man exclaims, fear and anger slipping into his tone.
“I mean you no harm, child. It has been a long time since I have left the spirit world, but this is important. I need you to listen,” he explains, remaining where he stands as the young man watches him with wary eyes.
“Spirit world?”
“Yes, that is my home now. Has been for many many years. But speaking about the spirit world is not why I am here. I am here because something grave has happened and it needs to be fixed,” he tells the man.
“W-what happened?”
“Something that caused the spirits to create a…reset, of sorts. There are things that must be done differently; must be altered. Before the day of Black Sun,” Shu continues quietly, watching the man's eyes widen.
“What does that have to do with me?”
“You have been chosen to help alter those events, young ruler. When you wake tomorrow, it will be the day that the Avatar emerges. The blind bandit will need your help. Summon her to the palace. She will assist with the…removal of those who do not belong,” he knows he is probably giving the man too much information, but at the same time he sees it as not really much at all. He just hopes the man before him will understand the words he does not say.
“T-the blind bandit? Oh! You mean-”
“Yes,” he watches the man's expression blanch after a moment.
“Wait! You said the day the Avatar emerges…you mean the first day he wakes up? But that was nearly five years ago!”
“Indeed. Tread carefully, young ruler. You will remember all you know now. Use that knowledge to your advantage. Now, I must take my leave,” he turns to go.
“Wait!” Shu pauses but does not turn back towards him. “Why is this happening?”
“You will learn of our reasonings soon enough. Take care,” he slips away quickly, rejoining his love in the spirit world.
“How did it go?” She asks him softly as he kisses her cheek.
“As well as it could, I think,” he tells her.
“Mine too.”