*。☆。
★。＼｜／。★
˚ ₊ ♡ ❰ MIRACULUM ❱
*✧ ─── ❝ ❪ PUSH AND PULL ❫ ❞

⋆ 🌪. CHAPTER SIX ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*
˚ ₊ ♡ 112 a.a ─── book one: water

UKI LIKED TO THINK SHE WAS PRETTY FEARLESS. SHE HAD TO BE TO GO AGAINST HER TRIBE'S CUSTOMS AND SNEAK IN THE NIGHT, SCALLING ICE STRUCTURES AND BRAVING THE COLD WINTER AIR. But Uki had to admit, Appa, the skybison was whole new fear to conquer. The beast had roared at her the moment she approached it after she had found Yue with the help of Sokka when the princess came running towards them, shouting about Aang, Katara and a firebender with a large scar on his face.

Sokka had seemed to know who the firebender was, and by the sounds of Yue's fearful tone, he was someone to be scared of.

But sitting on the furry skybison, clutching on for dear life, Uki rather faced the firebender than the sky anytime soon. "Are we sure this beast is safe!?" Uki screamed over the roaring wind that whipped her hair around and smacked her in her face.

Appa, being called a beast rumbled in displeasure and Uki shrunk back at the sound. "Sorry, Appa."

Sokka smiled at her in reassurance from where he sat shoulder to shoulder with Yue. "Of course" He patted Appa fondly, almost like father would ruffle his child's hair. Uki shuddered at the idea.

"He brought us all the way from the South Pole to here!"

Uki awkwardly nodded when the Spirit Oasis, the most spiritual place in the North Pole came in sight. Appa landed quickly and the brunette waterbender almost threw herself from the skybison's back.

"Land!" She gleefully shouted, before her face morphed into a frown at the sight of Katara's crestfallen expression. "Oh no...what happened?"

"I can't believe I lost him." Katara whispered as she kneeled on her knees in front of the small pond, containing the koi fish that represented the Moon and Ocean Spirits. Tui and La

"You did everything you could." Sokka assured his little sister, placing a comforting hand on the girl's shoulder. The Lemur that normally stayed with Aang, nuzzled itself in her lap to provide some semblance of comfort. "And now we need to do everything we can do to get him back." He encouraged the girl, "Zuko can't have gotten far. We'll find him."

Uki blinked at his surprisingly spirited words. He didn't seem the hopeful type to her.

Katara settled her teary gaze on her older brother as he spoke to her. "Aang's gonna be fine." He promised surely.

Uki nodded in agreement pumping her fist in the air, "Yeah! We're gonna kick his firebending ass back to the Fire Nation!"

Katara wiped the tears away from her eyes, a small smile on her face at the sight of their confidence

Or overconfidence—Uki didn't quite know how good this supposedly scary firebender was.

"Okay." Katara breathed out.

Uki let her gaze travel to the sad looking lemur staring at the pond of koi fish, and she petted his head affectionately. "It's going to be fine Momo!"

The small creature chittered in response, looking up at her with his wide eyes before jumping on her shoulder and nudging her head. She laughed before staring at Appa.

Sokka, Katara and Yue were already seated and she nervously looked at him.

"Do we have to take Appa?" She whined.

Appa roared again, and Uki quickly climbed on top of his back. "Yes of course! Silly question." She stuttered as the others laughed. Momo rubbed her back as if to comfort her and she smiled at the lemur.

"Yip Yip."

Uki held back a scream as Appa took to the sky again.

"I really don't like this." Uki whispered to Katara who was seated next to her. The rain had turned into snow only minutes after they left the Northern Water Tribe, and the winds took to howling in the night.

The blizzard grew stronger, and if Aang was really out in this weather, they surely needed to find him quick.

"Still no sign of him?" Uki shouted over the loud winds with a worried look on her face. They all had their eyes peeled on the ground, but between the enormous snowfall and the vast landscape, no one was able to spot anything that would lead them to Aang.

"Don't worry. Prince Zuko can't be getting too far in this weather." Yue tried to lighten their spirits.

"Wait—Prince? Firebending prince...?" Uki exclaimed worriedly. Surely a prince would be a frightfully skilful bender. Ruthless too if he was a firebender. "Why did no one tell me this!?"

The others ignored her in favour of looking at the vast and stormy landscape beneath them.

"I'm not worried they'll get away in the blizzard. "Katara spoke gravely, "I'm worried that they won't."

"They're not going to die in this blizzard." Sokka denied with a dismissive wave of his hand, "if we know anything, is that Zuko never gives up. They'll survive and we will find them."

"What was that!" Uki shouted in astonishment, her voice echoing in the frigid air as a brilliant light streaked across the sky, piercing through the darkness of the storm—her frantic thoughts about Fire Nation's royalty quelled for a moment.

"That's Aang!" Katara declared with certainty, her eyes tracing the luminous trajectory that led them toward what appeared to be a cave in the distance. "It's gotta be!"

"There they are!" Uki cried out in glee when she noted the unmistakable yellow and orange colours of Aang's clothing against the stark white snow. As she focused intently, she discerned another figure, their back cloaked in white, seamlessly blending into the wintry surroundings.

Laughter bubbled from Uki when Aang, spotting them, joyously called out, "Appa!" The giant bison landed gracefully, and Uki was the first to descend from Appa's back, assuming a robust bending stance. Simultaneously, the enigmatic stranger threw a bound Aang to the side.

Yue was clearly not lying when she had said the guy had a scar on his face. His left side bore severe burns, dark red contorting around the skin of his eye.

Come for a rematch!" He bellowed, locking eyes with Katara, who had also dismounted Appa to stand alongside Uki.

"Trust me Zuko, it's not going to be much of a match." Katara confidently asserted, interrupting her own statement by lifting her hands in front of her and unleashing a substantial wave of water toward the firebender. The force of the attack sent Zuko hurtling backward, his flames proving insufficient to breach her formidable attack.

Uki grinned triumphantly, stomping her right foot forward and raising her hands in a fluid motion.

Zuko was launched into the air and Uki swiftly crafted an ice pillar several feet high before collapsing it onto the firebender. The waterbending duo exchanged proud grins as Zuko lay unconscious, partially buried beneath the snow. After a celebratory fist bump, Katara rushed to Aang's aid, leaving Uki to approach Zuko cautiously to ensure he posed no further threat.

Nudging the side of his head with her boot, Uki grinned when he remained motionless. Upon closer inspection, she realized that the menacing image painted by Katara and Sokka didn't quite match the reality before her. Despite the scar marring his skin, Zuko's face retained a youthful quality, not much older than her━ perhaps even younger. "So, this is the guy who's been following you?" Uki inquired as Sokka joined her. "The Prince of the Fire Nation?"

Sokka, smirking at the unconscious teenager and responded with a nonchalant hum.

"You made him sound a lot scarier than this." She nudged his head with her boot again. "He's just a teenager."

"Trust me, he's a pest."

Before she could say something a sharp pain stung her heart causing her to falter on her feet. Sokka's hands swiftly gripped her shoulders, steadying her, concern etched on his face. "What is it?"

"We need to get to the oasis!" Aang abruptly announced before she could even form a word, and Uki's eyes darted up to look at Yue who look faint all of a sudden. "The spirits are in trouble!"

A sense of urgency propelled everyone back towards Appa, and this time, even Uki refrained from voicing any complaints about the massive creature. Just as they were going to depart again, Aang frowned and looked at Zuko laying in the snow.

Uki also looked over her shoulder, a small spurt of pity blooming in her chest. She didn't know the boy or what he had done to them like Aang, Sokka and Katara did. And even though he was Fire Nation royalty, she felt guilty just thinking about leaving him in the snow.

"Wait..." Aang shook his head, a determined glint in his eyes, his air nomad upbringing would never allow him to leave the boy behind. Fire Nation or not. "We can't leave him."

"Sure we can." Sokka chimed in, his tone brimming with glee at the prospect. "Let's go."

"No." Aang airbended himself off of Appa to drag the unconscious teen towards Appa. "If we leave him, he'll die."

Sokka, adopting a sarcastic tone, retorted, "Yeah, this makes a lot of sense. Let's bring the guy who's constantly trying to kill us."

"Really?" Uki interjected, gazing at Sokka in genuine wonder.

"Really." He huffed.

Silence hung heavy in the air as Appa ascended, with wary eyes fixed on Zuko, propped against Appa's saddle. Uki, the closest to him, hesitated before awkwardly settling beside him, not sure what to make of the boy.

Her gaze, however, snapped to the sky, drawn by the sudden emergence of an eerie red glow that painted the moon scarlet. Yue groaned, clutching her head, and Uki instinctively discerned the cause.

Springing to her feet, she approached Sokka, who cradled her dearest friend. "Yue!" Uki's voice carried genuine concern. "Is it Tui?"

In response, Yue tearfully looked at Uki, conveying everything through her eyes. Uki's own eyes hardened as she glanced at Aang, mirroring his deep worry. "We need to hurry up. Can't he go any faster!"

Disregarding Appa's grunt of displeasure and Aang's annoyed look at her casual reference to his skybison, Uki's heart pounded in her chest. Her nervous eyes darted around, anxiety etched on her face. "Someone is hurting the moon spirit!" she urgently explained, but confusion marked the faces of those around her, except for Yue.

"I owe the moon spirit my life." The white haired girl elaborated in a breathless whisper when Uki looked unable to do so as she paced back and forward on Appa, not even caring about the chance of the wind sweeping her away.

"What do you mean?" Sokka inquired.

Yue continued, her eyes glistening with tears, "When I was born, I was very sick and very weak. Most babies cry when they are born, but I was born as if I were asleep. My eyes closed. Our healers did everything they could. They told my mother and father I was going to die. My father pleaded with the spirits to save me." She paused.

At her familiar tale, Katara looked up at Uki. Both Water Tribe spirits had blessed them, creating a bond she could never imagine.

"That night━ beneath the full moon━ he brought me to the oasis and placed me in the pond. My dark hair turned white. I opened my eyes and began to cry. And they knew I would live. That's why my mother named me Yue. For the moon."

Uki halted her pacing, exchanging sorrowful glances with Yue as the Spirit Oasis came into view, Fire Nation soldiers congregating and anger bubbled beneath her skin.

Momo, perched on Uki's shoulder, launched forward, attacking a man holding a sack in the air. "Ugh get it off! Get it off!" Zhoa grunted as Momo viciously attacked his face.

He finally flew away and landed on Uki's shoulder, the group of kids already gathered across the Koi fish pond.

"Don't bother," Zhoa menacingly smirked at the group, a sinister glint in his eyes, raising his fist to face the sack containing the moon spirit Tui. Her heart stirred with worry, as if she could feel La's concern for his sister.

Uki tensed, nervously letting her eyes flicker to Yue, whose worried expression mirrored her own apprehension.

"Zhoa, don't!" Aang pleaded desperately, his voice tinged with urgency.

"It's my destiny, to destroy the moon and the Water Tribe." Zhoa grinned arrogantly, relishing in the impending chaos.

"Destroying the moon won't just hurt the Water Tribe. It will hurt everyone." Aang tried to reason, "Including you. Without the moon, everything will fall out of balance. You have no idea what kind of chaos that would unleash on the world.

"He is right, Zhoa," an unfamiliar voice intervened from the side. An older man with a full, round belly approached them, his countenance surprisingly gentle for a Firebender.

Unlike most, this man's face almost looked friendly, a detail Uki warily noted.

"General Iroh, why am I not surprised by your treachery?" Zhoa questioned.

"I'm not traitor, Zhoa." Iroh shook his head. "The Fire Nation needs the moon too. We all depend on the balance. Whatever you do to that spirit, I will unleash ten-fold." He threatened and took to a traditional fire bending stance. "Let it go! Now!"

Uki watched with bated breath as Zhoa absorbed Iroh's words, actually appearing to contemplate them. Slowly, he lowered the sack down and kneeled, carefully placing Tui back in the water. The ominous red glow faded away, and the moon's gentle radiance returned.

However, chaos ensued without warning when fire erupted from Zhoa's fist, scorching the Moon Spirit. Uki gasped, instinctively preparing to waterbend, but to her horror, the moon disappeared from the sky, and darkness reigned over the North Pole. A wave of faintness washed over her body, and her attempts to bend a stream of water proved futile.

Her heart cried out, and her eyes snapped toward the koi pond where only the presence of La remained. Their eternal dance interrupted and Uki could feel the Ocean's spirits distress.

Luckily, Iroh followed through on his threat, unleashing a large wave of flames towards Zhoa. Kicking his legs up, Iroh sent fireball after fireball, rendering the Fire Nation soldiers useless.

Amidst the commotion, Zhoa, seemingly dazed, stumbled and rushed to leave the Oasis.

Uki and Yue were the first to rush towards the pond, crashing to their knees as they gazed at Tui. The once-vibrant white koi fish lay motionless in the water, a large scorch mark marring its scales. "No. No, no."

"There is no hope now," Yue's voice cracked, her grief palpable, as General Iroh gently picked up the body of the moon spirit. "It's over."

"No. it's not over."

Uki gasped as Aang's voice deepened, his eyes and arrows starting to glow brightly. The Avatar stepped inside the pond, La swirling around the air nomad. The water started to glow too, a bright blue colour taking over, spreading further. Aang disappeared, as if pulled under. A second passed when suddenly, a large glowing creature emerged, with Aang hovering in the centre.

A gasped escaped Uki as La's rage glowed like the sun in her own body.

Within moment, Aang neutralised the threats withing the walls of the Northern Water Tribe before moving to the ocean where more war ships waited.

"It's too late." Katara whispered as she stood next to Iroh. "It's dead."

Uki's eyes were fixed on Yue, anticipating what would happen next. Tears streamed down her tanned face, her heart breaking at the realization that this was the end for her friend. Her dearest friend.

Throughout her whole life, Yue had been a constant presence, an honorary sister.

"It's not too late," Uki whispered, grabbing and interlocking her fingers with Yue's trembling ones.

Everyone turned their attention to the duo, the human embodiments of Tui and La, standing with tears gathered in their eyes.

"You have been touched by the moon spirit." Iroh breathed out in realisation as he looked at her pure white hair. "Some of its life is in you."

"Yes." Yue breathed out softly, "It gave me life. Maybe I can give it back."

"No!" Sokka thundered worriedly, "You don't have to do that."

"It's my duty, Sokka."

"I won't let you!" He grabbed onto her hand, "Your father told me━ " He looked at Uki, "Us! To protect you."

"Sokka..." Uki shuddered out sadly, "you know Yue needs to do this."

"I have to do this." Yue nodded in agreement and tugged her hand free to approach Iroh who held Tui out for the girl.

Uki solemnly approached Sokka, the two of them standing side by side as they gazed tearfully at the Northern Water Tribe princess. Yue tenderly placed her hands on the wound inflicted upon Tui's ethereal body. A radiant glow enveloped the majestic creature, casting a brief brilliance before gradually fading into the realm of obscurity.

As the radiant glow receded, Yue's delicate form succumbed, and Sokka lunged forward to catch her before she made contact with the unforgiving ground. Uki promptly descended to the ground beside her friend, tears streaming down her face as grief seized her, manifesting in heart-breaking sobs that reverberated through her shoulders. "She's gone," Sokka murmured, cradling Yue closely, his voice laden with sorrow.

Iroh tenderly returned Tui to the serene pond, and a resplendent golden glow enveloped the surroundings, heralding the emergence of Yue's spirit.

"Goodbye Sokka." She leaned down and kissed the boy.

Uki's anguished cry pierced the air as Yue shifted her focus to her dear friend. In a fervent embrace, the two clung tightly to one another, Uki finding solace in the shelter of Yue's neck. Through muffled sobs, Uki poured out her heart, "I'll miss you!"

Yue's countenance mirrored the sorrow etched in Uki's cries as she tightened her embrace. "Look after Sokka for me, will you?" she implored. Without hesitation, Uki pledged, "Of course," her ice-coloured eyes reflecting determination and devotion.

"I'll always be with you." Yue reassured, and Uki, though gripped by grief, found solace in those words.

"I know."

*。☆。
★。＼｜／。★
𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝙖𝙗𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝘪𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝙨𝙠𝙮,
𝙨𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜

─ c.w. lewis

UKI FELT UNBALANCED, LIKE A TETHER HAD BEEN CUT, AND THE WATERBENDER KNEW, IT WAS YUE'S SACRIFICE THAT HAD CAUSED SUCH THINGS. The expression on her features had turned sad at the sight of the moon glowing above her, Tui and Yue gazing back unseeing. Silence had lapsed between the remaining people gather in the Spirit Oasis, the alcove almost a hidden sanctuary of peace whilst outside its warm embrace the fight still raged on.

Uki was still kneeling before the small oasis, Tui and La graceful in their eternal dance. The broken cycle reborn thanks to Yue. Tears traced unbridled paths down her cheeks, and Uki could feel the anger that brewed inside her rage against the calm of her soul. The water mirrored her image, and for a moment she could picture Yue staring back at her. White hair juxtaposed against brown, ice-blue eyes mirrored soft blue. Yin and Yang, complementary forces weaving a tapestry of balance.

What now? What can I do without you? Her mind reeled, the destruction of her home, a mere whisper in the wind.

With a determined resolve, Uki clenched her fist, dispelling the lingering traces of tears from her cold skin. Her gaze lingered on the two koi fish in the oasis, as though seeking solace from the silent companionship of Tui and La. And like they too regarded her, like they understood her pain and heartache, they paused for a split second as if to pay their respect.

A wisp of air fell from her lips before she pushed herself up again. Her hair had fallen from her ponytail, wild strands clung to her skin and she glanced over her shoulder at the remaining people.

The Southern Water Tribe siblings stood shoulder to shoulder, huddled together in comfort at the horrifying circumstances they witnessed.

With one last glance, Uki spun on her heel and dashed out of the Spirit Oasis.

It was like coming up from underneath the water, violence roared around her like a tidal wave. Explosions of water and fire, like a vortex of an internal catastrophe surrounded her tribe.

Uki ran, ignoring the ache in her body and the faintness that still lingered in the air.

She skidded, body lowering to glide along the icy grounds as a stream of fire roared above her head. She jutted her hand out, but to her utter horror, the water remained still. Her bending had not yet returned.

The Firebender in front of her kicked his feet out, and Uki barely managed to roll aside before the fire could mar her skin.

Fear rattled through her but she took up a defensive stance. But what was she to do without her bending?

The enemy jumped, feet arching with flames following his movements and Uki could only dodge. Shooting her palm out to redirect his wrist as fire flew above her head.

She breathed heavily, dodging and weaving around the fire.

Uki grunted as her back hit a wall, palms leaning on her knees as exhaustion took her prisoner.

The Firebender approached again and her eyes widened as a large wave of fire came barrelling toward her. Squeezing her eyes shut, and shielding her face with her arms, Uki awaited her fate.

Uki slowly opened her eyes, meeting the gaze of the elderly Firebender with greying hair━the one who had defied Zhoa at the Oasis. In swift succession, the man effortlessly dispatched the Fire Nation soldier, sending him crashing against a distant building.

The elder man turned around to face her, and Uki took up another defensive Waterbending stance. But she still could not feel the connection to the moon.

"I wish you no harm, child." The man raised his hands in a peaceful gesture.

Uki did not let up and regarded him with suspicion. "Why would you save me?" She demanded to know. "You are the enemy, you are an invader!"

He flinched, albeit barely noticeable. "You were defenceless without your waterbending." he declared, his voice calm and honest. "It was not a fair fight."

Uki glared at him and she exploded; "What would you know about fair? All your Nation has ever done is instil fear and terror wherever you go."

His gentle smile faltered, but remained faint, "I know."

A surge of power rushed through her, and Uki recognized the power within her. "Leave." She demanded. "Leave my home and never return."

She didn't cast him another glance as she dashed away. She need to find him. she must. For Yue.

A burst of water shot from the bottom of her feet that launched her high in the sky to survey the chaos around her. Her heart broke at the sight of her home in ruins, the seemingly indestructible sculptures made from ice, to form their homes had been brought to ruination, and left in its wake only soot that stained the pristine white snow a terrible grey colour.

Twisting in mid-air, a swirling tornado of water enveloping her, Uki surveyed the chaos when her attention fixated on the firebender responsible for Tui's demise. The rage within her intensified as she sought retribution for the sacrilege committed against the spirits and her people.Bovenkant formulier

Uki propelled herself forward with determination, a forceful burst of water slicing through the air from the curve of her boot. The torrent struck the unsuspecting firebender square in the back of the head, causing him to stumble forward, desperately reaching out to steady himself as he teetered on the brink of falling.

With a resolute landing on the icy pavement, Uki faced her adversary, the man emitting a gruff grunt. An enraged roar erupted from his throat, met with a steely glare from Uki. As he rose to confront her, she declared, "You will pay for what you did."

Uki executed a swift and fluid fist strike, commanding water to follow the motion. The conjured water propelled the man backward, crashing against one of the already ruined buildings.

Breathing heavily, Uki steadied herself while the man pushed himself back up, fury burning in his eyes like hot coals and wild embers on the verge of bursting into flames. He executed a swift leg kick and thrust his fists forward in a rapid sequence, forcing Uki to dance around the menacing flames. The heat licked at her skin as they passed, but she stood resolute, raising a pillar of ice and sending razor-sharp discs toward him in quick succession.

With powerful kicks, the man effortlessly shattered the ice projectiles before launching an angry, fire-encased fist in Uki's direction. Reacting swiftly, she managed to erect a protective wall of ice just in time to block the searing attack.

In a fluid motion, Uki moved from behind the icy barricade and sent a wave of water toward her opponent. However, before it could reach him, an enormous blast of fire cut through the water, breaking it apart. Uki gasped as a third bender entered the fray, her focus faltering when she recognized the teenager who had captured Aang. His angry red scar seemed even more prominent as his features contorted into a scowl.

An impasse ensued as all three benders took upon traditional defensive stances, eyes flickering among their opponents with calculated eyes. "You're alive?" Zhao exclaimed in surprise, his gaze fixed on the scarred teenager, whose scowl only deepened.

Since when was he even dead?

Uki remained silent, her hands poised for action as she observed the unfolding confrontation.

"You tried to have me killed!" The scarred teenager accused Zhoa with a fiery intensity, his fist curling into a ball of fire that streaked through the sky toward Zhoa.

Swiftly dodging and rolling to the side, Zhoa retorted, "Yes, I did."

A surge of nerves filled Uki at the tense exchange, her eyes hardening with determination. "Murder is in your blood!" she shouted with rage, unleashing shards of ice toward Zhoa. "You will pay for what you did to Yue!"

The fire around them intensified as the scarred teenager rejoined the fray, water and flames intertwining in an unexpected dance as the two teens circled Zhoa. Uki flung out her arms, manipulating water through the air to send Zhoa staggering backward, while a ball of fire from the teenager knocked him to the ground.

Uki's hair had come completely undone from her ponytail, strands now covering her forehead and part of her eyes. Her anger fuelled her relentless pursuit.

"I will be remembered as the man who killed the moon!" Zhoa grinned crookedly, almost delusional as he looked at the two benders across from him.

Though Uki had barely noticed, she found herself standing side by side with Zuko. Both teenagers assumed traditional water and fire bending stances, breathing heavily from the exertion. As if struck by lightning, Zuko sprang into action. Instead of directing flames toward Zhoa, when he swung his fist, the dancing flames across his skin reached towards Uki's head.

She barely ducked out of the way, crouching down to avoid the searing heat that brushed the top of her head. Taking advantage of the moment, she kicked out her leg, and water burst from the curve of her foot, sending the scarred teenager sprawling on the ground.

However, her focus on Zuko proved costly, as Zhoa seized the opportunity. He unleashed a large wave of flames that blasted Uki backward, sending her tumbling into the cold water with a scream. Before she could pull herself back up onto the bridge, light glowed from ahead. Aang, encased in the spirit of La, approached, and a claw of water rose from the canal. La reached out to grab the firebender who had taken Tui's life.

Uki could only watch as La took the man without mercy and disappeared into the ocean.

Breathing heavily, Uki steadied her racing heart and pulled herself up onto the bridge. Landing in a crouch, her hands were already moving forward to attack the remaining bender. To her surprise, he was already gone.

Instead of pursuing him, Uki lifted her head to the sky, her gaze fixed on the moon, which seemed to glow a little brighter now.

They had won.

⋆⋅ ━━━━ ‧ ༻✩༺ ‧ ━━━━ ⋅⋆

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