A little, eight year old, waterbending girl sat in the snow, playing. "Katara," her mother said, "Could you do something for me, please?" The little girl moaned. "I don't wanna, mommy!" "Katara, listen to me. Could you please just go feed the turtle-goats for me?" "NO," Katara replied. The mother sighed and walked off.
Feeling guilty, and becoming bored with the game she was playing, the small girl stood up, and decided she had better go and do as her mother had asked before. When she reached the turtle-goat pin, she began her task. Her mother walked up around the time Katara was finishing up.
"That's the girl I love," she said happily. Katara, being finished, sat in the snow by her mother. "Mommy, is that the reason you love me, because I do things for you?" Her mother laughed in reply, "No, sweetie, I love you because you are who you are." "Huh?" Katara asked, confused.
"Katara," she said, "I love you because you are beautiful, kind, smart, funny. You are amazing, fun, individual...You are your own person. That's why I love you." The little girl smiled up to her mother. They began to walk back to their home, when an alarm sounded. "Katara, come on!" The woman said, picking up her daughter and running to the village.
When they found a teepee to take shelter in, Katara's mother set the child down. "Shh.." she said. The girl obeyed. Hearing someone coming, she instructed Katara to hide. Katara found a place to hide just before a Fire Nation man walked in. Hiding, the eight year old girl watched her mother die.
A small, twelve year old boy laid in bed, staring at the ceiling. He was tired, and just wanted to lay there. He was not in the mood to talk to anyone, not even his friends, not even the girl who walked into his room quietly. Not even Katara.
"Aang," she asked, "Would you mind helping me for a sec?" Aang moaned, "Now, Katara? Do I have to?" "I'd rather you did," Katara said, "But if you're going to be like that then nevermind. I'll ask someone else." Katara walked out, a bit annoyed.
Feeling guilty, the boy decided to help his friend with whatever it was she needed help doing. Once he found her, he began following her lead in carrying an assortment of their more heavy belongings from his flying bison, Appa, into their temorary home. "That's the Aang I know and love," Katara said, smiling.
"Katara," he said, "Do you just say that because I do stuff for you? Because that happens to be the only time you do..." The girl laughed, "No, Aang...I...I say it because it's true." "Huh?" the Airbender replied. Katara smiled, "I say it because you're helpful, kind, handsome, smart, funny. You're amazing, Aang. Fun, individual...and, well, you're you. And I wouldn't have it any other way. That's why." Aang smiled, then frowned. "I thought you liked Jet." "Hey, don't push it." Katara giggled.
"Aang! Come taste my new soup recipe!" the two heard Sokka call from the kitchen inside. Aang looked at Katara, who shrugged. "Coming!" he called back. Frightened, the twelve year old boy stood up and walked to the kitchen. Smiling, the now-fourteen year old girl watched her best friend walk away to meet his horrible smelling fate.
LOL. This kind of story comes to mind everytime my dad makes me sweep stuff up. Neither of us actually say any of this, but it just randomly plays out in my mind. I felt the urge to put this into an ATLA short story, and that's where this came from. Hope you liked it!