Spirit Oasis

The Spirit Oasis is a verdant garden and pond located in a cave deep within the Northern Water Tribe's capital city at the North Pole. Although the land outside is perpetually frozen, the Spirit Oasis itself is warm, lush and inviting.

History


Koh states that, long before the War, Tui and La, the Ocean and Moon Spirits, became mortal and began to circle each other in the pond of the Oasis for eternity.

Many years after this, Avatar Kuruk intended to marry his lover, Ummi, a Southern Water Tribe woman, inside the Spirit Oasis. However, on the night of the wedding, Ummi was traveling above the pond of the Spirit Oasis when she was kidnapped and taken to the Spirit World by the Face-Stealer, Koh, to punish Kuruk for neglecting his duties as the Avatar. Kuruk gave chase, but he could not catch up to Koh and Ummi. Koh subsequently took Ummi's face. For the remaining years of Kuruk's life, he journeyed to the Spirit Oasis on the anniversary of the wedding and searched for his lost wife.

Chief Arnook and his wife visited the Spirit Oasis soon after their daughter's birth, after she was deemed terminally ill. They prayed to the Moon and Ocean Spirits, begging them to save their daughter's life. They complied, and Yue's hair became white and she began to cry.



When the Fire Nation began its assault on the Northern Water Tribe, Princess Yue brought Avatar Aang and Katara to the Spirit Oasis so that Aang could cross over into the Spirit World. Aang was successful, but when he was meditating, the banished Prince Zuko snuck into the Oasis and attempted to kidnap Aang. Katara attempted to stop Zuko and had the upper hand, but was defeated when the sun rose and Zuko knocked her out. Aang was taken.

Though Aang was taken, he eventually came out of his trance and was found near a weakened Zuko, and taken back to the Northern Water Tribe with the identity of the Moon and Ocean Spirits. Admiral Zhao and the former General Iroh eventually made their way into the Spirit Oasis with several soldiers. There, Admiral Zhao explained that he had known about the identity of Tui and La for some time, after having found the information in a Great Library. He revealed he intended to kill the Moon Spirit, which would strip waterbenders of their power.



Upon learning this, Iroh warned the Admiral that his actions would cause great damage, not only to the waterbenders, but to the whole world, and that he would do ten-fold of what Zhao did to the fish. Zhao appeared to have listened, releasing the fish back into the water; however, he launched a fire blast at the spirit, killing her. The moon subsequently began to disappear and all waterbenders in the city were stripped of their power. Aang, however, had not lost hope. His tattoos began to glow and he walked into the pond. There, he fused with La and they began to devastate the Fire Nation war ships.

Meanwhile, General Iroh had suggested that Yue give up her life to Tui because the Spirit had given life to Yue, perhaps she could give it back. Yue agreed, but Sokka did not want her to. Yue said that it was her duty to give up her life, and the two tearfully said good bye. Yue and Sokka kissed, and she disappeared. Tui and La were once again safe to encircle each other in a continuing cycle, and the moon reappeared. Admiral Zhao was killed by La in revenge for his actions.



A few weeks after, waterbending Master Pakku presented his former pupil, Katara, with a vial of water from the Spirit Oasis. He said it had "special properties". Katara posessed this vial throughout the team's adventures in the Earth Kingdom, and would later use this water in order to heal the fatal wounds that Princess Azula had inflicted on the Avatar.

Physical


The Spirit Oasis is a secluded cove located behind the chief's temple at the base of a waterfall. This unusual place is a lush, warm, tropical oasis and the center of all spiritual activity in the entire North Pole. The tribe believes that the energy of the Moon and Ocean Spirits keep the oasis constantly warm and flourishing. There is a small pond and a spirit gate located on the grassy island. During each full moon, the tribe makes an offering to the spirits as a thank you for their protection by placing food and objects beneath the oasis gate.

In the middle of the Spirit Oasis, there are koi fish (one black and one white) who do not appear to be abnormal, but are, in reality, the Ocean and Moon Spirits, Tui and La.

Spiritual
The Spirit Oasis is the most spiritual place in the North. In fact, the Moon and Ocean Spirits themselves reside in it in the form of two koi fish, one black and one white. The Avatar may enter the Spirit World through this location via meditation. It is strongly implied that the bottom of the pond is an entrance to the Spirit World, as Koh traveled through the other side to get to Ummi.

Trivia

 * According to DVD commentary for "The Siege of the North", it is a place where the Spirit World overlaps with the mortal world. This would further support how Koh was able to travel between the two planes.