I'm baaaaaack! *spooky ghost voice* So this is my version of The Promise, originally written by Gene Yang (I think?) and the animation is beautiful but the writing is lightyears away the caliber in ATLA and the characterization is a few steps from atrocious. As such, I've decided to erm, basically rewrite it. The plot will be roughly the same (even if Zuko is a stupid idiot and I don't think he or Aang would do a lot of these things but whatever) but I'm adding and subtracting and multi- I'm getting ahead of my self here – some scenes and dialogue. (You can find The Promise on youtube or in comic book stores or in shady parts of the internet if you'd like to see the original, published version.)
Also, I'm writing this for a slightly more mature audience, so you won't find copious amounts of the word "oogie" or "sweetie" in this. Seriously, Gene Yang, seriously? Anyway, this will be canon, basically, which makes this kind of fun because, seeing as the last installation of The Promise has not been published, I don't even know how this will end.
I'm giving this an approximate number of chapters – I'll go with about ten for now – that this story will include, focusing mainly on Aang and Katara. That being said, I'm going to work super hard to finish this (but, fair warning, I'm going to college this fall as an engineering major so it might take a while.) At the very least, I'll update once a month (hopefully twice a month) if this gets enough interest. Regardless, please please please let me know what you think! Constructive criticism is always welcome.
0.o
One hundred year of war left nearly everything scarred. The sunset, however, remained beautiful as ever.
The Avatar and his waterbending sifu were still in the middle of a passionate kiss on the balcony of Iroh's teashop. Aang tightened his grip around Katara's waist and pulled her closer towards him, craving more contact.
This was the night that the Earth King would announce the Harmony Restoration Movement, the plan to remove the Fire Nation colonials from the Earth Kingdom in a peaceful manner. Everything was coming together after months of training and running and fighting and just barely surviving. Aang had saved the world without taking Ozai's life, and, finally, dear spirits, finally, Katara had kissed him. He smiled against her lips, dizzy from pure happiness.
This was perfect. This was too good to actually be happen-
"Hey guys- AH!"
The couple broke apart abruptly, turning to the sound of the shrill voice. Sokka, of course.
Fearing the wrath of the warrior, Aang reacted immediately. "Nothing!" he shouted, a blush rising to his cheeks "We're not doing anything!"
"Haven't you ever heard of knocking, Sokka?" Katara fumed, nostrils flaring and pointing an accusing finger at her brother.
Sokka cocked an eyebrow. "First of all," he began, "you're supposed to knock before you go inside, not before you go outside. And second, as my sister, you really shouldn't be kissing anyone in front of me."
"You are so immature, you know that? I mean, what about you and Suki?" Aang could practically see the smoke rising from ear. He sighed, suddenly missing the pressures of her lips and feel of her arms wrapped loosely around his neck… "You think I don't know about her escapades into your tent? I can hear you!" Katara screamed.
Sokka flushed. "Tha-that's completely different! We are older and we-"
Aang sighed again. "Uh, Sokka? Sokka!"
The yelling ceased for a moment, as Sokka raised a placating hand. "Time out. Yeah, Aang?"
"What'd you come out to tell us?"
"Oh! Right! We're about to head out."
"But the Earth King's celebration doesn't start for a couple more hours," said Aang, confused.
Sokka grinned enthusiastically. "I know! We wanted to take Appa out for a ride first!"
The two benders shared a glance and smiled at each other. "Great, let's go!"
0.o
Everyone clambered into Appa's saddle and took a seat near the sides.
"Aren't Mai and Iroh coming?" Suki asked Zuko.
"Well, even after my uncle's er, recent weight loss, this thing," Zuko said, gesturing to giant, six-legged animal, "probably wouldn't be too thrilled about carrying all of us and him. And Mai hates animals."
"And almost everything else," Toph smirked.
Aang and Katara were the last to get on.
"So, uhm, we were kind of interrupted and I, I was, well, wondering-" Aang stumbled over his words, rubbing the back of his neck shyly. Katara gave him a brief peck on the lips, tan skin hiding some of the redness in her cheeks.
"We'll talk about everything when we get back," she said softly. "Promise."
His lips curved upwards and he whispered, "Okay." He then bowed dramatically and offered her a hand. "After you, m'Lady," he offered regally.
"Oh, Avatar Aang!" she exclaimed, giggling and taking his hand. "Always a gentleman!" They both climbed onto the bison, aided by the boy's airbending. Much to his joy, Katara didn't let go of him until long into the joyride.
0.o
Appa flew sharply towards the ground as the group – with the exception of Toph and Zuko – shouted and laughed gleefully.
"Let's go again!" Aang looked over his shoulder to his friends, having relocated to Appa's head.
"Wait, guys!" Suki called. "The fireworks are starting!"
Sure enough, colorful explosions began littering the sky. They were at a safe distant from the display, but could still see the vibrant assortment of multi-colored shards in all their glory and hear the low bellow of the launches.
"Wow," breathed Katara. "The view is amazing!"
"It is! Thanks, buddy!" Aang grinned, petting his bison, who roared in response.
From below, they could all hear the crowds cheering and applauding.
"Sounds like the Earth King just announced the Harmony Restoration Movement!"
Toph grunted in agreement, and then turned to Sokka. "Hey, wanna know what fireworks are like for me?" she asked. "Close your eyes."
Sokka did so, only seconds before a loud BOOM, courtesy of the earthbender, shook through his eardrums.
"Argh!"
Katara chuckled, looping an arm around Toph's shoulder. "Oh, Toph," she consoled. "Lighten up! You're out with your friends on a beautiful night, celebrating the fact that we just saved the world!"
"True," the blind girl muttered.
A loud moaning could be heard from a certain sarcastic someone, who continued writhing on the saddle and gripping his ears.
"You too, Zuko!" Aang said, turning around fully and releasing Appa's reigns. "It's happy time, your new Fire Lordness!"
The scarred teenager ignored his remark and continued staring blankly at the distant outer wall of the city.
"Zuko?"
"I visited my father in prison the other day," he said suddenly. "I've been meaning to ask you for a favor, Aang."
"Sure, anything."
"If you ever see me turning into my father, I want you too…" he looked up at Aang sharply, "I want you to end me."
"What?" Aang shrieked. Hearing his concerned voice, Katara moved back towards the front of the saddle.
"Even now," Zuko continued, "after everything that's happened, my family's legacy is still a part of me. That's why it's my duty to heal the scars that the Fire Nation has left on the world. But the Fire Lord's throne comes with a lot of pressures, and if I'm honest with myself…" he looked down. "I need a safety net. The world needs a safety net. That's what I need you to be, Aang. The safety net."
"Zuko, you're not you're dad," Aang argued. "And you're my friend! How can you possibly expect me to ever-"
"And as your friend, I'm asking you," the Fire Lord interrupted. "If you ever see me go bad, end me. Promise me, Aang."
Aang let out a breath slowly. And everything was going so well. He looked up at Katara, who nodded at him, eyes soft.
"Fine," he sighed. "I promise."
The last firework went off in the distance. Green and red sparks fell to the ground, quickly becoming ash.
0.o
Appa landed with a low groan.
Four people hopped off, blank stares adorning their faces, still trying to digest the night's events. Zuko and Toph meandered back into the Jasmine Dragon, waiting to converse with Iroh and Mai and drink tea until the outside noise died down.
Aang and Katara walked back out into the streets, him leading her to an unknown destination, leaving Sokka and Suki in the saddle.
"What's wrong?" the Kyoshi warrior questioned her boyfriend.
"Nothing, nothing," he said quickly, kissing her on the cheek. He paused and then gripped her hand, leaning back into the side of the saddle. "Actually, there is something we need to talk about."
"What is it?"
"Well, I know you came back here to Ba Sing Se for the celebration and everything, but you're the leader of the Kyoshi Warriors and you have a home and… and…" Sokka sighed. "What's gonna happen with, you know… us?"
It was a very valid question. Suki knew that he could never resign himself to living on Kyoshi Island. Not after seeing the world and playing a key role in ending the war. No, Sokka would always be searching for adventure or, at the very least, a chance to demonstrate his skills and strategic thinking. But she, on the other hand, had a duty to her home and to her Warriors.
"I," Suki started quietly, "I've thought about that, too. And, please, Sokka, I care about you so much, and, I wouldn't be half the person I am today without you…"
The far-away noise from the crowds filled the air, heavily weighing down on the two.
"But?" Sokka prompted.
"But you're right. I do have my home, but I'm perfectly content traveling and helping people all over the world. The Kyoshi Warriors, though. They need me, and… I need them."
"Well then," he drew in a breath, "we can- we can do long-distance. You know, messenger hawks and everything. I still have Hawky and we'll still see each other and maybe, maybe when we're older and things settle down more…" he trailed off.
Suki bit her lip. "I mean, we could try it-"
"Wait," Sokka spoke abruptly, mild shock evident in his voice. "Don't you want to be together?"
"Of course!" Her hand reached out to cup his cheek. "Of course I do! It's just, it's going to be hard."
"Nothing compared to taking out a fleet of airships," he joked.
She laughed, and fell into his shoulder. "Okay."
0.o
"Aang!" Katara giggled excitedly, being pulled along towards a deserted park near the middle wall of the city. Everyone was in the city center, still dancing and shouting and celebrating the war's end.
He smiled at her and slowed his pace. They sat down, crisscross and facing each other, knees touching, on the grass near a small pond. The glow of the waning moon reflected in the water.
They looked into each other's eyes for a moment.
"Katara," he murmured softly. "You… you know how I feel about you. The kiss on the balcony – do you feel the same way about me?"
She gripped both of his hands. "If you mean do I love you," the corner of her lips curved upwards, "I love you… so much."
In a blink they were both on their knees, embracing each other, their faces nuzzling into the other's shoulder. "Spirits, I love you," he whispered. His arms moved to her back, fingers interlacing themselves in her hair. Her hands gripped at the loose fabric of his tunic, willing the tears in her eyes not to fall. They had been through so much together, and as she hugged him tighter, ever tighter, she recalled the nearly overwhelming fear she had felt during Sozin's Comet. The fear for her own survival, sure, but mostly the thought of Aang facing Ozai. Without the Avatar State… she nearly choked up at the very thought.
And then again, even with the Avatar State, he had sustained multiple injuries, the most severe being his lightning scar reopening. Even now, a couple of weeks after the war's end, he still had a light bandage wrapped around his waist to soak up any trickles of blood that made their way through the scar's surface.
"And you want to be together?" he asked, a slight amount of desperation in his voice.
"More than anything, Aang," she answered honestly.
They pulled away from each other just slightly and he captured her lips in a mind-numbing kiss, and Katara felt everything else disappear.
It's just you and me right now.
This time, they broke apart only for air. The pair collapsed back on the sloping grass, her head tucked under his chin, their hands clasped together. They spent the rest of the night forgetting about Zuko and the promise and the Harmony Restoration Movement. Aang occasionally would point out a constellation to her, and Katara would kiss him on the cheek. And then they would kiss quickly, still blushing, still new to this, and relax back into each other, allowing the weight of the world to melt in the moonlight.
0.o
Phew! I wrote that pretty quickly, so I hope it's all right. Now, promises (aha, get it?) for future chapters: more Toph (because she's just great) and other characters, hopefully a little more lively and humorous, and I'll also be filling in the giant gaping one year hole left in The Promise. Which means more Kataang, yay! So leave a review, because they make me write faster and this time I know where this is going to end (well, with Part 3 and all) which means that I'm going to finish it. Really. Have a faaaantastic day, my fellow Avatards! Over and out.
