a/n: This story is going to be a much different kind of story, and to Aang lovers, I hope you can get past the gut wrenching prologue. Anyways, in this story Aang is killed shortly before the Fire Nation had invaded the Northern Water Tribe in Book One, and reincarnated into the next Avatar-a Waterbender. Hope you enjoy.

Prologue

"Wake up."

Aang's eyelids twitched before they flickered open. Aang quickly took in the scenery around him-ignited torches were hanging from the walls, the blazing flames giving off a dim orange glow. The wooden floors were cracked, along with the splintering ceiling. The room was empty, except for him and the source of the voice. The Fire Nation's Prince gave him a toothy grin, looking up at the Avatar.

Wait. Looking up?

Aang did a quick double take with a jolt. Had he grown taller than Prince Zuko? This shock awoke him fully, but then he felt it-the dull pain in his limbs. I glanced up and down, finding the source of his height-he was suspended, chained to the floor and ceiling by his wrists and ankles. The Prince's smirk only widened.

"Thinking of escape plans? That's too bad-there's no way to escape this room but through that door, and I assure you it's guarded."

Aang remained silent. Zuko saluted the Avatar in a mocking wave before exiting the room with a cackling laugh, the heavy metal door slamming with a thunderous thunk.

'I have to get out of here...Katara needs me!' Aang's thoughts focused on the brunette Waterbender as his eyes did another 180 around the chamber. He ground his teeth in aggravation, anger spiking in his bloodstream. Once again, his eyes darted back up to ceiling.

'Of course!' Aang let out a sigh as he realized how to thwart the Prince once again. Aang grasped the chain, winding it once around his hands, and with all his might he yanked.

CRACK.

Slivers of wood showered down on him as he caught his breath and tugged again.

CRACK.

Another flurry of wood shards. One last time he pulled, grunting with effort, and finally with a loud crack Aang's arms were freed and he fell on the balls of his feet to the ground.

"Idiots." He muttered, but he couldn't help but smile as he yanked the pegs from the floorboards that secured his feet and his ankles were free. He rubbed the raw skin with an exhale of relief before standing erect.

With one swift movement, Aang channeled the air around him and bombarded the metal door. With a groan of protest it popped off its hinges.

"What the-" one of the guards gasped. Aang leaped out the door, twirled his wrists, and snapped the chains at the guards, the nailed end slicing them across the head. With another whip he hand them tied, plucked the keys from the guard's belt, and left the unconscious guards.

Aang sprinted down the hall, his feet pounding over the metal floors. He flew up a flight of stairs and blew another set of doors open before running over the heads of another throng of guards, his heart hurtling up and down in his throat.

"He's escaping!"

"Get him!"

Several men in heavily armored suit and helmets raced after the Avatar, who had now emerged from the belly of the battleship and was on the deck. Aang looked back over his shoulder, eyes wide as a frosty layer of fear coated his veins.

"Aang!" Katara cried, jumping off of Oppa who hovered above the ship. Her brother remained on the flying bison, boomerang in his gloved hand.

"Katara." Aang greeted warmly even in the grim situation.

"Stop him!" Prince Zuko commanded. Aang was suddenly surrounded by guards with no where to run but up and he didn't have his staff-

Aang drew his hands in, fists clenched, and released. A typhoon of air billowed around the ship, the Avatar and burette cloaked by the swirling windstorm. Katara drew water from the sea, letting it wrap around the dome Aang had created, protecting them from all firebending attempts from the guards. Prince Zuko was knocked backwards with the rest of his men but one managed to maintain his ground, dagger raised and the other hand pulling fire from a near by torch.

"Don't!" The Prince roared, fighting against the wind as he tried to stop the daring Firebender.

Aang's hands fell back to his side, and Katara let the water fall, covering the vessel in an icy slick. They then both turned to escape, unaware of what was unfolding behind them. The Guard let out a battle cry, launching himself at Aang.

"NO!" Zuko screeched.

Aang spun around to protect himself, only to have the dagger plummet into his abdomen. The Avatar gasped, eyes wide with shock as he fumbled with the dagger. Aang collapsed to his knees, pulling the knife from his stomach and letting the bloodstained blade tumble to the ground.

"Aang!" Katara wailed as too fell to her knees and pressed her gloves to his gushing wound, tears in her eyes. The twelve year old only shook his head, a sad, dark look in his eyes as he gave no feeble attempt to even stop the bleeding. He took Katara's hands, and put them on his throat.

"Aang..."

"To...the next...person..." He whispered. Katara fingered something around his neck before taking it in her shaking hands.

"Aang...Aang please don't die...you can't die..." Katara breathed helplessly, her whole body trembling with sobs.

"T-Take care..." Aang gulped. "Take care of him. T-The next...Avatar...K-K-Katara..." He gulped, swallowing as he fought against death for a few more heartbeats, "I...I will always...always be with y-you." Something stirred in his eyes before they glazed over and he fell back onto the planks in a pool of blood.

Prince Zuko watched the scene and he couldn't tell which made him more horrified-that the Avatar had just died and he had to now find the next one or that he had just watched a young boy die before him.

There was a shriek as the flying bison swooped down and both the Avatar, Waterbender, the Waterbender's brother, and the bison were gone in a flash of fur. The Prince remained stoic, shaking off all emotions for the now deceased Avatar. He had more important things to do if he was going to redeem his crown. Pushing away the guilt that was making his hands quiver he turned back to face his men.

"You heard the boy. The next Avatar is going to be born." Zuko ordered. "Retreat to the docks. We have a few years before we need to bombard the Water Nation."

a/n: So tell me what you think! Hope you can...spare a review!

~ Confetti Storm