Chapter Text
Morning came to Ember Island, in the abandoned beach house once owned by the Fire Lord, the members of Team Avatar began to wake up to greet the day. Aang was making his way down to the kitchens where he saw Sokka and Toph as they were eating bowls of, what smelled like, congee. Suki was over the wood burning stove, stirring a pot of the rice porridge Aang was smelling. She turned to Aang, “Good morning Aang, did you sleep well?”
“I did.” Aang said as he walked over to get a bowl, “Where’s Katara? Usually she’s up before any of us.”
“She must still be in bed,” Suki theorized as she Ladled the congee in Aang’s bowl, “I was up and figured I’d make breakfast.”
“Good call,” Toph said, “I don’t think Sweetness got enough sleep last night.”
“What makes you say that?” Aang asked.
“My room is next to hers, I heard her tossing and turning and mumbling about something,” Toph explained, “couldn’t tell what though.”
Aang gave a concerned look at that, “I hope she’s alright.”
“I’m sure she’s fine,” Sokka reassured, “She probably just couldn’t get comfortable. The beds are a little too soft for my taste.”
“Sokka, you can be on a bed of needles and still sleep like a log,” Toph quipped.
Before Sokka could respond, they heard footsteps, they look up and see Katara coming down. Unlike the others, who were fully dressed, Katara was wearing what looked like a silk red sleeping robe, the robe wasn’t tied fully so some of her undergarments peeked out. Her hair looked a mess, it stuck out in places, she wasn’t even wearing her signature hair loopies, as Sokka teasingly named, and there were bags under her eyes, confirming Toph’s theory that she didn’t get enough sleep.
“Whoa, Katara, are you okay?” Aang asked, looking worried at how she looked.
“I’m fine Aang,” Katara mumbled as she reached for a chair to sit. She let out a yawn, covering it with her mouth, “I just had a rough night.”
“Well, I made breakfast, so you don’t have to worry about that,” Suki said as she brought a bowl to Katara.
“That’s nice of you, Suki, thank you.” Katara said as she brought the bowl closer.
“So what kept you up, Sugar Queen?” Toph asked, “Nightmare? Last night’s dinner giving you trouble?”
“It was nothing Toph,” Katara argued meekly, “I just wasn’t feeling comfortable and couldn’t sleep.”
Suki gave a chuckle, “You know, there’s an old wives tale that says if you can’t sleep, it’s because someone else is thinking about you?”
“That’s ridiculous,” Sokka argued, “who would be thinking about Katara in the middle of the night?”
The sound of footsteps got their attention again, they turned and saw Zuko emerging from the steps. Like Katara, he too was in just in a red sleeping robe, wearing only a pair of shorts as sleep clothes. And like Katara, the bags in his eyes told them he, too, had a rough night.
“Um…good morning, sifu Hotman?” Aang half greeted, half asked.
“I told you not to call me that,” Zuko grumbled as he sat next to Toph.
“You alright, Sparky?” Toph asked, “You sound more grouchy than usual. And that’s saying something.”
“Why don’t you mind your own business, you-” Zuko covered his mouth to catch himself before he could continue that sentence, “Sorry…I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to snap. I had a bad dream and it kept me up at night.”
“Hey, it’s okay, Zuko,” Suki said as she placed a bowl of the congee in front of him, “We all get bad dreams once in a while.”
“Do you remember what it was about?” Aang asked, feeling concerned.
“Some sort of monster I couldn’t recognize,” he said as he took a spoonful of his porridge, “Maybe it was a spirit, I don’t know. All I know that it took out almost everyone here and it was down to me and Katara to fight it.”
As he was describing the dream, Katara turned to him and her eyes widened the more he talked, “Did this monster have yellow glowing eyes and red lines around its body?”
Everyone, save for Toph, turned to look at Katara when she asked that. “Yes…how did you know?” Zuko asked in a tone that said he was more than shocked.
Katara looked at him, matching his expression as she said, “Because…I think I had the same dream.”
The rest of team Avatar looked at one another in surprise, “Wait, is that even possible?” Sokka asked, “Aang?”
The Avatar put a hand to his chin as he tried to recall something, “I think I remember the monks saying something about shared dreams. It was during my lessons about Spiritual Projection.”
“What’s Spiritual Projection?” Toph asked.
“It’s a very rare airbending skill,” Aang began to explain,”The monks described it as…being able to project your spirit out of your body. It would allow an airbender to explore places one could never reach before, like going through walls and stuff.”
“You can do that?” Zuko asked.
“Actually…I couldn’t get the hang of it,” Aang answered meekly, “But thankfully it wasn’t a requirement to master airbending, otherwise I wouldn’t have my arrows,” he laughed.
“Sounds like a load of hog-monkey wash,” Sokka dismissed.
“No, it’s true,” Suki defended, “Back in Kyoshi’s time, she knew an airbender that could do that, it helped her connect to the Spirit World.”
“How do you know that?” Toph asked.
“As a Kyoshi Warrior, we were taught about everything Avatar Kyoshi did,” Suki explained, “All of her feats and achievements, everyone she ever interacted with, everything.”
“Prove it: tell us something about Kyoshi that isn’t well known,” Sokka challenged.
“Alright,” Suki accepted with a smile, relishing the opportunity. “Kyoshi had a bodyguard name Rangi, who was the daughter of her firebending teacher, Hei-Ran. Rangi was a firebender as well and, not many knew this, but she and Kyoshi were lovers.”
Everyone was silent, Sokka and Aang blushed a little when learning about that. “Toph?” Sokka asked, as she had her truth seeing skill.
“She’s telling the truth,” Toph said simply.
Everyone looked at one another, some letting out “oohs” of amazement at Suki’s knowledge. “Tell us something else,” Aang encouraged.
“Hold on, what about the dream Zuko and I had?” Katara interrupted.
“Oh, right, that,” Aang realized, “Sorry. Well, anyway,” he continued, drawing the memory, “While I wasn’t able to perform the Spiritual Projection then, I think ever since the Winter Solstice, when I entered the Spirit World, that ability manifested. I was able to leave my body a few times, it’s was how I learned about the comet, about Roku and Sozin’s history, how I was able to reconnect to the Avatar cycle after Azula struck me.”
“And what does this have to do with our dream?” Zuko asked, feeling a bit annoyed that the conversation veered of topic.
“The monks theorized that dreams were often gateways to the Spirit World, some even think they connect beyond that,” Aang explained, “Therefore: Spiritual Projection could allow an airbender to enter another person’s dream.”
“So you’re saying you could enter our dreams?” Katara asked.
“…In theory, yes.” Aang drew, “However, not many airbenders in my time mastered spiritual projection, not even monk Gyatso, so it was never really experimented with.”
“Then forget it,” Zuko said, getting up, “Summer’s end is in another month, along with Sozin’s comet. We can’t afford to waste time on things that could risk losing the Avatar.” He took this bowl of congee and poured it in his mouth, swallowing it in a few gulps, “Finish your breakfast and meet me in the courtyard, it’s time for your next firebending lesson,” he instructed before making his way outside, slamming the door behind him.
The rest of team Avatar looked at one another before Sokka pointed out, “He is aware that he’s just in his sleep clothes, right?”
The back door opened again and his face was red with embarrassment as he just realized what Sokka pointed out, “Not…a…word,” Zuko growled through his teeth.
////////////
The rest of the day passed by with no real problems, save for the the fact that both fire and waterbending lessons were cut shorter due to the tiredness of Aang’s teachers. The rest of team Avatar let Zuko and Katara turn in earlier than usual out of concern for their friends. However, despite going to bed early, the two did not seem to get much sleep, as the next day they looked more tired than before. Toph verified that she heard Katara crying out, tossing and turning the night before, and Suki, who changed bedrooms with Sokka, as that room was near Zuko’s, heard similar sounds Toph did, thought not as clearly as the bind earthbender. Zuko and Katara verified that while their dream was different from before, the fact that both described similar, yet strange, events of giant machines fighting a monster with the same eyes and markings, told them that it was another shared dream.
Aang started to get nervous as he remembered a phase monk Gyatso taught him during an airbending lesson that he was having trouble doing: “If it happens once, it’s an accident. Twice is coincidence…but three times, then it becomes a pattern.” Aang didn’t get it at the time as he was still the carefree kid he was before learning about his identity as the Avatar, but hearing about Zuko and Katara’s issues, the phrase seemed to return to warn Aang.
////////////
Just as sunset arrived on the third night at the beach house, Zuko took precautions and made himself and Katara some tea that his uncle sometimes made for him that would allow a peaceful rest. “Are you sure this tea will work?” Katara had asked as Zuko was brewing it, she was at the table in the kitchen as Zuko worked, both were wearing their sleep robes, ready to turn in after their tea.
“I took it a few times back during my first year at sea, and it did the trick back then,” Zuko explained before letting out a yawn, “Granted, my tea making skills are nowhere near my uncle’s.”
“Your teas have tasted good to me,” Katara resumed with a smile.
This made Zuko smile as well, his cheeks turned pink at the flattery. Ever since they made up after finding Yon Rha, the two of them had gotten along like a house on fire. “Thanks, Katara, that’s nice of you to say.” After pouring the prepared tea into the cups, he brought the tray to Katara and sat next to her. “Well…here goes nothing.”
Zuko lifted his cup, as did Katara with hers, she smiled and held her cup to Zuko’s, “To a better night’s rest,” she offered, Zuko responded by clinking his cup with hers.
“Cheers,” Zuko responded before he and Katara drank the cups. The tea was hot but not too hot that they had to wait for it to cool.
After a moment, Katara smiled, “It is good, more medicinal really, but very soothing.” Her eyes drooped a little, she took another drink before finishing the cup.
“Yeah, I’m positive I made it right,” Zuko said before finishing his cup.
“Ooh…maybe too right…” Katara murmured, “I think it’s working fast.”
Zuko felt his eyes try to close, “It doesn’t usually work this fast. Either I mixed it wrong or we must be more tired than we thought…I don’t think I can make it to my bed.”
“Me too…” Katara yawned as she got up, Zuko got to her side and took her hand for stability. The two only made a few steps into the common room before Katara pulled at Zuko’s arm. “Let’s just sleep here and worry about it later.” She lead Zuko to one of the sofas that occupied the room.
“Yeah…ok,” Zuko said between yawns. He helps katara into the first sofa, “Good night,” Zuko said before turning to another sofa, but stopped when he felt Katara’s hand pull him down. “Katara, wh-”
“Stay with me…please?” Katara asked in a meek and soft voice, her drowsiness seemed to release some Inhibitions on her part. “You’re so warm,” she pulled his arm closer and nuzzled it against her cheek, “So soothing.”
Zuko blushed more at this, “Katara, we shouldn’t-” he let out a yelp as Katara pulled him onto the sofa with him, they was enough room for two of them barely. He blushed harder when he felt her arms wrap around him.
Katara smiled as she pulled him close and nuzzled against Zuko's chest, cuddling him like he was a stuffed animal, she took in a breath and sighed, he had the scent of the tea he made, along with smoke and sandalwood. Without another word, she drifted to sleep. Realizing he couldn’t get out, Zuko gave up. He maneuvered himself until she was resting on top of him. Once he was comfortable enough, he closed his eyes, wrapping his arms around her and smiling as he felt her heartbeat, it was very relaxing. He too took in a breath and noticed her scent carried the sea air that he was so familiar with, it brought peaceful thoughts and he fell asleep.
The two were in such a deep sleep that they didn’t hear the door to the courtyard open and Toph entering first, “Good practice, Twinkle Toes, almost-” but she stopped short when she entered the common room, she didn’t see them but she did hear them breathing softly and sensed their vibrations even through the wood and fluff of the furniture.
“What was that about-” Aang started to say, but was interrupted when Toph raised a finger and shushed him.
Suki followed after Aang as she and Sokka were having a sparring match. She was about to say something when she noticed Toph and rushed over. Sokka followed the rear carrying what looked like steel colored fan blades, “Hey Suki you forgot-” he was silenced by Toph and Suki shushing him “What’s going on?” he asked softly.
Toph pointed at the Sofa where Katara and Zuko were sleeping. Sokka’s eyes widened at the sight of his baby sister cuddling up next to the former Fire Prince. He took in a breath, ready to cry out in shock when Suki covered his mouth to muffle the yell. “I guess Sparky and Sugar Queen were too tired to even get to their beds,” Toph said gently.
“Should we move them?” Aang asked gently, looking nervous at the sight before him.
“Nah,” Toph answered, “They’ve been trying to sleep for days now, just get a blanket and some pillows for them. We’ll tease them in the morning.” She turned and left the room.
As Aang went to get the bedding, Suki and Sokka stood by and watched as Katara gently reoriented herself in her sleep, she moved so her hands rested over Zuko’s chest, she smiled a little as she felt more comfortable. Suki’s face carried a light blush as little hearts were in her eyes, “Awww…” she cooed gently, “They’re so cute together.”
Sokka let out a muffled, “What!?” As she still had his mouth covered. He gave her a glare of disbelief.
“Oh, stop it, it’s just my opinion.” Suki argued in a lowered voice. “Ever since they came back from their little field trip, they’ve been close. I wouldn’t be surprised if they ended up together after all this. They make a pretty cute couple. And if the Ember Island Players are any indication, I’m not the only one who thinks that,” she added with a smug smile.
Sokka let out a muffled noise that sounded like, “Betrayal!”
Aang frowned a little as he overheard her during his return. On one hand, he knew both of his friends had trouble sleeping and wanted them to finally have a good night’s rest. On the other hand…did they really have to do it while cuddling one another like lovers? He wanted to be the one in Katara’ arms. After getting the pillow under Zuko’s head, he drapes a big blanket over the two of them.
“We should probably turn in as well,” Suki voiced as she took Sokka, who was still ranting under his girlfriend’s hand, and made their way up to the bedrooms. She stops and sees Aang still down there, “Aang? You coming?”
“I’m gonna look over them for a few minutes, just in case they start getting nightmares again,” Aang said.
“Okay then. Don’t stay up too late,” Suki said before disappearing into the bedrooms.
Aang looked down at his two friends, they seemed to be resting peacefully. He glared at them for a bit, ever since they came back from the theater, he’d grown jealous of Zuko. Sure, he had forgiven Zuko for everything he did since he emerged from the iceberg, and he had won everyone over in the few weeks since he joined team Avatar, including Katara. He was glad that Katara forgave Zuko and were now friends…but he didn’t stop to think that there might have been a chance that she would fall for the Fire Prince. He didn’t say it then, but when the monks taught him about the idea of shared dreams, it usually meant that there was a bond forming, one that could transcend lifetimes, he didn’t mention this because at the time he was afraid of the implication, and he didn’t want to put those ideas in his friends’ head, less they form into something he couldn’t control.
Suddenly, his thoughts were interrupted as he heard grunts. He saw frowns on both Zuko and Katara, they started moving and crying out softly, one of Zuko’s hand shot out while the other held Katara protectively. “Another bad dream,” he realized. He placed a hand on Zuko’s head, rubbing it gently like a parent would, it seems to have the desired effect as he calmed down gently. He did the same to Katara and she relaxed a bit as well, but they still looked uncomfortable. He gave a look of determination. “Don’t worry, guys…I’ll fix this.”
Aang maneuvers himself into a lotus position, his back facing his friends. He places his fist together as he enters a meditating form, he closes his eyes and takes in a breath before concentrating. His arrow tattoos glow softly before he feels a lightness. Opening his eyes, he finds that his spirit was now outside his body, he had done it: Spiritual Projection. “Alright…now for the tricky part.” He said, though his voice couldn’t be heard by anyone outside. He turns and sees Zuko and Katara again, their faces show more discomfort before he places his hand over their heads, he waved them a few times, using a waterbending healing form Katara taught him. Though he couldn’t actually bend in this state, after a few passes he could feel their life force, their chi, and his suspicions had been confirmed: their chi are connecting, they were sharing the same dream. Wasting no time, he places his hands over their heads and began focusing, “I’m here guys…I’m here to help…let me in…” The next thing Aang knew, he was blinded by a white light and he felt the sensation of falling.
/////////////
Aang found himself falling into a bright void, light was all around and he felt the sensation of air passing by him like he was caught in a vortex from a bad storm. Suddenly he felt resistance, like he crashed onto the hard ground. The light faded and he began pulling himself upright, standing on whatever ground he landed on. His vision cleared and he saw a starry night sky, and strange platforms hovering miraculously in mid air. He looked down and realized he was standing on such a platform as well. On it was what looked like a stained glass window, the colorful mosaic depicted a woman with brown hair, wearing a yellow gown, a type he had never seen before.
Before he could question it more, he heard the sounds of fighting going on above him. He looked up and saw sparks fly and the sound of metal striking something ethereal, Aang looked around and saw more platforms, they were making a path. He runs towards it and jumps, he felt lighter than usual here as he made the landing, the platform he was on had another mosaic: this one of another girl wearing a similar outfit but in pink, and her hair was longer and in a golden shade he had never seen on anyone before.
Aang didn’t bother to question the images he was landing on as he continued following the platforms, climbing higher and higher until he reached where the sounds of battle look place. He lands and gasps as he sees Zuko and Katara. Both of them were fighting off little black creatures that Aang had never seen before. Even stranger, Zuko and Katara were fighting them, not just with their bending, but what seemed like giant skeleton keys, using them like swords: Katara had one long grey and blue one, while Zuko had twin keys of black and red, much like his twin broadswords.
Aang watched in awe as the two fought in perfect harmony, each of them anticipated the other and countered the creatures coming at them. After Katara finished off what seemed to be the last one, he ran up to them, calling out to them, “ZUKO! KATARA!”
The two turned to the voice and Katara’s gasped, “Aang? AANG!” She called out in return, rushing to him and giving him a hug, Zuko followed, smiling a little, “What are you doing here? I thought you were with Toph, dealing with the Nobodies.”
“Nobodies?” Aang asked, then shook his head, “Look, it doesn’t matter. You guys are sleeping right now, I entered your dream.”
“A dream?” Zuko asked.
“Remember? Spiritual Projection?” Aang asked, hoping to jog their memory.
Zuko looked out for a moment before his eye widened, “Wait…that’s right! This IS a dream. I’ve had it before.”
Katara’s eye widened as she realized as well, “You’re right!” She gasped, then turned to Aang. “Aang, that was very risky of you to try that,” she scolded a little.
“I know, but I saw you guys starting to go through another bad dream, I didn’t want you suffering again,” Aang said in a considering tone.
Katara sighed, “I know you meant well, Aang, but that was still a foolish thing to do.”
“I know,” Aang sighed, looking down.
Katara smiled, “It is good to see you thought,” she added, giving him another hug.
“Same here,” Aang said as he hugged back, “So let’s make this dream better and stop that monster you kept seeing. Where is it?”
As if summoned by Aang, the platform they were on began to shake, the three braced themselves as best they could as something climbed onto the platform. Aang, Zuko and Katara watched as a huge bipedal creature rises before them. Just as they described: the creature was black with yellow eyes and red bands wrapping around its body in a pattered that, Aang thought, reminded him of the airbender tattoos, only more ancient. “Oh…there it is,” Aang meekly let out.
“Let’s end this!” Zuko roared as he swung his giant keys and charged, Katara followed and Aang charged as well.
The monster closed its fist and slammed the platform hard, sending a shockwave that the three had to jump to avoid. Aang, on reflex, formed his air scooter and landed on the ball, balancing on it with one leg. It took a moment to realize, “Hey! I can bend in here!”
“Good for you!” Zuko shouts as he jumps, sending fireballs through his key weapons, at the monster’s fist, “Now how about using some of it?!”
Aang jumps off his scooter and stomps hard, raising some stones before propelling them at the monster’s head. Katara bends some water from her water skins and rides it like a surf board as she shoots a beam from her key weapons, freezing part of the monster’s hand Zuko hit.
The creature roared with pain as it used its free hand to swing at Katara, who dodged the attack. Zuko sent more fireballs at the monster, getting its attention, “For some reason it focuses more on Katara,” Zuko explained after Aang landed near him.
“That’s weird,” Aang noted as he bent some of the water that was frozen on the monster, he melted it and a ring of water circles around him before he sends ice block projectiles, which shattered on impact, Katara rides a wave she creates, sending her toward the head and swings her key weapon, striking its face. Zuko jumps and uses his firebending to propel himself upward and spins in a circle, striking with his key weapons. “Can I ask…what’s with the giant keys?”
“That’s too complicated to get into right now,” Zuko said in mild annoyance.
“But it’s your dream,” Aang argued.
“That doesn’t mean I always get it! Would you say your an expert on all your Avatar abilities?” Zuko countered.
Aang was about to respond but paused. “…That’s fair.”
Suddenly a scream caught them off and they see that the monster has Katara in her grasp, “No! Not again!” Zuko shouts as he charges again, the monster sends another shockwave and Zuko barely dodges it.
Aang starts running in a circle, charging his airbending before jumping right at the monster, taking a large gust of wind with him. He went in like a battering ram, earthbending some stone fists for extra damage and collided with the monster’s chest. The kickback from the wind was enough to have the creature lose its hold on the platform, sending in falling, with Katara sill in its grip. Zuko called out her name as he jumped to give chase. Aang used his rock fist to pound on its chest, trying to make it let Katara go. As he struck, he noticed that the red bands around its body flickered from red to blue, theorizing that his strikes seem to be working. However, their fall becomes something else as a blinding light suddenly beamed from behind the monster.
///////////
Aang felt the vertigo cease, indicating that they landed. Not wanting to give the monster a free hit, he continued punching, only to find that the stone fist he had earthbent on himself felt heavier, they ended up sliding off his arms. Before he could question it, the monster grabbed him in his free hand. Aang struggled as the monster pulled him to its face. Aang gasped: the face was still black as night, the only thing he saw was its eyes, it let out a roar in his face before tossing him aside. Aang tired to soften his fall with his air scooter when he realizes nothing was happening, he couldn’t bend. “What!?” He gasped before lading on the ground with a thud. “ …ow…” Aang groaned.
Aang hear Zuko call out his name, he got to his feet with a grunt, “something is wrong…I can’t bend.”
“I know, me neither. We’re in another dream.”
“How can you-” Aang started to ask when he noticed Zuko. Before, the ex prince was wearing what he called his Fire Nation casuals: a simple, tunic, shirt, pants and shoes in his nations colors. Now Zuko was wearing all black: black boots, pants, shirt, fingerless gloves and a black coat in a style he didn't reconize. The giant key swords were gone, instead Zuko had two new swords: unlike his broadswords, these blades didn’t match, one was black with a curve at the hilt, blacker than Sokka’s Space Sword, and the other was a teal shade that looked more like it was made from a crystal. “Zuko?”
“Your guess is as good as mine, this dream doesn’t look familiar,” Zuko answered as he looked at his swords.
Aang looked around, “Where’s Katara?”
He got his answer when he heard a battle cry that sounded familiar, both Aang and Zuko turned and saw Katara striking the monster when it was reaching for her again. Both boys blushed as Katara’s clothing changed as well: now instead of her water Tribe clothing she has been wearing since the eclipse, she now donned a red high neck tunic with white long sleeves, with arm guards and a cross emblem stitched in the back. On her chest was a silver-copper breastplate, and rather than pants, she now wore a red skirt that reach mid-thigh, white knee-high socks and white boots. She sent another strike at the monster using a sword, a rapier from the looks of it, Aang had seen similar swords in the weapons shop back in the Fire Nation when Sokka got his training.
After landing her strikes, Katara jumped back and met up with the boys, “It feels weird not having bending in this dream,” she said before turning to them, she noticed that they were staring and their faces were red with blush. “What is it?”
“Um…” Aang started to say, “Your clothes.”
Katara looked down and she seemed to notice her outfit for the first time and she let out a cry in shock before reflectively covering her legs. her face red with embarrassment, “Who makes a skirt this short!?” She gasped, covering her legs with the tails of her tunic. She looked up and noticed that Aang and Zuko were still looking, making her blushed harder, “Can you, perhaps, focus on the monster and not me!?”
“Sorry!” Both Aang and Zuko shouted before standing straighter and looking away from her, faces still pink.
They see the creature recovering from Katara’s blow, getting to its feet as it let out another roar. “If I can’t bend either, maybe I have a weapon too.” Aang said as he looked over himself. His outfit had changed, he wore a armored chest plate made from copper and silver, a tunic of orange and blue pants, he still had his arrow tattoos but they didn’t feel the same. He pats around himself until he finds something, a short rod of sorts, he shakes it until the sides extend, revealing a collapsible staff. “Okay…let’s try this again!” Aang shouts as he, Katara and Zuko charge at the monster.
It swung it arm and all three dodged it, separating them again. Like before the monster focused on Katara, letting Aang and Zuko strike while it was distracted, Aang noticed that as he swung his staff, the ends glowed a bright blue color, as if it was charging like when Azula uses her lightning. He gets in close and lands a blow that seemed to damage it. Zuko cried out as both his swords glowed blue as he started hacking at the monster, which started crying out in pain, “it’s working!” Katara called out.
The creature glared at Zuko, snarling like a wolf ready to bite. The markings on its body changed from red to white as it slammed both fist on the ground, shattering the floor like it was earthbending. Light started to form from under it as it began to sink, “What’s it doing?”
“I think it’s trying to get away,” Katara’s theorized.
“No!” Aang cried out, “If it escapes, it’ll come back. We have to go after it!”
“Aang no!” Katara called out as Aang gave chase. “You can’t risk it!”
But Aang continued running, he managed to dive down just as the monster disappeared. He found himself falling again like before, the monster was glaring at him as it started to swing at him. He dodged and dived closer, swinging the staff still in his hand until he landed a blow at its head. The light surrounded them shattered like glass as he and the monster started tumbling around. Aang was in awe at his surroundings: it looked like space with all the stars but there were trails of light hither and yonder, crystals and shards floated, reflecting lives and events that he couldn’t recognize, and meteorites like the one they broke down to make Sokka’s sword, some looked like they were torn from the earth as some had buildings and flora still on it. “The monks were right…dreams are gateways to the Spirit World and beyond!” Aang gasped in awe.
“AANG!” a voice called out. Aang turned and saw Katara and Zuko flying towards him, their outfits from the previous dream changed and were back to their usual attire. Aang noticed he was back in his normal clothes too.
“Guys! You followed me?” Aang gasped.
“We’re in this together, Aang,” Katara called out, “No matter what!”
Aang smiled at this, feeling empowered as he turned to the monster, still tumbling. He closes his eyes and smiles, he can feel that he’s able to bend. He reaches out and could feel the meteorites in his control as he slams two rather large ones right at the creature, landing a heavy blow, it let out a howl as it tumbled, knocking down shards and crystals until it crashed into a landmass too big for it to plow through.
“He did it! Way to go Aang!” Zuko cheered.
“Let’s make sure it’s down for good before celebrating,” Katara said.
Aang nods as he, Zuko and Katara flew toward where the monster crashed landed. They landed and walked over, passing by the embedded shards. As they walked, they reflected the three, but they weren’t true reflections, they were altered, different. One reflected them as they were in the last dream, another reflected them with Zuko in a long black cloak, Aang in a long brown robe and Katara wearing a helmet with an unusual visor. Another shard reflected Zuko in his Blue Spirit outfit and Katara in her Painted Lady costume, while Aang wore a cloak that had his arrows sewn in. There was one that reflected them as their opposite elements, one that was them but they were made out of metal, like machines, one where they were bipedal animals hybrids, and many others that they couldn’t comprehend. “This place is giving me the creeps,” Zuko said as he saw the different reflections.
They got closer and saw that the creature had landed face down on the landmass. Suddenly, to their surprise, the monster started to shrink. Katara gasped as she moved close to Zuko for support, Aang moved closer as the monster kept shrinking. Soon its body was changing too, the darkness that covered its skin faded, becoming pale, the monster’s markings changed as well from red to light blue. Aang kept walking until the monster was no longer a monster…it was a human. Aang gasped as he noticed a scar on its back…a familiar lightning bolt scar. He turned the body around and recoiled in shock. The monster…looked just like Aang.
Aang turned to his friends as they got closer as well. “It…it’s me?”
Zuko looked just as surprised as Aang did, Katara, however, looked more scared and ashamed than shocked. “Katara?” Zuko asked, turning to her.
Katara backed away from them, “I…I was hoping you’d never find out.”
“Katara, what’s going on? Are you…afraid of me?” Aang asked.
“No, no, I’m not afraid of you,” Katara tried to defend.
“Katara, you were dreaming of a monster, a monster that actually me!” Aang shouted, feeling both scared and angrily, tears were forming in his eyes
“No Aang it’s not what you think!” Katara cried out, she looked ready to cry as well. “I’m not afraid of you…” she argued softly, Aang watched as she took a step back, “…I’m afraid of what you could become.”
Aang’s eyes widened a little at that, “…What?”
“What he could become?” Zuko asked, “What do you mean?”
Katara just closed her eyes and crouched down, tears were forming. Aang tried to step forward but Katara stumbled back when she heard his footsteps. Zuko was closer and he ran to her side, trying to comfort her. Aang glared a bit, unbeknownst to them however, the monster Aang twitched a little.
“How long have you been having this nightmare?” Aang asked, trying to sound concerning, trying to fight the urge to lash out. How could Katara be afraid of him, what did he do?
“…Since the night of the play…” Katara answered “…When you kissed me.”
Aang's eyes widened more at that, “What?”
“I told you I was confused about what I wanted, it wasn’t the right time and you just…you didn’t listen to me! You just did what you wanted to do!” Katara’s started to say. “Then I had the dreams. You just kept…trying to kiss me, I kept saying no…but you wouldn’t stop.”
As she spoke, the monster Aang was twitching, his tattoos started to glow red. The real Aang was frozen in shock at what Katara was saying.
“I started to get scared, if you wouldn’t listen to me…then what would stop you from doing…something else,” she continued, tears in her eyes, “You can be so scary when life challenges you.”
“Katara…I would never do that.” Suddenly, the shards around him changed and they showed something new…yet familiar. Some images he didn’t recognize, those depicted different versions of himself. There was one where he was yelling at everyone back in the desert after he lost Appa, another were Aang was forced into the Avatar State after Katara was buried alive, another where he attacked the sandbenders in his rage, and more instances where Aang either lost his cool or lost control, contradicting his previous statement.
“Aang, you have a kind soul, I know you do,” Katara said looking at him, Aang looked back, still in shock, “But there are times where you really scare me. I worry of what could happen to you. You could end up a-”
“Monster…” Aang finished. Suddenly he felt something grab him, he turned and saw the Dark Aang, his eyes glowing and his tattoos red, though he was still the same size, There was a flash of something black and red that overtook the features before becoming Dark Aang again. Aang tried to pull away but his counterpart was faster, sending Aang through one of the shards.
Katara and Zuko cried out for Aang, but that’s when the Dark Aang saw them, he glared at Zuko, still comforting Katara. His eyes narrowed as he charged at them. Zuko got in front of Katara and and sent a fireball his way, the monster Aang caught it with no problem and sent it back ten fold. Katara jumped as Zuko created a fire shield to counter the blast, sending him back, Zuko took those flames to stop his motion.
Aang got to his feet and charged at his dark self, the monster Aang sensed him approach and he earthbends, sending shards of stone and dirt, Aang collected the earth into another pair rock fists, he gets in close and starts punching. Dark Aang counters his strikes, taking his stones for himself. Zuko drew his swords and struck at the Dark Aang, this made him glare and he hold his hand out. Zuko suddenly froze in place, his body twitching as he tried to fight it. Aang’s eyes widened as he recognized it, “Bloodbending,” he realized, but Aang didn’t know how to do that, this Aang seemed to know it. The Dark Aang turned to Aang as he moved his other hand, Aang felt the air in his lung get pulled out before it surrounded his head. His eyes widened in shock…this maneuver was forbidden by the monks, any airbender that was proven to have done this to another person would have faced the greatest of punishments, this dark monstrous version of himself seemed to have no problem doing it.
Aang was breathless, Zuko couldn’t move, both were helpless. Aang was scared, would dying here mean dying in the physical world? There was no way he could get out of this…that is until he heard Katara shout, “STOP!”
The monster Aang turned to Katara, who was on her feet, tears were in here eyes, “Please…let them go. Don’t hurt them,” she begged, “I’m not leaving you Aang, okay?” She walked closer, “Just let them go.”
“Katara…no…” Zuko struggled to say.
The Dark Aang stopped, looked at Katara and smiled, he lowered his hands, freeing Aang and Zuko. Aang gasped as he was finally able to breath. Katara moved closer, “That’s it Aang. Let them go…I’ll go wherever you want me to go, I’ll be whatever you want me to be. We’ll be together forever, just you and me.” She said with tears in her eyes, “That’s what you want, right?”
The Dark Aang smiled as he moved closer to Katara, Aang could see the tears in her eyes, it broke his heart. Aang wanted a lot of things to go his way, he wanted so much, he wanted Katara to love him like he did her…but above everything…he wanted Katara to be happy. Tears formed him his eyes, knowing what he had to do. “No!” Aang called out, getting their attention, “It’s not what I want!”
The Dark Aang glared at him, he turned and marched, ready to attack, “And it’s not what Katara wants. If you really cared about her, you’d know that!” Aang continued, this made the Dark Aang stop, “It’s not right to force someone into liking them, to force them to go with whatever you want, you don’t own her! That not how love works! You need to let Katara choose what she wants…you need to let her go.” The memory of Guru Pathik came to him at that moment, he now started to understand what he meant by attachments.
The Dark Aang looked between Aang and Katara, his tattoos flicker from red to blue, tears started to form in his eyes as well. “...I know..." Aang comforted, "It seems impossible. And yes, it’s gonna hurt a bit when you do,” he continued, then he let out a soft laugh. “Who am I kidding, it’s gonna hurt a lot…but in time, you’re gonna be okay,” he said smiling. “And we’re gonna be okay…right Katara?”
Katara still had tears in her eyes, but the smile she had made them look more like happy tears, “Of course we will Aang…always.”
Zuko watched in awe at this, the Dark Aang seemed to be getting less dark the more Aang spoke, “You see? It doesn’t matter where she goes…who’s she with…what she does...she’ll always love us. You just have to trust her…I know I do.” He looked at Katara again and smiled. The Dark Aang closed his eyes, letting the tears fall. The black and red image that flashed before changed to white and blue, he smiled before his body faded away, leaving nothing behind.
Katara and Zuko moved close to where the dark Aang was standing, “So…it’s over?” Zuko asked.
“I think so,” Katara said looking between the spot and where Aang was standing. She and Zuko moved close to him, “Aang?”
Aang turned to them, “…I’m so sorry, Katara. I never thought my actions could lead to this.” He said, “I never want to hurt you. I can only hope that one day, you’ll forgive me for the trouble I caused.”
Katara gave a smiled, “Of course I can forgive you, Aang. I never want to hurt you either.”
“She is pretty forgiving,” Zuko chipped in. “Take it from someone who’s made their share of mistakes.”
Aang turned to Zuko, “I’m sorry to you as well, Zuko. Sorry that you got dragged along in this mess.”
“I still don’t understand how I got dragged in this, if this was all coming from Katara,” Zuko said in wonder.
Aang gave a bitter smile, “Shared dreams means that you two have formed a bond…one that could transcend lifetimes.” His attention was suddenly focused on the shards that reflected them in different forms, he noticed that the Zuko and Katara in these reflections held hands, some smiled at one another, “And it seems, in other lives too.”
Zuko and Katara looked at the reflections…then at one another before they both blushed and looked away before returning to Aang. “So…does this mean that-”
“No…at least not if you don’t want it to be,” Aang answered Katara. “It’s not up to anyone to choose what you want to be, only you can choose it.” He then turned back outward. “And no matter what you choose…we’ll all be together.”
Katara walked over and gave him a hug, “We sure will.”
Zuko walked up and padded Aang on the back, “Thanks for helping us.”
“I’m the Avatar…it’s what I do.” he said before jumping in the air, light surrounds him and he’s soon enveloped in it.
///////
Aang’s eyes opened and he finds himself back in the common room of the beach house, he must have slept a bit after meditating because he felt well rested. Aang got to his feet and looked around, he saw through the windows that it was the crack of dawn everyone else was probably still asleep. He looked down on the sofa and saw Zuko and Katara, still sleeping, still cuddling close, but looking very peaceful and well rested too. It seemed despite what they went through, the sleep went uninterrupted. He smiled, it didn’t hurt like before, if anything, he felt glad they had each other. “…I think I’ll make breakfast for everyone today,” he said softly before leaving them and heading for the kitchen.
/////////
The first thing Katara noticed when she started to wake was the smell of Jasmin tea and something sweet and fruity. Someone was making something good to eat. She sat up gently and stretched, “Mmm…that was the best night I ever slept,” she said to herself. As she rubbed her eyes to get the tiredness out, she looked around, “Wait…this isn’t my room.”
Before she could question anything else, she felt something move under her, she looked down and, to her shock and horror, she was lying on top of Zuko, who started to stir as he woke up, “Is someone making breakfast?” He asked in a groggy voice as he rubbed his eyes. He looked up and froze, he saw Katara right over him. Looking down he saw that not only she was over him…she was lying right on top of him. He looked back up and saw Katara looked just as shocked.
“AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!”
The realization that both Zuko and Katara slept together in the same space came to them so fast the only reaction that came was to freak out and scream at the top of their lungs. This was enough to wake everyone in the beach house up, starting with Sokka, who was so startled he grabbed his sword and started calling out “WE’RE UNDER ATTACK!” As he ran out of his room, wearing only his sleep clothes. “EVERYONE, GET IN POSITION WE-YAAAH!” Sokka wasn’t paying attention as he ended up tripping and began falling down the stairs, crying out in pain and cursing up a storm as he tumbled his way down the common room, thankfully his sword was still in it’s scabbard. “Ugh…who put the stairs there?” Sokka groaned in pain.
Suki, who was in red pajamas, was right behind Sokka and, thanks to her Kyoshi Warrior training, gracefully made her way down. “What happened? We heard a scream and-” Suki stopped mid sentence as she saw Zuko and Katara staring at one another, practically hyperventilating and backing away as Katara used the bed sheet to cover herself while Zuko had the pillow to his chest. Despite the fact that the two were fully clothed in their sleepwear didn’t stop the blood from rushing to their faces in a blush. Suki realized what must have happened and gave a teasing smile, she walked over to the two and said, “I see you two had a good night’s sleep.”
“Sweetness and Sparky woke up?” Toph called out as she was making her way down, the only reason she was slow was that the wood that made up the house made it harder for her to see, “Hold on, Fan Girl, don’t start without me!”
Sokka groaned as he got to his feet, his body brushed by the fall, he looked over to where Zuko and Katara was and remembered, “Oh, right…that.” Toph rushed passed Sokka the moment she reached the bottom of the stairs, knocking him down again.
“Wh….what's gong on?!” Katara’s voice cracked like fine porcelain plates as her gaze never left Zuko.
“You tell us,” Suki began, “We found you two last night in each others arms and fast asleep,” she explained, wearing a grin that looked so unnaturally sweet, it would worry Azula if she saw it.
“Yeah. So what gives?” Toph asked, “Did you and Zuko have a little fun before drifting off to dreamland?” She put her hands together and made little kissing noises in front of them.
Zuko and Katara’s blush deepened as they tried to argue against what Suki and Toph were implying, but they were nearly speechless, going “No!” “What!?” “I never!” “We wouldn’t!” And other exclamation as Suki and Toph giggled at their expense.
“Hey guys, can you keep it down,” Aang called out, getting everyone’s attention, “I’m almost done with breakfast.” Everyone noticed Aang was in the kitchen pulling something out from the brick oven with a wooden paddle, “I made everyone fruit cakes, old Air Nomad recipe.”
“Aang? You’re up?” Suki asked.
“Since the crack of dawn,” he explained as he used airbending to add a little flourish to the cakes fruit centers like monk Gyatso taught him. “Figured it was my turn to take care of you guys.”
“You seem to be cheerful this morning,” Toph stated with a raised eyebrow, “I had you pegged for being all moody after last night.”
“What happened last night?” Katara asked.
Toph gave a flat expression, not even bothering to turn around as she said, “Take a guess, Sleepy Queen.”
This made both Katara and Zuko blush again, Katara gave a nervous swallow, “Aang, look whatever you think you saw…whatever happened-”
“Is no one’s business but your own,” Aang said, which was enough to stop Katara’s thought.
“Wait, what?” Zuko asked, just as surprised as anyone, Aang’s crush on Katara wasn’t as big a secret as Aang thought.
“Look I did some thinking last night,” Aang said as he took more of the cakes out of the oven, “And some meditating. Yes, I was a bit upset about seeing you two together, Toph was right.”
Toph smirked, “Flattery will get you nowhere, Twinkle Toes.”
Aang rolled his eyes as he continued, “But I realized that I was the one being unreasonable. What did I have to be mad for? Zuko and Katara are free to do whatever they want together if they want to, it’s not up to me.”
“But we didn’t-”
“That’s besides the point, Zuko,” Aang interrupted, “The point is…I’m okay…and no matter what, we’ll always be okay.” He gave a little wink towards Zuko and Katara, their eyes widened as something Aang said triggered a memory, they looked at one another, realizing that the dream they shared was no coincidence. “Besides,” Aang continued, “I doubt you would have picked a more…open spot if it was anything other than sleeping.” This made the two blush as Aang went to the stove to get the teapot that was sitting on top, “Now come on, I made enough for everyone.”
“I could go go for some breakfast,” everyone, except Toph, turned and saw Sokka still on the ground, “Though I think someone is going to have to feed it to me since I can’t get up.”
“Oh! Sokka! Hold on, I got you,” Katara said as she went to get some water to heal Sokka with. “I’m so sorry you got hurt because of me.”
“It’s okay sis,” Sokka said as he started to feel better as she went over his injury, “Just promise me the next time you sleep with Zuko, make sure I don’t know about it.
This made Katara gasp in offense and blush harder, “I did not sleep with Zuko!”
“I’m pretty sure drifting off to bed with Sparky in your arms counts as sleeping with him,” Toph argued, making Suki laugh.
Soon everyone was talking over everyone else, mostly Toph, Suki and Sokka teasing Zuko and Katara and the latter trying, yet failing, to defend themselves. Aang smiled a little as this was going on, he meant what he said but it would still take him some time to fully let Katara go. But as he saw Katara smile despite getting teased, he couldn’t help but be glad that smile returned.