Chapter 1: The South Pole Problem

Aang paced back and forth outside of Katara's house, wondering if he should go inside or leave. He decided it was time to leave when he heard a tired voice. "A-Aang?" she asked.

"Katara?"

"No. Katara's gone to spend the night with Toph," Katara's grandmother said.

"Oh, monkeyfeathers," Aang sighed. "So," his eyes brightened, "do you have any idea when she'll get back?"

"I'm afraid not. Would you like to come inside and wait for her? It must have been a long, cold travel to the South Pole."

"Thank you, Kanna." Aang walked Appa around the back of the house. He then walked inside and was welcomed with a blast of warm air and fresh fruit smells.

"I've been baking all day," Kanna announced, "for a special occasion."

"What's the special occasion?"

"Sokka has been making a betrothal necklace for a very special girl."

"Oh yeah? And who might this girl be?"

"This girl is a 'secret', apparently. He promised to bring her home with him tonight after she accepted the necklace. If she did, anyways."

Aang sat there quietly, sipping tea and watching the healers practice. Katara had taught him healing once upon a time, and he couldn't help but step in. "Hi there, girls!" he began. "I see you're healing, correct?"

"Correct!" responded a small brown haired girl.

"I'd like to give you a little help, if I may." He bent the water from the pot to his fingertips. "The first key to healing is to focus all of the energy inside of you onto the wound. If you're not focused, you're not a healer."

The girls tried healing on dummies but still weren't getting it. "Try this." Aang said. He swirled the water around the dummy, balling his fist and causing the water to tighten around it like a string. The dummy glowed blue and the girls clapped at his spectacular healing.

After everyone else had stopped clapping, another girl started. "Very nice bending," Kanna said. "Did Katara teach you that?"

"Yes." Aang bowed his head. "She did."

"Well, I'm very proud of her."

"So am I."

Aang resumed teaching the class when a black haired girl spoke up. "Avatar Aang?"

"You do not have to call me Avatar Aang. Just Aang is fine."

"Aang?"

"Yes?"

"What is a healer's will?"

"Well, um, a healer's will is to-"

"Heal people?"

"No. More than that. A healer's will is to-"

"Learn from your mistakes and teach from other's," a girl Aang hadn't heard talk yet in the class said. Her voice sounded vaguely familiar. Like a girl he knew with brown hair loopies...

"Katara."

He ran over to her and hugged her. "You came all of the way from the Western Air Temple, just to see me." Katara kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you."

"Shouldn't you be thanking Appa?" Aang turned to the girls. "Continue what I-and Master Katara-have taught you."

Katara grasped Aang's hand and led him back to the house. "How have you been?" she asked.

"I haven't been anything without you. I realized something. I can't live without you. I love you too much, Katara." Aang kissed her on the lips and she kissed him back, deepening the kiss. It felt, so warm, so comforting...

"Aang," Katara began, "I need to tell you something."

"What is it?" he asked.

"There's a problem, here at the South Pole..."

"What is it, Katara? What's the problem?"

"Aang, it's me."