Love is an allusion… It is, at best elusive for some, and unattainable for most. This is the love of the Legendary Lovers. They were made an example, by the universe itself, of how love, the precious gift of the gods to mortals—a link to immortality itself—is fragile.
--
His lips pressed hotly on hers as his calloused hands caressed her face lovingly. The action conveyed so much emotion; of regrets, pain, longing, suffering, but most of all it conveyed love. Her smaller hands clung to his shoulders as if her immortality depended on it; hard enough that dark skin turned pale at the knuckles.
Both afraid that this blissful moment, in this plane of existence, the other would disappear…
Minds reeled—wasn’t it enough that in two lives they were divided by the cruelties of war? Wasn’t their suffering enough to appease the gods? Could they survive another parting?
Hot tears trailed down his cheeks—his heart hurt…
A sad smile tugged on her swollen lips…
--
He knew this much, he knew that universal laws were irreversible. No matter how much pain it caused him and his wife. No matter how much pain it caused his own. He was not above the laws of the universe, it is his duty to enforce and subsequently follow.
The Eternal Court was empty save the god-king himself. His usual stoic face marred with furrowed brows and a sad smile. Beauty was around him—beauty was him; yet his ever changing eyes—like that of the auroras—were filled with sadness.
His mind and heart reached out for the familiar essence of his daughter. She was in the field of dreams—Elysium. She was at peace in the arms of her lover. She only had the compounded memories of her two latest incarnations—Katara of the Water Tribe and of Oma, founder of Omashu.
Tears prickled his glorious eyes; he knew her memories, of all her incarnations.
As Oma, her lover was of another tribe. Their people fought against each other, and in the tribal war, her lover, Shu, died. In her sorrow, he blessed her linage with the power to earthbend. As Katara, he blessed her with the mastery of waterbending. He allowed her comfort in the friendship of her mortal protector—the Avatar. She found her other half, but war and death tore them apart, again.
Crying, the god-king steeled his heart once more, he would have to part with his beloved daughter…
--
The Eternal court was filled with deities, his subjects. But most importantly, they stood before him. She was in the characteristic blue garb of the water tribe, and he was in the Fire nation ceremonial death robes. They held each other’s hands.
He wanted to rush from his lofty throne to the dark skinned woman before him and hold her. How long had it been since he held his daughter? How long had it been he saw her content? Regret weighed heavily on his heart. Tears threatened to spill. He may be the god-king, but he is a father first. He could feel his wife tug on his heartstring, offering him encouragement.
“I have a gift,” he said softly to the lovers.
“We thank you, your majesty,” Katara replied with a bright smile before turning to face her lover.
“Yes, majesty, we thank you,” Zuko replied in kind.
His chest clenched guiltily, the gift he was about to bestow was a sad one. The court was silent as he closed his eyes and the couple did the same. He filled their minds with memories past…
--
Orihime-sama was weaving the fabric of the night sky, putting the stars in their places. She ran her velvety threads through the loom… a smile on her face and sadness in her heart.
Vega was walking in the pasture tending his flocks…alone.
She stood silently, for once free of her duty. She smiled as she saw heavens atop the highest hill, the work of her hands glistening.
From the corner of his eyes, the peculiar color of her robes caught his attention…she shown as bright as the stars, and his heart skipped a beat.
She closed her eyes and prepared for his kiss…
He leaned down to meet her lips, for once; in all his days, did his heart swell in the knowledge that he would never be alone again.
--
She lay content in his arms…
He felt as if, her body was especially for him.
--
They stood in front of the god-king, her father, pleading for forgiveness. They had not meant to neglect their heavenly duties.
Her father’s anger not appeased—he separated them.
She set back to work on her loom with tears that stained the fabric.
He gazed at the heavens, once perfect, had white rivers streaking through.
--
Her mother bargained in their behalf.
Other deities tried to coax the god-king, and he relented and allowed them to meet only once every seven celestial cycles.
--
Waiting drove her to the point of insanity and in her sorrow; she divided her soul in three.
He agreed to do the same.
Their hearts sent to earth to be destined to find and love each other every incarnation cycle.
Their hollowed bodies set forever to do their heavenly tasks.
She wove their immortality in the fabric of heaven, for all to see their tragic love story.
Before being made carnate, they had peace knowing that if their love was not realized
on earth, a part of themselves could be reunited…once every seven…
--
“Do you understand?” the god-king opened his eyes to see the pained morals.
There was silence as memories of various lives unlocked in their minds. The heavenly hosts stood in awe and sadness as the pain of love almost-yet-not shown on their faces.
Tears ran down their cheeks. Their intertwined grip held strong and fast.
His resolve breaking, the head deity allowed himself to cry. Anger had been replaced with regret and guilt long ago, but it was not he who wove fate. Mortals made their decisions, regardless of the pattern already pre-made—depending on their choice, it was either an advantage of disadvantage.
“Father,” said she.
He is colorful eyes looked upon her sadly.
“We would be re-incarnated?”
His lips trembled as he nodded, “a heavenly accord was broken. You were not to die early from war this time around…as Oma and Shu had. So, you will be sent back to find each other once again.
As my blessing, I will allow you to be incarnated as many times needed for you to finally be together…that much I will do for you.”
Tears poured from everyone in the room. Patron deities—Agni and Sedna, blessed them with a stronger heart string.
“…so you do not come hate each other and waste time.”
