Archive of Our Own

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Everyone in Team Avatar died, of course they did. All stories have endings, people have to give in to their fate. It always ends like that. There’s no exception, there’s no ‘buts’ to it, you just- You just have to accept it. Whether you have loved ones who can’t bear to see you go, or you have something worth fighting for in your end, it has no meaning. Your life will be taken, no matter the cost. It’s been like that, ever since the first batch of living beings. Why work so hard in a life that’s going to be taken regardless of what you try to do to stop it? You can be immortal, yes, you can try- But you’ll see other people’s death. Death will always be around, it always lingers. It burns within you. Even remarkable beings, they had their own deaths. They faced their death. Doesn’t matter if you faced your death with pride, with fear, or with longing. Like said, it doesn’t matter, whatever you try to do, death will catch you.

But these people, they ended the Hundred-Year-War. They were very important people to the world. They inspired others to keep going with whatever struggles they were facing with, they lightened up worlds of others that they didn't even know that could be done, but most importantly... They shaped the world as it is today. Their story was remembered, of course it would be. Filled with laughter, joy, hope, sadness, ups and downs, but they had each other. Regardless of many agruments, many disagreements, they still stayed for one another. Team Avatar wouldn't be complete with only one member missing. They weren't treated as "backups" either. They are their own person, they represent their nation in many ways possible, they are quite literally the prime example of the word Unity. They come together, as one, not as a team, but as family. Whenever one goes down, they always fight stronger, they can't bear to see one of them hurt, can they?

Multiple retellings would be told, many would be fascinated, yes, but it’s the thought that counts. Every soul, every brain, every living vessel, certainly- they would be enthralled. Just… Imagine, living in their era- War. A war with people who could control water, fire, earth, and air. They could control your surroundings at any living moment, you can’t even tell when they would pull up their next move. Even this! The long chapter you are reading right now, JUST a prologue- It’s a retelling of their story.. 

The worst part of it all? A whole nation, a whole community, a whole generation, built with such care and grace: the air nomads, those who could bend thin air, who had many advantages and disadvantages of their culture, skills, and bending, were completely wiped out by the fire nation. It was traumatizing, it all happened so suddenly! Everyone was completely defeated by the firebenders. Except for one, the Avatar, Avatar Aang, who ran away at the ripe age of 12, I mean- reasonable, you can’t bear such a title at a young age! How did he? I don't know, I'm not him! I'll never be like hi- Ack ahem... Anyways, continuing:

Then, his partners in battle and in adventures, his best friends his ENTIRE life: Master Waterbender Katara, learned multiple advanced ways of bending at the age of 15. Sokka, a non-bender, took down multiple air ships of the fire nation with his trusty ol’ boomerang. Toph, titled “The Greatest Earthbender in the World!” learned earthbending by the first generation of earthbenders: badgermoles, and then later, she made a new skill: Metalbending. The ability to bend metal at any given moment. And last, but not the least: Zuko. The son of Fire Lord Ozai, the first son to ever stand up against his father with such a high role to a community, and took over him in the title of the Fire Lord. They were...

Team Avatar.

It was an amazing lifetime for them, they were known, all over the world, restored peace with non-benders and the benders, and with that, built Republic City. A place where anyone and everyone could stay in one place, at peace all together. Soon, they established more places for the individuals to explore. So, they built Yue Bay, an island of tribute to Yue, sacrificing herself to become the moon spirit. Kyoshi Bridge, connecting lands together. It reminded others about Avatar Kyoshi, and the remarkable things she had done. Though violent and scary, yes, she made a notable and unforgettable mark in the cosmos. Aang Memorial Island- As it is in the name, it is a memorial for Avatar Aang, for marking peace in the land, as said above. In the center, there lies a statue of Avatar Aang. With his outstanding posture and choice for posing, it shows his bravery during his time of living. And it especially shows his perseverance to restore the nation of the air nomads, like, he would give up anything (not literally) to see airbenders once again.

Together, they went on adventures, met multiple opponents, and saved the world, with laughter and joy in-between. But, in the end, they had to say goodbye. Though you would think that they only separated from one another.. I mean, yes, they did, but they still kept in touch. What I meant was:

One by one, starting with Aang, then Sokka… Then so on and so forth, Team Avatar met their fate. Naturally, they did have to meet their death at some point. But.. They couldn’t let go of each other so easily just like that. For each death- They met up. At the top of Republic City, there it was. The balcony of Aang and Katara’s household. All of Team Avatar met there, all the way up there, to witness each other’s death. To say their final goodbyes to each other, giving them a time to finally rest. But, with Katara.. She broke the tradition. She had to. When she realized she was about to give in to her fate…

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Tenzin left Pema, Jinora, Ikki, Meelo and Rohan in Katara's hut, leaving for a “Sibling Vacation.” Well she was glad, because she had recently lectured her children into having a family bond, because she said, and I quote:

“All of you will miss each other when one is gone. Trust me. I get the feeling. I've argued with you Uncle Sokka all the time, now that he's gone, it felt like a part of me left. As if there's just an empty part in my heart longing for a time to bond with my brother again…

 But just know, I love all of you equally. There are no exceptions, whether if one of my children was very, insanely loud-” Katara looked at Bumi, then continuing,

 “Or if one acted like her duty was to care for all of you-” She looked at Kya, 

“Or if one felt as if their father only focused on them-” She finally looked at Tenzin.

“I'm very sure that your father also loved you all equally. You know him, always trying to bring back his people. He just wanted his people back, but here, this is his family, one he cares for.”

-

Her time with Pema and her children were great. It reminded her of Bumi, Kya and Tenzin when they were younger. But.. They also reminded her of Team Avatar, back in the old days. She got snapped back to reality when Jinora asked:

“Gran-gran? Are you still there? You were in the middle of telling us about your mastery of waterbending at such a young age!”

“Oh- yes… It was an amazing feeling, but it felt like there was a burden on your shoulders. You just wanted to master your element, but you also had a duty to save the world. Though that duty relied on your father.. We all knew that- that duty also fell unto us. It was our duty to let Aang master all of the elements before it was time. We've trained him in so many ways, there were many challenges, especially in his earthbending. My brother got stuck inside a hole in the rocks.” Katara giggled a bit at the thought.

Katara and her grandchildren were all huddled up near the fireplace, gasping and giggling at the stories that their grandma told. Jinora was the most interested, she loved history and all of the sort. Ikki loved funny stories, she was the one who giggled the most. Meelo on the other hand, well. He fell asleep almost halfway, but woke up and continued listening.

During their time of telling stories and explaining what happened during the Sozin’s Comet, all of the children became sleepy, of course. Katara let them go on her bed, now only her and Pema remain awake. 

-

“Ah, Pema, I’d like to ask you something.”

“Hm? Oh yes, of course.”

“Let’s go out of the hut for a bit. I wouldn’t want the children to hear about this.”

Pema raised an eyebrow, but still trusted Katara. She was her husband’s mother after all, and she took care of her grandchildren and her own.

When they stepped outside, Katara pulled out a hand-written letter from her pocket. It was rolled up, tied with a dark blue ribbon. She handed it to Pema carefully, making sure that it didn’t fold, bent, or ripped. 

“Could you give this to Tenzin when he comes back to pick you all up? I’m certain that he would still be with his siblings, he did tell me they would be all together for around a month or so. You could.. Open it if you’d like. The news will spread over time.”

Pema opened it. She looked at Katara with a ‘permission to look?’ face, then she nodded. Pema opened it, reading silently:

My dear children,

I know I’ve been in this world for a long time now. I’ve outlived your father, your uncle, and many of my friends. My children, I put all of my trust in you that you will continue telling the story of your father, me, Toph, Zuko, and your Uncle Sokka. I know that they all would love the feeling of staying in history, though their lives had ended long ago. If you would like, you can tell Avatar Korra and her friends about this. We can all meet up for a talk in my hut, for my final goodbye. I’d like my death to be witnessed by the souls of my friends that now rest in the afterlife, in peace. I am truly grateful that I’ve stayed for a whole lot of events, but I am sure that it is my time now. I’ve felt extremely weak over the past few days.

P.S. This is for Kya: The Closet.

Love,

Katara

Pema looked at Katara with a shocked expression.

“You.. You’re dying..?”

“.. Yes, my dear, I’ve been here far too long..”

“We all will miss you, Katara.”

Katara smiled.

- 

Two weeks had passed, and Katara saw Tenzin, Kya, Bumi, and of course Oogi, Tenzin’s sky bison. She’d woke up Pema and the children around 10 minutes ago, then run to their father. Pema looked at Katara one last time, but she knew that her family would be back to visit her in around a week or so.

Pema faced Tenzin, her smile faded.

“Tenzin, your mother told me to give you this. You’re supposed to read it with your siblings, she said.”

“Of course. Bumi, Kya, our mother has given us a letter.” Tenzin replied.

“Hm? What is it?” Kya said.

Tenzin unraveled the letter, all three siblings reading it at once. Bumi gasped loudly.

Kya immediately noticed the side note, she knows about The Closet. Her siblings don’t know, her mother only told her. Her heart raced faster than ever, she knew that her mother is actually now dying.. She remembered her mother’s instructions.

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Kya remembered. She’d obviously remember, it was an important memory to her, a secret kept between her parents and herself. None of her siblings had known, she didn’t even know what was in the closet, she knew about the secret, but not about the inside. A flashback had gone through her mind, completely disarranging her thoughts.

-

“Kya, my dear?” Katara called out. 

“Yes, mama?” Kya said in response. 

“Would you come here, for a bit?” “Okay!”

Katara was seen assembling their wardrobe in the parent’s wardrobe, holding a folded piece of paper. She waved it a bit to catch a glimpse of the inside, then turned around to see Kya, her daughter. 

“Ah! I see you’re here already. So, Kya, me and papa have something to tell you, a secret. Don’t tell your siblings or we’ll be very, very mad..”

Kya gulped, “How mad?”

“Very.” Katara replied. Kya shivered.

“Not that much, you know..” Katara booped Kya’s nose with her index finger. Kya giggled.

Katara finally moved to the side, showing a box covered with ice around it.

“Since you’re the only waterbender of our family, you’re the one who knows about this secret. But me and your father will surprise you when the letter is opened. You’ll know when you have to unlock it.”

She let Kya look at it for a bit to remember, then slowly closed the closet doors. 

-

As her memories flooded back to her brain, she started connecting all the dots. The surprise was to be given when her parents were both dead. She held her hand to her mouth, as broken cries and sobs could be heard from her. Tenzin and Bumi immediately turned to her, also tearing up, but only she knew about the closet, so they had to ask questions.

“Kya? What’s wrong? Well- Aside from Mom’s announcement,” Bumi asked.

“I-It’s about Mom’s side note for me.. The Closet..” She repeated those two dreaded words once more, as it ringed in her head multiple times.

“What is it about?” Tenzin finally spoke.

“You’ll kno-know soon.” She broke out.