Chapter Text
Zuko and Yue never let go of their eyes from their loved ones from the moment they became spirits, until the end.
Agni lets go of Aang when the moon and sea spirits are returned. The Fire Nation soldiers retreat with Iroh’s command and much to Azula’s dismay. The Nothern Water Tribe is left with a lot of damage but remained unconquered. Aang doesn’t fare better than Sokka and Katara when he found Zuko’s and Yue's mortal bodies in their arms. Worst is Iroh, knowing even if he brought Zuko’s body home, the Fire Lord won’t spare him in the royal cemetery to bury him. Instead, Zuko is buried next to Yue on the grounds of Nothern Water Tribe, which Zuko prefers.
Yue watches her people pick themselves up yet again. She was still a baby when a Fire Nation attack happened before this one, it was devastating to see the result of war. She shines brighter at night, to help put light when her people rebuild at their strongest time. She watches with awe and pride as her tribe rebuilds with a better structure. She watches her people mourn not only her, but also Zuko, as their saviors. She notices Zuko’s friends, five particular girls cry and leave a framed portrait of him and the five girls by their altar.
Zuko sails the rest of the retreating Fire Nation fleet with calm seas. The way uncle Iroh looks at the calm sea knowingly soothes Zuko, knowing that Iroh will acknowledge him in the ocean. The safe travels don’t last long, since Iroh returns to the sea with a very angry Azula. An angry Azula is a sad Azula. Fire Nation soldiers chase them with blasts of fire. Zuko builds up a storm to let Iroh and Azula travel away faster and send tides to the soldiers. They fight upon the sea, Azula lashing out in anger about her banishment, while Iroh tanks her attack and hugs her in the end.
Yue watches as her father deteriorates, completely distraught as his beloved daughter, the last of his family, had died. Yue would shine brighter every time his father looked up to the moon. At one day he was at his worst, Yue appears beside him, though faintly but undoubtedly. They meet eyes, Chief Arnook shaken to the core begs with apologies. Yue just smiles and caresses his father’s hand that leaves cold trails as she would before she’s a spirit. Chief Arnook then understood that his daughter had always been there. Yue watches as Sokka also looked to the moon, missing her, and finds his heart mending with a girl named Suki. Yue watches Sokka struggle with his worth and regains it with a blade master Piandao. She’ll shine brighter whenever he fights, or when he makes plans. Hoping to highlight Sokka’s strength when he had difficulty doing it himself.
Zuko watches auntie Iza hear the news of his passing the same day the rest of the fire nation did. She’s the only citizen to cry and mourn, and she floats a lantern towards the sea. Zuko takes it into his depths, letting it shine until the sun rises. Uncle Iroh takes Azula under his wing, and their travels across the sea are always easy and favorable while Azula is anything but. His uncle’s patience knows no bounds, and his affection triples because of his recent loss, he is not to lose another family of his. But the one that breaks her hard exterior is a crass and powerful little girl named Toph quickly with her brazen and forward attitude. He watches as Sokka confesses to the shoreline that he had loved Zuko too. Zuko replies by pushing a shell beside Sokka’s feet with his tide. Zuko had known, though only a small inkling.
Both of them watch Aang grow into himself. Aang visits them at times when he meditates into the spirit world for guidance. Zuko and Yue don’t miss a beat to tell him that they’re proud of Avatar Aang. Aang is in tears as he hugs them back, saying that he misses them, and everyone misses them.
“We know, we see everything,” Yue says.
“We have always been with you,” Zuko says.
They watch as Azula finally but not as easily realized that her father had manipulated her. Watches as she joins the Avatar to bring her father down in vengeance. Her integration with the avatar gang isn’t smooth, and it only happens because Toph even with her rough edges, acts as the perfect buffer. Eventually, she earns her place by telling Sokka and Katara where their people are held and helps the siblings break them out from multiple containment facilities. Nothing can be done about Suki’s village though, Azula makes an off-handed promise that after the war is over she’ll send some reparation efforts. Suki isn’t too happy with her attitude but decides that she’ll hold on to it. They watch Azula teaching Aang firebending, her epic frustration when her fire is weak, and her child-like amazement as they meet the dragons. They watch as Azula takes Katara to meet her mother’s killer, and watch as she spared him, watching how it changed Azula’s perspective on mercy.
They watch as the first attempt of attack at an eclipse they had failed. They watch and guard them as they retreat with a heavy heart. They watch as they pick themselves up, standing even stronger.
They watch as the war finally ends. Their loved ones find their happiness and peace. Iroh is crowned Fire Lord, with Azula as his heir. Aang and Katara finally got together. Sokka looks like he’s truly having fun and is in love with Suki. Azula and her friends, Mai, Tai Lee, and Toph, are in the midst of the peace festival, and even though slightly, Azula smiled, seemingly hiding the fact that she’s having fun.
“I’m so glad,” Yue says, watching them from the sky.
“As do I,” Zuko says, watching them from the shoreline.
They will always be watching them thrive and grow, loving them from afar. They watch as their loved ones always love them too, everlasting, until the last of their breath.