Prologue
The Betrothed
Katara gazed down at the fiery red autumn treetops that are indigenous to the Earth Kingdom colonies. As the flying bison soared over the stunning scenery, she couldn't help but wonder if there was a greater emotion than what she was feeling now. Idly fiddling her new betrothal necklace, she glanced at Aang and daydreamed of their upcoming wedding and how they would soon settle into a comfortable home to begin a family.
Decreasing their altitude Aang steered Appa to a clear spot in the forest. They landed and began making their way through the forest. Hungry and tired, Aang and Katara, and of course Appa and Momo, began looking for a good camp sight.
"How about over there?" Aang pointed. He exhaled deeply and then wiped the beads of sweat from his brow.
Katara smiled, wearing her travels on her face. She simply plopped to the ground. "Instead of setting up camp, can we just sleep right here?"
"That's the best idea I've heard all day," Aang chuckled. "Now watch out!"
A quick few motions of his hands and Aang made two stone slabs erupt from the earth creating a tent structure. With Momo curled up on Appa's head, needless to say, they all slept very well that night.
The sun rose casting jagged shadows upon the sleeping travelers. Soon the morning light reached Katara's groggy eyes and she awakened to yet another beautiful landscape.
She playfully pounced on the unsuspecting Aang. He protested, "Five more minutes, Kataraaaaa."
"You know we have to get to a village soon. We are all out of supplies." There should be one close by, she thought.
With a change of heart, she said, "You know what? Okay, you sleep in and I'll find the nearby village. You deserve it, Mr. Saving-the-World." She smiled and kissed him.
"Okay Katara, seriously, you're the best. I love you." He murmured in a sleep-filled voice.
"I love you too, Aang." She couldn't help but smile more broadly.
Katara soon gathered up what she needed for the village trek and set off on foot. Hours later, she became parched so she tried to bend some water out of her pouch soon realizing it was bone dry.
"Oh well, the village can't be that much further."
Katara was right, the village wasn't too far. Normally she'd feel relieved, but this time it was different. Her instincts told her something was wrong, very wrong. There was a murky shadow up ahead as she drew closer. Her stomach told her to stay away, and she should have listened. The figure was a highwayman. The usually skilled and alert master waterbender was not on her game. She was dehydrated and weak from the journey. Unable to think rationally, the highwayman got the best of her and before she knew it, Katara was face-to-face with his knife.
He was now close enough to smell the rank breath of his crooked, yellow teeth. He hissed, "Give me the money, and nothing will happen. Hand over anything valuable. I'm not looking to clean my knife today."
Katara screamed at the top of her lungs, "Aang!"
The Avatar sat bolt upright, awakened by a vision of Katara in danger. Using his airbending, he raced to save her.
Seeing the crime scene in action, he grew enraged doing his best not to go into the Avatar state. He slammed his fist into the ground caused a rock to plummet at the highwayman's planted feel. It knocked him to the ground, shattering his leg.
Still not satisfied, Aang shot a fatal fireball to the man's chest killing him on impact. Enraged, Aang continued shooting until he felt Katara's slender hand on his shoulder.
He turned to Katara and held her tightly thanking the spirits she was safe. Katara, on the other hand, had a different mindset. Stunned and shocked by the series of events that just took place, she thought 'What just happened?'
After letting go, Aang looked at the burnt corpse, feeling not an ounce of regret. He turned to Katara, "Are you alright?"
"Aang" was all the poor girl could get out of her lips until she fainted.
Aang, still alert, caught her and held her in his arms. Her exposed neck revealed a streak of red where the mugger pressed the knife to her neck. It was deep enough to cause concern.
He could see the village in the distance. It was clearly the better option then going back to camp. A village means there's a doctor and resources.
He gingerly carried the unconscious waterbender to the village and immediately grabbed the first person he saw.
"I'm the Avatar. This is my fiancé. She needs a doctor. Take me to one."
"Y-yes. Of course. Follow me" The man stammered in disbelief that the Avatar had stepped foot in his humble village.
The villager led the couple to the doctor "Help her please" Aang said rather desperately "Very well set her down on this mat" the doctor said urgently.
The doctor put a wet cloth on Katara's neck wound and applied pressure. Then pulled out of his pocket what seemed to be two clear rocks. He slammed them together sending a strong smelling odor toward Katara. A few seconds later, she came to. Fighting through the fog in her head, Katara was disorientated.
"Great you're up! You fainted, Katara, I brought you to the nearest village after a highwayman held you up!" Aang beamed.
The memories all flooded back, the supplies, the knife, the ... murder ... Feeling queasy again, she set her head back down and took a deep breath.
When she opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was Aang's face. Yet she saw it differently. The man who couldn't kill the most evil man in the world slew a mere highwayman. Granted, he was going to kill her, but still the Firelord would have done the same without hesitation. Looking into the stormy grey eyes of her soon-to-be husband, and held by his strong, loving arms, the dilemma melted away. Well, for now at least.
