Disclaimer: I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender.
Dawning of Hope
The visions of Ba Sing Se still penetrated across his stormy eyes. Blurred moments and stirred memories haunted his heart, and the mention of defeat and failure raced painfully through his mind. He could still hear the swirling winds of cosmic energy circling him among the mountains of immense power.
He could see Azula's vicious glare of sinister triumph taunting his every move. He could feel the hollowness of his enhancing spirit, calling upon his inner self to carry out his responsibility-not the Aang he naturally is, but the almighty Avatar he has been destined for. Through the internal wars between his mind and his heart, he saw the anxiety building up in him, longing for the fate of the world and for the love of his life.
Before him stood his duty to the world. He heard the murmuring voices of the past avatars urging him to devote himself to it. He battled among his conscience, mentally screaming at himself to strive towards his true heart's desire, but never to let go of the committment he made to his people and his destiny. With a heavy heart, he saw himself glancing one last time at the wartorn world before him.
Laying all his attachments in front of him-from the smiling faces of Katara and Monk Gyatso to the memories of the Aang he truly was inside-he took his first step towards the bridge of true, unbelievable power. The energy around him seemed to become one with him, and his entire body became numb-left behind and forgotten.
Suddenly, his eyes and tattoes began to glow as radiantly as the sun. The spirits of the millions of past avatars came flooding over to him, powering him with the forces of the human spirit. They joined together in unity, stepping with the rhythm of his thundering heartbeat. Within the strangest sensation, the many, glistening stars of attachment vanished from his mind, enabling him the strength of a fiery dragon and the heart of a lion-turtle. And as the world held its breath, he rose defiantly into the air with only his willpower to keep him company.
Suddenly, there was an inky blackness...a darkness so intense to bear that not even light can cure its wrath. And through that thriving darkness, the world watched as the Avatar, the only hope of fate, fall into despair and the clutches of warfare once again. Then, there was nothing-nothing but the chanting of voices roaming repeatedly in his head. "You failed, Aang. You failed... "
"No!"
Aang jolted awake from the wrath of his nightmare, the pounding of his heartbeat wildly thundering in his chest. For once, the panic returned to him, and he started losing himself in failure and despair. But all at once, his eyes softened.
The airbender smiled tenderly as he saw Katara's sleeping face resting by his feet. Her hands were encased in droplets of glowing water, and her tear-striken eyes were closed, showing almost no sign of contentment. From her lips, his name softly escaped in the result of a hoarse whisper.
Tears raced down Aang's cheeks as he noticed her broken form. The memory of falling into her arms struck him. The way she had cringed in pain for the few weeks, torn between weakness and pain of his unconsciousness tugged at his guilty mind.
Wincing from the excrutiating pain that struck the center of his back and the sides of his aching shoulders, he gently placed his tattoed hand upon her tired one, giving it a slight, thankful squeeze. Smiling sadly, but gratefully, he whispered between jagged breaths.
"Knowing you're here beside me is enough Katara. When you're with me, I know I will never fail in my mission. Thank you so much, Katara."
And for once, Aang knew he saw a small smile forming on her face.