Princess Yue

Although she did not possess any waterbending ability during her life, Yue took over the Moon Spirit's abilities and became a waterbender capable of Avatar-level techniques. She can generate massive tidal waves, enlarging Aang's own in order to safely carry him to shore, and possesses great healing abilities.

Yue was a remarkably kind, sweet, and gentle girl with a certain sense of humor. She offered hope to others even in crucial times, including a despaired Aang. Yue was courageous enough to sacrifice her own life to save the Moon Spirit, a feat that not only saved her tribe but possibly the world.[4][1]

Yue had a deep sense of loyalty and duty to her tribe. This is evident through her willingness to enter an arranged marriage with Hahn despite her affections for Sokka,[4] and her choice to sacrifice her life to bring the Moon Spirit back. Her spiritual nature was influenced by her upbringing in the Northern Water Tribe and the circumstances of her birth and ill-health as a child.[1][2][4]

As the Moon Spirit, Yue initially retained much of her old personality, remaining playful, contemplative, and merciful. She also remained humble; when interacting with mortals at one point after her ascension, she asked them to just call her Yue due to not being used to the "whole worship-thing".

After Aang was struck down by Princess Azula's lightning during the Coup of Ba Sing Se, Yue was able to provide more tangible assistance to Team Avatar: She took it upon herself to meet the Avatar in the Spirit World, informed him of the damage that had taken place to the Avatar Spirit and explained how to return to his body. She further instructed him to seek out the past four Avatars while avoiding Koh, the Face Stealer.[9] Yue later appeared to Aang once more to encourage him not to lose hope and to continue fighting the war, as he had already saved the world once. She subsequently assisted him in forming a massive wave of water to ride toward the island where Roku's temple once stood, utilizing her powers as the Moon Spirit.

At one point during Team Avatar's journey through the Fire Nation, Sokka reacted with anger at Toph's suggestion that the Moon Spirit might be harming people, declaring that the Moon Spirit was "a gentle, loving lady who rules the skies with compassion and lunar goodness".[11] Thanks to her overview of the world, Yue knew of Sokka's words and found his description of her humorous.[7]

Legacy Yue's sacrifice was honored by the Northern Water Tribe. For example, the tribe developed special cakes made from roots and seeds of the Spirit Oasis which were to be consumed to both remember her life as well as her current role as the Moon Spirit.[12] Her sacrifice was also honored by the United Republic of Nations, who named the bay connecting Republic City to the Mo Ce Sea Yue Bay.

Upon their return to the Spirit Oasis, Yue and Team Avatar were confronted by Zhao, who fatally struck the Moon Spirit's mortal form, leaving all waterbenders powerless without the moon's influence. Appearing on scene, Iroh saw that she had been touched by the Moon Spirit, which reminded her how her life was saved by Tui as a newborn. Once again acting dutifully to her tribe, Yue sacrificed herself to give back the life that the Moon had given her. This was against Sokka's wishes, but the young warrior did not stop her in the end. She placed her hands onto the fish, closed her eyes, and died in Sokka's arms. Yue's spirit appeared before Sokka when her physical body vanished from his arms. She whispered and swore that she would always be with the former before the two shared a final kiss, then vanished completely.

Having "restored" Tui and merged with the latter,[5] Yue took the role of La's counterpart and partner.[6] Yet she initially retained much of her old personality as a spirit, and began to watch over the entire world.[7] In particular, she sought to protect and aid the people of the Water Tribes.[8] To her chagrin, she thus became the subject of worship in her new role. She also followed the continued adventures of Team Avatar.

Upon arriving at the Northern Water Tribe, Sokka was smitten with Yue, taken by her beauty at first sight. He first engaged in conversation with the young princess during the joint celebration of the Avatar Aang's arrival and her sixteenth birthday, in which she was seated along with her father and Master Pakku.[2]

After he awkwardly flirted with her, Yue and Sokka soon began to arrange meetings.[2] These included riding on Appa and taking walks together around Agna Qel'a. Although affection budded between the two, she was bound in an arranged marriage to Hahn, who had more love for her high status than toward her, boasting once to Sokka that "she [came] with the most perks". The two teenagers came to realize their love for each other, but she could not bear to continue their meetings because they conflicted so strongly with her responsibilities to her tribe. He eventually became angered when she insisted that being together was "wrong" and that it was her duty to marry Hahn for her people, to which he replied that she was not marrying her people.[4]

During Admiral Zhao's siege of Agna Qel'a, Sokka was ordered by Arnook to act as his daughter's bodyguard, noticing how their love persisted. Yue led Aang and Katara to the Spirit Oasis, helping him to enter the Spirit World.[4] When Aang had been captured by Zuko, she accompanied Katara and Sokka as they tracked the two of them down on Appa.

Yue was born in the Northern Water Tribe's capital of Agna Qel'a to Chief Arnook and his wife, the daughter of a tribal chieftain. She had an unknown illness as an infant, being still and quiet as though asleep, so her parents feared she would die. As her condition was critical and the tribe's healers, including Yagoda, could not cure her, Arnook prayed to the Moon Spirit in desperation and placed her in the tribe's Spirit Oasis. The Moon Spirit gifted her with part of its own life force, saving her life and turning her hair white as a side effect. Thus, her parents named her Yue, for the moon.[2]

Sometime prior to Team Avatar's arrival at the Northern Water Tribe, it was arranged that Yue would marry a young, egotistical warrior named Hahn. He carved a betrothal necklace for her to mark their engagement,[2] but she did not really love him and consented to the marriage only to stay in line with her people's customs.